"Swing Stick Advanced!"

[bakesalee]

Oh f*(@. Last week when I read zone-hitting was back I imagined the button based hitting system that 2k3-5 employed. I hate swing stick!

[SoxFan01605]

Re: "Swing Stick Advanced!"

No offense, but does this need it's own thread? It's been discussed in the features and preview threads. Not my call though, so I'll play along...lol

Sorry you hate it, but i think it's a good idea. One thing I (and others) have been critical of is how 2K is constantly changing their controls rather than refining the ones they have. Now they are at least trying to refine what they have in place. Swing Stick can work if done correctly.

To me, the only knock on it was the lack of any "aiming" or bat placement through the zone. Now, that problem appears to have been addressed (time will tell to what degree). If they pulled it off, it will be an excellent system (as the swing stick already better captures the total timing-including step and pivot) and might actually be the innovation some were thinking it would be.

I guess, other than the limitations of the older swing stick systems, I don't understand the hatred for swing stick.

[Foo4Everlong]

Re: "Swing Stick Advanced!"

I'm sorry, but I think pushing buttons is boring, but it'll probably still be an option to use most likely. Later

[jeffy777]

Re: "Swing Stick Advanced!"

One thing I (and others) have been critical of is how 2K is constantly changing their controls rather than refining the ones they have. Now they are at least trying to refine what they have in place. Swing Stick can work if done correctly.

To me, the only knock on it was the lack of any "aiming" or bat placement through the zone.

To be fair, the Swing Stick in 2K8 was an improvement over 2K7. You could "aim" your hits by pushing up at a left or right angle if you wanted to pull or push the ball, which wasn't an option in 2K7. It actually worked quite well once you got the hang of it and provided a lot more control than 2K7's Swing Stick.

So they have been refining it. I'm guessing this year will be even better.

[SoxFan01605]

Re: "Swing Stick Advanced!"

To be fair, the Swing Stick in 2K8 was an improvement over 2K7. You could "aim" your hits by pushing up at a left or right angle if you wanted to pull or push the ball, which wasn't an option in 2K7. It actually worked quite well once you got the hang of it and provided a lot more control than 2K7's Swing Stick.

So they have been refining it. I'm guessing this year will be even better.

You could influence...not aim. There's a difference...a big one for me. When I say aim, I'm talking bat placement.

In 2K8, swing stick worked "ok" IMO, but it was incomplete for me (as it missed the zone hitting type elements). The advertised additions this year have me anticipating how well the mechanic will work. It should take away that incomplete feel it had for me.

And I do agree they've been refining it. They have had a habit of switching controls every year for a while now though (speaking generally, not specifically to the hitting mechanic). That was my point...I'm glad they're sticking with it and continuing the refinements rather than once again scrapping and going to an older zone system.

[jeffy777]

Re: "Swing Stick Advanced!"

You could influence...not aim. There's a difference...a big one for me. When I say aim, I'm talking bat placement.

Oh, gotcha. When you said aim, I thought you were talking about aiming the ball

[baa7]

Re: "Swing Stick Advanced!"

Oh f*(@. Last week when I read zone-hitting was back I imagined the button based hitting system that 2k3-5 employed. I hate swing stick!

You should wait until the game comes out before jumping to conclusions. Could be both. And it might be neither: as someone else mentioned, it might not even be true zone hitting with the swing stick. The 2K write-up says you can now "aim", and doesn't actually call it zone hitting.

[baa7]

Re: "Swing Stick Advanced!"

Sorry you hate it, but i think it's a good idea. One thing I (and others) have been critical of is how 2K is constantly changing their controls rather than refining the ones they have. Now they are at least trying to refine what they have in place. Swing Stick can work if done correctly.

Swing stick + zone hitting is the one reason I'm even thinking of picking this game up. I'd already decided I wouldn't even bother renting it this year if they were going with timing-only hitting again. This one feature (along with step-influence) could revolutionize baseball games in the same way the skill stick has for video hockey.

[Fatalah]

Re: "Swing Stick Advanced!"

I'm sorry but I've never been a fan of swing stick. You can't just bring analog joystick controls to every sport and expect it to work. There's something very satisfying about hitting a button and crushing a hot liner down the 3rd base line. Even more important---the Swing stick doesn't result in high hit variation. It just feels wrong, I hate it with a passion.

But that's just my opinion. :-D

[sask3m]

Re: "Swing Stick Advanced!"

i'd really like to see how easy it would be to step and swing with the R stick all the while trying to aim the bat at a fastball using the L stick, while some might be able to manage this i think would be way to hard for me.

