ESPN: Hans Smith pitched his way through an up-and-down rookie year for the Cardinals last season. Don't recognize the name? That's because Smith is a virtual athlete who spent an entire season playing as himself in "MLB 10: The Show."
In a subgenre governed by eight-month development cycles and yearly releases, there isn’t a lot of changeover from year to year. Not 2010. With high-profile cancellations like NBA Elite, bold new challengers like Backbreaker, and the return of classic franchises like NBA Jam (awesome reboot) and Tecmo Bowl (less awesome), this year sports games almost generated as much news and controversy as the moribund 2010 Minnesota Vikings. While not every title rose to the occasion and many kept running in place, several titles elevated their game with long-requested new features, jaw-dropping graphics, and even web integration.
Ah the scent of fresh cut grass, the crack of the bat, and the roar of the fans. It must be baseball season! Or maybe it’s December… The truth is, if you’re playing MLB 10 the Show, you won’t even know the difference. The latest installment from SCE Studios in San Diego is truly that enthralling.
It seems we hear the same argument every year: the annual release of sports games is simply a way for those greedy developers to steal more money from diehard fans that simply want the new season’s rosters and are forced to pay full retail for it.
Aaron Thomas: I've hollered about the greatness of 3D on numerous Mobcasts, and now I'm proud to say that I'm officially part of the 3D revolution. This weekend I was somehow able to talk my wife into shelling out the cash for a 3D TV. Now, let me be clear: I don't have to get permission to buy my own toys, but in this case I had to convince her that our lives would benefit greatly with an extra dimension, because she's the one who makes most of the cash these days.
OK, so now that we know who wears the pants in my marriage, let's get on to the games.
