EA Sports is slowly incorporating real network style broadcasts to its games. The developer first introduced its NHL on NBC broadcast package in NHL 15. The addition of those elements from the NHL franchise added new life to a game that many believed could never reach the level of Madden or other sports video game franchises. Finally, it looks like EA Sports is moving network broadcasting voiceovers to MLB The Show 17 as well.
Last month, a leak reported that MLB The Show 17 would use MLB Network broadcast features, but nothing was said officially as the video of that footage was removed from YouTube. This week, a new video from Gamestop's MLB Monday finally confirms the leak as Sony announced that players would have the option to include the MLB Network broadcast elements in MLB The Show 17.
One of the biggest aspects of the presentation announcement was the change of analysts for the game. For the last four editions, The Show featured Steve Lyons and Eric Karros as the analysts for the game while Matt Vasgersian was the play-by-play commentator. While Vasgersian continues to be one of the top names in announcing, virtually and in real-life, the color analyst position in sports games has a very short shelf life as their insights become some of the most mind-numbing parts of games. After four years, Sony decided to make a change as Harold Reynolds and Dan Plesac will be the new analysts for MLB The Show 17.
Reynolds is a two-time MLB All-Star who has been an analyst since 1996. He moved from ESPN to MLB Network upon the network’s launch in 2009 and is considered one of the most knowledgeable analysts on television. Plesac played in the majors for 18 years with six teams. A relief pitcher for his career, Plesac began his TV career in 2005 with the Philadelphia Phillies until joining the MLB Network in 2009. The addition of Reynolds and Plesac adds new blood, and more importantly, new voices to MLB The Show 17.
Players will have the choice of using the MLB Network integration or to continue using the MLB The Show broadcast package. While the MLB Network graphics are a good touch, some players will choose to remain with the standard layout of the game. However, another addition that comes with the MLB Network package is Showtrack, which is MLB Network’s stat tracking system. Everything from how fast it takes a player to get from home plate to third base on a triple or how fast the ball came off of a bat on a home run are shown and it comes with MLB Network’s integration.
With the MLB Network now being included in MLB The Show 17 and the continued use of the NHL on NBC for the NHL franchise, the floodgates may begin to open for sports games using sports leagues’ broadcast partners. The time will come when FOX or CBS will be featured in Madden or TNT will be featured in NBA 2K. This is the continued evolution of sports games and it is only going to make these games better.
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