MLB The Show 16 Review (PS4)

[Woodweaver]

MLB The Show 16 Review (PS4)

I hate to say it but that's not realistic at all. Pitchers irl do maintain their grip right after the ball leaves their hand.

You don't have to hate to say it. That's what they do in the game too. They maintain their grip for a split second after the ball is gone before going into a full release.

[Padgoi]

Re: MLB The Show 16 Review (PS4)

You don't have to hate to say it. That's what they do in the game too. They maintain their grip for a split second after the ball is gone before going into a full release.

Still doesn't seem exceptionally realistic. When a pitcher throws a breaking ball, his hand stays in that grip until the arm comes all the way down.

[Woodweaver]

Re: MLB The Show 16 Review (PS4)

Still doesn't seem exceptionally realistic. When a pitcher throws a breaking ball, his hand stays in that grip until the arm comes all the way down.

[Woodweaver]

Re: MLB The Show 16 Review (PS4)

I think it varies a lot from pitcher to pitcher and pitch to pitch. I think this is a fairly realistic common ground for a video game which gives a better feel for the ball actually being hurled.

[Padgoi]

Re: MLB The Show 16 Review (PS4)

I think it varies a lot from pitcher to pitcher and pitch to pitch. I think this is a fairly realistic common ground for a video game which gives a better feel for the ball actually being hurled.

If you look at his hand, the two fingers that grip the ball are the prevalent ones, the others seem to be dangling down. I think the only time you'd truly see a pitcher open up his hand like in the image depicted in the game is if the pitcher was throwing a palm ball or a knuckleball.

[fearwhatnow]

Re: MLB The Show 16 Review (PS4)

Sometimes I feel happy I have just a basic/intermediate knowledge of the sport of baseball. This little thing with the pitching grip and your debate looks outlandish to me. I just enjoy the gameplay and have fun.
I understand though the debate as many times I do the same with minor aspects of NBA2k.

[strawberryshortcake]

Re: MLB The Show 16 Review (PS4)

With regards to a pitcher's hand and finger positioning on a pitch, I'll just say I agree with P.A.D. and Steven78.


================================================== ===========
Off thread topic, I guess. I'll create a thread in the future (probably months down the line that deals with the following [pitching motion]). I was actually going to wait to address the below points but since an SCEA developer is responding to other individuals about "pitching," I figured I'll throw in my two cents, all to hopefully get the game to greater heights.


Two concerns:

(A) Hand/finger grip position
That was actually the second thing I noticed during gameplay that took away from an immersive experience unfortunately. A static image doesn't always tell the whole story, but google image gives a good indication that all pitches still has the pitcher's hand/finger in a gripped position (as opposed to fully opened palms) once the ball is released.

(B) Arm whip for all pitchers should be much faster.
The first and primary thing that unfortunately still readily takes away from an immersive experience comes down to the pitcher's follow through/arm motion/body english. Pitching a baseball is a magnificent beautiful violent forceful behavior. The Show's pitcher is still missing the true characteristic of a pitch. Hone in on the body english and especially the arm motion follow through.

The whip of the arm realistically should be a blur. It should be fairly blurry to the eye because it's a very violent incredibly fast action. MLB the Show's arm whip has a very calculated clean comparatively slow(er) motion.

The above second point brings us full circle to the first point. If I could actually see the pitcher's hand in a fully opened position during regular gameplay speed, that is a good indication that the arm whip isn't fast enough. If my recollection and understanding is correct, I shouldn't be able to see the "release point grip" of the pitcher while watching a major league pitch.



SIDE NOTE
I decided to buy MLB16 digitally this year for one important purpose. When time permits, I want to capture all pitchers (or as much pitchers as possible) in the game (in gif format) and do a visual comparison to the pitchers' real life counterpart to showcase the "missing element" that still escape MLB the Show pitchers. And ultimately submit it to the developers of MLB the Show. This will be a time consuming project ... meaning I'll have to find the time to do it.

http://www.operationsports.com/forum...w-mocap-2.html

Spoiler

It's not simply Strasburg, I'm guessing it's with most if not all of their pitchers.

I'm suspecting a lot of work and a lot of time as well. But if wanting the most authentic and most realistic sports game out in the market place, how realistic the motion of the body in action is captured can certainly be said to be an important or even crucial component.

...... snippet...

Pretty much the part in bold is why I will say most if not all deliveries are simply off. To replicate proper pitching motion requires properly capturing the actual speed of the pitch/body language/body english, which from what I can see is unfortunately lacking in MLBtheShow.

What I see with MLBtheShow pitchers is someone who is "tossing" the ball as oppose to actually "pitching" a real baseball with force. There is a lack of realistic body english on follow through. There is a lack of realistic strong leg kicks. There is a lack of realistic upper body/torso strong forceful follow through. There is a lack of realistic real body lean. There is a lack of realistic arm force follow through.

The speed of the follow through is simply too slow. Some may say it's "good enough" but to be authentic, there needs to be more mustard. Pitching a baseball is suppose to be a violent action. So much so, that real life pitchers almost fall over on every single pitch. Righty's will fall to the left of the mound; Lefty's will fall to right of the mound because of the body's momentum. But it's not as simple as that. Capturing the proper "motion" needs to be paired with the proper "speed" of the body in motion (or pitch) as well.

