MLB 09: The Show - Impressions

[Thadeus]

Re: MLB 09: The Show - Impressions

Sorry if I came across that way. I was getting very frustrated at my lack of hitting, but things are improving. Bkrich, disregard my last comment. Friends?

[jim416]

Re: MLB 09: The Show - Impressions

Thadeus,

Go down to VET and put the hitting sliders for you all the way to the right. I just use swing only and I'm doing fine. Whatever way you play I'm tellin' ya the sliders will help you. Take a relief pitcher from the CPU and start him against you and see if you see a difference.

It's a complete new learn from last year, but hang with it man. I played on HOF last year and this year I'm comfortable so far on VET, will probably wind up playing on AS by the time I start my own season.

Don't worry about the level you play on. Play on a level you're comfortable with.

[bkrich83]

Re: MLB 09: The Show - Impressions

Bk, that's very amusing coming from the biggest Show fan boy on the planet. Not once have I bashed the Show. I simply pointed out a few things that are bugging me. No reason to take criticism of the Show personally, you had nothing to with the development of the game.

Only person that took anything personally was you. Must have hit close to home I guess. Enjoy 2k9.

[ODogg]

Re: MLB 09: The Show - Impressions

Only person that took anything personally was you. Must have hit close to home I guess. Enjoy 2k9.

2k series is laughable compared to this game!!

[countryboy]

Re: MLB 09: The Show - Impressions

Sorry if I came across that way. I was getting very frustrated at my lack of hitting, but things are improving. Bkrich, disregard my last comment. Friends?

as simple as it may sound, and though it may sound like a jerkish thing to say, go into the batting practice mode. I was swinging early at everything and my timing was way off. I went into the batting practice mode, swung at roughly 300 various pitches and have gotten much better in my timing and recognizing pitches.

As crazy as it may sound, it does work.

[slthree]

Re: MLB 09: The Show - Impressions

There is no doubt this game has issues. CPU doesn't swing at enought balls, hitting can be very difficult, even on low difficulty settings, sliders don't work as well as I thought they would, WAY to many singles. It's a good game, but for people to say it's perfect is absolutely ridiculous.

Thad, if you set up the hitters properly, you will induce them to swing at balls, and that includes the great hitters. First pitch strikes (but not grooved) is the best way to start.

It will take a long time to really determine if/how sliders work. Keep in mind that the SCEA team has commented on sliders numerous times. They keep warning us that we will not see extreme changes. They are more subtle. Personally, I wish they were a little more pronounced in effect but we'll have to wait and see.

As far as hitting goes: I have not personally experienced "too many singles", at least not like last year. I am seeing great variety. BTW, I have the "solid hits" slider set to zero for both me and CPU.

Besides that, you have to think rationally. In most all MLB games, the predominant hit is the single. If you are seeing 1-2 doubles, an occasional triple, and a HR here and there, you are having a "realistic" experience.

However, if you are not seeing extra base hits at all, try doing what many are doing, lower fielder speed to zero.

As far as the difficulty your having hitting, join the crowd; we all are having difficulty and LOVE it. My 1st ten games or so I was swinging at everything and I was pissed that Chipper and McCann were not getting HR's.

Then, I reminded myself that I don't have to swing at everything and I don't have to swing at every strike. I started working the count, being willing to let the cpu pitcher have a strike or two, all the while waiting for the pitch I wanted in the zone I wanted.

Result, I'm hitting much better.

You are right that the game isn't perfect but I don't think a lot of people are calling it that.

Give it time brotha.

[pbz06]

Re: MLB 09: The Show - Impressions

The hitting is definately hard, i'm embarassed to say but I actually dropped it down to Rookie just to get a better feel for it. On Veteran I have been getting dominated at the plate. The CPU just pounds it in the strike zone, and taking pitches meant a constant 0-1, 0-2, or 1-2 count.

On Rookie right now, I've been getting a good balance and mixed results. I've had games of 2-1, and 8-6. I've had games where I hit a couple homeruns, and my last game I had to scrap a 2-1 win with the Yanks over Baltimore (Guthrie was dominating me). Yes, even Rookie is a nice challenge right now, lol.

I'm going to spend some more time in the batting cages, but even THAT has been hard for me!!!! The pitcher in BP tries to fool me, haha. So I can't even get solid hits to judge my timing because he's chipping away at the corners and throwing me consecutive balls way outside the zone.

[Jeffrey99]

Re: MLB 09: The Show - Impressions

Am I the only one seeing alot of passed balls by the catcher? IT seems there are normally 2-3 each game I'm playing. Seems like most of them happen to me, not sure if that's my catcher rating or what. But each slider, sinker, curve that's barely below the strike zone ends up at the backstop.

