MLB 15 The Show Video - Online Problems of a Different Sort

[RaychelSnr]

It's fair to say The Show has made huge strides this season when it comes to online play. The developers behind the game struggled for many years just to provide a lag-free, consistent experience online. However, for the most part we now finally have that consistent experience with MLB 15: The Show.

There are still some pockets of lag and random disconnects, but it's not at the forefront of what is hindering The Show's online play anymore. Instead, now the folks making the game have to deal with issues every other sports game deals with on a yearly basis: gameplay shortcoming and exploits.

So that's what we'll be taking a look at here in this video.

[dynastymgrguy]

Great video post. Thanks. I have really enjoyed DD this year. The lag issues last season drove me away quickly. This year, 90% of the time, lag is not a glaring factor in my wins and losses. However, two of the points you brought up (bunting exploits, and base-stealing exploits) have not really been an issue in my online games.

The group I'm in (DD 1550+ points), I find that the competition is usually serious about competing without taking advantage of exploits. I've played over 70+ games and rarely have been defeated by anyone who exploits bunts or stealing. My wins and losses are scores in the range of 3-2 1-0, 4-3, etc (and a rare 7-1, 6-2). At the higher levels, I am not seeing amateurish gamers. Of course, I could face one tonight, but hopefully not.

As far as holding a runner, I don't care if they still on me with two outs. Especially if I'm facing a poor hitter or a slow hitter. I'll get them out with pitching or just good defense.

And for the bunt exploit, pitch UP in the zone (to get popup), or get a few foul balls out of the hitter. If they are still trying to bunt on two strikes (which another fail bunt equals an out), then you know what kind of person you're facing and can start to put together a strategy against his/her style of game play.

I have also just gone and hit a batter that does the stupid bunting fakes. My way of saying, "Grow Up".

[misterkrabz]

If a running takes an extended lead they should have to 1) time his release when stealing a base and 2) have to manually return the runner with a button press. I would also add the the 3rd basemen animation when receiving a throw form the catcher makes it nearly impossible to get a moderately fast runner on when stealing. He catches the ball too far in front of the bag. This has cause me more angst than bunting. I have had success slide stepping and pitching out when trying to catch runners stealing second. Bunting could be fixed by forced the batter to line up his reticle with the pitch just as hitting. Just having a generic bunting animation is kind of stupid.

[ChaseB]

Re: MLB 15 The Show: Online Problems of a Different Sort

If a running takes an extended lead they should have to 1) time his release when stealing a base and 2) have to manually return the runner with a button press. I would also add the the 3rd basemen animation when receiving a throw form the catcher makes it nearly impossible to get a moderately fast runner on when stealing. He catches the ball too far in front of the bag. This has cause me more angst than bunting. I have had success slide stepping and pitching out when trying to catch runners stealing second. Bunting could be fixed by forced the batter to line up his reticle with the pitch just as hitting. Just having a generic bunting animation is kind of stupid.

Here's a big ol' hug from me.

[dregos]

Great video. Hope the devs are paying attention.

[9erFan4Life]

One player you can pick off is Manny Muchado. If he gets a lead at either 1st or 2nd there is a good chance you can get him. I've done it a couple of times and am not sure why it's just him that I can pick offf

[HustlinOwl]

Re: MLB 15 The Show Video - Online Problems of a Different Sort

Online franchise is a mess


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

[bobloblah1980]

Re: MLB 15 The Show Video - Online Problems of a Different Sort

base stealing has been broken for a couple years! any player with speed over 85 is automatic. only chance of remotely catching guys is to have a 0 steal ability slider

[cschauble]

I completely agree with everything in the video. When I'm facing a bunt cheeser I simply concede the game because it is zero fun.

I would like to add another source of frustration. A frequent occurrence for me is having a base-runner complete non-responsive to commands. Example: I will hit a double and the guy goes from 1st to 3rd but continues on home even though I've stopped him with my controller. I've lost countless outs/runs over this issue. I'm sure it's tied to the lag in the game but I've seen it completely ruin the experience for me numerous times.

