MLB 09 The Show Demo Available, Post Impressions Here

[joejccva71]

Re: MLB 09 The Show Demo Available, Post Impressions Here

- Throwing errors and wild pitches still happen too often. Two routine throws back-to-back were thrown away by my IFs. For offline, sliders should fix this. However, for online, it seems like I'll have to close my eyes on every throw across the diamond and hope for the best again.

- Audio popping/cracking at random times, probably just an issue with the demo I would think.

Throwing errors and wild pitches are a part of the game because even if you KNOW you hit the pitching meter perfect, depending on the situation, energy, etc., the pitch may still be wild. That adds to the realism that a pitcher may be under the gun, tired, wind, runners on base, and especially ...worried about someone stealing bases.

Alot of factors go into it. I think it's great that wild pitches get thrown sometimes.

I haven't heard any audio problems but I'll listen to see if mine does it.

[bengtc]

Re: MLB 09 The Show Demo Available, Post Impressions Here

I am also noticing some things from last year that bothered me.
1. The base runners are too fast, ryan howard consistently beats out double play balls that are hit fairly hard to the third basemen.
2. The infield players still don't have a sense of urgency, when rollins hits a grounder to 2nd the 2nd basemen takes his time in throwin to first and rollins almost beats it out. Another example is I bunted with Cole Hammels and he bunted it inbetween the pitcher and third basemen and both players jogged to ball and kazmir picked it up and just did a slow turn and threw to first, no sense of urgency at all and Hammels beat out the bunt.

[cowboype2000]

Re: MLB 09 The Show Demo Available, Post Impressions Here

Throwing errors and wild pitches are a part of the game because even if you KNOW you hit the pitching meter perfect, depending on the situation, energy, etc., the pitch may still be wild. That adds to the realism that a pitcher may be under the gun, tired, wind, runners on base, and especially ...worried about someone stealing bases.

Alot of factors go into it. I think it's great that wild pitches get thrown sometimes.

I haven't heard any audio problems but I'll listen to see if mine does it.

I was judging by the amount of CPU wild pitches, definitely a few too many. And I've been hit by pitches too often as well. I'm playing on Legend difficulty if that makes a difference.

[joejccva71]

Re: MLB 09 The Show Demo Available, Post Impressions Here

I was judging by the amount of CPU wild pitches, definitely a few too many. And I've been hit by pitches too often as well. I'm playing on Legend difficulty if that makes a difference.

Ahh gotcha. Yea I've had only a few cpu wild pitches, but haven't really noticed an issue with it. I play on Legend too, but I'm still new to the The Show series of games myself.

[cowboype2000]

Re: MLB 09 The Show Demo Available, Post Impressions Here

Ahh gotcha. Yea I've had only a few cpu wild pitches, but haven't really noticed an issue with it. I play on Legend too, but I'm still new to the The Show series of games myself.

There has not been an iteration of the MLB series where you could, by design, throw breaking balls in the dirt for a swinging strike without a high probability of the pitch getting past the catcher; seems to be the same in '09 as well. In real life pitchers throw breaking balls in the dirt. It has been much improved in '09 because this year the catcher actually cushions the ball; in '08, a ball in the dirt would hit off the catcher like he was a brick wall.

[the_riot]

Re: MLB 09 The Show Demo Available, Post Impressions Here

well i just played the most realistic 4 innings of video game baseball in my life. I am on Legend and honestly with sliders default I was still having a problem with hitting being a little bit too easy. Note that I said a little bit too easy.

Well I moved contact all the way to the left and everything felt much more realistic to me. I didn't even touch other hitting sliders yet so that is awesome. Here's the box score.

Rays 0 2 0
Phillies 1 3 0

I pitched great with Hamels too. I wasn't able to get the CPU to K that much before but that wasn't the case in this game. I was really concentrating on hitting the meter release point perfectly. Here is Cole Hamels (the player of the game) line.

