There has been a lot of talk over the last few months about sports gaming having a focus on virtual currency. Fans were not happy about the amount of virtual currency that was needed in order to be able to do anything in NBA 2K14 on the Xbox One and the PS4. In NBA 2K gamers were unable to progress in both MyPlayer and MyCareer modes without having first accumulated virtual currency. This meant that if you didn’t have enough cash you were unable to move on.
When MLB 14: The Show was revealed, Sony said that it would feature virtual currency and this made fans wonder if the same would happen with NBA 2K14. Bryan Wiedley from Pasta Padre said in an article.
“Simming is practically a necessity for consumers in MLB titles which have seasons that stretch 162 games. If the “In-Game Universal Currency System” means that earnings in one mode and can be spent in others then The Show would potentially have to eliminate the ability to earn while simming. However the respective mode would also have to be designed in a way that both produces currency and prohibits advancement without paying for abilities as was done in 2K14′s MyGM. It would seem extremely unlikely that SCEA would go to those same lengths and they undoubtedly recognize the importance of being able to sim through Franchise mode.”
“Another action that should soothe some fears is the coming ability to migrate saves to the next year’s title. If SCEA planned to institute a system that relied on gamers buying their way through (whether with earned or purchased currency) the various modes they would want people starting all over the next year so as to face the same challenges and barriers again.”
Recently Sony explained how the universal currency feature would work in the hope that it would stop the fears. They said.
“In MLB 14 The Show, you won’t just earn XP while you play; you’ll also earn Stubs, a universal currency that can be cashed in for bonus resources like Road to the Show Training Points, Franchise Budget, and Diamond Dynasty Budget.
We must emphasize: we have in NO way restricted the quality experience you’re used to in favor of more micro-transactions. This is a universal currency focused on frequently rewarding our users for their accomplishments. As with previous years, you can elect to buy additional resources through the PlayStation Store, but we work hard to provide the best, most balanced experience, right out of the box.
Playing games is not the only way to earn Stubs. Keep an eye out for an in-depth look at our new game changing mode, Community Challenges, and how you can earn universal currency by creating challenges using the exact same in-game tool as the developers.”
At the same time they wrote about the improved universal profile, this keeps track of everything that the player does. It was said:
“For MLB 14 The Show, we’ve upgraded the Universal Profile with a tendency tracking system that monitors and records each player’s unique play-style.
There are eight tendencies tracked for both hitting and pitching, and-in conjunction with the offensive and defensive tendencies-we track four general tendencies that highlight specific preferences, like a bias towards playing with a designated hitter. As you can see in the above screenshot, we have two sets of tracked data: result based tendencies and frequency based tendencies.
In the upper part of the Universal Profile tendency display, you will see the result based tendencies. These types of tendencies are primarily generated from in-game results: hits, home runs, strikeouts, walks, etc. The result based tendencies function just like the player attributes do. Meaning, if a player has a high power rating, you can expect them to hit more home runs than the average player. We also track the most commonly used difficulty for both hitting and pitching; this allows you, or opponents, to get a better sense as to how your tendencies were generated.
Frequency tendencies are less result based and, instead, are focused more on how often you like to perform certain in-game actions. Do you steal a lot of bases? Do you throw a lot of strikes? These are the types of questions that are easily answered with the frequency tendencies.
Each tendency gives insight into how you play the game, and, as you continue to play games in MLB 14 The Show, your tendencies will update over time as your play-style evolves. In addition to seeing your own tendencies evolve over time, you can also view other players’ Universal Profiles to get scouting reports on opponents, or just check in to see what your friends doing.
Furthermore, the Universal Profile can copy your tendencies and apply them to an AI controlled version of yourself. In Online Franchise, players will be able to practice against your team via the schedule screen. In Diamond Dynasty, players will be able to challenge your team through the new Extra Innings feature. With AI controlled versions of our users, you’ll be able to compete against other players even when you’re away.
Simply put, MLB 14 The Show brings an evolved Universal Profile that is smarter, more rewarding, and wants to build an army of clones that emulate your every move on its way to world domination.”
MLB 14: The Show is being released on April 1 for the PS3 along with the PSVita and will be arriving on the PS4 in May.