Sony is making a bad habit of ending online support for its the previous games in its franchises as soon as newer entries are released, in order to spur adoption of the new games. The most high profile example was probably the premature shutdown of online for Gran Turismo 5 to push Gran Turismo 6, but they have also made it a yearly habit to pull the plug for online support for MLB shortly after the previous one comes out.

And so it will be this year that online support for MLB 14: The Show will be ending on June 18, just three months after the launch of MLB 15: The Show, and 15 months after the launch of MLB 14. It’s shady and anti consumer, and frankly, Sony needs to be called out on it. Imagine if each year, Activision pulled the plug on online support for last year’s Call of Duty. Or if EA did that with FIFA. Or Nintendo with Pokemon. There would be riots.

The online support will be ending across PS3, PS4, and PS Vita. Frankly, this leaves such a sour taste in my mouth that I am in no mood to recommend MLB 15: The Show any longer.

The PS4 is of course the new generation console, so the corollary being, the game looks gorgeously effulgent on the PS4. MLB 14: The Show on the PS4 offers enough visual treats to satisfy the sybarite in you. The game has superb textures done in high resolution, resulting in detailing of the utmost calibre. If one spares a moment or two to look at the details, one wouldn’t be disappointed. Everything from the facial expressions of players, to clothes textures’ have been rendered in excruciating detail; every player’s straining muscles showing up distinctly and every glass blade is individually visible in the green field.

"An insane amount of effort has been put into making every strand of hair defined and acting in accordance with the laws of physics. Looking closely at the face so players would also reveal the light stubble that some players may have. Also, there’s a little saturation in the game that actually adds to the beauty. "

Bloom has been employed laudably in the game. Since the game is played in an outdoor field with the sun shining overhead, bloom significantly adds to the aesthetic beauty of the game. All the colours give off light as they should and this realistic effect is greatly amplified by ambient occlusion, which ensured that that the light in the environment acknowledges the small counters of game elements as well as in ensuring that the light given off by non reflective surfaces is even and waning.

Ambient occlusion is present even in the crowd, which in itself is very nicely portrayed with over 500 variables of clothing working out to give separate appearances to everyone in the stands.

Reflections in the game are nice and alpha processing allows for that little transparency when needed such as in the goggles of the players. One thing that really makes the developers deserving of the praise is how player’s hair has been done in the game.

An insane amount of effort has been put into making every strand of hair defined and acting in accordance with the laws of physics. Looking closely at the face so players would also reveal the light stubble that some players may have. Also, there’s a little saturation in the game that actually adds to the beauty.

All this is in stark contrast to the PS4’s forerunner, whose limits had already been pushed to the apex with the MLB 13. Still ,the developers ground enough out of themselves to improve even upon that. Inherently, the PS3 is bound to perform much lower than the PS4, but it still manages to put up a good show.

"Unlike the PS4, MLB 14 on the PS3 lacks in anti-aliasing a significant bit although it is not visible outrightly. The reflections in comparison are a bit too overtly done, with players helmets often acting as mirrors. The poorly done anisotropic filtering may put some people off but it’s not all that bad."

Unlike the PS4, MLB 14 on the PS3 lacks in anti-aliasing a significant bit although it is not visible outrightly. The reflections in comparison are a bit too overtly done, with players helmets often acting as mirrors. The poorly done anisotropic filtering may put some people off but it’s not all that bad. Ambient occlusion again, is not as good as the PS3’s successor, with some game elements appearing without shadows where there should.

The PS3 version also lacks a detailed depth of field but it’s not a matter of significance as even the PS4 version doesn’t offer much beyond the stadium bounds. Even the 2D skybox is merely satisfactory.

The PS3 version lacks the PS4 level of alpha processing and bloom, as well as cutting down on textures, resulting in more bland appearance of players, their clothing and the grass on the field which happens to lack grass blades altogether.

