Four Keys to Success for MLB '11: The Show

[Bumble14]

Either you're misunderstanding what Eski is saying.......I'm misunderstanding what you are saying above...... you don't know what's in the manual.....or...what's in the manual is not in the game......but it states that using the left analog stick will be your swing direction in the zone...and the right analog stick will (up) influence a fly ball.....(down) influence a ground ball......(right) influence a ball to 1B....(left) influence a ball to 3B.(in any mode)

Is any of this correct?

M.K.
Knight165

Knight-

I was saying that MLB10 does not include a left stick influence like MVP. You are correct, MLB10 does include a right stick influence where you cue up where you want to hit the ball. In MVP you did not cue up the hit direction pre pitch, but rather while you swung the bat with the left stick.

From what I understood, Eski was saying that there is an option in MLB10 that allows for the left stick to control the hit influence. This is not correct.

Hope that clears things up.

[Knight165]

Re: Four Keys to Success for MLB '11: The Show

Knight-

I was saying that MLB10 does not include a left stick influence like MVP. You are correct, MLB10 does include a right stick influence where you cue up where you want to hit the ball. In MVP you did not cue up the hit direction pre pitch, but rather while you swung the bat with the left stick.

From what I understood, Eski was saying that there is an option in MLB10 that allows for the left stick to control the hit influence. This is not correct.

Hope that clears things up.

Gotcha'.
I thought you were saying it wasn't in at all...(either that or I was thinking I was misunderstanding either you or Eski...turns out I was anyway...just not in the way I thought)

M.K.
Knight165

[bakan723]

Re: Four Keys to Success for MLB '11: The Show

It's obvious that the weakest part, by ALOT, is the fielding. All the long canned animations makes me feel like i'm not even controlling the player that's highlighted. We need a fully manual fielding system in place already. Or at least an option for it. I understand they want to make the game LOOK good, but playablity is the most important thing in a video game.

[steelcurtain311]

Re: Four Keys to Success for MLB '11: The Show

I loathe the fielding in this game, that's my only real complaint. So many times a ball is hit down the line or in the hole and your guy is right there but he lets it go through. It doesn't matter how good a fielder he is either, it always happens. It normally happens with two outs, therefore I do 'guard lines' most times I got two outs. You get the same crap in the outfield with how balls are hit to you, while the AI runs the bases and your fielder fields the ground ball justtttttt perfectly enough for the AI to slide in safe at second or third or home.

The sliding/tags are horrendous too. Fielding needs a big overhaul.

Other than that, I would just like to see better representation from the batting stances/pitching deliveries. So many are so way off. Been three years and Longoria still doesn't have his stance, despite being a top offensive player in the game. That one drives me nuts.

[snugglyirishman]

To go along with the sliding issue I would love for them to get rid of the analog base running....far too often in RTTS my player will be running to second and not slide but then decide to go for 3rd and when I hit back on the analog stick he just stops running and is tagged out...or if I hit a gapper and try for a triple he'll come around 1st and slow down to a stop and then start up again and only make it into 2nd....there has to be a better baserunning system

[HustlinOwl]

Re: Four Keys to Success for MLB '11: The Show

classic ftw

[Wolfwithin]

Re: Four Keys to Success for MLB '11: The Show

I would like to see a smoother base running. I stop short all the time on classic because the game decides on this play my guy is not going to try for the triple when that is all he needs for a cycle with the ball in the deepest part of the field and has not been fielded yet when I reach second. I always seem to stop turn all the way around and then head to third to miss it in a slide. I just wish if I want to go all out and keep the button pressed down then I go all out. I would rather risk it and be aggressive more than what I am allowed to do now.

The hitting can use some small tweaks most for me would be the camera but other then that I am fine with what is here. Also a better RTTS goals and training system would be great. I should not get punished for a hit and run if the ball is way out of the zone and swinging would be stupid. Or the double penalty for not being able to steal a base. Also randomized stats when you start so you have a chance at being a stud instead of a guy that is just picked for filler like it feels like sometimes. I know some guys spend years in the minors with little movement but others spend a month or two and are in the majors. I would just like the chance.

[steelcurtain311]

Re: Four Keys to Success for MLB '11: The Show

The hitting has come contact issues, but I find its difficulty a welcome change of pace, really. I still remember the days of MVP where you could hit 100 HR's a season easily with your best power hitters, while batting over .400, and then having another 50 HR's a piece from the rest of your team. The stats I end up with by the end of the season in the Show are ultimately realistic. So despite how frustrating it is to make good contact sometimes, I enjoy it enough. I mainly just don't like when your player is "cold". As it takes the control out of your hands, really. Even when you're lined up to make good contact, you'll still see infield popups because of it.

