MLB 09 The Show
Welcome to our MLB 09 The Show website.
Batter Up! The boys of summer are back in the latest iteration of the hit sports series from Sony.
We have gathered together the best information currently available for MLB 09 The Show including , an article detailing all of it's main features, reviews written by readers just like you, screenshots to show you exactly what MLB 09 The Show looks like, cheats for MLB 09 The Show and gameplay tips too.
MLB 09 The Show is a Sony PlayStation 3 Baseball Sports game, written by SCEA San Diego Studios.
Guide to MLB 09 The Show on the PlayStation 3
MLB 09 The Show is the latest addition to Sony's best selling baseball franchise. It is no question as to the level of commercial and gaming success that the MLB series has experienced over the years and fans loved the idea of having the opportunity to play new features in store for each new iteration. 2008 was a successful year for this franchise but when Sony showcased MLB 09 The Show to the public, it seems like fans are going to have a new favorite in the series.
The 2008 version of the series has some solid gameplay features but still a few were lacking some changes. Thus, developers opted to fine-tune those features in MLB 09 The Show to come up with the latest edition from the series for another quality baseball simulation.
All eyes are on the new features available in MLB 09 The Show. Fans won't be disappointed as this game offers a hefty amount of gameplay choices. First off, you can expect that after a few game releases that this franchise is going to take the challenge up a notch. In MLB 09 The Show, you can engage in training or practice drills and make use of the new Interactive Training Mode.
In Training/Practice Drills for MLB 09 The Show, gamers will get to choose from a set of drills that are designed to enable players to polish their skills. In the Interactive Training Mode, the same objective of honing player skills are applied. However, instead of practice or training drills, you get to choose from a set of categories and mini-games where you can participate on. Your objective for each event you join in on MLB 09 The Show is to improve your accuracy and add more power into your arsenal of moves. This will truly improve your chances of making it to the big leagues in MLB 09 The Show. The best feature about these training events in the Interactive Training Mode is that coaches are on hand to provide feedbacks for areas that need to be improved. Here, try to familiarize with the new steal/lead-off system so you can perfectly time those pivotal base steals.
The Franchise Mode is one feature in MLB 09 The Show that has had improvements, which was essential knowing that it is a signature part of the franchise. With a roster featuring up to 40 players, you have lots of choices of potential players that would make up your team. Everything here is within your control, depending on your own perception of how your team should be like. Some of the major improvements in the Franchise Mode for MLB 09 The Show include a few technical aspects of the game that add realism into your approach of team building. There are now Salary Arbitration, September call-ups, and Waiver Transactions to help you get that added push until you reach the World Series.
Fielding control has been updated in MLB 09 The Show as well. It now comes with more dynamic reactions and offer more routes for you to run down balls hit by batter. Hotshot plays are also incorporated into the game such that gamers can either misplay balls or drop it, according to their individual level of attributes. This new mechanic in MLB 09 The Show's fielding control also enable more realistic moves such as barehanded flips or diving for the ball for the putout using only the fielder's bare hands.
Speaking of controls, expect to find more manageable controls in MLB 09 The Show. This time out, throwing balls across the home plate is smoother and a lot easier to control. Meanwhile, you can also use a variety of custom pitches while the outfielders try to catch the ball in an effort to prevent home runs or steals. Attempting a home run for batters could also be done with a press of a button in MLB 09 The Show. Bunting the ball during squeeze play is now possible as well, if you're one of those gamers who enjoy the finer subtleties of this game. The more manageable controls blend well with the improved interface in MLB 09 The Show wherein the commands are easier to navigate and all the pitches or batting options are easier to comprehend.
Aside from building up your roster in Franchise Mode, MLB 09 The Show also features quite a few customization options in this game. During offline play, gamers have the opportunity to create their ideal roster by tweaking player attributes, accessories, appearances, and some other features based on their preference. Therefore, you certainly have full control over how your character looks and plays. When you go online, you can upload those characters you have created so that other gamers can download and use it as well, if they like.
Gamers could also customize fan yells and chants in MLB 09 The Show, thus reproducing a more interactive baseball environment. Using your Bluetooth microphone, you can record what you want to say according to given plays or scenarios on the field. Another feature that you are able to customize in MLB 09 The Show is the replays, which you can share to your other gaming friends. This would really jive given that the game has In-Game Saves and Highlight Reel available, so you can show off all the new skills that your player has acquired.
