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There seems to be some tweaking still needed to perfect this version of the successful game series. The non-user-friendly interface, complicated navigation and overall lack of expected evolution that should have been come with a XB360 game, takes away from the excellent commentary and damn good soundtrack. The VIP profiling is very well worked out, as usual, but the game-play itself isn't a neat and tidy package. There's a bit of frustration at first, but once you get used to the interface you can actually have a good, fun game going. It's a matter of patience to "get to the good stuff" and "deal with the crappy part" if you get my drift.  If you loved MLB2k5 you may be quite disappointed in 2k6, but it's definitely a matter of expectations that come with the XB360. And that expectation is perfection.

JIVE Magazine Rating: 2.5 out of 5

RELEASE INFORMATION:

“The Major League Baseball season has now begun for Xbox 360 consumers,” stated Greg Thomas, president of Visual Concepts, a 2K Sports studio. “Our goal for Major League Baseball 2K6 for Xbox 360 was to deliver next generation visual details with a full suite of enhanced gameplay features. We’ve accomplished this and more, giving Xbox 360 garners the excitement, challenge and delight of the most authentic video game baseball experience ever created.”

Major League Baseball 2K6 includes several original and exclusive features, including astounding A.I. powered by Inside EdgeTM technology, innovative Swing StickTM controls, hundreds of new animations based on Pure Motion PhysicsTM, and the all-new Payoff PitchingTM system. Jon Miller and Hall of Fame legend Joe Morgan bring their distinctive style and wit to the world-class commentary, adding wonderful atmosphere to every game.

The World Baseball SPORTS ClassicTM debuts exclusively on Major League Baseball 2K6, adding an exciting international flavor of baseball. Through the power of Xbox 360, Major League Baseball 2K6 features new visual high-definition details of cloth physics, real-time lighting, high-resolution textures, and 3D interactive crowds. Additionally, every MLB ballpark has been completely redesigned to deliver a vivid and authentic baseball atmosphere.

Major League Baseball5 2K6, the only MLBS game available on every major console, brings you the definitive baseball simulation. With a truly immersive pitcher-batter showdown featuring the most accurate pitching and batting A.I. ever created, Major League Baseball 2K6 delivers the true Big League experience like never before.

KEY FEATURES:

• World Baseball ClassicTM Mode — The epic new international baseball tournament is exclusively captured — all sixteen teams, logos, and uniforms, as well as the authentic all-world tourney structure.
• Inside Edge1M - Three years of actual scouting reports and analysis literally built into every player, every pitch, and every swing of the bat.
• Swing Stick1M - Analog stick batting brings baseball video games to a new level. Control power swings, check swing and bunts all through simple and intuitive analog controls.
• Pure Motion Physics — An all-new physics engine brings running, throwing, fielding, tag outs, and player-to-player collision animations to life with more detail and variation than ever before.
• Umpire Challenges — Stand up for your team and challenge close calls when they count the most. Feel the heat of the moment with new, interactive umpire challenges that have a direct affect team morale and performance.
• V.I.P. (Virtual Identity Profile) — The popular 2K Sports exclusive feature is now available in our MLB franchise! Save your friends’ profiles to compete when they’re not available! Learn their tendencies, moves, & logic for more heated battles. Get the upper hand in online tournaments by downloading other players’ VIP profiles.
• Flashback Highlights (XboxTM, Xbox 360TM and PlayStation®2 with HDD) — Relive key moments in the game as big plays and at-bats will be recalled at the end of innings and subsequent key at-bats.
• Player Morale System — Successful team decisions and well-balanced team brings optimal performance to the field and the plate. Your team’s morale now hinges on every franchise move you make at any time in the year.
• The Online Experience - 2K Sports continues to lead the online gaming revolution as Major League Baseball® 2K6 brings you seamless online play and the most comprehensive online feature set anywhere including online stat tracking, buddy lists management, and online leagues.

ABOUT THE SOUNDTRACK:

Matador Records, among other record labels, is providing music for the in-game Major League Baseball^® 2K6 soundtrack. This is the first time Matador has licensed a block of music for a video game soundtrack to showcase the label's diverse and revered catalog of artists. Music from Major League Baseball 2K6 will also be featured on the newly launched 2K Beats Internet radio station as a key component of 2K Sports' extensive 2K Beats music marketing and integration campaign.