[Clarke99]

If a player speed is 95+ they should be able to steal like they do in this video. Some players like mentioned hamilton or Jarrod dyson steal at will that's sim.

[ChaseB]

Re: MLB 15 The Show Video - Online Problems of a Different Sort

One player you can pick off is Manny Muchado. If he gets a lead at either 1st or 2nd there is a good chance you can get him. I've done it a couple of times and am not sure why it's just him that I can pick offf

Online franchise is a mess


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

Yeah I was mostly sticking to on field stuff but I know there are some Online Franchise issues dealing with pitcher stamina and so on.

I completely agree with everything in the video. When I'm facing a bunt cheeser I simply concede the game because it is zero fun.

I would like to add another source of frustration. A frequent occurrence for me is having a base-runner complete non-responsive to commands. Example: I will hit a double and the guy goes from 1st to 3rd but continues on home even though I've stopped him with my controller. I've lost countless outs/runs over this issue. I'm sure it's tied to the lag in the game but I've seen it completely ruin the experience for me numerous times.

The baserunning is a fair one. I sometimes run into the issue where advance all runners does not seem to work quite right or sending runners back doesn't function as I feel it should. I sometimes wonder if that's lag or just responsiveness of the mechanic though. Like if a baserunner at one base just gets there before someone is at another base it's not "smart" enough to know I still want both to advance even though only one is at the next base so far -- thus it only advances one runner rather than both.

If a player speed is 95+ they should be able to steal like they do in this video. Some players like mentioned hamilton or Jarrod dyson steal at will that's sim.

There's a degree to which I agree. Billy Hamilton steals roughly 60 percent of the time he gets on first base and this year he's successful 88 percent of the time. Dyson steals around 50 percent of the time and he's at about 95 percent success rate this season.

Still, it's more than just speed that should matter. And those steal percentage ratios are still much lower than they are in Show when it comes to online games. It turns more into a routine that guys will steal second and third rather than a mini-confrontation where both sides are trying to battle each other, which takes a lot of the fun and intensity out of it.

[nomo17k]

Re: MLB 15 The Show Video - Online Problems of a Different Sort

This is a very nice compilation of the issues that detract from the fun. Hope developers are aware.

To be fair to the devs, I think a lot of the issues mentioned are new (or re-introduced) this year, and the developers have plugged up a lot of game balance issues before (e.g., bunting, stealing)... but by attempting to improve parts of the game (e.g., fielding not always being played in haste, widening the gap of fast and slow runners), new issues have arisen.

Anyways it's great someone have done this without needless back and forth of calling out.

Thanks for the work!

[ChaseB]

Re: MLB 15 The Show Video - Online Problems of a Different Sort

This is a very nice compilation of the issues that detract from the fun. Hope developers are aware.

To be fair to the devs, I think a lot of the issues mentioned are new (or re-introduced) this year, and the developers have plugged up a lot of game balance issues before (e.g., bunting, stealing)... but by attempting to improve parts of the game (e.g., fielding not always being played in haste, widening the gap of fast and slow runners), new issues have arisen.

Anyways it's great someone have done this without needless back and forth of calling out.

Thanks for the work!

Yeah I think that's a well said way to put it in terms of some issues. And again I think some of these issues are intensified online, where as offline they are not as big a problem (though obviously the CPU/AI has different issues).

Did I say issues enough times? One more just in case: issues

[jeffmc_scea]

Re: MLB 15 The Show Video - Online Problems of a Different Sort

Great video. Hope the devs are paying attention.

We are! I even took notes. Thanks for all the feedback and the great video. People play much differently against each other online, raising issues we can't predict.

[ChaseB]

Re: MLB 15 The Show Video - Online Problems of a Different Sort

We are! I even took notes. Thanks for all the feedback and the great video. People play much differently against each other online, raising issues we can't predict.

Thanks for watching. If you ever want clarification on anything feel free to PM me.