MLB 2005
- December 11, 2003 22:26 PM PST
- Email this!
989 Sports throws out the first pitch with a sneak peek at its newest baseball game.
The baseball season is still a few months away, but video game developers are already gearing up for opening day. 989 Sports recently gave us a sneak peak at MLB 2005, and though the game is still early, the company has made an effort to address some of the complaints about last year?s version, MLB 2004.Top on the list of new features is a redesigned pitching and batting interface. 989?s total control batting was welcomed by experts, but many casual gamers found it a bit overwhelming. For MLB 2005, the developers are introducing zone control. Total control is still there, but the new zone control interface offers a simpler setup for the batter, making it a bit easier to get a bead on the ball. Simply choose one of four zones where you think the ball is going to cross the plate and then worry about the timing. Complete novices will be able to try their hands at a beginner mode, which automatically lines up the bat?all you have to do is swing.
New camera options will help players lock down that perfect on field view, while interactive hot and cold zones that change over the course of the game help keep things from becoming stagnant. Pressure sensitive control has been implemented for the pitching interface, so power is now a function of how hard you mash on the button. Increased speed can make it harder for a batter to hit the ball, but it also decreases the accuracy of your pitch.
Going online is a popular feature and MLB 2005 isn?t about to be left in the dust. Online play will be routed through 989SportsOnline.com and will support head-to-head gameplay as well as 32 team tournaments. Both the headset and keyboard will be supported.
Visually, the game should be an improvement over last year, which was merely average in the graphics department. 989 is promising 60 FPS for the final game, which will ensure smooth action if the developers can pull it off. MLB 2004 only ran at 30 FPS by comparison. Player models have also been rebuilt and the ballparks have an increased level of detail.
MLB 2005 will be facing some heavy competition, but if it can live up to the promises made by 989 the game should be a definite improvement over MLB 2004. We?ll have more details after we?ve logged a few innings.
