Considering abandoning analog hitting, sadface PCI problems

[torpidbeaver]

I think I've seen other people mention it, but g-damn if my guys can't hit the low ball. I started out playing on All-Star, practicing in the practice mode while I waited for rosters and patches. Got *fairly* good at the practice modes. Started a franchise with the Orioles, playing Spring Training, and all of a sudden I can't hit bupkis. Bumped it back to Starter or whatever it is. Still can't buy a game.

I know, I know -- keep with it, keep practicing. But when I have "normal" or "good" timing and the PCI is consistently above where the ball's pitched (usually low in the zone), I start losing hair. I'm not even mentioning the umpteen times where the PCI is *on* the ball with normal-or-better timing and it's a friggin' slow grounder.

If anyone has advice other than "keep practicing, I don't have any trouble with it," I'm all ears. Hell, even if that's all you can give me, it'd help to know that it's just me and my gimpy fingers. But playing against God's Team, the Boston Golden Bat Red Sox, watching them rack up 18 hits and 10 runs while I struggle to get a ball out of the infield? Oof. You can only take so many of those games before you go back to S.T.A.L.K.E.R. or somesuch 1st person shooter.

[Heroesandvillains]

Re: Considering abandoning analog hitting, sadface PCI problems

I see the same stuff with Timing Only.

All in all, I'd have to assume that the two interfaces are pretty similar, considering that they're both timing based.

I chalk it up to user timing; sprinkling in a little pitcher/pitch confidence, and player ratings.

Perfect Timing, Superb Contact swing and misses happen to me a lot. But, on the other hand, I see plenty of "Just Late" homeruns. I guess it happens a lot in real baseball too.

Dropping pitch speed has helped me, but I'm really struggling with fouling off those nasty 2-0 changeups. I'll be following this thread closely, I'll say that much. Not because I don't get why it happens, but because any advice would be helpful, without having to rely further on slider adjustments.

So far, the best advice I've received is utilizing contact swing more. This I'm definitely going to try.

[torpidbeaver]

Re: Considering abandoning analog hitting, sadface PCI problems

Ah. Contact swing. Yes, I'll give that a try.

I guess another disappointment is that I've only got 2 home runs so far in the 7 1/2 games. Small sample size, I know, but combine that with the crappy hit totals and the disturbing PCI results, and I'm one frustrated gamer.

[baseballsim]

Re: Considering abandoning analog hitting, sadface PCI problems

I just noticed the other day that if I pull back on the stick less, I don't strike out as often. Now I feel that I have a bit more control of the at bat with my new compact swing.

Turning off Guess pitch has helped me a bit as well. In another thread, someone mentioned that your PCI shrinks if you don't guess the pitch and location right. You can also see this with L3, I believe.

[imshark]

Re: Considering abandoning analog hitting, sadface PCI problems

AMEN, dude! I've spent 3 weeks and ump-teen hours trying to "practice" the analog hitting feature. It seems 1 out of 5 games I can rack up more than 4 or 5 hits a game! Let's not mention the embarassing fact that Jimenez threw a no-hitter against me....and then to have the very next game get one-hit by the Padres!!! I've got a great Phillies lineup getting mowed down by any and all pitchers.
The analog hitting feature would be GREAT if i could see consistent results. But my entire lineup is below .200 with just a few homeruns. Very frustrating. I hate to decrease pitch speed or lower the difficulty settings from All Star. I enjoy the challenge.....but this is darn near impossible to suffer through each night.
So far I'm loving analog pitching.....although I'm surrending quite a few homeruns. But my stacked pitching staff is still LOSING games 3-0, 2-1, 5-3......because of my analog hitting woes!!!
I think it's time to revert back to the old Zone hitting with contact/power buttons!!! I hate to waste another month or MORE trying to figure out the analog hitting. Even when I think I've got perfect timing......i pop it up or ground out. It even says PERFECT timing, and yet I never get solid contact.

[sls25]

Re: Considering abandoning analog hitting, sadface PCI problems

this may sound strange but I read it on another forum and it helped my hitting, if you have an HD TV with multiple settings you should put it on "game" when you play. I used to have my tv on cinema and my timing would always be a little off even when I felt I it looked spot on and since I changed the setting it seems to work

[Pared]

Re: Considering abandoning analog hitting, sadface PCI problems

I had the same problem up to two days ago, I've figured it out though.
You can't just worry about the timing of the swing.
The timing of your stride is equally important.
Its nearly impossible to hit any ball on the corner unless you have the biggest PCI bonus from doing a perfect stride timing.
Practice timing your stride better and you will see a lot more harder hits.
It seems like they give you a penalty for your power and contact even if your stride timing is even a little off.

Best advice anyone can give you.

[bkrich83]

Re: Considering abandoning analog hitting, sadface PCI problems

Can't you adjust sliders to make the timing a little more forgiving as well? Like someone else said. I lowered pitch speed a couple of notches and that helped as well.

[Jordanfan23]

Re: Considering abandoning analog hitting, sadface PCI problems

I am stroking the ball with the Reds, so don't tell me the game isn't realistic lol! I took a lot of batting practice getting use to the analog system. I also have the pitch speed lower to recognize pitch type and break.

