MLB 09: The Show - Impressions

[ojperez_22]

Re: MLB 09: The Show - Impressions

I really want to like this game, but I cant for the life of me hit the damn ball. The camera view is a little too high and every single pitch looks like a strike. There is no possible way to tell if it is high or low. Yes, I know this is real baseball, but its not fun if you can never hit the dang ball. Even watching youtube videos and such, everyone just swings three times and hopefully hits the ball one of those three times. I also dont understand why they cant have a pitcher cam online. That adds so much when you can use that view against another person.

[ShowTyme15]

Re: MLB 09: The Show - Impressions

I really want to like this game, but I cant for the life of me hit the damn ball. The camera view is a little too high and every single pitch looks like a strike. There is no possible way to tell if it is high or low. Yes, I know this is real baseball, but its not fun if you can never hit the dang ball. Even watching youtube videos and such, everyone just swings three times and hopefully hits the ball one of those three times. I also dont understand why they cant have a pitcher cam online. That adds so much when you can use that view against another person.

is there a pitch speed slider? if so turn that down a little bit the pitch speed might be a little too fast.

[Yanks22]

Re: MLB 09: The Show - Impressions

I really want to like this game, but I cant for the life of me hit the damn ball. The camera view is a little too high and every single pitch looks like a strike. There is no possible way to tell if it is high or low. Yes, I know this is real baseball, but its not fun if you can never hit the dang ball. Even watching youtube videos and such, everyone just swings three times and hopefully hits the ball one of those three times. I also dont understand why they cant have a pitcher cam online. That adds so much when you can use that view against another person.

try the batting cage my friend. hitting is really not that hard just takes a little practice and patience. like real baseball gotta have a good eye and wait for those right pitches in the perfect spots

[Bodizzy]

Re: MLB 09: The Show - Impressions

Beautiful, beautiful game. Not perfect, but full of nuance and a love for baseball. Jumped into franchise with the Giants and lost my first three games, all three pitcher duels. It's going to be fun sitting back, tweaking sliders, and layin' the wood.

[cmc2of3]

Re: MLB 09: The Show - Impressions

This is probably a little silly considering 1000+ posts already... but here I go anyway.

I look at things from almost a pure RTTS perspective, and to that end it seems like this was rushed out the door a little.

Things that used to work are now broken including:

1. The arrow for pre play positioning is often missing -- not every time, but it was never missing in the past.
2. On some hits to the outfield, my SS freezes if he misses the ball until it is thrown. No control.
3. There was a play where I hit a single with a runner on first. The lead runner attempted 3rd. I guess the program knew he would be out because i was not allowed to move past first -- baserunning controls did not allow me to attempt 2nd behind the runner -- but the out at 3rd wasn't the 3rd out and I was stuck on 1st.

The new baserunning controls (as covered by another thread) need a little help. I personally don't like having to hold the left stick to keep the runner in motion. I'm not that coordinated anymore. So couple that with the fact that when perspective changes and the controls suddenly reverse, you can find yourself in no man's land when you just didn't hold the control solidly enough (i.e. you suddenly start retreating toward the previous base).

The little red circle around the ball needs to have an option to turn it off. Breaks the beauty that was added with the lighting by making it look artificial again.

So far, I've had no framerate issues with running at 1080p. Good Job here.

I like the 'draft' system where you just get assigned to a team. Nice touch. But shouldn't there be a small stipend while you're playing in spring training games? People without contracts still get paid for those I thought. A very minor nit to be sure.

When the baserunning controls do work, I *do* like the new pickoff/steal duels with the pitcher. And the fact it is now fluid after getting back after a pick attempt to stand back up and get a leadoff makes it feel much more natural. Very well done.

The new scoring for hits based on number of attempts sure looks like it will slow down progression a bit and force you to stay in the minors longer. Don't know if that was the intent, but I think it will work well to make the final arrival at 'the show' mean more.

Looking forward to making a pitcher as well to try some of those mechanics.

If there is another community event next year, I'd love to see someone with a greater RTTS focus being part of the team. I would bet some of these items would have been fixed if that were to have occurred. Not saying the team this year didn't do a wonderful job for their focus areas, just hoping for a little more breadth.

