ASB 05 question

[GB33]

I just have a quick opinion question. I impulse grabbed this today for $10 but have yet to open it, as I know there are plenty better things to spend my $10 on right now, such as dinner Sunday for my daughters baptism. But I had heard good things about it, and I remember enjoying it last year when I rented it briefly on PS2. I got it for Xbox this time though so I can download some rosters via AR if there are some out there.
My questions are, how does it play? How good is the franchise? Realistic gameplay and computer AI? If I remember there is some annoying thing where the fielder will get anything near him due to the "vacuum" fielding. And that the 1st baseman would try to throw the ball around after 3rd out but nobody would catch it so ball rolls to OF. But any major annoying flaws that should have me returning this? I just wanted a different baseball fix, although I am very happy with and love the MLB06 by 989 alot. Just saw it, and remember some people really liking it so I thought I'd give it a go. Do you guys think it'll satisfy a minor baseball itch, or should I just keep going with my perfectly content MLB game and just wait till Feb/March for the new ones? Or is editing this game worth it? Thanks for any opinions.

[jim416]

Re: ASB 05 question

GB33,

The game plays great with some fixes. I have it on XBOX and am just wrapping up a roster update, so I can't help you there.

I'm not sure there is a PS2 roster update with the fixes. For example, too many singles off the walls. It's fixed by upping the runners speed (many of them have a D rating) and lowering the OF range (far too many have A ratings). It does take time to do this, but you can do it one game at a time and you can edit all players at anytime during your franchise. Yes, there is a missing animation where the SS should catch a "round the horn" and the ball sails by him, but you won't see that on certain camera fielding views.

The graphics are great, animations are good, stadiums are awesome, check swings, bunting, intentional walks, announcers, etc., etc. A good solid game and wish Acclaim didn't fold.

Let me know if I can help you with other stuff.

[GB33]

Re: ASB 05 question

Thanks alot for the reply, doesn't seem to be intruiging too many others, although some people have lives and do things on Friday nights I guess. Gee, I remember those days.
Anyways, I did get it for the Xbox so I would appreciate any updates and or fixes you could turn me onto. I am a bit confused though from what I have read; if I download your rosters, it's not a seperate "roster" file, but instead a Washington Admirals franchise you have, so I would be forsced to use that team and franchise only? I don't get that. I believe you were not the biggest fan of mlb06 if I recall, but I love it. To you, is ASB on par or above this game? I am also a former fan of the HH series, though MLB06 (and 05) have definately been my favorites as of late. Should I go ahead and open it up and give it a go with your adjustments? Thanks.

[jim416]

Re: ASB 05 question

Unfortunately ASB does not let you save a pre-franchise roster. Tell me that doesn't suck, so you have to choose a team. I chose the Washington Admirals and traded all the National players onto that team. The CPU created the Weasels. The Expos are still in the game also.

I didn't like MLb2006 because of the awful roster management. I'm going to try to upload the latest (with Walker retired, Palmeiro off the ML roster, Jackson on the Admirals, etc. Here goes.

Okay, it uploaded, whew. Let me take a look at this tomorrow as I'm not sure all the attribute fixes were done for every team, but it's easy to do before each series you play against another team and you only have to do it once for that team if you are saving after every game.

[GB33]

Re: ASB 05 question

Thanks again Jim, but I am still a little confused. So I do have to play as your admirals to get your new rosters and fixes to attributes? Or can I start with your save, and then switch over to another team.
I do understand mlb has an aweful roster management system, and if you can believe it, that was improved over 05! But I am more concerned about your opinions of it vs ASB in the gameplay and presentation parts of the game as these are what I am most concerned with. Thanks again.

[jim416]

Re: ASB 05 question

Well, I find the presentation in ASB great.

No, you're stuck with the Admirals as there is no way to make roster adjustments and just save it then start a franchise and choose your team. That's a biggy for someone who wants to play as their favorite team. You'd have to start a franchise say, as the Cardinals, do all the adjustments, trades, etc. and THEN save it.

I never played MLB all that much because of the roster problem, but from what I did play it was solid. ASB with the tweaks is solid too, but it doesn't feel quite as natural as MLB, if that makes sense.

