Re: This game CHEATS...

[bronxbombers21325]

Re: This game CHEATS...

Ok, I didn't read any responses, but man you really opened my eyes. After playing High School Varsity baseball for 6 years, playing 4 years of D1 College Baseball, I never knew baseball was suppose to be so perfect. I always wondered why in real life why teams could score 5+ runs in an innings, it's because they cheat. That's crazy, watching this game on ESPN right now, 4 runs with 2 outs in an inning was stupid, because Hernandez should've easily shut them down.

Dude, it's baseball. This game is frustrating. I played it for 18 years, out of my 22 year life span. Almost every game has an inning where a huge error could occur. In fact, most errors result in runs scored or a positive outcome for the other team. I'm so sick of these rants about how this game cheats, when the facts are that it's how baseball actually is.

Not to mention that when it comes down to the end of a game, and you are up by only one or two runs, and the other team has two on with no outs, you are more apt to make a mistake and an error in a pressure packed situation like this. These guys are the best in the world, but even they are human.

[authentic]

Re: This game CHEATS...

Not to mention that when it comes down to the end of a game, and you are up by only one or two runs, and the other team has two on with no outs, you are more apt to make a mistake and an error in a pressure packed situation like this. These guys are the best in the world, but even they are human.

Yeah, people fail to realize that these guys are not perfect. No baseball player will ever be perfect. Not every closer shuts the door every time. Look at the Cubs, they've blown sooooo many leads or ties in late innings. No wonder why they haven't won in 10241251305723 years, there is a conspiracy against them, and pact made by other teams to cheat against them. Guys, can we quit these useless threads? All they do is clutter the board up and really annoy me

[BlingBling19]

Re: This game CHEATS...

Just played a fairly fun game but the ending once again showed me sometimes the game just has it out for you.

I was the Twins playing the Yankees. I get 4 runs in the first then score another in the 2nd and am up 5-0. Anyway game goes a long I get up 7-2 going into the bottom of the 7th inning. Starter gives up 2 very cheap singles one up the middle which Carroll booted because I have fielder speed at 0 and then another dump single into right field on a pitch WAY WAY out of the strike zone. Next up was Jeter who by the way was already 4-5 I think at that point. Proceeds to lace a triple scores both runs 7-4. Granderson comes up next pitch low and away fastball yanks it over the RF fence 7-6. I manage to get out of the inning being up 1. They tie it in the bottom of the 8th on a suicide squeeze I was just floored. Go into extra innings game tied at 7. Get to the bottom of the 12th Jeter gets another hit and is 6 for 7 to start the inning. Granderson singles moves Jeter to 2nd. Texeria singles loads the bases. So now it's bases loaded nobody out.

A-rod strikes out so now there is one out. Next is Cano he hits a simple double play grounder to 2nd Casilla LAUNCHES the ball into left field and I lose the game. Only error of the game and of course it costs me the game. The Yankees finished with 8 runs on 19 hits 0 errors. I finish with 7 runs on 15 hits 1 Error. They only had I think 4 extra base hits so that's 15 singles.

Had a couple other wacky animations where my pitcher bent down to stop a grounder and my 2nd basemen turns his back to play then turns around at the last second makes a stab at the ball and misses it that cost me a couple runs as well. Never seen that animation before but certainly came at a terrible time as well.

I honestly think sometimes no matter what you do the CPU can and will find a way to win some games. I also play on HOF hitting/ HOF pitching with Meter and zone hitting.

[Hannah000]

Re: This game CHEATS...

Just played a fairly fun game but the ending once again showed me sometimes the game just has it out for you.

I was the Twins playing the Yankees. I get 4 runs in the first then score another in the 2nd and am up 5-0. Anyway game goes a long I get up 7-2 going into the bottom of the 7th inning. Starter gives up 2 very cheap singles one up the middle which Carroll booted because I have fielder speed at 0 and then another dump single into right field on a pitch WAY WAY out of the strike zone. Next up was Jeter who by the way was already 4-5 I think at that point. Proceeds to lace a triple scores both runs 7-4. Granderson comes up next pitch low and away fastball yanks it over the RF fence 7-6. I manage to get out of the inning being up 1. They tie it in the bottom of the 8th on a suicide squeeze I was just floored. Go into extra innings game tied at 7. Get to the bottom of the 12th Jeter gets another hit and is 6 for 7 to start the inning. Granderson singles moves Jeter to 2nd. Texeria singles loads the bases. So now it's bases loaded nobody out.

