MLB 09: The Show - Impressions

[Nittany]

Re: MLB 09: The Show - Impressions

I am loving this game.

The only thing I would love to see next year is....the catchers taking their masks off to catch fly balls. I know its a very minor detail....but seeing them throw the masks next year would be awesome.

[Skyboxer]

Re: MLB 09: The Show - Impressions

I don't think its unfair to call the game MLB 08.5. It just depends on what you consider a huge upgrade or not. I think '09 is better in many ways but I also think virtually every sports game is ___.5 the next year because of the one year dev cycles. Very few sports games can truly claim to be a big upgrade from one year to the next. It's just a matter of opinion.

I know what you're saying man and personally I hate the whole rating system. I would have given 08 an 8 or 8.5. Now this year the gameplay is smooth as butter, the lighting is unbelievable,40 man rosters,arbitration, improved RTTS mode etc.. makes the game at least a 1 point improvement.
Are there areas that can be improved? Of course but grading it on what we have now vs other games and vs 08 its at least a 9 in my book.

Just my personal opinion yes but as a huge baseball fan this game is worth gold to me.
I think people are just used to the fluff EA puts out each year and aren't used to improvements on this scale.
Again that's just another opinion of mine and bottom line each gamer has to decide for themselves and the only certain thing I would hope people can agree on is that SCEA has done a great job with the series and has worked very hard getting us a game that delivers.

[rudyjuly2]

Re: MLB 09: The Show - Impressions

I am definitely having more fun with '09 than '08. The sheer fact that I can pull a fastball and have more patience at the plate due to the reduced pitch speed and increased bat speed has made this game much better for me. I was way too frustrated with '08 due to that and probably played that version the least of any Show game since '06.

I'm awful close to starting a season soon. Will Knight hurry it up with those roster fixes already!

[Skyboxer]

Re: MLB 09: The Show - Impressions

I am definitely having more fun with '09 than '08. The sheer fact that I can pull a fastball and have more patience at the plate due to the reduced pitch speed and increased bat speed has made this game much better for me. I was way too frustrated with '08 due to that and probably played that version the least of any Show game since '06.

I'm awful close to starting a season soon. Will Knight hurry it up with those roster fixes already!

Right there with you. Last year I was late as all get out on almost everything. Now this year I've had to totally readjust as I've been pulling everything. Just have to re-learn. I still have trouble with the low pitches BUT I'm finally going to take suggestions of using offset camera when batting and see if that helps.
The game is pure joy to play and like you I am soooo ready to start and will probably do so by Saturday if I have free time in between court and family stuff.

[Money99]

Re: MLB 09: The Show - Impressions

The one thing I'm hating about The Show 09 is the variable strike zones.
I always, always get the short end of the stick from the CPU.
Check out this screen shot I took last night:

http://img522.imageshack.us/my.php?image=theshowscrewjobk.jpg

Guess how many strikes that accounted for?
ZERO. That's right, all 3 of those pitches were counted as balls.

And this happens every AB for me. If I have to hear "Where did that miss?" or "Oooookay" one more time, I'm going to throw this game out the window.
Meanwhile, if the CPU sniffs the zone, I get rung up.

I know, I know. Turn the variable strike zone off. And I'm going to. It just sucks that this was implemented so poorly. At least for me.

[Pared]

Re: MLB 09: The Show - Impressions

I honestly would hope they don't touch it.

That's baseball. There is no finite strike zone box hanging over the plate. I honestly feel this game captures it well... and it can be even BETTER.

[Money99]

Re: MLB 09: The Show - Impressions

I honestly would hope they don't touch it.

That's baseball. There is no finite strike zone box hanging over the plate. I honestly feel this game captures it well... and it can be even BETTER.

I agree. But when the CPU is constantly hosing you every AB, then there is definitely room to improve this feature.

Just look at that screenshot. I'm not exaggerating when I say I get hosed that bad nearly ever AB. Honestly. There are too many times where 7/10 of the cursor is in the paint and the CPU gets a ball called in their favor. It's infuriating.
Once in a while, I can see, but nearly every at bat???

[Pared]

Re: MLB 09: The Show - Impressions

I know, but that's the beauty of it. Baseball players feel the same way. I also have experiences where the CPU has been hosed. It goes both ways.

Personally, I would just chalk that up to a bad night/game/whatever. But that's what a video game should be all about.... at least IMO...

[Money99]

Re: MLB 09: The Show - Impressions

I know, but that's the beauty of it. Baseball players feel the same way. I also have experiences where the CPU has been hosed. It goes both ways.

Personally, I would just chalk that up to a bad night/game/whatever. But that's what a video game should be all about.... at least IMO...

I understand what you're saying. And I haven't gotten that much time with the game yet. But in the 5 games I have played, this happens on nearly every AB.
I don't remember being this frustrated with 07 or 08.
Anyway, I just wanted to point it out to the developers. I'll be turning the variable off from now on. It's not worth getting this aggravated over a dumb video game.

[Skyboxer]

Re: MLB 09: The Show - Impressions

I know, but that's the beauty of it. Baseball players feel the same way. I also have experiences where the CPU has been hosed. It goes both ways.

Personally, I would just chalk that up to a bad night/game/whatever. But that's what a video game should be all about.... at least IMO...

Totally agree. I love how it is. And I also have seen plenty of CPU batters get questionable calls vs them.

[Pared]

Re: MLB 09: The Show - Impressions

I understand what you're saying. And I haven't gotten that much time with the game yet. But in the 5 games I have played, this happens on nearly every AB.
I don't remember being this frustrated with 07 or 08.
Anyway, I just wanted to point it out to the developers. I'll be turning the variable off from now on. It's not worth getting this aggravated over a dumb video game.

I can understand your frustration and that's why it's always a good thing when you have options.

Isn't there a slider for umpire variance? If there is, that might be something you can look into adjusting to your likes/wants/needs.

[rudyjuly2]

Re: MLB 09: The Show - Impressions

Isn't there a slider for umpire variance? If there is, that might be something you can look into adjusting to your likes/wants/needs.

There used to be but I think they removed it.

[Pared]

Re: MLB 09: The Show - Impressions

Ah... probably didn't work then. Thanks for clar, rudy.

[GTheorenHobbes]

Re: MLB 09: The Show - Impressions

There used to be but I think they removed it.

I LOVE the variable strike zones. For the record, though, you can turn 'em off in the settings.

[johnnyg83]

Re: MLB 09: The Show - Impressions

I love the variable strike zone ... makes it more authentic to me.

And since I do guess pitch and if I get location but not the pitch right and it's early in count and on the border .... I can let it go and hope the ump calls it a ball.