Why did they take out zone hitting?

[bakesalee]

I've been as loyal as they come to 2k baseball. I've owned every single release since 2002's "Home Run King." However, I think the continuation of the "swing stick" has finally pushed me to the edge. It requires a little more skill to locate AND time rather than just pushing the stick at the appropriate time. It also feels better on my right thumb to avoid the stick altogether.

I did notice that you could use "classic controls" last year. But what's the point if checking your swing was completely disabled in that mode? Also, checking your swing with the right stick was impossible.

Also, how can you power swing for that sacrifice fly when you're using the swing stick?

I'm sorry to switch sides, but I mean, do the testers test the game OR WHAT?!

[CMH]

Re: Why did they take out zone hitting?

What does testing the game have to do with removing zone-hitting?

Actually, what does this entire post have to do witih zone-hitting?

[bakesalee]

Re: Why did they take out zone hitting?

Here's what testing has to do with the swing stick:

Tester: Hey, in your new swing stick hitting, it's impossible to check my swing. I couldn't deal with that so I switched it over to "classic controls." After I did that I realized you can't check your swing either.

2k: Oh. And other than that, is everything OK?

Tester: No. Besides not being able to check my swing in either mode, I realized nothing more than timing is required to hit the ball. Isn't what seperates players hitting skills the ability to aim the bat in the proper place?

And here's what my post had to do with zone:

Me: It requires a little more skill to locate AND time rather than just pushing the stick at the appropriate time.

[mjb2124]

Re: Why did they take out zone hitting?

They haven't had zone hitting for a few years now. The last time I recall them having it was in WSB 2K4. I think Blue Shift produced that game.

[bakesalee]

Re: Why did they take out zone hitting?

Hmmm well I guess I just mean that the user has to locate the ball in addition to timing the swing. Cursor, zone, aiming, anything!

[Blzer]

Re: Why did they take out zone hitting?

They haven't had zone hitting for a few years now. The last time I recall them having it was in WSB 2K4. I think Blue Shift produced that game.

They still had it in for 2K5, and it was still appropriate as ever. Granted, there was a bit of code that was altered here and there, but it was still in the game.

This was a killer for me in MVP 2005. I couldn't play past 50 games knowing that the biggest factor in my own input was how the guy directed his swing, and not where he would swing. Same thing applies here. I'll be playing the demo the first day that it's out, but when I know that the "other" game has some type of hitting that requires chance of contact being better or worse based on directional input, it's hard to say that I can necessarily disregard what 2K has to offer as a "killer" as well.

[baa7]

Re: Why did they take out zone hitting?

They haven't had zone hitting for a few years now. The last time I recall them having it was in WSB 2K4. I think Blue Shift produced that game.

Zone was in 2K5. Gone in 2K6 and 2K7.

[baa7]

Re: Why did they take out zone hitting?

I'm sorry to switch sides, but I mean, do the testers test the game OR WHAT?!

Not a testing issue. Just a game design choice.

[dodgerblue]

Re: Why did they take out zone hitting?

To answer your check swing problem, it was near impossible last year because the swing stick was a pull back and release. This year it is pull back and swing forward from what I understand. A check swing can be acheived by not pushing forward on the stick, but stopping at half way. This is what mvp 06? college version did. I believe it will be the same.

[baa7]

Re: Why did they take out zone hitting?

Also, how can you power swing for that sacrifice fly when you're using the swing stick?

That's my new concern after reading more info the last few days. Moving the swing stick left or right slightly while swinging apparently affects the left-right direction of the hit, which is pretty straight-forward. But they removed the L stick influence, so now your ability to hit a sac fly will be completely determined by the hitter's ratings alone.

A bit weird IMO how it seems pitching appears so reliant on the user's ability to move the stick, yet hitting appears to be mostly reliant on player ratings only. Seems like someone wasn't thinking too clearly when they starting planning all these game play and interface changes to the game.

[KushGamer]

Re: Why did they take out zone hitting?

That's my new concern after reading more info the last few days. Moving the swing stick left or right slightly while swinging apparently affects the left-right direction of the hit, which is pretty straight-forward. But they removed the L stick influence, so now your ability to hit a sac fly will be completely determined by the hitter's ratings alone.

A bit weird IMO how it seems pitching appears so reliant on the user's ability to move the stick, yet hitting appears to be mostly reliant on player ratings only. Seems like someone wasn't thinking too clearly when they starting planning all these game play and interface changes to the game.

hitting is mostly reliant on user timing and what they try to do with the pitch. The up/down trajectory of the ball is heavily based on inside edge and player ratings, but if your timing is good, then timing will play a larger role. Basically the worse your timing is, or if you try to go the opposite way with an inside pitch, the larger role IE and ratings play in determing the up/down trajectory. Feel it out. I've gotten very good feedback on the results.

I don't believe cursor hitting is realistic, because players dont actually aim their bat like that. They hit all the time. They know the spot they are swinging at. It's automatic. They rarely miss because they swung in the wrong spot. Timing is the larger factor. When they do swing in the wrong spot, enough to cause a miss, its is generally less than an inch. That's where IE and ratings come in to play. Basically, how much your bat misses up and down when the timing is not completely perfect. There are also two factors of timing: step or "load" timing and swing timing. With these two together and the increased framerate, it is nearly impossible to ever be perfect. But it all works on a nice gradient, so the results feel pretty good.

[slickzeus]

Re: Why did they take out zone hitting?

it would make more sense to me if where the ball is thrown determines what kind of hit occurs. Hitters are taught that with a runner on third less than two outs to look for a pitch high in the zone that you can elevate to try to get a sac fly. You would not swing at a pitch at the knees because your chances of hitting a fly ball are greatly reduced. So i hope pitch location influences how the ball will be hit. That would make it the most realistic in my opinion. It would actually force the user to wait for their pitch, not influence where the ball will go with the left stick.

[KushGamer]

Re: Why did they take out zone hitting?

it would make more sense to me if where the ball is thrown determines what kind of hit occurs. Hitters are taught that with a runner on third less than two outs to look for a pitch high in the zone that you can elevate to try to get a sac fly. You would not swing at a pitch at the knees because your chances of hitting a fly ball are greatly reduced. So i hope pitch location is highly dependent on how the ball will be hit. That would make it the most realistic in my opinion. It would actually force the user to wait for their pitch, not influence where the ball will go with the left stick.

Yes, vertical position within the strikezone plays a huge factor in up/down trajectory. I shouldn't have left that out of my explanation.

[KushGamer]

Re: Why did they take out zone hitting?

you'll also have a much easier time hitting a flyball on a low pitch with Giambi, than say Figgins. That's where IE comes in.

[slickzeus]

Re: Why did they take out zone hitting?

you'll also have a much easier time hitting a flyball on a low pitch with Giambi, than say Figgins. That's where IE comes in.

that makes sense because giambi has a more of an uppercut swing. Thanks Kush, its good to know that pitch location is a big part of hitting this year. I know how much pitch location has to do with hitting since i am a division one ball player haha.