MLB 2K8 on deck for March 4

By Tom Magrino, GameSpotPosted Feb 28, 2008 11:38 am PT

2K Sports' annualized baseball sim swinging onto 360, PS3, PS2, PSP, and Wii next week; Wii controls detailed.

Baseball all-stars emerged from their winter slumber this week to once again hit the spring-training diamonds in preparation for opening day in late March. As is customary, 2K Sports is greeting those players with their digital likenesses in its annualized Major League Baseball franchise. The publisher announced today that MLB 2K8 has unfurled its pennant and will arrive on retail shelves for the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 2, PlayStation Portable, and Wii on March 4.

This year's improvements to the MLB 2K series focus on giving more control to the players. 2K has overhauled several of its core gameplay mechanics for this year's installment, including the implementation of a new pitching interface and baserunning controls, as well as an update for the game's batting controls to create more realistic hitting situations. Players looking to make it big in the minors before being called up will also be able to assume the role one of 90 minor-league clubs in franchise and exhibition modes.

2K Games also today took the wraps off of the Wii edition's motion-sensing controls. Unsurprisingly, pitching and batting will mimic true-to-life motions. Pitchers will be able to tweak ball velocity and movement by changing the speed at which they flick the remote, and batters will be able to adjust the placement of the ball by timing their swings.

The Wii Remote and Nunchuk will also be used for fielding and baserunning. Players will control their fielders with the Nunchuk and use the remote to throw the ball to their base of choice. Likewise, baserunning involves shaking the remote and Nunchuk, and slides are performed by pushing both controllers forward.

For more on MLB 2K8, check out GameSpot's hands-on previews of the game.

40 Comments

  • submissions72

    Posted Mar 3, 2008 2:20 pm PT

    ANY DATE ON THE DEMO?? The game's coming out tomorrow where's the demo ben?

  • georgeorjose

    Posted Mar 3, 2008 6:44 am PT

    i dont know which one to choose because both players on the cover are my rivals so i dont think im getting a baseball game this year. oh well ill just keep playing MVP 2007.

  • ROLLTIDE06

    Posted Mar 2, 2008 2:23 pm PT

    They should scrap the "official license" crap and let 2K and EA make a baseball game.

    Although, I'm actually a little frightened at what EA might do to a baseball game if they have the only license for an MLB game ... Their first next-gen attempts at football, basketball and soccer sucked. Personally I don't want to wait 2 years to get a decent baseball game if EA buys Take Two out.

    The song "Why Can't We Be Friends" comes to mind ...

  • Falconsfan60

    Posted Mar 1, 2008 11:05 pm PT

    random wtf r u talking about. the wii will have online play. it says it in an article on here

  • randomfan234

    Posted Mar 1, 2008 7:14 pm PT

    srapp002 2K is trying to extend the MLB License for 5 more years but we may see MVP 2010 if EA buys Take Two and 2K out after the release of Grand Theft Auto. There probably won't be enough time to make MVP 09

  • srapp002

    Posted Mar 1, 2008 6:43 pm PT

    I like how the interviewer on the video says "demo coming soon when does the game come out" cuz we can't read the date that is posted on the site! An earlier interview with Ben said that the demo would come out in early feb. well now it is early march and still no demo....bs, this is the first year they have a thowing meter for the fielders?! MVP had that in 05, i'm sick of it, does anyone know when EA will be able to get the license back?

  • randomfan234

    Posted Feb 29, 2008 11:01 pm PT

    dont get this for the Wii. What they failed to tell you in this is that the Wii won't have minor leagues, online games/roster updates, and the card system.

  • Yeager20

    Posted Feb 29, 2008 7:01 pm PT

    nirvana is absolutely correct about MVP. I was sad when I found out EA sports lost the license to 2K.

  • badman11226

    Posted Feb 29, 2008 10:36 am PT

    Man i wanna play this for Wii.

  • bceagles358

    Posted Feb 29, 2008 10:35 am PT

    also is 2k8 coming out march 3rd or 4th... this article says the 4th but everywhere else says the 3rd

  • bceagles358

    Posted Feb 29, 2008 9:23 am PT

    yea hunter, tecmo super baseball was some good sht

  • arikkot

    Posted Feb 29, 2008 9:15 am PT

    i know i wasnt talkin to u just to all the fanboys hollerin bout the show about a 2k8 news release.

