This game feels so scripted at times

[Zinger]

Re: This game feels so scripted at times

As I understand P.A.D.'s argument, I see little that is controversial in it. He insists that he is not claiming that there is comeback code or rubber-banding and that the AI just gets a boost at times and becomes a tougher opponent. I've always suspected that. What I also think is that the user gets a boost at times as well (not sure that P.A.D. mentioned that). Whether any of this is 'triggered' or more or less random I'm not really sure.

What I'm certain of is that I am not unhappy with any of it. I can't see how the game would be much fun without something of the sort going on under the hood. How would we get the rich variety of results from tight 1-0 thrillers to 16-14 runfests and everything in between (blowout wins, blowout losses etc) otherwise? Unlike in a real baseball game, where the diversity of talents of nine individuals on each side makes a limitless range of outcomes possible every time, in video baseball one of the 'teams' is just the user with a fairly consistent ability to play the game. Without some kind of programming intervention I would have thought this would tend to produce fairly consistent (and boring!) results.

I'm afraid I don't buy the view that all the variation is down to the physical and mental condition of the user on a particular day (though I agree there is some variation there) or his suddenly disappearing knowledge of sound baseball strategy. Is it after all just the mysterious fluctuation of statistical probablity, as Brian SCEA has often said? All I can say is - and I repeat - that I am thankful for it whatever it is.

[nomo17k]

Re: This game feels so scripted at times

Don't really have a place to ask this, so I'll ask it in this thread.

How do you guys go about stopping the inevitable "run" the CPU goes on?

For instance this afternoon I was playing the Mariners as the Angles and was playing pretty well against them, but no matter what I do, the CPU somehow manages to match me with-in an inning or two of any runs I manage to produce.

David Freese hits a three run HR in the first inning, the Mariners manage to score three in the third inning.

Freese hits another bomb in the sixth inning, the Mariners match it in the bottom half of the same inning.

This happens a lot and I wind up playing a ton of extra-inning games because no matter how hard I try, I cannot for the life of me hold onto any leads. This game I lost in the 10th when Cano hit a walk-off HR in the tenth

Again, I'm not accusing the A.I of having "comeback code" or being "scripted", just a little frustrated at constantly giving up leads in this game and I'm not exactly sure what I'm doing wrong?

It seems like the game is matching your contribution. In real life, you put money into your 401(k) and your employer make a matching contribution. I've worked for only crappy employers who don't offer matching, so I envy that you are such a lucky guy.

Seriously though, what do you want to happen? Like, you don't ever want to have a seesaw game with CPU? I wish my games with CPU are always as interesting as how you describe...

[PRBoricua]

Re: This game feels so scripted at times

It seems like the game is matching your contribution. In real life, you put money into your 401(k) and your employer make a matching contribution. I've worked for only crappy employers who don't offer matching, so I envy that you are such a lucky guy.

Seriously though, what do you want to happen? Like, you don't ever want to have a seesaw game with CPU? I wish my games with CPU are always as interesting as how you describe...

No, I'm not mad that it happens. In real life this happens quite often, and I don't mind that ... but there are also games where a team jumps out in front and just stays there.

It's not that I don't want to give up any runs, or never expect to lose. But I lose like this a lot. Really all I'm asking for is a little advice on holding a lead.

[bkrich83]

Re: This game feels so scripted at times

No, I'm not mad that it happens. In real life this happens quite often, and I don't mind that ... but there are also games where a team jumps out in front and just stays there.

It's not that I don't want to give up any runs, or never expect to lose. But I lose like this a lot. Really all I'm asking for is a little advice on holding a lead.

Bear in mind, as you get deeper in to a game with a lead, just like in real life, hitters are going to get more aggressive. The key is to know how to use it to your advantage.

[bkrich83]

Re: This game feels so scripted at times

I love it now those that either fail to realize outcomes are ON THEM/NOT THE GAME play the victim role

It's predictable. We go through this every year.