I suspect the motion capture "artist" isn't throwing heaters at all. I'm guessing instead of "pitching" a 90 mph fastball, the motion artist is "tossing" a ball at a max speed of 45/55 mph, plus or minus (or whatever max speed it is). But even if the motion capture artist can't throw 90 mph fastball, there should still be proper body english/lean/speed of arm during follow throughs when you're trying to legitimately pitch a heater (with respect to whatever top speed of the motion capture artist).

Compare the speed/force/lean of the upper body.

Real pitchers "REAR back and put mustard on that pitch; the oomph; the violent force, the violent nature of the arm speed... the body language/the upper body/the body english. .... the leg kick ... how the pitcher falls towards the mound after each pitch. ..."

which unfortunately, is lacking in MLBtheShow to be honest.


Anyways, that's just my thoughts on it. My 2 cents.

[p00p1]

Re: MLB The Show 16 Review (PS4)

I think it varies a lot from pitcher to pitcher and pitch to pitch. I think this is a fairly realistic common ground for a video game which gives a better feel for the ball actually being hurled.

For most pitches, transition should be from grip to something resembling the same grip+motion. For pitchers that do end with an open (relaxed) hand, that doesn't happen until after the hand pronates at the end of the throwing motion. The video of mlb15 actually looks like it does a great job of this. mlb16 looks weird, like he's trying to catch the ball in reverse.

Here a super slow motion video showing a circle change for example.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hf5UPnQx9Rw

[Steven78]

Re: MLB The Show 16 Review (PS4)

Just think about gripping a certain pitch and throwing it. Your hand doesn't spread out like the 16 pic. Last year had it better.

[NEOPARADIGM]

Re: MLB The Show 16 Review (PS4)

Just think about gripping a certain pitch and throwing it. Your hand doesn't spread out like the 16 pic. Last year had it better.

Yeah I was actually hoping this would be improved from last year as it wasn't quite right last year either. Huge step back instead. Weird.

[Ghost Of The Year]

Re: MLB The Show 16 Review (PS4)

[

The grips have not changed. They still vary pitch type to pitch type. What you are highlighting there is the release. In MLB15, the pitch grip was maintained even after the ball was released. Now, pitchers/fielders look like the are actually letting the ball go during a pitch/throw animation.

Hence, the claw. Ball needs to roll off the finger tips more.

[dannyheck]

Nice collection of The Show jw9036!

VERY COOL collection of games my friend.

[Smallville102001]

Re: MLB The Show 16 Review (PS4)

I cant believe that people are even talking about the way the hands look when the pitcher is throwing a pitch lol. Like who even notices something so darn small?

[strawberryshortcake]

Re: MLB The Show 16 Review (PS4)

I cant believe that people are even talking about the way the hands look when the pitcher is throwing a pitch lol. Like who even notices something so darn small?

Authenticity; the Little things. Plus, I actually noticed even before it was brought up. I was like what is wrong with the pitcher's release grip of the ball. I was like why is his fingers flared opened. But what's even more important is all the pitcher's throwing motion, arm follow through needs to be reworked. They need to be much, much faster.

[jawgee]

With regards to a pitcher's hand and finger positioning on a pitch, I'll just say I agree with P.A.D. and Steven78.


================================================== ===========
Off thread topic, I guess. I'll create a thread in the future (probably months down the line that deals with the following [pitching motion]). I was actually going to wait to address the below points but since an SCEA developer is responding to other individuals about "pitching," I figured I'll throw in my two cents, all to hopefully get the game to greater heights.


Two concerns:

(A) Hand/finger grip position
That was actually the second thing I noticed during gameplay that took away from an immersive experience unfortunately. A static image doesn't always tell the whole story, but google image gives a good indication that all pitches still has the pitcher's hand/finger in a gripped position (as opposed to fully opened palms) once the ball is released.

(B) Arm whip for all pitchers should be much faster.
The first and primary thing that unfortunately still readily takes away from an immersive experience comes down to the pitcher's follow through/arm motion/body english. Pitching a baseball is a magnificent beautiful violent forceful behavior. The Show's pitcher is still missing the true characteristic of a pitch. Hone in on the body english and especially the arm motion follow through.

The whip of the arm realistically should be a blur. It should be fairly blurry to the eye because it's a very violent incredibly fast action. MLB the Show's arm whip has a very calculated clean comparatively slow(er) motion.

The above second point brings us full circle to the first point. If I could actually see the pitcher's hand in a fully opened position during regular gameplay speed, that is a good indication that the arm whip isn't fast enough. If my recollection and understanding is correct, I shouldn't be able to see the "release point grip" of the pitcher while watching a major league pitch.



SIDE NOTE
I decided to buy MLB16 digitally this year for one important purpose. When time permits, I want to capture all pitchers (or as much pitchers as possible) in the game (in gif format) and do a visual comparison to the pitchers' real life counterpart to showcase the "missing element" that still escape MLB the Show pitchers. And ultimately submit it to the developers of MLB the Show. This will be a time consuming project ... meaning I'll have to find the time to do it.

Using Classic Pitching mode and those screen grabs would make The Show look better than the real life vids.