Baserunning, mainly stealing, needs tweaked. They still have that problem where your baserunner can get a GREAT jump, yet he'll slow down on his way to second, seemingly wanting to get thrown out. I hate that. Even with the slider all the way up, it still happens constantly. As do the pickoffs. You can't even defend against the pickups half the time.

I know they've constantly denied that there's a "comeback code" or whatever it was referred to, but the amount of two out hits and errors (only they're not counted as errors) is still ridiculous in this year's version of the game. I was hoping that would have been fixed. The majority of the AI's hits and my infielders errors and my pitcher losing command all happens with two outs. This happens more often than not, despite it not happening at all sometimes. I can't be alone in hoping this becomes more balanced by next year's game. While I love a competitive AI, I hate the way the AI "cheats" you in some ways in these situations. I'll have times where I throw a breaking ball two feet outside yet it's ripped down the line for a pull double. Then the next batter comes up and he's conveniently hit by a pitch that I'm not aiming anywhere near him. Then I throw a breaking pitch down and it goes past my catcher so they can take third/second. Then the batter drives a perfect shot up the middle no matter where I place the pitch or what I throw or who it is at the plate. Just seems like it's scripted for the AI to come back in a lot of games, no matter how hard you play them. I remember the countless amount of threads about this dating back to the Show '08, and the devs denied any such thing was in the game. But after playing it as much as I have for the past three years, I can tell you that the majority of games I lose, or leads that I blow, all happen with two outs and with my pitcher losing total command or effectiveness out of nowhere, random errors that don't make any sense, or the AI suddenly having an offensive explosion where they smash every pitch I throw at them, regardless of where I put it. That's just a simple fact, not saying there's any glitch or anything, it's just how this game has played for me.

I'd like to see it more balanced with two outs.

[cheechoo98]

I agree with all your points except the Batting. I personally like the batting in the MLB series. The R-Stick isn't a nuisance, since you flick it before the pitch, then you can put your thumb over to the face buttons easily enough. PLUS, I like how I can change my mind by flicking the R-Stick multiple times before the pitch.

I understand the feeling of 'randomness' sometimes, but it's probably spot on. An Example: I was batting and wanted to do a hit and run. I had a runner on first and RH Aaron Hill at the plate. I flicked the R-Stick to 5 o'clock position for a grounder to the right side. The runner took off, i swung and it was a HR down the LEFT Field Line! . TOTALLY random, right? BUT what happened was that 1) it was a changeup, so I was early and pulled it.. and 2) I got under the pitch a little, so it was lofted in the air.

The batting is realistic, yet still FUN. In BP, i decided to test out if I could 'inside-out' pitches to the opposite field. You can! I pulled the L-Stick inside and pushed the R-Stick to the opposite field. On a basic BP fastball. So I'm intentionally pulling my PCI / sweeet-spot of the bat 'inside' as if I'm doing it in real-life. That is the most realstic representation of hitting, I've played, and it is still FUN. IMO.

I agree with the sliding for sure. MVP 2005 had 100% user controlled slides to all the clock positions on the R-Stick. It's 'sort of' there on the basebaths, but they seem unresponsive. And at the plate, I don't know why there seems like we have no control there.... I don't know why MLB hasn't implemented it yet.

My only other point would be Pitching. I actually like the pitching in 2K10. It is also a fairly accurate representation of pitching on the mound. R-Stick, pull back then gesture forward in different directions according to the pitch type. It's kind of like how you have to change your execution from throwing a curveball vs a fastball in real-life. PLUS, pitching shouldn't be about hitting a bar on a meter - it should be about your body/arm gesture. With that said, I'm not opposed to a Swing Stick either. An option for it would be the way to go as opposed to changing the system altogether.

Still playing MLB10 and will, for a long time!

[badmrfrosty7]

Plays at the plate please! I'm sick of seeing the same slide and tag animation play out. These plays are supposed to be far more exciting

[Todem]

Re: Four Keys to Success for MLB '11: The Show

Nothing wrong with hitting. It is very realistic. Don't touch this.

The only game mechanics that are off are baserunning and stealing controls and I can't field this game. Too many times it will pick the wrong fielder and that drives me insane.

Autofielding, auto throwing, auto base running.

