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**snowmizer** · 07-22-2002, 07:15 PM

Re: ASB...why?

I don't think it's the greatest thing since sliced bread. If it copied everything from the pitching/batting systems of WSB 2k1, then I might. [Note: I will never let go of the fact that those areas of that game should have been widely recognized as near-perfect.]

My quick answer is, with the exception of seemingly too much air time for outfield flies and too many singles off outfield walls, once the ball is put into play, the action proceeds as it should.

To put it even more simply... the on-the-field AI.

**K_Mosley** · 07-22-2002, 08:20 PM

Re: ASB...why?

I don't think it's the greatest thing since sliced bread. As a matter of fact, I prefer that "other" game overall, by a little bit. But, what I really love about ASB is the Expansion mode, and all of the little nuances they've added to the game, like broken bats, the double-play animations, tossing the ball in the stands, etc.

ASB has its quirks, like every other game, but it does offer good baseball fun, and it can be quite challenging, at least for me. Some say they have found it too easy to crank out the homers, but I'm not that good yet!

Kevin

**BaseballGuru** · 07-22-2002, 09:23 PM

Re: ASB...why?

I do think it is the greatest thing since sliced bread... in fact, I'd rather have ASB than sliced bread anyday.

1. Expansion mode
2. Franchise mode
3. Hitting dynamics
4. Pitch realism
5. Animations, animations, animations
6. Taking out guys at 2B on a DP attempt
7. Broken bats
8. Mascots
9. Trivia mode
10. Realistic stadiums (both day and night)
11. Realistic player models
12. Commentary (Steve Lyons is awesome)
13. Throwback uniforms
14. Ball collisions (on home run, foul balls, bases, etc...)
15. Great interface and menu system
16. Derek Jeter
17. Realistic errors and player/ball collisions
18. Injuries
19. Ejections/mound charging
20. Manage-only mode
21. Post season awards
22. Player card reward system
23. More cheats than I've ever seen in a baseball game
24. Difficult and rewarding gameplay
25. Various pickoffs to all bases
26. Animated basecoaches and umpires
27. Cool looking crowd that chants and tries to rally the home team
28. Minor league players
29. Great create-a-player feature
30. It's a fun game

Those are listed in no particular order, and are probably only half of the reasons why I dig the game so much. I'll list more as I think of them.

**LetsGoPitt** · 07-22-2002, 10:12 PM

Re: ASB...why?

Thanks for the reply. Though I'm going to play a little Devil's Advocate here

>1. Expansion mode

A wonderful idea that needs to be implemented in any sports game. This is ASB's biggest selling point, IMHO

>2. Franchise mode

Personally, I like "the other game's" franchise mode better. Each do some things better than the other, and each have their own annoying faults. I guess this is a personal opinion thing.

>3. Hitting dynamics

I'm not quite sure what you mean here...

>4. Pitch realism

I agree/disagree here. I love the pitch options you have (about twice as many pitches as any other game I've played). I don't like how they all seem to act the same once they come off the bat. Ex: sinkers don't produce ground balls

>5. Animations, animations, animations

Which ones? Both games have animations the other doesn't

>6. Taking out guys at 2B on a DP attempt

Good stuff. Needs to be included in all games.

>7. Broken bats

I've hit homeruns off of broken bats (which does happen, but still). I like the idea, but they don't have nearly the impact on the hit as they should. But a good starting point for next year...

>8. Mascots

I guess. I'd like them better if they were more true to life rather than "different guy, same animations" Ex: The Brewers' mascot does not dance on the dugout -- he does the slide thing

>9. Trivia mode

I personally don't care about it, but it's kinda neat...

>10. Realistic stadiums (both day and night)

They're pretty nice, yes. So are "the other game's"

>11. Realistic player models

Yeah, they are pretty good.

>12. Commentary (Steve Lyons is awesome)

I find him annoying, but that's a personal thing. Anyone is better than Ted (Snooze) Robinson though.

>13. Throwback uniforms

They need to be available for franchise games though, like in "the other game"

>14. Ball collisions (on home run, foul balls, bases, etc...)

I agree.

>15. Great interface and menu system

I didn't care for it, actually. Too hard to get around in it, but again, that's me

>16. Derek Jeter

I can't stand him. I can't stand most of the Yankees, actually, but him especially

>17. Realistic errors and player/ball collisions

Agreed

>18. Injuries

Again, I agree. If you don't have injuries in played games, what's the point?