    @hunter8
    have fun with yo SNES lol...

  • hunter8man

    Posted Feb 29, 2008 9:15 am PT

    Why can they not get the animation right? From the previews it looks choppy, and that's something that's been going on with the series since the PS1 days. I'd rather go back through my old SNES copy of Tecmo Super Baseball.

  • bceagles358

    Posted Feb 29, 2008 9:14 am PT

    I didn't say it wouldn't be good for PS3... I just don't see how it'd be good on the Wii.

  • arikkot

    Posted Feb 29, 2008 9:06 am PT

    the show sucks balls. how the hellcould you say its better than 2k8? 2k8 has new better controls than the show will ever have, and 2k7 had much smoother graphics and you bet yo asss 2k8 will too. The only thing the show has to counter a real baseball game is career mode,but with their cracked up controls its just as whack as the rest of it.

    Think i give a sht if the show is a sony exclusive? im getting 2k8 for my ps3, ill tell u that right now. The show isnt even a baseball game compared to 2k! but go ahead, fanboys, gimme a thumbs down, see if i give a sht.

  • bceagles358

    Posted Feb 29, 2008 8:59 am PT

    MVP was definitely the best baseball game they've made. The show is really good too... unfortunately the Wii only has 2K.... and to tell you the truth, the controls for 2K on the Wii look like a pain. How are the motions realistic if you need to hold both the Wii Remote and Nunchuk to pitch? That makes no sense. Also, does anyone remember Tecmo Super Baseball for SNES? That game was sick.

  • Nirvana0511

    Posted Feb 29, 2008 7:15 am PT

    Cypher: I agree 2K1 wasn't perfect, but it really paved the way for baseball games in terms of options and realistic touches within the game. It was far from perfect, but most baseball games are much worse. Some have bad controls that make you scream from incompatibilty. Some have annoying announcers that keep repeating the same phrases (although you could just shut it off) and some have either been far too easy or vice versa.....where either way it gets old quick.

    2K1 was a hard game, but it wasn't like MLB for the NES where you get blown out every game. Frank Thomas Big Hurt Baseball for the SNES/PS1 was extremely challenging too. But that game really started evrything in terms of options for baseball games. If I'm not mistaken it was the first baseball game (or at least console) where you could warm of pitchers in a bullpen and intentionally walk a batter, or bean him. That game was expensive way back when, I paid 85 dollars for it new, and it was the last SNES game I ever bought (new anyway). I had the PS1 version too, but it wasn't as good. The loading times were ridiculously long as were most PS1 games, and the graphics were actually worse if you can believe it.

    I think I'm gonna wait and see what the reviews say on both The Show and 2K and make my choice. But Gamespot gave The Show a good rating last year and the game's controls were weak. It was a waste of what otherwise was a good game with graphics and features. But you gotta take some serious points off for controls: even if the game was deserving a 10, it's an automatic minus 5 points for bad control setups.

    Rbop: I never played those games to be honest, I should've said "the best of the games I've played"

    I think the worst baseball game series was the Triple Play series, man were those games bad.

  • Pablo620 posted Feb 28, 2008 9:51 pm PT (does not meet display criteria. sign in to show)

    Pablo620

    Posted Feb 28, 2008 9:51 pm PT (hide)

    The only baseball game that matters is MLB The Show. Oh sorry Xbots its for Sony by Sony. Enjoy MLB 2kcrapfest.

  • ocdog45

    Posted Feb 28, 2008 8:07 pm PT

    how can people evne play this crap. mlb the show is 10 times better

    some say who cares, but in sales and ratings the show has dominated over all abseball games.

  • cypher787

    Posted Feb 28, 2008 7:32 pm PT

    nirvana i agree mvp is the best baseball game ever i had 95 for ps2 but to say world seris 2k1 for dreamcast was good WOW that game was terrible that was probably the worst baseball game i ever played you couldnt even play defense on your own it played d for you it was sickening but yeah the show sucks but i have 360 and they dont make the show for it anyway so i might haveta buy this game im scared!!!!!

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