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Check out the PlayStation Pavilion at the new Nationals Park
click to enlarge A new season of Major League Baseball started up in America last night with the first game ever at Washington's brand new Nationals Park, complete with a presidential first pitch and a thrilling walk-off home run. Why should you care about any of this? Because the opening of the new park also means the opening of its new promotional PlayStation Pavilion, packed with demo kiosks for Gran Turismo 5 Prologue, MLB08: The Show, Guitar Hero 3 and SingStar.You'd think people at a ballpark would have better things to do than play video games, but the demo area drew quite a crowd among the opening night fans. Need proof? Check out our exclusive gallery of photos from the new pavilion below.%Gallery-19511%
Fox Sports, ESPN deliver all MLB games in HD
For those who tuned in to the start of the 2008 MLB season (on US soil, that is) last night, you can already see we're in for a good one. Better still, the matchups we are presented with will be doled out in HD more so than any year prior. According to a new report from The Sports Video Group, over 3,000 MLB games during this season will be aired in high-definition, including 100-percent of the tilts shown on ESPN and Fox Sports. Breaking it down by team, the Chicago White Sox will have the most games in HD with 155, while the Cleveland Indians and Chicago Cubs follow suit with 153 and 151, respectively. So much for having to go to the ballpark to enjoy the freshly groomed grass, eh?[Image courtesy of Pablo Martinez Monsivais / ESPN]
FSN Arizona to broadcast every Diamondbacks home game, select road games in HD
Thought the flow of HD baseball games had dried up? Not a chance, as the Arizona Diamondbacks have just announced that a record 86 games will be shown this season in high-definition to go along with its massive new scoreboard. Effective this year, FSN Arizona has become the "exclusive television home" of the club, and every single home game (72 for those keeping count) will be available in HD. Additionally, 14 road matchups will be aired in high-def, and each game shown in HD will also have HD versions of the pre- and post-game show. Click on through for the full release and a breakdown of which carriers in Arizona and New Mexico will be carry the tilts. [Thanks, Bill]
Texas Rangers secure 86 HD games for 2008 season
With the start (on US soil, at least) of the 2008 MLB season right around the corner, the Texas Rangers are making darn sure their in-state rivals don't steal the HD limelight. Although a few less Rangers games will be produced in high-def compared to the Astros, there's still a healthy selection coming up. This season, a record-setting 86 tilts will be aired in HD, with 65 of those to show on FSN Southwest, 20 on KDFI (MyNetworkTV 27) and 1 on KDFW (FOX 4). Fortunately, fans in the area can get a glimpse of what they're in for when the season opener against the Seattle Mariners gets served up on FSN HD this coming Monday. For channel slots on various carriers as well as the entire 2008 HD schedule, you know where to head.[Image courtesy of DeadCode, thanks Joe]
Hanshin Tigers DS: the opposite of MLB 2K8 Fantasy All-Stars
This morning, we asked about realism in games, using MLB 2K8 Fantasy All-Stars as an example of a deliberate move away from realism. Spike's Hanshin Tigers DS is in direct contrast to that title, in that it is absolutely realistic, lacking even the "fantasy" of pretending to play baseball. There's nothing more "realistic" than facts! While 2K's title is a baseball game that breaks away from accurate depictions of players and abilities, Hanshin Tigers DS is a strictly factual interpretation of baseball with no actual baseball involved.Somehow, the Japanese game market is capable of sustaining this incredibly specialized game. It's not just a trivia game -- it's a baseball trivia game. About only one team, the Hanshin Tigers (who have been honored with pinstriped Gamecubes and Neo Geo Pocket Color systems!).
