The Disturbing Trend I've Noticed About MLB: The Show

[Caulfield]

Re: The Disturbing Trend I've Noticed About MLB: The Show

Always a man of reason and.......never mind.

I hope 19 is more like real baseball and whoever scores first is assured a win.

[bcruise]

Re: The Disturbing Trend I've Noticed About MLB: The Show

I hope 19 is more like real baseball and whoever scores first is assured a win.

After watching that run of 8 (9?) come from behind wins by the Cubs (I mean, their ONLY wins on that stretch were comebacks), I still had to chuckle a bit at the sarcasm.

[bcruise]

Re: The Disturbing Trend I've Noticed About MLB: The Show

And, if it does falsly generate them when it doesn't need to, what would be the motivation of devs to take the time and effort to program this to happen?

We don't get a chance very often to have a rational discussion about this, so I just want to get my thoughts on this in before it inevitably goes downhill:

The quoted part is my biggest hangup with the theory, personally - the "why". It seems to me like the only thing such a code/script would accomplish is getting people frustrated at the game. That doesn't strike me as intelligent game design - why would you put in a feature that is all but certain to turn people away from your game? It just doesn't make sense.

And, yes, I know it existed in this series before as an option. For a year. And then removed because, shockingly enough, no one liked it and it created unnecessary drama (i.e. "the option is broken"). If nothing else, the removal of that option should tell you what SDS's stance on this topic is.

[AUTiger1]

Re: The Disturbing Trend I've Noticed About MLB: The Show

Exactly. I'm playing a game right now. 4th inning I'm up 2-0, but my pitcher is struggling with his control and I have to sort of groove some pitches to get his breaking balls over the plate.

Walk, single and Votto takes a high fastball and deposits it in the right field stands. Yikes. Was that the comeback code? I do a mound visit, get a ground out, walk a batter (I use generated pitch count), Shebler deposits a 1-2 fastball into the LF stands. Is THAT an accumulation of the comeback code?

When does this click in? I knew my pitcher was struggling with his control, but it was too early for me to make a bullpen move (it isn't now, lol), but there wasn't anything mysterious about this. It was GREAT. I may even lose this game, or do I run off to the OPTIONS menu and start messing with the sliders, etc? Hell, I might comeback, if it allows me (facetious).

I'm glad I embrace the game, glad I don't do a bunch of theory stuff every time something comes up that leads to a defeat. I even find myself thinking comeback code (chuckling to myself) when I'm leading and I load the bases with nobody out, then get a rare pitcher/catcher/first double play and then a pop out to snuff out the rally.

Great game.

I don't mind losing. That's actually part of the fun that makes it realistic. One of the best games I've ever pitched was a game I lost. Jimmy Nelson against the Padres. I had 12 strikeouts but lost 3-2 because in the 8th inning I hung a slider to Chase Headley who put it in the seats.


The game I just finished up playing, I won 7-4, but all 4 runs scored on a 2-out grand slam by Suarez after I had 2 outs in the inning and nobody on. I gave up an opposite field double down the LF line to Ezequiel Carrera. The ball landed right on the chalk. Well, next up was Joey Votto. Gotta be careful here. So I pitch around him to get to Duvall who I've got a better chance at getting out. But all of sudden Sean Newcomb is having trouble throwing strikes and Duvall ends up walking. Mound visit and against my better judgement I go first pitch fastball and miss my spot and Suarez crushes to dead center for the slam. That's just me screwing up. Has nothing to do with a comeback code.

[KnightTemplar]

Re: The Disturbing Trend I've Noticed About MLB: The Show

We don't get a chance very often to have a rational discussion about this, so I just want to get my thoughts on this in before it inevitably goes downhill:

The quoted part is my biggest hangup with the theory, personally - the "why". It seems to me like the only thing such a code/script would accomplish is getting people frustrated at the game. That doesn't strike me as intelligent game design - why would you put in a feature that is all but certain to turn people away from your game? It just doesn't make sense.

Not only WHY, but HOW. How would it manifest itself? It’s unstoppable? I never have heard a comeback code yet when it’s the user. I bet they jump for joy if they put across 7 runs against the CPU. I just ended the game I was talking about aforementioned. Ended in a 6-2 loss. It was frustrating as i hit into FIVE rally killing doubleplays. Frustratingly GOOD. And I didn’t touch a single slider.

[Gosens6]

Re: The Disturbing Trend I've Noticed About MLB: The Show

Man, I really don't get all the "hitting is broken" comments. I just played a game yesterday in my Angels franchise where I had 18 hits, 7 homeruns and I beat the Royals 16-8.

