IGN Hands-On

[JaSnake16]

Re: IGN Hands-On

[QUOTE=jim416]At the beginning of a game, you can choose to spend scouting points on different members of the opposition -- pitchers cost more, followed by hitters in descending order of power. In the game, you can then see what the opposing pitcher is most likely to throw, broken down in percentages of each pitch. You can also see the three most likely targets. Think about it: it's a big advantage when down 0-2 to know if a pitcher prefers the high heat out of the zone or likes to go after the hitter for a quick K.

I actually think that this is a great feature, gimmicky yes, but still. Im far from a 2K fanboy, in fact I think I played all of 2 2K5 games last season as MVP was my far and away game of choice, but this could be truly innovational if it works correctly. Catchers callin signals giving a catchers awareness ratings (or whatever they call it) alot of importance, it gives those "useless" video game catchers like Ausmus and Matheny some importance.

But of course it comes down to gameplay. If the gameplay is crap then its not gonna matter what little innovations they have in there.

[nemesis04]

Re: IGN Hands-On

Every pitch that breaks in a direction will be aimed at the spot where you want the break to begin, not where it ends..

Looks like they learned from the Sony Mlb series.

[jim416]

Re: IGN Hands-On

if it works correctly

Yes, you're right and that's where my concern comes in. It seems that "new"
and "innovative" things usually wind up either not quite working right, or is a mess all together. I can remember that one behind the fielder view with ASB. Great idea and just LOVED the big red glow they had to put around the ball so that you had some idea where the ball was going. Ugh.

It's still to early, but there are no improvements until it's out of the box and we get to see it first hand. I can list a number of different games that had new stuff and this stuff wound up not so good.

This game had TONS of issues last year and we ARE told how difficult it is to make these games "work" by the developers, but they seem to come up with new stuff every year instead of fixing the danged baseball game.

Look at the trailer. No helmet on in the batters box. I'd be embarrassed as a developer to try to throw that on the public. I'm just a little tired of the same old same old from these guys. I'm hopin' somebody gets it half way right.

[RoyalBoyle78]

Re: IGN Hands-On

all the pics are old.

[mjb2124]

Re: IGN Hands-On

Guys, please stop the bickering.


My opinion:

I dislike the feature that Jim416 mentioned above. The scouting reports feature. This is only my opinion, but I don't want to have any idea what type of pitch a pitcher wants to throw or where. Let ME determine that by facing said pitcher and using my brain to determine how he's pitched to that hitter in previous AB's.

The hit stick isn't something I think I'll enjoy. I haven't played it yet so I have no idea, but I don't like the sound of it. True Aim batting was perfect for me.

The new pitching model. At first thought the idea that I had to factor in the break on pitches sounded great (especially in terms of walks and not having pinpoint accuracy). However, I'm sure after playing for a little bit, this will also become too easy. It's just a matter of getting used to the pitcher you're using and knowing how far his pitches will break. I've yet to see a baseball game represent walks very well (HH had walks, but it seemed predetermined at times).

Anyhow, it's all a moot point. This is the only MLB game for Xbox/Xbox 360 so if you have one of those consoles and want an MLB game, this is it.

[HealyMonster]

Re: IGN Hands-On

shea stadium looks disgusting, white dudes have greyish skin still, nothing looks improved grahically, nothing really innovateive as far as "new features" most likely same will be for the 360, man i miss all star baseball

[Blzer]

Re: IGN Hands-On

I like the sounds of everything, except maybe the Swing Stick. Granted, I haven't used it yet, but the whole "controlling where your hit goes" was something that I didn't like in MVP's game. However, they did not say whether or not aiming to hit the ball will compensate in whether you make contact, or with what type of contact you will make (if you swing down on a ball but you are under it, you shouldn't hit a ground ball... you should either hit a light backspinner, or a foul tip).

I'm going to reserve judgment on that... but I may just go back to regular hitting with the A button. They didn't say how to do bunts with the Swing Stick, either.



The scouting feature is a little lame in the sense that better players are more points. I think that it should be like real life: you know a hitter more if he's been seen and exploited more. To whomever said that this is not a good feature... I will agree that it's definitely not implemented the best way, but I guess you also don't have to spend the points on it, either.