Also, instead of the ridiculously detailed hair of the players, the PS3 offers an often variegated lot of different colours and shapes of dried hemp attached to players’ heads. But considering you’ll be absorbed in playing the game, that shouldn’t be a bother.

The crowd looks almost the same on the PS3 and the PS4, with the former utilising lesser number of variables to dress individuals in the crowd differently.

"The PS Vita version of MLB 14 looks coextensive with the PS3 version. It’s not excellent, but by any handheld’s standards, it’s not in tepid waters. The Vita version plays and looks and plays mostly like the PS3 version, with the obvious cut down on the graphical detailing. Nonetheless, the character details are appreciable and so are the shadows in the game."

The PS3 also tries to save on rendering by employing bokeh depth of field and cutting down on the texture and details of far off things unlike the PS4, which retains almost uniform depth of field with consistent detailing throughout.

Largely, MLB 14: The Show remains the same as MLB 13 while considering how it fares in the graphical benchmarks, but it does improve a lot upon the gameplay by means of introducing more fluid player movements, better animations and more beefed up character models, thus making it look and feel all the better.

The PS Vita version of MLB 14 looks coextensive with the PS3 version. It’s not excellent, but by any handheld’s standards, it’s not in tepid waters. The Vita version plays and looks and plays mostly like the PS3 version, with the obvious cut down on the graphical detailing. Nonetheless, the character details are appreciable and so are the shadows in the game.

Although what does feel missing is the sometimes almost apparent lack of shadows of players on the field. There’s a decent amount of anisotropic filtering by handheld console standards and the build of the stadium and the field add to the aesthetic experience.

Player movements are fluid and natural so no complaints there. The crowds on the other hand are a let down, who care very static and repetitive in their action and dressing. The character detailing is laudable but the models could have been improved to lend the game a more realistic approach.

There are rare times when the frame rate drops in the game but the instances do not occur at important points in the game, for example while pitching or striking. Apart from these small issues, there’s nothing that would ruin the game for anyone.

"The PS4 version of course scores high in graphics with superbly done character models, lighting and details, helped by the excellent implementation of the game on the console, albeit with the occasional glitches. The PS3 version still offers a lot to gamers and the game is still easily enjoyable on the older console. The PS Vita too handles the game quite well, except a few complaints here and there."

The PS4 has its own set of problems with players reporting the game’s colours turning into all pink, green and the screen going completely black. There have been some reported screen tearing issues but the instances are recherche. The PS3 on the other hand, remains relatively glitches free with almost no issues reported except the occasional screen tearing issues.

MLB 14: The Show really scores with its extensive and detailed use of textures and lighting, helped by the superb animation which look fluid and natural across all three platforms. With an occasional bit of overlooking on part of the developers, there’s nothing lacklustre about the game, and it plays really well across all three platforms.

The PS4 version of course scores high in graphics with superbly done character models, lighting and details, helped by the excellent implementation of the game on the console, albeit with the occasional glitches. The PS3 version still offers a lot to gamers and the game is still easily enjoyable on the older console. The PS Vita too handles the game quite well, except a few complaints here and there.

Overall, MLB 14: the Show will definitely be the new graphical touchstone for sports games for quite some time on all the aforementioned platforms. A worthy experience.

MLB 14: The Show was supposed to be one of many Day 1 Digital title for the PS4, which would have allowed people to download the game on its official release date. The game was supposed to go up digitally at 12:01 AM EST on the day of its release. However, it never went up, and those who wanted to play the game digitally on its release were unable to do so.

Several people voiced their angry comments on several sites, such as the PS Blog and Reddit as well. And now it seems like Sony are looking to make up for their mistake. They are offering refunds in the form of PSN wallet cash to anyone who paid for the game but was unable to play it on launch. You’re recommended to contact Sony’s Support and ask them for the same if you faced similar issues.

Retail versions of MLB 14: The Show are also out for the PS Vita and PS3. You can check out our full review of the PS4 version here.

Stay tuned for more updates.

