MVP Baseball (video game series)
EA Sports' acclaimed baseball series from 2003 to 2007.
MVP Baseball is a baseball video game series published by EA Sports from 2003 to 2007, succeeding the Triple Play Baseball series. It simulated Major League Baseball from 2003 to 2005 before shifting to NCAA college baseball in 2006 and 2007 due to an exclusive licensing deal between MLB and Take-Two Interactive. The series is well-regarded, with MVP Baseball 2005 often considered the best baseball video game ever made.
Quick Facts
- Publisher
- EA Sports
- Genre
- Sports (baseball); Simulation
- First release version
- MVP Baseball 2003
- First release date
- March 10, 2003
- Latest release version
- MVP 07: NCAA Baseball
- Latest release date
- February 6, 2007
Facts from the source article.
History
MVP Baseball 2003 debuted in 2003 as the successor to EA's Triple Play series, which had received heavy criticism in its final years. The game introduced a pitch meter and zone-based hitting system, and was well received by critics, earning Metacritic scores of 81/100 for the PlayStation 2 and 82/100 for the Xbox. Randy Johnson and Miguel Tejada appeared on the cover. The 2003 edition was the last to use a points system for player salaries; starting with 2004, actual dollar amounts were used, and releasing a player under contract incurred a salary penalty. MVP 2004 built on its predecessor with major refinements to controls and dynasty mode, and became the first baseball game licensed by both MLB and Minor League Baseball, featuring real Class AA and AAA teams. It received Metacritic scores of 90/100 on both PS2 and Xbox, outperforming competing titles. Albert Pujols was the cover player. MVP Baseball 2005 added a hitter's eye system with color codes for pitch identification, an owner mode, Class A minor-league teams, and spring training minigames. Metacritic scores were 86/100 for Xbox and 87/100 for PS2, slightly lower than 2004 but still ahead of Major League Baseball 2K5. Manny Ramirez was on the cover. In 2005, MVP Baseball was released for PlayStation Portable.
Features
Until 2005, the game included all MLBPA members and fictional counterparts for non-union players. Barry Bonds, though an MLBPA member, did not sign the common licensing agreement and was replaced by the fictional Jon Dowd. Some non-MLBPA players were omitted; for example, Kevin Millar was absent from the 2004 edition, with David Ortiz moving to first base for the Boston Red Sox, and in 2005 Millar was replaced by the fictional Anthony Friese. MVP Baseball 2004 allowed users to play as minor-league affiliates of MLB teams, a feature expanded the following year. The 2003 game introduced a pitch/throw meter: the player holds a button to set power, then releases and taps it within a target area for accuracy. EA adapted this mechanic from golf games, which had largely abandoned shot meters around that time. The game also divided the strike zone into nine hot and cold zones, color-coded red, white, and blue to indicate whether a player hits well, neutrally, or poorly in each segment.
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