MLB Trade Deadline Tracker

I'm a big MLB fan, and today is July 31st, or trade deadline day. I will be following it on all 3 of my blogs, providing up-to-the-minute trades and analysis. I'm sorry I haven't been blogging very much; I just transferred high schools! I hope this will make up for it.


Disclaimer:
All trades and rumors are from MLB Trade Rumors. You can visit them at www.mlbtraderumors.com. Feel free to go check them out; they run a really great MLB site. Please enjoy!

New Video Games

If you have been following the latest news, you know that E3 just closed doors on Thursday. If you know video games, you know E3 is the pinnacle of the video gaming world. I have to say that this year's E3 was probably the best that I can remember. Now, at Christmas, I will be selecting one of the following games as a present. They will get a full length review. I listed them in order of importance (most likely to least likely).

NCAA Football 13
Madden 13
WWE 13
NBA 2k13
MLB 12 the Show
MLB 2k12
WWE Smackdown! vs Raw 2008

If you have a preference, just let me know. Oh, and stay tuned for my NCAA Football 13 demo review later this week. Thanks!

MLB 2k12 Demo Review

In the absence of a MLB 12 the Show demo, I decided to try my hand at the MLB 2k12 demo. Now, the game released in early March, to mostly positive reviews. It boasted new pitching mechanics and Justin Verlander on the cover, both of which are sure to keep fans happy. I got the demo, and got ready to play.

 In all baseball demos, there isn't any commentary, so I couldn't listen to the updated commentary. However, from watching videos on YouTube, I gathered it was superb. Now, in graphics, there is no question that the Show is better, and that doesn't change. The game mostly looks the same as it did three years ago, which can get quite frustrating. Animations are choppy, players have heads the size of hot-air balloons, and the faces look like something you would find at the bottom of your shoe. Presentation is the same as always, and really doesn't add anything to the game. However, there are some new fielding animations that make outfielders that much smoother. I put this all aside and got ready to take the field.

 The batting gameplay is the same as ever. I've gotten better at it and don't strike out that often. This made it a little more realistic. Overall, nothing is new in hitting and it's time to move on.

 Pitching is incredible this year. For each pitch, you have a ring of color that can be blue, yellow, or red, based on what you throw. Yellow means the pitch is somewhat expected, and red means if you throw it, he's going to hit it. This forces you to mix up your pitches or get blown up. Also, pitch ratings can be red or green. Green means it improved, red means it decreased. This adds more realism to the game. For instance, opponents could guess my fastball because my other four pitches were in the red. I allowed six runs and lost.

 Overall, this game moves forward. Though it looks and feels the same as previous versions, pitching is at the top of it's game. It's hard to argue with success, and this game feels like a success. Good job 2k Sports. Overall: +pitching +new animations -feels like a repeat -terrible graphics Final Score:8.25/10

I'm back to the blog!

This weekend I will post a new review on a game. Stay tuned for more! New update: I will review a demo, not a full game.

MLB 2k10 Review

MLB 2k10 REVIEW(demo)

This morning I had the non-pleasurable experience of playing MLB 2k10 the demo. The first time I realized that I would be in for a long day was when I booted up the demo and saw Evan Longoria, casually throwing a man out. Now, who would put him on the front cover? 2k Sports, it was the Yankees versus the Phillies last year in the world series! However, this odd chink in MLB 2k10's armor is straightened out in the exhibition match, which I started right now.

I have always liked 2k Sports idea of having a little pre-game show before each showdown, and it was no different here. Images of player's faces and their statistics flashed by, revolving around a huge, very graphic, representation of a baseball. It ended (very dramatically, I might add) with the words: Yankees vs Phillies flashing on the screen, around another floating object (again a baseball), before the screen went black, signaling the long-awaited start to the showdown featuring two teams of might.

I noticed that the graphics were terrible when it came to game time. Ryan Howard looked like Dwight Howard, Chase Utley like my dad, and Placido Polanco like me. The demo did not come with commentary, so I had no idea what they might say about my terrible performance at both the mound and the plate.

Pitching in MLB 2k10 is extremely difficult. You put the right stick through specific movements while moving the left stick to guide your pitch. Also while doing this you have to pay attention to your "gesture", or the way you move the right stick. Move it a little off-line, and you have a weak "gesture", and a bit more off-line and you have a wild pitch. I found this so complex that I was throwing wild pitch after wild pitch, and soon had allowed 5 runs to score, all while allowing 3 hits. Batting is less complex, but if possible, even harder to master. Three innings was the extent of the demo, and I struck out 7 times. Final score: Yankees 0, Phillies 5

In all, MLB 2k10 was another disappointment by 2k Sports. When MLB 2k11 comes out, I will not be the first in line to get it. However, this game has strange moments of addiction. In a few years, I may be eating my words. That, however, is a few years.

In short:

+good presentation

+moments of addication

-bad graphics

-too complex

-very hard to master

OVERALL SCORE: 6.75

Game Review structure

Each week, I shall review two games* for PS3 in a head-to-head match-up. These games will be scored upon:

Presentation, gameplay, playability (sports games), and story (non-sports games).

There will be ten points possible in each category, 30 overall as each will be in the same genre. The winning game will be put in the bracket for Game of the Month awards, where they will be reviewed again to determine the Game of the Month. Here is a sample:

Basketball

NBA Live 10(demo) vs NBA 2k11(Full game)

Gameplay

This one is pretty obvious. Unlike in Live 10, I feel

NBA Live 10 is good in the like I can do something

begging, but after that, you new every time.Passing

feel like you are making the has gotten slicker, and

same moves over and over I feel as if I can be a

again. Altogether, boring. NBA superstar.

Score: 5 Score: 9.75

Presentation

Though Live 10 has improved I like 2k11's graphics.

it is obvious they have a long They to jump out at

way to go. The news stories you and grab your

before games are intresting attention. The focus

but the game does not look on Jordan makes the

very real. game satisfying.

Score: 7 Score: 8.75

Playability

Live 10 feels smooth, the As much as Live 10

only real place that shines stands out in this

out. I could use with more category, I think that

emphasis on other issues, it could use some work.

however, but it is good as it NBA 2k11 is amazing

is. here and could not get better.

Score: 9.5 Score: 10

Final Thoughts

Live 10 is getting better, and some more years in production could make it a lot better. However, with the canceling of NBA Elite 11, EA Sports is in a deep hole. We shall see if they can dig themselves out. Meanwhile, like a star player at the peak of his career, NBA 2k11 shines and probably will come next year.

NBA Live 10 NBA 2k11

Final score: 21.5 out of 30 Final score: 28.5 out of 30

Winner: NBA 2k11

*-sometimes I will review three games

Opening

This is the official opening of reviews and such, where I review video games, restaurants, books etc. This blog will be updated weekly, unless I am out of town. Enjoy!