Stats-Based CPU Sliders [MLB 18 Version Season-Mode Memorial Edition]

[nomo17k]

This thread will be about yet another attempt at creating a slider set based on empirical data through running a bunch of CPU vs. CPU games, without any user input at all, just because there should still be a place for misanthropes. There was a similar thread last year.

CPU vs. CPU games master data spreadsheet

[nomo17k]

Re: Stats-Based CPU Sliders [MLB 18 Version Season-Mode Memorial Edition]

Another placeholder...

[nomo17k]

Re: Stats-Based CPU Sliders [MLB 18 Version Season-Mode Memorial Edition]

The initial 75-game set with default sliders has been completed and I'm now testing a new set (which is pretty close to the last year's set). The spreadsheet is accessible in the first post.

I'd summarize what I see with default sliders and what I am trying to do and what not, but for some reason I'm hella sleepy now, so I'll do it in another opportunity, perhaps tomorrow.

Meanwhile, here is the picture of Rollie & Rickey mourning the loss of the Season Mode, which has been an essential part of CPU vs. CPU testing over the years.

[floydpinkster]

Re: Stats-Based CPU Sliders [MLB 18 Version Season-Mode Memorial Edition]

Nomo is back. The one and only original, Don't except any Imitations NOMO. Thank God. Why you gotta scare us every year Bro.

[NolanRyansSnowmonkey]

Re: Stats-Based CPU Sliders [MLB 18 Version Season-Mode Memorial Edition]

The initial 75-game set with default sliders has been completed and I'm now testing a new set (which is pretty close to the last year's set). The spreadsheet is accessible in the first post.

I'd summarize what I see with default sliders and what I am trying to do and what not, but for some reason I'm hella sleepy now, so I'll do it in another opportunity, perhaps tomorrow.

Meanwhile, here is the picture of Rollie & Rickey mourning the loss of the Season Mode, which has been an essential part of CPU vs. CPU testing over the years.

Awesome Nomo. Your testing comforts my OCSD. (Obsessive Compulsive Stat Disorder). Those spreadsheets are like my prescription.

By the way, Rollie and Rickey haven't aged a day since they played! They look great for their age. Something looks different about them but I can't put my finger on it...

[nomo17k]

Re: Stats-Based CPU Sliders [MLB 18 Version Season-Mode Memorial Edition]

Nomo is back. The one and only original, Don't except any Imitations NOMO. Thank God. Why you gotta scare us every year Bro.

I wouldn't mind someone imitating and even doing collaboration as that may make the process go faster. But I at least want to stick to the procedure and standards that have worked reasonably well, so this isn't particularly fun thing to do (I track too much for most want to bother).

Awesome Nomo. Your testing comforts my OCSD. (Obsessive Compulsive Stat Disorder). Those spreadsheets are like my prescription.

By the way, Rollie and Rickey haven't aged a day since they played! They look great for their age. Something looks different about them but I can't put my finger on it...

Every A's game at the Coliseum, Dennis (Eckersley), Rollie, and Rickey do an on-field race. It's so painful to watch the old guys run so hard that their heads swell like this.

[nomo17k]

Re: Stats-Based CPU Sliders [MLB 18 Version Season-Mode Memorial Edition]

My impression after the initial 75-game set with default sliders are that the game is tuned pretty similarly to the last year's game (except HRs... there was a ball physics issue), meaning that offense is quite a bit down and the game is quite strikeout happy.

Also, this year's game appears to have a shortage of HRs (which is the opposite of what it was last year).

It's a little interesting given how many guys have commented that they feel the gameplay this year is as good as they've ever seen, and the game appears to be very well tuned out of the box. (I agree that the vastly better ball physics/hitting engine leads to that impression.) But the numbers appear to show the game at default continues the PS4 era tradition of anemic offense out of the box.

So that's why I've upped quite a few sliders in favor of more offense (pretty close to MLB 17 version of the sliders). But that appeared to have overshot a bit (the 4/1 set), so I'm now testing a little toned down version with the 4/2 set.

[Ninjoid]

Re: Stats-Based CPU Sliders [MLB 18 Version Season-Mode Memorial Edition]

Nomo....simply, welcome back buddy.

[BigShow2010]

Re: Stats-Based CPU Sliders [MLB 18 Version Season-Mode Memorial Edition]

Good morning nomo, for these CPU vs Cpu sliders, what difficulty level do you use for pitching, hitting, and fielding and are these sliders made for franchise mode?

[Incognito]

Re: Stats-Based CPU Sliders [MLB 18 Version Season-Mode Memorial Edition]

It's a little interesting given how many guys have commented that they feel the gameplay this year is as good as they've ever seen, and the game appears to be very well tuned out of the box. (I agree that the vastly better ball physics/hitting engine leads to that impression.) But the numbers appear to show the game at default continues the PS4 era tradition of anemic offense out of the box.

I believe the majority of those commenting on the improved offense (including me) is basing the results on a much smaller sample. I can recall the second game I've watched where the Yankees scored 12 runs on 19 hits, and immediately thought "oh I never saw the CPU in 2017 do that!". There were actually a few higher offensive games earlier. But now that I had more time to play, I've noticed the lack of home run power even more.

This is why I've always looked forward to your work and is always much appreciative of it.

