Software:Major League Baseball 2K5

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Short description: 2005 baseball video game
Major League Baseball 2K5
File:Major League Baseball 2K5 cover art.jpg
North American Xbox box art, featuring Derek Jeter
Developer(s)Kush Games
Publisher(s)2K
SeriesMLB 2K
EngineRenderWare
Platform(s)Xbox, PlayStation 2
ReleaseXbox
  • NA: February 23, 2005
PlayStation 2
  • NA: February 28, 2005
World Series Edition
  • NA: October 18, 2005
Genre(s)Sports
Mode(s)Single-player

Major League Baseball 2K5 (MLB 2K5) is an MLB licensed baseball simulation video game published by 2K for PlayStation 2 and Xbox.[1] The previous game in the series made by Sega Sports was ESPN Major League Baseball in 2004. Unlike the other "2K5" branded sports games, this was published by 2K, making it the first Visual Concepts-developed sports game not to be published by Sega, though Sega's logos are still seen in the background of menus and ballparks. (These logos and the ESPN Graphics would be removed and replaced by 2K's logos in the World Series Edition) The game included Web Gems instant replays, K-Zone pitching, Slam Zone hitting, and baserunner mode. The game was released in late February 2005 on the PlayStation 2 and Xbox consoles. The cover baseball player was New York Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter. Later that year, an upgraded version titled Major League Baseball 2K5: World Series Edition was released during the 2005 MLB postseason.

Commentators

The commentary is delivered by the ESPN Sunday Night Baseball crew of Jon Miller and Joe Morgan. Karl Ravech introduces the games from the studio.

Features

Exhibition: Play against the computer or head-to-head with another player.

Franchise: Play multiple seasons with a team.

GM Career Mode: Become a team's GM and try to accomplish certain goals given by the owner while building a good team.

Online: MLB 2K5's online mode includes both games and online leagues.

Reception

MLB 2K5

Major League Baseball 2K5
Review scores
PublicationScore
PS2Xbox
EGM8/10[2]8/10[2]
Game Informer8.5/10[3]8.5/10[3]
GameProStarStarStarStarHalf star[4]StarStarStarStarHalf star[4]
GameRevolutionB[5]B[5]
GameSpot8.4/10[6]8.4/10[6]
GameSpyStarStarStarStarHalf star[7]StarStarStarStarHalf star[8]
GameZone9.1/10[9]8.8/10[10]
IGN8.5/10[11]8.5/10[11]
OPM (US)StarStarStarHalf star[12]N/A
OXM (US)N/A7.4/10[13]
TeamXboxN/A8.8/10[14]
Aggregate score
Metacritic82/100[15]81/100[16]

The game received "favorable" reviews on both platforms according to the review aggregation website Metacritic.[15][16] GameSpot said that "what sets MLB 2K5 apart from other baseball video games is how great it looks and sounds ... Major League Baseball 2K5 is a big step in the right direction for Take-Two's (formerly Sega's) video game baseball franchise. Last year's game, to be kind, was full of bugs and had modes that didn't actually work as advertised. All of the modes in this year's game work like they should and there seem to be hardly any bugs, although the few you will probably run across do have the potential to be very annoying."[6] IGN wrote that "MLB 2K5 still has a ways to go if it intends to compete with the memory of MVP next year. The animations need a complete overhaul, the AI definitely needs a reworking, and the Franchise Mode has to see significant innovation outside of a nicer interface", but that overall "MLB 2K5 is a great experience worthy of a spot on your shelf."[11]

World Series Edition

MLB 2K5: World Series Edition
Review scores
PublicationScore
PS2Xbox
IGN8.8/10[17]8.8/10[17]
TeamXboxN/A9/10[18]
Aggregate score
Metacritic86/100[19]88/100[20]

The World Series Edition received "generally favorable reviews" on both platforms, a bit higher than the original MLB 2K5, but both a few points shy of "universal acclaim", according to Metacritic.[19][20] During the 9th Annual Interactive Achievement Awards, the Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences nominated MLB 2K5: World Series Edition for "Sports Game of the Year", which was ultimately awarded to SSX On Tour.[21]

Exclusive license

In 2005, in response to EA Sports' exclusive license with the National Football League and ESPN prohibiting any NFL 2K games for the foreseeable future, Take-Two Interactive signed an exclusive third-party licensing contract with Major League Baseball (MLB), MLBPA and MLBAM to produce MLB games. The agreement, which ran from Spring 2006 to 2012, allowed for the console manufacturers Sony, Microsoft, and Nintendo to produce MLB titles for their respective platforms, but barred third party developers such as EA Sports from continuing or developing their own MLB games.

