Does anyone else NOT like the fielding camera?

[Blzer]

I think it's pretty bad going to "blimp style" for the deeper outfield shots, though I know exactly why they have it the way that it is. It doesn't help that there's really any sort of camera to watch our deeper home runs, either.

I don't know... so far, 2K6's camera is my favorite of all of the 2K games. Not that it's one that I personally love or anything either, but I prefer it over these other ones.

Baseball video games are the one where they haven't ever yet gotten the camera to my loving. I guess I'm waiting for that broadcast cam boasted in the replays in The Show.




P.S. I'm not digging the pitching cam options either. You can't change the depth of field so that it gives that pitcher-batter closeness that you see on T.V. 2K8 had a decent one, but it was a little too off-center and I didn't like how it zoomed in as we started pitching.

[JasonSGN]

Re: Does anyone else NOT like the fielding camera?

I loved last year's camera and hope it's available as an option.

[CarryTheWeight]

Re: Does anyone else NOT like the fielding camera?

Well, it certainly looks better than 2K7's, which added far too much zoom for my liking. Like someone else pointed out in another thread, it's almost like All-Star Baseball's default fielding camera. Apart from following the exact movement of the ball through the air, there's nothing that bothers me that much about it...it gives you enough room to see a decent-sized area of the field.

On a similar note, does anyone here know if the game will have multiple fielding cameras? I didn't see any mention of it in the screenshots Steve posted a few days back.

[Blzer]

Re: Does anyone else NOT like the fielding camera?

I loved last year's camera and hope it's available as an option.

If VC doesn't want to hear complaints this year, it won't be.

Hopefully they can find a workaround to get it in (or a broadcast cam) next year.

[baa7]

Re: Does anyone else NOT like the fielding camera?

I loved last year's camera and hope it's available as an option.

I've just assumed that. Because I use the Low cam in The Show. Switching to Blimp View in 2K9 would kill me.

[jeffy777]

Re: Does anyone else NOT like the fielding camera?

We've always had more than one view to choose from since 2k7, so I don't see why this year would be any different.

[Blzer]

Re: Does anyone else NOT like the fielding camera?

We've always had more than one view to choose from since 2k7, so I don't see why this year would be any different.

Because if we have any cameras like years past, there would more than likely be framerate issues.

Think about it... why does the camera raise up and tilt down to a blimp view the further we get to the outfield? Because they want to make sure that you still see the ball landing target while avoiding visually hitting the fans in the outfield with the camera. Why? Because the framerate suffers at that point. This is part of their optimization, and I'm positive that this is the reason for the camera doing what it does. Just showing the field gives you a much better framerate than including all of the stadium polygons plus the fans. I'm sure that they had to do a lot of hard-coding for whenever we actually do get shots with the fans (home runs, etc.). If not, you can expect framerate dips when we get shots of the ball going over the wall.

Hopefully they can find a workaround for next year, considering the other game doesn't have this problem.

[Sedihawk2K5]

Re: Does anyone else NOT like the fielding camera?

Because if we have any cameras like years past, there would more than likely be framerate issues.

Think about it... why does the camera raise up and tilt down to a blimp view the further we get to the outfield? Because they want to make sure that you still see the ball landing target while avoiding visually hitting the fans in the outfield with the camera. Why? Because the framerate suffers at that point. This is part of their optimization, and I'm positive that this is the reason for the camera doing what it does. Just showing the field gives you a much better framerate than including all of the stadium polygons plus the fans. I'm sure that they had to do a lot of hard-coding for whenever we actually do get shots with the fans (home runs, etc.). If not, you can expect framerate dips when we get shots of the ball going over the wall.

Hopefully they can find a workaround for next year, considering the other game doesn't have this problem.

I really liked the "pole" fielding cam from 2k7 and 2k8. I hope we do get these options in 2k9. And I really am digging the different pitching/batting camera options! I have never seen a game where this was provided out of the box. MVP Mods has always had people come up with different views, and it adds a lot to the game. I'm excited to give it a shot.

Blzer, I don't know if anyone has asked this of you before but are you in the programming business? You seem to know a lot about ways programmers optimize their code. Or if you aren't in the business now, you must have worked in the industry at some point?