[cardinalbird5]

Re: This game feels so scripted at times

Just lost my home opener with the Astros vs the Yankees 9-8 in extras. I took the lead 3 different times and gave it back up every time. Game must be scripted.

Next series vs the Angels I got down 2-0 early and came back to win 4-2 late in the game off their bullpen. Game must be scripted.

Seriously...I've never felt games were scripted. I just accept the Astros pitchers are bad and it is hard to keep the ball out of the middle of the strike zone with them.

Here are some things to do late in the game:
1)Use your warm up pitches even if your pitcher is warm 100 pct. Work on 2 pitches for your relievers (4 seamer and his best out pitch) during the warm up to get the confidence all the way up. Confidence is key for pitching in this game. Warming up pitchers allows you to get 2 pitches to 80% or higher confidence.

2)Be patient. If it is 3-1, 2-0, etc. and the game winning run isn't on base......take the pitch seriously. Or if you are winning...still take it.

3)Look at hot/cold zones along with hitter analysis.

4)Start preparing in the 6th inning for potential lefty/righty matchups. Don't waste your lefties vs contact/slap hitters.

5)For each new reliever the computer brings in, check their attributes and pitches/pitch speeds. If they have a low BB/9 then be ultra patient. If they have a high BB/9 with low H/9 and K/9 then be a bit more aggressive, but still be selective. Use pitcher analysis tool as well.

6)Don't get upset if you lose some close games...it happens. Also don't get arrogant if you win some close games or have good comebacks. Play the percentages and get the most out of your matchups and you will normally benefit in the long run.

For how people play online my guess is people are rushing through games. They want to quick pitch mindlessly and not think on what to throw. Throw to all 4 corners. Take a chance on a 3-2 breaking ball every once in awhile, etc.

[daenius]

Re: This game feels so scripted at times

The problem I personally have with these situations is the way they happen.

I wouldn't mind if it's solid base hits or a mixture of bloops and solid hits/walks, but for me the dreaded CPU "run" always ends up with RBIs on grounders that JUST made it past the 1st/3rd base bag or a mammoth HR on pitches out of the strike zone and after tying the game the CPU will ground out or pop out.

Also, I've seen it happen a lot that my pitcher loses his command all of a sudden and regains it after the CPU has tied it or taken the lead.
I had a monster game with CC last night (5.0 IP, 1H, 0BB, 8K on 70P) and held a 3-0 lead in the 6th. All of a sudden I get thrown two straight 3-0 counts via the quick counts feature, he walks 2 straight batters and gives up a rocket 3-run homer that I located down and in. After that I struck out the side. I mean, really?
I understand that hitters do tend to get more aggressive on pitchers in the late innings, but I have never seen pitchers lose and regain their command so ridiculously in real life.

What makes it even worse is quick counts, since it seems like during these runs you're stuck in a lot of 3-2 or 3-0/2-1 counts and constant 0-2/3-2 with the occasional 1-1 count thrown in when batting.

Don't get me wrong, I absolutely love this game; I have loved it since MLB 07 and I think I rarely complain about things like this but somehow it's been so blatantly obvious and mind-boggling in the PS4 version that I'm starting to believe in this crap myself.

[ghosti98]

Re: This game feels so scripted at times

Don't get me wrong, I absolutely love this game; I have loved it since MLB 07 and I think I rarely complain about things like this but somehow it's been so blatantly obvious and mind-boggling in the PS4 version that I'm starting to believe in this crap myself.

Really? It may seem like this, but I don't think its the game, its the situations the player gets in and the team he is playing against. They would never go 2K level with the scripting, I don't see how it would benefit the game.

[kehlis]

Re: This game feels so scripted at times

It's a sport.

The other team is GOING TO SCORE.


If they score when the user is ahead it's shenanigans but if they score when they are ahead is it okay? Just trying to understand the mindset here.

