MLB 2K12 News Post

MLB 2K12 Demo Available Now, Post Impressions Here

05:46 AM - February 28, 2012 by Steve_OS

The MLB 2K12 demo is available now. Play a few games and post your impressions here.

Read the full press release below.

2K Sports Announces Major League Baseball 2K12 Demo
Now Available on Xbox LIVE Marketplace and PlayStation Network

Features Texas Rangers against St. Louis Cardinals in
rematch of 2011 World Series

New York, NY – February 28, 2012 – 2K Sports today announced that a free demo of Major League Baseball® 2K12 is now available on the Xbox LIVE® Marketplace for the Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft and the PlayStation®Network for PlayStation®3 computer entertainment system.

The demo allows players to relive 2011’s thrilling, back-and-forth World Series and play three innings as the Texas Rangers or St. Louis Cardinals. In addition, it showcases many of MLB 2K12’s improved features, including the dynamic tendencies system that adjusts pitcher and batter ratings as the game unfolds; a revamped throwing system; and a new hit distribution system with more varied and realistic hit types.

This year’s edition of MLB 2K will allow players to experience the authenticity and excitement of a real baseball game, and also a chance to win $1,000,000. The Perfect Game Challenge returns for the third consecutive year with MLB 2K12, and is bigger than ever. The new format will utilize a dynamic leaderboard that ranks the top eight perfect games thrown. At the end of the competition, the top eight competitors will face each other in a live $1 million tournament.

MLB 2K12 is rated E for everyone by the ESRB and will be available March 6, 2012 for Xbox 360, PlayStation®3, Wii™ system, PlayStation®2 computer entertainment system, PSP® (PlayStation®Portable) system, Nintendo DS™ and Windows PC.

Major League Baseball 2K12 screenshot gallery - Click to view

Game: Major League Baseball 2K12 Reader Score: 6.5/10 - Vote Now
Platform: PS3 / Xbox 360Votes for game: 12 - View All

Major League Baseball 2K12 Videos

Member Comments

# 1 WTF @ 02/28/12 02:18 PM

We'll go ahead and reopen this. A couple of users have confirmed that it is up for download. Impressions only, not "I'm downloading, 90% complete..."

I'll reiterate, Impressions ONLY.

# 2 MrChainsaw @ 02/28/12 02:46 PM

Auto fielding! Nice.

# 3 VinnyBagaDonits @ 02/28/12 02:48 PM

I really wanted to get 2k12 because of the MLB Today Season Mode but after playing this demo I'm having serious second thoughts. I'm really disappointed in the look of the game, the graphics look incredibly arcadey. I just wish they would have come out with a demo for The Show so I could make a clear cut decision.

# 4 Pared @ 02/28/12 02:51 PM

Again - impressions only. This thread is not for questions.

# 5 infam0us @ 02/28/12 03:02 PM

Hit a home run and robbed a home run in my first inning. In the third inning the dynamic tendency system has come into play, been utilizing the 2-seem fastball and the rating of the pitch is now in green and its the best pitch.

2k is making progress with this franchise, not a big improvement but improvements nonetheless.

# 6 MrChainsaw @ 02/28/12 03:04 PM

Only played one inning because I have to go to work but a few quick impressions:

Base running looks much more believable.
Auto fielding is a welcome addition.
One thing with auto fielding however is it seems like the fielder hesitates for a second before throwing to first. I had two straight grounders hit to Kinsler and he scooped up the ball, stopped for a second and then made the throw. Hopefully this only happens in the demo.

# 7 bbking26 @ 02/28/12 03:31 PM

Autofield threw to first instead of home when winning run scored. Other than that I liked it. I did miss commentary

# 8 m1ke_nyc @ 02/28/12 03:34 PM

I gotta be honest, it was a smooth game of baseball. Graphics were slightly improved but the gameplay is much smoother. I loved the new catcher animations. So I think im gonna get this, still want the other game as well. And the hit variety was great.

# 9 tinpanalley @ 02/28/12 03:37 PM

Just played the demo on 360. Very smooth, but very similar to last year. Then again, you're talking to someone who loved 2K11. The experience of baseball is so much better represented by the 2K series. If they add more amazing commentary and thorough stats to this as they did last year, it's gonna be hard for me to pick anything else unless those Move controls are reeeeeeeally sweet.

# 10 Hajmyis @ 02/28/12 03:39 PM

There words. Cleaner smoother and polished..

I like it

# 11 DaveDQ @ 02/28/12 04:06 PM

There are some nice animations in fielding. Especially with the outfield, I like how they try and get there for a mid field blooper. In one instance I sac bunted and the catcher did a nice look to second to check before deciding to throw to first. Another time I noticed from the outfield I hit the third base gesture and then quickly hit RB to go to the cutoff. The outfielder stopped his animation and adjusted to make the throw. I liked that.

I had a ball bounce off the pitcher and end up in the second baseman's mitt for the out..lol.

The ball off the bat seems nice. There are some nice views when the ball is in motion. Everything plays out smoothly with an occasional hiccup on foul balls.

Animations are hit and miss with the 2K signature "run back in place" type animation after a play., but that's no big deal. I think what impressed me most is the outfield play. I really liked the animations there.

# 12 swaldo @ 02/28/12 04:19 PM

Just an FYI the stellar commentary is stripped out of the demo so the retail game feels so much better. Other than that here are my thoughts...