[jeffy777]

Re: Does anyone else NOT like the fielding camera?

Because if we have any cameras like years past, there would more than likely be framerate issues.

Think about it... why does the camera raise up and tilt down to a blimp view the further we get to the outfield? Because they want to make sure that you still see the ball landing target while avoiding visually hitting the fans in the outfield with the camera. Why? Because the framerate suffers at that point. This is part of their optimization, and I'm positive that this is the reason for the camera doing what it does. Just showing the field gives you a much better framerate than including all of the stadium polygons plus the fans.

But the framerate seemed worse last year when the fielding cam was set to be zoomed in to the closest view (the Broadcast view is what it was called last year) which basically only showed the selected player on the field. Using the Pole view last year seemed smoother and it was zoomed out to show more of the stadium.

So I dunno.....wish someone would've asked a developer if there were more fielding views.

[Blzer]

Re: Does anyone else NOT like the fielding camera?

Haha, I'm just a 20 year old kid majoring in computer science. I personally don't know any code, but I've had personal talks with developers from Blue Shift and Kush in the past. A couple of them live close to me in my hometown, so I guess that makes our relationship "stronger."

But I've seen it all before; this isn't the only game to have framerate issues when more "active code" seems to be coming into play, especially when it's a visual thing. I think that it's even more apparent to me because I'm just a huge stickler for suffering framerate. I guess I've been like that since I got to see a graphical comparison between WSB 2K3 on PS2 and on Xbox. The differences, especially the framerate, are drastic. Since then, 60 FPS has been the way to go for me. Whenever I see even a minor drop, I tend to moan in my head, thinking of what it is that causes it. Normally it's issues like I was referring to.

If a developer can tell me otherwise that that isn't the reason for the fielding cam and it was for gameplay purposes only, then I'll have no choice but to trust them. I'm in no position to ever call out a developer, even if I sense that they're not telling the whole truth.

[Blzer]

Re: Does anyone else NOT like the fielding camera?

But the framerate seemed worse last year when the fielding cam was set to be zoomed in to the closest view (the Broadcast view is what it was called last year) which basically only showed the selected player on the field. Using the Pole view last year seemed smoother and it was zoomed out to show more of the stadium.

So I dunno.....wish someone would've asked a developer if there were more fielding views.

I think you're referring to 2K7, correct? Anyway, while this is all true, I bet there was a lot of optimization involved in the patch as well.

[jeffy777]

Re: Does anyone else NOT like the fielding camera?

I think you're referring to 2K7, correct? Anyway, while this is all true, I bet there was a lot of optimization involved in the patch as well.

No, 2K8. But yeah, they did improve it quite a bit after the patch.

[Sedihawk2K5]

Re: Does anyone else NOT like the fielding camera?

Haha, I'm just a 20 year old kid majoring in computer science. I personally don't know any code, but I've had personal talks with developers from Blue Shift and Kush in the past. A couple of them live close to me in my hometown, so I guess that makes our relationship "stronger."

But I've seen it all before; this isn't the only game to have framerate issues when more "active code" seems to be coming into play, especially when it's a visual thing. I think that it's even more apparent to me because I'm just a huge stickler for suffering framerate. I guess I've been like that since I got to see a graphical comparison between WSB 2K3 on PS2 and on Xbox. The differences, especially the framerate, are drastic. Since then, 60 FPS has been the way to go for me. Whenever I see even a minor drop, I tend to moan in my head, thinking of what it is that causes it. Normally it's issues like I was referring to.

If a developer can tell me otherwise that that isn't the reason for the fielding cam and it was for gameplay purposes only, then I'll have no choice but to trust them. I'm in no position to ever call out a developer, even if I sense that they're not telling the whole truth.

Whoa, 20 year old CS major? I had no idea. Well, good luck! Hang on, I see from your profile you are in SAN DIEGO? And you are posting on OS!? WHY aren't you oh, I don't know, OUTSIDE!?!?

