MLB Pennant Race

Last updated

MLB Pennant Race
MLB Pennant Race PlayStation.jpg
Developer(s) Sony Interactive Studios America
Publisher(s) Sony Computer Entertainment
Platform(s) PlayStation
Release
  • NA: October 14, 1996 [1]
Genre(s) Sports
Mode(s) Single-player, multiplayer

MLB Pennant Race is a baseball video game developed by Sony Interactive Studios America and published by Sony Computer Entertainment for the PlayStation. The game takes place during the 1996 Major League Baseball season; rosters and statistics are accurate as of the 1995 Major League Baseball season. The game was followed by the 989 Sports Major League Baseball series as well as the MLB: The Show franchise.

Contents

Reception

MLB Pennant Race experienced exceptionally long delays, and some critics felt that it greatly suffered as a result, being a game with 1995 stats released when the 1996 MLB season was over. [3] [5] [6] Other common criticisms were the slowness of the games [4] [6] and scorekeeper bugs such as counting swung-on strikes as balls. [4] [7] However, reviewers complimented the large selection of options and modes [3] [4] [6] [7] and the easy, accurate batting interface and controls. [3] [4] [6] [7] Opinions varied concerning the graphics; Hugh Sterbakov of GameSpot said they were excellent, [4] a reviewer for Next Generation said they fell short of the competition, [6] and Air Hendrix of GamePro said he personally felt they were not as good as polygonal graphics, but that they were done well for what they were and that those who like 2D graphics would enjoy them. [7] Overall opinions of the game also varied. Todd Mowatt of Electronic Gaming Monthly said it was "a lot of fun to play", while his co-reviewer Joe Rybicki found it lacking and said gamers should rent it first. [3] The reviewer for Next Generation concluded that its late release and inferior gameplay and graphics compared to the competition made it not worth getting. [6] IGN criticized the game as being dated, specifically interface elements such as the batting cursor. [5] Sterbakov said it was a mixed bag, but that some players would find its good points appealing and be able to overlook its negative points. [4] Air Hendrix said it was an overall solid game, but beaten out by Triple Play '97 . [7]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">989 Studios</span> Video game developer and publisher

989 Studios was a division of Sony Computer Entertainment America (SCEA) that developed games for PlayStation consoles and Windows personal computers. Their games include EverQuest, Twisted Metal III, Twisted Metal 4, Syphon Filter, Syphon Filter 2, Jet Moto 3, Bust a Groove, and others.

<i>Jet Moto 2</i> 1997 video game

Jet Moto 2 is a racing video game developed by Sony Interactive Studios America and SingleTrac and published by Sony Computer Entertainment for the PlayStation. It is the second installment in the Jet Moto series and the sequel to the 1996 game Jet Moto. It was released in North America on November 11, 1997, in Europe in April 1998, and in Japan on August 6, 1998. In January 2008 Jet Moto 2 was made available for the PlayStation Portable and PlayStation 3 via the PlayStation Network. The PlayStation Greatest Hits version, branded within the game as Jet Moto 2: Championship Edition, is slightly different from the original in that the framerate is increased, the number of competitors is limited to four, and all the original Jet Moto tracks are unlocked from the start.

<i>Need for Speed II</i> 1997 racing video game

Need for Speed II is a 1997 racing video game released for PlayStation and Microsoft Windows. It is a part of the Need for Speed series and is the second installment, following The Need for Speed.

<i>Ken Griffey Jr.s Winning Run</i> 1996 baseball video game

Ken Griffey Jr.'s Winning Run is a baseball video game developed by Rare and published by Nintendo for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System. It is named after the baseball player Ken Griffey Jr. It is the follow-up to Nintendo's previous Ken Griffey Jr. Presents Major League Baseball. Two years later, Nintendo released another game featuring Griffey, Major League Baseball Featuring Ken Griffey Jr., for the Nintendo 64.

<i>Bottom of the 9th</i> 1996 video game

Bottom of the 9th is a baseball game by Konami for the PlayStation, which was later ported to the Sega Saturn and the Nintendo 64. It is a heavily updated version of Konami's 1989 arcade game Bottom of the Ninth. The game is part of Konami's XXL Sports brand.

<i>Mike Piazzas StrikeZone</i> 1998 video game

Mike Piazza's StrikeZone is a baseball game licensed by Major League Baseball and was released for the Nintendo 64. It was developed by Devil's Thumb Entertainment and released on June 18, 1998, by GT Interactive. While being endorsed by Mike Piazza, Strike Zone represents all of the MLB players in the 1997–98 season including those in the National League and American League.

<i>Major League Baseball 2K7</i> 2007 video game

Major League Baseball 2K7 is a Major League Baseball licensed baseball simulation video game developed by Kush Games and published by 2K. Released on February 27, 2007, it is the only 2007 MLB licensed game available for the Xbox and Xbox 360. It is also available for the PlayStation Portable, the PlayStation 2 and, for the first time, the PlayStation 3, though its competition came in the form of MLB 07: The Show from 989 Sports. Portable versions for the Game Boy Advance, Nintendo DS, and PlayStation Portable were released. It is the first baseball game to be released for the Nintendo DS and the last major release for the original Xbox game console.

