ASB: Buy or not?

[Freelance]

Re: ASB: Buy or not?

Buy, buy, buy. It's the best of the offerings this year by a good margin, IMO.

[Goaty]

Re: ASB: Buy or not?

</font><blockquote><font class="small">Quote:</font><hr />

-batting modes suck, zone=you cant hit the ball to right or left field. Classic=you hit nothing but pop ups. Normal=to easy to direct the ball where you want it to go. So in other words, not a good variety of predetermined hits by a user controlled batter.
-Pitching-user controled pitching, its way too easy to throw stikes in this game, and you have to make a concience efford to throw a ball.

But besides those, this game is the most realistic feeling and looking baseball game this year.


<hr /></blockquote><font class="post">

To me those sound like pretty big flaws if you are looking for a realistic on-field experience. What if you never touch the franchise mode (I play OOTP 5 on PC for that) ?

Would you guys still recommend it so highly if you take franchise mode/simmed games out of the picture?

Realistic hit distribution and realistic pitching (no pinpoint control) are big things to me which is why I like HH for 1P.

But I don't think HH is perfect by any means and I get tempted by all this praise for ASB 2004. It seems to me that you guys love it for the franchise mode and stats accuracy on simmed games.

But what about pick-up &amp; play against the CPU? I guess I am looking for the baseball equivalent of NHL 2K3 in that regard and {HH, WSB, MVP, IP} all come up short in one way or another.

[Goaty]

Re: ASB: Buy or not?

</font><blockquote><font class="small">Quote:</font><hr />

-batting modes suck, zone=you cant hit the ball to right or left field. Classic=you hit nothing but pop ups. Normal=to easy to direct the ball where you want it to go. So in other words, not a good variety of predetermined hits by a user controlled batter.
-Pitching-user controled pitching, its way too easy to throw stikes in this game, and you have to make a concience efford to throw a ball.

But besides those, this game is the most realistic feeling and looking baseball game this year.


<hr /></blockquote><font class="post">

To me those sound like pretty big flaws if you are looking for a realistic on-field experience. What if you never touch the franchise mode (I play OOTP 5 on PC for that) ?

Would you guys still recommend it so highly if you take franchise mode/simmed games out of the picture?

Realistic hit distribution and realistic pitching (no pinpoint control) are big things to me which is why I like HH for 1P.

But I don't think HH is perfect by any means and I get tempted by all this praise for ASB 2004. It seems to me that you guys love it for the franchise mode and stats accuracy on simmed games.

But what about pick-up &amp; play against the CPU? I guess I am looking for the baseball equivalent of NHL 2K3 in that regard and {HH, WSB, MVP, IP} all come up short in one way or another.

[Goaty]

Re: ASB: Buy or not?

</font><blockquote><font class="small">Quote:</font><hr />

-batting modes suck, zone=you cant hit the ball to right or left field. Classic=you hit nothing but pop ups. Normal=to easy to direct the ball where you want it to go. So in other words, not a good variety of predetermined hits by a user controlled batter.
-Pitching-user controled pitching, its way too easy to throw stikes in this game, and you have to make a concience efford to throw a ball.

But besides those, this game is the most realistic feeling and looking baseball game this year.


<hr /></blockquote><font class="post">

To me those sound like pretty big flaws if you are looking for a realistic on-field experience. What if you never touch the franchise mode (I play OOTP 5 on PC for that) ?

Would you guys still recommend it so highly if you take franchise mode/simmed games out of the picture?

Realistic hit distribution and realistic pitching (no pinpoint control) are big things to me which is why I like HH for 1P.

But I don't think HH is perfect by any means and I get tempted by all this praise for ASB 2004. It seems to me that you guys love it for the franchise mode and stats accuracy on simmed games.

But what about pick-up &amp; play against the CPU? I guess I am looking for the baseball equivalent of NHL 2K3 in that regard and {HH, WSB, MVP, IP} all come up short in one way or another.

[JStro]

Re: ASB: Buy or not?

For me when I first started using the Classic cursor I did hit several fly balls to CF. Now that I have played well over 100 games using the Classic cursor I am hitting line drives, fly balls, and grounders everywhere on the field. Placement on the cursor and timing of the swing are very important in determining where a ball is going in ASB. The thing is that if you time your swng perfectly 50-60 % of the time you will hit it to CF.

[JStro]

Re: ASB: Buy or not?

For me when I first started using the Classic cursor I did hit several fly balls to CF. Now that I have played well over 100 games using the Classic cursor I am hitting line drives, fly balls, and grounders everywhere on the field. Placement on the cursor and timing of the swing are very important in determining where a ball is going in ASB. The thing is that if you time your swng perfectly 50-60 % of the time you will hit it to CF.

[JStro]

Re: ASB: Buy or not?

For me when I first started using the Classic cursor I did hit several fly balls to CF. Now that I have played well over 100 games using the Classic cursor I am hitting line drives, fly balls, and grounders everywhere on the field. Placement on the cursor and timing of the swing are very important in determining where a ball is going in ASB. The thing is that if you time your swng perfectly 50-60 % of the time you will hit it to CF.

