Getting past the frustration and getting a better understanding

[ohiost]

This game has a steep learning curve and I'm just starting to put it together. The only good way to play is with the 2D cursor. Any other method is unfair and not realistic IMHO. Striking out the AI is not that difficult if you use your most effective pitches with others mixed in to keep the AI off balance. Hitting requires patience and if you don't have it plan on struggling. Hot zones of the batter play a big role in getting good wood on the ball but I think most people forget about this, I know I did. This a game where you have to wait on good pitches to hit. You can't just go up to the plate hacking in this game. What I've noticed the more I play is that this game wasn't designed for the casual sports gamer like every other sports game. It's for hardcore BB guys. I have to be in the right frame of mind to have success. You will hit a turning point if you play it enough where the "light bulb" goes on and things just come together. I'm appreciating this game more and more and can now see why it has such a devoted fan base. MVP and others really aren't in the same league as this game when it comes to realism. Trust me I wouldn't have said this and was just as frustrated as everyone else at one time.

ohiost

[jjoe]

Re: Getting past the frustration and getting a better understanding

</font><blockquote><font class="small">Quote:</font><hr />
ohiost said:
This game has a steep learning curve and I'm just starting to put it together. The only good way to play is with the 2D cursor. Any other method is unfair and not realistic IMHO. Striking out the AI is not that difficult if you use your most effective pitches with others mixed in to keep the AI off balance. Hitting requires patience and if you don't have it plan on struggling. Hot zones of the batter play a big role in getting good wood on the ball but I think most people forget about this, I know I did. This a game where you have to wait on good pitches to hit. You can't just go up to the plate hacking in this game. What I've noticed the more I play is that this game wasn't designed for the casual sports gamer like every other sports game. It's for hardcore BB guys. I have to be in the right frame of mind to have success. You will hit a turning point if you play it enough where the "light bulb" goes on and things just come together. I'm appreciating this game more and more and can now see why it has such a devoted fan base. MVP and others really aren't in the same league as this game when it comes to realism. Trust me I wouldn't have said this and was just as frustrated as everyone else at one time.

ohiost

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

I like this game, but I have to disagree that it is the most realistic. ASB is great on capturing the essence of baseball...pitchers warm up, the ball park feel, balks, snap throws by the catcher, etc. It's great in that sense and unmatched by the other games. Where it falls short is in the gameplay department. For example, pitcher fatigue is not tied to pitch counts. Relievers fatigue at an unrealistic rate (sometimes after 5 pitches). Ball physics doesn't make a whole lot of sense (hits on outside pitches can be pulled). BAserunning is poorly implemented. And there is very little difference in the actual pitches. If ASB concentrated on fixing gameplay issues to be more realistic, the other games would be in big trouble. It gives a great baseball experience, and I still play it because of this. But it's not as polished as ESPN when it comes to realistic gameplay.

[jjoe]

Re: Getting past the frustration and getting a better understanding

</font><blockquote><font class="small">Quote:</font><hr />
ohiost said:
This game has a steep learning curve and I'm just starting to put it together. The only good way to play is with the 2D cursor. Any other method is unfair and not realistic IMHO. Striking out the AI is not that difficult if you use your most effective pitches with others mixed in to keep the AI off balance. Hitting requires patience and if you don't have it plan on struggling. Hot zones of the batter play a big role in getting good wood on the ball but I think most people forget about this, I know I did. This a game where you have to wait on good pitches to hit. You can't just go up to the plate hacking in this game. What I've noticed the more I play is that this game wasn't designed for the casual sports gamer like every other sports game. It's for hardcore BB guys. I have to be in the right frame of mind to have success. You will hit a turning point if you play it enough where the "light bulb" goes on and things just come together. I'm appreciating this game more and more and can now see why it has such a devoted fan base. MVP and others really aren't in the same league as this game when it comes to realism. Trust me I wouldn't have said this and was just as frustrated as everyone else at one time.

ohiost

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

I like this game, but I have to disagree that it is the most realistic. ASB is great on capturing the essence of baseball...pitchers warm up, the ball park feel, balks, snap throws by the catcher, etc. It's great in that sense and unmatched by the other games. Where it falls short is in the gameplay department. For example, pitcher fatigue is not tied to pitch counts. Relievers fatigue at an unrealistic rate (sometimes after 5 pitches). Ball physics doesn't make a whole lot of sense (hits on outside pitches can be pulled). BAserunning is poorly implemented. And there is very little difference in the actual pitches. If ASB concentrated on fixing gameplay issues to be more realistic, the other games would be in big trouble. It gives a great baseball experience, and I still play it because of this. But it's not as polished as ESPN when it comes to realistic gameplay.

