Digital Sportspage Blog

DSP Baseball Game of the Year

This was no contest with MLB 07: The Show winning easily over MLB 2K7. This is all the more impressive considering that this title isn’t released on the XBox 360. In fact, Playstation exclusives (MLB 07 and MLB Power Pros) won 71% of the vote. Add in the excellent Japanese import Pro Yakyu Spirits 3, and it’s a great year for console baseball gaming…if you have a PS3.

DSP Basketball Game of the Year

In the closest vote, NBA 2K8 eeked out a victory over College Hoops 2K8. Interestingly, the 2K8 basketball titles (NBA 2K8 and College Hoops 2K8) absolutely destroyed the EA basketball titles (NBA Live 08 and March Madness 08), gathering 91% of the vote. EA has some work to do in order to catch up with 2K Sports.

DSP Football Game of the Year

Madden 08 is the winner here, with only 30% of the vote. However, this was a disappointing year for football games. The option “None of the above (other game, or they’re all undeserving)” won 22% of the vote. Brando70 noted that the football titles this year were a “wasteland”, and Blublub said that this was “just about the worst slate of annual titles for a major sport since…maybe back in the Triple Play Baseball days before High Heat.”

DSP Hockey Game of the Year

EA’s NHL 08 won convincingly over NHL 2K8, garnering 78% of the vote. Commenters noted the innovations in NHL 08 as important factors, including goalie mode, AHL and European licensing, game control, and online team play.

DSP Soccer Game of the Year

For the first time that I can remember, a FIFA title has won soccer game of the year, with FIFA 08 handily defeating Winning Eleven Pro Evolution Soccer 2007. According to the voters, this unprecedented shift seems to be for two reasons. First, online team play in FIFA 08 is a key reason for its popularity this year. Second, the Winning Eleven series is seeming to stagnate, whether it be in the form of few important new licenses, an unchanged master league, no interesting new gameplay modes (like online team play or Fantastia mode), and a buggy European release). Finally there is competition from FIFA, and hopefully this will lead to continued improvement from both titles.

DSP Text-Based Sports Game of the Year

A tie! Both Out of the Park Baseball 2007 and Football Manager 2008 (aka Worldwide Soccer Manager 2008 in the States) win best text-based sports game of the year.

DSP Sports Game of the Year

1. NHL 08
2. MLB 07: The Show
3. FIFA 08

Honorable mention: MLB 2K7, NBA 2K8, College Hoops 2K8

Although 2007 was a weak year for sports gaming, three titles stood out above the rest. FIFA 08 takes third due to improvements in gameplay and the addition of online team play. MLB 07: The Show takes second based on the immersive environment and outstanding gameplay. But the winner is NHL 08. This year’s game combined solid gameplay, excellent control, and new innovations (especially goalie mode) to develop a game that excelled in every important category.