[Graphik]

Re: ASB: Buy or not?

</font><blockquote><font class="small">Quote:</font><hr />
</font><blockquote><font class="small">Quote:</font><hr />

-batting modes suck, zone=you cant hit the ball to right or left field. Classic=you hit nothing but pop ups. Normal=to easy to direct the ball where you want it to go. So in other words, not a good variety of predetermined hits by a user controlled batter.
-Pitching-user controled pitching, its way too easy to throw stikes in this game, and you have to make a concience efford to throw a ball.

But besides those, this game is the most realistic feeling and looking baseball game this year.


<hr /></blockquote><font class="post">

To me those sound like pretty big flaws if you are looking for a realistic on-field experience. What if you never touch the franchise mode (I play OOTP 5 on PC for that) ?

Would you guys still recommend it so highly if you take franchise mode/simmed games out of the picture?

Realistic hit distribution and realistic pitching (no pinpoint control) are big things to me which is why I like HH for 1P.

But I don't think HH is perfect by any means and I get tempted by all this praise for ASB 2004. It seems to me that you guys love it for the franchise mode and stats accuracy on simmed games.

But what about pick-up &amp; play against the CPU? I guess I am looking for the baseball equivalent of NHL 2K3 in that regard and {HH, WSB, MVP, IP} all come up short in one way or another.

<hr /></blockquote><font class="post">

Put it like this, I dont sim games. I've played maybe 40+ games of ASB against the CPU. Yea, the pitching gets to me put later in the game you start missing your spots. No game has the complete randomness of HH. I loved HH for that reason to.
Hit distribution is probably my biggest gripe about this game. But it does have alot of diferent hit locations. Its just that some games, you'll hit 75% pop ups, line drives etc. Then the next game, you'll start hitting to the second and short stop, then back to the pop ups. Its very inconsistent IMO. You'll still ground out into DPs, and have some fielders choices in there. Its justthat the only way to experience a great variety of hit locations is to play Normal and aim the cursor your self. Which I hate.

The reason I say its a realistic 1 player game is because the the outcome is always difrent for each game. Its not like WSB, when you'll have 15 hits and 3 runs, not like MVP where you'll have no strike outs for 2 straight games, its pitchers duels, its all out hits and runs fest, its games where you'll pitcher will get shelled early and your Long Reliever will take over an inning to warm up thus leaving you pitcher in to die. Its total and complete baseball, with all the hot/cold zones, in game pitch counts, pitch histories to each batter, lineup card watching, stratergy that is baseball. No game catches it as good as HH, but IMO ASB is a close second because of the details and extras that it has that HH does'nt have.
And dont get me started on the francise. All I will say is that you feel more in control of your teams destiny throughout a season than any other baseball game this year. WSB is a close second but ASB will make you wanna look at each teams player and team stats before you play your next game to be prepared. ASB is the only game I do this for. WSB was just on to the next game without checking the teams stats.

[Graphik]

Re: ASB: Buy or not?

</font><blockquote><font class="small">Quote:</font><hr />
</font><blockquote><font class="small">Quote:</font><hr />

-batting modes suck, zone=you cant hit the ball to right or left field. Classic=you hit nothing but pop ups. Normal=to easy to direct the ball where you want it to go. So in other words, not a good variety of predetermined hits by a user controlled batter.
-Pitching-user controled pitching, its way too easy to throw stikes in this game, and you have to make a concience efford to throw a ball.

But besides those, this game is the most realistic feeling and looking baseball game this year.


<hr /></blockquote><font class="post">

To me those sound like pretty big flaws if you are looking for a realistic on-field experience. What if you never touch the franchise mode (I play OOTP 5 on PC for that) ?

Would you guys still recommend it so highly if you take franchise mode/simmed games out of the picture?

Realistic hit distribution and realistic pitching (no pinpoint control) are big things to me which is why I like HH for 1P.

But I don't think HH is perfect by any means and I get tempted by all this praise for ASB 2004. It seems to me that you guys love it for the franchise mode and stats accuracy on simmed games.

But what about pick-up &amp; play against the CPU? I guess I am looking for the baseball equivalent of NHL 2K3 in that regard and {HH, WSB, MVP, IP} all come up short in one way or another.

<hr /></blockquote><font class="post">

Put it like this, I dont sim games. I've played maybe 40+ games of ASB against the CPU. Yea, the pitching gets to me put later in the game you start missing your spots. No game has the complete randomness of HH. I loved HH for that reason to.
Hit distribution is probably my biggest gripe about this game. But it does have alot of diferent hit locations. Its just that some games, you'll hit 75% pop ups, line drives etc. Then the next game, you'll start hitting to the second and short stop, then back to the pop ups. Its very inconsistent IMO. You'll still ground out into DPs, and have some fielders choices in there. Its justthat the only way to experience a great variety of hit locations is to play Normal and aim the cursor your self. Which I hate.

