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Wii

Take-Two to Release MLB Power Pros Sequel on Wii and DS

by Nick DiMola - May 9, 2008, 3:55 pm EDT
Total comments: 10 Source: Press Release

The second iteration of the critically acclaimed and highly popular Japanese baseball series is coming to the US.

Take-Two announced today that they planned to release on US shores the second iteration of the highly popular MLB Power Pros series on both the Wii and DS. MLB Power Pros was released to the US market and was critically acclaimed for its deep gameplay and arcade style fun.

Along with the full feature set accessible in the first release, MLB Power Pros 2008 will now include greater Wii Remote motion control support. The first title restricted motion control to a Wii Sports Baseball-like minigame. Additionally, players will now be able to use their Mii characters alongside their favorite MLB stars.

MLB Power Pros 2008 is slated for a Fall release on both the Wii and DS and is currently unrated by the ESRB.

2K Sports and Konami Swing into Action with MLB® Power Pros 2008

Critically acclaimed baseball franchise gets ready for another season of great family fun

New York, NY, and El Segundo, CA – May 8, 2008 – 2K Sports, the sports publishing label of Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc. (NASDAQ: TTWO), and Konami Digital Entertainment, Inc., today announced the next iteration of the wildly popular baseball franchise, MLB® Power Pros 2008, scheduled to be available for Wii™ home video game system from Nintendo and PlayStation®2 computer entertainment system this July, as well as Nintendo DS™ later this fall. As the highest-rated and top-selling baseball title in Japan, MLB Power Pros was available in North America for the first time last year. Its comedic visual appeal of miniature Major League Baseball player models has attracted a dedicated following through its easy-to-use controls and addictively fun gameplay experience.

"We're thrilled to partner with Konami again, and with the Baseball™ season now in full swing, we're proud to offer our fans a refreshingly smart and exciting baseball game that is easily accessible for all ages," said Christoph Hartmann, president of 2K. "Baseball enthusiasts will appreciate the variety of newly added features, intuitive game modes and improved overall feel, and we look forward to hitting one out of the park this season with MLB Power Pros 2008."

With over ten different exciting game modes including the traditional Practice, Exhibition, League and Home Run Challenge modes, MLB Power Pros 2008 will bring fans closer to the action than ever before. Gamers also get the opportunity to act as general manager and control the destiny of their own franchise in Season mode, or engage in entertaining role-playing story modes such as Success and MLB® Life modes. As general manager, gamers can trade, sign free agents, coordinate practice schedules, purchase new equipment, call up and send down players from the Minor Leagues™, along with other management options to bring in fans, win playoff games and eventually, earn the title of World Series™ champion.

In Success mode, fans can participate in a story-based career of rising players in the Double-A Minor League system trying to improve their baseball skills and make an impression on baseball scouts while also having to balance various situations in their personal lives. Through a variety of amusing training and game challenges, players who complete Success mode will also be able to take their created player files into MLB Life as well, or also play as either an existing Major League Baseball® player in Dream Mode, or start as a rookie in Major League Career mode. As a new feature in MLB Power Pros 2008, MLB Life is another story-based mode that will allow fans the possibility to simulate the exciting life and experience of being a Major League Baseball player over the course of a 20-year career. While continuing to play in games through the regular baseball season, players will also participate in a number of realistic situations such as signing contracts, purchasing houses and cars, making charitable donations, building up relationships with friends and teammates, picking up hobbies and much more.

With easy, pick-up-and-play hitting and pitching controls, along with intuitive Wii functionality, other new features in MLB Power Pros 2008 include support of 40-man rosters, change of ball speed, adjustment of defensive shifts, along with a real-time bullpen check functionality for substituting pitchers. MLB Power Pros 2008 will also support the option for players to import their Wii-based characters, Miis™, from their Wii or Wii Remote™ to become part of the exciting action!

MLB Power Pros 2008, developed by Konami Digital Entertainment, Inc., is not yet rated by the ESRB, and will be available for Wii and the PlayStation 2 system this July, as well as Nintendo DS later this fall. For more information, please visit www.2ksports.com.

Talkback

Nick DiMolaNick DiMola, Staff AlumnusMay 09, 2008

YES YES YES YES YES! This series is awesome! The first Wii release was great and this one seems like it is going to be even better. Greater wiimote control and Miis, totally pumped.

GoldenPhoenixMay 09, 2008

Quote from: Mr.

YES YES YES YES YES! This series is awesome! The first Wii release was great and this one seems like it is going to be even better. Greater wiimote control and Miis, totally pumped.

I agree 100%! I'll be picking this game up.

Ian SaneMay 09, 2008

I don't want to be one of those sports gamer types who buys annual updates to his favourite sports game.  I resisted NBA Jam Tournament Edition so I can resist this. ;)

But anyone who doesn't already have the first Wii game and even remotely likes baseball should give this a try.  MLB Power Pros is an absolute classic and I rarely like any sports game.

A DS release is interesting.  It probably won't be so hot for multiplayer but if it's 2D my curiousity may convince me to by it.  After all the series started on the SNES in the first place.

Seriously though I didn't see anyone talking about the first one when it came out last year and that was a shame.  MLB Power Pros is one of the best Wii games.

D_AverageMay 09, 2008

Does anyone know if the Wii version will use motion controls for the entire game?  I heard the first version only allow motion controls in exhibition mode or something..

Nick DiMolaNick DiMola, Staff AlumnusMay 09, 2008

Quote from: D_Average

Does anyone know if the Wii version will use motion controls for the entire game?  I heard the first version only allow motion controls in exhibition mode or something..

It doesn't specifically say that it is for the entire game, but the explanation of its function according to the press release doesn't say it is limited to any particular mode. I am going to go out on a limb and say that it will be offered as one of the control methods for the main game with an option to use other more traditional controls as well.

MorariMay 09, 2008

I don't like baseball, or even baseballs games, but did enjoy MLB Power Pros. As already stated, I would definitely like to see motion controls throughout ALL of the game modes. It'd be nice to see more widespread Mii integration as well. Outside of the lack of any kind of online play, those two things were the only real points that held the last game back.

I already have MLB 2K8 for the Wii and I'm happy with it, but I've been wanting a good baseball game on the DS for a long time so I'll keep my eye on that version.

MonteblancoMay 11, 2008

There is an image from Konami Japan indicating you can now control the height you hold the bat the bat by either pressing the A or B buttons. At least this shows the Wii remote controls were revised. I hope they will also be extended to all campaign modes.

http://www.konami.jp/pawa/15/images/will_img01.jpg

D_AverageMay 11, 2008

If this game has motion controls that work for all modes I'll definitely be picking it up!  The style reminds me of Extra Innings which is all all time fav baseball title.

MonteblancoMay 13, 2008

One hundred and two images were updated at IGN and Gamespot. I'm examining them looking for new features.

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