Houston Astros find all home games, select road tilts in HD
Another day, another realization that this year's baseball season will be covered with HD. On the docket today are the Houston Astros, which have announced that every last home game (and "select" road matchups) will be presented in high-definition and carried on FSN Houston or KTHX 20 (the local MyNetworkTV affiliate). All in all, 130 tilts (4 Spring Training telecasts notwithstanding) will be shown on FSN Houston, while My 20 "takes over as the new broadcast home for Astros baseball with a 31-game package." As for FSN HD, citizens of Houston can locate it on Comcast (302), DirecTV (639-1) and DISH Network (336), while KTHX HD is only available OTA and on DirecTV (20-1).[Image courtesy of MLBlogs, thanks German]
Brewers HD onslaught leads Charter to add FSN Wisconsin "this summer"
Behold, the power of high-definition. Just days after FSN Wisconsin announced that it would be airing 65 Milwaukee Brewers games in HD this season, Charter has acquiesced and decided that it would finally add the channel to its high-def lineup. Prior to this season, the carrier had held back on adding the HD feed of the network because -- according to Charter regional spokesman John Miller -- "over 95 percent of its programming [wasn't] in HD." Mr. Miller recently noted that Charter felt that there would be "significant interest in the Brewers this season, [along with] more HDTVs in the marketplace," which was apparently good enough to land the channel on the "to be launched this summer" list. Catering specifically to the HD crowd? Now that's what we like to hear.[Image courtesy of RightFieldBleachers]
DS Fanboy interview: Rob Hawkey on MLB 2K8 Fantasy All-Stars
var digg_url = 'http://digg.com/nintendo/MLB_2K8_Fantasy_All_Stars_DS_interview/'; Responses to the recent announcement of MLB 2K8 Fantasy All-Stars have been wildly mixed. Rather than pulling a dumbed-down version of the console title to the DS, as is usual with cross-platform releases, 2K Sports took a different turn. Deep Fried Entertainment produced something completely different for the handheld -- and we really mean different -- and while it seems to be a risky proposition, it's an interesting one. We sat down with Rob Hawkey, Game Director at Deep Fried to discuss the unusual baseball title, and he had a lot to tell us about what went into the design and creation of MLB 2K8 Fantasy All-Stars. Slide past the break for all the details. %Gallery-18579%
Superstation WGN's 2008 baseball season is all HD
Superstation WGN is keeping the HD baseball love going, with plans to broadcast all of its Chicago Cubs and White Sox games in HD. That's in addition to the Cubs Forever documentary, premiering April 20. Sure 93 high definition baseball games in Chi-City is enough to cheer, but we're most looking forward to Ferris Bueller's Day Off airing in high definition as a part of Super Sweet Baseball Week starting today.
San Diego's channel 4 treats Padres fans to HD
When it rains, it pours -- 2008 is shaping up to be the year that spring fever is accompanied by HD fever. Take a peep at the linked Padres TV schedule for San Diego's channel 4 and what do you see in the right-most column? That's right -- every game carried (a whopping 144) is in HD, right down the line. It's nice to see that Jays fans north of the border won't be able to hold that number over us Americans. We're compelled to tell you that if you can get out to PETCO park, please do -- it's a great place to take in some baseball. Otherwise, break out the cooler, fire up the grill, invite some friends over and bask in the overabundance of HD pixels. [Thanks, Andy!]
FSN Wisconsin serving up 65 Brewers games in HD
The good news for MLB fans just keeps on coming. Hot on the heels of a number of regional announcements to broadcast oodles of MLB matchups in high-definition this year comes a similar edict from FSN Wisconsin. The network is gearing up to broadcast 65 of the Milwaukee Brewers games in HD this season, which is up from 17 last year but still less than half of the club's total games. Fans in the area can catch the first Brewers HD telecast when it opens the season against the Chicago Cubs, but alas, Charter subscribers still won't be able to join in. As it stands, DirecTV, DISH Network, Time Warner Cable and Tri County Cable are all signed on to serve up FSN Wisconsin content in HD, but we can only hope that this pledge to put more high-def material on the channel will convince Charter of its worthiness. Check out the read link for the full HD schedule.[Image courtesy of New York Times]
FSN Kansas City to carry 88 Royals games in HD
Although the Royals were already receiving the "world's largest" HD LED scoreboard in their home stadium, fans having to watch from the comfort of their own couches were yearning for more. Thankfully, FSN Kansas City -- the "new television home of the Royals" -- will be helping you folks out, as it's gearing up to broadcast 88 of the club's games this season in gorgeous high-definition. As you well know, 2008 marks the first year in which the Royals matchups will be aired in HD (regionally, at least), and FSN KC isn't wasting any time in delivering the goods. Starting on March 31st, Royals fans can catch the team's opener at Detroit in HD, and the home opener on April 8th (against the Yankees) will also be shown in high-def. Heck, even the pre- and post-game shows will be seen in HD on HD game nights. Check out the full HD schedule in the read link below.[Image courtesy of VisitKC, thanks Jim]
MLB Power Price: $19.99 [update]
If you consider yourself a connoisseur of baseball video games, there's no reason why you shouldn't have a copy of MLB Power Pros! Never mind the deceptively simple art style with its super-deformed characters -- this is one of the deepest baseball titles currently available. Konami packed over a dozen different modes into MLB Power Pros, including an RPG-esque mode in which you follow a college baseball player's career to help him realize his Major League dreams.Amazon has MLB Power Pros priced at $19.99 as part of an ongoing sale for sports-themed games today, so now is the time to pick it up if you're interested! Keep in mind that this deal will only last until midnight (or until stocks run out).Update: It looks like this popular bargain is going in and out of stock. You might have to keep checking back until the $19.99 price shows up.
TWC customers to see Cincinnati Reds in HD this season?