[KBLover]

Re: Stats-Based CPU Sliders [MLB 18 Version Season-Mode Memorial Edition]

It's a little interesting given how many guys have commented that they feel the gameplay this year is as good as they've ever seen, and the game appears to be very well tuned out of the box. (I agree that the vastly better ball physics/hitting engine leads to that impression.) But the numbers appear to show the game at default continues the PS4 era tradition of anemic offense out of the box.

Because most folks aren't data-driven.

That's why I love this thread. Data. Benchmarks. Purely objective observations based on data and testing/changes based on data and how many things you're looking at (including the "guts" of what makes things happen on the field like batted ball rates, etc.)

Once you nail in a set, I'll definitely try it for the CPU in my games and my user pitching, as usual. Worked out well in 16 and 17 so why not again in 18.

[My993C2]

Re: Stats-Based CPU Sliders [MLB 18 Version Season-Mode Memorial Edition]

I wouldn't mind someone imitating and even doing collaboration as that may make the process go faster. But I at least want to stick to the procedure and standards that have worked reasonably well, so this isn't particularly fun thing to do (I track too much for most want to bother).

I started a new MLB 18 Franchise using the default rosters with the sole purpose of using it for only one single season for my 162 MoM games. However for all the other 2268 games on the schedule that my MoM team is not involved in, they will all be CPU vs CPU Fast Play non-QC games. I am not pounding out as many games/day as I may have done in previous years because not only do I work during the day, but I am also getting into some RTTS games this year. But if you want me to collect some stats from my CPU vs CPU games using certain slider settings, send me a message, tell me what you want and I will see what I can do.

[nomo17k]

Re: Stats-Based CPU Sliders [MLB 18 Version Season-Mode Memorial Edition]

Good morning nomo, for these CPU vs Cpu sliders, what difficulty level do you use for pitching, hitting, and fielding and are these sliders made for franchise mode?

I've been doing the same thing for years and got lazy updating with the essential information. I'll eventually update the original post with how the experiment is set up, but for your question the answer is that the difficulty level does not matter in CPU vs. CPU games.

The sliders are mainly for use in watching CPU vs. CPU games and Manage-Only mode.

But this slider set can be adapted to the use with more simulation oriented gameplay, meaning if your input methods are more player attribute driven than user skills (think Classic/Pulse pitching and Directional hitting). But I don't make adjustments for user skills for the set in this thread.

[nomo17k]

Re: Stats-Based CPU Sliders [MLB 18 Version Season-Mode Memorial Edition]

Nomo....simply, welcome back buddy.

All these years I've found interesting how a guy in the U.K find enjoyment in watching baseball (video game) in its purest form that is CPU vs. CPU. How he found baseball to begin with could be a more intriguing question.

I believe the majority of those commenting on the improved offense (including me) is basing the results on a much smaller sample. I can recall the second game I've watched where the Yankees scored 12 runs on 19 hits, and immediately thought "oh I never saw the CPU in 2017 do that!". There were actually a few higher offensive games earlier. But now that I had more time to play, I've noticed the lack of home run power even more.

This is why I've always looked forward to your work and is always much appreciative of it.

There is no doubt this year's game plays great on the field overall in terms of improvement that are visually evident. The initial impression can be a very strong cause for confirmation bias indeed.

Because most folks aren't data-driven.

That's why I love this thread. Data. Benchmarks. Purely objective observations based on data and testing/changes based on data and how many things you're looking at (including the "guts" of what makes things happen on the field like batted ball rates, etc.)

Once you nail in a set, I'll definitely try it for the CPU in my games and my user pitching, as usual. Worked out well in 16 and 17 so why not again in 18.

The spreadsheet has evolved based on what the game gives me in terms of stats and how they could be used for adjusting all the available sliders... so I don't really track much more than necessary for slider purposes. But as you say looking at more detailed breakdown of per-pitch stats is pretty useful for adjusting sliders than standard line stats.

I started a new MLB 18 Franchise using the default rosters with the sole purpose of using it for only one single season for my 162 MoM games. However for all the other 2268 games on the schedule that my MoM team is not involved in, they will all be CPU vs CPU Fast Play non-QC games. I am not pounding out as many games/day as I may have done in previous years because not only do I work during the day, but I am also getting into some RTTS games this year. But if you want me to collect some stats from my CPU vs CPU games using certain slider settings, send me a message, tell me what you want and I will see what I can do.

Thanks. Perhaps at some point if an issue arises where I could use some help, I'll outline what I want to know where help would be helpful (circular argument) to gather more data. I'm actually fine people using my spreadsheet (I've given permissions to those who have explicitly asked via PM before), but I'm not inclined to force people to fill it themselves, as it is basically tedium; if I ask, it's probably something with line stats.

[Ninjoid]

Re: Stats-Based CPU Sliders [MLB 18 Version Season-Mode Memorial Edition]

All these years I've found interesting how a guy in the U.K find enjoyment in watching baseball (video game) in its purest form that is CPU vs. CPU. How he found baseball to begin with could be a more intriguing question.

Always had a big interest in US sport...NHL, MLB, NBA, NCAA...dunno why, maybe I was born in the wrong country.

Having US sports tv coverage in abundance now in the UK helps.

I even used to listen to NFL games on the armed forces radio when I was young and there was no tv coverage.

It was something different I guess...and something I really enjoyed the more I got into it.

Been "playing" cpu v cpu in all genres for years now.

Your work is such a massive help Nomo and is greatly appreciated.

Long may it continue.