Software:MLB 2004

From HandWiki
Short description: 2003 video game

MLB 2004
The cover featuring Los Angeles Dodgers' Shawn Green.
Developer(s)989 Sports
Publisher(s)Sony Computer Entertainment
SeriesMLB
Platform(s)PlayStation, PlayStation 2
ReleasePlayStation 2
  • NA: March 11, 2003[1]
  • JP: June 19, 2003
PlayStation
Genre(s)Sports (baseball)
Mode(s)Single-player, multiplayer

MLB 2004 is a 2003 baseball video game developed by 989 Sports and published by Sony Computer Entertainment for the PlayStation 2. An abridged version for the PlayStation more faithful to its predecessors was released the same month. Unlike the earliest releases of baseball video games, such as Atari: Home Run, MLB 2004 maintained traditional aspects of baseball. The game included all of the classic baseball elements of "pitching, hitting, fielding and base running" while including the ability to develop a team and strategize.[3] MLB's control over the game's core features and design allowed for consistent brand image and resonated with fans internationally.[4] It was the first game in the MLB series to not be exclusive to North America, as it was released in Japan as MLB 2003 for the PlayStation 2 .

Vin Scully and Dave Campbell provide commentary for the game. On the cover is Los Angeles Dodgers player Shawn Green. The game includes accurate player rankings and statistics related to the baseball drafting process, allowing fans to tie their pre-existing baseball knowledge with video game entertainment. The MLB series prioritized accuracy when it came to representing the sport digitally.[3] The players and stadium were brought to life through Sony's "meticulous attention to detail".[3] A "majority of the attention was paid to making sure players looked realistic"; however, "there are some moments when the camera [wouldn't] display the best angle for the onscreen action".[3] The game was preceded by MLB 2003 and succeeded by MLB 2005.

Game Modes

There were a plethora of game modes included in MLB 2004 including Career, Home Run Derby, Fantasy Draft, Manager, Franchise and a new game mode, Spring Training, a mode that had not been featured in any other baseball titles.

Spring Training

The Spring Training mode featured the player assuming the role of a rookie player who has been invited to Spring Training by an MLB team. The goal is to acclimate as many points as possible through different tasks such as fielding balls at the player's specific position, getting hits, as well as stealing bases. The player has six games to try to make an impression and earn enough points to make it onto the actual MLB roster, though even after you make it on the roster you have to maintain the good performance or risk getting demoted to the minor leagues, off of the MLB roster.[5]

Career Mode

The career mode allows players to select a particular player or team that they want to choose and try to have the best career/franchise possible over the span of 10 seasons. Another aspect of the game mode is that you are able to sign and trade players that are in the MLB. You are also in charge of a ‘farm club’ which is the minor league team that is under the team that you choose or choose to play for. One of the features that allows for less stress on the player is the fact that players are not in charge of dealing with the salary and staying under the salary cap as well as no free agency moves.[5]

Franchise Mode

Franchise mode allows a player to control a computer-generated team of 11 players that the player is in charge of to face off against other teams that are in the league. The goal of the franchise mode is obviously to win the World Series, though for every home run, win, or set of wins that a player reaches they are able to earn points that can be used to purchase players that are better than the ones currently on the team to be better equipped to make a run and win the World Series.[5]

Gameplay

Hitting

Several new types of hitting were included in MLB 2004 which include the power swing and the contact swing. The hitter must move a bat cursor to make sure that they are able to make contact with the ball. There is a paddle that surround the cursor which highlights the area that is covered by a contact swing, and the smaller cursor which highlights the area covered by a power swing. The hitter is able to guess the location of the pitch, and if correct will increase the size of the cursor making the ball easier to hit.[6]

Reception

Reception
Review scores
PublicationScore
PSPS2
FamitsuN/A22/40[10]
Game InformerN/A6.5/10[11]
GameRevolutionN/AC−[12]
GameSpot7.2/10[13]7/10[5]
GameSpyN/AStarStar[14]
GameZone8.2/10[15]7.3/10[16]
IGNN/A4.9/10[17]
OPM (US)StarStarStar[18]StarStarStar[19]
X-PlayN/AStarStar[20]
Aggregate score
Metacritic68/100[7]61/100[8]

The game received "mixed or average reviews" on both platforms according to the review aggregation website Metacritic.[7][8] In Japan, Famitsu gave the PlayStation 2 version a score of one six, one five, one six, and one five for a total of 22 out of 40.[10] GamePro said of the PlayStation 2 version, "Deciding whether to spring for this game will boil down to individual preferences. Several other baseball games are far more polished, but if you're intrigued by MLB 2004's features, and if its pace and batting work for you, it's worth the price of admission."[21][lower-alpha 1]

Notes

  1. ↑ GamePro gave the PlayStation 2 version 3.5/5 each for graphics, sound, control, and fun factor.