[GB33]

Re: ASB 05 question

Hmm, I gotta say the whole roster thing kind of stinks. I am not sure that I feel like putting that much into it just to have a good baseball game on the Xbox (2k5 just doesn't cut it for me). I just don't have a real desire to play as the Admirals. But then again, from what I remember, it is a pretty good playing game, and probably will look a bit better on Xbox than it did when I played it on PS2. On the other hand MLB has me going just fine with my career mode, and my face with the eyetoy. Then again I could just do a fantasy draft for the leagues and not worry about current rosters, and maybe just do the "fixes" you have to get better gameplay. Oh man I am making this $10 decisiion an awefully big deal.

[e0820]

Re: ASB 05 question

It has good game play and the franchise mode is pretty good, for $10 its a good game.

btw, My daughter is being baptised on Sunday also, coincidence.

[jim416]

Re: ASB 05 question

Oh man I am making this $10 decisiion an awefully big deal.

Lol. Well, I'd put the ten bucks in a jar and apply it towards next years game.

e0280, congratulations to your daughter. My entire life started to turn when I had my best friend of 28 years baptize me about 4 years ago.

[GB33]

Re: ASB 05 question

[b]
e0280, congratulations to your daughter. My entire life started to turn when I had my best friend of 28 years baptize me about 4 years ago.

I'll go ahead and put in a congrats for my daughter from you as well Jim. And send one out to you e0820, this child raising stuff is pretty damn cool Thanks for all your input Jim, I may just do that, maybe I will put my $10 towards the keg of Miller Lite for tomorrow. You know, you can never have a baptism without beer! I know this is no religious board, but Jim didn't I read you are in your 60's?! Why the long delay in baptism? And how the hell do you have so much time for video games? Play much else other than baseball?
Being the conservative, catholic, and now broke parent that I am, I will be holding out on the next gen systems, how about you? Please give MLB a chance, played it again tonight to get rid of my ASB bug and it cleared it right up, just an awesome baseball game.

[jim416]

Re: ASB 05 question

Hi GB33,

I'll go ahead and put in a congrats for my daughter from you as well Jim. And send one out to you e0820, this child raising stuff is pretty damn cool Thanks for all your input Jim, I may just do that, maybe I will put my $10 towards the keg of Miller Lite for tomorrow. You know, you can never have a baptism without beer! I know this is no religious board, but Jim didn't I read you are in your 60's?!

60's, my gosh. Just turned a young 59, lol. I have learned one thing when growing old. You don't have to give up on your passions (baseball) and having fun in life.

Why the long delay in baptism?

Well, I was sort of an agnostic, married to an atheist. I won't blame her though (ex) as I'm responsible for my own faith. Had a great friend of 28 years who shares a passion for baseball. If you go to my website, www.geocities.com/militarypoliceofvietnam and check out under my book ABOUT THE AUTHOR you will see he and I hitting a hardball around, and we were in our 40s at the time. This wonderful friend, a deacon in the Lutheran church, has been my mentor. He's 62 and is still playing HH2k3 on his PC. He baptized me a few years ago and, if you read my book, will see what it did for me personally in my life.

And how the hell do you have so much time for video games? Play much else other than baseball?

I'm a retired cop. Baseball is a passion, have direct tv MLB extra innings too.
I also wrote a book, you can see on my site. It's not a war book. The Ghosts I talk of is a little girl actually. Lots of free time and have a wonderful catholic wife, full of passion for life and faith, from Mexicali, Mexico.
We've been married 14 years now.

Being the conservative, catholic, and now broke parent that I am, I will be holding out on the next gen systems, how about you? Please give MLB a chance, played it again tonight to get rid of my ASB bug and it cleared it right up, just an awesome baseball game.

I'm holding out also to get some reviews on the next games releases. I DO need to be able to manage rosters though. Like the rosters as close to real life as possible. I thought MLB played a great game, roster management was just lousy. I'm playing MVP right now (winter ball) and enjoying it. I haven't started a season yet as I can't get the danged MVP editor to work. Have been downloading new stadiums, photos, etc.

I'll send you a PM with my email and we'll keep in touch.

WOOPS, you can read my response in the greyed out area. I hit the wrong button.

By the way, a hobby of ours is mall walks now. Going and checking out all the beautiful girls at the mall. It's all innocent as we both have beautiful wives. In a few years, as we get older, we will probably forego the mall walks for naps.

jim