CES TeamXbox Impressions

[pastapadre]

http://previews.teamxbox.com/xbox-36...seball-2K7/p1/

Given that they're the only publisher that can make a baseball game carrying the official seal of Major League Baseball, it would be easy for 2K Sports to simply slap on a fresh coat of paint on last year's game and call it a day. Well, actually, they'd probably also do well to fix that horrendous crash bug, but let's forget about that for now. The point is, giving a developer an exclusive can be a recipe for disaster if they don't care about improving it from year to year. Thankfully, it doesn't appear that 2K works that way, as evidenced by our time with MLB 2K7 on the show floor at the 2007 International CES. The game appears to be shaping up beautifully, as it feature some new gameplay mechanics, polished graphics, and improved player models.

Let's kick things off by talking about what's carried over from last year's game. The pitching mechanic that was perfected in MLB 2K6 has returned, and it's just as challenging as ever. You'll be able to place your pitch, with the location indicating where the ball will break, not where it'll hit the catcher's mitt. Of course, if it's a fastball, it'll just zip right in there. Once you've decided on the pitch you want to throw, hold down the corresponding button (or bumper, for those hurlers with more than 4 pitches), let it go when the power is at its max, then hit it again when your accuracy is spot-on. It sounds easy, sure, but it'll take new players a while to adjust.

Waiting for the pitch.


The same can be said for the batting mechanic, which can be frustratingly tough to get used to. When you're at bat, you can pull back on the right analog stick to begin your stride as the ball is approaching the plate. If you want to take a contact swing, just let go of the analog stick to follow through, while you'll have to push it forward smoothly to swing for the fences. They've also added a safety swing this year if you just want to protect the plate, and all you've got to do is push forward on the analog stick. If it's anything like last year's game, you'll likely strike out more than you make contact in your first few games.

So, what's new in the game? Well, the visuals are greatly improved over last year, for one. There are all-new player models, as well as plenty of new animations that make everything look much more fluid. There are also over 150 "signature styles" that make your favorite players look and act just like their real-life counterparts. Finally, each of the stadiums has been completely reworked so that they have all of the touches that make them feel just like they should. For instance, we took a look at Fenway Park, and it's easy to see that the team spent some time exploring the nooks and crannies.

There are a few other nice touches, too. When an opposing player is running the bases, you'll be able to see a faint outline of the basepaths superimposed on the screen. It's really subtle, but it definitely comes in handy when you've got to decide which runner to try to gun down. The game features some new replay camera angles, too, as well as a nifty depth-of-field effect when the "camera" zooms in on a player from afar. Finally, the Inside Edge system returns, but it's not just for pitchers anymore. Batters will now be able to scout opposing pitchers in an attempt to gain an advantage.

We only got to spend a few innings playing Major League Baseball 2K7, but it'd definitely shaping up to be a major improvement over last year's game. They've kept everything good in place, added plenty of new stuff, and (hopefully) ironed out all of the kinks. We'll be bringing you more on the game before the Boys of Summer hit spring training.

[ROKBONE]

good stuff so far looks promising for us baseball junkies.keep up the great finds pasta.

[ShooterMcGavin]

This game better be good. Or I'm going to kill someone.

[CRKnight]

very encouraging.

i pray to God every night about this game.

please, jesus...