Major League Baseball 2K9 Hands-On Preview (Gamespy)

[SoxFan01605]

Re: Major League Baseball 2K9 Hands-On Preview (Gamespy)

I didn't like the sound of that either because anyone who has played or watched baseball knows that every umpire has a different strike zone and will make a bad call every now and then. Also did alot of people have a problem with the umpires having slightly different strike zones?

I think, as others stated, it wasn't an issue with concept, but with execution.

The strike zone never felt tight...only wide as all hell or normal.

I would have preferred correcting the issue rather than removing the feature all together, but oh well.

[Frek21]

Re: Major League Baseball 2K9 Hands-On Preview (Gamespy)

I think, as others stated, it wasn't an issue with concept, but with execution.

The strike zone never felt tight...only wide as all hell or normal.

I would have preferred correcting the issue rather than removing the feature all together, but oh well.

Ok. Yea I agree with that they needed to have smaller zones too.

[Blzer]

Re: Major League Baseball 2K9 Hands-On Preview (Gamespy)

There's a difference among a static strike zone, a varying strike zone, varying umpires, and varying umpires with varying strike zones. I would ultimately prefer the last choice, but if we're going to have one consistent umpire, I would like for the borders to be a "gray" area where it can go either way (refer to the later ASB games). That way it's not a distinct border that you can hit and perfect.

Of course, it would be better if there were some standard deviations involved.

[dorismary]

Re: Major League Baseball 2K9 Hands-On Preview (Gamespy)

. Imagine a stoppage in play, and the camera switching to a scene of a T-Rex biting the head off of General Custer. Cool.

Not cool ! General George Armstrong Custer was a Hero of mine
Now if you want T rex watch land of the lost
Nothing beats great gameplay and graphics !
Lose the gimmics, bugs and flaws that haunt 2k baseball

[lnin0]

Re: Major League Baseball 2K9 Hands-On Preview (Gamespy)

Everyone online freaks out if you throw a ball anyway so why not just make one huge strike zone.

[baa7]

Re: Major League Baseball 2K9 Hands-On Preview (Gamespy)

Not cool ! General George Armstrong Custer was a Hero of mine

Read Son of the Morning Star. You'll wish a T-Rex had bitten his head off some time before the Little Bighorn.

[DaveDQ]

Re: Major League Baseball 2K9 Hands-On Preview (Gamespy)

We gotta get this game in the hands of OS pronto...

Not sure why, but that post made me laugh out loud.

[JBH3]

Re: Major League Baseball 2K9 Hands-On Preview (Gamespy)

Everyone online freaks out if you throw a ball anyway so why not just make one huge strike zone.

yea...that's because everyone on-line swings at every pitch.

It's ridiculous.

[Frek21]

Re: Major League Baseball 2K9 Hands-On Preview (Gamespy)

yea...that's because everyone on-line swings at every pitch.

It's ridiculous.

Well last year you had to swing when the ball was being release to make contact and you had no chance of identifying whether the pitch was a ball or strike before you had to swing.

[bigjake62505]

Re: Major League Baseball 2K9 Hands-On Preview (Gamespy)

"Nobody goes to a baseball game to watch the umpires, and MLB 2K9 looks to feature a more uniform strike zone than before.
This should be a nice change, as it's rather frustrating to throw a pitch that looks like a strike and have it called a ball simply because a particular umpire has his own unique strike zone to memorize."
I'm sorry but this is a part of baseball, IMO. I really want a copy of this to go to a sports review site like OS. I can't trust any of these other sites.

[baa7]

Re: Major League Baseball 2K9 Hands-On Preview (Gamespy)

I'm sorry but this is a part of baseball, IMO.

It's part of today's game because the umpire's union is strong and doesn't allow umps to be fired. In another time, someone like CB Bucknor would be long gone, given how poor he is at his job.