Since we've already mentioned the online feature, aside from the ones already mentioned above, you can also join the Online Season Leagues for MLB 09 The Show by simply logging onto the PlayStation Network. Here, you can join an interactive draft wherein you can pick players who could potentially join and boost your lineup. There is also the Flex Schedule, in case you want to skip those non-bearing match-ups and move ahead to those crucial ones. Therefore, fans have all the control on how they get to enjoy their online experience in MLB 09 The Show.
Technical-wise, MLB 09 The Show is quite successful in the PS3. The visuals are superbly done and the overall presentation of the game is breathtaking. The character models already have a lifelike quality to them, and yet you can take that further with personalized animations. Even the umpires look and act like real people, instead of merely stoic figures that make calls in the game. The field is one of the visual highlights in MLB 09 The Show, wherein you can see fans cheering and mascots dancing. Everything is rendered in fine detail that it feels like you are watching an actual baseball game.
The audio for the game was also well done. The game commentary are magnificent with Rex Hudler, Dave Campbell, and Matt Vasgersian covering the action. Aside from the pre-set audio options available in MLB 09 The Show, gamers can also have access to My MLB Music wherein you can upload music collections from your PS3 hard drive and customize your player introduction. Nice indeed!
Sony's leading baseball franchise has never been one to disappoint. With every release, fans cannot help but get excited with an array of new features and enhancements to offer something better each time. With MLB 09 The Show, you can expect the same excitement, which makes this one of the best release from the franchise yet.
MLB 09 The Show Game Features
* Road to the Show 3.0 Now includes interactive training, new settings, a new steal/ lead-off system, presentations and coach interactions. Interactive training will consist of a set of mini-games designed to improve a player’s ability and performance in various areas of baseball.
* Franchise Mode 2.0 Improvements include the long awaited 40-man roster! The latest Franchise Mode improvements will also offer Salary Arbitration, Waiver Transactions and September call-ups.
* Online Season Leagues Along with improvements to the traditional Online Leagues, MLB 09 will offer major additions to Online Season Leagues! New Online Season Leagues will allow you to hold a fully functional draft and utilize a Flex Schedule, allowing players to play games ahead in the schedule.
* Training/Practice Drills In MLB 09 users will have the ability to choose from a number of different Training/Practice drills. The drills will be of various concentrations of the game. These drills are a perfect way to polish and improve your baseball skills in The Show!
* Details & Subtleties Details and subtleties play a huge role in legitimizing a game and helping you lose yourself in the suspension of disbelief. MLB 09 The Show sinks it’s teeth into the details with realistic stadiums and signage, wear and tear on field, dusk to night lighting transitions, stadium Jumbotron animations and even crowd atmosphere – reaching up for foul balls out of play and home runs in addition to crowd rivalries and weather appropriate clothing.
* Custom Music, Fan Yells and Chants Using our My MLB Music feature, store all of your favorite music for play on MLB 09 The Show. Once you have your music on your PS3 hard drive, edit any of your tracks and assign a batter walk-up to all of your favorite players. Along with Custom Music, MLB 09 will also offer Custom Fan Yells and Chants. Record a yell, with your own voice, and assign it to play for the player and situation of your choice.
Other Key Features
* Replays to Hard Drive via Replay Vault If you’ve ever played MLB The Show you’ve seen some spectacular fielding and dramatic hitting. New to MLB 09 is the ability to store any of these replays to your PS3 hard drive as its own movie file. Enjoy the ability to playback any of your movies at your leisure.
* Mascots MLB 09 The Show will offer all your favorite team mascots. Mascots will appear a few times a game and may perform “signature moves” at certain points of the game as they attempt to pump up the crowd and in turn rally the team. The inclusion of mascots will add to the realism and help fans truly connect with their team.
* End of Game Replays The premise behind this idea is to give the user an instant post game visual replay of the most exciting and important plays of the game. This will offer the user a reminder of the depth and quality of our game and leave them with a taste of excitement that will encourage game after game.
* Roster Vault (upload/download/rate) This gives users the ability to create their perfect roster offline by adjusting player attributes, appearance, accessories, etc... Users can then save this Roster to their PS3 Hard Drive. Once online users can upload them from where they are stored to allow others users online to download, use and rate their Roster. The new Roster Vault feature lets the The Show community share and judge any Roster.