Featuring a motivationally-charged and catchy mix of music, Major League Baseball 2K6's soundtrack features 19 songs, including songs from influential Matador artists such as Interpol, Stephen Malkmus, Pavement, Belle & Sebastian, and Guided By Voices. Major League Baseball 2K6 features the following Matador Records' tracks:

Belle and Sebastian - To Be Myself Completely and Le Pastie De La Bourgeoisie
Cornelius - Drop, Count Five Or Six
Early Man - Closing In (The Medley)
Interpol - Evil
Mogwai - Hunted By A Freak
Pavement - Serpentine Pad
Preston School of Industry - Line It Up
Pretty Girls Make Graves - The Grandmother Wolf
Stephen Malkmus - Loud Cloud Crowd
The Double - Icy, Idiocy
Yo La Tengo - Today Is The Day

"We are excited to have Matador Records involved with Major League Baseball 2K6, given the label's strong reputation for representing some of music's most influential and eclectic bands," said Tim Rosa, Director of Brand and Lifestyle Marketing for 2K Sports. "Matador's participation creates a robust and compelling soundtrack that redefines the notion of 'baseball music' without tampering with the authentic MLB experience gamers expect."

"We are pleased to license a wide range of songs from Matador artists for the 2K Sports Major League Baseball 2K6 video game," said Matador co-founder Gerard Cosloy. "Given that our roster is filled with avid gamers and baseball fans, this was a natural fit."

2K Sports' new music marketing initiative, 2K Beats, includes an exceptionally deep level of in-game music integration featuring access to artist bios, songs, photos, discography and contact information. Also, as the first Internet radio station by a video game publisher, 2K Beats will feature online artist pages, radio promotions, partnership programs and special events.

In addition to featuring the premier of Major League Baseball 2K6's soundtrack, 2K Beats radio will include all of the past and present music tracks from 2K Sports' critically acclaimed titles available for streaming at www.2ksports.com/2kbeats.

"2K Sports is at the forefront of video game, technology and music convergence," said Tim Rosa. "So, an Internet radio station that showcases the music of 2K Sports is a natural evolution for our brand."

As the exclusive and only officially licensed MLB^® video game to appear on every major gaming console, Major League Baseball 2K6 will be available this spring for Xbox 360^TM and Xbox^® video game and entertainment systems from Microsoft, PlayStation^®2 computer entertainment system, PSP^TM (PlayStation^®Portable) system and Nintendo GameCube^TM. Including innovative features such as Inside Edge technology, Swing Stick^TM, a new movement system and realistic player collisions, Major League Baseball 2K6 takes the virtual baseball experience to the next level.

ABOUT THE ADVERTISING IN THE GAME:

Massive Incorporated, the Major League Baseball Players Association (MLBPA), MLB Advanced Media and 2K Sports, a publishing label of Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc. announced a worldwide agreement to deliver dynamic advertising into Major League Baseball® 2K6. As part of the agreement, Massive is an exclusive partner with MLB Advanced Media (MLBAM) for the delivery of dynamic advertising in certain MLBAM-licensed video games, and with the Major League Baseball Players Association (MLBPA).

As part of this agreement, 2K Sports, the exclusive third-party publisher of Major League Baseball video games, is now a key member of the Massive Network. 2K Sports also publishes highly acclaimed and popular sports video game franchises in basketball, hockey, college basketball, tennis and snowboarding.

Advertising has long played a prominent role in sports video game titles; however, until now, this advertising took the form of hard-coded, static product placement. Massive's Network and technology allow MLB Advanced Media and 2K Sports titles to leverage dynamic advertising for ever-fresh brand messaging in their games, mirroring the rapidly changing and expanding advertising opportunities in the live action sports industry.

"Sports games are ideal vehicles for in-game advertising, as the advertising adds an element of realism to the experience for gamers," said Steve Glickstein, Vice President of Licensing for 2K Sports. "Our sports properties attract top-tier, high profile advertisers and I'm confident Major League Baseball 2K6 will be even more appealing as the Massive Network allows seamless delivery of customized, real-time advertising campaigns."

"We selected Massive to open this new revenue stream because of their knowledge of the advertising, sponsorship and video game industries," said John Olshan of the MLBPA. "This combination makes them the ideal partner to work through the complicated issues arising from baseball's multiple rights holders and conflicting sponsors."

"We are thrilled to work with MLBAM, MLBPA and 2K Sports to leverage and fully extend the advertising potential of this great franchise," said Mitch Davis, CEO of Massive. "Major League Baseball has already brought significant innovation to advertising in live sports; together, we will now do the same for their video game properties."

For more information, log onto http://www.2KSports.com

Major League Baseball 2K6 is rated “E” for Everyone and is the only officially licensed Major League Baseball video game that will be available on every major gaming console, including Xbox 360TM and Xbox® video game and entertainment systems from Microsoft, the PlayStation®2 computer entertainment system, PSPTM (PlayStation®Portable) system, and the Nintendo GameCubeTM. The Xbox 360 version is available now.