The Evolution of Baseball Video Games

[rmackman]

It's kind of interesting when you take a look back to see how far baseball video games have come since the late 80s. I figure these seven games are a fair representation of their development. Feel free to add any you like if you think my list is incomplete:

RBI Baseball (NES) - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DDsVxrtbi-o

Super Baseball Simulator 1,000 (SNES) - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kBoU62pW4-M

Hardball III (Sega Genesis) -

World Series Baseball 95 (Sega Genesis) -

Triple Play 98 (PS1) - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JK2bwSfNlow

MVP 2005 (PS2) - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kyx8KHfZCMM

MLB 10: The Show (PS3) - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=17KGrxoEPIQ

[NEW.ERA]

MVP 2005 and MLB 2k8 are my favorite but MVP 2005 takes the cake as the best Baseball video game.

Get back the rights EA Sports.

[BigMac12]

I really love MVP 2005's Hitter's eye. The color coded pitch recognition system, couple with the contrail, made hitting a lot easier. I wish EA still made the series.

[rmackman]

I really love MVP 2005's Hitter's eye. The color coded pitch recognition system, couple with the contrail, made hitting a lot easier. I wish EA still made the series.

I agree, I liked the hitter's eye as well. MLB 10 The Show is the best looking game I've ever played, but it's not the most fun because it's a bit too hard. MVP still had a bit of an arcade feel to it that made it fun.

[RyanMcD29]

I dunno, as much as I loved EA's MVP Baseball series, I love Sony's MLB The Show even more. Tough call between the two.

[NEW.ERA]

Well I don't have a Playstation so I still base it off of pre 2k9 games and the MVP series.

[BadSeed84]

The first baseball game I remember playing was Bases Loaded 2 or 3 (or 4?)

The first one I remember playing alot was RBI Baseball 94

then World Series 95 was sooo awesome

then it would be the ken griffey games on the N64

I think I have a triple play and mvp game on the ps2

I dont have any baseball games for the 360 yet....even tho like 2 years ago I got All Star Baseball 2005 used for cheap....acclaims last baseball game if im correct and its kinda good, also it has classic stadiums which I love and they dont have to be unlocked or anything. (Baker Bowl is so cool to play in lol)

Also Super Baseball 2020 is a cool game for the sega genesis

The absolute worst baseball game I own is MLB2K7 for game boy advance, it is soooo horrible! ken griffeys slugfest from game boy color is better! luckily I found baseball advance which is good for the gba, then again the other month I got a flash cart for the gba so I got a couple NES, Gamegear baseball games (with others of course)

Interestingly back then in the 8 bit and even 16 bit era, it was ok if a baseball game didnt have the mlb license, as long as it was good, now it would look odd. also I HATE how almost every current and last gen baseball game has throwbacks that are usually inaccurate somehow.

I mean cmon theres NO EXCUSE imo!

[infrared41]

World Series Baseball 2 for The Sega Saturn was a great game back in the day. Link.

I used to think MVP 2005 was the best baseball game ever but after playing MLB 10 The Show I have to change my vote. The Show is about as good as it gets.

[-(dp)-]

I still break out the Sega Game Gear every once in a while to play a game called the majors. (Yes, I own a working Sega Game Gear) I haven't played a newer baseball game, but I can't imagine it gets any better than that one.

[FiddySicks]

IMO MVP Baseball 2005 isn't only the best baseball game ever made, it's the best game ever made. Period. I straight up wore out two copies of that game for the PS2 and one for PC. It's by far the game I've put the most hours into. In fact, that entire series was terriffic. It was originally Triple Play baseball, and TPB 2001 was another game that was hard to walk away from. It had the coolest side game where you could have a home run derby in a giant living room, on the Moon, in a junkyard, and a bunch more. Coolest thing was that if you hit a foul or dropped one down in play it still had the opportunity to bounce around for a bit and break something and it didn't count as an out. The Show series is an awesome collection of games, but EA Sports had baseball games down so well it was practically an art form. Too bad we can't get even half of the creativity and style for Madden.

[GFB]

The original Hardball and Hardball II on the PC... I loved those games.