* Build Your Own Customized Soundtrack With My MLB Music Ever wanted to create your own video game soundtrack? Now you can. With MLB 09 The Show you can to take music you have on your system, import it from the XMB and add to the list of music played in the jukebox.
* Never Miss A Single Play Again With In-Game Saves Ever needed to save your progress in the middle of the game or an inning? This season, instead of losing your progress, you’ll be able to save their Career, Franchise or Season at any point in the middle of the game. If the pressure is getting to you, walk away in the bottom of the 9th and pick it up later to see how clutch you really are.
* Review Your Own Personal Highlight Reel From The Replay Vault If you’ve ever played MLB The Show you’ve seen some spectacular fielding and dramatic hitting. With the new Replay Vault, you can now go back to that spectacular diving, behind the back double play in the 1st inning and show your friends. Replay any part of the game from any inning within that game.
* Pitch Grips / Ball Rotation Detail MLB 09 The Show details the different pitch grips and arm angles that a pitcher has when throwing each pitch. You’ll be able to draw distinction between 17 different pitch types (4 Fastball variations: four-seam, two-seam, cutter, and split; 6 Breaking Pitches: 10-4 curve, 12-6 curve, slider, sinker, slurve, and screwball; 4 Change-Ups: straight, circle, palm and fork; And 3 Specialty Pitches: Knuckle, Knuckle-Curve and Gyro)!
* Catcher Called Games Ever heard that good pitching beats good hitting? The Show pushes the envelope for realism by incorporating catchers calling pitches. You’ll really know what it feels like to stand on the mound and nod or shake a pitch from the catcher. It’s up to you – just don’t make a mistake pitch. The catcher’s setup also acts as a guide to your decisions on where to locate a pitch. Are you a Cy Young or a Robin Roberts?
* SportsConnect Live GameCast Using SportsConnect technology, users can view the status of any game in progress in The Show. New for MLB 09, along with a 2D user interface representation, users can hear the play-by-play and color commentary of the announcers.
* Make Educated Decisions With The Improved In-Game Pitcher and Batter Analysis Stats and match-up analysis are a baseball fan’s dream! The Pitch Analysis is a breakdown of all the pitches thrown during the current game being played. You’ll be able sort by pitcher, LHB or RHB, pitch type and result. This is also available for Batters. The batter analysis allows for a breakdown of how each batter has performed based on LHP or RHP, pitch type and the result. The pitcher and batter analysis is available for both in-game and post-game. The analysis will appear in the batter / pitcher status screen and the post game pause menu. This information is available for every game played, as well as your Road to the Show career.
* Track Batters Throughout The Season With New Progressive Batting Performance Superior performance will earn you rewards and slumps, but will require a little extra effort. Specific to each batter, you’ll be rewarded with slight contact bonuses for each batter who performs beyond his statistical ability under your control. Conversely, if your performance takes a dip, you’ll see slight decreases in contact for each batter that performs below that statistical ability. Performances will be based roughly on each batter’s last 20-30 ABs (w/ recent ABs weighted heavier).
* SportsConnect Online User Tracking (SCOUT) Makes Online Matchups Easy If you’ve ever had a difficult time finding someone online with the same gameplay setting as yours, the SCOUT system is for you. SCOUT allows you to set your game preferences, store them on the server and look for a Quick Match with an opponent that fits your criteria.
* Adaptive Pitching Intelligence (API) really puts you on the bump. MLB 09 The Show is the only baseball game to ever give you the choice to trust your catcher or shake him off. With API, catchers will call the game for you based on the strengths and weakness of each pitcher. And beyond that, catchers will also analyze tendencies of the batters to know if a batter is susceptible to chasing a high heater out of the zone or off-speed low and away.
* Pitch Command System (PCS) delivers unsurpassed authenticity and strategy to pitch selection in a baseball videogame. A pitcher’s “pitch comfort” will be predetermined based on a best pitch to worst pitch scenario. Now it’s up to you to decide if you should try to “work on a pitch” or just go with what is working. The more you work on one pitch, the better it becomes. Conversely the more you neglect a pitch; the more challenging it becomes to work the zone.