-Don't swing at EVERYTHING! Make the AI throw you a 2-0 FB and sit on it!

-Stride and timing is as important as location of swing for solid contact.

-Hit the ball where it is pitched. If it's outside, lean the the thumbstick that way when pushing up.

-Down in the count? The contact swing is your friend, it allows you to keep an at-bat going by fouling off pitches normally missed.

-Know your hitters hot zones, and sit on pitches to those zones, there is a reason they are red

-Check a pitchers tendencies by using the select button, or take a look at the pitcher analysis. Also use your own experiences to recognize tendencies. Does a pitcher throw a lot of first pitch fastballs??

-If you swing at pitches out of the zone, believe the AI will work that zone until you learn to lay off. Miss a curveball with one of those nasty looking swing animations? Believe you will see that pitch again in that at-bat!!!

-Use the hit and run!

-Until you get better at hitting, lower the pitcher control slider, so the AI doesn't paint the corners every pitch.

-FEAR THE SLIDER! Learn to recognize this pitch especially, b/c if you don't a pitcher with a good slider will kill you!

-BP, BP, BP! Take batting practice against good pitchers, it will do wonders!

Good Luck, don't give up!!!

[torpidbeaver]

Re: Considering abandoning analog hitting, sadface PCI problems

SMALL breakthrough, perhaps I glint of hope for someone:

I started pulling back earlier on stick when I briefly switched over to "Timing" mode batting. You see, at the time, I had no idea that it *wasn't* analog, so I kept bunting everything, lol.

But I noticed something important:

As I was trying to pull back on the stick, I noticed that the computer would automatically "rock back" earlier than I would if it had been Analog instead of Timing.

After getting over feeling like a *******, I switched back to Analog and started rocking back earlier. I noticed immediate improvements. I'm still swinging over pitches, but the balls I hit are hit more solidly.

So I guess I'd suggest to people who're having trouble to look and see when the computer "rocks back" in timing mode, and try to emulate that.

[Bobhead]

Re: Considering abandoning analog hitting, sadface PCI problems

So I guess I'd suggest to people who're having trouble to look and see when the computer "rocks back" in timing mode, and try to emulate that.

That's actually a really great idea, one that I don't think I've ever seen suggested before.

I too sucked at Analog, and I just flat out gave up on it and moved on to Zone, which is my preference anyway. My biggest complaint was always that the game left you to figure out stride timing on your own, and gave you no feedback whatsoever on whether you were early or late, and by how much.

I definitely have to give this a shot at some point next time I play, I might even go back to Analog for a bit.

Kudos.

[COMMISSIONERHBK9]

Re: Considering abandoning analog hitting, sadface PCI problems

i think i figure out the analog hitting. i pull back a little earlier and i notice im hitting theball now. im getting pop ups hr and the hits seem strong. i dont know if its luck or what. now what i do want to know is with analog do you have to hit square for power and circle for contact or is that only necessary in timing and zone?

[bcruise]

Re: Considering abandoning analog hitting, sadface PCI problems

That's actually a really great idea, one that I don't think I've ever seen suggested before.

I too sucked at Analog, and I just flat out gave up on it and moved on to Zone, which is my preference anyway. My biggest complaint was always that the game left you to figure out stride timing on your own, and gave you no feedback whatsoever on whether you were early or late, and by how much.

I definitely have to give this a shot at some point next time I play, I might even go back to Analog for a bit.

Kudos.

Actually, it does to some degree if you turn on the Plate Coverage Indicator (PCI) graphic - the yellow circle will grow or shrink in real-time depending on what your step timing was.

We've been told by the devs that the timing is the same for all hitters (even the ones with longer stride animations), so once you've got the proper timing down you can turn PCI off and still feel comfortable that you're striding at the right time.

[Bobhead]

Re: Considering abandoning analog hitting, sadface PCI problems

Actually, it does to some degree if you turn on the Plate Coverage Indicator (PCI) graphic - the yellow circle will grow or shrink in real-time depending on what your step timing was.

We've been told by the devs that the timing is the same for all hitters (even the ones with longer stride animations), so once you've got the proper timing down you can turn PCI off and still feel comfortable that you're striding at the right time.

Yes but it shrinks regardless of whether you are early or late, so that isn't particularly useful. It gives you a general idea of how far off you were, but not even in which direction.

[mgoblue678]

Re: Considering abandoning analog hitting, sadface PCI problems

I am struggling with analog as well. Tried hitting with zone for a couple of games, but I suck even more with zone hitting. My biggest problem is I am having an extremely hard time pulling the ball with right handed hitters on pitches inside and going the other way with left handed hitters. My natural movement with the stick is either to push it straight up or to the right, and I am finding it really hard to push it left. I like the concept of analog hitting, but I am not finding the stick to be that intuitive for me. I already have pitch speed at 2 as well.

Not to mention I am seeing a ton of instances where I have good to perfect timing with the ball near the center of the PCI, resulting in outs. I like the fact that player ratings do matter as well, but the number of instances of that happening are starting to drive me crazy.