2K Sports: Major League Baseball 2K8 New Features Announced

by Chad Lakkis on February 12, 2008 at 8:09 pm

It’s turning out to be a pretty big day for sports related gaming announcements. In what could be taken as a response to EA’s “All your NFL belong to us” press release, 2K Sports releases a list containing some new features for their MLB exclusive licensed title, Major League Baseball 2K8.

The list below is courtesy of the 2K Sports press release (available in full after our post).

- Total Pitch Control: A new, innovative pitching interface that allows players to emulate the realistic motion of pitching a live baseball. Execution of speed and precise accuracy involves matching specific gestures and release with the right analog stick, simulating the arm and wrist action involved in throwing that particular type of pitch.

- Swing Stick 2.0: Improved batting controls that offer players unparalleled ball-to-bat contact that will be determined by timing, direction and pitch location for a greater variety of realistic hits, including grounders, blooper singles, dribblers, gappers, long home runs and more using the right analog stick.

- All-New Baserunning: Simplified controls that allow fans to easily select players with the left analog stick and guide them toward specified bases with ease.

- Precision Throw Control: Provides unprecedented control over throw accuracy using the right analog stick, bringing a new level of realism to playing defense.

- Full Minor Leagues: Fans will be treated to 90 authentic minor league teams, along with 18 minor league stadiums in franchise and exhibition modes.

- Two of the best Commentators in the Business: 2K Sports proudly brings back to the broadcast booth the popular duo of Jon Miller and Hall of Famer Joe Morgan, delivering the most entertaining and deepest commentary available in any baseball franchise.

The list above came with a vague footnote stating that “certain features will vary between platforms”, so it appears that certain features (which ones are unclear) may be excluded on certain systems. Press release below.

2K Sports Swings For The Fences With New Features In Major League Baseball® 2K8

Intuitive pitching, batting, fielding and throwing mechanics provide for most realistic baseball simulation experience yet

New York, NY – February 12, 2008 – While dedicated baseball fans eagerly anticipate the start of Spring Training™, the next installment of the wildly popular Major League Baseball 2K franchise steps up to the plate and swings for the fences. 2K Sports, the sports publishing label of Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc. (NASDAQ: TTWO), today unveiled a host of exciting new gameplay features and added content for Major League Baseball 2K8, as fans will have the opportunity this season to play the most enjoyable and authentic baseball simulation experience available.

“With Major League Baseball 2K8, our goal was to bring fans of the Major League Baseball 2K series closer to the exciting baseball action than ever before,” said Ben Brinkman, Executive Producer of the Major League Baseball 2K franchise. “We read the message boards and forums, and spoke to MLB® players in an effort to deliver realism and tap into what the fans want in a baseball video game. From the new pitching system, and fielding and baserunning controls, to a completely overhauled batting interface, and addition of a robust Minor League™ system, Major League Baseball 2K8 will deliver players a fun experience they will want to play year round.”

Some of the exciting new features and added content in Major League Baseball 2K8 include:

- Total Pitch Control — A new, innovative pitching interface that allows players to emulate the realistic motion of pitching a live baseball. Execution of speed and precise accuracy involves matching specific gestures and release with the right analog stick, simulating the arm and wrist action involved in throwing that particular type of pitch.

- Swing Stick 2.0 — Improved batting controls that offer players unparalleled ball-to-bat contact that will be determined by timing, direction and pitch location for a greater variety of realistic hits, including grounders, blooper singles, dribblers, gappers, long home runs and more using the right analog stick.

- All-New Baserunning — Simplified controls that allow fans to easily select players with the left analog stick and guide them toward specified bases with ease.

- Precision Throw Control — Provides unprecedented control over throw accuracy using the right analog stick, bringing a new level of realism to playing defense.

- Full Minor Leagues — Fans will be treated to 90 authentic minor league teams, along with 18 minor league stadiums in franchise and exhibition modes.

- Two of the best Commentators in the Business — 2K Sports proudly brings back to the broadcast booth the popular duo of Jon Miller and Hall of Famer Joe Morgan, delivering the most entertaining and deepest commentary available in any baseball franchise.

** Certain features will vary between platforms.

Along with a host of other new features, Major League Baseball 2K8 includes added Signature Style™ animations such as new and improved player walk-ups, batting stances, home run celebrations, steps-ins and step-outs to make each unique player true to life. For competitive players, Major League Baseball 2K8 allows fans to have fun while competing against each other online, testing their skills in a single game, tournament or full league season against more than one million elite online gamers in the 2K community. New online lobbies have been added to help users match up with others who want to play with a similar style, including a “Strikes Only” lobby, where pitchers can only throw in the strike zone, and lobbies where players use the advanced analog stick controls or the controls from previous iterations of the Major League Baseball 2K series.

Major League Baseball 2K8, rated E for Everyone by the ESRB, will be available in retail stores on March 4, 2008 for Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft, PLAYSTATION®3 computer entertainment system, PlayStation®2 computer entertainment system, PSP® (PlayStation®Portable) system, and Wii™ home video game system from Nintendo.