A-rod strikes out so now there is one out. Next is Cano he hits a simple double play grounder to 2nd Casilla LAUNCHES the ball into left field and I lose the game. Only error of the game and of course it costs me the game. The Yankees finished with 8 runs on 19 hits 0 errors. I finish with 7 runs on 15 hits 1 Error. They only had I think 4 extra base hits so that's 15 singles.

Had a couple other wacky animations where my pitcher bent down to stop a grounder and my 2nd basemen turns his back to play then turns around at the last second makes a stab at the ball and misses it that cost me a couple runs as well. Never seen that animation before but certainly came at a terrible time as well.

I honestly think sometimes no matter what you do the CPU can and will find a way to win some games. I also play on HOF hitting/ HOF pitching with Meter and zone hitting.

Everyone has the right to play on the level they want to play on and I do not mean to cause a problem with anyone, however, I must say that if you play on Veteran level, especially with the Sliders I posted, you will not see what you see on AS, HOF, or Legend. TRUST ME, MY FRIEND You will rarely, if ever, see BS Home Runs and BS Fielding Debacles. I honestly wish everyone would try Veteran with a good set of Sliders and you will not see these issues. If you try my suggestion, and I am wrong, then I will admit my fault. But, I have played on Veteran for 3 years with the Sliders I posted and each year they play great and very, very realistic in-game results and individual statistics. Thanks

[slthree]

Re: This game CHEATS...

I'm impressed that the mods have left this open and am more impressed that the posters havent gone to far off blaming SCEA and getting personal with insults. Thats probably why this has stayed open.

I have to echo an earlier sentiment that you must concentrate the entire time you play this game. Thats the truest thing said.

Its very easy to want to "phone it in", so to speak, and just groove a few quick fastballs to speed up an inning. Often, I can't get past 5 innings because I think so hard it exhausts me, literally. Thank goodness for the save feature.

I play on All Star and while I'm probably in the minority, I love how much harder the game gets in the later innings. My view is that any decent ball club will not be fooled by the same pitching tactics for 7 plus innings.

I think we miss the point that, while we may use a starter for 6 innings and a few relievers to get through the next 3 innings, the pitching patterns are still the same because we (the user) control all of those different pitchers and our tendencies are our tendencies.

I try to pitch as the reliever should pitch if itwere him controlling him and not me. When I use a top flight starter I go for the strikeout, take more chances, and dare even stars to beat me while I'm using my best stuff.

When I'm controlling a reliever, I don't do any of that. I pitch to contact more than looking for strikeouts. I'm prepared to throw 4 straight balls (but not too far out ofthe zone) to every elite hitter, will walk 2 guys in a row if they are very dangerous and take my chances with a lesser hitter.

I still occasionally see what some complain about but I see it with far less frequency.

For my experience, the game nails it as well as it can.

[Kevin82485]

Re: This game CHEATS...

I don't know if it cheats so much as that there is a sort of rubber band effect that tends to culminate into one half inning of play where everything goes terribly wrong. Although, I will agree it FEELS like its cheating.

Most of my frustration occurs when I'm pitching. I don't know how many times I'll be cruzing along getting stikeouts, flyouts, and groundouts while allowing an occasional hit. Then all the sudden in say the 6th inning, the CPU starts finding every single gap in my defense, and then when my defenders are finally in a position to field the ball or get an out, an error occurs whether my second baseman air mails one over the head of my first baseman or my third baseman boots a routine groundball. It not uncommon to inexplicably have 2 errors in one half inning. My defense just totally implodes, and I end up popping a blood vessel in my head.

The other issue I have with pitching is that the CPU doesn't swing at enough pitches out of the zone. It seems the only times I can get the CPU to swing at a pitch out of the zone is if it is a pressure situation, and they have a chance to score a couple runs with one swing of the bat. The other time is when I throw a slider down out of the zone or down and away in the zone. And even in these instances it is very hard. I feel that I do a very good job of mixing my pitches up, while at the same time establishing that I can locate my pitches and throw pitches that get outs. Very rarely does my pitcher have more than one pitch in which he isn't confident.