The Royals themselves had 4 HRs. Some games I absolutely mash, some games I can't hit a beach ball. I mean, it's baseball. You get hot streaks, you get cold streaks. Sometimes you have it and sometimes you don't.

From my POV, some of you guys are tinkering and adjusting sliders TOO much. I know guys who change sliders after EVERY game because they had 1 or 2 at bats that they thought were good timing and didn't hit a HR or a screaming line drive.

I play on default sliders and get all kinds of different results. It's baseball. These things happen.

[countryboy]

Re: The Disturbing Trend I've Noticed About MLB: The Show

Man, I really don't get all the "hitting is broken" comments. I just played a game yesterday in my Angels franchise where I had 18 hits, 7 homeruns and I beat the Royals 16-8.

The Royals themselves had 4 HRs. Some games I absolutely mash, some games I can't hit a beach ball. I mean, it's baseball. You get hot streaks, you get cold streaks. Sometimes you have it and sometimes you don't.

From my POV, some of you guys are tinkering and adjusting sliders TOO much. I know guys who change sliders after EVERY game because they had 1 or 2 at bats that they thought were good timing and didn't hit a HR or a screaming line drive.

I play on default sliders and get all kinds of different results. It's baseball. These things happen.

Same here. I play Default sliders, always have and always will. I think the minute you mess with sliders, then you are playing the game to see that your sliders are giving you your preferred outcome/results, instead of playing the game.

[Armor and Sword]

Re: The Disturbing Trend I've Noticed About MLB: The Show

Same here. I play Default sliders, always have and always will. I think the minute you mess with sliders, then you are playing the game to see that your sliders are giving you your preferred outcome/results, instead of playing the game.

I have to disagree. Look at my slider set.....it is practically default. Why? Because it is that good out of the box. But I was able to find some key settings that enhanced my personal experience and get the game playing the way “I” wanted it.

I am implore people not to tinker and tinker and tinker. I try to take that out of the equation for most by doing that for 2-3 solid weeks testing my style of play which some people also like to try and emulate or simply play like. My style and approach is not for everyone by any means.

Sliders are good if used properly and taken in stride. And The Shows sliders are actually the best in the business because they work really really well and don’t need much adjusting to the extremes because of how well balanced the game is tuned.

My personal opinion is people can get crazy with sliders because they can’t face what level they should be playing at and how bad or good they really are at the game. You get the "it’s too hard" or it’s too easy" comments all the freaking time. Understanding your skill level is the key to a great gaming experience. And that goes for all genres of games.

But sliders are not the culprit of gamers frustrations. It’s their skill level or lack of awareness of what it really should be.

In fact when it comes to hitting...pitch speed and camera angle is the real key (and fielder speed and reaction IMO for the ultimate in hit variety and fiedler ratings playing out). My hitting sliders have minimal tweaks for the human side and that is simply based on my skill level at HOF and the tweaks I made make it a great spot for me. I am actually looking at moving up to Legend potentially for my next franchise but want to use another team on my HOF settings for a good 50-60 games to see if I need to (I am tearing the cover off the ball with my Yankees but the lineup is amazing),

Bottom line is....sliders help and enhance if you really understand what level you should be playing on. I think that get’s so lost on sports gamers today.

The Show is a great game and it demands great skill to be successful like IRL to hit a baseball and to understand the rhythm of pitching and calling a game (changing speeds, eye levels, working inside and outside, when to concede a walk, when to challenge a hitter).

Also what controls scheme you use (classic, meter, pulse, directional, zone, analog) plays a huge role in your results. So many variables to get in tune with your style before you even look at adjusting a few sliders to tweak and tune it to “you”.

I don’t believe in the one size fits all with The Show. And the reason is because of how good the sliders work on this game. Takes me literally a few weeks to get a great feel for my settings because of the responsiveness.

Best in the business.

[countryboy]

Re: The Disturbing Trend I've Noticed About MLB: The Show

I have to disagree. Look at my slider set.....it is practically default. Why? Because it is that good out of the box. But I was able to find some key settings that enhanced my personal experience and get the game playing the way “I” wanted it.

I am implore people not to tinker and tinker and tinker. I try to take that out of the equation for most by doing that for 2-3 solid weeks testing my style of play which some people also like to try and emulate or simply play like. My style and approach is not for everyone by any means.

Sliders are good if used properly and taken in stride. And The Shows sliders are actually the best in the business because they work really really well and don’t need much adjusting to the extremes because of how well balanced the game is tuned.

