Ben Brinkman is about to answer some real questions

[KushGamer]

Re: Ben Brinkman is about to answer some real questions

This year's 2K looks great! I'm so psyched, 2 weeks left!

I do have a question for Kush.

With the inclusion of the entire minor league system and it's players, are the minor league player names licensed as well?

I understand the need for replacement names in some cases, such as a player not in the MLBPA, and other contract-related issues.

With all the extra added teams and players this year our community roster editors will have a much tougher time with last season's "fake" player name system in place.

2K only has the rights to use real names and likenesses for players that have appeared in a major league game - and not retired - or are a part of the Cooperstown Collection.

[KushGamer]

Re: Ben Brinkman is about to answer some real questions

Kush, I was wondering if you could possibly answer me a couple of small questions?

1. Besides the different advertisement placements, were any of the MLB stadiums updated/upgraded to look or appear like their real-life counterpart? (From what I've seen so far everything appears to look almost the same as last year)

The stadium artists were supposed to make a pass on every stadium with specific attention to wall heights and distances. Many were inaccurate in past versions. So many will be fixed this year. You should be seeing wall climbs on walls that are appropriate and not on those that arent. I can't vouch for just how well they did their jobs, but Yankee stadium is much improved.

2. Can you tell me anything about the player edit options? (Is there quite a bit more than last year? I am very much intersted in this as I like to go through all the teams. I worked with ChrisJNelson last year on the player edits.)

Not really sure. I'm sure that any new accessories were added as options. I don't think there was any groundbreaking work done there though.

3. Not sure if you answered this elsewhere, but was the indoor rain problem in the domed stadiums fixed in Franchise or Season Mode?

I sure hope so. It's definitely a known issue. I know there was at least an attempt to fix it. There's really no excuse if its still there. There's really no excuse for it being there in the first place except lazy programming and even lazier testing.

[davewins]

Re: Ben Brinkman is about to answer some real questions

Hey Kush simple straight forward question for you if you don't mind. What's your honest opinion on the hitting?? How do you feel the bat-to-ball physics are??

This is what interests me the most about the game. I am looking for as realistic as possible hitting physics and it seems like they are headed in the right direction by completley ripping out the old hitting code and starting with something brand new. So how do you think it feels??

[The Bimmer]

Re: Ben Brinkman is about to answer some real questions

With all due respect to Ken Brinkman, I have got all the info I need from Kush. Thanks for answering this round of questions. While your answering questions do the out of town scoreboards work in real time? That would be real cool.

[Scottdau]

Re: Ben Brinkman is about to answer some real questions

Kush, did they fix the swing animation? They would move their head weird when swinging. I hope that got fixed.

[Scottdau]

Re: Ben Brinkman is about to answer some real questions

With all due respect to Ken Brinkman, I have got all the info I need from Kush. Thanks for answering this round of questions.

His name is Ben not Ken.

[The Bimmer]

Re: Ben Brinkman is about to answer some real questions

His name is Ben not Ken.

Aw dang, I thought i typed in Ben. Thanks!

[KushGamer]

Re: Ben Brinkman is about to answer some real questions

Hey Kush simple straight forward question for you if you don't mind. What's your honest opinion on the hitting?? How do you feel the bat-to-ball physics are??

This is what interests me the most about the game. I am looking for as realistic as possible hitting physics and it seems like they are headed in the right direction by completley ripping out the old hitting code and starting with something brand new. So how do you think it feels??

I've stated before that I'm biased when it comes to the hitting engine, since it was really my baby.

I've gotten pretty unanimous positive feedback about the overall "feel" of it.

A few people mentioned they felt the step timing may play too big a role.

But there are sliders for basically everything and Blue Castle did a great job of cleaning the sliders up and making sure they all work really well.

I've said it before and I'll say it again: I suggest playing about 10 solid games on All Star difficulty and then adjusting sliders from there.

[sask3m]

Re: Ben Brinkman is about to answer some real questions

i think the title of this thread should be changed to "kushgamer answer's some tough questions" thanks kush for all the answers

[KushGamer]

Re: Ben Brinkman is about to answer some real questions

While your answering questions do the out of town scoreboards work in real time? That would be real cool.

I wish. It was on the agenda, but then the man who was masterminding that plan left the company and that fell by the wayside.

[KushGamer]

Re: Ben Brinkman is about to answer some real questions

Kush, did they fix the swing animation? They would move their head weird when swinging. I hope that got fixed.

Not exactly sure what you're talking about so it may still be there. We did triple the overall number of swing animations from 2K7 though.

[Diesel3649]

Re: Ben Brinkman is about to answer some real questions

Kush, thanks soo much again for taking the time to answer all our questions.
Hope your enjoying your time off, and hope the job hunt is going well.

[Delray]

Re: Ben Brinkman is about to answer some real questions

It's easier to execute for sure, but still a little difficult. Just pull the stick all the way back again.

Thank you for your time and quick response, but that just doesn't seem natural to do. If you have to push up on the analog stick to hit, why would you have to pull back to check swing instead of just releasing the stick to check swing, unless you still swing by releasing the stick.....which doesn't feel natural to begin with!

[Sedihawk2K5]

Re: Ben Brinkman is about to answer some real questions

That camera angle is intentional. On certain stance / delivery matchups with same-handed players, the batter's elbow would sometimes block most of the flight of the pitch. So the slight offset was put in to correct this.

Kush, thanks for all the answers! I have a quick camera question. Playing 2k7 and then looking at some in-game hitting video of 2K8, it at least appears that the distance between the mound and the plate is greater? I don't know, maybe it's my imagination, but it seemed like I could read the pitch break a lot better with the video of 2K8 vs. playing 2K7. Did they change that perspective this year?

[Scottdau]

Re: Ben Brinkman is about to answer some real questions

Not exactly sure what you're talking about so it may still be there. We did triple the overall number of swing animations from 2K7 though.

Cool, I like that, that sucks about the town score board, but oh well. Sounds like you guys did a great job with this game. The graphics are they the same as last year?