[jjoe]

Re: Getting past the frustration and getting a better understanding

</font><blockquote><font class="small">Quote:</font><hr />
ohiost said:
This game has a steep learning curve and I'm just starting to put it together. The only good way to play is with the 2D cursor. Any other method is unfair and not realistic IMHO. Striking out the AI is not that difficult if you use your most effective pitches with others mixed in to keep the AI off balance. Hitting requires patience and if you don't have it plan on struggling. Hot zones of the batter play a big role in getting good wood on the ball but I think most people forget about this, I know I did. This a game where you have to wait on good pitches to hit. You can't just go up to the plate hacking in this game. What I've noticed the more I play is that this game wasn't designed for the casual sports gamer like every other sports game. It's for hardcore BB guys. I have to be in the right frame of mind to have success. You will hit a turning point if you play it enough where the "light bulb" goes on and things just come together. I'm appreciating this game more and more and can now see why it has such a devoted fan base. MVP and others really aren't in the same league as this game when it comes to realism. Trust me I wouldn't have said this and was just as frustrated as everyone else at one time.

ohiost

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

I like this game, but I have to disagree that it is the most realistic. ASB is great on capturing the essence of baseball...pitchers warm up, the ball park feel, balks, snap throws by the catcher, etc. It's great in that sense and unmatched by the other games. Where it falls short is in the gameplay department. For example, pitcher fatigue is not tied to pitch counts. Relievers fatigue at an unrealistic rate (sometimes after 5 pitches). Ball physics doesn't make a whole lot of sense (hits on outside pitches can be pulled). BAserunning is poorly implemented. And there is very little difference in the actual pitches. If ASB concentrated on fixing gameplay issues to be more realistic, the other games would be in big trouble. It gives a great baseball experience, and I still play it because of this. But it's not as polished as ESPN when it comes to realistic gameplay.

[bigboi_03]

Re: Getting past the frustration and getting a better understanding

ESPN's gameplay is anything BUT the most realistic. The strike-zone is twice as big as it should be, meaning you can't really be a patient hitter in the game. You only get walked when the opposing pitchers decides he wants to pitch four pitches in the dirt.

All-Star IS the closest you can get to real baseball. Patience is a virtue. If you don't go up there hacking (like most bad major-league hitters do), you will be successful at the plate. For those who have read Moneyball, if your hitting approach resembles that of Scott Hatteberg, you will be fine. Look for a pitch in your location (your HOT zone), and don't swing if it's not in there. Who cares if it's a curveball that paints the corner and you don't swing? That's a pitch that would get hit for a ground-out. And the opposing pitcher knows this. That's why at first the ball is never hit well. If you make the opposing pitcher paint the corner every time to get you out, you'll get ahead in the count and make the pitcher come in to you or walk you.

[bigboi_03]

Re: Getting past the frustration and getting a better understanding

ESPN's gameplay is anything BUT the most realistic. The strike-zone is twice as big as it should be, meaning you can't really be a patient hitter in the game. You only get walked when the opposing pitchers decides he wants to pitch four pitches in the dirt.

All-Star IS the closest you can get to real baseball. Patience is a virtue. If you don't go up there hacking (like most bad major-league hitters do), you will be successful at the plate. For those who have read Moneyball, if your hitting approach resembles that of Scott Hatteberg, you will be fine. Look for a pitch in your location (your HOT zone), and don't swing if it's not in there. Who cares if it's a curveball that paints the corner and you don't swing? That's a pitch that would get hit for a ground-out. And the opposing pitcher knows this. That's why at first the ball is never hit well. If you make the opposing pitcher paint the corner every time to get you out, you'll get ahead in the count and make the pitcher come in to you or walk you.