[daenius]

Re: This game feels so scripted at times

Really? It may seem like this, but I don't think its the game, its the situations the player gets in and the team he is playing against. They would never go 2K level with the scripting, I don't see how it would benefit the game.

I know, I don't believe that any game would be "scripted", I think the term scripted is a bit misleading.
I could imagine that the difficulty level is bumped up during later innings when certain teams are trailing, e.g. you're playing the Angels and you've got Trout/Pujols/Hamilton up next. That would explain batters getting more aggressive and "star players" delivering in clutch situations, as they would in real-life.

If they score when the user is ahead it's shenanigans but if they score when they are ahead is it okay? Just trying to understand the mindset here.

At least speaking for myself that's not what I mean. I'm getting frustrated by the way it happens. As I said before, when a star pitcher with good stats is on his game I just don't buy it when quick counts suddenly throws you 3-0 counts on hitters and he walks two straight batters after dominating the lineup for 6 innings.
I stopped using QC anyway now and the results are far more satisfying.

[The JareBear]

Re: This game feels so scripted at times

I am 31 games into my franchise with the Nats. I use dynamic difficulty for both hitting and pitching as well as QC every single game. I don't think I have seen any issues whatsoever. If I blow a lead it's because, well, that happens in baseball and it wasn't my relievers day. I am 19-12 and have never enjoyed another baseball game as much as I am now.

I think the issues reported are user errors. 3-0 and 3-1 counts happen. You can't just paint the corners all game and not ever walk anybody. Throw a strike, make the opponent swing the bat, don't beat yourself and walk them. If you can't trust your guy's stuff on the mound, then get someone else out there to pitch.

Just my opinion. I am never one not to criticize a game or developer if I see a reason to, but in this case I think people are getting lit up and trying to find someone to blame. Change your settings, mix up your pitching, don't just do the same thing over and over and expect different results.

[Padgoi]

This game feels so scripted at times

At least speaking for myself that's not what I mean. I'm getting frustrated by the way it happens. As I said before, when a star pitcher with good stats is on his game I just don't buy it when quick counts suddenly throws you 3-0 counts on hitters and he walks two straight batters after dominating the lineup for 6 innings.
I stopped using QC anyway now and the results are far more satisfying.

And this is the exact point I've been trying to make the entire thread. It's not that it happens, it's the way it happens that makes it feel like the CPU is getting a bump in the later innings. Clearly these rallies can be thwarted as we've all done it before, but the fact that the team losing (CPU or user) gets these bumps is unrealistic and that's what I mean when I say rubber band AI. Strike zones shouldn't change batter to batter. Teams shouldn't get bumps in later innings. And quick counts shouldn't be dependent on game situation. This is what has long bothered me about this series. And honestly, there's almost no one that can convince me it's not there. I've seen it too many times to question my own experiences.

[Heroesandvillains]

Re: This game feels so scripted at times

Have a few minutes? Read through this and try it. Lots of sound advice in here:

http://www.operationsports.com/forum...6amp%3B+losses

[bkrich83]

Re: This game feels so scripted at times

And this is the exact point I've been trying to make the entire thread. It's not [b}that[/b] it happens, it's the way it happens that makes it feel like the CPU is getting a bump in the later innings. Clearly these rallies can be thwarted as we've all done it before, but the fact that the team losing (CPU or user) gets these bumps is unrealistic and that's what I mean when I say rubber band AI. Strike zones shouldn't change batter to batter. Teams shouldn't get bumps in later innings. And quick counts shouldn't be dependent on game situation. This is what has long bothered me about this series. And honestly, there's almost no one that can convince me it's not there. I've seen it too many times to question my own experiences.

It's not there, plain and simple. We've gotten confirmation from the devs so many times it's not even funny anymore. If you want to believe in things that aren't there, that's fine.

[Armor and Sword]

Re: This game feels so scripted at times

Jimmeny Crickets.......another year...another comeback code thread.


This game is the most unpredictable and diverse console sports game I have ever played.


Period.