Sony's popular baseball series returns with a new focus on hitting dynamics, updated rosters, and additions to most game modes in MLB 13: The Show. The new Beginner mode is designed to help improve timing, pitch recognition, and plate discipline by offering an adaptive AI system that doesn't force gamers to advance until their skills are fully developed. The hitting of individual players has also been altered to reflect their real-world tendencies to pull the ball or go the opposite way, gamers across all difficulty levels now have slightly more time to react to pitches.<br><br>The Franchise mode returns with a greater dedication to player development and amateur scouting, letting gamers set up individual training drills for each player in the system and seek out and identify the best amateur players in the world. The Diamond Dynasty mode also returns to once again let gamers create their own unique team and stock it with both real and upgradeable created players. New features include pitcher specialization, designated hitters, and per-innings stats so gamers aren't punished when an online opponent quits.<br><br>New for MLB 13 is the Show Live mode, which lets gamers play any game from the real Major League Baseball season, complete with up-to-date stats and relevant commentary. The fan-favorite Road to the Show mode returns, offering seven new minor league stadiums and once again letting gamers create a young player and follow him through his entire career. And multiplayer fans can take on friends in local action or head online to compete in a variety of modes, including the Home Run Derby, which allows up to eight participants and supports cross-platform play with PS3 users.<br><br><! -- Vita -- >