[bigboi_03]

Re: Getting past the frustration and getting a better understanding

ESPN's gameplay is anything BUT the most realistic. The strike-zone is twice as big as it should be, meaning you can't really be a patient hitter in the game. You only get walked when the opposing pitchers decides he wants to pitch four pitches in the dirt.

All-Star IS the closest you can get to real baseball. Patience is a virtue. If you don't go up there hacking (like most bad major-league hitters do), you will be successful at the plate. For those who have read Moneyball, if your hitting approach resembles that of Scott Hatteberg, you will be fine. Look for a pitch in your location (your HOT zone), and don't swing if it's not in there. Who cares if it's a curveball that paints the corner and you don't swing? That's a pitch that would get hit for a ground-out. And the opposing pitcher knows this. That's why at first the ball is never hit well. If you make the opposing pitcher paint the corner every time to get you out, you'll get ahead in the count and make the pitcher come in to you or walk you.

[mjb2124]

Re: Getting past the frustration and getting a better understanding

</font><blockquote><font class="small">Quote:</font><hr />
bigboi_03 said:
ESPN's gameplay is anything BUT the most realistic. The strike-zone is twice as big as it should be, meaning you can't really be a patient hitter in the game. You only get walked when the opposing pitchers decides he wants to pitch four pitches in the dirt.

All-Star IS the closest you can get to real baseball. Patience is a virtue. If you don't go up there hacking (like most bad major-league hitters do), you will be successful at the plate. For those who have read Moneyball, if your hitting approach resembles that of Scott Hatteberg, you will be fine. Look for a pitch in your location (your HOT zone), and don't swing if it's not in there. Who cares if it's a curveball that paints the corner and you don't swing? That's a pitch that would get hit for a ground-out. And the opposing pitcher knows this. That's why at first the ball is never hit well. If you make the opposing pitcher paint the corner every time to get you out, you'll get ahead in the count and make the pitcher come in to you or walk you.

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

That is one man's opinion.

I find ESPN's gameplay to be the most realistic thing to baseball and don't find this statement to be true at all "You only get walked when the opposing pitchers decides he wants to pitch four pitches in the dirt.". I've had many 13-15 pitch battles where I kept fouling off pitch after pitch until I either got a basehit or the CPU walked me.

To each there own in the end. What one man finds to be the most realistic, certainly doesn't mean it will apply to another man.

[mjb2124]

Re: Getting past the frustration and getting a better understanding

</font><blockquote><font class="small">Quote:</font><hr />
bigboi_03 said:
ESPN's gameplay is anything BUT the most realistic. The strike-zone is twice as big as it should be, meaning you can't really be a patient hitter in the game. You only get walked when the opposing pitchers decides he wants to pitch four pitches in the dirt.

All-Star IS the closest you can get to real baseball. Patience is a virtue. If you don't go up there hacking (like most bad major-league hitters do), you will be successful at the plate. For those who have read Moneyball, if your hitting approach resembles that of Scott Hatteberg, you will be fine. Look for a pitch in your location (your HOT zone), and don't swing if it's not in there. Who cares if it's a curveball that paints the corner and you don't swing? That's a pitch that would get hit for a ground-out. And the opposing pitcher knows this. That's why at first the ball is never hit well. If you make the opposing pitcher paint the corner every time to get you out, you'll get ahead in the count and make the pitcher come in to you or walk you.

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

That is one man's opinion.

I find ESPN's gameplay to be the most realistic thing to baseball and don't find this statement to be true at all "You only get walked when the opposing pitchers decides he wants to pitch four pitches in the dirt.". I've had many 13-15 pitch battles where I kept fouling off pitch after pitch until I either got a basehit or the CPU walked me.

To each there own in the end. What one man finds to be the most realistic, certainly doesn't mean it will apply to another man.

