MLB 11 The Show Demo Available Now, Post Your Impressions Here

[Checmate101]

Re: MLB 11 The Show Demo Available Now, Post Your Impressions Here

Oh, I can't stand this ump behind the plate either..dude is super blind

[Drew127]

Re: MLB 11 The Show Demo Available Now, Post Your Impressions Here

This is a very intelligent and articulate analysis of the game. You are spot on on everything. And it's so well written. I wish more people wrote that clearly. Hopefully, the folks at SCEA will take good note. They have done a masterful job with the game over the years, but as this person points out, there's lots of room for improvement. I'm sure the weak areas will be worked on next year. Whether this demo was made in December or Jamuary, all indications are that the finished product come March 8th will please the majority of us.

Thanks for the feedback, I appreciate it! BTW, I see that you are an O's fan...as am I. In fact, a lot of the stuff I mentioned when I was talking about lighting were based on how Camden Yards was lit in MLB 10. Night games were way too dark. After comparing the lighting in AT&T Park between the demo and MLB 10, I have faith that Camden will be much better lit. Last year, you couldn't even make out the brick behind home plate during a night game!

Go O's!

[starwars]

Re: MLB 11 The Show Demo Available Now, Post Your Impressions Here

cant what for the full game.The analog pitching i like it is cool and not to hard to get use to the thing i find the hardist about it is adding and subtracting power. The analog hitting i dont like but i havent tride it a lot but i think i will use zone hitting as i like beable to control the pci and with analog i tend to swing at more bad pitches. I love have all the carmore options has in the past game i stakout to mutch becuase i couldnt tell where the pitches whore going and it made it to hard to drawl walks with the new carmores and custerm carmores that shouldnt be a problem any more. The graphics look about the same as 10 beside the sky and new player models i cant what to see the rain and fog. The analog fielding iam steal triering to figure it out as sometime i still push the buttuns and i fill like it is hard to not over throw. This game add basicly ever than i could have hast for and before playing the demo i thought i wouldnt use analoge controlls but now i thank i will use analog for pitching and fielding but buttuns for hitting. The one thing i hope for is that the computer outfields dont make so many diveing catchies like last year it was one of the most fusterating parts of this great game.

[bellz666]

Re: MLB 11 The Show Demo Available Now, Post Your Impressions Here

For the first time in the last few years, this truly feels like a $60 roster update. Everything about the demo seems so much like prior years. I actually dislike Eric Karros in the "booth" completely. He sounds like hes in a closet, and basically adds nothing as he's predominantly reading Rex's lines.

The analog controls are pretty welcome, although the hitting is virtually impossible for me.

I am going to buy the retail version in the hopes that the demo is simply not polished enough.

[Skyboxer]

Re: MLB 11 The Show Demo Available Now, Post Your Impressions Here

For the first time in the last few years, this truly feels like a $60 roster update. Everything about the demo seems so much like prior years. I actually dislike Eric Karros in the "booth" completely. He sounds like hes in a closet, and basically adds nothing as he's predominantly reading Rex's lines.

The analog controls are pretty welcome, although the hitting is virtually impossible for me.

I am going to buy the retail version in the hopes that the demo is simply not polished enough.

After seeing/hearing all the improvements: (RTTS, Analog controls (which were loudly asked for by the gamers) Lighting, player reactions time, player models, tweaks to trade/franchise logic etc..) you think it feels it's basically a roster update?
To each their own I guess....

[slthree]

Re: MLB 11 The Show Demo Available Now, Post Your Impressions Here

I can't speak for analog controls because I gave up on them. I love classic pitching and zone hitting.

I agree with everyone who feels the game looks better.

I don't like the feel/sound of the ball off the bat. Hit a HR with Beltre and it sounded like a pop out. In last years game, I could tell immediately (most of the time) when I got a hold of one. The sound/feel was that of a home run, not a pop up.

Fielders (mine) move too slowly and react too slowly. Oe example was a passed ball that rolled to the wall and my catcher (Texas) had a super long hesitation then he jogged to the ball, only to hesitate again before picking it up and firing to 2nd (which I commanded him to do a half hour before). It seemed like the game was delaying the catchers reaction to time it with the runner advancing from 1st to 2nd in order to make the play look close. It was strange.

Also, while I like momentum, it seems like it may be overdone just a bit. Its baseball not football. These guys don't carry a lot of equipment and weight in the field. It shouldn't take so long/so many steps for them to right themselves and change direction.

I love that randomness is still a huge part of classic pitching. I missed my spots way too many times and I loved it. Question for Rangers fans: Is Wilson known for NOT being accurate? If so, then the game has pitching down perfectly because I couldn't buy a strike even when I tried.

Some feel the game will be vastly different from the demo, citing the fact that the demo is a december build. I hope thats true but I havent experienced a game being that much different from its demo in my recollection.

The commentary is no better than previous iterations. I miss Rex even though he was a spaz

It does feel like the same game with more camera angles, analog controls, and better lighting. That may not be all bad as I loved last years game anyway.

