MLB 2K9 Post-Patch Impressions (360 & PS3 merged)

[Cardot]

Re: Major League Baseball 2K9 Official Patch 2 Available, Impressions Here (360 Only)

Thanks for the impressions fellas. It is much appreciated.

Is the hit variety good? It seems that most baseball games I have played the last few years, that very few balls go down the lines.

Also, when you hit the ball hard, do you feel you have earned it? I am still playing 2K7, and I like alot of things about the game. But I hate it when I totally get jammed, yet my batter rockets the ball 450 feet the other way for a lame feeling HR. I do seem to recall a developer of 2K8 making a comment that 2K7 hitting had some "randomeness" to it.

[Bwnarrow3]

Re: Major League Baseball 2K9 Official Patch 2 Available, Impressions Here (360 Only)

Edit... I think someone was asking about if the Proggresive lighting is better. I played a 12:00 and a 1:00pm game and they both ended at dusk not nighttime like it did before. Here is the things with the progression i think its inning to inning not actual time. You dont see the actualy shadows creep across the field during a inning.

Of course. It has to be this way. I don't know anything about developing video games, but I would think it would be waaay harder to make them move real-time. That's why I'm praying for NCAA to have it in their football game this year.

[zpq12]

Re: Major League Baseball 2K9 Official Patch 2 Available, Impressions Here (360 Only)

So is the stealing issue something thats just popped up since the patch or am I just noticing it now? I can only steal if I accidently get a ridiculous jump or the catcher makes a terrible throw.

[MasterX1918]

Re: Major League Baseball 2K9 Official Patch 2 Available, Impressions Here (360 Only)

computer is still aggressive as hell , but I notice that they work the counts more giving my guys more realistic pitch counts. Also power is extremely sapped, i've yet to see one hit in the 3 games i've played, however I have seen 2 in the park homers thanks to outfielders glitching.

[falcons2003]

Re: Major League Baseball 2K9 Official Patch 2 Available, Impressions Here (360 Only)

I think they finally got home runs right. I have hit about 5 in my last 3 games. The ones i hit were not 550 ft shots by Casey Blake either. Though he did hit one, but it was accurate.

So much more realistic at least online with this patch.

I know he mentioned home run distances.....but does the game measure home run distances? I don't see it anywhere,,,,or was he just making a point.

[goh]

Re: Major League Baseball 2K9 Official Patch 2 Available, Impressions Here (360 Only)

Can someone try and explain to me why it is that if a person hates to eat at McDonalds, they would continue to stay at McDonalds and complain about why they don't like it? The hamburgers are soggy, the fries are no good, the soda is watered down, the floor is dirty..... and yet, instead of just LEAVING and heading on over to Wendys, they insist on letting all the patrons at McDonalds know why they don't like to eat there.

Some people like McDonalds, and some people like Wendys. Some people know full well that Wendys make a better burger, and that the presentation is much better, but some of us are not driving over to Wendys just to buy one hamburger, and are content with dressing up our inferior burger with various condiments, and enjoying it the best we can.

Because there is no Wendy's. Unless this was directed at PS3 users specifically.

Anyway I'm not impressed at all,took some notes:

AI throws more balls,got my second ever walk.

Hits seem more varied.

Umps still suck.

Finally pulled off a double play.

Switch hitter frozen fielder glitch NOT fixed.

At least one base running glitch NOT fixed. (had sent to steal,fly ball,was told to return to 1st but got stuck and had some sort of problem at 2nd having some sort of seziure instead then eventually returns.)

AI hitters even worse! Swinging at even MORE terrible pitches. Only resulted in even more hits,a lot more grounders/flyballs and a lot less strikeouts.

First baseman didn't come off the bag.

No errors at all wich was a suprise with all the ground balls from the even worse AI.

4 hit batters?! 1 by me (was aiming at the lower corner of the zone) and 3 by the AI.

Pitches less accurate overall.

Top 3 plays didn't pick some random RBI single this game.

Still came up saying my player was injured after the game,simming ahead he healed up finally.

Pics still missing from MLB.com headlines page in franchise.

Still picking terrible choices for pitchers of the week both in rookies and main players and players of the month as well.

Classic hitting HR problem NOT fixed based on batting practice.

[mKoz26]

Re: Major League Baseball 2K9 Official Patch 2 Available, Impressions Here (360 Only)

Can someone try and explain to me why it is that if a person hates to eat at McDonalds, they would continue to stay at McDonalds and complain about why they don't like it? The hamburgers are soggy, the fries are no good, the soda is watered down, the floor is dirty..... and yet, instead of just LEAVING and heading on over to Wendys, they insist on letting all the patrons at McDonalds know why they don't like to eat there.

Some people like McDonalds, and some people like Wendys. Some people know full well that Wendys make a better burger, and that the presentation is much better, but some of us are not driving over to Wendys just to buy one hamburger, and are content with dressing up our inferior burger with various condiments, and enjoying it the best we can.

So for those that love a delicious, satisfying Wendys' burger, we get it. Enjoy it. and please close the door tightly on the way out.

syf

I like the analogy, but I think it is a little off. (If this is an MLB 09 vs. 2k9 analogy)
Wendys will be 2k9
MLB will be 09
You see, there are two resturants. Wendys and McDonalds. I myself love nuggets, burgers, and ice cream.
I go to McDonalds because they have great nuggets and great ice cream. I don't like their burgers, but I can only go to one resturant so I complain about the burgers until they improve. I wish I could get better burgers, but I am not willing to sacrafice my ice cream and nuggets by going to Wendy's to get those burgers. Like you said, I will have to make due with my crap burgers and put a crapload of condiments on them.

