MLB The Show 2011 interview with Sony’s Scott McCarthy

Written by MyaSharona on February 19, 2011
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Scott talks to us about gaming and health, the playstation move, NGP, and leaves us wanting more.

Our very own BlackBible (BB) made it to The MLB The Show 2011 Event in NYC where had the chance to sit down and talk with Scott McCarthy (SM) and talk about the game, upcoming titles, and BB even tries to sneak out a little extra information about Sony’s handheld NGP.

GamerFitNation's BB and Sony's Scott McCarthy

BB: Hey everyone, I’m here with Scott Mccarthy who is going to talk to us a little bit about MLB The Show.

SM: We had one of the highest rated sports games in the history of gaming last year and I think that with the features that the team has been able to implement this year, and the quality at which they’ve been able to do it, I think we might surpass that!

We’ve implemented co op mode for the first time where you and I can play on the couch together and as team mates we’re against each other. We’ve implemented ‘the move’ technology, and homerun derby, we have 3d in the game for the first time and a major improvement to the game overall is the inclusion of the piers control system, which is the analog sticks. So we’ve been using the digital, the button controls, and now this year for the first time we’ve implemented the ability to use the analog sticks to control the game.

BB: Wait, wait. Back it up. CO-OP! You’re saying so now I can have my boy over and together we… well tell me, how does that work?

SM: Well there are a variety of ways it can work. If you’re pitching he can be your defense, so you have to rely on each other. That is one example of how you can configure the co op. There are a few others.

That was one of the reason why we spent a lot of time thinking about how co op is going to be implemented and what would be the most fun way to do that. Because co op has been on other games before and it’s been a bullet on the back of the box. So we wanted it to be something that enhanced your baseball experience it wasn’t just something that was used as a marketing ploy.

BB: Yea, because you’re talking about the same screen. I remember the best sports experience being when you had to go through the trouble of getting two tvs and two systems. Now you’re taking me back to the other player sitting with me on the couch and I think that’s awesome.

SM: Right. But also you and I can sit and play on the couch versus two other guys right!

BB: So you’re saying on online? That’s awesome!

SM: Exactly. Co op is going to be great. And while you might not be good at baseball but I love the sport so I am going to have you over and teach you why I love the sport. That’s another thing we are all about; Loving Baseball.

MLB The Show utilizes Sony Move technology

BB: But now you have the move controller and what better game to have the move controller with.

SM: Exactly. Not only does everybody know how to swing a bat, but hitting home runs is pure joy. Once you get one, it’s like NOW I got it. Once you get the timing, it’s, well, it’s kind of like hitting a ball.

You see what these guys go through at the home run derby and they get in a groove and they’re just going to start knocking them out one after another. And the same thing with home run derby, you might have a couple of outs where you don’t hit anything.

BB: At GamerFitNation we are all about gaming and health and that’s one of the reasons I like this game. With the move controller you have to actually get up, take proper stance and swing the bat properly. That movement works your core and your shoulders.

SM: Well yea! In baseball your power comes from your hips. If you’re not leading with your hips you’re not hitting the ball.

BB: But let me ask you about gaming and health in general because we are trying to mix that together, that is what we are about, that is what we are trying to focus on. Do you think it can work?

SM: I think that’s the next big movement in gaming because we saw music come and go, right? We are in motion now, what’s that mean. People aren’t really going to be immersed in the motion experience till their using their bodies. When gamers start using their bodies to play they are going to be getting more activitiy then they were yesterday. In general motion gaming… it’s like a cake right, first one out of the oven isn’t always the best but everyone after that is going to be better. So the longer motion gaming is around the better that cake is going to taste. We are going to get more and more right which means people are going to get more and more involved from a full body perspective.

BB: That’s why I have to give credit to the move, it seems to have gotten it right on the first try.

SM: Well let’s not discount the amount time it took to make that thing. You know what I mean, it came out when it was ready. We went through a LOT of different iterations of that thing before we unleashed it on to the public. And we’re really happy it’s out there now.

BB: I’m looking at the line up for the future games you have, and you guys line up the right games you’ve got the wizard one…

SM: yea, Sorcery, that is sweet! The last time we showed that game… it’s ten times bigger now. It’s looking really really good.

BB: It almost makes me picture Harry Potter games .

SM: Well we aren’t looking at an licensing but the more games we get out for the move, the bigger that platform is going to get.

BB: Okay, another thing you can’t tell me but I have to ask; I have an android phone so I love playstation suite already. What can you tell me that hasn’t already been said?

SM: Nothing. *laughs*

BB: I knew it! *laughs*

SM: More news at GDC.

BB: Alright, alright. Well lets talk about the competition, well competition in sales between you and Nintendo in the handheld market. I gotta be honest, I am a Playstation fan and I was little skeptical about how you would compete with the 3DS but then you go and unleash this beautiful creation that is NGP and I was soooo impressed.

SM: You know, we all saw the NGP being developed and the hardware coming together and to be honest a lot of the stuff, really, has yet to be talked about in detail. But at the end of the day we obviously didn’t set out to create a DQ-esque type of machine. I mean you talk about it being all about sales but all the technology in the world isn’t going to help you out if it doesn’t help the consumer at all. So if we are going to create something that consumers will not only want but want as part of their lives, and especially as a portable device, then we’re not going to move a whole lot so at the end of the day it’s about pleasing the consumer and getting something out and into their hands that is ultimately going to become part of their every day and not necessarily something that is just used for gaming.

BB: Well one word that sold it for me, ‘cause I’m a big fan, Uncharted. Having this in my hands with PS3 graphics…

SM: It looks like PS3 graphics, I’m telling you!

BB: How?

SM: I… I can’t… I don’t know! I look at it and go ‘I have no idea how that happened’.

BB: It says that the system will have Wifi and 3G. This leads me to believe that there will be some sort of data share plan, perhaps annually. Is there any information about that?

SM: Not till GDC. We have a lot more announcements to make about 3G and the implementation of that, what that means to NGP games, so we have a lot more to talk about with NGP.

Joe Mauer MLB 11 The Show

MLB The Show 2011 is a Sony exclusive which will see release on March 8th. Hitting a homerun on the PS2, PS3 and PSP; be sure to check it out! And don’t forget to keep your ears peeled for more information about the NGP which will be announced at this year’s Game Developer’s Conference (GDC) taking place February 28th- March 4th. GamerFitNation will be paying close attention!

A big GamerFitNation thanks to Scott McCarthy for taking the time to talk with our very own Editor in Chief, BlackBible.