SCE San Diego’s MLB 14: The Show is now available on the PlayStation 4, having released for the PS3 and PS Vita. If you own either of the former, you’ll be able to continue your progress in the PS4 version.

Speaking on the PlayStation Blog, director of production Chris Cutliff reaffirmed that the PS4 version wasn’t just a port. “We weren’t content to simply port over this year’s game to PS4; our talented team has invested a great deal of work into this next-gen debut.” To that end, all MLB stadiums were created from scratch and environments have more than 1 million polygons (as compared to 150,000 on the PS3). It also features “fully rendered” grass, improved player models, “fully redone” HD crowd audio and much more.

“Our goal every year is to capture as closely as possible the excitement that takes place on the real world field and to show why baseball is the best sport in the world.”

As you’ve no doubt guessed, I like baseball, though I don’t follow it as closely as many fans. Baseball games take a long time, especially if you’re watching them on your couch, and it’s hard to set aside that much time on a given day. Sure, they take just as long in a stadium, but you’ve got popcorn, hot dogs, peanuts, and beer readily available and you’re watching the game live with friends and family. It’s a unique experience, which is why it’s the only way to watch a baseball game for many people, myself included. Perhaps that’s why MLB 14 the Show appeals to me so much.

MLB 14 The Show finds itself in a pretty unique position this year, now that 2K Sports has decided to drop their MLB 2K series. They’re the only game in town, and they know it, but that doesn’t mean that Sony’s San Diego studio has decided to rest on their laurels.  MLB 14 The Show doesn’t feature as many improvements to the franchise as past entries have, but it does bring quite a few welcome changes. Fans of The Show shouldn’t worry; San Diego Studio hasn’t cut corners, and everything in the PS3 version of the title appears here.

"The best aspect of the difficulty tweaks lies in the new dynamic difficulty setting, which learns from the way you play and adapts to it."

The biggest difference is how good everything looks. The crowds are more realistic, unique, and varied than ever, the players look amazing, the weather effects are impressive, the stadiums have been completely rebuilt, the animation work is incredible – I could go on, but you get the idea. The game also sounds good, especially in terms of the effects themselves – the crack of the bat, the satisfying sound of a ball hitting a glove at high speed – and the commentary, which remains engaging and largely avoids repetition, despite the hundreds of situations that appear over the course of a game.

The presentation will undoubtedly wow you, but The Show never forgets that it is a baseball sim first and foremost. The game requires an intimate understanding of the national pastime and quick reflexes, but San Diego Studio has been kind enough to provide settings that you can tweak at your leisure, even during the games themselves. This makes it easy for someone who has never played The Show before to jump in and have fun, play the sections of the game they feel comfortable with, and switch on more while they’re ready. However, those looking to play every position, or for the most demanding, accurate sim (or just multiple control options the way you pitch, hit, run, and throw) will find something that suits them as well.

The best aspect of the difficulty tweaks lies in the new dynamic difficulty setting, which learns from the way you play and adapts to it. Most importantly, it weighs the different aspects of the game individually, so if you’re good at pitching but terrible at bat (like me), you can have a higher pitching difficulty and a lower at bat difficulty at the same time, and both will change over time as you improve.

" Want to pitch for a few innings? Go for it. After you’re done, you can change to shortstop for a bit, or take over as one of your favorite batters just as he gets his shot in the lineup."

The other big changes are related to one of the constant complaints about baseball: that it takes a long time to play a complete game. The first of these changes is Quick Count, which can be used in pretty much any of the game’s modes. Quick Count allows you to skip to important moments in an at-bat – say when you have three balls and two strikes – thus eliminating the need for the player to throw or hit every pitch. You can’t work the pitch count as much as you can normally, but it does speed the game up considerably, often cutting the time it takes to play a game in half.

It’s a nice system, but Quick Counts will not be the big thing about MLB 14 The Show for most people; that comes in the form of Player Lock, which allows you to play an entire game from the perspective of one player while the game simulates the rest. Want to pitch for a few innings? Go for it. After you’re done, you can change to shortstop for a bit, or take over as one of your favorite batters just as he gets his shot in the lineup. You can change these settings, or turn Player Lock off, at any time, even between pitches or during an at-bat, which means that you’re never stuck playing a section you don’t want to.