I guess the only difference is that the McDonalds (although this is not true in real life) would need to have great fries, nice floors, and good soda that Wendy's does not have.

If anyone is not following this analogy well, McDonalds is 360. PS3=Wendy's

*None of the information in this post is made out to resemble or oppose my views or the quality of the products featured. Viewer Discretion is advised.

[blackscorpion11]

I play legends level only, since the download, the 1st baseman glitch seems gone, but theres still a ctcher's glitch doing the same thing..letting runners slide in safe when they should be out by a mile. The cpu beat me in some fun and entertaining games.. I noticed the cpu gets obscure HR's from guys not known for having pop. The pick-offs seem fixed. I think there is way too much hitting and not enough pitching on every level except legend.. As for balls and strikes and the cpu swinging wildly, i know if i hang any pitch over the plate the cpu will pound it..so i really dont care about them swinging at the 1st,2nd or 3rd pitch.. As long as the game is balanced ...batting vs pitching...user vs cpu ai. And it seems to be balanced to me. (legend only)

[Zalf]

Re: Major League Baseball 2K9 Official Patch 2 Available, Impressions Here (360 Only)

I play legends level only, since the download, the 1st baseman glitch seems gone, but theres still a ctcher's glitch doing the same thing..letting runners slide in safe when they should be out by a mile. The cpu beat me in some fun and entertaining games.. I noticed the cpu gets obscure HR's from guys not known for having pop. The pick-offs seem fixed. I think there is way too much hitting and not enough pitching on every level except legend.. As for balls and strikes and the cpu swinging wildly, i know if i hang any pitch over the plate the cpu will pound it..so i really dont care about them swinging at the 1st,2nd or 3rd pitch.. As long as the game is balanced ...batting vs pitching...user vs cpu ai. And it seems to be balanced to me. (legend only)

Are you using the 'RB' button for plays at the plate? It took me a while to realize that the catcher wouldn't make even easy plays at the plate without the RB button. No clue why they made this different from every other base.

[jake44np]

Re: Major League Baseball 2K9 Official Patch 2 Available, Impressions Here (360 Only)

How are the injuries now after patch #2?
Did they address them at all?

Allright I got in 2 games last night after downloading the 2nd patch and the newest roster set. All I can say is I am really surprised how well the game played!
I was playing it in front of 4 of my buddies and they really enjoyed the game also. (We were waiting for the UNC Mich St blowout to start!)
Anyway the animations are so much smoother now after the 2nd patch. My OFers dont slow down now when chasing a fly ball. My first basemen never once pulled his foot off 1st.
And it is alot harder to pitch now, I can not throw a perfect pitch everytime anymore! Also I was able to hit a few HRS with non HR hitters. I hit one with Hairston and one with Dickerson my first game with the Reds. I also hit one with Alex Gonzalez the 2nd game. I had been playing a season with the Reds prior to the patch and after 40 games none of these 3 guys had hit one HR.
Also the Reds uni's are now currect on the game, before they had a number on the front of their jerseys. In real life there is no # on the front of their jersey, these #'s are now gone.
I know if was only 2 games but again this game is much better after these 2 patches.

[Spongedaddy]

Re: Major League Baseball 2K9 Official Patch 2 Available, Impressions Here (360 Only)

I am happy with the patch so far

+ AI hitters are taking pitches including two strikeouts looking.

+ AI pitchers are throwing balls. Pre-patch it seemed like they threw 95% strikes.

+ Outfielders seem to respond better. There is still a bit of slowdown, but that seems to be an animation glitch.

+ Pitching is more challenging and makes you judge breaks. I like that a lot.

- Online still seems to have too many dingers.

[sportyguyfl31]

Re: Major League Baseball 2K9 Official Patch 2 Available, Impressions Here (360 Only)

I think this game plays positively excellent on legend difficulty.

For me, I thought that my hitters were just overly weakened, so all i did was input the user all-star difficulty hitting settings, and left everything at default legend.

For my skill level, it works perfect. The CPu mixes its pitches, better, locates better, so that keeps me honest, but still rewards me for smart hitting, without the beer league softball effect of all star.


The only thing that I feel is out of wack for the user offensively is the difficulty in stealing bases. I basically have to anticipate breaking ball, to have a chance, and if I am wrong, hope for a bad throw, late call...or for the dang ump to make the right call when I am CLEARLY safe.

[buzzguy]

Re: Major League Baseball 2K9 Official Patch 2 Available, Impressions Here (360 Only)

I've been following this thread since the patch came out, and still I can't decide if the game is worth buying or not.
I wonder what MS' thoughts are regarding the baseball delimma on their system? It's been sending customers over to the competition for about 2 years already!

[jeffy777]

Re: Major League Baseball 2K9 Official Patch 2 Available, Impressions Here (360 Only)

AI hitters even worse! Swinging at even MORE terrible pitches. Only resulted in even more hits,a lot more grounders/flyballs and a lot less strikeouts.

Probably seems worse to you because you aren't being accurate with your pitching gestures (right stick motions). If you aren't accurate, then the AI will be much more likely to hack at your pitches because they interpret them as "bad" pitches. Try dropping down the Gesture slider and you should see a big difference, then turn it back up when you get better with the gestures.

[jacory12]

Re: Major League Baseball 2K9 Official Patch 2 Available, Impressions Here (360 Only)

Yeah exactly I am getting like 3 Ks looking a game now. I am nailing the gestures good now and I LOVE this game more.