As for the hitting, I realize the batting cage is there for a reason but this is a video game. I'm not getting paid to play. So I don't really care to spend hours in a virtual batting cage. The only thing that bugs me about hitting is that one minute it could be wheelhouse/perfect timing and it's a hit or home run and next minute it's the exact same thing and it's a pop up. To me it just seems like it's more random on what will be a hit and what won't, then dependent on position of ball/timing.

Then again, maybe it's just the fact that I suck at the game. Seeing as I've played probably 15 games, avg 4 hits per game and have lost all 15.

[jim416]

Re: MLB 09: The Show - Impressions

Am I the only one seeing alot of passed balls by the catcher? IT seems there are normally 2-3 each game I'm playing. Seems like most of them happen to me, not sure if that's my catcher rating or what. But each slider, sinker, curve that's barely below the strike zone ends up at the backstop.

As for the hitting, I realize the batting cage is there for a reason but this is a video game. I'm not getting paid to play. So I don't really care to spend hours in a virtual batting cage. The only thing that bugs me about hitting is that one minute it could be wheelhouse/perfect timing and it's a hit or home run and next minute it's the exact same thing and it's a pop up. To me it just seems like it's more random on what will be a hit and what won't, then dependent on position of ball/timing.

Then again, maybe it's just the fact that I suck at the game. Seeing as I've played probably 15 games, avg 4 hits per game and have lost all 15.

CATCHER PASSED BALLLS.

Which view are you pitching from? If your pitching from batter view change to pitcher view and you'll probably find out that your breaking balls are going into the dirt. Breaks are a lot more pronounced this year than last. Use the pitch ball marker for awhile . This marker shows where the pitch is going to BREAK, not where it's going to wind up.

[Jeffrey99]

Re: MLB 09: The Show - Impressions

CATCHER PASSED BALLLS.

Which view are you pitching from? If your pitching from batter view change to pitcher view and you'll probably find out that your breaking balls are going into the dirt. Breaks are a lot more pronounced this year than last. Use the pitch ball marker for awhile . This marker shows where the pitch is going to BREAK, not where it's going to wind up.

I pitch from behind pitcher. And yeah I know they are going into the dirt, I guess I don't understand why my catcher can't block anything? It seems to me that if you barely miss on the meter pitching, when throwing a curve,slider,sinker, it ends up behind the catcher. I could understand it if I really missed the meter mark, for example way late or way early. So it ends up seeming like a curveball is either middle of the zone or in the dirt.

[B_rad13]

Re: MLB 09: The Show - Impressions

Well I had my first blow out today 11-8 with the Marlins over the Phils. I was really lucky because I was up 11-1 and I kept guessing the right pitches and it was working out real well with 4homers but I almost blew it and I still find it hard to hit on veteran.

[metal134]

Re: MLB 09: The Show - Impressions

Am I the only one seeing alot of passed balls by the catcher? IT seems there are normally 2-3 each game I'm playing. Seems like most of them happen to me, not sure if that's my catcher rating or what. But each slider, sinker, curve that's barely below the strike zone ends up at the backstop.

As for the hitting, I realize the batting cage is there for a reason but this is a video game. I'm not getting paid to play. So I don't really care to spend hours in a virtual batting cage. The only thing that bugs me about hitting is that one minute it could be wheelhouse/perfect timing and it's a hit or home run and next minute it's the exact same thing and it's a pop up. To me it just seems like it's more random on what will be a hit and what won't, then dependent on position of ball/timing.

Then again, maybe it's just the fact that I suck at the game. Seeing as I've played probably 15 games, avg 4 hits per game and have lost all 15.

I've only seen a few passed balls, but I have seen quite a few that were in the dirt but blocked.

[Skyboxer]

Re: MLB 09: The Show - Impressions

Let it go Sky. That clown has had a hard on for MLB since before it came out, yet defends 2k9 to the death.. Blind brand loyalty strikes again.

It's the internet, it is what it is. Everyone that I know, and see who I know and trust as gamers, no what's what with this game.

Yep you're right. I'll be just looking past those types of posts in the future...

[jim416]

Re: MLB 09: The Show - Impressions

I pitch from behind pitcher. And yeah I know they are going into the dirt, I guess I don't understand why my catcher can't block anything? It seems to me that if you barely miss on the meter pitching, when throwing a curve,slider,sinker, it ends up behind the catcher. I could understand it if I really missed the meter mark, for example way late or way early. So it ends up seeming like a curveball is either middle of the zone or in the dirt.

Oh, I don't use meter. Just try CLASSIC with all aids off except the ball marker. The ball marker shows where the ball will break, not where it will end up.

[Scottdau]

Re: MLB 09: The Show - Impressions

I LOVE LEGEND LEVEL!