Hit Variability Not so Good

[Bondsfan]

I actually really like this game. I'm new to the 2K series and its not as good as MVP, but its still a good baseball game. The baserunning and fielding are a little clunky, but I'm sure I'll get used to that.

The biggest concern I have so far is hit variability. I'm playing with the SF Giants and I hit probably 2-3 home runs a game (in six games only one for Bonds... everyone else practically has at least one homer too... but almost all of the rest of my hits are singles. I can only remember hitting one double so far in my season, and I'm six games into it. I lead the league in home runs and I get about 9 hits a game, which is statistically accurate, but its always singles or homeruns.

This is a big concern for me. So far the hit distribution reminds me alot of the old Triple Play series (I think this speaks for itself as a BAD BAD OMEN for any baseball game).

Is anyone else having similar problems? I'm playing on All Star level by the way.

[ThePebble19]

Re: Hit Variability Not so Good

I actually really like this game. I'm new to the 2K series and its not as good as MVP, but its still a good baseball game. The baserunning and fielding are a little clunky, but I'm sure I'll get used to that.

The biggest concern I have so far is hit variability. I'm playing with the SF Giants and I hit probably 2-3 home runs a game (in six games only one for Bonds... everyone else practically has at least one homer too... but almost all of the rest of my hits are singles. I can only remember hitting one double so far in my season, and I'm six games into it. I lead the league in home runs and I get about 9 hits a game, which is statistically accurate, but its always singles or homeruns.

This is a big concern for me. So far the hit distribution reminds me alot of the old Triple Play series (I think this speaks for itself as a BAD BAD OMEN for any baseball game).

Is anyone else having similar problems? I'm playing on All Star level by the way.

I'm getting some doubles, at least 1 or 2 a game...I rarely get anything beyond that, I think I have only had 1 triple in 6 or 7 games, and that was because Adam Dunn decided to "Gus Frerotte" it into the wall instead of picking up the grounder near the warning track.

The hitting system is challenging though...I like trying to pick where you think the ball is coming next to try and get a read on where you need to swing.

[Bondsfan]

Re: Hit Variability Not so Good

I'm getting some doubles, at least 1 or 2 a game...I rarely get anything beyond that, I think I have only had 1 triple in 6 or 7 games, and that was because Adam Dunn decided to "Gus Frerotte" it into the wall instead of picking up the grounder near the warning track.

The hitting system is challenging though...I like trying to pick where you think the ball is coming next to try and get a read on where you need to swing.

I like the hitting system. I tried the swing stick for about 5 games and while I did hit an occaisional home run and get a decent amount of hits, I was also striking out at least ten times a game because check swinging was so stinking hard to do. So I went back to classic hitting, which is strikingly similar to MVPs hitting system in the past (down for a grounder, up for a flyball... hit it where its pitched...) and I've noticed alot better results in terms of striking out less. I still hit 3 homers a game and a handfull of singles with a rare double... I'm starting to get very concerned this game is turning into Triple Play. In six games of my season on All Star, I've hit homeruns with guys like Omar Vizguel, Steve Finley, Todd Greene, Mike Mattheny, and Lance Neikro. I've hit 2 or 3 with Pedro Feliz. Bonds has one. There just shouldn't be this many homeruns and should be more extra base hits IMO.

Not to mention, the computer is homer happy too! Against the Braves in 2 games I've given up about 10 homeruns. Now I realize some games there will be alot of homeruns, but I swear if I throw the ball over the plate to Chipper or Andrew Jones, its gone!

[RGmoney]

Re: Hit Variability Not so Good

I like the hitting system. I tried the swing stick for about 5 games and while I did hit an occaisional home run and get a decent amount of hits, I was also striking out at least ten times a game because check swinging was so stinking hard to do. So I went back to classic hitting, which is strikingly similar to MVPs hitting system in the past (down for a grounder, up for a flyball... hit it where its pitched...) and I've noticed alot better results in terms of striking out less. I still hit 3 homers a game and a handfull of singles with a rare double... I'm starting to get very concerned this game is turning into Triple Play. In six games of my season on All Star, I've hit homeruns with guys like Omar Vizguel, Steve Finley, Todd Greene, Mike Mattheny, and Lance Neikro. I've hit 2 or 3 with Pedro Feliz. Bonds has one. There just shouldn't be this many homeruns and should be more extra base hits IMO.

Not to mention, the computer is homer happy too! Against the Braves in 2 games I've given up about 10 homeruns. Now I realize some games there will be alot of homeruns, but I swear if I throw the ball over the plate to Chipper or Andrew Jones, its gone!

Yeah, seems like some slider adjustments can fix some of your issues. I can get doubles with my speed guys. Have had a triple with Pierre so far. And I have learned so far that the good hitters will make you pay if you serve up some "BP" fastballs or a "fat" pitch over the plate. I learned this quickly in MLB The Show as well. Good to see in both games. All I will say is St. Louis's "#5" scares me in that game too... We don't say his name in Cubs country... LOL

I have learned to put my thinking cap on and buy some of the IE reports on certain players when I'm pitching. I flat-out love the pitching mechanic this year as well.

[ThePebble19]

Re: Hit Variability Not so Good

Yeah, seems like some slider adjustments can fix some of your issues. I can get doubles with my speed guys. Have had a triple with Pierre so far. And I have learned so far that the good hitters will make you pay if you serve up some "BP" fastballs or a "fat" pitch over the plate. I learned this quickly in MLB The Show as well. Good to see in both games. All I will say is St. Louis's "#5" scares me in that game too... We don't say his name in Cubs country... LOL

I have learned to put my thinking cap on and buy some of the IE reports on certain players when I'm pitching. I flat-out love the pitching mechanic this year as well.

