2K9 hit stick - more accessible or too simplified?

[MaverickisBack]

I am curious about what peeps think about 2K9s hit stick. I have long been critical of the 2K hit stick, but I always felt that it did a great job of simulationg the complexity of timing the ball. They made it a 2-part process. Many of you have praised it for that as well.

This years hit stick is easier in that it doest require timing on the pull back. In my mind then pulling back is more of a formality than a utility making the actual timing component a 1 part process instead of a 2 part process it was in the past. In my mind this takes away the one good part about the hitting sytem...essentially making it simple timiig only hitting.

That being said my question is if 2K fans are disappointed with the loss of complexity or are you guys excited about it being more accessible

[SoxFan01605]

Re: 2K9 hit stick - more accessible or too simplified?

I am curious about what peeps think about 2K9s hit stick. I have long been critical of the 2K hit stick, but I always felt that it did a great job of simulationg the complexity of timing the ball. They made it a 2-part process. Many of you have praised it for that as well.

This years hit stick is easier in that it doest require timing on the pull back. In my mind then pulling back is more of a formality than a utility making the actual timing component a 1 part process instead of a 2 part process it was in the past. In my mind this takes away the one good part about the hitting sytem...essentially making it simple timiig only hitting.

That being said my question is if 2K fans are disappointed with the loss of complexity or are you guys excited about it being more accessible

It's both...more accessable AND too simplified

[bigfnjoe96]

Re: 2K9 hit stick - more accessible or too simplified?

It's both...more accessable AND too simplified

Exactly...

[krazzed]

Re: 2K9 hit stick - more accessible or too simplified?

I think there should be an option to turn on the back step influence just like they have the option to turn on the pitch release influence, but it didn't say anything about that option. We'll just have to wait and see

[HK-47]

Re: 2K9 hit stick - more accessible or too simplified?

I'm worried that it will be way too easy.

2K/VC, Why give the pick up and play users what they want in whats suppose to be a baseball sim?!Let those lamers play The Bigs or Power Pros.

[baa7]

Re: 2K9 hit stick - more accessible or too simplified?

If I wanted accessable, I'd build a ramp up the outside steps of my house. Swing stick 2K8 = brilliant and innovative. Swingstick 2K9 = button hitting, vertical style.

[baa7]

Re: 2K9 hit stick - more accessible or too simplified?

2K/VC, Why give the pick up and play users what they want in whats suppose to be a baseball sim?!

I don't get it either. I guess they figure the majority of 360 gamers are kids with ten minute attention spans and who want to hit home runs every AB. And they're probably right, actually.

[Trevytrev11]

Re: 2K9 hit stick - more accessible or too simplified?

I'm not sure yet. Have to wait and see how the results end up. If you struggled with the timing aspect of the step last year, then this is probably a breath of fresh air...if not then it's a bit of a let down.

The one thing that is/was uncertain to me was how complex it would be to time your step with the R-stick, track the speed and direction of the pitch and then aim at the proper zone with the left stick and then execute a swing with the right stick. In real life hitting is more reaction than anything else. I'm not sure because we've never had a system, but you may lose some of that by making the hitting system too complex. There might just have been too many moving parts.

But the bottom line if there is no swing influence, is you basically have a buttom pressing system that is just disguised as something more special because it's a stick that is pushed forward instead of a button that is pressed down. The motion may be a little closer to the motion of a bat, but that's like saying we're closer to the year 10,000 than we were last year.

I may be getting off track here:

The thing about video game hitting in general is that there is no system yet that emulates the fact that hitting in general is easier for a guy like Albert Pujols than Bobby Crosby. In a video game, recognizing the pitch and executing the swing is the exact same for both hitters. The outcome may be different based on ratings, but the process is the same. At least with Zone hitting, ideally Pujols would have a bigger cursor, so you don't have to be as exact, which makes things a little easier.

I think they could take this even a step farther with new new color coded pitches. Pujols would also have the advantage of picking up the pitch type sooner than Crosby. That would give him more of the advantage he has in real life, in the game.

[bigfnjoe96]

Re: 2K9 hit stick - more accessible or too simplified?

Did people miss this from the Diary.....

The goal this year was to make the game more accessible while maintaining the challenge our dedicated fans have come to expect

We know that you have the option to go back to the 2k8 TCP Option. What's still in the air is did they remove the Step Influence Slider & if so & you feel the Improved Swing Stick is too easy, then you have the Zone Hitting Option.

If they made the game easier & removed OPTIONS I could understand people being mad, but they didn't remove options...

[HK-47]

Re: 2K9 hit stick - more accessible or too simplified?

I think they could take this even a step farther with new new color coded pitches. Pujols would also have the advantage of picking up the pitch type sooner than Crosby. That would give him more of the advantage he has in real life, in the game.

If you need colors to tell the difference between a fastball and a curveball in a baseball video game, you just shouldn't be playing.

[Padgoi]

Re: 2K9 hit stick - more accessible or too simplified?

I agree with Trev, hitting in real life is mostly about reaction time. Your step is really automatic, as in not something most hitters even think about when hitting. If you thought about your step when hitting, you'd lose focus on the actual pitch being thrown. To hitters, the step is almost like breathing. I know, I played ball for years. I personally don't think a step influence is needed. Personally I used to love cursor hitting, I felt it was the most true representation of real-life hitting, taking timing and swing accuracy into account. The step aspect of the swing shouldn't even be a consideration in a batters mind.

[HK-47]

Re: 2K9 hit stick - more accessible or too simplified?

To hitters, the step is almost like breathing.

That's how it is with me in 2k8.It boggles my mind when people say they don't know when to step.

[jeffy777]

Re: 2K9 hit stick - more accessible or too simplified?

While I hope they put the step option for those who want it, a lot of people didn't see the need for it. I used SFG's sliders in 2K8 which had the step influence turned all the way down so I'm used to playing without it anyway, so it won't affect me if it's not in 2K9, but I do hope they include it for those who want it.

Also, even without the step aspect, I find the swing stick to be superior to button hitting because it makes it more natural to check your swing (by pulling back) and you can control the speed of your swing by how fast you push up. So it's not the same as button hitting even without the step.

[Trevytrev11]

Re: 2K9 hit stick - more accessible or too simplified?

If you need colors to tell the difference between a fastball and a curveball in a baseball video game, you just shouldn't be playing.

Suprised to hear this since many people have been asking for this since MVP featured it in 2005.

In real life you pick up pitch type based on the spin of the ball, which you base on the movement of the seams. If you see a circle at the top of the ball as it comes toward you, you know its a breaking ball. You can't see seams in video games, so you lose out on that aspect of the game. Plus, 2K's pitch physics in the past have left much to be desired where most pitches look like fastballs until the lest 10 or so feet making hitting more of a guessing game than a skill.

[tapout8302]

Re: 2K9 hit stick - more accessible or too simplified?

I agree it is too simplified. Hopefully there is an option/slider to fix this or if not maybe the someone at 2k will see our response and address it in a patch for the game.

Also is it possible that they have removed this along with the pitch release timing to make the online play actually functionable?