Conjecture: From what we've seen, will MLB 12 miss an opportunity for a huge leap?

[HustlinOwl]

Re: Conjecture: From what we've seen, will MLB 12 miss an opportunity for a huge leap

And this is where the problem lies.

Right now there isn't a rival for SCEA to compete with. We've seen it all before.
NBA 2K didn't have to compete with how bad Live was.
Madden didn't have anyone to compete against due to the license.
COD didn't have to compete with any shooters.

What do all of these franchises have in common? They were the best games in their particular field that we've seen in YEARS. However, the community for each is clamoring for innovation in all of them. I've looked at the reviews for all these games as well, that's what's pointed out more often than not.

MLB the Show is leaps and bounds ahead of MLB 2K. They need some competition to inspire them.

give it up already and go play MLB 2K all your posts are the same. I am with Ryan all I need is a roster update and I am fine

[Yankees2009Champs]

Re: Conjecture: From what we've seen, will MLB 12 miss an opportunity for a huge leap

When you have over 6 years of audio and add days of new commentary every year you can't possibly expect hear everything new in 3 innings. Anyone expecting to hear a ton of new commentary in a couple of games has some very unrealistic expectations.

I'm just curious. Why can't you just put a microphone on Vasegergin during the year during his broadcasts and use the lines he actually uses in real life instead of having him read off of script and try to manufacture inorganic enthusiasm? I'm pretty sure if the main guy was listenable we would all be happy.

[Yankees2009Champs]

Re: Conjecture: From what we've seen, will MLB 12 miss an opportunity for a huge leap

give it up already and go play MLB 2K all your posts are the same. I am with Ryan all I need is a roster update and I am fine

All my posts are the same. Yep just like all of the Show's animations are the same.

Perhaps you should put MLB 11 in and just play that. I have a 2012 roster update for you since you only care about roster updates. Can I have $60??

[opd897]

Re: Conjecture: From what we've seen, will MLB 12 miss an opportunity for a huge leap

give it up already and go play MLB 2K all your posts are the same. I am with Ryan all I need is a roster update and I am fine

I hear you......going to update my "11 rosters and continue to play it......awesome game!

[AUTiger1]

Re: Conjecture: From what we've seen, will MLB 12 miss an opportunity for a huge leap

I think the best commentary of any sports game is the NHL series and I don't think it's close. Gary Thorne and Bill Clement sound like they are right there in the action and are actually doing real commentary for a real NHL game. I think the best baseball commentary was the old All-Star Baseball series with Thom Bennamann and Steve Lyons. It didn't sound like they were reading off a piece of paper. It sounds like that with Dave Campbell. So bland.

[HustlinOwl]

Re: Conjecture: From what we've seen, will MLB 12 miss an opportunity for a huge leap

All my posts are the same. Yep just like all of the Show's animations are the same.

Perhaps you should put MLB 11 in and just play that. I have a 2012 roster update for you since you only care about roster updates. Can I have $60??

Nope, I get new ball physics, new AI logic lineup/trade, Marlins Stadium, and my 3 online leagues. Have fun with 11

[thaSLAB]

Re: Conjecture: From what we've seen, will MLB 12 miss an opportunity for a huge leap

I don't understand why people care so much about the bloody commentary. Even GOOD video game baseball commentary is NOT GOOD baseball commentary anyways, there's no why to capture what the great radio and TV baseball announcers do in the video game medium, it's the off-the-cuff stuff that makes a great announcing team great to listen to. I'd rather SCEA spend no time on the commentary and put that time towards the rest of the game.

I always felt that was the case too. That, and the fact that there is such a stir about audio, in a video game. A point can be made that other games capture audio very well, but then you look at the video portion of them and...

The thing is too, it's not even really more commentary people are looking for, but rather a certain style or delivery (which goes back to your point about GOOD video game commentary is.) - The Show has tons of commentary, covering everything from minor leagues (which I'm not sure the other game has commentators for their single player mode) through the bigs. Some times I think people want to hear the same player-specific story every game, but that gets old too. Should some of the lines be removed, or reworded? Maybe, but in the end you can only call a strikeout, base hit to left, or a 2-2 count so many ways.

Lastly, as sports gamers, we are just too spoiled. And that's in regards to all games, whether its Madden, NBA2K, FIFA, or The Show. We tend to feel slighted because something we wanted isn't there, and proceed to rant, figuring the squeaky wheel gets the oil. When no oil is received, we make it a point to explain that in a tough economy, $60 is too much to pay for their obvious complacency and lack of focus. And that is respectable, but why not just skip the purchase, OR say it is what it is (still my favorite video game, personally) and accept it as such, and save the ranting? It's really a tough position for game developers, when they are trying to meet both consumer expectations and honor limitations at the same time.

Thanks. I will have fun. I've said what I wanted to say so I'm done talking the Show since most of you are mindless sheep.

LOL, nice.

[Pared]

Re: Conjecture: From what we've seen, will MLB 12 miss an opportunity for a huge leap

Thanks. I will have fun. I've said what I wanted to say so I'm done talking the Show

For your sake - you should stand by this.

Everyone - get back on topic. Enough with the bickering.