References

  1. ↑ "989 SPORTS STEPS UP TO THE PLATE AND SLAMS A HOME RUN WITH LAUNCH OF MLB 2004". Sony Computer Entertainment America. 2003-03-11. http://www.us.playstation.com/pressreleases.aspx?id=79. 
  2. ↑ "989 Sports Releases MLB 2004 for the PSX". 2003-04-29. https://gamezone.com/news/989_sports_releases_mlb_2004_for_the_psx/. Retrieved 2025-02-21. 
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 Haynes, Jeff (2003-04-03). "MLB 2004". https://www.game-over.net/reviews.php?page=ps2reviews&id=115. 
  4. ↑ Shoemaker, Shane (2023-05-09). "4 Reasons Why the MLB International Series Is Crucial". https://clutchpoints.com/mlb/mlb-stories/4-reasons-why-the-mlb-international-series-is-crucial-for-the-growth-of-baseball. 
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 Provo, Frank (2003-03-18). "MLB 2004 Review (PS2)". Fandom. https://www.gamespot.com/reviews/mlb-2004-review/1900-6023439/. 
  6. ↑ "MLB 2004 Review (PS2)". 2003-04-18. https://www.gamerstemple.com/game-reviews/playstation-2/506/mlb-2004-review. 
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 "MLB 2004 critic reviews (PS)". Fandom. https://www.metacritic.com/game/mlb-2004/critic-reviews/?platform=playstation. 
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 "MLB 2004 critic reviews (PS2)". Fandom. https://www.metacritic.com/game/mlb-2004/critic-reviews/?platform=playstation-2. 
  9. ↑ MacIsaac, Jason (2003-03-18). "MLB 2004 (PS2)". Greedy Productions Ltd.. http://www.elecplay.com/review.html?article=10847&full=1. 
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 "June 11, 2003 [score mislabeled as "22/30""]. 2003-06-11. http://the-magicbox.com/game061103.htm. 
  11. ↑ Reiner, Andrew (April 2003). "MLB 2004 (PS2)". Game Informer (GameStop) (120): 84. https://archive.org/details/game-informer-issue-120-april-2003/page/84/mode/2up. Retrieved 2025-02-21. 
  12. ↑ Dodson, Joe (March 2003). "MLB 2004 Review (PS2)". CraveOnline. https://www.gamerevolution.com/review/33692-mlb-2004-review. 
  13. ↑ Provo, Frank (2003-05-07). "MLB 2004 Review (PS)". Fandom. https://www.gamespot.com/reviews/mlb-2004-review/1900-6026443/. 
  14. ↑ Steinberg, Steve (2003-04-01). "GameSpy: MLB 2004 [game page is mislabeled as "MLB Slugfest 20-04""]. IGN Entertainment. http://ps2.gamespy.com/playstation-2/mlb-slugfest-20-04/5734p1.html. 
  15. ↑ Lafferty, Michael (2003-05-12). "MLB 2004 – PSX – Review". https://gamezone.com/reviews/mlb_2004_psx_review/. 
  16. ↑ Romano, Natalie (2003-03-17). "MLB 2004 – PS2 – Review". https://gamezone.com/reviews/mlb_2004_ps2_review/. 
  17. ↑ Robinson, Jon (2003-03-14). "MLB 2004 (PS2)". Ziff Davis. https://www.ign.com/articles/2003/03/14/mlb-2004-2. 
  18. ↑ Zuniga, Todd (July 2003). "MLB 2004 (PS)". Official U.S. PlayStation Magazine (Ziff Davis) (70): 97. https://archive.org/details/official-us-playstation-magazine-issue-70-july-2003/page/n97/mode/2up. Retrieved 2025-02-21. 
  19. ↑ Zuniga, Todd (April 2003). "MLB 2004 (PS2)". Official U.S. PlayStation Magazine (Ziff Davis) (67): 95. https://archive.org/details/official-us-playstation-magazine-issue-67-april-2003/page/n93/mode/2up. Retrieved 2025-02-21. 
  20. ↑ Schkloven, Emmett (2003-03-31). "'MLB 2004' (PS2) Review". TechTV. http://www.techtv.com/extendedplay/reviews/story/0%2C24330%2C3421896%2C00.html. 
  21. ↑ Air Hendrix (April 2003). "MLB 2004 (PS2)". GamePro (IDG) (175). http://www.gamepro.com/sony/ps2/games/reviews/28525.shtml. Retrieved 2025-02-21. 
  • MobyGames is a commercial database website that catalogs information on video games and the people and companies behind them via crowdsourcing. This includes over 300,000 games for hundreds of platforms.[1] Founded in 1999, ownership of the site has changed hands several times. It has been owned by Atari SA since 2022.

Features

Edits and submissions to the site (including screenshots, box art, developer information, game summaries, and more) go through a verification process of fact-checking by volunteer "approvers".[2] This lengthy approval process after submission can range from minutes to days or months.[3] The most commonly used sources are the video game's website, packaging, and credit screens. There is a published standard for game information and copy-editing.[4] A ranking system allows users to earn points for contributing accurate information.[5]

Registered users can rate and review games. Users can create private or public "have" and "want" lists, which can generate a list of games available for trade with other registered users. The site contains an integrated forum. Each listed game can have its own sub-forum.

