Not much here. Just a short preview from the guy on the podcast who couldn't pitch at first.
After playing through a sixteenth of an MLB 2K8 season we're clear about one thing: Ritalin users will be tested by the game's new pitching meter. The innovative system demands absolute focus. Anything less and your hurler will earn a stint on the DL from whiplash.
The system turns every thrown pitch into a three-step process. First, you build effectiveness during your windup by pushing and holding the right analog stick in a direction (down for a fastball, for instance). You then do your "gesture" in which you'll move the right analog stick to mimic a given pitch (a semi-circle for a yakker, straight up for a heater, slightly to the left of center for a cutter, etc). Finally, you release -- trying to hit the perfect spot for maximum buzz or break depending on the type of pitch you're throwing.
Obviously, you can screw up on any of the three elements of a pitch -- and if you boff it, you'll serve up a meatball on a platter. And the major league hitters you're up against will crush it into the cheapest seats. We don't mind being battered, but our gripe is how homer-happy the game gets if you're not pitch-perfect. Batters absolutely bash mistakes, which had us go Lou Piniella more than once during our young season.
Throwing from the mound takes a little getting used to and a lot of patience, but you won't find a learning curve for the brilliant, meter-based fielding system. To throw to a base, you push the right analog towards it, and a meter starts filling up. Hit the green sweet spot and you'll be right on target. Hold it too long and you'll bounce it. Let it go too soon and you'll toss a lollipop. But the throwing isn't simply timing -- you'll also need to keep your analog stick steady. If you roll it too far left or right, you'll pull your teammate off the bag. It makes for some serious drama when you've got a guy tagging up against your Ichiro-armed right fielder. You've got plenty to get right to get your man. But if you do it -- exaltation!
In addition to those significant reworkings, both hitting and base-running receive some necessary tweakage. 2K8 dumps the power swing (a big plus in our book) and sending runners around the diamond is no longer a confusing mess of button presses. Still, we're hoping for fewer homers (an issue with last year's game) without needing to channel our inner-Sandy Koufax. We've also got some concerns about the animations -- fielders don't move as smoothly as we'd like. We'll keep an eye out for improvements in the coming weeks before the first pitch gets thrown on MLB 2K8's virtual opening day.
The system turns every thrown pitch into a three-step process. First, you build effectiveness during your windup by pushing and holding the right analog stick in a direction (down for a fastball, for instance). You then do your "gesture" in which you'll move the right analog stick to mimic a given pitch (a semi-circle for a yakker, straight up for a heater, slightly to the left of center for a cutter, etc). Finally, you release -- trying to hit the perfect spot for maximum buzz or break depending on the type of pitch you're throwing.
Obviously, you can screw up on any of the three elements of a pitch -- and if you boff it, you'll serve up a meatball on a platter. And the major league hitters you're up against will crush it into the cheapest seats. We don't mind being battered, but our gripe is how homer-happy the game gets if you're not pitch-perfect. Batters absolutely bash mistakes, which had us go Lou Piniella more than once during our young season.
Throwing from the mound takes a little getting used to and a lot of patience, but you won't find a learning curve for the brilliant, meter-based fielding system. To throw to a base, you push the right analog towards it, and a meter starts filling up. Hit the green sweet spot and you'll be right on target. Hold it too long and you'll bounce it. Let it go too soon and you'll toss a lollipop. But the throwing isn't simply timing -- you'll also need to keep your analog stick steady. If you roll it too far left or right, you'll pull your teammate off the bag. It makes for some serious drama when you've got a guy tagging up against your Ichiro-armed right fielder. You've got plenty to get right to get your man. But if you do it -- exaltation!
In addition to those significant reworkings, both hitting and base-running receive some necessary tweakage. 2K8 dumps the power swing (a big plus in our book) and sending runners around the diamond is no longer a confusing mess of button presses. Still, we're hoping for fewer homers (an issue with last year's game) without needing to channel our inner-Sandy Koufax. We've also got some concerns about the animations -- fielders don't move as smoothly as we'd like. We'll keep an eye out for improvements in the coming weeks before the first pitch gets thrown on MLB 2K8's virtual opening day.
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