[mjb2124]

Re: Getting past the frustration and getting a better understanding

</font><blockquote><font class="small">Quote:</font><hr />
bigboi_03 said:
ESPN's gameplay is anything BUT the most realistic. The strike-zone is twice as big as it should be, meaning you can't really be a patient hitter in the game. You only get walked when the opposing pitchers decides he wants to pitch four pitches in the dirt.

All-Star IS the closest you can get to real baseball. Patience is a virtue. If you don't go up there hacking (like most bad major-league hitters do), you will be successful at the plate. For those who have read Moneyball, if your hitting approach resembles that of Scott Hatteberg, you will be fine. Look for a pitch in your location (your HOT zone), and don't swing if it's not in there. Who cares if it's a curveball that paints the corner and you don't swing? That's a pitch that would get hit for a ground-out. And the opposing pitcher knows this. That's why at first the ball is never hit well. If you make the opposing pitcher paint the corner every time to get you out, you'll get ahead in the count and make the pitcher come in to you or walk you.

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

That is one man's opinion.

I find ESPN's gameplay to be the most realistic thing to baseball and don't find this statement to be true at all "You only get walked when the opposing pitchers decides he wants to pitch four pitches in the dirt.". I've had many 13-15 pitch battles where I kept fouling off pitch after pitch until I either got a basehit or the CPU walked me.

To each there own in the end. What one man finds to be the most realistic, certainly doesn't mean it will apply to another man.

[jake44np]

Re: Getting past the frustration and getting a better understanding

</font><blockquote><font class="small">Quote:</font><hr />
ohiost said:
This game has a steep learning curve and I'm just starting to put it together. The only good way to play is with the 2D cursor. Any other method is unfair and not realistic IMHO. Striking out the AI is not that difficult if you use your most effective pitches with others mixed in to keep the AI off balance. Hitting requires patience and if you don't have it plan on struggling. Hot zones of the batter play a big role in getting good wood on the ball but I think most people forget about this, I know I did. This a game where you have to wait on good pitches to hit. You can't just go up to the plate hacking in this game. What I've noticed the more I play is that this game wasn't designed for the casual sports gamer like every other sports game. It's for hardcore BB guys. I have to be in the right frame of mind to have success. You will hit a turning point if you play it enough where the "light bulb" goes on and things just come together. I'm appreciating this game more and more and can now see why it has such a devoted fan base. MVP and others really aren't in the same league as this game when it comes to realism. Trust me I wouldn't have said this and was just as frustrated as everyone else at one time.

ohiost

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

I totally agree with everything you just mentioned!
This game takes some time but in my opinion is the best baseball sim out now that HH is gone!

[jake44np]

Re: Getting past the frustration and getting a better understanding

</font><blockquote><font class="small">Quote:</font><hr />
ohiost said:
This game has a steep learning curve and I'm just starting to put it together. The only good way to play is with the 2D cursor. Any other method is unfair and not realistic IMHO. Striking out the AI is not that difficult if you use your most effective pitches with others mixed in to keep the AI off balance. Hitting requires patience and if you don't have it plan on struggling. Hot zones of the batter play a big role in getting good wood on the ball but I think most people forget about this, I know I did. This a game where you have to wait on good pitches to hit. You can't just go up to the plate hacking in this game. What I've noticed the more I play is that this game wasn't designed for the casual sports gamer like every other sports game. It's for hardcore BB guys. I have to be in the right frame of mind to have success. You will hit a turning point if you play it enough where the "light bulb" goes on and things just come together. I'm appreciating this game more and more and can now see why it has such a devoted fan base. MVP and others really aren't in the same league as this game when it comes to realism. Trust me I wouldn't have said this and was just as frustrated as everyone else at one time.

ohiost

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

I totally agree with everything you just mentioned!
This game takes some time but in my opinion is the best baseball sim out now that HH is gone!