My personal opinion is people can get crazy with sliders because they can’t face what level they should be playing at and how bad or good they really are at the game. You get the "it’s too hard" or it’s too easy" comments all the freaking time. Understanding your skill level is the key to a great gaming experience. And that goes for all genres of games.

But sliders are not the culprit of gamers frustrations. It’s their skill level or lack of awareness of what it really should be.

In fact when it comes to hitting...pitch speed and camera angle is the real key (and fielder speed and reaction IMO for the ultimate in hit variety and fiedler ratings playing out). My hitting sliders have minimal tweaks for the human side and that is simply based on my skill level at HOF and the tweaks I made make it a great spot for me. I am actually looking at moving up to Legend potentially for my next franchise but want to use another team on my HOF settings for a good 50-60 games to see if I need to (I am tearing the cover off the ball with my Yankees but the lineup is amazing),

Bottom line is....sliders help and enhance if you really understand what level you should be playing on. I think that get’s so lost on sports gamers today.

The Show is a great game and it demands great skill to be successful like IRL to hit a baseball and to understand the rhythm of pitching and calling a game (changing speeds, eye levels, working inside and outside, when to concede a walk, when to challenge a hitter).

Also what controls scheme you use (classic, meter, pulse, directional, zone, analog) plays a huge role in your results. So many variables to get in tune with your style before you even look at adjusting a few sliders to tweak and tune it to “you”.

I don’t believe in the one size fits all with The Show. And the reason is because of how good the sliders work on this game. Takes me literally a few weeks to get a great feel for my settings because of the responsiveness.

Best in the business.

I wasn't trying to imply that anyone who messes with sliders is "wrong" or anything of the sort. I was just providing my opinion on sliders and why I don't mess with them.

Whether you play at default or play with your own personalized sliders, so long as you're finding enjoyment with the game, then neither play style is wrong. It's all about the game playing "right" for you.

[NolanRyansSnowmonkey]

Re: The Disturbing Trend I've Noticed About MLB: The Show

Yes, it all depends on what people are looking to get out of the game. The "right" way to play the game is the one that makes you happiest. Some people can pop the game in and play All Star default, go 150-12 every season and be happy. Nothing wrong with that.

Others prefer realistic outcomes and realistic gameplay, but can live without the smaller statistical details. I think default sliders can do that, depending on the users skill level, and the difficulty level they play on.

Others want something but don't know what it is. They think they know what it should look like in one or two (or more) games though, and these are the ones constantly adjusting sliders. They dont realize this is a never-ending effort. There IS no end to this, because baseball is a notorious liar in the short term. Because of this, they will always be slider chasing, (and probably complaining) and never be happy with the game.

Others, like myself, prefer a balance of realistic gameplay and realistic statistics in every category. I want strike percentages to match up with strikeouts and walks. I want hit type percentages and per game totals to match up with MLB. I want the outcome of games to play out correctly because the game plays right on the smallest detail level possible. And usually, i find once the game meets all of those small details, the gameplay falls right in line. And finally, i also want those numbers to make sense for the team and player attributes i am playing with.

This perfect balance is not possible at all without adjusting sliders.

I also dont think this statistical detail is possible without zone hitting, and (for me) Legend difficulty. The game would be fun otherwise, yes. But i would miss out on the statistics side. I've tried it. It is at least not for me. So thats why i personally adjust sliders. I am either looking for something different than most people, or i just have the patience to work on it.

It does take a bit of time tweaking and testing at first, before i start my franchises, but once i find the sweet spot there is NO greater satisfaction than for me to play out my franchise and see those numbers meld perfectly with MLB. Gameplay is absolutely amazing, yes, but THIS is what amazes me the most about MLB the Show. The ability to get great statistics, not only in a few main categories, but in most of the smallest details across the board. This is why i play the Show. It is basically the game i dreamed of while playing Diamond Mind and Strat-O-Matic growing up.

There may or may not be another tweak or two at some point along the way, but long-term "feel" and numbers will tell me exactly where, and it will be a very small adjustment, if any.

What is truly even more amazing about the Show, is the fact that is so versatile that it can make ALL of these different playstyle preferences happy (well, except for the day-to-day slider chasers).

[KBLover]

Re: The Disturbing Trend I've Noticed About MLB: The Show

Not only WHY, but HOW. How would it manifest itself? It’s unstoppable? I never have heard a comeback code yet when it’s the user. I bet they jump for joy if they put across 7 runs against the CPU. I just ended the game I was talking about aforementioned. Ended in a 6-2 loss. It was frustrating as i hit into FIVE rally killing doubleplays. Frustratingly GOOD. And I didn’t touch a single slider.