I never used SlamZone or played online, so default or not doesn't matter to me.



No comment on anything else. I still have to see more movies (and get our interview questions answered).

[BumbaObutuu]

Re: IGN Hands-On

speaking of interview questions... how long does it usually take till we get our answers??

[backbreaker]

Re: IGN Hands-On

Great job VC/Kush, you are moving the series forward, making it feature rich and accessbile to all gamers depended upon style of play. I'm digging all the features, in-side edge is very big league and falls in line with what is going on in the majors with percentages and tendencies. Swing stick is truly moving the hitting model to the next generation, I'm loving that you guys are making the catcher and integral part of the game like he should be. That picking off base stealers in first person mode is awesome. I'm gitty with joy that breaks in the pitch has been implemented and I hope you are following the model of MLB 2006 from 989.

I can't wait too play your game, and give an honest assessment of the features. Keep up the good work, and put up a middle finger to the detractors and anyone who looks like them.

[NYJets]

Re: IGN Hands-On

I like the hit stick idea. I'm glad the batting system seems more like MVP. Hopefully it will be like MVP in that your type of hit matches up with the type of swing you take and the location of the ball. Otherwise it could be an arcade fest.

Besides that, I don't really know. I'm not worried about features at all, I just want them to fix the bugs, and improve the ball physics and hit variety.

Can't wait to see the 360 version, hopefully that fixes a lot of the terrible animations.

[nemesis04]

Re: IGN Hands-On

The new pitching model. At first thought the idea that I had to factor in the break on pitches sounded great (especially in terms of walks and not having pinpoint accuracy). However, I'm sure after playing for a little bit, this will also become too easy. It's just a matter of getting used to the pitcher you're using and knowing how far his pitches will break. I've yet to see a baseball game represent walks very well (HH had walks, but it seemed predetermined at times).

If it is implemented similar to the one in Mlb 06, it allows for a lot more variability in pitching than just choosing its final destination. The meter comes into play a lot more if you stop it earlier or later causing different breaks for the same pitch and your pitcher can get wild at times too.

[Blzer]

Re: IGN Hands-On

If it is implemented similar to the one in Mlb 06, it allows for a lot more variability in pitching than just choosing its final destination. The meter comes into play a lot more if you stop it earlier or later causing different breaks for the same pitch and your pitcher can get wild at times too.

Now that they've taken NBA 2K6's Shot Stick for swinging, I can't wait until they develop their Free Throw mechanism for pitching. Wouldn't it be nice to have to nail your release by flinging upward... or something? You know... something where release is not obvious by meters or anything, but where you have to judge it for yourself. That's how we can use before-inning prep or getting used to pitchers coming in the game... by warming up with them.

Also, that's how they could take different pitches into account, I guess. Give it a 180* circular rotation for spin or something.

Well, maybe not that much, but possibly that could be the way to say what kind of pressure (on a side of the ball) you want your fingers to be on, resulting in tail on your pitch, or a cutter.

[mjb2124]

Re: IGN Hands-On

I like the hit stick idea. I'm glad the batting system seems more like MVP. Hopefully it will be like MVP in that your type of hit matches up with the type of swing you take and the location of the ball.

That's what I'm hoping it's not.

[jmood88]

Re: IGN Hands-On

shea stadium looks disgusting, white dudes have greyish skin still, nothing looks improved grahically, nothing really innovateive as far as "new features" most likely same will be for the 360, man i miss all star baseball

I don't know how anybody can miss that crappy game.

[mjb2124]

Re: IGN Hands-On

If it is implemented similar to the one in Mlb 06, it allows for a lot more variability in pitching than just choosing its final destination. The meter comes into play a lot more if you stop it earlier or later causing different breaks for the same pitch and your pitcher can get wild at times too.

I've never played MLB 06 (no PS2) so I'm not real sure how that works.

My worry was that each pitcher would have a set amount of movement for each pitch that wouldn't change throughout the game. Therefore it would be tough at first, but eventually, you'd figure out how much each would break and would be able to pinpoint pitches once you knew the amount of movement.

Of course, having not played the game, I might be concerned about nothing!