[jake44np]

Re: Getting past the frustration and getting a better understanding

</font><blockquote><font class="small">Quote:</font><hr />
ohiost said:
This game has a steep learning curve and I'm just starting to put it together. The only good way to play is with the 2D cursor. Any other method is unfair and not realistic IMHO. Striking out the AI is not that difficult if you use your most effective pitches with others mixed in to keep the AI off balance. Hitting requires patience and if you don't have it plan on struggling. Hot zones of the batter play a big role in getting good wood on the ball but I think most people forget about this, I know I did. This a game where you have to wait on good pitches to hit. You can't just go up to the plate hacking in this game. What I've noticed the more I play is that this game wasn't designed for the casual sports gamer like every other sports game. It's for hardcore BB guys. I have to be in the right frame of mind to have success. You will hit a turning point if you play it enough where the "light bulb" goes on and things just come together. I'm appreciating this game more and more and can now see why it has such a devoted fan base. MVP and others really aren't in the same league as this game when it comes to realism. Trust me I wouldn't have said this and was just as frustrated as everyone else at one time.

ohiost

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

I totally agree with everything you just mentioned!
This game takes some time but in my opinion is the best baseball sim out now that HH is gone!

[jjoe]

Re: Getting past the frustration and getting a better understanding

</font><blockquote><font class="small">Quote:</font><hr />
bigboi_03 said:
ESPN's gameplay is anything BUT the most realistic. The strike-zone is twice as big as it should be, meaning you can't really be a patient hitter in the game. You only get walked when the opposing pitchers decides he wants to pitch four pitches in the dirt.

All-Star IS the closest you can get to real baseball. Patience is a virtue. If you don't go up there hacking (like most bad major-league hitters do), you will be successful at the plate. For those who have read Moneyball, if your hitting approach resembles that of Scott Hatteberg, you will be fine. Look for a pitch in your location (your HOT zone), and don't swing if it's not in there. Who cares if it's a curveball that paints the corner and you don't swing? That's a pitch that would get hit for a ground-out. And the opposing pitcher knows this. That's why at first the ball is never hit well. If you make the opposing pitcher paint the corner every time to get you out, you'll get ahead in the count and make the pitcher come in to you or walk you.

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

I disagree. In ESPN, the strike zone has been fixed this year so that it's the right size. Last year it was too big. But this has been fixed. And most pitches that miss are corner pitches that barely miss outside. In ASB, the reason why walks are difficult other than the pitchers being too accurate is because you don't foul off enough balls to work the pitcher. Using 2D cursor, there are NEVER any fouls down the line (or hits down the line for that matter). The CPU fouls off a lot of balls, but not the user. Thus, you can't really work the count. Walking is more than patience...you have to be able to guard the strike zone by working the count. You can do this in EXPN, not ASB. I like ASB because of its atmosphere, the nice little features that captures baseball, but I am not convinced it is very realistic.

[jjoe]

Re: Getting past the frustration and getting a better understanding

</font><blockquote><font class="small">Quote:</font><hr />
bigboi_03 said:
ESPN's gameplay is anything BUT the most realistic. The strike-zone is twice as big as it should be, meaning you can't really be a patient hitter in the game. You only get walked when the opposing pitchers decides he wants to pitch four pitches in the dirt.

All-Star IS the closest you can get to real baseball. Patience is a virtue. If you don't go up there hacking (like most bad major-league hitters do), you will be successful at the plate. For those who have read Moneyball, if your hitting approach resembles that of Scott Hatteberg, you will be fine. Look for a pitch in your location (your HOT zone), and don't swing if it's not in there. Who cares if it's a curveball that paints the corner and you don't swing? That's a pitch that would get hit for a ground-out. And the opposing pitcher knows this. That's why at first the ball is never hit well. If you make the opposing pitcher paint the corner every time to get you out, you'll get ahead in the count and make the pitcher come in to you or walk you.

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

I disagree. In ESPN, the strike zone has been fixed this year so that it's the right size. Last year it was too big. But this has been fixed. And most pitches that miss are corner pitches that barely miss outside. In ASB, the reason why walks are difficult other than the pitchers being too accurate is because you don't foul off enough balls to work the pitcher. Using 2D cursor, there are NEVER any fouls down the line (or hits down the line for that matter). The CPU fouls off a lot of balls, but not the user. Thus, you can't really work the count. Walking is more than patience...you have to be able to guard the strike zone by working the count. You can do this in EXPN, not ASB. I like ASB because of its atmosphere, the nice little features that captures baseball, but I am not convinced it is very realistic.