>19. Ejections/mound charging

Pretty cool, yes. Not totally necessary

>20. Manage-only mode

I never use it

>21. Post season awards

Yes, a must-have

>22. Player card reward system

Annoying

>23. More cheats than I've ever seen in a baseball game

"Real players don't need cheats"

>24. Difficult and rewarding gameplay

Almost too difficult in some places, like batting and infield fielding

>25. Various pickoffs to all bases

It is nice to have pick-offs that actually work

>26. Animated basecoaches and umpires

The other game has them too -- except for the jumping out of the way.

>27. Cool looking crowd that chants and tries to rally the home team

I think it's an awful-looking crowd that is the same 8 people clapping in unison. UGH!

>28. Minor league players

The other game has them too, and I think they're impemented better there.

>29. Great create-a-player feature

I liked it too.

>30. It's a fun game

I think the other one is more fun. Again, this is my opinion.

Thanks for the input

**BIG** · 07-22-2002, 10:23 PM

Re: ASB...why?

i didnt like it. It was way too hard for me. I couldnt hit the damn ball

**BaseballGuru** · 07-23-2002, 12:23 AM

Re: ASB...why?

</font><blockquote><font class="small">In reply to:</font><hr />
In fact, this is the only time I'm going to mention "the other game." Please keep your analyses related to ASB and only ASB. Thanks!

<hr /></blockquote><font class="post">
You asked why I liked ASB, and asked to keep "the other game" out of the discussion... didn't you? Yeah, I was just checking.

It's not about what game does this specific thing better, or what game does that specific thing better... it's about what game is better as a whole. As a diehard, true blue baseball fan, I feel that ASB comes the closest to capturing the feel of real baseball. When I watch Sportscenter, I see Giles taking a guy out at second not once, but twice in a game. Right off of his feet... I see this in ASB as well. I see broken bats, balls bouncing off of outfield facades, pitchers that throw 95 miles per hour and people warming up in the bullpens... I see all of these things in ASB. The list goes on and on. When I play ASB, I know that my skill has an effect on the outcome... I'm not sitting back watching scripted events that are chosen for me. I can take my team from non-existance, build them up in a franchise mode that is fun and enjoyable, and play baseball to my heart's content. I get better the more I play, yet I still find the game to be a challenge, some 200 games later. That is why I like the game, despite the opinions of others.

Glad I could help.

**TiLoBrown** · 07-23-2002, 10:23 AM

Re: ASB...why?

I still can't get pickoffs to work in ASB, I stopped trying.

**BaseballGuru** · 07-23-2002, 10:39 AM

Re: ASB...why?

They work really well in 2P modes, especially when you're playing on All Star level. I've played games where we spent 4 or 5 minutes on one batter because I wouldn't let him get a big lead off of first.

**TiLoBrown** · 07-23-2002, 10:43 AM

Re: ASB...why?

Ah, never play 2 player mode since no one else I know likes baseball. It's all football and basketball around here.

**LetsGoPitt** · 07-23-2002, 04:56 PM

Re: ASB...why?

Yeah, I did want to keep WSB out of the discussion. But like I said, I wanted to play Devil's Advocate a little. And I did agree with a lot of what you said. Basicaly my whole point behind the post was to get a positive view of the game (since I didn't care for it) that didn't involve any "other-game-bashing" which is often what happens with these kinds of threads.

Again, thanks for the great reply. I may not have agreed with everything, but that's why I'm not you

And yes, I absolutely loved seeing Giles take out Vina twice in one game, and it's great that a game allows you to do that. The only thing that would make it better would be to be able to control your slides, but maybe I'm wishing for too much

**BaseballGuru** · 07-23-2002, 05:25 PM

Re: ASB...why?

Ok, I was just checking... 'cause you made such a point about not talking about the "other game" and all. You know, 'cause making a thread about why other people like a game and expressly stating that you don't want to turn said thread into a bash-fest, then playing "Devil's Advocate" in an effort to question someone else's opinions of that game might seem kind of hypocritical.

**LetsGoPitt** · 07-23-2002, 09:22 PM

Re: ASB...why?

hmmm *rubbing chin thoughtfully*...yeah, I can see where you're coming from. I think my point was an attempt to show that some of the points you made were more of a subjective thing (i.e. preferring the crowd animations)...trying to "distil" out some of the things. Although a lot of the points you raised were good ones. I can see how it could be interpreted as hypocritical on my part, however.

Ultimately, I think that both games do a lot of things well, and a lot of things not so well.

Something went rightthough , the thread got a star, eh? (erm..that's good, right?

)

**BaseballGuru** · 07-23-2002, 09:57 PM

Re: ASB...why?

One star is better than no stars... at least that's what my second grade teacher used to tell me when she'd give me back my grades on my crappy macaroni sculptures.