[LiLjaco1]

Re: MLB 09: The Show - Impressions

so.....VERY VERY VERY FUNNY THING! to tell u how amazing this game is...well all i can tell u is that i suck @ hitting the ball...im trying really hard im a lil impatient on low pitches...and cole hamels made me pay for it...HE NO HIT ME!!! ....butttt...I WON THE GAME!!! 1-0 in the first i reached on an error by rollins...the ball just kind of rolled up his arm...i stole 2nd...bunted reyes over w/castillo...and hit a sac fly w/david wright... hahah! ne ways...i was pitching w/garcia...had a shutout through 6 got into quite a few jams..got out of it..i actually didnt manage the bullpen all that well and i left K rod in for 2 innings for the savE! and i love that camera when he comes into the game in a save situation...i had the COOLEST error in the world...it was a double play attempt..castillo flipped it to jose BEHIND THE BACK but it just sailed over his head...reyes jumped but he couldnt get it..when i saw that i was blown away! loving this game...im trying to work on the hitting..ne tips welcome..oh and i think there were 3 total errors in the game and i clicked the errors slider one to the right..i think the game is more fun w/ a few errors...oh and as far is hamels and the no no is concerned the announcers really make it a big deal and keep u imformed throught the innings...talking about it and giving u cool stats n stuff...LOVE THE SHOw!!!

[rudyjuly2]

Re: MLB 09: The Show - Impressions

I played two long games last night and have noticed some small differences between the demo and the retail version. Overall I will say I will like '09 much more than '08 since the pitch speed is a little slower and the bat speed a lot quicker. It allows me to have a better eye, pull fastballs and not get too frustrated with the game.

The frame rate is a lot smoother in the retail version as is the pitching cursor which doesn't jump around like the demo. The lighting is great. I played with the Tigers @ home against Cleveland and then @ Boston in AT & T park. I also used my slider set from the demo.

The stances for the Tigers are great. I can really see they put some good work into them. Hitting seems easier on All-Star than in the demo where I struggled. I batted around against Cliff Lee in the first inning and put 6 runs on the board. I hit 3 HRs en route to a 14-5 victory. I saw Paws dancing on the dugout which was nice. Also, the crowd at the end of the game was almost non-existent as they left due to the blowout. Pretty cool.

After I toned down the hitting sliders, I got smoked by Boston 11-1 in my next game. I started Edwin Jackson just to see how he would be and there is a definite difference between good and bad pitchers this year. Last year they felt far too similar. I gave up 3 runs in the first and then had a terrible 7 run 4th inning.

Base runners seem faster and more aggressive on the base paths this year. I like this. I still think outfielders get to balls too quickly and will be playing with fielder speed at 0. Infield reactions seem much slower than '08 and slower than the demo as well. I saw quite a few balls get past infielders that I never saw before. Not sure if I just have to adjust or if fielder reaction may actually need to go up this year. Fielding errors are still too infrequent. I'm playing with the slider maxed out and it seems good there but on default I think you won't find enough. There may be too many throwing errors on default.

I liked the control of the pitchers. It felt good but the stamina of the relievers in the Show has always been far too high imo. Much like the past, I will reduce stamina to 0 for them. I didn't notice a lot of new commentary. There is some but also stuff you've heard quite frequently in the past. They had two different umpire crews in my game from the demo.

I LOVE the highlight show at the end of the game. I wish we could save that video! I wanted to create a couple chants but the game won't recognize my headset as a microphone! I'm upset as I was told by people here at OS that a headset was all I needed. The headset is registered with the PS3 so I don't think that's the issue. Any help on that?

Overall this is a great game with hardly any flaws that can't be fixed with sliders. I do hope they add new camera angles and real time presentation that 2K9 has. I really liked that part of their game.

[Cubfan]

Re: MLB 09: The Show - Impressions

Just finished my first 2 games of MLB 09 The Show. First Cubs (me) vs Mets on Allstar at Citi Field. Let me just say the work done on the shadows is just awesome thing to see. It was Ryan Dempster vs Johan Santana. It was a pitching duel until the 7th when Ryan game up a couple of doubles and the Mets would go on to win 4-0.

Second game Cubs (me) vs the Padres at Wrigley Field. Moved down to Vetren. Night game and wow the transision from late day to night was just a beautiful thing to see. Zambrano vs Pevey. Cubs jump on top 2-0 in the second inning with a RBI single by Soriano to score Arron Miles. Padres tie it up in 4th inning that started out witha Headly double Rodriguez double to right and Headly scores. 5th inning Cubs go quickly. Padres start out with Giles single. Giles advances to 2nd on a pass ball. Kouzmanoff struck out a slider. Giles on a flyout from Headley. Hundley doubled to right and Giles scores.

