MLB 12 The Show: Pulse Pitching Vs Pure Analog

[pokerplaya]

Re: MLB 12 The Show: Pulse Pitching Vs Pure Analog

I feel like the only time I actually do get wild is on pulse pitching. When I get impatient and try and pitch fast or get frustrated I won't wait for the pulse to come down and I'll miss up in the zone or way wide. The meter from years past and analog never really seemed to cause many misses for me. Even when I was off, I was off in a perfect spot because you could control your wildness. On pulse, when you miss, you have no idea where you're going to miss. Could miss in a good spot, could miss wildly in the dirt or way off the plate, could miss right out over and get it crushed 10 miles. I like that mistakes are truly mistakes, not controlled wildness.

I don't walk a ton of people, maybe a few a game. But that is more of a product of me laying it in there in 3 ball counts and daring teams to hit it. I give up a TON of home runs and get hit hard. I probably should work around a few more people and get more walks rather than feed cookies on 3-1, 3-2.

Well, I'm at my in-game save in the final game of my initial series of my franchise (new)... Verlander walked 4 in the first game, Fister walked 0, and I don't think I've walked a hitter through 5 with Scherzer.

With all of that being said, it does feel a lot more sim to me using the classic pitching. I feel that I've got to worry more about my "release point"... even if it's not technically where I'm releasing the ball itself, it does feel more like real pitching to me, which I did not anticipate. Since getting the game (this is the first incarnation of The Show I've owned) I always felt like Classic would be "hit X to continue the sim" in essence, and I couldn't have been further off.

I'm tied in this ballgame, but the entire series has been competitive. For the record, I started this franchise using Armor and Sword's sliders, with the only tweaks being to errors as his setup is for auto fielders, and I control all fielding action. Very happy so far.

[Bobhead]

Re: MLB 12 The Show: Pulse Pitching Vs Pure Analog

That's funny (with respect to the OP) because my initial analysis was that Pure Analog was a much more fun interface, but that Pulse Pitching produces more realistic results. That being said, I think the guys that find it too easy are simply spending too much time, energy, and concentration on timing the pulse. I just sit back and press X when I feel like the circle is small, but I'm not sitting there counting pulses or trying to get it perfect each time. Half the time I don't even pay attention at all. I'm not defending the mode, I'm just suggesting a way to make the most of what you got, as I find it to be very enjoyable.

I still agree it could be made more difficult, though. And less of an eyesore, as I agree it is quite strenuous. And I'm only 23, so age isn't the thing. The circle is really thin and faint and just not very conducive to doing it 120 times per game.

Pokerplaya: You are misunderstanding the sliders. As Heroes said, Consistency is the slider you're looking for. Consistency controls how frequently your pitch goes in the area you aim it. When that pitch does NOT go where you aimed it, Control kicks in, and dictates by how much the pitch misses. The Control slider on its own will not make you miss much more frequently, just more noticeably (ie: a larger distance between intended location and actual location).

Personally, I'm really enjoying Analog Pitching. My walks are also finally where I want them, so I have no complaints, although it took some drastic slider changes, so I certainly wouldn't advocate Pure Analog to anyone who insists on pitching with default sliders. Either way though, it feels fluid, simple, and fun.

[PowerofRed25]

Re: MLB 12 The Show: Pulse Pitching Vs Pure Analog

Another point about pulse pitching for me. I just finished my first ever perfect game in any year of The Show with my RTTS pitcher. Everything was moving beautifully, catching edges, missing where I wanted to miss and just pitching incredibly well. The very next game, I got my butt kicked. 3+ IP, 6 ER on 9 H including 3 homers. I like that if you lose focus with pitch selection and can't locate well, you're probably going to get rocked.

It just feels like on pulse, if I miss or make a mistake, it becomes a true mistake as I have no idea where it's going. You don't have that built in buffer zone where even if you make a mistake with the pitching interface, you'll still miss in the general direction you want to be. On pulse, if you miss and that circle is huge, who knows where it will go. Sometimes you get lucky and it's a swing and a miss or weak contact, sometimes it's nowhere near the zone for a ball, sometimes it gets hit so hard it leaves a smoke trail.

Even if you time up the pulse perfectly, there is no guarantee it will go where you want. If you don't have that pitch that day, who knows where it'll go. Pulse just seems to provide a degree of difficulty the others don't. I like that I'm at the stage of my career in RTTS where I could reel of 3 or 4 straight wins scattering a few hits and a run or two but could very easily get bombed for 6 ER in 3 innings. I've made 15 starts this season, I am 8-3, I have 2 CG (1 perfect game) and pitched into the 8th in 2 others but have also had 4 starts where I gave up 4 or more earned runs (won 1 of those by pure luck).

[jeffy777]

Re: MLB 12 The Show: Pulse Pitching Vs Pure Analog

I adore Pure Analog pitching. I tried Pulse, but it just doesn't work for me like Pure Analog does.

[stealyerface]

Re: MLB 12 The Show: Pulse Pitching Vs Pure Analog

I have gone back to Pure Analog Pitching with the Control and Consistency slider both at Zero.

You really have to concentrate on the stick's forward movement, and it is crucial to get the timing correct for the beginning of the upstroke, with regards to the yellow line on the meter.

I play with no pitching maker, but vibration, and spotting curveballs and offspeed stuff is a lot more challenging, and requires you to actually use the warm up pitches with your starters and relievers, and see where you need to push the stick as far as the feedback goes, to get a pitch to settle in where you want it.

Even with the above settings, I was walking no one with the pulse pitching, as I utilized the 1-2-3-push counting method, and had way too much control.

