MLB 13: The Show

MLB 13: The Show
United States cover art featuring Andrew McCutchen
Developer(s)San Diego Studio
Publisher(s)Sony Computer Entertainment
SeriesMLB: The Show
Platform(s)PlayStation 3
PlayStation Vita
Release
  • NA: March 5, 2013
  • EU: March 6, 2013
  • AU: March 6, 2013
Genre(s)Sports
Mode(s)Single-player, multiplayer

MLB 13: The Show is a 2013 baseball video game developed by San Diego Studio and published by Sony Computer Entertainment for the PlayStation 3 and PlayStation Vita. It is the third installment of the series to be compatible with PlayStation Move. The play-by play is done once again by Matt Vasgersian and Eric Karros along with a new commentator, Steve Lyons.

The standard cover features Pittsburgh Pirates outfielder Andrew McCutchen. In Canada, a separate cover featuring Toronto Blue Jays outfielder José Bautista was released, making it the second consecutive year Bautista was featured on the cover in Canada.

An expansion pack exclusive to PlayStation 3, called MLB 13: The Show - Home Run Derby, was released on July 2, 2013.

New Features

  • Postseason mode, allowing players to play through a full MLB postseason, complete with realistic postseason atmosphere.
  • New color commentator Steve Lyons joins broadcast booth, replacing Dave Campbell.
  • Hitting enhancements, such as push/pull hitting trajectories engine
  • Diamond Dynasty Improvements: new card types, designated hitter option
  • Road To The Show (RTTS): new mode-specific presentation
  • New player development and budgeting systems in Season and Franchise modes
  • Fielding throwing meters

Online features

These features depended on the PlayStation Network

  • Universal online profile
  • Cross-platform online Home Run Derby
  • The Show Live: allows players to play along with real-life MLB schedule with updated stats, rosters, and commentary.
  • Online leagues overhaul: ability to play real schedule of all 30 MLB teams, and ability to control pace of league.
  • Road To The Show (RTTS): new RTTS online leaderboards
  • Challenge of the Week Real-time leaderboard

In August 2014, Sony announced they were shutting down the online servers, so people are no longer able to play online features, but the players can continue playing the offline features.

Reception

The game received "generally favorable reviews" on both platforms according to the review aggregation website Metacritic.[15][16]

Sports Illustrated gave the PS3 version a score of nine out of ten and said that it was "consistently successful because it's loaded with options that allow you to play the brand of baseball you want, and at a skill level you can handle."[13] Toronto Sun gave it a similar score of four-and-a-half stars out of five and said that it "pulls no squeeze plays on quality and realism when it comes to the game of baseball."[14] The Digital Fix gave it a score of eight out of ten and said, "For those unfamiliar with baseball MLB 13: The Show is probably a curiosity at most. The fact that the game is also PlayStation exclusive further segregates its European audience so that it occupies a limited niche at best. Still, for those looking for a baseball game there is nothing better on the market."[17]

During the 17th Annual D.I.C.E. Awards, the Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences nominated MLB 13: The Show for "Sports Game of the Year".[18]

Soundtrack

Artist Song
A Good Fight Rips Like a Motor
Anberlin Someone Anyone
Big Boi Mama Told Me (feat. Kelly Rowland)
Blink-182 Heart's All Gone
Bombay Bicycle Club Shuffle
Dispatch Not Messin'
Fenix*Tx Spooky Action at a Distance
Imagine Dragons Radioactive
Soundgarden Non-State Actor
The Mowgli's Slowly, Slowly
The Rolling Stones Doom and Gloom
The Royal Concept World on Fire
Youngblood Hawke Rootless
ZZ Top I Gotsta Get Paid

References

  1. ^ Fitch, Andrew (March 7, 2013). "EGM Review: MLB 13: The Show (PS3)". EGMNow. Archived from the original on March 12, 2013. Retrieved November 19, 2017.
  2. ^ Reiner, Andrew (March 12, 2013). "MLB 13 The Show (PS3): Spending More Time In The Batting Cage". Game Informer. Archived from the original on March 15, 2013. Retrieved November 19, 2017.
  3. ^ Ingenito, Vince (March 19, 2013). "MLB 13: The Show Review (PS3)". Game Revolution. Archived from the original on September 17, 2014. Retrieved November 19, 2017.
  4. ^ Todd, Brett (March 11, 2013). "MLB 13: The Show Review (PS3)". GameSpot. Retrieved November 19, 2017.
  5. ^ Todd, Brett (March 11, 2013). "MLB 13: The Show Review (Vita)". GameSpot. Retrieved November 19, 2017.
  6. ^ Marriott, Scott Alan (March 12, 2013). "MLB 13: The Show Review (PS3)". GameTrailers. Archived from the original on March 15, 2013. Retrieved November 19, 2017.
  7. ^ Liebl, Matt (March 5, 2013). "Review: MLB 13 The Show returns to the plate with some welcomed changes (PS3)". GameZone. Retrieved November 19, 2017.
  8. ^ McCaffrey, Ryan (March 5, 2013). "MLB 13: The Show Review (PS3)". IGN. Retrieved March 5, 2013.
  9. ^ McCaffrey, Ryan (March 7, 2013). "MLB 13: The Show Vita Review". IGN. Retrieved November 19, 2017.
  10. ^ Hinkle, David (March 12, 2013). "MLB 13: The Show review: Five-tool player (PS3)". Engadget (Joystiq). Retrieved November 19, 2013.
  11. ^ "MLB 13: The Show (PS3)". PlayStation Official Magazine – UK. May 2013. p. 108.
  12. ^ Sarkar, Samit (March 15, 2013). "MLB 13 The Show review: come together (PS3)". Polygon. Retrieved November 19, 2017.
  13. ^ a b Levine, Adam (March 6, 2013). "Game Room: 'MLB 13 The Show' Review (PS3)". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved November 19, 2017.
  14. ^ a b Baker, Brian (March 19, 2013). "'MLB 13: The Show' knocks it out of the park (PS3)". Toronto Sun. Archived from the original on July 1, 2013. Retrieved November 19, 2017.
  15. ^ a b "MLB 13: The Show for PlayStation 3 Reviews". Metacritic. Retrieved March 5, 2013.
  16. ^ a b "MLB 13: The Show for PlayStation Vita Reviews". Metacritic. Retrieved February 17, 2014.
  17. ^ Marshall, James (April 9, 2013). "MLB 13: The Show (PS3)". The Digital Fix. Archived from the original on September 9, 2013. Retrieved November 19, 2017.
  18. ^ "2014 Awards Category Details Sports Game of the Year". interactive.org. Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences. Retrieved November 28, 2023.