You are right about that...I was screwing around the other day with the Mets against Cooperstown Legends, and the first pitch was some high heat I fired to Joe Morgan, who promptly sent it into the upper deck down the left field line in Shea Stadium....Just something about Joe Morgan talking about how well Joe Morgan just hit my best fastball made me want to punch him.

[RGmoney]

Re: Hit Variability Not so Good

You are right about that...I was screwing around the other day with the Mets against Cooperstown Legends, and the first pitch was some high heat I fired to Joe Morgan, who promptly sent it into the upper deck down the left field line in Shea Stadium....Just something about Joe Morgan talking about how well Joe Morgan just hit my best fastball made me want to punch him.

I hear ya man... ROFL

[Bondsfan]

Re: Hit Variability Not so Good

I've noticed that my hit variability is much, much better after switching to classic hitting. Only problem is, I'm hitting WAY TOO MANY home runs on classic hitting on the all star level.

[slickdtc]

Re: Hit Variability Not so Good

Continue to screw around with those sliders man. And, since it seems to only be a problem for your team, you can edit your players' power ratings. Shouldn't take too long, since it's just your team, not the whole league.

Sounds like the game is playing well for you besides that though. Hopefully you can figure out your problems. Thanks for the impressions!

[Cardot]

Re: Hit Variability Not so Good

Is the problem that when you hitters aren't hitting homers, they don't have enough power to get it to the gap? Or are the outfielders too fast? Or is the baserunning too slow?

[Bondsfan]

Re: Hit Variability Not so Good

Is the problem that when you hitters aren't hitting homers, they don't have enough power to get it to the gap? Or are the outfielders too fast? Or is the baserunning too slow?

The problem is none of the above. Its either they hit a hr or they hit a bloop single or a line drive right at the outfielder.

As for the sliders, I hate sliders. I stay away from them at all costs. Its one thing to tweak one thing if its a gamekiller, but if a game has to be tweaked to death right out of the box, then frankly the game was a crappy game to start with and isn't worth the time and effort.

I think I have one of two options. Play on the hardest level with classic hitting and maybe then I won't hit so many homeruns (but then I'll get killed because right now my pitchings getting killed on allstar). The other option would be to just use the swing stick on all star. Its clunky and hard to use but that would certainly decrease my number of homeruns (but then I'll strike out 15 times a game).

Dilemmas...

[slpnsld23]

Re: Hit Variability Not so Good

IM a n00b at this game and hitting has still come really easy. On Pro difficulty i was the Reds and I beat the A's 36-4, and I hit 16 home runs.

3 guys on my team had 4 home runs.

[baa7]

Re: Hit Variability Not so Good

This is a big concern for me. So far the hit distribution reminds me alot of the old Triple Play series (I think this speaks for itself as a BAD BAD OMEN for any baseball game).

Is anyone else having similar problems? I'm playing on All Star level by the way.

This is by far the biggest issue with 2K baseball IMO. Two issues here:

The AI Skill slider is responsible for the lack of hit variation. When it's up high, the CPU gets all these lame seeing eye hits that JUST HAPPEN to fall exactly opposite of wherever you shift your IF-OF. Once you lower that slider down into the 25-30 range, you start seeing a much greater variety of hits. Problem last year though was the CPU couldn't hit if you did that, so to compensate you had to reduce your team's pitcher ratings by 50%. Don’t know how that would work in 2K6, as I don’t have the game.

Second: the player ratings are AWFUL, and are largely responsible for the issue here. Too many players have their power ratings set too high, and the fly ball to ground ball ratio in the game is WAY off. I spent weeks editing every batter in the game last year, including pitchers. It’s the ONLY fix, but once it’s done, you start seeing grounders and bloops and short fly balls. Essentially, most players doubles and home run ratings have to reduced by 50%, and their triples ratings in most case by up to 80%. And as I said, unfortunately it’s the only way to fix the problem.

[Bondsfan]

Re: Hit Variability Not so Good

Well, I may try and just decrease user contact and power down to 20 (from 35). 35 is the slider setting for allstar. 20 is the setting for the toughest level. Essentially that would allow me to be hitting at the toughest level (hall of fame or whatever its called) but the rest of the game would be at the all star level...

I'll try this and see what happens.

[no_homerism]

Re: Hit Variability Not so Good

... You know how to use the Swing Stick ... right? It needs to be asked. Maybe you're not aiming well enough.

[Cardot]

Re: Hit Variability Not so Good

I tried the swing stick for about 5 games and while I did hit an occaisional home run and get a decent amount of hits, I was also striking out at least ten times a game because check swinging was so stinking hard to do. So I went back to classic hitting,

I been playing sports games for a long time, and one thing I have found is that Developers usually don't spend a great deal of time on alternate options. By that I mean that they probably spent most of thier time designing and testing the game around the Swing Stick. You may want to try that some more?

Other examples of this are camera options. Very often in sports games, the majority of additional camera options are totally unplayable. You wonder if they were even tested at all.

I also remember something like this in ASB05. There were 4 different types of hitting which sounded great. But in actuality, two of those options were virtually unplayable as even a loser like me was able to blast everything out of the park. It really made one question how much time was spent on these.