I've been in the software/database programming business for 10+ years and it's a great field (and I'm actually still employed, which is GOLD in today's economy). Writing gaming code and doing what I do is night and day different but I've always been interested in ways developers do things, well, differently. That much is common among the businesses, is that there are several ways to accomplish the same end-result, but one programmer's skillset and optimization abilities might be drastically better than another's. I might write a stored procedure that could take a couple of minutes to execute while it churns through data, where another programmer could some along, write something in an entirely different manner to accomplish the same end-result, yet do it in a matter of seconds. That's the best part of it, as you never stop learning ways to do things better.

I wonder if that's what we are going to see with VC compared to the prior dev team. Just from the highest quality HD videos that they have released since yesterday, it is looking more and more likely that the frame rate with this game looks to be a thing of the past. But why is that? There could be a ton of reasons, but perhaps it's just a different set of programmers who are better at, say, optimizing code to push more polygons at a higher rate vs. the graphcial design beauty that was MLB 2K7? I'm reaching a little bit, but I know from my own industry you see that all the time. I guess I'm with everyone else though in that it would be wonderful to have TWO strong MLB choices this year!

[jeffy777]

Re: Does anyone else NOT like the fielding camera?

I've been in the software/database programming business for 10+ years and it's a great field (and I'm actually still employed, which is GOLD in today's economy). Writing gaming code and doing what I do is night and day different but I've always been interested in ways developers do things, well, differently.

Hey good to hear man I'm a PHP/MySQL/Javascript coder (almost 10 years now as well). It's nice to meet some fellow programmers that also love Baseball games

[Blzer]

Re: Does anyone else NOT like the fielding camera?

Whoa, 20 year old CS major? I had no idea. Well, good luck! Hang on, I see from your profile you are in SAN DIEGO? And you are posting on OS!? WHY aren't you oh, I don't know, OUTSIDE!?!?

If you've been in San Diego for the past week, you'd know that there's been nothing but cold (and rain), strangely enough! It sucks.

I thought you were going to ask why I wasn't persistently banging on SCEA Studio's door.

But yeah, SDSU is very lively and there's always something to do (keep in mind I'm alcohol-/drug-free), but OS has been in my heart since as long as I can remember. No way I can give up this addiction.

I've been in the software/database programming business for 10+ years and it's a great field (and I'm actually still employed, which is GOLD in today's economy). Writing gaming code and doing what I do is night and day different but I've always been interested in ways developers do things, well, differently. That much is common among the businesses, is that there are several ways to accomplish the same end-result, but one programmer's skillset and optimization abilities might be drastically better than another's. I might write a stored procedure that could take a couple of minutes to execute while it churns through data, where another programmer could some along, write something in an entirely different manner to accomplish the same end-result, yet do it in a matter of seconds. That's the best part of it, as you never stop learning ways to do things better.

Definitely, and this is partly what worries me every year about switching developing teams. It's somebody else's code, and when you're not completely rebuilding, things get messy... too many different interpretations for partly the same components of the game.

For instance, they reworked the way that the hitting works, but they probably kept the same mapping code for the right-stick control. When they're not optimizing it to exactly the way that they want and know, especially with the way that C++ can handle unfamiliar code to a despicable way, it can potentially lead to a disaster, which is why I'm surprised they've done the most that they could this year.

I wonder if that's what we are going to see with VC compared to the prior dev team. Just from the highest quality HD videos that they have released since yesterday, it is looking more and more likely that the frame rate with this game looks to be a thing of the past. But why is that? There could be a ton of reasons, but perhaps it's just a different set of programmers who are better at, say, optimizing code to push more polygons at a higher rate vs. the graphcial design beauty that was MLB 2K7? I'm reaching a little bit, but I know from my own industry you see that all the time. I guess I'm with everyone else though in that it would be wonderful to have TWO strong MLB choices this year!

I agree wholeheartedly, and that simply is what it could be. But when was the last time that VC did a baseball game? Sure they've been heading Blue Shift and Kush, but they haven't sat down and done it themselves like they did with the NBA 2K and NFL 2K series.

Something tells me that 360 owners have a playable game this year, and they have a desireable game coming next year. VC rarely disappoints me (except with ESPN NBA Basketball) and it seems they know what to do with relation to the sport that they're developing for. Until they can get a full grasp of everything that Kush screwed up, we won't see the true gem that this game can become. I only wish they made the switch much earlier.