With all they've tweaked with gameplay, there's still so much more they didn't...

[kehlis]

Re: With all they've tweaked with gameplay, there's still so much more they didn't...

I can't speak for SCEA but I would doubt they could keep MLB's license if they deviate any from the rulebook; MLB likely would view any variance as an integrity of the game issue.

I'm not disagreeing with you but rather stating that I believe SCEA's hands are tied.

I'm not sure that argument makes a lot of sense with both variable strike zones and missed calls being allowed.


High strikes have been a small pet peeve of mine for years as well.

[geisterhome]

Re: With all they've tweaked with gameplay, there's still so much more they didn't...

- Bunting - even with the patch, bunting is still way too easy and way too successful. I'm still averaging at least a bunt single with people like Ellsbury and Gardner at least every other attempt and let's face it, bunting for a single 50% of the time is simply not realistic at all.

- Meter Randomness - I love the meter, but the randomness of where the pitch lands is frustrating. I can miss the meter high or low and the location where the pitch goes is completely random. If you miss the meter low, the pitch should go low.

- Pitch Speeds - every pitcher doesn't have a 17-mph difference between their fastball and their changeup. I know they do this intentionally to make the user feel the difference, but it's not realistic at all.

- Ground Balls Hitting the Pitcher - I'd say 50% or more of the ground balls hit up the middle deflect off the pitcher whereas in real life it's probably about 3%. Heck, in real life, most pitchers try to get out of the way to avoid being hit. In this game, they try to get hit knowing they're all made of steel and can knock the ball down without blinking.

- The Mysterious Shrinking Strike Zone - constantly leading to big, late-inning rallies. Maybe I'm imagining this . . . but I really doubt it.

- Olay Grounders - this will be the bane of me, I swear. Runner on first, no outs. Routine grounder towards the hole that almost EVERY first basemen will at least knock down to get one out and probably turn a simple double play on. So why do my corner infielders constantly (yes, constantly as in multiple times per game) olay these grounders into singles? They literally get their glove down, but the absolutely ridiculous animation occurs where the fielder olays the ball, going from an easy DP to a first-to-third single. And it seems to happen at convenient times, but that part may be my imagination or frustration.

- The high strike zone - I watch baseball regularly. Pitches at the letters are almost never called strikes anymore. I understand the strike zone is "supposed" to go from letters to knees, but it doesn't. Not anymore. Let's try updating the strike zone to what it actually is now.

- Wild Pitches - wild pitches occur. Not every game. And rarely on pitches right down the middle.

I agree with: bunting, olay grounders, although I see to few of them to be bothered, balls hitting pitcher (!!!)

Wild pitches, high strike zone, pitch speeds, meter randomness don't really bother me.

A shrinking strike zone I have not experienced.

What I'd like to see improved are catcher reactions and animations, or am I the only one who thinks they are still a bit off sometimes?

[geisterhome]

Re: With all they've tweaked with gameplay, there's still so much more they didn't...

I can't speak for SCEA but I would doubt they could keep MLB's license if they deviate any from the rulebook; MLB likely would view any variance as an integrity of the game issue.

I'm not disagreeing with you but rather stating that I believe SCEA's hands are tied.

Yea that doesn't make sense to me either, I'm sure nothing will be taken away if scea is adding a bit variety and life like deviation from the rule book, not matter concerning the strike zone or anything else.

[Will I Am]

Re: With all they've tweaked with gameplay, there's still so much more they didn't...

- Meter Randomness - I love the meter, but the randomness of where the pitch lands is frustrating. I can miss the meter high or low and the location where the pitch goes is completely random. If you miss the meter low, the pitch should go low.

I agree with this. If a person wants randomness then use classic pitching. Meter pitching should be about user control, lord knows there is already to little of this as it is.

[Speedy]

Re: With all they've tweaked with gameplay, there's still so much more they didn't...

I'm not sure that argument makes a lot of sense with both variable strike zones and missed calls being allowed.


High strikes have been a small pet peeve of mine for years as well.

Good point, my friend

[Steven78]

Re: With all they've tweaked with gameplay, there's still so much more they didn't...

I can't believe they never fixed the pitcher getting hammered by a hit and then fielding the ball like no big deal. Been in the game for years.

[topside]

Re: With all they've tweaked with gameplay, there's still so much more they didn't...

As much as I love this game there are tons of small things that have started eating away at me more and more. You've named most of them.

Knuckleballers throw too many strikes.

When playing the CPU they don't chase often or swing and miss as much as they should.

I don't understand the low K ratings for nearly every starting pitcher.

Too many double plays!

What's up with the pull player off the bag animation from throws in the outfield? The CPU and myself prolly do it 5 times each a game.

