MLB 2004
The cover featuring Los Angeles Dodgers' Shawn Green.
Developer(s)	989 Sports
Publisher(s)	Sony Computer Entertainment
Series	MLB
Platform(s)	PlayStation, PlayStation 2
Release	PlayStation 2 NA: March 10, 2003 JP: June 19, 2003 PlayStation NA: April 30, 2003
Genre(s)	Sports
Mode(s)	Single-player, multiplayer

MLB 2004 is a 2003 baseball video game developed by 989 Sports and published by Sony Computer Entertainment for the PlayStation 2.^[1][2] An abridged version for the PlayStation more faithful to its predecessors was released the same month. Unlike the earliest releases of baseball video games, such as Atari: Home Run, MLB 2004 maintained traditional aspects of baseball. The game included all of the classic baseball elements of “pitching, hitting, fielding and base running” while including the ability to develop a team and strategize.^[3] MLB’s control over MLB 2004’s core features and design allowed for consistent brand image and resonated with fans internationally.^[4] Oddly enough, it was the first game in the MLB series to not be exclusive to North America, as the PlayStation 2 released in Japan as MLB 2003.^[5]

Vin Scully and Dave Campbell provide commentary for the game. On the cover is Los Angeles Dodgers player Shawn Green. Vin Scully's commentary creates an immersive atmosphere, making it feel as though the player is experiencing a real baseball game through TV or radio . The game includes accurate player rankings and statistics related to the baseball drafting process, allowing fans to tie their pre-existing baseball knowledge with video game entertainment. The MLB prioritized accuracy when it came to representing the sport digitally.^[3] The players and stadium were brought to life through Sony’s “meticulous attention to detail”.^[3] A “majority of the attention was paid to making sure players looked realistic”, however, there are some moments when the camera [wouldn’t] display the best angle for the onscreen action”.^[3] The MLB prioritized realism to align closely with the baseball franchise, appealing to dedicated fans who value accuracy. However, traditional gamers unfamiliar with baseball interpreted the visuals as outdated or unappealing,^[3] underscoring the MLB’s opportunity to innovate to attract a wider audience in the future. MLB 2004 features Career, Spring Training, Home Run Derby, Fantasy Draft, Manager, and Franchise modes.

The game was preceded by MLB 2003 and succeeded by MLB 2005.

There were a plethora of game modes included in MLB 2004 including a new game mode, Spring Training, which was a game mode that had not been featured in any other of the baseball titles.

Spring Training

The Spring Training mode featured the player assuming the role of a rookie player who has been invited to Spring Training by an MLB team. The goal is to acclimate as many points as possible through different tasks such as fielding balls at the player's specific position, getting hits, as well as stealing bases. The player has six games to try to make an impression and earn enough points to make it onto the actual MLB roster, though even after you make it on the roster you have to maintain the good performance or risk getting demoted to the minor leagues, off of the MLB roster.^[6]

Career Mode

The career mode allows players to select a particular player or team that they want to choose and try to have the best career/franchise possible over the span of 10 seasons. Another aspect of the game mode is that you are able to sign and trade players that are in the MLB. You are also in charge of a ‘farm club’ which is the minor league team that is under the team that you choose or choose to play for. One of the features that allows for less stress on the player is the fact that players are not in charge of dealing with the salary and staying under the salary cap as well as no free agency moves.^[6]

Franchise Mode

Franchise mode allows a player to control a computer-generated team of 11 players that the player is in charge of to face off against other teams that are in the league. The goal of the franchise mode is obviously to win the World Series, though for every home run, win, or set of wins that a player reaches they are able to earn points that can be used to purchase players that are better than the ones currently on the team to be better equipped to make a run and win the World Series.^[6]

Several new types of hitting were included in MLB 2004 which include the power swing and the contact swing. The hitter must move a bat cursor to make sure that they are able to make contact with the ball. There is a paddle that surround the cursor which highlights the area that is covered by a contact swing, and the smaller cursor which highlights the area covered by a power swing. The hitter is able to guess the location of the pitch, and if correct will increase the size of the cursor making the ball easier to hit.^[7]

• GameSpot - Mar 18, 2003^[6]
• GamePro - Mar 12, 2003^[8]
• GameSpy - Apr 01, 2003^[9]
• IGN - Mar 14, 2003^[10]
• Game Revolution - Mar, 2003^[11]

• MLB 2004 at IGN
• MLB 2004 at MobyGames