4.0 IP 2 HITS 0 R 0 ER 1 BB 5 K

I hit a HR with Werth that I timed perfectly. It was a mistake by Kazmir that caught too much of the plate. It went 407ft to dead center into the bushes/trees whatever they are lol.

The only thing I would like to add as I feel it right now and it's not really a big deal but I think it would be nice is to have the option to when turning HR celebrations off to completely go off because on the HR I hit with Werth in the corner of my eye I saw him in the basepath window slowly jogging. It's certainly not that big of a deal but it does take away from the excitement of the HR. I would like to hit it and really not be sure if it's out or not and see the centerfielder go back and keep going back and when I see he gets to the wall then I know it might go out and then watch the CF look up over the wall as it clears the fence. Something about the long ball to me is very special and I love the suspence of the last 2 or 3 seconds before it clears the wall. Just thought I'd add that while its fresh in my head.

I would also like to add that one thing that's very realistic about the hitting is how the HR's are hit on mistakes by the CPU. Fat pitches that catch too much of the plate. I'm not hitting HR's on 2 seamers that are low and away on the corner. That is a very tough pitch to do much with and I think this game captures that very well. I think I hit 3 HR's overall and all of them were on mistake pitches that caught too much of the plate. Very realistic.

Okay, now I'm pumped. If Davewins is impressed, it has to be good. Hopefully the ai can hold its own as a roster manager, and I'll be playing this game for a very long time.

[Rod_Carew29]

@ messygravy94

from DAY ONE of The Show '08, doubles down the line, in the gaps and ground rule doubles were ALWAYS in effect. Some of you guys are killing me with this "you can now have...."

Really? Were some of you all even PLAYING the game? And if you were, you sould know (if you've been with OS), that there are a few guys who make just about every damn thing possible with their slider sets.

just played a few games of the demo. its GREAT to see they have fixed the fielding as you can now hit doubles down the line. its also possible to hit the ball past the outfielders. to me, this was the biggest issue last year. the game looks and plays great!!! hit variety is amazing. hitting seems more challenging this year which is a good thing. i dont think we will see as many double digit hit games which is also great, and realistic. pitching is perfect in my opinion. they just tweaked it enough to make it a little more challenging. presentation is awesome as usual. scea fixed the things i thought needed fixing (fielding especially). great job scea!!!! and this is only the demo!!!

[Rod_Carew29]

Re: runners too fast @ bengtc

In my first game I played, Phils catcher Ruiz got about the bases a little too fast for me on his triple to right center. But, this is only the demo....barerunning speed/aggr, or some form thereof should be easily adjustable

I am also noticing some things from last year that bothered me.
1. The base runners are too fast, ryan howard consistently beats out double play balls that are hit fairly hard to the third basemen.
2. The infield players still don't have a sense of urgency, when rollins hits a grounder to 2nd the 2nd basemen takes his time in throwin to first and rollins almost beats it out. Another example is I bunted with Cole Hammels and he bunted it inbetween the pitcher and third basemen and both players jogged to ball and kazmir picked it up and just did a slow turn and threw to first, no sense of urgency at all and Hammels beat out the bunt.

[johnnyg83]

Re: @ messygravy94

from DAY ONE of The Show '08, doubles down the line, in the gaps and ground rule doubles were ALWAYS in effect. Some of you guys are killing me with this "you can now have....".

I think he's talking about ground balls past 3b and 1b and I agree with him ... last year those balls would die before they got to the corner and the OFer would hold you to a single ....

[Rod_Carew29]

Re: OK, I FINALLY Downloaded The Demo and Here's What I Think:

In my top of the first, on Iwamura struck out, but I wound up striking out 7 times in the 4 innings.

After I had maxed out the wind settingd, Rollins hit a ball slightly to the right of center, I swear, at first, for that split second, I didnt see it. Then i figured out why.

a) the shadows

b) the wind increased from 12mph to 24mph and the ball on replay looked like it knuckled on me...therefore travelling over Upton's head.

