MLB 19: Where is the info?

[jdl24]

Re: MLB 19: Where is the info?

Any idea if/when a beta will be released?


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[Mercury112491]

Re: MLB 19: Where is the info?

Any idea if/when a beta will be released?


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There was no beta last year and I doubt they’re planning one this year. Just the Alpha which last year was mainly to test their servers so they didn’t crash at launch for the 3rd year in a row. I’m guessing this years Alpha was for similar reasons.


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[WaitTilNextYear]

Re: MLB 19: Where is the info?

I'm not talking about a text based release only. My opinion wasn't an either or, it was an "and" position. Release the fact sheet and have the stream also. There is no need to hide facts or features it you give caveats.

But releasing a fact sheet and then proceeding with their streams wouldn't make any sense. People would hardly tune into the streams if they already knew what was in the box this year. This streaming thing allows them a carefully manicured release of info on their timetable and for their purposes (to boost pre-orders most of all). It also allows them to hide/minimize anything that might discourage customers from reaching into their wallets--we saw them use this to maximum effect last cycle with just flat forgetting to mention season mode was gone. Giving too much info too early undercuts their own marketing strategy save for the enticements of the small giveaways they do while streaming. Let's not forget that part of the attraction of streaming is to make you feel as if you know the devs and that they're cool guys and if they're having fun with the game then you should buy it. A fact sheet doesn't convey that same 'word of mouth' or that same buzz. This is part of the reason that YouTubing has become an actual thing, much to the bewilderment of olds like me.

[Impetuous65]

Re: MLB 19: Where is the info?

But releasing a fact sheet and then proceeding with their streams wouldn't make any sense. People would hardly tune into the streams if they already knew what was in the box this year. This streaming thing allows them a carefully manicured release of info on their timetable and for their purposes (to boost pre-orders most of all). It also allows them to hide/minimize anything that might discourage customers from reaching into their wallets--we saw them use this to maximum effect last cycle with just flat forgetting to mention season mode was gone. Giving too much info too early undercuts their own marketing strategy save for the enticements of the small giveaways they do while streaming. Let's not forget that part of the attraction of streaming is to make you feel as if you know the devs and that they're cool guys and if they're having fun with the game then you should buy it. A fact sheet doesn't convey that same 'word of mouth' or that same buzz. This is part of the reason that YouTubing has become an actual thing, much to the bewilderment of olds like me.

I don't buy that argument, simply because it's antiquated and has no empirical data to state as much. Fact is they tell you what the stream will be about and people still tune in. And having a fact sheet with features will not change that, people still want to know how said feature works and now with the fact sheet available they can ask educated questions. You are now debating against yourself.

[coach422001]

Re: MLB 19: Where is the info?

But releasing a fact sheet and then proceeding with their streams wouldn't make any sense. People would hardly tune into the streams if they already knew what was in the box this year. This streaming thing allows them a carefully manicured release of info on their timetable and for their purposes (to boost pre-orders most of all). It also allows them to hide/minimize anything that might discourage customers from reaching into their wallets--we saw them use this to maximum effect last cycle with just flat forgetting to mention season mode was gone. Giving too much info too early undercuts their own marketing strategy save for the enticements of the small giveaways they do while streaming. Let's not forget that part of the attraction of streaming is to make you feel as if you know the devs and that they're cool guys and if they're having fun with the game then you should buy it. A fact sheet doesn't convey that same 'word of mouth' or that same buzz. This is part of the reason that YouTubing has become an actual thing, much to the bewilderment of olds like me.

For me, not knowing anything about the game until the streams came out turned me off to considering buying the game. Bottom line it is baseball...and I already have their baseball game from last year, so why should I buy your new game? Not gonna tell me, not going to buy. I waited until I saw things here, biased view points or not, took into consideration how I like to play and the opinion of a few people here that I respect, and decided not to purchase. They didn't update a few things I was hoping for (playoff eligibility, for example) and didn't provide any enticement for me to watch their streams not providing some facts on features that I could then try to check out on their streams to see how it worked and if it was worth the purchase.

Interesting viewpoint that they can 'hide' things (i.e., control the message) but they want to be seen as 'cool guys'. That sounds like the used car salesmen of my youth. There are already people buying with pre-orders; there are those who will buy in the first few days regardless, there are threads already discussing when are we going to get information so I can see exactly what I'm going to get no matter how good, bad or ugly the game is, and right around delivery time it gets more frenzied. I don't think providing a statement of features (bullet points or short descriptions) is going to deter this crowd from watching the streams. In fact, it may provide information that leads to these questions for people to ask during the streams to get clarity or see something that was mentioned. If their goal though is to just have everyone watch streams and drink the kool-aid, they won't ever be 'cool guys' for me. Again, this is just my opinion on this marketing tactic.

[Jeffrey Smith]

Re: MLB 19: Where is the info?