That said, it's also a preference. I prefer one standard, properly programmed, CORRECT strikezone. There is nothing tackier in a sports video game than bad programming trying to emulate human error. (For classic examples, see NFL2K5's infamously horrible DB play, or NHL08 user goalies magically turning into seives when the CPU needs a goal.)

[bigjake62505]

Re: Major League Baseball 2K9 Hands-On Preview (Gamespy)

It's part of today's game because the umpire's union is strong and doesn't allow umps to be fired. In another time, someone like CB Bucknor would be long gone, given how poor he is at his job.

That said, it's also a preference. I prefer one standard, properly programmed, CORRECT strikezone. There is nothing tackier in a sports video game than bad programming trying to emulate human error. (For classic examples, see NFL2K5's infamously horrible DB play, or NHL08 user goalies magically turning into seives when the CPU needs a goal.)

I can agree with your point, but I enjoy the realism to a extent. In keeping with the game in question there are bad calls in baseball. Just as an example last year I watched many rays games and I know that some umps are horrible, but it is fact that there are some umps that have tight strike zones and some are a little more forgiving. That was my point. I am not talking about a huge difference but maybe the width of the ball outside/inside/high/low could be a strike or a ball just depends on the ump. Another thing is, in this review of all the info that could be put here one thing that stuck out is the strike zone.

[baa7]

Re: Major League Baseball 2K9 Hands-On Preview (Gamespy)

I can agree with your point, but I enjoy the realism to a extent. In keeping with the game in question there are bad calls in baseball. Just as an example last year I watched many rays games and I know that some umps are horrible, but it is fact that there are some umps that have tight strike zones and some are a little more forgiving. That was my point. I am not talking about a huge difference but maybe the width of the ball outside/inside/high/low could be a strike or a ball just depends on the ump. Another thing is, in this review of all the info that could be put here one thing that stuck out is the strike zone.

I hear you. My point though has always been this: Where does this "simulated human error programming" stop? Should game developers start implimenting incorrect safe/out calls on close plays at first base? I watch probably 300 games a year, and I'll bet I see a blown call at first, 2 out of every 3 games. How many gamers would appreciate being cheated out of a win because the AI programming incorrectly called a runner safe or out at first? I'd guess people would be livid, accusing the game of cheating and SCEA of crappy game programming. And remember, blown calls like that are ALSO in the baseball.

[Frek21]

Re: Major League Baseball 2K9 Hands-On Preview (Gamespy)

I hear you. My point though has always been this: Where does this "simulated human error programming" stop? Should game developers start implimenting incorrect safe/out calls on close plays at first base? I watch probably 300 games a year, and I'll bet I see a blown call at first, 2 out of every 3 games. How many gamers would appreciate being cheated out of a win because the AI programming incorrectly called a runner safe or out at first? I'd guess people would be livid, accusing the game of cheating and SCEA of crappy game programming. And remember, blown calls like that are ALSO in the baseball.

Personally I would love that as long as it is not overdone and don't forget that could work in your favor too.

[bigjake62505]

Re: Major League Baseball 2K9 Hands-On Preview (Gamespy)

I hear you. My point though has always been this: Where does this "simulated human error programming" stop? Should game developers start implimenting incorrect safe/out calls on close plays at first base? I watch probably 300 games a year, and I'll bet I see a blown call at first, 2 out of every 3 games. How many gamers would appreciate being cheated out of a win because the AI programming incorrectly called a runner safe or out at first? I'd guess people would be livid, accusing the game of cheating and SCEA of crappy game programming. And remember, blown calls like that are ALSO in the baseball.

I get you, I can see where this could become a problem. I guess I was just kind of perplexed about the content of the review, what i mean is with all the known issues of this game the strike zone is the one that stuck in my mind. I guess I am trying to say that there are so many other things that should have been addressed in the review other than the strikezone. Because if this is a accurate review and if the time was taken to play enough of the game to notice the strikezone and the different umps that were calling each game where is the revelent information?