7th inning Soto homers. 8th Ramirez hits a 2 run hommer to tie up the game at 5. Bottom the of the 10 Theriot singles then is out a 2nd on a force out. Lee safe at first. Ramirez doubles to center and Lee scores the winning run.

Padres 5/14/2
Cubs 6/12/0
Homeruns: Padres: 0 Cubs: 3 Ramirez, Soto, Fukudome.

[cheechoo98]

Re: MLB 09: The Show - Impressions

Hitting is hard for me too, this year.

I don't wanna mess with the contact and timing sliders, because then it will screw me when i hop online, giving me a false sense of hitting prowess!

Not just me it seems, either. 3 out of the 4 online games I've played, were all like, 1-0, 2-1, and all the runs were solo HR's.

More time in BP, for sure....

[cheechoo98]

Re: MLB 09: The Show - Impressions

Gottta love the fact that Cito Gaston ( manager, Blue Jays ) is in the game!

Cito! Cito!

[PhantomPain]

Re: MLB 09: The Show - Impressions

The very first thing I noticed outside of the graphics, were the break on the pitches. WOW! The guys that went to the community day event made mention of this, and boy were they right. It is a thing of beauty he break and movement on these pitches.

[B_rad13]

Re: MLB 09: The Show - Impressions

I have played three game so far, first one Marlins against the Mets at Citi field and I lost 2-1 in 14 innings. The second game I played I beat the Braves 6-4 with the Malins again, Maybin went 3-for-4 and Lindstrom threw 100mph. The third game I played really late and never finished the Rays and Red Sox game but the sox were killing me 5-0 before I went to sleep.

[Nittany]

Re: MLB 09: The Show - Impressions

I only got one game in last night. Fired up exhibition Sox at Yanks (me)..day time. Graphics are unreal. All star level...no slider adjustments.

Game was so similiar to a real Yanks/Sox game. Beckett controlled me for most of the game (7 Ks). I finally scratched a run in the bottom of the 7th...made it 2-1. CC came out in the 8th...brought in the lefty reliever to face Drew...boom....HR.

Papelbon wiped me out in the 9th...lost 3-1. Best part of the game was 6-6 in hits...and only 1 HR. Pedoria was a beast though...3-4 with 2 DBs.

I don't ever remember having 6 hits a piece last year. Usually the hit totals were in double digits for both teams. Have to keep an eye on this....

Loving the game so far....can't wait to get into a full season and RTTS.

Nit

[Skyboxer]

Re: MLB 09: The Show - Impressions

Loaded up a franchise last night just to get a feel for it. Legend mode with pitch speed lowered.
1st game at the Orioles and after 1 it was 3-0 O's. Ouch.
It stayed that way until the 3rd when Posada, Matsui and Tiexeira each hit solo shots in the inning to tie the game up. Woot! but now I'm thinking maybe I need to check out user hit sliders.. Turns out though that while I did good that inning nothing else whent well the rest of the game at the plate.

It goes to the 8th tied at 3. The O's brought in a reliever as did I for the 8th. We don't score and then in the bottom of the 8th Bruney get's hammered and I have to make another switch and as the 8th ended we are down 5-3.
We fail to score in the 9th and lose 5-3.

I pitch with no strike zone and no cursor (Classic) and CC pitched 7 innings with 5 walks and 0 K's. Bruney got the only K for the Yanks in the 8th. In between getting slapped around.

So with some more practice pitching I think I'll be fine with getting K's. I love the fact I threw a total for the game of 7 walks and I managed 2 walks batting.

I had 1 double down the line that I can remember.

1 thing also is it is very true that ratings do matter as I made some stupid decisions on the base paths whereas last year they wouldn't have been. (Runners speed vs fielders abilities/arm)

Great experience so far and by the time I have rosters I want to start with I should be all set to have a great time.

[jpup]

Re: MLB 09: The Show - Impressions

This game seems very, very buggy this year. It feels the same as last year with some decent improvements, but I haven't been amazed like in years past. I'm a little disappointed.

-roster update doesn't work.
-roster vault doesn't work for me.
-custom walkup music for RttS player doesn't work or I can't get it to.
-lots of slowdown in exhibition against the CPU
-it seems kind of complicated to add players to rosters.
-why are there legends in the FA pool?

I think this is the best baseball franchise ever, but 2 days of playing has left me a little upset.