Pads & Panels

Product: Nintendo Skyward Sword Cap

Company: ThinkGeek

Review by: Archie Easter

As far as gaming series go, Zelda is a fairly cherished and storied franchise, so when Nintendo decides to release merchandise for the series, it’s usually pretty good.

This cap released by the company for the series’ newest game, Skyward Sword, is no exception. This fitted cap is all black with a golden Skyward Sword and Triforce logo emblazoned in reflective paint across the front. The effect works fairly well, as the logo practically glows when worn in direct sunlight. (more…)

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Title: Baseball’s Greatest Games: 2011 World Series, Games 6

Format: Blu-ray

Studio: A+E Networks

Game Rating:

Blu-ray Rating:

Review by: Jon DePaolis

The Game

All cards on the table, I absolutely hate it when people deem something an instant classic. I hate it when ESPN pushes product by calling a first-round playoff basketball game an instant classic just because it goes to overtime. No, a classic gets its status because it changes the way someone views a sport or is so superior to anything anyone has seen in recent memory.

So take heed when I write, as much as it pains this Cubs fan’s heart to write, Game 6 of the 2011 World Series is an instant classic. And the fine folks at Major League Baseball Productions agree, as they have already packaged Game 6 as an addition to its “Baseball’s Greatest Games” series with A+E Networks. (more…)

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Title: MLB 11: The Show

Platform: PS3 (PSP)

ESRB: E

Publisher: Sony Computer Entertainment

Developer: Sony San Diego

Rating:

Review by: Archie Easter

With baseball season in full swing, it’s also time for baseball games to make their seasonal trek to consoles. With that, MLB 11: The Show is hitting the mound this year with a few changeups to the series formula. Past entries of the franchise have sometimes been short on additions and new features, but MLB 11: The Show assuredly slides home as more of an evolution than last year’s turn at bat. (more…)

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Title: MLB 10 The Show

Platform: PSP (PS3)

ESRB: E

Publisher: Sony Computer Entertainment

Developer: Sony San Diego

Rating:

Review by: Bill Jones

MLB 10 The Show is effectively its PS3 kin’s portable and stunted counterpart, but taken as a portable title, it also keeps Sony the most impressive sim on the portable market. The PSP version definitely isn’t as robust or option-filled as its counterpart, and online play has been scrapped (though ad hoc head-to-head is available), which may be a major shot to series fans. But gamers will be pleasantly surprised to find just how much customization is present, not to mention styles of play, from season mode to the trademark “Road to the Show.” This is a portable baseball game with beautiful graphics, meticulously crafted stadiums and full audio commentary. It controls almost identically to the PS3 version, though it seems a little something is lost when it comes to the complexity of pitching and hitting, and many fans will anger at the lack of roster updates, complicated base running and lack of online support. It’s still better than the handheld competition, but is it better than last year’s version? That’s a harder question to answer. (more…)

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Title: MLB 10 The Show

Platform: PS3 (PSP)

ESRB: E

Publisher: Sony Computer Entertainment

Developer: Sony San Diego

Rating:

Review by: Bill Jones

Another year, another baseball game. Most fans know by now what to expect from the incremental improvements to the sports realm, and though MLB 10 The Show is no exception, baseball fans will still find plenty to love here. The PlayStation-exclusive MLB franchise has long held the title as the best option in the market, and with the latest installment it retains, despite competition stepping up its game. MLB 10 may not boast bombastic bullet points touting incredible new features, and in many cases it seems like a very small step up from last year’s version. But the under-the-hood tweaks to the engine, new animations, commentary, additions to Road to the Show and improvements to online leagues go a long way in making the series that much more addicting. There is no better baseball sim available, and with the addition of “Catcher Mode” and highlight reels, there are new ways to play the All-American favorite. Can fans get by just keeping on with MLB 09? Sure. But MLB 10 is great for anyone who has been slacking on the franchise. (more…)

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Title: Major League Baseball 2K10

Platform: 360 (DS, PC, PS3, Wii)

ESRB Rating: E

Publisher:  2K Sports

Developer: Visual Concepts

Rating:

Review by: Dan Braun

As April is upon us, it’s once again time to break out the gloves and partake in America’s pastime. With last year’s controversially awful product turning fans off of the 2K franchise, many gamers will approach Major League Baseball 2K10 with great caution. Fortunately for the gaming community, 2K has put out a respectable product that should regain some confidence in 2K’s sports line.

Major League Baseball 2K10 doesn’t do anything drastically new or innovative, but it has an excellent pitching system in place, which requires players to perform a series of joystick motions to throw the perfect pitch. Additionally, this requirement adjusts to the game, depending on the pitcher’s composure, performance or the significance of a situation. For instance, throwing two consecutive hits with runners on board will create enough stress to speed up the pitching motions, which is more likely to cause a pitcher to make mistakes and throw something regrettable. The whole process is fairly intuitive, consistent, and works extremely well. (more…)

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We just got off the phone with people from 2K Sports and developer Visual Concepts – producer Ben Bishop, and designers Jonathan Rivera and Sean Bailey, to be exact – in a conference call moderated by Access Communications media relations director Chase about MLB 2K10. The questions were submitted by our site, as well as others involved in the call. We might be transcribing highlights of it to post or include in a story later, but we thought seeing as we had a decent audio file, we’d post that right away for our visitors who would like to listen to all 46 minutes of it from start to finish, and get to hear exactly what we did. The developers touch on many aspects of the game over the course of the interview. Enjoy! The game is scheduled to hit shelves March 2.

MLB 2K10 Developer Conference Call

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

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Title: MLB 09 The Show

Platform: PS3 (Also on PS2, PSP)

ESRB Rating: E

Publisher: Sony

Developer: Sony

Rating:

Review by: Bill Jones

PlayStation users have been spoiled in recent years by having the superior MLB-licensed baseball titles on the market. While the 2K series has struggled to find its footing, Sony’s MLB series hit the mark several years ago. With MLB 09 The Show, Sony continues to refine its series, which is focused on an up-close and personal, uber-realistic take on the sport, with a bevy of options that make it a great game for anyone interested in baseball, whether they be hardcore gamers looking for in-depth online leagues and stadium management, or just casual fans looking to crank a few balls with friends. (more…)

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