[Pharos04]

Can't believe you don't have ANY of the Bases Loaded games for the NES. There was also a game called Major League Baseball that was officially endorsed by MLB at the time. Horrible horrible game play but relevant at the time

[DG_ThenNowForever]

World Series Baseball 2 for The Sega Saturn was a great game back in the day. Link.

I used to think MVP 2005 was the best baseball game ever but after playing MLB 10 The Show I have to change my vote. The Show is about as good as it gets.

Woah....someone else played World Series Baseball II on Saturn? I was sure I was the only one. I'm pretty sure it was the first game with fully rendered stadiums. At a time, it was the most beautiful sports game by a large measure.

[infrared41]

World Series Baseball 2 for The Sega Saturn was a great game back in the day. Link.

I used to think MVP 2005 was the best baseball game ever but after playing MLB 10 The Show I have to change my vote. The Show is about as good as it gets.

Woah....someone else played World Series Baseball II on Saturn? I was sure I was the only one. I'm pretty sure it was the first game with fully rendered stadiums. At a time, it was the most beautiful sports game by a large measure.

Great minds I guess. I liked how if a created a player made a great defensive play the announcer would excitedly yell "first baseman!"

Anyone remember the name of the game that had Curt Schilling on the cover a few years back? It was a really good game but I can't remember the name of it.

EDIT: Never mind. It was called High Heat and it was a pretty good game. Link

[joshhockey]

How 'bout Roger Clemens baseball for Gameboy? Still play it on the way to the cottage.

[Bmac]

No Backyard Baseball?

[Shumway]

World Series Baseball 2 for The Sega Saturn was a great game back in the day. Link.

I used to think MVP 2005 was the best baseball game ever but after playing MLB 10 The Show I have to change my vote. The Show is about as good as it gets.

Woah....someone else played World Series Baseball II on Saturn? I was sure I was the only one. I'm pretty sure it was the first game with fully rendered stadiums. At a time, it was the most beautiful sports game by a large measure.

Count me in here. I picked up a Saturn a few years ago at a yard sale for like 10 bucks, with World Series II being one of the games that came with it. I loved when you're the home team, the announcer adds in nicknames (ex. Fred "The Crimedooooooooooog" McGriff).

I'll throw Major League Baseball Presents Ken Griffey, Jr. for Super Nintendo in as the best baseball game ever. I don't know if I'm the only person, but I actually went through and entered all of the MLB players' names into the game.

[ElwoodCuse]

Can't believe you don't have ANY of the Bases Loaded games for the NES. There was also a game called Major League Baseball that was officially endorsed by MLB at the time. Horrible horrible game play but relevant at the time

The best NES game was Baseball Stars, hands down.

I also agree that The Show is a little too hardcore for my tastes and overall not as much fun as MVP 2005 was.

[illwauk]

Can't believe you don't have ANY of the Bases Loaded games for the NES. There was also a game called Major League Baseball that was officially endorsed by MLB at the time. Horrible horrible game play but relevant at the time

The best NES game was Baseball Stars, hands down.

I also agree that The Show is a little too hardcore for my tastes and overall not as much fun as MVP 2005 was.

I didn't know what I was gonna say if I made it all the way down the thread and there was still no mention of Baseball Stars. For a game from 1989 it was unbelievably ahead of its time.

I also would've sworn my cousin and I were the only ones who knew of the ridiculously over-the-top pleasures of Super Baseball Simulator 1.000... I couldn't tell you how many nights of sleep we lost to the Ultra League.

Also... Earl Weaver Baseball anyone?

[dfwabel]

Can't believe you don't have ANY of the Bases Loaded games for the NES. There was also a game called Major League Baseball that was officially endorsed by MLB at the time. Horrible horrible game play but relevant at the time

The best NES game was Baseball Stars, hands down.

I also agree that The Show is a little too hardcore for my tastes and overall not as much fun as MVP 2005 was.

I didn't know what I was gonna say if I made it all the way down the thread and there was still no mention of Baseball Stars. For a game from 1989 it was unbelievably ahead of its time.

I also would've sworn my cousin and I were the only ones who knew of the ridiculously over-the-top pleasures of Super Baseball Simulator 1.000... I couldn't tell you how many nights of sleep we lost to the Ultra League.

Also... Earl Weaver Baseball anyone?

Earl Weaver Baseball?

Only if it is as colorful as "Manager's Corner"