Considering that every single New York Mets and Toronto Blue Jays matchup will be seen in HD in their respective markets, it's understandable for Reds fans to long for more than Time Warner Cable delivered last season. During 2007, TWC failed to carry the initial 33 Cincinnati Reds games on FSN Ohio in HD, but according to Karen Baxter, public affairs director for the carrier's southwest Ohio division, it's hoping to "be able to offer the Reds in HDTV this year." Notably, Insight brought these very games to its Northern Kentucky subscribers last year in HD, making Ohio residents that much more upset to be left in the pixelated dark. Still, considering that DirecTV and DISH Network has access to all 71 FSN Ohio HDTV games, we're hoping Time Warner steps up to the proverbial plate here and gives the local Reds fans a clearer picture this go 'round -- particularly since we know the channel itself is already on the way. [Disclosure: Engadget is part of the Time Warner family][Image courtesy of Megan Construction]
SNY to deliver every New York Mets game in HD
While we heard that all 144 Blue Jays games would be aired in glorious high-definition on one channel or another, SNY has just announced that it "will produce every New York Mets regular season game -- in 2008 and beyond -- in high-definition." Previously, SNY had delivered just the home games in HD, but now you won't be forced to rack up those airline miles in order to catch your beloved Mets in something more than SD. The fun gets started when the home team travels down to Florida to take on the Marlins at 4:00PM on March 31st. Of course, you still may want to catch a game at the upcoming Citi Field every now and then -- we can only imagine how 12,000 square feet of HD signage will look in person.[Thanks, Tom D.]
Fox goes all-HD for 2008 MLB season
That's right baseball fans, after cutting back the number of HD broadcasts last year, every single game on Fox this season will be in sweet, sweet 720p, including the All-Star Game. The network's MLB broadcasts start April 5 with either Mets/Braves, White Sox/Tigers or Padres/Dodgers coming your way depending on region. Good job Fox, we still haven't forgotten about Fox Widescreen, but today, you get a gold star.
MLB 2K gets a somewhat indie soundtrack
In a slightly surprising move (wait ... baseball games have music?), 2K partnered with Pitchfork Media to make the soundtrack for Major League Baseball 2K8 (which comes to NA this week). By "make," of course, we mean "pick a bunch of different pre-existing songs," but that's neither here nor there. If you ask us, the soundtrack for the game is looking pretty damn sweet. Then again, this blogger has a musical taste that is often disliked by the norm, so many of you may hate the track list. But, don't worry too much: supposing bands like LCD Soundsystem and Dinosaur Jr. don't do it for you, there's also a lot of good bands on the soundtrack that are more well-known, such as The Cure, The Cars, and Modest Mouse.To feast your eyes on the full track list, make sure to check past the break.
Cubs Forever documentary coming to WGN HD
Alright, Cubbies fans -- this is your year. What better way to end the streak than on the 100th anniversary of your last World Series win, right? In preparation for the upcoming season, WGN-Channel 9 is gearing up to air a two-hour documentary called Cubs Forever, which is in celebration of the 60th anniversary of WGN airing its first Cubs baseball game. For the historians in the crowd, that April 16th, 1948 matchup between your beloved Cubbies and the cross-town White Sox was actually an exhibition, but on April 20th of this year, fans will be able to witness "interviews with more than 60 Cubs players, fans and team staffers" that have been a part of the WGN / Cubs partnership. No word on an exact airing time just yet, but you can rest assured that it'll be beamed out in glorious high-definition.[Image courtesy of VacationsByRail]
Some more baseball for the Wii with MLB 2K8
MLB Power Pros might have been too cute for a tough guy (or girl) like you, or maybe you've simply been waiting for a more realistic baseball experience. If so, you'll have the chance pick up 2K's Major League Baseball 2K8 next week on March 4th.The press release for the game reveals tons of waggle, which (as we've seen in Wii Sports Baseball) can be a lot of fun, if pulled off correctly. Aside from pitching and hitting, though, the game will also let you field with motion controls. You control the player's destination with the Nunchuck, but then use the Wiimote to throw the ball to the designated fielder.The only think we're a bit skeptical about is the motion-controlled baserunning. To increase your speed, you shake the Wiimote and Nunchuck simultaneously, which might get annoying over time. Still, we suppose this is probably the most immersive baseball video game to date.Alas, waggle comes at a price. The game doesn't support online play, and lacks the minor league and trading card features found in the other console versions.[Via press release]
MLB 2K8 Fantasy All-Stars: What?
Yesterday when we reported on the announcement of MLB 2K8 Fantasy All-Stars, we made a minor typo. In that original post, we said that we were adopting a "wait and see" tactic regarding the game. What we meant to say was a "wait, and then just forget about the game forever, and definitely don't look for screenshots" approach.By looking at these bizarre screens of Deep Fried Entertainment's new baseball game, we have deduced what the MLB organization's fantasy is: players who lack any kind of tissue into which steroids can be injected. Also, cows.We're torn. Even as we make fun of the noodly look of the game, we feel a certain measure of admiration for the designers for even daring to attempt a change of pace in something as staid as a licensed sports game. But man, the noodliness.