CPU doesn't attempt pickoffs enough on regular leads. When they're on base they never slide back in when you attempt a pickoff. So basically the cat and mouse of the running game is non existent.

Come backers, dropped third strikes and pops ups behind the plate need to be cut down drastically.

The lazy throwing animations this year get annoying fast.

Pitchers deliveries look so weak. Like they're barely trying to throw the ball hard.

Bunting lol

Hits down the line seem to just die out so they never lead to doubles. Probably one of the most exciting things to see in a game.

Every outfielder seems like the same defensive player out there.

Whoever does the pitcher ratings and repetoires needs to be fired. In what world are change ups 78 and fastballs 95?

There's probably more I've missed. Still a beautiful game but some of this stuff is starting to get to me recently. The gameplay human vs CPU is the most important thing to me.

Sorry for the long rant

[nomo17k]

Re: With all they've tweaked with gameplay, there's still so much more they didn't...

Are you talking about a passed ball?

I think they are... wild pitches have a few relevant catcher animations, but passed balls basically just go through or bounce off of catchers, making people go wth.

[L_Thibs]

Re: With all they've tweaked with gameplay, there's still so much more they didn't...

Names of the pitchers please?

Tanaka definitely has this wide gap. He consistently hit 94 mph with his fastball and consistently hit 71 mph on his changeup (I don't know whether he actually does have that big of a gap between pitches or not). Very tough to hit though. I played in Milwaukee, so I saw the radar gun on the big scoreboard every pitch.

[L_Thibs]

Re: With all they've tweaked with gameplay, there's still so much more they didn't...

- Meter Randomness - I love the meter, but the randomness of where the pitch lands is frustrating. I can miss the meter high or low and the location where the pitch goes is completely random. If you miss the meter low, the pitch should go low.

I agree with this. If a person wants randomness then use classic pitching. Meter pitching should be about user control, lord knows there is already to little of this as it is.

I don't know....I could argue that the meter misses more left to right than up and down. I like how it works when you miss the mark and where the pitch misses certainly depends on the type of pitch you throw and how much juice you've put on it.

[kooch66]

Re: With all they've tweaked with gameplay, there's still so much more they didn't...

I think you all are totally wrong about the meter, it's perfectly fine the way it is. First of all, I don't think anyone has nentioned that it has to do with player stats as well. Missing a spot with Kershaw is going to be different than missing with a lesser pitcher, as it should be.

But more importantly, having total control even when you miss the accuracy mark is silly and unrealistic and not at all how real baseball works. The way you want it makes the game much too easy. For example for a high fastball you can just train yourself to always be some degree early on the meter, that way worst case it's a high ball, best case a swing and miss or borderline called strike. Rarely will solid contact be made. At the same time a low pitch like a sinker say you can just always be somewhat late on the meter, and you'll either get a ball, swing and miss,grounder, or borderline strike call, but no solid contact. MOST real pitchers don't have this kind of control. Home runs and deep extra base hits happen when pitches supposed to be high fall into the zone or pitches that are supposed to be low come up into range.

After using meter for many years I have been using pulse for the past 3 games and have no control at all over underthrow or overthrow. However, I learn how certain pitchers tend to miss and adjust accordingly. And when I miss the timing I deal with the consequences.

I am 9-0 in DD online, not a huge sample size so I'm no great player, but I am not losing any edge whatsoever because I can't control my pitches well enough.

[ChrisHansen59]

Re: With all they've tweaked with gameplay, there's still so much more they didn't...

The game most definitely manufactures rallies out of nothing and there's pretty much nothing you can do about it.

[berenjena]

Re: With all they've tweaked with gameplay, there's still so much more they didn't...

You missed a Very annoying one.

Catchers coming out of box unrealistically fast.

[SwitchbladeAli]

Re: With all they've tweaked with gameplay, there's still so much more they didn't...

The game most definitely manufactures rallies out of nothing and there's pretty much nothing you can do about it.

I haven't found the time to play much last year so this year I thought I'd give dynamic difficulty a try to see if I can still pitch in All-Star like in 12 & 13. Through my first ten games in my franchise I have yet to see a change in difficulty, the best I could do was Rookie+ and +++ in progress (pitching that is). Then the CPU, behind in runs, decides to give itself a nice two out rally in late innings. And I have yet to pitch a game where I do not give up a home run. Sometimes mixed into the rally, sometimes early in the game.

I'd play more but after such games I quit and won't touch the game for a day or two.

[Go Yankees]

Re: With all they've tweaked with gameplay, there's still so much more they didn't...

I hope they can fix the number of different types of balls hit to the outfield and then adjusting the outfielders speed or whatever so there are a few more diving plays in the outfield.