<i>Major League Baseball 2K8</i> 2008 video game

Major League Baseball 2K8, or, in shorter terms, MLB 2K8, is an MLB licensed baseball simulation video game co-developed by Blue Castle Games and newly renamed 2K Los Angeles and published by 2K Sports for the PlayStation 2, PlayStation 3, PlayStation Portable, Wii, and Xbox 360. It was released on March 4, 2008. A demo was released on Xbox Live Marketplace the next day on March 5 for Canada, United States, and Asian markets and features the 2007 World Series opponents.

<i>2Xtreme</i> 1996 video game

2Xtreme is a racing video game developed by Sony Interactive Studios America and published by Sony Computer Entertainment for the PlayStation. It is a sequel to ESPN Extreme Games and unlike its predecessor, the game does not bear ESPN licensing. In it, the player races against others in various events around the world using Rollerblading, skateboarding, biking, and snowboarding. A sequel, 3Xtreme, was released in 1999.

<i>MLB 08: The Show</i> 2008 video game

MLB 08: The Show is a 2008 baseball video game developed by San Diego Studio published by Sony Computer Entertainment for the PlayStation 2, PlayStation 3 and PlayStation Portable. It is the third installment in the MLB: The Show series. Ryan Howard, all-star first baseman for the Philadelphia Phillies, is featured as the game's cover athlete.

<i>Actua Golf</i> 1996 video game

Actua Golf is a sports video game developed and published by Gremlin Interactive for PlayStation and Sega Saturn.

<i>MLB 2000</i> 1999 baseball video game

MLB 2000 is a 1999 baseball video game developed by 989 Sports and published by Sony Computer Entertainment for the PlayStation. The color commentary for the game is from Dave Campbell and the play by play announcer is Vin Scully. Anaheim Angels designated hitter Mo Vaughn was featured on the cover.

<i>MLB 99</i> 1998 baseball video game

MLB '99 is a 1998 baseball video game developed by Sony Interactive Studios America and published by Sony Computer Entertainment for the PlayStation. Dave Campbell provided the color commentary while Vin Scully is the play-by-play announcer. Baltimore Orioles third baseman Cal Ripken Jr. is featured on the cover.

<i>MLB 98</i> 1997 video game

MLB ‘98 is a 1997 baseball video game developed by Sony Interactive Studios America and published by Sony Computer Entertainment for the PlayStation. It precedes MLB '99 and is the sequel to MLB Pennant Race.

The MLB (Year#) series, is a series of Major League Baseball video games by Sony Computer Entertainment published under their 989 Sports label. The series was originally developed by Sony Interactive Studios America, who later became 989 Studios until eventually merging into Sony Computer Entertainment America. Following the merge the games were released under the 989 Sports brand up until 2006. Following that, MLB games from SCEA were released by San Diego Studio under the MLB: The Show series.

<i>Triple Play 99</i> 1998 video game

Triple Play 99 (TP99) is a baseball video game published by EA Sports featuring Major League Baseball rosters current from January 15, 1998 and stats from the 1997 season. Seattle Mariners shortstop Alex Rodriguez is featured on the cover.

<i>Jet Moto</i> (video game) 1996 video game

Jet Moto is a 1996 racing video game developed by Sony Interactive Studios America and SingleTrac and published by Sony Computer Entertainment for the PlayStation. It was released in North America on October 31, 1996; in 1997 for Europe in February and Japan on August 7. A Windows version was released only in North America on November 13, 1997 by Sony Interactive Studios America. Jet Moto was made available for the PlayStation Portable and PlayStation 3 via the PlayStation Network in February 2007. Developers chose fictional hovering bikes instead of wheeled motorcycles initially to resolve performance concerns. Other performance concerns led the team to develop two different physics systems—one for the player, and one for the 19 computer racers.

<i>3D Baseball</i> 1996 video game

3D Baseball is a sports game developed and published by Crystal Dynamics and distributed by Mindscape. It was released in December 1996 for PlayStation and Sega Saturn. It features CNN sportscaster Van Earl Wright as the announcer.

<i>MLB The Show 17</i> 2017 video game

MLB The Show 17 is a 2017 baseball video game developed by San Diego Studio and published by Sony Interactive Entertainment for the PlayStation 4. It is the twelfth installment in the MLB: The Show series and the first to be exclusive on a single console. The American cover features Ken Griffey Jr., while Aaron Sanchez is the cover athlete for the Canadian version, and Wei-Yin Chen is on the Taiwanese cover.

<i>NHL FaceOff 97</i> 1996 ice hockey video game

NHL FaceOff '97 is an ice hockey video game developed by Killer Game and published by Sony Computer Entertainment for the PlayStation. It is the second game in the NHL FaceOff series.

References

  1. "Game Informer News". Game Informer . February 3, 1999. Archived from the original on February 3, 1999. Retrieved April 5, 2023.
  2. "MLB Pennant Race for PlayStation - GameRankings". Archived from the original on December 9, 2019.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 "Team EGM Box Scores: MLB Pennant Race". Electronic Gaming Monthly . No. 89. Ziff Davis. December 1996. p. 330.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Sterbakov, Hugh (December 1, 1996). "MLB Penant Race Review". GameSpot . Retrieved January 4, 2018.
  5. 1 2 3 "MLB Pennant Race". IGN . December 17, 1996. Retrieved January 4, 2018.
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "MLB Pennant Race". Next Generation . No. 25. Imagine Media. January 1997. p. 170.
  7. 1 2 3 4 5 "MLB Pennant Race Slides into Second". GamePro . No. 100. IDG. January 1997. p. 134.