These changes aside, much of The Show’s features, including its modes, are pretty standard: Exhibition allows you to pick a team and jump into a game against the CPU or into online in ranked or player matches, while Season mode allows you to play an entire 162 game season (or one as short as 14 games), and Postseason lets you to skip straight to the playoffs and chase the World Series. There are practice modes so you to work on aspects of your hitting or pitching, and Franchise mode is great for those who would rather manage than play. Like Exhibition, it can be played online with other people.

"By far the coolest online mode is Community Challenge, in which players can make and play custom challenges, and share them with others. "

Unfortunately, The Show’s online is iffy, and I had a lot of problems connecting to games. The best parts of the game’s online features are not online matches themselves, but the things that come with it. The Show Live lets you to play past and upcoming games in the MLB schedule, while Home Run Derby sees you competing with other players to see who can hit the most home runs. Diamond Dynasty tasks you with building a personalized team, and taking on other player’s teams on and offline. Your team will constantly look for opponents, even when you’re not around, and will use your tendencies and techniques when playing against them, and vice versa.

By far the coolest online mode is Community Challenge, in which players can make and play custom challenges, and share them with others. Some might have you do something as simple as strike out a batter or hit a home run, while other will task you with hitting a grand slam in the World Series with two strikes against you. You have to complete the challenges yourself before you can post them, meaning you’re only limited by your skill and imagination.

Unfortunately, playing other player’s challenges  and unlocking characters in Diamond Dynasty costs Stubs, a kind of currency that you’ll earn by playing games or can pay for with real money. It wouldn’t be a problem if the costs weren’t steep, but in many cases they are, and earning Stubs is a slow process, so the whole thing feels like it was designed solely to get inside your pockets.

"MLB 14 The Show also introduces Year-to-Year Saves, which will allow you to carry your Road to the Show and Franchise progress over to next year’s games, which makes it more tempting than ever to dump time into creating a future hall of famer."

The real draw for most people will continue to be Road to the Show, which allows you to create a player and guide him through the minor leagues and into the majors. You can base him off existing players if you want, but the most satisfying results come from watching a character that you made yourself progress through the leagues.

You’ll only play that character, so games go quickly and are incredibly engaging. Playing games will earn you experience that can be spent on improving attributes essential to your position, and it’s cool to watch your character grow and develop based on how well you do over the course of a season. MLB 14 The Show also introduces Year-to-Year Saves, which will allow you to carry your Road to the Show and Franchise progress over to next year’s games, making it more tempting than ever create a future hall of famer.

MLB 14 The Show may not be a game changer, but it doesn’t need to be. It is refined to a keen edge, and does a lot to alleviate one of baseball’s key problems: its length. It may not be a total home run thanks to things like the Stubs system, but it does an awful lot for the national pastime. Its greatest accomplishment is that it recreates the fun and magic of baseball in an era where the sport is riddled with scandal. It made me a little prouder to wear my cap, and as I passed my local stadium today, I made a mental note to grab tickets to a game in the near future. If that’s not a win for baseball, I don’t know what is.

This game was reviewed on the PlayStation 4.

SCE San Diego Studio’s MLB 14: The Show may serve as an excellent example for the graphical prowess of the PlayStation 4, but for now, it’s available today onwards for PlayStation 3 and PS Vita users.

While current gen gamers won’t be able to avail of the spiffy new graphics, you still get a brand new sporting experience with the latest iteration. Quick Counts have been added so that you can breeze through a nine-inning game in as little as 30 minutes (even less) while Road to the Show has been modified significantly since MLB 13. There’s also a new Online Franchise mode for players to take advantage of.

As for those interested in what the next-generation version has to offer, MLB 14: The Show will be available on the PS4 on May 6th. Even if you pick it up for Vita or PS3, you can still take advantage of cross-platform saves between current and next gen devices. Stay tuned for more info.