[soccerluv]

Re: MLB 11 The Show Demo Available Now, Post Your Impressions Here

Day one buy for me.

Didn't like analog anything. But, I can choose the difficulty for timing and timing also has buttons for contact, normal and power. Less strikeouts!!

[magoo1967]

Re: MLB 11 The Show Demo Available Now, Post Your Impressions Here

I just noticed that they have not fixed the dark colors of the pitched ball markers when you review your at bat...the colors (Blue=Fastball, Green=Curveball, Red=Change etc..) are very dark and are nearly indistinguishable from one another. I know this was brought up last year...seems to be a simple fix, especially from one year to the next?

Yeah, in the demo the 'pitch review' colors are pretty much still indistinguishable for me too (same as last year). I tried adjusting every picture setting on my set but to no avail, I still can't tell them apart. What makes this so frustrating is that prior to MLB 10 the colors looked perfectly clear (on the same TV with the same settings - 60" Sony 'TrueHD' XBR2).

I could have sworn that someone who went to this year's CD event confirmed that the pitch review colors had been tweaked and are easier to read this year. Perhaps the adjustment was made after the build that was used for the demo. I truly hope that this is the case, because I use that 'pitch review' feature during every at bat in every game I play, so the indistinguishable colors were a constant source of annoyance for me last year.

Just to be clear, I realize that for whatever reason not everyone is experiencing this problem, so no need for the obligatory "the colors look fine to me" replies (not trying to be snarky, it's just that every time I read or write a post about this, it's always followed by these same responses. If it's not a problem for you, that's great!). The fact remains that obviously this IS a real issue that many players are seeing so something had to have been changed in 2010 that created the problem.

[spitoon]

Re: MLB 11 The Show Demo Available Now, Post Your Impressions Here

Yeah, in the demo the 'pitch review' colors are pretty much still indistinguishable for me too (same as last year). I tried adjusting every picture setting on my set but to no avail, I still can't tell them apart. What makes this so frustrating is that prior to MLB 10 the colors looked perfectly clear (on the same TV with the same settings - 60" Sony 'TrueHD' XBR2).

I could have sworn that someone who went to this year's CD event confirmed that the pitch review colors had been tweaked and are easier to read this year. Perhaps the adjustment was made after the build that was used for the demo. I truly hope that this is the case, because I use that 'pitch review' feature during every at bat in every game I play, so the indistinguishable colors were a constant source of annoyance for me last year.

Just to be clear, I realize that for whatever reason not everyone is experiencing this problem, so no need for the obligatory "the colors look fine to me" replies (not trying to be snarky, it's just that every time I read or write a post about this, it's always followed by these same responses. If it's not a problem for you, that's great!). The fact remains that obviously this IS a real issue that many players are seeing so something had to have been changed in 2010 that created the problem.

I knew it wasn't just me Although, your name is Magoo...wasn't he the cartoon guy that couldn't see anything? LOL

I'm trusting that this is just a remnant from '10 and that it was fixed 'post-demo'...seems like such an easy fix?

I'm loving the game. As much as I didn't think I'd like the analog controls, I'm really liking the fielding and pitching. As it was I sucked at hitting with the button, and it turns out that I super-suck at analog hitting...maybe I should change my screen name to Magoo2?

[snailbiscuit]

Re: MLB 11 The Show Demo Available Now, Post Your Impressions Here

Yeah, in the demo the 'pitch review' colors are pretty much still indistinguishable for me too (same as last year). I tried adjusting every picture setting on my set but to no avail, I still can't tell them apart. What makes this so frustrating is that prior to MLB 10 the colors looked perfectly clear (on the same TV with the same settings - 60" Sony 'TrueHD' XBR2).

I could have sworn that someone who went to this year's CD event confirmed that the pitch review colors had been tweaked and are easier to read this year. Perhaps the adjustment was made after the build that was used for the demo. I truly hope that this is the case, because I use that 'pitch review' feature during every at bat in every game I play, so the indistinguishable colors were a constant source of annoyance for me last year.

Just to be clear, I realize that for whatever reason not everyone is experiencing this problem, so no need for the obligatory "the colors look fine to me" replies (not trying to be snarky, it's just that every time I read or write a post about this, it's always followed by these same responses. If it's not a problem for you, that's great!). The fact remains that obviously this IS a real issue that many players are seeing so something had to have been changed in 2010 that created the problem.

I'm having the same issue with the colors

[legend88]

Re: MLB 11 The Show Demo Available Now, Post Your Impressions Here

One feature that I don't think anyone has mentioned yet, that has drastically improved this year is the PCI. I love how it grows and shrinks depending on your timing. I also love that it gets bigger with contact enabling you to at least get a piece of the ball when down 0-2,1-2. It really creates for even better pitcher/batter duels. I always found pitch counts to be a tad low and now with contact swing, pitch counts seem more realistic. I also love how much the PCI shrinks when using power swing. For some batters I have seen it shrink to the size of the ball. Most of the time when you use it, you will miss the ball, which is totally realistic. You really have to have the timing down perfect to rip a ball with the power swing and it makes it that much more rewarding when you do get a hold of one. A simple adjustment to the PCI, has made such a huge difference in the game and has added even more to the realism.