The reason I say its a realistic 1 player game is because the the outcome is always difrent for each game. Its not like WSB, when you'll have 15 hits and 3 runs, not like MVP where you'll have no strike outs for 2 straight games, its pitchers duels, its all out hits and runs fest, its games where you'll pitcher will get shelled early and your Long Reliever will take over an inning to warm up thus leaving you pitcher in to die. Its total and complete baseball, with all the hot/cold zones, in game pitch counts, pitch histories to each batter, lineup card watching, stratergy that is baseball. No game catches it as good as HH, but IMO ASB is a close second because of the details and extras that it has that HH does'nt have.
And dont get me started on the francise. All I will say is that you feel more in control of your teams destiny throughout a season than any other baseball game this year. WSB is a close second but ASB will make you wanna look at each teams player and team stats before you play your next game to be prepared. ASB is the only game I do this for. WSB was just on to the next game without checking the teams stats.

[Graphik]

Re: ASB: Buy or not?

</font><blockquote><font class="small">Quote:</font><hr />
</font><blockquote><font class="small">Quote:</font><hr />

-batting modes suck, zone=you cant hit the ball to right or left field. Classic=you hit nothing but pop ups. Normal=to easy to direct the ball where you want it to go. So in other words, not a good variety of predetermined hits by a user controlled batter.
-Pitching-user controled pitching, its way too easy to throw stikes in this game, and you have to make a concience efford to throw a ball.

But besides those, this game is the most realistic feeling and looking baseball game this year.


<hr /></blockquote><font class="post">

To me those sound like pretty big flaws if you are looking for a realistic on-field experience. What if you never touch the franchise mode (I play OOTP 5 on PC for that) ?

Would you guys still recommend it so highly if you take franchise mode/simmed games out of the picture?

Realistic hit distribution and realistic pitching (no pinpoint control) are big things to me which is why I like HH for 1P.

But I don't think HH is perfect by any means and I get tempted by all this praise for ASB 2004. It seems to me that you guys love it for the franchise mode and stats accuracy on simmed games.

But what about pick-up &amp; play against the CPU? I guess I am looking for the baseball equivalent of NHL 2K3 in that regard and {HH, WSB, MVP, IP} all come up short in one way or another.

<hr /></blockquote><font class="post">

Put it like this, I dont sim games. I've played maybe 40+ games of ASB against the CPU. Yea, the pitching gets to me put later in the game you start missing your spots. No game has the complete randomness of HH. I loved HH for that reason to.
Hit distribution is probably my biggest gripe about this game. But it does have alot of diferent hit locations. Its just that some games, you'll hit 75% pop ups, line drives etc. Then the next game, you'll start hitting to the second and short stop, then back to the pop ups. Its very inconsistent IMO. You'll still ground out into DPs, and have some fielders choices in there. Its justthat the only way to experience a great variety of hit locations is to play Normal and aim the cursor your self. Which I hate.

The reason I say its a realistic 1 player game is because the the outcome is always difrent for each game. Its not like WSB, when you'll have 15 hits and 3 runs, not like MVP where you'll have no strike outs for 2 straight games, its pitchers duels, its all out hits and runs fest, its games where you'll pitcher will get shelled early and your Long Reliever will take over an inning to warm up thus leaving you pitcher in to die. Its total and complete baseball, with all the hot/cold zones, in game pitch counts, pitch histories to each batter, lineup card watching, stratergy that is baseball. No game catches it as good as HH, but IMO ASB is a close second because of the details and extras that it has that HH does'nt have.
And dont get me started on the francise. All I will say is that you feel more in control of your teams destiny throughout a season than any other baseball game this year. WSB is a close second but ASB will make you wanna look at each teams player and team stats before you play your next game to be prepared. ASB is the only game I do this for. WSB was just on to the next game without checking the teams stats.

[Goaty]

Re: ASB: Buy or not?

thaks for taking the time to post such detailed pros/cons of ASB, and we are in agreement on the relative pros/cons of {MVP, WSB, HH}. Which means that if you like ASB so much then I will probably like ASB too

I can get ASB (used) at my local Gamestop for about $32 so it is very tempting...

[Goaty]

Re: ASB: Buy or not?

thaks for taking the time to post such detailed pros/cons of ASB, and we are in agreement on the relative pros/cons of {MVP, WSB, HH}. Which means that if you like ASB so much then I will probably like ASB too

I can get ASB (used) at my local Gamestop for about $32 so it is very tempting...

[Goaty]

Re: ASB: Buy or not?

thaks for taking the time to post such detailed pros/cons of ASB, and we are in agreement on the relative pros/cons of {MVP, WSB, HH}. Which means that if you like ASB so much then I will probably like ASB too

I can get ASB (used) at my local Gamestop for about $32 so it is very tempting...

[milbrewcity]

Re: ASB: Buy or not?

can't you tilt the normal cursor so that you don't hit it to center field all the time? that's what i do.

[milbrewcity]

Re: ASB: Buy or not?

can't you tilt the normal cursor so that you don't hit it to center field all the time? that's what i do.