I don’t mind the streams but last year felt like they were pimping DD every stream. Every week a new player reveal and how he could impact your DD team.
By the third stream I was like “enough already I get it!!!”


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[bigwill33]

Re: MLB 19: Where is the info?

I turn off the streams when they get to the DD stuff.

There’s also something off putting about watching them play each other. The majority of their runs come via homeruns. And the fast pace they play at where they never show the player’s home run trot or anything is as exciting as watching a foul ball.

I can’t wait for all of the Ultimate Team crap in sports games to die out. It’s not happening anytime soon, but the bubble will burst, eventually. Either that or games will just become 100% ultimate team/DD centric. That’s probably more likely. :/

[bcruise]

Re: MLB 19: Where is the info?

There was no beta last year and I doubt they’re planning one this year. Just the Alpha which last year was mainly to test their servers so they didn’t crash at launch for the 3rd year in a row. I’m guessing this years Alpha was for similar reasons.


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Yeah, it's pretty unlikely that there's going to be an open beta. Millennium tweeted out that he's in SD with some of the other Sony Partners to preview the game, and you can probably consider that the "beta".

That said, I doubt we're going to hear much of anything about the game until the streams start because it's unlikely they'll be able to talk about what they saw.

[Bobhead]

Re: MLB 19: Where is the info?

I heard the game was cancelled. Something about spending the money on a "Friends" video game instead.

[WaitTilNextYear]

Re: MLB 19: Where is the info?

I don't buy that argument, simply because it's antiquated and has no empirical data to state as much. Fact is they tell you what the stream will be about and people still tune in. And having a fact sheet with features will not change that, people still want to know how said feature works and now with the fact sheet available they can ask educated questions. You are now debating against yourself.

1. My argument is antiquated? Thesaurus gone wrong here? I don't get it how I've made an antique argument.

2. What empirical data do you need? What data would you expect? You think Sony is going to divulge their internal marketing plans and sales figures so we can settle this?

3. Telling you generally what the stream is about and laying out, in detail, everything that will be added/changed/altered are not the same thing.

4. I am now debating against myself? Huh? Another point where I'm just not even sure where you're getting things from.

The bottom line for me is if they thought putting out a fact sheet was in their best interests, they would. That they don't do that anymore tells me they think there are better ways to go about it.

[WaitTilNextYear]

Re: MLB 19: Where is the info?

Spoiler

For me, not knowing anything about the game until the streams came out turned me off to considering buying the game. Bottom line it is baseball...and I already have their baseball game from last year, so why should I buy your new game? Not gonna tell me, not going to buy. I waited until I saw things here, biased view points or not, took into consideration how I like to play and the opinion of a few people here that I respect, and decided not to purchase. They didn't update a few things I was hoping for (playoff eligibility, for example) and didn't provide any enticement for me to watch their streams not providing some facts on features that I could then try to check out on their streams to see how it worked and if it was worth the purchase.

Interesting viewpoint that they can 'hide' things (i.e., control the message) but they want to be seen as 'cool guys'. That sounds like the used car salesmen of my youth. There are already people buying with pre-orders; there are those who will buy in the first few days regardless, there are threads already discussing when are we going to get information so I can see exactly what I'm going to get no matter how good, bad or ugly the game is, and right around delivery time it gets more frenzied. I don't think providing a statement of features (bullet points or short descriptions) is going to deter this crowd from watching the streams. In fact, it may provide information that leads to these questions for people to ask during the streams to get clarity or see something that was mentioned. If their goal though is to just have everyone watch streams and drink the kool-aid, they won't ever be 'cool guys' for me. Again, this is just my opinion on this marketing tactic.

I'm with you. I want to know exactly what I'm purchasing before I buy it and won't ever pre-order for that reason. I would also prefer a fact sheet or text list of all the pertinent details. But, as we are both aware that's not how they prefer to do things anymore. We can debate why we think that is, but the simple fact is they used to do fact sheets and they don't anymore. They didn't used to stream and now they do that exclusively.

[Dolphins88]

Re: MLB 19: Where is the info?

Ya if nothing great is done to offline gameplay, animations and presentation I’m waiting till it’s 19.99.

[tessl]

Re: MLB 19: Where is the info?

Ya if nothing great is done to offline gameplay, animations and presentation I’m waiting till it’s 19.99.

Interesting. I play exclusively manage mode and I love mlbts 18. It's the best baseball game I've ever played and I've played them since micro league baseball.

[Caulfield]

Re: MLB 19: Where is the info?

I heard the game was cancelled. Something about spending the money on a "Friends" video game instead.

maybe it could be a Friends/baseball hybrid where you play as Ross and you have to keep your wife from switching teams. but I'd rather have a Seinfeld/baseball game where you play as George in a Be-The-Traveling-Secretary mode

[Culture Rot]

Re: MLB 19: Where is the info?

Same time every year.