The stances:

DEFINITELY Longoria, Pena and Navarro's stances are WRONG. I know this is a demo, so there's a chance they've been reworked, if not, I'll be doing what I did and still do for The Show, matching them up correctly, the best way possible.

I lost 2-0, the linescore:

Rays 0-1-0

Phil 2-4-0

I waited until about 4AM EST this morning to do it, I noticed right away the percentage download bar moved a lot faster than when I tried to do it about 7PM EST on Friday night.

I'm in the top of the 1st, and I'll add to my observations as I go, but so far, I'll say the following:
I'm on Veteran

NO pitching meters
MANUAL fielding
hitting from catcher view
will be pitching from the outfield
fielding camera angle is set to high--as how I play on '08.

1) Off the bat (no pun intended), the stark contrast in the presentation playing in what I call deep late afternoon shadows...that was something to see

2) even more 'wow' was trying to hit the friggin' ball in that mode...love it

3) it took my until Upton's AB to find where the options, sliders and audio/video setups were. And no, I did not touch the sliders LOL

4) I did set the other things in the options like I currently have them set in The Show '08.

5) Hamel's pitching arsenal is missing one---he DOES throw a straight change...which I watched him talk about on mlb.com
But no problem...as long as we can still add, delete or change a pitchers' arsenal, I'll be a happy guy.

6) oh, by the way, Upton's AB (I'm playing as the Rays) ended with a deep fly ball to Ibanez off of the circle change. Honestly I was out in front and really didn't see it that well...LOL


...to be continued

[gbx34]

Re: MLB 09 The Show Demo Available, Post Impressions Here

2. My biggest complaint.. there isnt much control when it comes to fielding.

Yea, it feels like the same as the previous years. Also when fielding a fly ball your fielder still gets sucked in and you lose most of the control.

[Rod_Carew29]

@ johnnyg83

maybe he his, but honestly, those hits were in the game definitely. In addition to have the player reaction slider adjusted (for infield and outfield), folks gotta realize that if you get the 'right' pitch and hit the ball 'where it's pitched', you'll be rewarded. If I charted the doubles I'm still hitting, you'd be in shock.

Most of us know that out of the box, the speed and fielding aggressiveness of the CPU was too fast. There was no doubt about it.

I think he's talking about ground balls past 3b and 1b and I agree with him ... last year those balls would die before they got to the corner and the OFer would hold you to a single ....

[Shakedowncapo]

Re: @ johnnyg83

Ok, now I see what Pared meant about BSG overdoing some stances. Guys like Chase and Werth are fine and look pretty awesome but while the motion of Jimmy's bat is perfect, it is WAY too fast. Shane is the same way but his stance is more true to his style. The way Jimmy lifts his foot waiting is PERFECT but that bat speed needs to come down considerably.

Can that happen Chris?

Jimmy - Too fast
Werth - Perfect
Chase - Bat needs to come down lower but great job with front leg and the way he holds the bat.
Ryan - Pefect(was in the game last year)
Raul - Fine
Vic - Perfectly fine(love the high leg kick)
Pedro - Same as last year...Fine with me.
Ruiz - Great bat motion, its perfect...but like Jimmy's its way to fast.

Just some observations but man does it make batting with these guys so much more fun!

[Rod_Carew29]

@ Shakedowncapo

I noticed the same thing

Ok, now I see what Pared meant about BSG overdoing some stances. Guys like Chase and Werth are fine and look pretty awesome but while the motion of Jimmy's bat is perfect, it is WAY too fast. Shane is the same way but his stance is more true to his style. The way Jimmy lifts his foot waiting is PERFECT but that bat speed needs to come down considerably.

Can that happen Chris?

[Darth Dorn]

Re: @ Shakedowncapo

The one thing that irks me still is a fielder running to the ball, and the ball going right through them. Happened to me twice was Iwamura. One was a grounder that went under Iwamura, who just continued running. Second was a line drive right through him. Didn't even try to catch it.