It is so frustrating for me to paint the edges the whole game and on borderline balls, the CPU just watches it. Again, I don't know how many times I will quickly get ahead 0-2 or 1-2. But as soon as I throw a borderline pitch out of the zone when I have 2 strikes on them, in a situation where the batter has to protect the plate, mind you, the CPU turns into RoboCop and can somehow analyze velocity, trajectory, rotation, wind speed, and gravitational pull from the moon to compute the ball will be 1/16th of an inch out of the zone and will elect not to swing.

[C_Bailey24]

Re: This game CHEATS...

I don't necessarily agree that the game cheats but i don't feel the need to completely dismiss the OP's opinions, assessments about the game either like some (Hustlin Owl, bkrich in particular). Just because YOU don't experience something with this game doesn't mean someone esles experience is invalid, doesn't need to be discussed, is WAY off, etc.

Take my experience for instance. I literally haven't turned and 4-6-3, 6-4-3 or 5-6-3 double play in a couple of MONTHS. Each and every single time on the throw to 2nd the ball goes over the fielders head. I use Analog fielding. Now if it was just me simply doing something wrong then i think it would have ironed itself out by now don't ya think? When i throw to 2nd base in any other situation, i.e., outfield to 2nd, catcher throw to 2nd on stolen base the throw is FINE so it begs the question why in ONLY this situation does the throw keep going over his head?. I'm talking first inning, no score...not just so called pressure situations. So I can definitely understand someone feeling like the game has it out for you, etc. Not saying concretely that it does but i do understand.

The common defenses are " well in real-life blah-blah-blah". Well the slight flaw in all of that is that i don't see a team committing 4+ errors on THE SAME ROUTINE PLAY every game. That's where the frustration sets in for some people with this game in that the same thing will happen in the same exact situation of every game they play. The other defense drop down to this level or change this slider but that directly goes against HustlinOwl's " up your game and get better" solution. Moving sliders and dropping down levels isn't YOU getting better it's basically dumbing the game down a little to get a desired result. So before anyone says "hey switch to button fielding" i'll offer that i'm not going to simply because analog controls contribute to the element of fun in this game..at least for me. I'll keep plugging away.

No one's opinion, assessment, or feeling about this game is more important or factual than someone elses. I see that a lot on this forum.

[HustlinOwl]

Re: This game CHEATS...

I don't necessarily agree that the game cheats but i don't feel the need to completely dismiss the OP's opinions, assessments about the game either like some (Hustlin Owl, bkrich in particular). Just because YOU don't experience something with this game doesn't mean someone esles experience is invalid, doesn't need to be discussed, is WAY off, etc.

Take my experience for instance. I literally haven't turned and 4-6-3, 6-4-3 or 5-6-3 double play in a couple of MONTHS. Each and every single time on the throw to 2nd the ball goes over the fielders head. I use Analog fielding. Now if it was just me simply doing something wrong then i think it would have ironed itself out by now don't ya think? When i throw to 2nd base in any other situation, i.e., outfield to 2nd, catcher throw to 2nd on stolen base the throw is FINE so it begs the question why in ONLY this situation does the throw keep going over his head?. I'm talking first inning, no score...not just so called pressure situations. So I can definitely understand someone feeling like the game has it out for you, etc. Not saying concretely that it does but i do understand.

The common defenses are " well in real-life blah-blah-blah". Well the slight flaw in all of that is that i don't see a team committing 4+ errors on THE SAME ROUTINE PLAY every game. That's where the frustration sets in for some people with this game in that the same thing will happen in the same exact situation of every game they play. The other defense drop down to this level or change this slider but that directly goes against HustlinOwl's " up your game and get better" solution. Moving sliders and dropping down levels isn't YOU getting better it's basically dumbing the game down a little to get a desired result. So before anyone says "hey switch to button fielding" i'll offer that i'm not going to simply because analog controls contribute to the element of fun in this game..at least for me. I'll keep plugging away.

