Coming off a stellar year, 989 Sports’ popular baseball franchise has made the necessary off-season moves to provide gamers with the most authentic baseball simulation to date. Set for a spring release, MLB 2006 features numerous gameplay enhancements, such as the all-new Branch Point Technology (BPT), which provides seamless fielding transitions and smooth base running; an all-new Fielding Zone that brings together a players attributes with the a gamer’s skill level in order to make the play; an all-new Pitcher Confidence Marker, which helps determine a gamer’s ability to hit spots in the strike zone; a deeper Franchise Mode; and an all-new Career Mode. With returning gameplay favorites, including EyeToy functionality; online playability through 989SportsOnline.com; and Voice Recognition, MLB 2006 promises to provide gamers with a true-to-life experience from the diamond.

NEW FOR MLB 2006:

• All-New Branch Point Technology™ (BPT) – Only BPT gives gamers the ability to field the ball and pre-load a throw with seamless fielding transitions impacted by footwork and momentum. This new technology is also used for base running allowing smooth and fluid transitions from a run or slide.
• All-New Pitcher Confidence – MLB 2006 brings baseball fans the ultimate duel with a revised pitcher/batter interface by binding player rating attributes with a gamer’s skill. While easy to pick up and play, yet difficult to master, MLB 2006 is a game within the game. Additionally, Pitcher Confidence plays a role in a gamer’s ability to hit spots in the strike zone, while frequency of mistakes will impact the confidence level of a gamer’s hurler, making it more difficult to hit paint the corners.
• All-New Fielding Zone Marker – With an all-new fielding interface that brings the player attributes together with the user’s skill level, players will really need to make the play. In the past games, 90% of outfield fly balls were merely a “can o’ corn” – not anymore. With the all-new Fielding Zone Marker, the fielder’s fielding attribute rating will determine the size of the zone that surrounds the ball and it’s eventual landing location. With highly ranked fielders, the ball marker will be displayed sooner and smaller making it easier to judge fly balls.
• All-New Progressive Audio – Feel the raw emotion and tremendous intensity of playing in “the show” as MLB 2006 takes gamers into the ballgame with a broadcast presentation that brings together on-screen displays, dugout scenes, audio, animation, and sound to provide the most authentic baseball simulation on PlayStation 2. Featuring a completely unique experience in every game, Progressive Audio adapts and reacts to real-time actions and situations.
• MLB Authenticity – MLB 2006 presents gamers with finer details and nuances that make the game – America’s Pastime. Gamers can drag bunts along with wild pitches, broken bats, check swings and more.
• AAA / AA Minor Teams & Stadiums – MLB 2006 features 60 teams and 5 stadiums from the Minors.
• Old-Time Players & Stadiums – Unlock and play with Silver Era and Golden Era players like Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig, then play in old-time stadiums like Forbes and Polo Grounds.
• All-New Career Mode - Play the game from the player’s perspective. Gamers control their destiny from the start to finish
  • Play time is based on on-field performance
  • A player start in the minors and work their way through the system and hopefully into the Major Leagues
  • Interact with the manager and teammates like never before
    • Raise concern about playing time
    • Request a promotion
    • Demand a trade
    • Provide a tell-all interview with the media
    • Negotiate salary
    • Pull the team together and rally
  • All-New Training Interface
    • Play better by working hard and training harder. Invest spare time in the gym, on the field and watching film. The more effective the training is, the better the results and play. Train smart.
  • Customize like never before
    • Customize a player even further by selecting from hundreds of stances, walk-ups, swings, step-ins, practice swings and HR celebrations

• Enhanced Franchise Mode - An even deeper Franchise Mode, with an all-new Player Moral System and an Improved User Functionality and Interface, allows gamers to really run the show.
  • The Player Moral System tracks player moral on every level and applies it to his day-to-day performance by evaluating the following factors:
    • Salary
    • Playing time
    • Fielding position (i.e. natural vs. utility)
    • Line-up position / pitching rotations (i.e. a speed / contact guy will want to bat in the 1 or 2 slot whereas a slugger will want to dig in the 3, 4 or 5 hole and batters placed dramatically out of position will have moral issues)
    • Personal performance (i.e. for slumping players moral will drop and conversely, with streaking players moral will rise)
    • Team performance
    • Placement on the trading block
    • Owner spending (training, equipment, etc.)
    • Quality managers and coaches (i.e. a good batting coach will make your position players happier, conversely a poor coach will make them lose moral)
    • Manger leadership skills
  • The improved user interface for Franchise Mode provides better functionality with easier navigation to maximize the potential of the franchise
    • Simplified navigation makes it easier to find things and make changes quicker and more intuitively
    • More information available on each player including: detailed moral information, more statistics and better scouting reports
    • More communication between the players and the franchise owner with better feedback from players which directly relates to each player or situation
    • Trading Block
      • Place players on the block and view others available
      • Strategically motivate a poorly performing player
      • Inform other teams of which positions you are seeking for better trade offers
    • Create and customize a player with the Franchise Mode Player Editor.

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