Video Showing Batters Taking Strikes etc.

[brendanrfoley]

Re: Video Showing Batters Taking Strikes etc.

Pared makes some great points, and I believe it's all going to come down to a matter of preference.

The method Dave and I are using may not be the most realistic, but it is providing realistic results. That is okay for me, for now. I hope it is fixed either by sliders, a patch, or in 2K10.

[DaveDQ]

Re: Video Showing Batters Taking Strikes etc.

What I like about 2K9 (based on the demo) is knowing the CPU will swing at a pitch that gets too much of the plate. Against the power guys, that's scary. I find myself trying to pitch around them, fool them, and trying to limit the damage if they make contact.

Now that feels like baseball.

I noticed that too. If I have a guy 1-2..there's no way I'm going near the strike zone.

Watch a gamecast of any game and you'll see almost exactly where pitches come in and are taken. Ever seen a game where the first pitch is a fastball down the plate? Where the pitcher freezes the batter on a curve RIGHT DOWN THE MIDDLE because it was a good pitch and the batter wasn't looking off-speed?

Yes, and I can say it's in this game. In fact, Thorne will comment on it. I see this with check swings where the batter will check and no go around and Throne says, "Doesn't matter because it's a called strike."

I'm not here to say that the batting isn't aggressive. It 100% is. I'm just not sure what I'm doing is a "workaround." Am I satisfied with the demo's version of batters, no. I am satisfied with pitch counts in various situations.

[Pared]

Re: Video Showing Batters Taking Strikes etc.

Am I satisfied with the demo's version of batters, no.

That's all that matters.

[NEWYORICAN]

Re: Video Showing Batters Taking Strikes etc.

I would agree that it's a minor issue, if that. I'm using the demo with zero adjustments to sliders etc. If anything, I'd get on 2K for releasing a pitching system with zero instructions. I hear a lot of guys saying they are trying to max out every pitch. I don't do that with off speed stuff (not all the time). Even with some fast balls, I'll hold back some and I get called strikes. Also, I don't put the ball cursor right over the catcher's mitt. I try to place the ball cursor at the beginning of the break so that the ball ends up in the catcher's mitt.



I'm using a Dazzle and it only records in S-video or composite . I have to switch my 360 out of HD mode to stream the video. It's not very user friendly. Let me know how how yours works. What Pasta Padre is doing with his HD stuff looks excellent.

Yes, that's my voice, although I refer to it as one of my multiple personalities...

Hi DQ, thanks for the reply!...sure thing, I'll let you know how it goes with the Hava. I'll be posting some videos here when I get my hands on 2K09 and MLB09.

Also, make sure you get serious and find a way to get into broadcasting....really, you did a excellent job there with you're Dynasty video. I'm serious...very profesionally done! I will look forward to watching it as you're season goes on.

Thanks again DQ


peace
Ernesto

[dlasp66]

Re: Video Showing Batters Taking Strikes etc.

This video shows that it is much harder to pitch in this game and involves a great amount of SKILL, this game is for people looking for a challenge, and not trying to easily push one button

[brendanrfoley]

Re: Video Showing Batters Taking Strikes etc.

I just loaded up the demo again, and I have to say... I really enjoy pitching.

I wish the CPU didn't swing as much as it did. But through three innings with Hamels, I had thrown 34 pitches, struck out two, and given up one hit. That is a realistic line.

I got several swinging strikes, looking strikes and the CPU chased a few pitches out of the zone.

[DaveDQ]

Re: Video Showing Batters Taking Strikes etc.

Hi DQ, thanks for the reply!...sure thing, I'll let you know how it goes with the Hava. I'll be posting some videos here when I get my hands on 2K09 and MLB09.

Also, make sure you get serious and find a way to get into broadcasting....really, you did a excellent job there with you're Dynasty video. I'm serious...very profesionally done! I will look forward to watching it as you're season goes on.

Thanks again DQ


peace
Ernesto

Thanks man. I'm looking forward to my season and then some other fun stuff with Fight Night and other titles that will allow me to do the dynasty type stuff.

[lived]

Re: Video Showing Batters Taking Strikes etc.

I have to go with Pared here. Let's hope sliders can fix the issue because it would suck if you can't overpower hitters with raw stuff. Nimbling the corners and all is great but sometimes you just got a Let'Er Rip.

[Zalf]

Re: Video Showing Batters Taking Strikes etc.

First the disclaimers that seem to be needed for these discussions. I have a 360 only so if I'm playing baseball I'm playing 2k. I thought 2k8 ended up being a pretty good sim baseball game with a lot of slider work. I think the 2k9 demo shows both tons of promise and possible issues.

With that out of the way, the AI batters are way too aggressive early in the count. I think using the IE info is a good work around for this in some cases but worries me over the long haul. If the IE tendencies are the all controlling factor then a lot of things are going to get thrown out of whack.

With the demo we are mostly dealing with #1 starters vs 2-3 top hitters and 6-7 middle of the road or lower hitters. A dominant #1 pitcher should be able to hit his spots and work a hitters weaknesses most of the time. Even if he hits his spots and works weaknesses he is going to give up something; hit/walk/solid contact/etc; to top hitters about 1 out of every 4-5 at bats. #5 starters will be closer to 1 out of 3/4(or more).

If IE becomes the controlling factor then the disparity between good hitters vs bad pitchers and vice versa matters much less. If IE says Pujols is 15% on low and outside change ups and that 15% is the controlling factor then any pitcher can nibble at the low outside corner without fear. Since pitch placement is going to be based off of user skill with the stick and not pitcher tendencies, user pitchers get all of the benefits of IE with none of downfalls of the batter having his IE info.

This isn't new, but if AI over aggressiveness leads to depending solely on IE to counter it then the game will quickly become slanted in the User pitchers favor. This will lead to a less challenging and to many a less fun game of baseball. Then we start coming up with house rules to counter it.

IE should influence AI batting but it shouldn't be the controlling factor. So if we have to tone down IE influence with sliders then AI batter over aggressiveness becomes an issue with no good work around.

[baa7]

Re: Video Showing Batters Taking Strikes etc.

If IE becomes the controlling factor then the disparity between good hitters vs bad pitchers and vice versa matters much less. If IE says Pujols is 15% on low and outside change ups and that 15% is the controlling factor then any pitcher can nibble at the low outside corner without fear.

IE should influence AI batting but it shouldn't be the controlling factor.

Great post. That's the issue exactly. It's why I have always played with IE off. And I don't look at players' tendencies and hit charts. You can't expect static AI logic to come close to emulating human behavior. It just becomes a built-in game cheat. So I just don't use it.

[Captain Mallow]

Re: Video Showing Batters Taking Strikes etc.

"Hey folks, this is Mel Allen, and welcome to This Week in Baseball!"

Great theme. Sent a sentimental shiver down my spine. Thanks for posting it.