Reminds me of the game where I drew 10 walks and hit 5 doubles (on 6 hits) and scored just 2 runs and lost 4-2.

Yes, I still remember that game. It still pisses me off.

Then I lose last night 6-4 partly because of base running errors and partly because Joey Gallo decided to be all "three true outcomes" on me and hit 2 HR but K 3-times, including to end the game when the tying runs on base.

I can't be mad at him though. We walked 9 times and the rest of the lineup drove in ONE run (Gallo's 2 HR drove in 3 of the 4 runs).

[KnightTemplar]

Re: The Disturbing Trend I've Noticed About MLB: The Show

What is truly even more amazing about the Show, is the fact that is so versatile that it can make ALL of these different playstyle preferences happy (well, except for the day-to-day slider chasers).

They have given us a game with so many options. If you can't find your happy place (and that includes a good thrashing by the CPU at times) then the game just isn't for you. Even the players attributes can be upped, if you so wish. It's all there.

I realize some gamers are just too good. Never understood how you could get through Far Cry 5 in 7 hours when I played it for months before finishing it (but that's the way it is). Some just can't master the game at all. But those two are extremes. If so, just got to live with it and move on (frustrating as it may be).

[underdog13]

Re: The Disturbing Trend I've Noticed About MLB: The Show

so SDS had the resources to keep the comeback code in 18 but couldnt find the wherewithal to put season mode in? NOW I am ******. at least now I can quit blaming the DD guys for season mode removal and place blame where it properly belongs: the comeback code.

You changed avatars and you got me lol

Sent from my SM-G965U using Tapatalk

[KBLover]

Re: The Disturbing Trend I've Noticed About MLB: The Show

But I was able to find some key settings that enhanced my personal experience and get the game playing the way “I” wanted it.

Exactly. I'm...not near default, but this exactly why. I'm trying to get things out of the game it probably wasn't oriented around (fangraphs and Statcast data) out of the box.

I am implore people not to tinker and tinker and tinker. I try to take that out of the equation for most by doing that for 2-3 solid weeks testing my style of play which some people also like to try and emulate or simply play like.

Agreed. I don't often fully "lock-in" (my skill may change after playing for 3 months, I might learn something new, etc) but I play at least 10 games across my franchises before looking at the data collected to consider changes and any change would be tiny (I hate tiny changes - I'm of the "double it or cut it in half to get a meaningful change in behavior" school of tweaking - so tiny changes tend not to happen without a LOT of data because...what I think "tiny change" will do is probably just random variance until proven otherwise).

...Understanding your skill level is the key to a great gaming experience. And that goes for all genres of games....

In fact when it comes to hitting...pitch speed and camera angle is the real key (and fielder speed and reaction IMO for the ultimate in hit variety and fiedler ratings playing out).

So true on all counts.

Get the camera views you like and customized to your eye FIRST.

Get the fielders to behave how you want SECOND. Speed, reaction, arms, errors (both E's and errors in judgement and yes, they can and do happen to CPU fielders).

The first will make sure the game "gets out of the way" of how you physically and visually see and interface with the game.

Everything will be skewed if you're playing on views you're uncomfortable with or are impractical for how you play/see the game (and I mean "see" literally).

The second will help you see your hits and how they are happening and help align your batted ball results to what you want to see.

This will combine to give a better view of how hitting is going if/when you want to tinker.

[Vanilla_Gorilla]

Re: The Disturbing Trend I've Noticed About MLB: The Show

I've gotten the most fun and simultaneously realistic gameplay playing on veteran with my sliders.

However, I do have to tweak them every now and then to find the right balance.

Manual fielding is atrocious right now so I have to tweak the sliders to where my 2 nearly Gold Glove winning outfielders don't look like morons trying to catch a baseball (bugs galore with some line drives that my guys will refuse to even put their gloves up to catch even though they're in perfect position to do it)

I have to tweak batting sliders every now and then to prevent the "Okay" contact cheese on a perfectly squared up ball.

Sliders are somewhat meant to mask some of the weaknesses of the game whether it's atrocious fielding or an inconsistent hitting system.

(Oh P.S. I've given up watching the Feedback replay. It has a lot of bugs. It's not at all consistent with replay sometimes. My pitcher hit a pretty well hit line drive to center field that was clearly good contact, but feedback showed he was well under it with 'Okay' contact. They need to revamp that feedback replay, instead of showing player vision, just show where the bat is, or both player vision and bat location. More accurate results that way.)