How ‘MLB: The Show’ explores Latino baseball through its modes

Baseball, at its core, is a game deeply rooted in history. Learning about that history is part of the fun of being a baseball fan. For years, fans have used books, documentaries and trips to museums to learn more about America’s pastime.

Now, imagine playing a video game to learn more about baseball’s history. It sounds crazy, but at Sony’s San Diego studio the developers behind the Playstation franchise, “MLB: The Show,” are doing just that through a new game mode called “Moments.”

When designing this year’s game, the developers wanted to give players an experience that is true to the game of baseball while also helping them learn a bit of history along the way.

“One of our biggest goals was to drop the user right into the most intense, exciting moments from baseball history,” associate technical game designer Kyle Blake told La Vida Baseball. “There’s something special about that ‘bases loaded, bottom of the ninth, two outs’ feeling that no other sport can replicate.”

As the name implies, the game mode has players reliving and recreating some of baseball’s storied history. Babe Ruth calling his shot and the Chicago Cubs winning the World Series are just a few of the dozens of playable “Moments” available for gamers.

Most moments can be played through in less than five minutes, giving busy players the ability to drop in and out, something Blake said was a key part of the design process.

More adept players can easily transition from trying to take down a Blue Jays team led by a 1993 version of Hall of Famer Roberto Alomar to getting three-time National League Most Valuable Player Albert Pujols’ 3,000th hit in a matter of minutes.

As the season goes on, the development team will continue to add moments that reflect some of the biggest plays happening in baseball today as well as in the past.

“It’s a powerful thing to watch a big game on TV and then be able to recreate that same Moment in MLB The Show.”

Already, the team has added content reflecting the first half of the season, including 2018 NL MVP Christian Yelich’s hot start, Yankees All-Star Gleyber Torres’ phenomenal performance against the Orioles and Bryce Harper’s first home runs as a Phillie.

As players progress through the mode, they’ll earn items to use throughout the game’s other modes and help progress their individual profiles. More importantly, they will also get to learn about the many players who have helped shape today’s game, including the many Latino peloteros rooted in baseball’s history.

“Often we’ll pick a player or team to focus on and then create moments to pay homage to who that player was,” Blake said of the decision-making process. “Whether that’s recreating a historical at-bat from their career or showcasing what was special about that player, we’re always looking to make you feel like you’re in the cleats of that player.”

For instance, there is a “moment” where players are tasked with stepping into the shoes of Hall of Famer Iván “Pudge” Rodríguez on April 9, 1999, and deliver an extra-base hit off Hall of Famer Nolan Ryan to cap a 2-for-4 day at the plate.

Rodríguez did go 2-for-4 on April 9, 1999, but it was not off Ryan. Ryan’s inclusion creates a “dream” matchup and helps circumvent the rights issues that come with utilizing player likenesses.

In another “moment,” players are challenged with stealing two bases off former San Diego Padres catcher Benito Santiago.

The diversity of the “Moments” and the players featured represent a dedication by Sony San Diego to highlight baseball’s uniqueness.

“We all love legends and superstars, but baseball is so unique in that on any given day, any player can make a huge difference,” Blake said, referencing the 2011 Cardinals that featured multiple potential Hall of Famers and had David Freese saving the day. “These types of performances are yet another reason we all love baseball, and Moments can be a great tool to showcase them.”

More than anything, the mode represents a chance for players, especially younger ones, a chance to learn more about the history of baseball. As more moments get added, the mode will essentially become a living history book of the 2019 season and of many players’ careers.

“When building Moments, I even found myself researching and learning about players I wasn’t familiar with,” Blake said. “This definitely motivates us to find lesser known or interesting things that players have done in their career. Baseball has such a rich history that can be enjoyed and celebrated by many, and we love being able to teach our users in such a fun way.”

It’s the teachability that makes the mode incredibly unique. Prior to jumping into a “Moment” there is a short paragraph displaying the history of that given moments, including the year, player’s involved, outcome and more.

For more crafted experiences such as a playthrough of Willie Mays’ career, a short narrated video appears before each moment, utilizing real-life footage.

With the amount of players’ rights available to the team through various agreements, the possibilities for what can be taught become endless. Unfortunately, La Vida Baseball was not given a sneak peek of what new pelotero may become available.

Still, as MLB seeks to do away with the “unwritten” rules of baseball and issue a new order of fun with its “Let the kids play” slogan, it’s something like “Moments” that provides a blueprint for being able to attract younger fans while still paying homage to the players that helped make today’s game possible.

Featured Image: Johnny Flores Jr./MLB: The Show 19