No one's opinion, assessment, or feeling about this game is more important or factual than someone elses. I see that a lot on this forum.

difficulty settings has nothing to do with upping your game, I was simply stating to play smarter better baseball. Why I posted the link for tips

Developers are fans of this game and play as well, so input some sort of rubberband AI or comeback logic lol

[C_Bailey24]

Re: This game CHEATS...

difficulty settings has nothing to do with upping your game, I was simply stating to play smarter better baseball. Why I posted the link for tips

If you re-read what i said we basically agree that difficulty settings has nothing to do with upping your game. Also i didn't mean that your advice was to change difficulty levels. But several other posters in this thread (and every thread for that matter) advice is to change this slider or change difficulty levels which contradicts your advice (which is sound). In the end i don't want a desired result i'd rather get better.

[Yeats]

Re: This game CHEATS...

- 15 pitch at bats anyone? yeah those are fun... Happens about every other inning regardless of the batter or the pitcher... I feel this is the games way of getting your Pitcher tired quickly...

Yup, and one of the reasons I gave up on this game. That particular bit of programming nonsense has been in this series since at least 2006. When pre-determined game coding overrides the player ratings, I move on to other games. What's the point of having ratings then?

[PsychoBulk]

Re: This game CHEATS...

Yup, and one of the reasons I gave up on this game. That particular bit of programming nonsense has been in this series since at least 2006. When pre-determined game coding overrides the player ratings, I move on to other games. What's the point of having ratings then?

The only nonsense is people willing themselves to believe the developers put in pre-determined outcomes.

I see no more lengthy at bats than real life, i often pitch to contact when i have a high pitch count and it works out sometimes, not others, as it should do.

People need to forget the conspiracy theories about coding, really.

Anyway, im staggered this hasnt been closed yet so wanted to get my thoughts in before it inevitably is.

[chrishthomas]

Re: This game CHEATS...

I, too, am surprised that this thread is still open. Perhaps the mods have taken a vacation over the holiday. That being said, I am glad the thread remains open. Even though the discussion typically devolves into arguments about the existence of a comeback code, some of these discussions can be useful. And, to a certain extent, it helps frustrated gamers to be able to come here and rant a bit, and see that other people have experienced their pain.

There have been some good points made in this thread so far, and still other points that I would like to make, but don’t want to hijack the thread. As a few posters on this thread know, I can get a bit long-winded, so for the sake of expediency, I will limit my initial comments to 2 main points (I have another point about real-life comebacks, but I’ll save that for later if the thread stays open).

First, a fact that often goes unaccounted for was made by slthree above. He mentions that changing pitchers doesn't necessarily change our tendencies to the extent that changing pitchers in real life would change pitching tendencies. If I am feeling comfortable hitting that low outside corner with a fastball, I will most likely continue to bang away at that spot even after I change pitchers (or if I have built a nice pattern—set up inside, try to punch ‘em out low and away). If the CPU AI picks up on tendencies, then bringing in a relief pitcher does nothing, in and of itself, to counteract my pitching tendencies. I must consciously force myself to pitch differently with different pitchers—if I use the same patterns, I have really done nothing but bring in a fresh arm, but haven’t done anything to throw the CPU out of rhythm.

As a personal example, using analog I have been having trouble throwing sliders lately—I have no idea why, and at this point I am over-thinking it, but the fact is, I can’t hit my spots right now, and groove far too many of them. So, I’ve stopped throwing them except when I’ve got nothing to lose. Well, that’s all fine and good, except one of my middle relievers relies on his slider, and my closer has a vicious slider that he needs to use. Without those, they are ineffective. I’ve blown 2 ninth-inning leads of 3 runs during the past 2 weeks of the season, simple because I can’t use my closer effectively. I don’t think this is the CPU cheating, it is merely taking advantage of the fact that I currently can’t use my players effectively.

Having said that, I’ll get to my second point. I think it is a bit disingenuous for so many of us to imply that the difficulty maintaining leads in this game is simply a function of user ability, or lack thereof. The game plays differently in certain situations.

For instance, in the top or bottom half of any inning after one team has scored a go ahead run, it seems more likely that the leadoff hitter will get on, and will subsequently come around to score—admittedly the circumstances will vary on how he comes around: sometimes the leadoff hitter tees off on the first pitch thrown and takes it out of the yard, sometimes an error is in the mix, sometimes an inexplicable 4 ball walk even when you try to throw fastballs in the zone aids in the process, it might be a well executed sacrifice, followed by a nicely placed single to bring the runner home. It often feels very predictable, almost to the point where you come to accept it (if not expect it), and just prepare yourself to try to earn the lead later in the game.

