MLB '98

MLB '98

Release Date	North America: August 1997
Platforms	PlayStation
Developer	Sony Interactive Studios America
Publisher	Sony
Team Names	Real MLB teams
Player Names	Real MLB players
Cover Athlete(s)	Bernie Williams
Preceded by	MLB Pennant Race
Followed by	MLB 99

MLB ’98 is the second entry in a long-running Sony-published baseball series. MLB Pennant Race, released in June 1996, preceded it. The series continues today as MLB The Show.

Description

In 1996, Sony published MLB Pennant Race, a baseball game using pre-rendered player sprites on a three-dimensional field. 1997’s MLB ’98 instead used polygonal, fully 3D player models. The game is licensed to use MLB team names and real MLB player names and statistics, and unlike Konami’s Bottom of the 9th ’97, MLB ’98 features every MLB stadium.

Little Details

• Like World Series Baseball, the in-game radar gun changes depending on the game’s difficulty setting. So on the default rookie difficulty, you may throw fastballs that are less than 70 MPH.
• When a runner is on second, the shortstop or second baseman repeatedly sprints to cover second base between each pitch, then sprints back into fielding position as the pitcher enters the windup.
• Both the in-game P.A. announcing and commentary is done by Mike Carlucci, who was a real-life P.A. announcer for the Los Angeles Dodgers and other sports teams. Vin Scully would contribute the play-by-play commentary for the next MLB game, but Carlucci continued to be the virtual P.A. announcer for the Sony MLB series until MLB The Show 19, when he was replaced by Alex Miniak.
• There is a “Game Mode” choice in the options menu that defaults to Simulation but can be set instead to Arcade. Arcade mode generally controls more like a 16-bit baseball game: When pitching, you can control the ball in mid-flight with the D-pad. When hitting, you no longer have a batting cursor to position over the pitch.
• Diving catches reach much further than they appear to. It’s worth trying to dive for a ball even if you think it’s out of reach.
• Odd bugs happen fairly often in MLB ’98. For one example, a close play at first can sometimes called both safe and out simultaneously. When this happens, the baserunner heads back into the dugout but play never resumes. It’s also possible to swing and miss so late that the game has already called it a ball.
• The blue and red trim switch places a third of the way down the Expos’ road pants. Look, the category is called Little Details, and this one bugged me.

Roster

MLB ’98 came out shortly after the 1997 trade deadline, but its rosters reflect the start of the 1997 season. Big trades from 1997 haven’t happened yet for the game’s purposes, so Mark McGwire is still on the Athletics and not the Cardinals, for example.

The upcoming 1998 expansion teams, the Arizona Diamondbacks and Tampa Bay Rays, are included, sort of. In an exhibition game, their rosters are stocked with the names of MLB 98‘s developers. Lead programmer Scott Murray starts at SS, batting third for the Arizona Diamondbacks (and he will hit a home run each time he makes contact). Lead artist Kevin McMahon is their starting pitcher (and he throws all his pitches faster than 100 MPH). Senior product manager Craig Ostrander leads off for the Tampa Bay Rays, playing second base.

Magazine Clippings

• 

  Advertisement in GamePro Issue 108

• 

  Advertisement in GamePro Issue 108, a third page with a coupon

• 

  E3 preview of the game from GamePro Issue 106

• 

  Review from Electronic Gaming Monthly 98

• 

  Review from GameFan 509

• 

  Review from GamePro Issue 108

• 

  Review from Official U.S. PlayStation Magazine Issue 1