That being said, this is baseball and the whole point is to be realistic and true to life to the sport as possible. We’ll see how the physics and animation hold up when MLB 14: The Show is out in May for PS4, but how do the textures and overall quality compare to real life Major League Baseball players? Check out our comparison below to find out.

Admittedly it won’t be as good looking as real life but the recreation of certain details like skin tone and texture, facial hair and more is a marvel to behold. While not a direct comparison, it’s nonetheless interesting to see how the PS4’s ability to render realistic models matches up to real life.

Mike Napoli

The game is currently set to be published by Sony Computer Entertainment.

MLB 14: The Show will be launched on April 1st on PlayStation 3 and PS Vita, and some time in May 2014 for the PlayStation 4.

• 1. Development
• 2. Gameplay
• 3. Teams

Development

MLB 14: The Show was first announced on November 4th of 2013 via the official PlayStation Blog alongside various screenshots which showed a comparison between the PlayStation 3 and PlayStation 4 versions of the game, focusing on the improved rendering capabilities of the PlayStation 4. Thus far details remain sketchy surrounding the games new features.

MLB 14: The Show is set to be the ninth entry into the MLB: The Show franchise, this time featuring baseman of the Detroit Tigers Miguel Cabera as the featured player on the cover, whereas Canada will receive a unique cover featuring Toronto Blue Jays Brett Lawrie instead. Play by Play (audio commentary of a current sporting event as it unfolds) sportscasting will be provided by Matt Vasgersian, Steve Lyons and Eric Karros, with Mike Carlucci (who has worked alongside Sony Computer Entertainment on a number of sporting titles) returning as the professional Announcer for the game.

Gameplay

Ramone Russell has said that there are over 50 improvements being made to the game, ” there are more than 50 new features and improvements that will enhance, deepen, streamline, and better your overall experience. Quick Counts will cut game completion times in half. A new UI, built from the ground up for PS4 (but carried over across all versions) has been optimized for maximum efficiency and responsiveness.” At time of writing, the only real major improvements that are readily available are improvements to the visuals which are available via the official MLB 14: The Show site.

Teams

This list will be updated as and when more information becomes available:

• Detroit Tigers
• Toronto Blue Jays

Note: This wiki will be updated once we have more information about the game.

MLB 14: The Show now has a release date but more than that, the game’s PS4 visuals are impressing players left and right. The PS4 version is confirmed to run at 1080p and 60 FPS and will look to take advantage of the console in just about every way possible. You can check out the PS3 trailer above to see how the gameplay fares.

As of now, there will be more than 1,000 different crowd models of 10,000 polygons each with each stadium consisting of more than 1 million polygons. Heck, the Mike Napoli’s beard has roughly 40,000 individually drawn hairs and each blade of grass in each stadium is wholly unique and individually rendered. This doesn’t include details like rusted metal, mats that now look wrinkled and creased and much, much more.

Did we mention the lighting system actually enables the light to enter a player’s skin and then come out, thus reflecting skin tone? The same effect applies to other materials thus making them look more natural and realistic in the process.

MLB 14: The Show will release on April 1st for the PS3 and PS Vita while the PS4 version is out in May. Check out screenshots for the PS4 version below.

(Source)

Sony is currently holding a media summit for the North American press, where they will be talking about several things, including the upcoming collection for the Sly games. However, according to the schedule given below (which was confirmed by DualShockers), Sony will also be giving some info on inFamous: Second Son, The Order: 1886 and MLB 14: The Show.

Reportedly, media attendees will be seeing some interesting new stuff, some we can expect a massive info blowout for the three games coming soon.

However, the info will be under embargo, so we might have to wait about a week for the information to actually be released. The embargo for inFamous: Second Son, however, will drop a little earlier- later today- as will the embargo for MLB 14. So expect information, videos and screenshots soon.

We’ll be following up on this constantly, so stay tuned for more info.