[PsychoBulk]

Re: Conjecture: From what we've seen, will MLB 12 miss an opportunity for a huge leap

In answer to the original question...

No.

Why?

Because a huge leap in this series, and especially on this generation of consoles, isnt possible because they have pretty much maxed the PS3 out in terms of what it can do graphically.

Chuck in all the new additions this year of ball physics, sounds, TBP, audio, artwork and they have clearly made a sound stride from '11.

So, in conclusion, no, SCEA hasnt dropped the ball here, because a "huge leap" was never possible in the first place, such is the stellar nature of this series.

[DJ]

Re: Conjecture: From what we've seen, will MLB 12 miss an opportunity for a huge leap

I know, Russell, but it seems like 2k rolled out their "banter" style in one or two cycles... maybe a different tech? I have no idea, so I'll shut up.

I don't actually expect it...but it would be SO AWESOME. Like I said (and I think you know) I love the game. I'm just "pipe dreaming" out loud.

I think it's a fair question in regards to the commentary. I understand Russell's response, but the same was true of 2K, no? Heck, they replaced their entire commentary team after 2K8 and rolled out the new commentary team in 2K9, and they've gone on record as saying they've added 80 hours (I think that's right) of additional commentary for 2K12.

I play a lot of NBA 2K and while some of the stories do get tiresome, the commentary as a whole holds up over months of play, and that's due to the fact that it sounds very similar to what you hear when you watch a game on TV. With The Show, like others have said, things feel too disjointed.

I know I'm beating a dead horse here, so I'll leave it alone.

I'm definitely excited for MLB 12. The new batting camera is a great addition. The ball physics looked good in the videos posted yesterday and I thought the additional stat overlays were great. The True Broadcast stuff that we saw looked good as well.

[AUTiger1]

Re: Conjecture: From what we've seen, will MLB 12 miss an opportunity for a huge leap

I finally figured out why I don't like the commentary. It only took 2 plays in the Cubs vs. Cardinals video to figure it out. There are simply far too many plays where it's "He take's it to the bag himself for the first out" and "liner to left and this will hang up and he makes to the catch." Not enough player specific lines like "Berkman fields it and takes it to the bag himself." Other games have this but The Show doesn't.

[Pared]

Re: Conjecture: From what we've seen, will MLB 12 miss an opportunity for a huge leap

I think the more important thing that should be said is everyone is aware about the changes that need to be done to the commentary.

If you're going off of just that video alone, you're missing out. There's a lot more in franchise, specifically things people asked for that are authentic to a real broadcast.

[ryan36]

I think the more important thing that should be said is everyone is aware about the changes that need to be done to the commentary.

If you're going off of just that video alone, you're missing out. There's a lot more in franchise, specifically things people asked for that are authentic to a real broadcast.

Pared I get the feeling you're right. that's why I said "conjecture" ...

As far as complaining about audio in a video game... I do it because the whole game sounds dead...as in Madden. The crowd is disinterested and the announcers sound bored.

In, general it just sounds like a golf game. I know lines are repetitive, no matter what they are. Turning up the crowd noise doesn't help with it necessarily (although I wonder if they could make the crowd sound more "full").

[sbmnky]

Re: Conjecture: From what we've seen, will MLB 12 miss an opportunity for a huge leap

Commentary is not important to me when I'm playing The Show - it's distracting more than anything. I can't handle talking to my girlfriend when playing, much less listening to 3 guys critique/observe my current game.

If I'm late on a fastball and Soup comments on it, I start to think about only fastballs, how I'm late on it (Linda Ronstadt), lose strategy of my at-bat (count, situation, etc) and ultimately get upset at myself for being distracted. I have to turn the commentary off and keep it off.

Being a Dodger homer, I really only enjoy listening to a baseball broadcast if Vin Scully is calling the game. All other commentary sounds the same to me and my video gaming is no different.

[Pared]

Re: Conjecture: From what we've seen, will MLB 12 miss an opportunity for a huge leap

Pared I get the feeling you're right. that's why I said "conjecture" ...

As far as complaining about audio in a video game... I do it because the whole game sounds dead...as in Madden. The crowd is disinterested and the announcers sound bored.

In, general it just sounds like a golf game. I know lines are repetitive, no matter what they are. Turning up the crowd noise doesn't help with it necessarily (although I wonder if they could make the crowd sound more "full").

The game is a moving target. Without getting into specifics we've sat down with some key people and focused on ONLY audio. And not just commentary. I had some disagreements on certain things and I can tell you some of the comments in the forum have done more harm than good.

You can't view ONE 3 inning video and write off the game. If that were the case, you would be able to view Game 7 of the WS and Game 23 in a season and expect the same result.

Guys at CD are more in tune with where the audio needs to go than you think. BUT... at the same time, focusing on only this slights a year's worth of work that has improved this game tremendously. I'm telling you - I wouldn't be excited for the gameplay if all I did was discuss the audio.

It can get better - that's a given. My thing is you have a small sample size to judge. Keep an open mind, then make an informed conclusion. Don't go off like some have and make baseless comments because they simply aren't true - and those that have played the game for a while know this already. Again, it's not perfect - but so is saying it is untouched; That's just as inaccurate.