Is anyone else loving Pulse Pitching?

[Cavicchi]

Re: Is anyone else loving Pulse Pitching?

I've read most of the posts in this thread, but no one has mentioned this...

I see people talking about counting 5 or 10 "pulses". My theory is to NOT count and to not overthink it. When I concentrate too much on timing is when I find myself walking hitters or giving up home runs. DON'T think about it and you'll have more success.

I hope this makes sense because I can't think of a better way to put it...

If 5 pulses work, I'd try it again. I tried it last night with Kershaw against Ubaldo in an exhibition game. We went to the 10th inning before I won it 1-0. RPs for both teams figured in the decision.

In the first inning, I tried pulse but was it wasn't working out for me. After I gave up a single and walked a guy, I switched to Classic and escaped via a double play and strikeout no runs allowed. I went the next 8 innings and gave up just 1 hit but walked 2. Kershaw only got 7 Ks and that was my only disappointment, aside from not getting a homer.

I would much rather see an expanding circle than something pulsating. I mean, expand once and you need to hit it at its largest point, easier on the eyes.

By the way, I played on Rookie level and pulse was still too hard for me. I went into practice mode but it was set for Classic and I couldn't find a way to change it to pulse.

I just got the game yesterday and told my wife I'm going to check it out for an hour. I ended up awake all night "checking it out." Man, I am tired.

[Panthro63]

Re: Is anyone else loving Pulse Pitching?

If thats why you like PP, you should try "Classic"

So I took your advice and played a game w/ Classic - totally loved it.
You were right! Loved the unpredictability and the game moves faster.

Game-changer - thanks man

[nuckles2k2]

Re: Is anyone else loving Pulse Pitching?

I tried if for half an inning, loved it.

My only semi-gripe is how it eliminates the tempo I would settle into when pitching, and how sometimes that would get thrown off when I had to pitch from the stretch (Kershaw's motion was notorious for that). But even with that, I would rarely get any walks...I might miss over the plate more than I'd like, but rarely did I miss off the plate. I was missing every which way with pulse pitching, in a realistic fashion tho.

That's a trade off I'm willing to make.

I'm doing my best to hold off and wait for the OSFM rosters to start my RTTS.

[stealyerface]

Re: Is anyone else loving Pulse Pitching?

What I am starting to really dig is the fact that when you lose your curveball, or another pitch where the confidence bar is way down, it is an absolute struggle to get that pitch back, and as an effective tool in the arsenal.

Pitched a game with Bucholz last night, and his 12-6 was totally useless. What is great about it is that the only way to get it back is to make an effective pitch(es) and work through it. But in the meantime, even throwing it towards the plate is a harrowing experience. I finally got an inning ending double play off the curveball, and when he came back out the the mound, the confidence was back up to almost half way, and the pulsing circle was slowed down a bit, and had a smaller inner circle as a result.

Little nuances that I love are that when your confidence is high with a pitch, and you are really "Feeling the release point", as Soup would say, the pulsing is easier to manage due to the pulsation rate, and you are given a smaller series of circles to aim with, so even the bigger end of the circle scale is relatively small.

Conversely, when you are struggling and scuffling with a pitch or two, the circles that you get to work with are larger, so even a "perfect" press of the button results in a larger circle with a perfect release...

This, in and of itself, is a brilliant solution to replicating the feeling of being out on the mound, and not a clue in the world as to what to do next...

Very nice job with this. Loving it more and more as I use it.

~syf

[Brando70]

Re: Is anyone else loving Pulse Pitching?

To me, the best part is that NO pitch is 100% safe.

I played about a half season in '11 with analog. I had the pitching indicator turned off, no vibration, and two house rules: I had to move the left stick at least a little, and I had to throw a non-fastball on a 3-ball count if my catcher called for it. Even with all those nerfs, I still was last in the league in throwing balls by a lot, primarily because it was hard to throw a fastball for a ball unless I was really trying to hit the edge of the zone.

With pulse, even leaving the indicator dead center is no guarantee of getting the ball over the plate. Yet unlike Classic, which I've never liked, the user has some input over where the ball goes. It's a lot like how batting is a combo of user and ratings.

So I love the idea. I just hope the control and visual indicator grow on me.