History

Logo used until March 2014

MobyGames was founded on March 1, 1999, by Jim Leonard and Brian Hirt, and joined by David Berk 18 months later, the three of which had been friends since high school.[6][7] Leonard had the idea of sharing information about computer games with a larger audience. The database began with information about games for IBM PC compatibles, relying on the founders' personal collections. Eventually, the site was opened up to allow general users to contribute information.[5] In a 2003 interview, Berk emphasized MobyGames' dedication to taking video games more seriously than broader society and to preserving games for their important cultural influence.[5]

In mid-2010, MobyGames was purchased by GameFly for an undisclosed amount.[8] This was announced to the community post factum , and the site's interface was given an unpopular redesign.[7] A few major contributors left, refusing to do volunteer work for a commercial website.{{Citation needed|date=June 2025} On December 18, 2013, MobyGames was acquired by Jeremiah Freyholtz, owner of Blue Flame Labs (a San Francisco-based game and web development company) and VGBoxArt (a site for fan-made video game box art).[9] Blue Flame Labs reverted MobyGames' interface to its pre-overhaul look and feel,[10] and for the next eight years, the site was run by Freyholtz and Independent Games Festival organizer Simon Carless.[7]

On November 24, 2021, Atari SA announced a potential deal with Blue Flame Labs to purchase MobyGames for $1.5 million.[11] The purchase was completed on 8 March 2022, with Freyholtz remaining as general manager.[12][13][14] Over the next year, the financial boost given by Atari led to a rework of the site being built from scratch with a new backend codebase, as well as updates improving the mobile and desktop user interface.[1] This was accomplished by investing in full-time development of the site instead of its previously part-time development.[15]

In 2024, MobyGames began offering a paid "Pro" membership option for the site to generate additional revenue.[16] Previously, the site had generated income exclusively through banner ads and (from March 2014 onward) a small number of patrons via the Patreon website.[17]

See also

  • IGDB – game database used by Twitch for its search and discovery functions

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Sheehan, Gavin (2023-02-22). "Atari Relaunches The Fully Rebuilt & Optimized MobyGames Website". https://bleedingcool.com/games/atari-relaunches-the-fully-rebuilt-optimized-mobygames-website/. 
  2. ↑ Litchfield, Ted (2021-11-26). "Zombie company Atari to devour MobyGames". https://www.pcgamer.com/zombie-company-atari-to-devour-mobygames/. 
  3. ↑ "MobyGames FAQ: Emails Answered § When will my submission be approved?". Blue Flame Labs. 30 March 2014. http://www.mobygames.com/info/faq7#g1. 
  4. ↑ "The MobyGames Standards and Practices". Blue Flame Labs. 6 January 2016. http://www.mobygames.com/info/standards. 
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 Miller, Stanley A. (2003-04-22). "People's choice awards honor favorite Web sites". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. 
  6. ↑ "20 Years of MobyGames" (in en). 2019-02-28. https://trixter.oldskool.org/2019/02/28/20-years-of-mobygames/. 
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 Plunkett, Luke (2022-03-10). "Atari Buys MobyGames For $1.5 Million". https://kotaku.com/mobygames-retro-credits-database-imdb-atari-freyholtz-b-1848638521. 
  8. ↑ "Report: MobyGames Acquired By GameFly Media". Gamasutra. 2011-02-07. https://www.gamedeveloper.com/game-platforms/report-mobygames-acquired-by-gamefly-media. 
  9. ↑ Corriea, Alexa Ray (December 31, 2013). "MobyGames purchased from GameFly, improvements planned". http://www.polygon.com/2013/12/31/5261414/mobygames-purchased-from-gamefly-improvements-planned. 
  10. ↑ Wawro, Alex (31 December 2013). "Game dev database MobyGames getting some TLC under new owner". Gamasutra. https://www.gamedeveloper.com/business/game-dev-database-mobygames-getting-some-tlc-under-new-owner. 
  11. ↑ "Atari invests in Anstream, may buy MobyGames". November 24, 2021. https://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2021-11-24-atari-invests-in-anstream-may-buy-mobygames. 
  12. ↑ Rousseau, Jeffrey (2022-03-09). "Atari purchases Moby Games". https://www.gamesindustry.biz/atari-purchases-moby-games. 
  13. ↑ "Atari Completes MobyGames Acquisition, Details Plans for the Site's Continued Support". March 8, 2022. https://www.atari.com/atari-completes-mobygames-acquisition-details-plans-for-the-sites-continued-support/. 
  14. ↑ "Atari has acquired game database MobyGames for $1.5 million" (in en-GB). 2022-03-09. https://www.videogameschronicle.com/news/atari-has-acquired-game-database-mobygames-for-1-5-million/. 
  15. ↑ Stanton, Rich (2022-03-10). "Atari buys videogame database MobyGames for $1.5 million". https://www.pcgamer.com/atari-buys-videogame-database-mobygames-for-dollar15-million/. 
  16. ↑ Harris, John (2024-03-09). "MobyGames Offering “Pro” Membership". https://setsideb.com/mobygames-offering-pro-membership/. 
  17. ↑ "MobyGames on Patreon". http://www.patreon.com/mobygames. 
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Preceded by
MLB 2003 		Major League Baseball officially licensed videogame
2004 		Succeeded by
MLB 2005



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