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Second Game Analysis
Major League Baseball 2K7 In creating MLB 2k7 producers successfully used simulation to bring the gaming experience to a whole new level of reality. This game simulates baseball like no other game has, making the gaming experience more realistic than ever before. Whether it’s throwing the ball around the diamond after getting a player out or showing the jump of the batter after making contact on that huge homerun ball, the game has used simulations to create a more realistic experience throughout the game. The whole game has been created to mirror reality to a “T” and does it as closely as is possible this day in age.
Over the years baseball games have effectively incorporated progressively better simulation. Early baseball video games were not very realistic and did not create a good representation of all aspects of the game. In these early games there were no cut shots of a player shaking his head after a bad play or a pitcher shaking off signs before throwing the pitch. Instead, early baseball video games, although still simulations, did not contain the real life aspects now incorporated in the newer ones. In more recent games, and especially MLB 2k7 there has been a huge shift towards the mimicking of real life baseball giving the player complete control of all aspects of the game. Producers have also added other forms of simulation into the game that are uncontrollable by the players. For example, after a called strike three sometimes batters will walk away from the plate angry at the umpire. This form of simulation is controlled by the computer in certain situations but adds a sense of realism reflecting both the virtual player and gamer’s displeasure with the outcome of the pitch. This revolutionary simulation, which was not available in previous year’s games, throws the gamer into the situation and effectively reflects his decisions and actions through the player. Other new aspects include the swing stick, which by pressing back and then forward on the joystick actually allows the gamer to control the motion of the player’s swing. This game is undoubtedly a great simulation of baseball, breaking away from the popularly held view that many video games are narratives rather than simulations.
In Chapter 10 of The Video Game Theory Reader Gonzalo Frasca uses the ludology perspective when approaching video games saying that they are not narratives, but rather simulations (Wolf and Perron, 222). Frasca would agree that MLB 2k7 is indeed a good example of a simulation in that it models real life baseball through using some of the same behaviors of the real players. By depicting the players’ actual stances, swings, throwing motions, and attitudes, MLB 2k7 effectively simulates real life baseball by taking on a lot of the behaviors of the real players and translating it to the virtual world (Wolf and Perron, 223). This game along with other sports games of this era provide an excellent example of the principle of simulation and their ability to reflect the real thing in a game that can be played by anyone.
MLB 2k7 embraces the use of simulation to provide a near mirror image to the real thing. This allows avid baseball fans like myself to be able to get a taste of the major leagues even if we can’t play in the real thing. The art of simulation provides a realistic and exciting approach to the game giving the feel of an actual big league game without having to simply be a spectator. MLB 2k7 uses simulation to create a realism that cannot be matched by a narrative form, and that continues to evolve every year bringing the gamer and the real thing closer together.
Over the years baseball games have effectively incorporated progressively better simulation. Early baseball video games were not very realistic and did not create a good representation of all aspects of the game. In these early games there were no cut shots of a player shaking his head after a bad play or a pitcher shaking off signs before throwing the pitch. Instead, early baseball video games, although still simulations, did not contain the real life aspects now incorporated in the newer ones. In more recent games, and especially MLB 2k7 there has been a huge shift towards the mimicking of real life baseball giving the player complete control of all aspects of the game. Producers have also added other forms of simulation into the game that are uncontrollable by the players. For example, after a called strike three sometimes batters will walk away from the plate angry at the umpire. This form of simulation is controlled by the computer in certain situations but adds a sense of realism reflecting both the virtual player and gamer’s displeasure with the outcome of the pitch. This revolutionary simulation, which was not available in previous year’s games, throws the gamer into the situation and effectively reflects his decisions and actions through the player. Other new aspects include the swing stick, which by pressing back and then forward on the joystick actually allows the gamer to control the motion of the player’s swing. This game is undoubtedly a great simulation of baseball, breaking away from the popularly held view that many video games are narratives rather than simulations.
In Chapter 10 of The Video Game Theory Reader Gonzalo Frasca uses the ludology perspective when approaching video games saying that they are not narratives, but rather simulations (Wolf and Perron, 222). Frasca would agree that MLB 2k7 is indeed a good example of a simulation in that it models real life baseball through using some of the same behaviors of the real players. By depicting the players’ actual stances, swings, throwing motions, and attitudes, MLB 2k7 effectively simulates real life baseball by taking on a lot of the behaviors of the real players and translating it to the virtual world (Wolf and Perron, 223). This game along with other sports games of this era provide an excellent example of the principle of simulation and their ability to reflect the real thing in a game that can be played by anyone.
MLB 2k7 embraces the use of simulation to provide a near mirror image to the real thing. This allows avid baseball fans like myself to be able to get a taste of the major leagues even if we can’t play in the real thing. The art of simulation provides a realistic and exciting approach to the game giving the feel of an actual big league game without having to simply be a spectator. MLB 2k7 uses simulation to create a realism that cannot be matched by a narrative form, and that continues to evolve every year bringing the gamer and the real thing closer together.
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, Mar 15 2007, 3:01 AM EDT
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