[chemical360]

Re: Is anyone else loving Pulse Pitching?

I was really on the fence about PP but after several games through AA in RTTS, and now in AAA, I can honestly say that I couldn't imagine playing without it. It is a much more realistic approach to pitching.

When you miss you you feel it and wait for the inevitable to happen. When you hit your spot, you feel good about the achievement.

It keeps your eye on the zone as opposed to analog where you stare at the top of the screen the whole time.

Form me PP is the only way to pitch now. Love it and am really happy to have it!!!!

[dkrause1971]

Re: Is anyone else loving Pulse Pitching?

I am running hot and cold with pulse pitching. While for me i clearly will throw more balls and thus walks than i had with meter or analog last year. I am not sure when i am pitching that i am finding a large enough difference between pitchers in that regard.

For example, i might walk the same amount with Chacin of the Rockies than i would with Verlander. I do think part of the reason is the CPU isn't scaring me enough to just walk guys on purpose. I am playing on all-star for both. I am teetering between Classic and Pulse Pitching.

[brinks]

Re: Is anyone else loving Pulse Pitching?

Analog pitching, I think, best combines user skill and player ratings to produce realistic results.

[chemical360]

Re: Is anyone else loving Pulse Pitching?

Analog pitching, I think, best combines user skill and player ratings to produce realistic results.

Where I never argue with other people's personal preferences as a rule of forum posting, I respectfully disagree. I think PP is a much more skillful way to pitch in this game. There is almost no real way to perfect timing. I have tried everything from counting pulses to looking for patterns and still have yet to perfect it...

PP seems to be all about feeling the pulse to hit your target. This to me is more realistic. I easily mastered analog and rarely ever missed my target last year.

To each their own but i definitely think PP is more realistic and a more accurate display of skill at the position.

[balooko31]

Re: Is anyone else loving Pulse Pitching?

I'm so used to the meter pitching. I feel like I have more control over the pitches. I plan on trying out some of these other modes, but at this point my pitching is dominant and my hitting is way behind.

[pdawg17]

Re: Is anyone else loving Pulse Pitching?

I used analog pitching for MLB 11 and although I enjoyed it, I found it too easy to throw a strike when I wanted to. My ball to strike count was very unrealistic even though I was always aiming for corners.

With PP I have to get most of my starters out after 7 innings due to high pitch counts. I am a stat/realism guy so that by itself will make me stick with PP...

[brinks]

Re: Is anyone else loving Pulse Pitching?

Where I never argue with other people's personal preferences as a rule of forum posting, I respectfully disagree. I think PP is a much more skillful way to pitch in this game. There is almost no real way to perfect timing. I have tried everything from counting pulses to looking for patterns and still have yet to perfect it...

PP seems to be all about feeling the pulse to hit your target. This to me is more realistic. I easily mastered analog and rarely ever missed my target last year.

To each their own but i definitely think PP is more realistic and a more accurate display of skill at the position.

My fundamental problem with pulse is that the variance of the pulse is not wide enough between star pitchers and the last man in the bullpen. Even inside the small pulse circle, when achieved, the ball can still move 2 to 4 inches in either direction, seemingly with each pitcher. In short, pulse isn't rewarding my stars and punishing my lesser players enough for my liking. For me, analog on the legend setting does it the best... Incorporating the user piece that classic does not.

[DaoudS]

Re: Is anyone else loving Pulse Pitching?

I tried it for a little while and couldn't enjoy it. I wish there was pulse pitching + analog. I like being able to control my velocity.

[CMH]

Re: Is anyone else loving Pulse Pitching?

I don't mind the velocity thing as I personally feel that should be the AI's decision (but I really really understand why others want it. I just personally don't care for it).

What I do not like about Pulse (because I love everything else about it) is that I will NEVER be called for a balk while using it. That now bothers me.

[Kernel Pie]

Re: Is anyone else loving Pulse Pitching?

Maybe I'm in the minority here, but I don't like pulse pitching. I just cant stare at something blinking like that for 9 innings--it starts to get to me after a while.

Not only that, but I find the pulsation to be either innacurate, not reducing small enough, or not difficult enough.

I don't know, it just seem to bother me for some reason.