MVP Baseball 2005

MVP Baseball 2005 is a baseball video game developed and published by Electronic Arts. It features Boston Red Sox left fielder Manny Ramirez on its game cover. It is available for the PlayStation 2, the Xbox, GameCube, and the PC. The main new feature in the 2005 game is the "Hitter's Eye" system, which turns the baseball different colors in the pitcher's hand (remains white for fastball, turns red for breaking pitches, green for off-speed pitches, orange for knuckleballs, etc.) and leaves a trail as the ball flies through the air toward the plate to aid in hitting, which game developers said had been too difficult in previous versions.

Related Topics:
Baseball - Video game - Developed - Published - Electronic Arts - Boston Red Sox - Manny Ramirez - PlayStation 2 - Xbox - GameCube - PC

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The game boasts full Major League Baseball, Minor League Baseball, and Major League Baseball Players Association licenses. It is also widely regarded to have the best graphics and gameplay of any other baseball video game on the market.

Related Topics:
Major League Baseball - Minor League Baseball - Major League Baseball Players Association

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In addition to the advent of the Hitter's Eye, an Owner Mode feature and pitching and hitting Mini Games have been added. Other minor features include the ability for the managers to argue with the umpires at any time (automatic ejection for arguing balls and strikes) and a slow motion overhead view of the plate that can be accessed after each and every pitch (pitch/swing analysis) to see pitch location or the batter's timing. Games can also be rained out, forcing a player to play a double-header. MVP Baseball 2005 is able to be played online.

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MVP Baseball 2005 also boasts a "Dynasty Mode", where players can select any of Major League Baseball's 30 teams and manage and/or play as them for 125 seasons. Games can be simulated along the way to speed up the game. Also in Dynasty Mode, gamers can trade players, negotiate contracts, call up and send down players to and from the minor leagues, and scout new talent, among many other activities.

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In some circles the game has been criticized for showcasing the Boston Red Sox too often. Red Sox slugger and left fielder Manny Ramirez is on the cover and is pictured numerous times in the game menus. An introductory movie that is played before the game goes to the main menu mentions or shows the Red Sox more often than any other team. The remake of the song "Tessie" by the Boston-based punk rock group Dropkick Murphys is also featured in the games' soundtrack, a sort of unofficial anthem for the Red Sox.

Related Topics:
Boston Red Sox - Left fielder - Manny Ramirez - Punk rock - Dropkick Murphys

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As is in other baseball video games, Barry Bonds is replaced by a white man with a beard named Jon Dowd. This generic player has the same attributes and statistics as Barry Bonds, but since Bonds refused to be depicted in the game due to contractual issues, Electronic Arts was forced to put a generic player in his place.

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