R.B.I. Baseball 2018 - brand-new gameplay details (now includes franchise mode and Home Run Derby)

R.B.I. Baseball 2018 is set to be one of the most engaging entries in the franchise yet. The dev team is going all-out on making this entry feel fully-featured and worth your time. Check out info on all the new aspects included in this year's game below.

- revamped character models and animation systems
- now features true-to-life animations for elements like batting stances and pitching motions
- hundreds of character models using data from face scans
- more dynamic camera system that zooms in on players in certain circumstances
- features licensed music
- overhauled menu interface with a modern tile-based design
- now includes a Home Run Derby contest
- doesn’t support head-to-head online play, but will offer networked leaderboards
- full franchise mode which allows for playing multiple seasons but without any persistent year-to-year tracking of statistics
- franchise mode runs for up to 10 seasons
- upon completion, it rates the player’s performance with a letter grade that’s based on their win-loss record and titles they won
- this mode includes some “weighted randomness” in player progression
- the game maps existing players onto various preset trajectories
- older athletes are more likely to retire within a few seasons, while younger stars will stick around
- franchise mode supports trades and injuries, although the AI won’t initiate trades
- over 100 MLB “legends” from bygone days are available in the free agent pool
- these are split into two sections — those who retired in 1990 or later and those who retired before that year
- allows users to import roster updates after they’ve started playing
- this aspect has two options: overwriting the rosters entirely, or adding new players only
- neither option will make you lose any progress or accumulated statistics
- franchise mode doesn't involve negotiating contracts or setting ticket prices
- priced at $30