References

  1. ↑ "Major League Baseball 2K5 Webpage". November 28, 2005. http://www.2ksports.com/games/mlb2k5/. 
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 EGM staff (April 2005). "Major League Baseball 2K5". Electronic Gaming Monthly (192): 113. 
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 Reiner, Andrew (March 2005). "Major League Baseball 2K5". Game Informer (143): 118. http://www.gameinformer.com/NR/exeres/CECE516B-F958-47DC-85BC-E09255508178.htm. Retrieved October 28, 2017. 
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 "Major League Baseball 2K5". GamePro: 97. April 2005. 
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 Dodson, Joe (March 17, 2005). "Major League Baseball 2K5 Review". Game Revolution. Archived from the original on October 9, 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20151009193719/http://www.gamerevolution.com/review/major-league-baseball-2k5. Retrieved October 28, 2017. 
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 Provo, Frank (March 2, 2005). "Major League Baseball 2K5 Review". GameSpot. https://www.gamespot.com/reviews/major-league-baseball-2k5-review/1900-6119570/. Retrieved October 28, 2017. 
  7. ↑ Leeper, Justin (March 2, 2005). "GameSpy: Major League Baseball 2K5 (PS2)". GameSpy. http://ps2.gamespy.com/playstation-2/espn-mlb-2k5/592759p1.html. Retrieved October 28, 2017. 
  8. ↑ Leeper, Justin (March 2, 2005). "GameSpy: Major League Baseball 2K5 (Xbox)". GameSpy. http://xbox.gamespy.com/xbox/espn-mlb-2k5/592756p1.html. Retrieved October 28, 2017. 
  9. ↑ Hobbs, Ronnie (March 16, 2005). "Major League Baseball 2K5 - PS2 - Review". GameZone. Archived from the original on December 30, 2008. https://web.archive.org/web/20081230212343/http://ps2.gamezone.com/gzreviews/r25468.htm. Retrieved October 28, 2017. 
  10. ↑ Valentino, Nick (March 8, 2005). "Major League Baseball 2K5 - XB - Review". GameZone. Archived from the original on December 24, 2008. https://web.archive.org/web/20081224023558/http://xbox.gamezone.com/gzreviews/r25468.htm. Retrieved October 28, 2017. 
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 11.2 Goldstein, Hilary (February 25, 2005). "Major League Baseball 2K5". IGN. http://www.ign.com/articles/2005/02/26/major-league-baseball-2k5. Retrieved October 28, 2017. 
  12. ↑ "Major League Baseball 2K5". Official U.S. PlayStation Magazine: 110. April 2005. 
  13. ↑ "Major League Baseball 2K5". Official Xbox Magazine: 85. April 2005. 
  14. ↑ Nardozzi, Dale (February 25, 2005). "Major League Baseball 2K5 Review (Xbox)". TeamXbox. Archived from the original on January 11, 2012. https://web.archive.org/web/20120111024512/http://reviews.teamxbox.com/xbox/896/Major-League-Baseball-2K5/p1/. Retrieved October 28, 2017. 
  15. ↑ 15.0 15.1 "Major League Baseball 2K5 for PlayStation 2 Reviews". Metacritic. https://www.metacritic.com/game/major-league-baseball-2k5/critic-reviews/?platform=playstation-2. Retrieved October 28, 2017. 
  16. ↑ 16.0 16.1 "Major League Baseball 2K5 for Xbox Reviews". Metacritic. https://www.metacritic.com/game/major-league-baseball-2k5/critic-reviews/?platform=xbox. Retrieved October 28, 2017. 
  17. ↑ 17.0 17.1 Miller, Jonathan (November 21, 2005). "Major League Baseball 2K5: World Series Edition". IGN. http://www.ign.com/articles/2005/11/21/major-league-baseball-2k5-world-series-edition. Retrieved October 28, 2017. 
  18. ↑ Nadrozzi, Dale (October 25, 2005). "Major League Baseball 2K5: World Series Edition Review (Xbox) [Incomplete"]. TeamXbox. Archived from the original on November 22, 2011. https://web.archive.org/web/20111122093934/http://reviews.teamxbox.com/xbox/1026/Major-League-Baseball-2K5-World-Series-Edition/p1/. Retrieved October 28, 2017. 
  19. ↑ 19.0 19.1 "Major League Baseball 2K5: World Series Edition for PlayStation 2 Reviews". Metacritic. https://www.metacritic.com/game/major-league-baseball-2k5/critic-reviews/?platform=playstation-2. Retrieved October 28, 2017. 
  20. ↑ 20.0 20.1 "Major League Baseball 2K5: World Series Edition for Xbox Reviews". Metacritic. https://www.metacritic.com/game/major-league-baseball-2k5/critic-reviews/?platform=xbox. Retrieved October 28, 2017. 
  21. ↑ "2006 Awards Category Details Sports Game of the Year". Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences. https://www.interactive.org/awards/award_category_details.asp?idAward=2006&idGameAwardType=126. 
  • 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 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]

On February 13, 2025, Freyholtz stepped down as the site lead to move onto new projects, leaving operations to Tracy Poff, a veteran coder on the site, and Atari staff.[18]

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. 
  18. ↑ "An update on MobyGames leadership". 2025-02-13. https://www.mobygames.com/forum/3/thread/269628/an-update-on-mobygames-leadership/#post-269628. 
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