There are the 3 things that need work. MVP 2005 had those 3 things down pat.

Other than that the game is amazing (2009 player here).

[DiamondbacksLive]

Re: Four Keys to Success for MLB '11: The Show

Situation Mode would be really great. It's when you set up a game in which inning you want, what team, pitcher, batter, the count, and what the score is. This mode will help people create videos of past no-hitters or cycles, accurately.

I just thought of this the other day and it would be really cool if they added this.

[TN - BRAVES FAN]

1) When you're playing online, If someone has a headset on then show a microhphone icon in the lobby beside their name.

2) Do away with the Mic On/off button...You should be able to hear someone as soon as you are at the team selection screen. What happens if maybe I wanna play a headset game, and also want to match up teams with the other guy, As it stands now, I can't do that unless I message them and that takes to long.

3)Put in a weekly baseball tonight show that shows the highlights from around the league.

[decga]

Re: Four Keys to Success for MLB '11: The Show

I most totally agree with having the user on manual sliding control the slide by using the stick.

[swaldo]

Re: Four Keys to Success for MLB '11: The Show

I understand the feeling of 'randomness' sometimes, but it's probably spot on. An Example: I was batting and wanted to do a hit and run. I had a runner on first and RH Aaron Hill at the plate. I flicked the R-Stick to 5 o'clock position for a grounder to the right side. The runner took off, i swung and it was a HR down the LEFT Field Line! . TOTALLY random, right? BUT what happened was that 1) it was a changeup, so I was early and pulled it.. and 2) I got under the pitch a little, so it was lofted in the air..

You're batting is all wrong. First, you cannot aim your right stick in the 5 o'clock position. It's either up/down to influence flyball/grounder, or left/right to influence bunts to the 3rd or 1st base side. There's a typo in 'The Show 10' manual because it states left/right influences balls to first or third. However, look at the description when you change the influence setting on or off - it states it's for bunts only. Also, in 'The Show 09' the manual, settings and in-game controls say it's to be used for bunts. I think they do it this way because it's harder for a user to have total vertical control, whereas horizontal control is easier because it's based on swing timing (except bunts where the influence stick is the only way you can aim.)

You didn't mention where your left stick was aimed but if it was aimed in the middle then I wonder why it ended up a home run? Because since the right stick was down in the 5 o'clock it enabled the grounder influence! Now if you're going to tell me you made a mistake and it was the left stick pointing in the 5 o'clock that's still wrong, because aiming low will influence a flyball. If the pitch is low there's not much you can do and you'll probably hit it on the ground anyway. But if you really want to push a ball on the ground you have to make sure the PCI is on top of it and swing a bit late, so to do this I'd start with the PCI near the middle, not low. In general though, you really don't need to use the influence stick to hit the ball where you want.

The batting is realistic, yet still FUN. In BP, i decided to test out if I could 'inside-out' pitches to the opposite field. You can! I pulled the L-Stick inside and pushed the R-Stick to the opposite field. On a basic BP fastball. So I'm intentionally pulling my PCI / sweeet-spot of the bat 'inside' as if I'm doing it in real-life. That is the most realstic representation of hitting, I've played, and it is still FUN. IMO.

First of all swing influence doesn't work in batting practice. Secondly, as stated above left/right only influences bunts. In this case you probably just swung late and over the pitch.

In the past I've had to break the news to several others they are not doing things right and that's something 'The Show' needs to improve on. At least in MVP you knew where you stood and understood exactly how batting works. I remember telling this one guy that he didn't understand how hot/cold zones worked because they are messed up in the game. He replied that for two years he was pitching to hot zones he thought were cold and vice versa! Funny thing is that he said his teams average ERA was less than 3.50, LOL.

I've played 'The Show' a ton and still am confused about certain things. For example the developer said the game is designed for "Pure Zone" hitting. Are they referring to fixed zones? If so how many zones are in a batters box? Let's say there are 9 zones and my PCI covers only half of the top left zone: do I still make contact if the ball is inside the zone but outside the PCI? Is there a contact penalty for only covering half the zone, or do I get full credit since the PCI is in the zone? If not then I guess they are saying the PCI is actually a moving zone, which other games refer to as "cursor batting." If this is the case then it sure isn't accurate, because many times I'll hit a ball even though my whole PCI was way off.

Also, if I use power swing AND the influence stick (up for flyball) what is going on under the hood? If my swing location and timing is perfect will I turn a home run into a long flyball? Or will I hit a home run even further?