[PsychoBulk]

Re: MLB 11 The Show Demo Available Now, Post Your Impressions Here

Yeah, in the demo the 'pitch review' colors are pretty much still indistinguishable for me too (same as last year). I tried adjusting every picture setting on my set but to no avail, I still can't tell them apart. What makes this so frustrating is that prior to MLB 10 the colors looked perfectly clear (on the same TV with the same settings - 60" Sony 'TrueHD' XBR2).

I could have sworn that someone who went to this year's CD event confirmed that the pitch review colors had been tweaked and are easier to read this year. Perhaps the adjustment was made after the build that was used for the demo. I truly hope that this is the case, because I use that 'pitch review' feature during every at bat in every game I play, so the indistinguishable colors were a constant source of annoyance for me last year.

Just to be clear, I realize that for whatever reason not everyone is experiencing this problem, so no need for the obligatory "the colors look fine to me" replies (not trying to be snarky, it's just that every time I read or write a post about this, it's always followed by these same responses. If it's not a problem for you, that's great!). The fact remains that obviously this IS a real issue that many players are seeing so something had to have been changed in 2010 that created the problem.

Yep, i asked this question to the CD guys when they were in San Diego, the response was it has been fixed, they were playing a January build, the demo is a December build, so im really hoping it has been fixed for retail.

Not the end of the world if not but as you say, with seemingly such a simple fix as to lighten a few colours it would be a shame if it hadnt been done.

[jemens]

Re: MLB 11 The Show Demo Available Now, Post Your Impressions Here

One feature that I don't think anyone has mentioned yet, that has drastically improved this year is the PCI. I love how it grows and shrinks depending on your timing. I also love that it gets bigger with contact enabling you to at least get a piece of the ball when down 0-2,1-2. It really creates for even better pitcher/batter duels. I always found pitch counts to be a tad low and now with contact swing, pitch counts seem more realistic. I also love how much the PCI shrinks when using power swing. For some batters I have seen it shrink to the size of the ball. Most of the time when you use it, you will miss the ball, which is totally realistic. You really have to have the timing down perfect to rip a ball with the power swing and it makes it that much more rewarding when you do get a hold of one. A simple adjustment to the PCI, has made such a huge difference in the game and has added even more to the realism.

I found that too. Nice addition with the PCI.

Contact swing provides more strategy. I'm expecting to always use it in the NL when pitchers batting. Unless when they're in a bunting situation I think that should result in less strikeouts, what do you think ?

[Heroesandvillains]

Re: MLB 11 The Show Demo Available Now, Post Your Impressions Here

I found that too. Nice addition with the PCI.

Contact swing provides more strategy. I'm expecting to always use it in the NL when pitchers batting. Unless when they're in a bunting situation I think that should result in less strikeouts, what do you think ?

Absolutely!

Okay, I know the question wasn't for me, per say, but not only do I plan on using it all of the time with pitchers, but I may almost exclusively use it with slap hitters too.

Great feature.

[swaldo]

Re: MLB 11 The Show Demo Available Now, Post Your Impressions Here

I think the All-Star pitching could use a little tweaking. The first time I played the game I was missing alot on the analog upswing but noticed the CPU wasn't hitting my mistake pitches. Well, I just got done playing a game and what I did was purposely miss on every single pitch and here are the results...

Lincecum: 5 IP / 7 H / 2 ER / 7 SO

Wilson: 5 IP / 1 H / 0 ER / 3 SO

TOTAL: 10 IP / 8 H / 2 ER / 10 SO

So that's a 1.80 ERA with every pitch being way off. For example, if I aimed high I would purposely overthrow, if I aimed low I would underthrow, if I aimed inside I would move the stick to the left so the pitch would go towards the middle. So basically I played the game as normal but used the meter to get the pitch as close to the middle of the plate as possible. Now that doesn't mean every pitch went right down the middle - that's the good thing about analog because it's hard to place it right where you want.

I don't have a big problem if I miss fastballs because it's hard for anyone to hit 95 mph perfectly even if it's in the middle of the plate. The problem is when I hang changeups and curveballs to Josh Hamilton and he does nothing with it. Lincecum threw 85% of his pitches for strikes and Wilson 79%. At that rate the CPU should've been hacking.

In conclusion I think what needs to be done is this...

1. Moderately increase penalties for off-speed mistakes
2. Slightly increase penalties for fastballs

The good news is that you can make a mistake but if it's on the corner the CPU will still have problems with it. And I understand I can go to HOF level, but this really should be veteran level the way it's playing.

This issue aside, I'm loving analog pitching now.