[SoxFan01605]

Re: "Swing Stick Advanced!"

I'm sorry but I've never been a fan of swing stick. You can't just bring analog joystick controls to every sport and expect it to work. There's something very satisfying about hitting a button and crushing a hot liner down the 3rd base line. Even more important---the Swing stick doesn't result in high hit variation. It just feels wrong, I hate it with a passion.

But that's just my opinion. :-D

I understand the preference for the "feel" of the button system...everyone has their thing. I disagree about the hit variation though (when speaking of the potential for the new system...I do agree about previous systems, however).

The hit variation was at least partially a product of hit stick's limitations when it came to bat control. Yes, you got better timing mechanics, but your ability to "aim" or put your bat through a specific zone was nullified.

It's that limitation (poor control of the bat in your hands) that lead to (again, at least in part) poor hit variety. The hit variety might also partly be a result of a limited "under the hood" system...which means it wouldn't matter what control mechanic you toss in.

The potential the new system holds could change all that, and baa's right, could revolutionize the baseball hitting mechanic if done right. That's the key though of course, it has to be done right.

We don't know what the specifics are on the "aiming" function. Given that when I said aiming earlier someone misunderstood me and though I meant influence, it quite possible could be that it's not what some of us are hoping it will be. It could be just a more detailed "influence" system.

I think many people who see hit stick and say "oh no" are looking at the past functions of the mechanic rather than the mechanic itself.

Now, as I said, this doesn't account for the people who simply just don't want to use a stick over buttons. Not sure what I think about that little debate. I personally have no preference...I just want whatever yields the best results...regardless of the mechanic.

EDIT: To the OP: If, by some chance, you are musing on the irony of me opening with a comment like "does this really need it's own thread" and then posting like crazy in it...umm...well...hurray unintended hypocracy...lol

[jeffy777]

Re: "Swing Stick Advanced!"

I'm sorry but I've never been a fan of swing stick. You can't just bring analog joystick controls to every sport and expect it to work. There's something very satisfying about hitting a button and crushing a hot liner down the 3rd base line.

I find button hitting to be very boring. Atleast with the Swing Stick there's some actual motion in involved and it's more natural for influencing, which makes the hit variety less random.

[Cabke]

Re: "Swing Stick Advanced!"

I don't care for either the stick based pitching or hitting, but is it required to use if you play online? I really hope not.

[bakesalee]

Re: "Swing Stick Advanced!"

Sorry about making a lone "I Hate Swingstick Thread." I later realized it was being discussed in the "new features" thread. I thought that was the "new features" thread from last week (the one that got me excited with "zone hitting," not the one with the simliar title announcing my dreaded swing stick).

I don't want to take swing stick away from those who like it. But I just feel jipped. I got hooked on baseball video games (and actually became a fan of the actual sport because of the games believe it or not) because of Sega/2k baseball in the early 2000's. Now I'm like a drug addict craving something that no longer exists.

Why remove the hitting system? Add swing stick - fine. But don't gimp and remove the hitting system we've all been accostomed to. I have friends who don't like video games who got addicted to Sega/2k baseball. It was totally easy/pick up and play, yet deep when you got the hang of things. That's just not how it is anymore. This isn't football where the casual fan is put off to play because it's straight up daunting. That's the beauty of a baseball game.

[bigfnjoe96]

Re: "Swing Stick Advanced!"

Sorry about making a lone "I Hate Swingstick Thread." I later realized it was being discussed in the "new features" thread. I thought that was the "new features" thread from last week (the one that got me excited with "zone hitting," not the one with the simliar title announcing my dreaded swing stick).

I don't want to take swing stick away from those who like it. But I just feel jipped. I got hooked on baseball video games (and actually became a fan of the actual sport because of the games believe it or not) because of Sega/2k baseball in the early 2000's. Now I'm like a drug addict craving something that no longer exists.

Why remove the hitting system? Add swing stick - fine. But don't gimp and remove the hitting system we've all been accostomed to. I have friends who don't like video games who got addicted to Sega/2k baseball. It was totally easy/pick up and play, yet deep when you got the hang of things. That's just not how it is anymore. This isn't football where the casual fan is put off to play because it's straight up daunting. That's the beauty of a baseball game.

Even though they are promoting Swing Stick Advance, I'm pretty sure they will have the option for Classic Hitting. They offer Classic Shooting in their NBA Series even though they promote using the Analog Stick.

I'm really intrigued by the new Zone Hitting if that's what were really getting. Pasta Padre stated Zone Hitting, yet 2k calls it Swing Stick Advance.