* Online League Play Providing you with the ability to set up leagues with up to 30 teams offering full stat tracking, point benefits and rewards. Customize as you see fit; choose your players, teams, length, rules and much more. Whether it’s you and a couple buddies or 29 of your closest friends, bragging rights are on the line.
* Umpire Personalities This year umpires will have unique tendencies and animations. But most importantly, each umpire will have his own definition of the strike zone. It’s up to you to figure out if they’re calling the zone high, low or giving you the corners. The quicker you figure it out, the more successful you’ll be.
* Multi-Branch Fielding takes Branch Point Technology to a new level. Now you can take full control of fielders and break out of any animation in the process. Change your fielding decision and branch out of any animation after the first branch point. With Branch Point Technology you’ll pull off unbelievably smooth, fluid transitions for seamless double plays and relays.
* 3-Man Booth with Rex Hudler bringing additional energy to tell it like it is. Hudler joins Matt Vasgersian and Dave Campbell for the most comprehensive commentary you’ve heard in any baseball game. MLB 09 The Show sets the bar high with progressive commentary that changes you progress through the game, adapting to current actions and situations.
* User Controlled Slides let you control base runners down to the last detail. Split-second decisions are the difference between a win and a loss so as you round the bases, you decide when it’s time to get dirty.
* Rivalry Mode allows you to set up and maintain multi-game rivalries between multiple gamers or versus the CPU. Follow everything from wins to Ks and see who has the winning edge every time you challenge your rival. Whether you play offline or online, you’ll be able to keep track of all your rivalry stats and bragging rights.
* Game Time Decisions bring more depth to Franchise and Season Modes. Only MLB 09 The Show provides the ability to take full control of your team when you’re forced to make the tough decisions. An injured player on the roster or a pitcher who needs more rest – the decision to play them is yours. If you ever thought you could be a big league manager this is the year to test your skills.
* Progressive Broadcast adapts and utilizes game-specific presentations tailored to your career spotlight player as the season progresses.
* SportsConnect Headline News lets you stay on top of all the news around the league. Receive all the current happenings in sports today. Information will be updated a few times each hour with news, trades and events from 31 different feeds, each containing 25 unique items. You can also select General MLB headlines for updates from all 30 teams in the league so no important news is missed while online with MLB 09 The Show.
* Enhanced Career Mode incorporates a New Career Spotlight underscoring all of the accomplishments and failures during your career and showcases them in the limelight. You still call the shots but now the ramifications of your actions are documented. It’s up to you to determine whether your reel consists of highlights or miscues.
* Enhanced Franchise Mode gives the critics more to rave about extending the functionality where performance and player morale are tracked on virtually every level – salary, playing time, batting slot, team performance, you name it – you control it.
* Unique Stadium Ambiance for every MLB team specific to their stadium with coordinated crowds, team colors and audio that catering to each team and specific players.
* Release Point Pitching takes video game pitching to a whole new level utilizing a timing mechanism you must learn realize pitching pace and release point which varies from pitcher to pitcher.
* The Pitching Confidence Meter plays a key role your ability to hit spots. Your frequency of mistake pitches will impact the confidence level of your hurler making it more difficult to hit your spots and paint the corners.
* Guess Pitch tests your ability to master “the sweet science”. Check out the pitch history and sit on what you think the pitcher will throw next. If you sit on the right pitch your power attribute is increased. For the ultimate reward sit on pitch and location and leave the yard in a hurry.
* PlayMaker Fielding at its core is based on fielding attributes but it’s ultimately up to you play to your team’s strengths and weaknesses. Excellent fielders will track them down for you while sub-par fielders will require some concentration from you.
* Unassisted Fielding Control allows fielding freedom with the ball in hand. Take advantage of more realistic barehanded flips and the ability to dive with the ball in the fielder’s bare hand for the putout.
* Hundreds Of Personalized Animations shows you recognizable, personalized player animations for everything from walk-ups, rituals, stances, swings – even emotions. All told more than any other baseball game on any platform. Guaranteed!
* Unprecedented Online Options featuring head-to-head gameplay, 30-team leagues, King of the Diamond, live sports tickers, message boards, buddy lists, headset functionality, downloadable rosters, chat, and more.
* Authenticity, Subtleties & Nuances like drag bunts, wild pitches, broken bats, check swings, off-line throws and much more.
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