MLB 06: The Show
Encyclopedia
MLB '06: The Show is a baseball
video game for PlayStation 2
and PSP
. The game was produced by Sony Computer Entertainment
, primarily by SCE's San Diego Studio, which was formerly known as 989 Sports. It was the only first-party
MLB
-licensed video game for the 2006 season drawing attention to the brand and franchise. The game was one of two MLB-licensed games for 2006 along with Major League Baseball 2K6
.
with humorous 'spots' featuring MLB players with actors. David Ortiz
of the Boston Red Sox
was featured on the game cover. Ortiz also appeared in TV spots advertising the game.
. However, there are some fictional players in the game that are similar to these missing players, most notably 'Reggie Stocker', a fictional player standing in for Barry Bonds
.
In this mode, the user creates player and attempts to take him to Major League stardom. The game features officially licensed Double-A and Triple-A baseball leagues and teams from the 2006 season. By performing well, users can eventually guide their player to the major leagues.
A unique aspect of the game mode is the user's controlling only his/her individual player during gameplay, as opposed to the entire team. For example, if a player is pitching in a certain game, the gameplay will simulate half-innings in which the user's team is hitting. Also, a user-controlled starting pitcher's schedule will be simulated for all games in which the user does not pitch.
, a mode based on the event taking place every year on the night before the MLB All-Star Game. Users are allowed to play as any position player and can select between 2 and 10 players from any major league team. Users also determine venue, number of outs, and time of day.
style game called King of the Diamond, a fast-paced baseball mini-game with timed innings and a points system. Users choose between Crimson and Cobalt teams and select one batter and one pitcher
from any team in the MLB for their team.
Baseball
Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...
video game for PlayStation 2
PlayStation 2
The PlayStation 2 is a sixth-generation video game console manufactured by Sony as part of the PlayStation series. Its development was announced in March 1999 and it was first released on March 4, 2000, in Japan...
and PSP
PlayStation Portable
The is a handheld game console manufactured and marketed by Sony Corporation Development of the console was announced during E3 2003, and it was unveiled on , 2004, at a Sony press conference before E3 2004...
. The game was produced by Sony Computer Entertainment
Sony Computer Entertainment
Sony Computer Entertainment, Inc. is a major video game company specializing in a variety of areas in the video game industry, and is a wholly owned subsidiary and part of the Consumer Products & Services Group of Sony...
, primarily by SCE's San Diego Studio, which was formerly known as 989 Sports. It was the only first-party
First-party developer
A video game development party can be one of two parties: a first-party or third-party developer.- First-party developer :In the video game industry, a first-party developer is a developer that is part of a company that manufactures a video game console, and develops exclusively for it...
MLB
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
-licensed video game for the 2006 season drawing attention to the brand and franchise. The game was one of two MLB-licensed games for 2006 along with Major League Baseball 2K6
Major League Baseball 2K6
Major League Baseball 2K6, simply known as MLB 2K6, is a Major League Baseball licensed baseball video game developed by Visual Concepts and published by 2K Sports. It is the only 2006 MLB licensed game available for the Xbox 360 and Nintendo GameCube along with the original Xbox...
.
Marketing
The game's marketing campaign consisted primarily of an extensive television advertising campaignAdvertising campaign
An advertising campaign is a series of advertisement messages that share a single idea and theme which make up an integrated marketing communication...
with humorous 'spots' featuring MLB players with actors. David Ortiz
David Ortiz
David Américo Ortiz Arias , known as David Ortiz, nicknamed "Big Papi", is a Dominican American professional baseball player who is currently a free agent. Previously, Ortiz played with the Minnesota Twins and Boston Red Sox...
of the Boston Red Sox
Boston Red Sox
The Boston Red Sox are a professional baseball team based in Boston, Massachusetts, and a member of Major League Baseball’s American League Eastern Division. Founded in as one of the American League's eight charter franchises, the Red Sox's home ballpark has been Fenway Park since . The "Red Sox"...
was featured on the game cover. Ortiz also appeared in TV spots advertising the game.
In-game Rosters
The game does not feature any MLB player who is not a member of the Major League Baseball Players AssociationMajor League Baseball Players Association
The Major League Baseball Players Association is the union of professional major-league baseball players.-History of MLBPA:The MLBPA was not the first attempt to unionize baseball players...
. However, there are some fictional players in the game that are similar to these missing players, most notably 'Reggie Stocker', a fictional player standing in for Barry Bonds
Barry Bonds
Barry Lamar Bonds is an American former Major League Baseball outfielder. Bonds played from 1986 to 2007, for the Pittsburgh Pirates and San Francisco Giants. He is the son of former major league All-Star Bobby Bonds...
.
"The Show" Mode
MLB 06: The Show features a career mode which is one of the game's unique features. This is known as "The Show" mode, giving the game its name.In this mode, the user creates player and attempts to take him to Major League stardom. The game features officially licensed Double-A and Triple-A baseball leagues and teams from the 2006 season. By performing well, users can eventually guide their player to the major leagues.
A unique aspect of the game mode is the user's controlling only his/her individual player during gameplay, as opposed to the entire team. For example, if a player is pitching in a certain game, the gameplay will simulate half-innings in which the user's team is hitting. Also, a user-controlled starting pitcher's schedule will be simulated for all games in which the user does not pitch.