I also really like changing speeds within the pitch selection itself, and having to decide whether to really rifle that 2-seamer in there, or hold back on a set-up pitch and conserve energy for later on...

Pulse pitching is a fun distraction from the Analog style, but for really getting into the flow of pitching, Pure Analog gives me the white knuckle ride on the mound that I love with this game.

~syf

[Brando70]

Re: MLB 12 The Show: Pulse Pitching Vs Pure Analog

That's funny (with respect to the OP) because my initial analysis was that Pure Analog was a much more fun interface, but that Pulse Pitching produces more realistic results. That being said, I think the guys that find it too easy are simply spending too much time, energy, and concentration on timing the pulse. I just sit back and press X when I feel like the circle is small, but I'm not sitting there counting pulses or trying to get it perfect each time. Half the time I don't even pay attention at all. I'm not defending the mode, I'm just suggesting a way to make the most of what you got, as I find it to be very enjoyable.

Totally agree.

I was an analog guy last year, and I still prefer the mechanics of that interface, but with Pulse, I'm actually last in my franchise in walks. I walk guys like they are blind and I am a seeing-eye dog.

I basically use Pulse as a Classic that gives me an idea of the worst-case scenario for the pitch and that offers me a chance to have input on how the pitch goes. The funny thing is, despite my issue with walks, my ERA was in the top-10 for a while. Now I am walking fewer guys (although still usually at least a handful) but getting hit too. I had house rules that would generate some walks with analog last year, but it was almost impossible for me to walk back-to-back guys or throw four straight balls. I don't mind sacrificing some control for the bh-puckering moment of having the bases loaded and not being able to locate my fastball with the count at 3-0.

Ideally what I would love would be the analog interface with the spread of pulse. Almost like the way the zone batting interface works -- an accuracy cluster with some outliers on the edge. Your really accurate pitchers would usually stay in the cluster, while the guys with bad control will be all over the place.

[Heroesandvillains]

Re: MLB 12 The Show: Pulse Pitching Vs Pure Analog

I was an analog guy last year, and I still prefer the mechanics of that interface, but with Pulse, I'm actually last in my franchise in walks. I walk guys like they are blind and I am a seeing-eye dog.

You've had me cracking up over the last few days! Seeing eye dog! LOL!

I basically use Pulse as a Classic that gives me an idea of the worst-case scenario for the pitch and that offers me a chance to have input on how the pitch goes. The funny thing is, despite my issue with walks, my ERA was in the top-10 for a while. Now I am walking fewer guys (although still usually at least a handful) but getting hit too. I had house rules that would generate some walks with analog last year, but it was almost impossible for me to walk back-to-back guys or throw four straight balls. I don't mind sacrificing some control for the bh-puckering moment of having the bases loaded and not being able to locate my fastball with the count at 3-0.

Ideally what I would love would be the analog interface with the spread of pulse. Almost like the way the zone batting interface works -- an accuracy cluster with some outliers on the edge. Your really accurate pitchers would usually stay in the cluster, while the guys with bad control will be all over the place.

I've actually always been under the presumption that all of the interfaces have hidden accuracy "clusters," or end point zones in which the ball will land based on all of the input and ratings variables.

I've just always felt that the control bonus for good timing was too steep, and the control penalty for bad timing was too minimal.

The overall command is just to high using Analog/Meter/Pulse.

What I'd like to see is for these three interfaces to be re-implemented in a way where only a general ball location is determined by meter timing. And even then, perfect timing in it's current state rewards the user with a very narrow end point for the ball to land.

This shouldn't be the case.

I'd like for meter and pulse timing (all three interfaces other than Classic) to work more as a guide in accessing the players ratings. Currently timing feels more like the dominating factor in outcomes, rather than just a small contributor.

All three of the interactive interfaces need to reflect the /9 stats more accurately, and in my opinion, should remove the user ever so slightly more from a pitches end result.

I understand it's a fine line for SCEA to walk. Make it too wild and people will question why they are even playing the game at all. I get it. But walks and wildness in this series should reflect each pitcher's ratings more than it currently does, without the user having to implement house rules just to accomplish it, in my opinion.

The interfaces are solid. They just could use some work, and some restructuring in the timing rewards/penalty coding.

[chuguman99]

Re: MLB 12 The Show: Pulse Pitching Vs Pure Analog

I've never been a fan of pulse pitching. I've tried (and failed) to pitch in real life, and pure analog captures the feel of pitching much better than pulse does.

[housemikin]

Re: MLB 12 The Show: Pulse Pitching Vs Pure Analog

i love pulse pitching. I think most users who uses classic interface will appreciate the pulse system

pulse pitching is the new classic, but that's just me ^_^

[Heroesandvillains]

Re: MLB 12 The Show: Pulse Pitching Vs Pure Analog

i love pulse pitching. I think most users who uses classic interface will appreciate the pulse system

pulse pitching is the new classic, but that's just me ^_^

I really want for it to be - and maybe someday it will - but until the bonuses for good pulse timing are toned down (or preferably removed all together) it just can't be.

It's a fun interface and is hands down my favorite. But, the way it was implemented this year was a mistake.

No effort control. No completely bonkers wild misses (meaning it's unlikely a batter will be beaned). It's a solid foundation moving onward to 13, no doubt. It's priorities are just all wrong.

Currently it's more Meter than Classic. When I'd like it to be more Classic than Meter (where the /9 ratings play more of a role in pitch results). I'd like it to resemble both, to be honest, but as it currently stands it's just too easy to dominate.