Major League Baseball 2K7

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MLB 2K7
Developer(s)	Kush Games
Publisher(s)	2K Sports
Release date(s)	February 27, 2007 (USA, most platforms) March 19, 2007 (USA, DS & GBA)
Genre(s)	Sports
Mode(s)	Single player, multiplayer
Rating(s)	ESRB: E
Platform(s)	PSP, PlayStation 2, PlayStation 3, Xbox, Xbox 360, Nintendo DS, Game Boy Advance

Major League Baseball 2K7 (or MLB 2K7) is a Major League Baseball licensed baseball simulation video game developed by Kush Games and published by 2K Sports. Released on February 27, 2007, it is the only 2007 MLB licensed game available for the Xbox 360 and Xbox. It is also available for the PlayStation Portable, the PlayStation 2 and, for the first time, the PlayStation 3, though its competition came in the form of MLB 07: The Show from 989 Sports. The GameCube was dropped as a platform but portable versions for the Nintendo DS and Game Boy Advance will be released. It is the first baseball game to be released for the Nintendo DS.

For the third year in a row, Derek Jeter is the cover athlete, and ESPN baseball broadcasters Jon Miller and Joe Morgan serve as announcers, despite the loss of the ESPN license to Electronic Arts.

Contents 1 History 2 Gameplay 3 Reception 4 Soundtrack 5 References 6 External links

[edit] History

According to lead developer Ben Brinkman, MLB 2K7 will be skipped as a Wii title; the first game for the Wii will be MLB 2K8^[1]. MLB 2K7 was officially announced as gold on February 23, 2007 and was shipped on February 26; its previous release date had been advertised as March 5. ^[2] This was presumably to prevent early adoption of MLB 07: The Show on Sony platforms. However, the Nintendo DS and GBA versions were conspicuously absent from the announcement.^[3] The reported release date for those handhelds is March 19, 2007. It differs vastly from its 2006 release of MLB 2K6.

A demo was released on Xbox Live Marketplace for Xbox 360 owners on February 26, 2007.^[4]

[edit] Gameplay

The new iteration features a stunningly lifelike batter/pitcher interface on seventh generation console systems, as well as more detailed models and AI tweaks. Last year's "Inside Edge" also returns, with a tweak in that playing to a player's strengths causes a boost in ability.

Other new features, as published by 2K Sports, include:

• Signature Style: In a GameSpot CES video 2K Sports rep Alex Hayden revealed that they included NBA 2K7's "signature style" feature in which 150 major players' tendencies and animations mimicked the real-life stars. According to former MVP Baseball series and current 2K Sports Major League Baseball series developer Ben Brinkman, "nearly all of [the] player faces have been redone from the ground-up using scanned data."^[5]
• True Fielding: Fielder positioning, relay and cutoff A.I. are redesigned to allow for better, more authentic Major League defensive play. Defensive alignments are now based on who is at the plate. Rundowns are revamped as well.
• Dynamic Throwing System: A new implementation of responsive throwing mechanics coupled with unique animations for infield, outfield and situational throws.
• Franchise Finance: A revised, beefier franchise mode including team news, attendance, ticket prices and fan "buzz".
• 2K Sports Online Play: Online leagues and tournaments are implemented. The Xbox 360 version will feature full 30 man leagues, while the PlayStation 3 version will support only 12, though the developers claimed they would try to increase the maximum number.^[6]
• Online Franchise: Play with up to four of your friends in a franchise or season.^[7]

Other additions include a ramped up player and manager ejection system, including a minigame in which the player controlling the manager will tap a button to argue with the umpire; in multiplayer, the opponent will take control of the umpire and try to precision tap a button to eject the opponent's manager. A managerial ejection will cause the player's team to be controlled by the CPU^[8]. Umpires also have their own personalities and AI, meaning each umpire will have a unique style of calling a game.^[9]. An important feature is the use of the joystick's force feedback during same-machine multiplayer - as the invisible icon reaches the edges of the strike zone, the rumble will increase. (PlayStation 3 owners will not be able to enjoy this feature due to the lack of such a feature in the gamepad.) Other minor touches include ballboys retrieving baseballs, fans catching foul balls, and dynamic bullpen activity.

[edit] Reception

The "next-gen" versions of the game (Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3) were released to generally positive reviews. The March 2007 issue of Game Informer awarded the game an 8.5/10 score for the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3. The Xbox 360 version of the game received ratings of 7.9/10 from IGN^[10], a 7.5/10 from 1UP^[11] and a 8.4/10 from Team Xbox^[12]. IGN's score for the PlayStation 3 version was lower (7.5/10).^[13]

Of the "current generation" versions, IGN awarded both the Xbox and PlayStation 2 versions a 7.0/10.^[14]. However, IGN strongly criticized the current generation versions for having too many bugs, unimproved player models, incorrect commentary, and most of all, extremely inaccurate player ratings.

[edit] Soundtrack

The chiefly alternative rock soundtrack includes the following artists and songs:

(Only 12 of the 21 songs are included on the Playstation 2 and Xbox versions)

• "1970" - The Stooges
• "Breed" - Nirvana
• "Down" - 311
• "Emergency" - Cities in Dust
• "Hold On to Your Genre" - Les Savy Fav
• "High Five Anxiety" - Nerf Herder
• "I Can't Shake It" - Five Horse Johnson
• "Insistor" - Tapes 'n Tapes
• "Little Girl" - Death from Above 1979
• "Man’s Ruin" - Greatdayforup
• "A Message to You Rudy" - The Specials
• "Middle Management" - Bishop Allen
• "Mr. Grieves" - Pixies
• "Munich" - Editors
• "Naïve" - The Jealous Sound
• "A Passing Feeling" - The Thermals
• "Plan of the Man" - The M’s
• "The Rat" - The Walkmen
• "Set the Speed" - Dixie Witch
• "Summertime" *- Sublime
• "Woman" - Wolfmother

* The original name of the song "Summertime" by Sublime, is "Doin' Time". No reason has been given for the change in name.

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• Official Site
• 2K Sports
• Ben Brinkman's Developer's Blog
• Player Edits and Created Players

Preceded by Major League Baseball 2K6

2K Sports Major League Baseball series 2007

Succeeded by Major League Baseball 2K8