Season Mode
MLB 06: The Show also features a Season mode in which users can carry one team through an entire 162-game season and into the playoffs if you make it there. Users can pick from the thirty current Major League Baseball teams and have the options to change team rosters, review scouting reports for opposing teams, and view statistics and standings. In this setting, all players on a team are user-controlled during gameplay, unlike "The Show" mode.Franchise Mode
Also featured in MLB 06: The Show is Franchise mode, where in addition to multiple 162-game seasons, users control every part of the team, such as hiring coaches and setting prices. Users can sign free agents, deal with player contracts, and achieve franchise goals unique to each team. This setting is similar to Season Mode, as all players on a team are user-controlled during gameplay, unlike "The Show" mode.Home Run Derby
The game also features Home Run DerbyHome Run Derby
The Home Run Derby is an event played prior to the Major League Baseball All-Star Game. It is a contest among the top home run hitters in Major League Baseball to determine who can hit the most home runs. The event is currently sponsored by State Farm Insurance...
, a mode based on the event taking place every year on the night before the MLB All-Star Game. Users are allowed to play as any position player and can select between 2 and 10 players from any major league team. Users also determine venue, number of outs, and time of day.
King of the Diamond
You can play an arcadeArcade game
An arcade game is a coin-operated entertainment machine, usually installed in public businesses such as restaurants, bars, and amusement arcades. Most arcade games are video games, pinball machines, electro-mechanical games, redemption games, and merchandisers...
style game called King of the Diamond, a fast-paced baseball mini-game with timed innings and a points system. Users choose between Crimson and Cobalt teams and select one batter and one pitcher
Pitcher
In baseball, the pitcher is the player who throwsthe baseball from the pitcher's mound toward the catcher to begin each play, with the goal of retiring a batter, who attempts to either make contact with the pitched ball or draw a walk. In the numbering system used to record defensive plays, the...
from any team in the MLB for their team.
Awards
- Received IGNIGNIGN is an entertainment website that focuses on video games, films, music and other media. IGN's main website comprises several specialty sites or "channels", each occupying a subdomain and covering a specific area of entertainment...
's award for Best PSP Sports Game of the year in 2006, and received great reviews for its PlayStation 2PlayStation 2The PlayStation 2 is a sixth-generation video game console manufactured by Sony as part of the PlayStation series. Its development was announced in March 1999 and it was first released on March 4, 2000, in Japan...
version.
Soundtrack
| Song | Band |
|---|---|
| Going Through Changes | Army of Me Army of Me (band) Army of Me is a band formed in Washington, D.C.-History:Vocalist/guitarist Vince Scheuerman grew up in a Gaithersburg, Maryland religious community. Feeling frustrated with mainstream culture, he turned to music as an outlet. Scheuerman and long time friend John Hutchins, bass, joined ska band,... |
| Prototype | City Sleeps |
| Low Rider | Stab The Matador |
| We Don't Care Anymore | Story of the Year Story of the Year Story of the Year is an American rock band formed in St. Louis, Missouri in 2000. The band was initially named 67 North but was then changed to Big Blue Monkey... |
| 10 AM Automatic | The Black Keys The Black Keys The Black Keys are an American rock duo consisting of vocalist/guitarist Dan Auerbach and drummer/producer Patrick Carney. The band was formed in Akron, Ohio, in 2001. As of October 2011, the band has sold over 2 million albums in the U.S.... |
| Smoke of the Crowd | Transfer |
| Night on Fire | VHS or BETA VHS or Beta VHS or Beta is a band originally from Louisville, Kentucky, now based in Brooklyn, NY, that combines elements of rock, house and disco . Their self-released debut EP Le Funk found some success on the charts, but the band became better known in the wake of the 2004 album Night on Fire... |
| Everything is Alright | Motion City Soundtrack Motion City Soundtrack Motion City Soundtrack is an American rock band from Minneapolis, Minnesota, formed in 1997. The band consists of founding members Justin Pierre and Joshua Cain , along with keyboardist and moog synthesist Jesse Johnson, bassist and backing vocalist Matthew Taylor, and drummer, percussionist and... |
| Of a Revolution | O.A.R. O.A.R. O.A.R. is an American rock band composed of Marc Roberge , Chris Culos , Richard On , Benj Gershman , and Jerry DePizzo... |
| Gotta Reason | Hard-Fi HARD-Fi Hard-Fi are an English indie rock band formed in Staines, Surrey in 2003. The band's members are Richard Archer , Ross Phillips , Kai Stephens and Steve Kemp .They achieved chart success with their third single, "Hard to Beat" and then followed by other successful singles such as... |
| Heat It Up | Midi Mafia Midi Mafia Midi Mafia is a hip hop/R&B production duo consisting of American Bruce Waynne from Brooklyn, New York and Canadian Dirty Swift from Ottawa, Ontario... |
| Hands Together | Scratch Track Scratch Track Scratch Track is best described as an Acoustic Hip-Hop Soul band that formed in Tennessee in 2000. The group is composed of Vocalist/Beatboxer DJ Lee and Guitarist Jason Hamlin. Scratch Track is currently based out of Kansas City, MO... |
| Back Again | Dilated Peoples Dilated Peoples Dilated Peoples is an American hip hop group from Los Angeles, California. The group achieved notability in the underground hip hop community, although they have had little mainstream success in the US, with the exception of the song "This Way," a 2004 collaboration with Kanye West and Xzibit... |