Improving Manual Fielding

[djep]

One of the biggest on-the-field improvements over MLB 16 was manual fielding. In 17 there is much greater control over the fielders without getting stuck in some long animations. That being said, there are a few things I would like to see improved upon or added in 18 though:

1) Strafe Button: Like in Madden, holding down the left trigger would force the fielder to square himself up to home plate and allows for tighter control of lateral movements. This would reduce the amount of times you overrun a flyball or run past a groundball, which happens to me now and then. Aesthetically, outfielders would be able to backpedal to catch fly balls instead of looking like Willie Mays chasing down a Vic Wertz drive on routine fly outs.

2) Diving Plays (corner infield): I don't know if anyone out there struggles like I do with making diving plays from a 1B or 3B but unless it is a weak roller I am always late diving for the ball at the corner infield spots. The most annoying thing about this is that diving late to his left with my 3B would undoubtedly switch control to my LF so quickly that the LF would run several steps away from the play, leading to easy doubles or even triples. MVP 05 was the best at this and I miss being able to snag a hot shot down the line now and then instead of diving over the ball. At least let us knock the ball down on a late dive now and again.

3) Speed Boost: Some may think this would make the game arcadey but it doesn't need to be over the top with flames shooting out of his cleats. Just a little speed boost like I used to see from Devon White tracking down liners into the gaps. This is not as important to me as the first two.

[otonabee]

Re: Improving Manual Fielding

Could not agree more on Point #2. There is nothing more frustrating than having your 3rd baseman lay out on a rocket down the line only to have your left fielder run the other way and sometimes even dive letting that ball roll into the corner.

I actually switched to auto fielding and without a doubt the animations from all fielders are much slicker and less choppy. Realize most guys don't like giving up control but game looks and plays better from an animation standpoint. Also you don't get those annoying fly balls that happen to drop beside the outfielder like you mentioned.

[The Left Shark]

Re: Improving Manual Fielding

Defense has improved this year but it still felt clunky most of the time. I don't think we'll ever get as smooth of a feeling game defensive-wise as the MVP games which seems crazy since those games haven't been around for about 10 years now.

[LastActionHero]

Re: Improving Manual Fielding

I like your ideas!


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[RockPowderDownLoL]

Re: Improving Manual Fielding

For all the credit San Diego Studios gives themselves for being transparent.

They have NEVER addressed this problem or even acknowledge it.

[Will I Am]

Re: Improving Manual Fielding

They don't want to give user's to much control in the game because then it wouldn't look as smooth. Bad idea to me.

[Seltaeb9091]

Re: Improving Manual Fielding

I wouldn't mind seeing the option to give yourself a slight turbo boost at times, either for trying to beat out a throw or getting at a ball in the gap. To address the "arcade" issue, put some risk into it by increasing the chances of an injury when you use it, like a pulled hamstring or a hyperextended knee. That could work.

[jada855]

Re: Improving Manual Fielding

One of the main reason this game can't be given a pass or a high score! While it does do somethings very well and I am appreciative of those things.

Most people focus on how far they can hit the ball or pitching for stats. Just youtube any RTTS gameplay video. Not enough people play defense so probably no reason to address it! Yet another fundamental that has not changed in the 5 years of playing this Franchise.

• Fielding ready and set position animations have never changed! And why does my short stop constantly have the shakes in his throwing hand!?

• Defensive shifts! Player Lock or RTTS an infielder wait for a defensive shift message to pop up! Don't move your player and just watch what happens! Yikes since MLB 14! (Only way to get rid of this is to switch fielding chances from All to Some)

• Cutoff man! Several cases where the CPU will not even acknowledge you are on the field and throw it right over your head or even worse ball goes straight through your body! Since MLB 14! If there was a way to signal to the CPU outfielder e.g. For example R2 hands up look for me and throw it to me! L2 direct CPU outfielder on where to throw the ball. It would be like the equivalent of yelling "Cut 2" or "Cut 3" otherwise the game continues to field scripted on defense!

• How do you even manage to play outfield in one of the games most popular modes! RTTS! Definitely needs a new design otherwise playing the outfield is pretty much a no go! I think it starts with defining a better way for users to track fly balls! Without any gimmicky Showtime on screen effects!

• No ability to place a tag high or low when a runner is stealing a base! This would be a nice addition to defense but I think the tag system in general needs to be improved.

• No ability to ever tag a man out leading off from second while either playing SS or 2nd Base when trying to cover the bag. I have tried this for 5 years and have not had one out! Simply because the mechanics do not work! Instruction overlay is still wrong! Since MLB 14. Allow the user to creep towards the bag and then input the corresponding button's to trigger the pitcher to throw to you. Currently the animation just loops!

• No foot work or step animations exist. Either you over or under run the ball! (Tried Sliders to Fix this! Not too mention that sometimes the game gets confused and sends your controlled player into a full sprint in the wrong direction :/ Adding something like NBA 2k true motion step would be huge in how a (user) controls the player on the field.

• If anything move the dive button back to R2 trigger! Not a clue as to why R1 replaced this outside of ShowTime! Your hand naturally rest on the PS4's L2 and R2 triggers! Instruction overlay is still wrong!



Adding faceplates to batter helmets in 18 will look cool but *Will not fix this glaring problem of manual or user controlled defense!

Get the fundamentals right first!

"The Future Of Baseball" Defense needs to be addressed both manually and from a AI perspective for this statement to hold it's weight!

[decga]

Re: Improving Manual Fielding

Yeah it needs to improved. I am playing with the Braves. The modern Gold glove SS Andrelton "simba" Simmons cannot dive to his 2 to 3 inches to get a between 3rd and Short. That's a problem! The higher rated defenders should have a sense of urgency to the ball than the mediocre defender infielder or outfielder.

[hoosierbengal]

Re: Improving Manual Fielding

What drives me insane is when you dive and the ball goes right over your wrist or forearm. Happens all the time. In real life when you dive your arm isn't always fully extended. It gets really frustrating. I enjoy controlling the defenders myself. It Is more gratifying to me when you do make a diving stop.