- Still some stutter & frame slow downs after balls are hit. I thought this was fixed? Maybe it's because the demo is an older version I don't know. Not as bad as last year, but is especially noticeable on foul balls.

+ New pitching additions are really nice. Took me some time to get back into gesture pitching so I stunk in my first game. Two of my "best pitches" quickly dropped in ratings and in addition I was rattled so the ball cursor was bouncing wildly. It was really tough to get out of the jam I was in which felt good.

In the second game I was rolling on the mound and two of my pitches increased in ratings. However, I was using my fastball too much so the gesture icon turned red. I had to use my other pitches to get it back to green - again a nice addition.

I do want to see the CPU pitch ratings though. I mean if I pound his sinker into the ground I want to know what his updated rating is for that pitch. And how can I tell when I have an advantage because the CPU or human opponent is using a pitch too much - or to a certain location too much?

+/- Fielding is improved in some ways, but also looks awkward at times. I do like the additions to the throwing system. On one play the CPU was going for the double play and the 2B had to fly in the air to avoid the takeout slide. While in the air with his legs split wide open he somehow managed to drill a laser shot to 1B, it just looked off.

Also, I'm sorry but even if I hit the green in the meter throws from the outfield to home plate should not always be right on line. My catcher just stood stationary waiting for the ball to land in his glove. Yikes, I'd like to see him work a little bit because that's a long throw! Overall, I think fielding is better but could use some animation and physics work.

Hit variety: Most balls were hit with a medium trajectory. Didn't see any choppers but there was a bloop hit. There were a few grounders, a couple fly balls, a home run and a couple shots down the line. Not bad overall I guess.

- Player models still terrible.

+ Baserunning did seem improved

- Still too much stuff flashing on screen. HDTV's are bright, I want this toned down! If you wanna make the most hardcore batter/pitcher duel ever then leave the arcadey stuff out.

Based on the demo, I think if you liked the game last year then you'll like it a little better this year. If you didn't like it last year you still wont like it this year. I wasn't blown away with anything, it just feels similar to last year with some tweaks.

# 13 Benz87 @ 02/28/12 04:21 PM

I think among the confusion of actually putting it out on the day that was promised 2K accidentally put the 2k11 demo out with updated roster and a different cover.

I see very little change except an altered throwing meter. Base running still looks awkward with odd animations and gallops, while players still don't round first unless you manually send then to 2nd and then back to first.

There is no strategy to batting, pretty much swing at every pitch in the strike zone and hope you get a hit with no rhyme or reason to it.

Pitching is still boring and feels like a chore more than a battle of wits with the batter.

Fielding still has awkward animations and the dive is unresponsive, another year of not making exciting plays on grounders.

# 14 tvman @ 02/28/12 04:46 PM

Everything looks pretty much the same to me but game does run smoother which is a plus.

A negative i saw in my 2 innings of play was a single to right field by Hamilton (cpu) i threw back in to the cutoff man then tossed the ball to 1st and was able to tag him out as he had rounded the bag to far.

# 15 tvman @ 02/28/12 04:54 PM

So far only Feliz and Westbrook pitching, anyone see others?

# 16 loloben @ 02/28/12 05:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tvman


	So far only Feliz and Westbrook pitching, anyone see others?

I've seen almost all of the pitchers except Darvish and Carpenter.
I'm not sure if this was a glitch or something, but I got 9 innings through in my 1st game. Has this happened to anyone else?

# 17 Trevytrev11 @ 02/28/12 05:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Benz87


	There is no strategy to batting, pretty much swing at every pitch in the strike zone and hope you get a hit with no rhyme or reason to it. Pitching is still boring and feels like a chore more than a battle of wits with the batter.

So batting is too simple, but pitching is too much of a chore? Sounds like you can't be pleased.

# 18 Skyboxer @ 02/28/12 05:12 PM

Ok after a bit:
It's 2K. I actually had fun playing it. Some issues obviously like some of the animations are herky jerky, catcher throwing ball back to pitcher with a cannon, balls not bouncing off the tarp etc...
Some IMO minor issues. I've never been a fan of the path they took with player models and textures but it is what it is.
I seen some really nice animations and overall the game was fun.
I really like the outfield play.
If I only had a 360 I wouldn't be disappointed as long as the franchise aspect was solid.
Being a huge baseball fan I have to get all available, if they are remotely fun and offer something different.

Anyways not going to nitpick all the things and take it for what it is.

Seems like a fun baseball game that I'll surely play from time to time.

# 19 Glenn33 @ 02/28/12 05:20 PM

I have played the demo 3 times. The best way I can summarize my impressions is this:

If you like 2K11 - there are a lot of things you will see in the demo that you will like. That graphics seems better (except the faces - still hit or miss with that), the animations seem smoother, and the new throwing meter is cool.
If you didn't like 2K11 - this gme is not going to convert you. At the end of the day - it's still the same game - just improved. But it's NOT a major deviation from the formula and graphics that it has been for the past 3 years by any stretch. 2K at this point is what it is.

I personally was not a huge fan of 2K11 but I am ready to give this game a real shot because there arethings that I see I really like (and I am REALLY ready for a change.)

# 20 Tomba @ 02/28/12 05:26 PM

I'll be very honest even though i already gave my opinion of the game demo.

In no way can this demo be a judge of the game. This game is very stripped down and is almost unfair to even give an impression on.

I play with different camera angles than the ones given at default here as I do not like the batting cam.

I was very :| about my playtime with it.

One and done.

I'm hoping to find out if its any good come March 6th

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