Late game situations also play differently in those cases where the CPU “seems” determined to come back from a deficit. At the plate CPU hitters do two things that should be mutually exclusive—they seem to be more disciplined, but at the same time more aggressive. The CPU clearly has a tendency to take first pitches—not all the time, but it is a clear tendency. But, wait until they get a runner on, and if you happen to throw a pitch in the zone to the next batter he will be swinging away. I’ve gotten to the point where I am willing to go down 1-0 to a hitter instead of risking a first pitch single of or double to extend the rally. But, while they become more aggressive, they tend to take more and more borderline pitches, and the number of 9+ pitch at bats sky-rockets. Now, once I get to a ten pitch at bat, I’ve started walking the guy rather than risk him putting the ball in play to bring around the run—which tended to be what happened to me more often than not. It’s extremely frustrating when the announcers make comments about how difficult it is to even get to a 3 ball count with so-and-so, or he usually swings at everything, but yet in these situations these guys lay off of pitches that are just micrometers away from being a strike. At the same time, during these tense situations, the number of odd hops on the infield, muffed grounders, and fielders not being able to get to dribblers even though they reached scorchers earlier in the game intensifies the feeling that CPU is going to ensure that it scores a run or two.

I honestly believe this game does not contain a comeback code (at least not the extent that your NBA Jam type games did), but there are some player attributes, or AI logic, that makes holding on to late game leads extremely challenging. I would not go so far as to call it cheating.

[KingV2k3]

Re: This game CHEATS...

I have to echo an earlier sentiment that you must concentrate the entire time you play this game. Thats the truest thing said.

Its very easy to want to "phone it in", so to speak, and just groove a few quick fastballs to speed up an inning. Often, I can't get past 5 innings because I think so hard it exhausts me, literally. Thank goodness for the save feature.

This is a VERY relevant point...

Football games average 125 plays or so, basketball has around 200 possessions per contest...

A Baseball game can easily get into the low 300 range (total number of pitches thrown, in addition to the number taken / offered at)...

It can be draining to put prime focus into each and every one of them, but you pretty much need to...

If just a handful of those 300 result in meatballs (when trying to get out of a long AB on the mound or when behind in the count, etc.) or 3-2 K's on pitches out of the zone...blown sac opportunities...any number of things, the "wheels" are gonna come off...

Which is real baseball...

That being said, although I don't believe this game has a comeback code or rubberband AI, it will punish you for blowing stuff you should have executed...

99% of the time, it's my own darn fault (see above), but sometimes I do feel "videogamed" by the swiftness and strength of the AI "retribution" for said poor play...

I've played enough sports games over the past decade (plus) to know the difference...

I just don't get too cranked up about it (well, I TRY), because...well...

It IS a videogame after all...

They all have flaws and unintended consequence of code...

[seanjeezy]

Re: This game CHEATS...

Wow, Its almost like some people are playing a completely different game. 15 pitch at-bats every other inning? An error on every double-play attempt? I'm sorry but I've never seen these scenarios, and I play on all Legend difficulty. All of the mistakes I have made against the CPU are a product of human error, not the CPU suddenly deciding it was time for me to lose.

[gubunko]

Re: This game CHEATS...

99% of the time, it's my own darn fault (see above), but sometimes I do feel "videogamed" by the swiftness and strength of the AI "retribution" for said poor play...

This is exactly how I feel. I usually only play as a pitcher in this game, and what you said is spot on. I'll try to groove a fastball to get ahead, or not think and start fastball to three straight batters, and boom there goes the inning or the game. And when it goes, it goes fast, and it seems there's nothing I can do to recover.

But my experience is mostly with RttS, since that's what I play most, and I chalk most of my troubles up to the fact that my guy is still 23 and wild. And I like that about this game, that it's not exact and that there's variability built in.

Now, I also play with variable strike zones. I've never tried to see how the game will/would play with exact strike zones and umpires, if the AI still takes a borderline low changeup and will chase out of the zone.