2K Releasing Yet Another MLB Game

The cost of the exclusive licenses for the NFL and MLB have lead to EA Sports and 2K Sports releasing multiple branded titles for their respective sports. By doing so they hope to extend the value of the contracts and take advantage of the opportunity to present varied products. EA has done so with its arcade line of games such as NFL Street/NFL Tour and ultra-sim title NFL Head Coach.

2K has really been pushing out MLB titles lately. Of course the headliner is the MLB 2K franchise. We had the release of The BIGS last year which was one of my favorite sports titles of this generation. Recent releases include MLB 2K8 Fantasy All-Stars (DS) and MLB Stickball (XBLA) and there is still the upcoming MLB Superstars (360, PS3). 2K also distributes the MLB Power Pros series.

They have just announced another title to add to the MLB lineup. MLB Front Office Manager will be coming to the 360, PS3, and PC this winter.

MLB Front Office Manager lets gamers do everything a real-life baseball GM can do to develop a team from Spring Training through a full MLB season, into the playoffs and the World Series. Using Major League teams and players, gamers will create their own fictional baseball universe and build their reputation into elite status. Gamers can replace aging veterans with rookies, scout the Minor Leagues, make blockbuster trades, and even participate in bidding wars for posted players from Japan as they make their way to the Hall of Fame.

This sounds like it could appeal to the crowd who enjoyed NFL Head Coach. Baseball fans though seem much more likely enjoy this type of product than football fans. Again I have to keep asking though where is the sequel to The BIGS? Interestingly Front Office Manager is being developed by Blue Castle who did The BIGS. That right there is enough to get me interested in this one. Continue on for the full press release.

New York, NY– October 9, 2008 – 2K Sports, the sports publishing label of Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc. (NASDAQ: TTWO), today announced that MLB Front Office Manager, the next step in competitive fandom for baseball enthusiasts, will be available for the Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft, the PLAYSTATION®3 computer entertainment system and Windows PC this winter. According to Nielsen Media Research, over 3.5 million users signed on to fantasy baseball sites in 2007 and MLB Front Office Manager brings this popular American pastime to console while enhancing the fantasy baseball experience on PC.

MLB Front Office Manager lets gamers do everything a real-life baseball GM can do to develop a team from Spring TrainingTM through a full MLB season, into the playoffs and the World Series. Using Major League teams and players, gamers will create their own fictional baseball universe and build their reputation into elite status. Gamers can replace aging veterans with rookies, scout the Minor Leagues, make blockbuster trades, and even participate in bidding wars for posted players from Japan as they make their way to the Hall of Fame.

“If you have ever dreamed of running your team or thought you could do a much better job than the actual general managers out there then you’ll love MLB Front Office Manager,” said Greg Thomas, senior vice president of sports development at 2K. “Baseball fanatics can now be in the general manager’s chair and see what it’s like to really try to build a World Series winning team.”

A true baseball general manager also acts as a mentor in MLB Front Office Manager. Legendary Oakland Athletics’ GM Billy Beane will offer advice, encouragement and guidance as gamers steer a team through the intense competition that is Major League Baseball. Billy Beane is considered one of the most talented GM’s in baseball today and has turned the Athletics into a consistent postseason contender since being named GM in 1997. Now, in MLB Front Office Manager, he passes that knowledge on to gamers.

“From negotiating trades to scouting new talent, MLB Front Office Manager has all the complexity and realism I could hope for in a game that is simulating what it means to be a Major League Baseball manager,” said Oakland Athletics’ General Manager Billy Beane. “I’m excited to be a part of a game that gives people a real world experience at what it’s like to be in my shoes and take on the responsibility of building a Major League Baseball team.”

MLB Front Office Manager offers two distinct game modes. Become the GM in Career Mode, and manage a team through a 30 year career that will hopefully lead to the Hall of Fame. As the gamer’s knowledge and skill progresses over time, gamers will gain points to improve various areas and help the team win games as a result. With Online Fantasy Mode, create an online head-to-head management experience. With up to 30 Managers in the league, gamers can compete against friends to see who has what it takes to be the best.

MLB Front Office Manager, developed by Blue Castle Games and published by 2K Sports, is not yet rated by the ESRB and will be available for Xbox 360, Windows PC, and PLAYSTATION 3 system this winter. For more information, please visit www.2ksports.com.