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

[The Living Legend]

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

Oh man this game is Awesome, i mean since the majority of the problems are gone this is by far the best game they have made in like 3 years.

Im still trying to tweak the game a bit to my liking i play on allstar and im getting to many hits but you know what that makes the game fun for me im not to much of a sim guy i need action..lol.

Seems the cleaned up alot for a patch, no more first base glitch AI IS better alot of the quircky animations are gone and the cut to the dugouts are pretty good now. Im very shocked about what this patch did.

once in a while i will screw up a outfielder catch, i mean its kind of cool cause there not givens anymore you actually have to learn how to catch, i doubt people will think that but i think outfield catches could be a little harder to make.

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.

[stealyerface]

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

So far so good with me and the patch. Finally started the Franchise after waiting it out. Beckett went 8 innings against the Rays, 103 pitches, and struck out 10. Wow, is the pitching a LOT different post-patch. I have the sliders set at 100% as far as Gesture, Release, etc... and I will tell you, you swallow hard when you make that 3-1 pitch now. I LOVE the fact that you can dial back the meter a bit to try and gain more control, but you really have to be careful with the release, and there is no more dotting the corners with every pitch in your arsenal. Also, the pitches themselves have been tweaked, and you might head out to the practice mound before your game, and test out how the new movement affects the pitches. Beckett's Two-Seamer used to tail back almost a foot from the aiming point, making hitting the corner pretty easy.. not anymore. The pitches all react differently, and you really need to get a handle on what does what now. I hit three Rays with Beckett, so before game 2 of the season, Dice-K is going to hit the practice field for some bullpen work before I start throwing balls all over the place. Even on a 4 seamer, you had batter be close to the perfect gesture and release, and even then, it doesn't always go exactly where you aim it.... hmm... *insert flashing lights and siren here*.. about time...!!

I won the game in the 11th inning on a sac fly by JD Drew, who scored Papi from third, but I am still fumble-fingered when it comes to the baserunning when the S hits the fan, and I am trying to do 5 things at once. It is hard to tell if the batter has tagged up all the way to the bag when the ball is in the air, and even though they supposedly fixed the "jog home" problem, Papi had to run over the catcher even after the throw from medium depth right was cut off... Papi knocked the ball out for the game-winning run and mayhem ensued with everyone surrounding him and congratulating him for the walk off Opening Day victory!!! Oh wait, no they didn't. Drew walked all the way across the diamond back towards the dugout with nary a teammate even walking near him after he drove in the winning run. They also ignored Papi who steamrolled the catcher for the win... Must be the rookie hazing thing where your teammates ignore you for winning the game. I mean, I am gald they fixed what they did, but golly, could a guy get a little celebration for a thrilling extra inning win? weak.

So, the Sox are 1-0 in this short season, and Dice-K head to the bump for game 2 on the season.

Love the patch, and honestly, I love it just for the pitching tweak itself. The other stuff was never really an issue with me, so Becks striking out 10 on opening day with the control a lot tougher now, I am thrilled with that performance. No HR's for either team, and the game ended 2-1. Lowell and Youk both went 3-4, Lowrie doubled, and Papi went 2-4 with a couple singles...

More to come.

syf

[bonannogiovanni]

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

Have foul balls increased with the patch? That's my biggest gripe....

[zpq12]

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

The best parts of the patch are easily the new variability in the pitches you throw(you no longer have pinpoint accuracy) and the fact that the Inside Edge walk ratings are now corrected.

[sportyguyfl31]

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

Jeremey Hermedia crushed a curveball I threw with Ollie Perez, playing on Legend. That was a positive thing to see.

The only thing I hate about Legend is that I feel like my batters are completely neutered.

Im right on a lot of pitches that end up as soft fly balls or shallow liners.

I may have to use the all star user hitter settings on legend difficulty in oreder to get a happy medium.

[kGinGreen]

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

Jeremey Hermedia crushed a curveball I threw with Ollie Perez, playing on Legend. That was a positive thing to see.

The only thing I hate about Legend is that I feel like my batters are completely neutered.

Im right on a lot of pitches that end up as soft fly balls or shallow liners.

I may have to use the all star user hitter settings on legend difficulty in oreder to get a happy medium.

Or just bump the power up. Before the patch thats what i did. just play legend with user power up a bit.

[Padgoi]

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

Oh, life can be so cruel.

My outfield play was fine before the patch, now it's a mess. I now hit "A" as soon as a flyball is hit, and let the computer field it for me. Five games played today, and about five or six misplays.

I'm also re-learning how to pitch. CPU hitters can really crush curveballs now.

Same here on all accounts.

[sportyguyfl31]

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

Or just bump the power up. Before the patch thats what i did. just play legend with user power up a bit.

Ahh. How much? Now that I think about it, I think 5 might do the trick. I dont want to make TOO drastic a change.

I think this game plays its best legend with this patch in my opinion.

[allBthere]

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

the patch made the game worse for me. pitch counts are the same, but fly balls are now a problem - it's like all the people who never had a problem are now inheriting the outfielder problem. The patch also reduced power big time, and the pitch difficulty is laughable to me - all it did is make me miss badly on one pitch ouf of 15 or so and the rest is exactly the same as before. All the patch did is create new problems for me.

[falcons2003]

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

I'm having some major declines in the HR department since the patch.

I wasn;t hitting them like crazy pre-patch but it was around normal.

Since patch I have power on 100, contact 50, batter succes 45, and I'm having some problems with hrs. I know it might be me sucking, but any tips? Move that contact number up? Batter success up? I just don't want to have tons of hits in a game, just regular amount of hits and hrs. I thought maybe if I turn success up, I might be getting hits in the over 10 realm alot.

[stealyerface]

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

the patch made the game worse for me. pitch counts are the same, but fly balls are now a problem - it's like all the people who never had a problem are now inheriting the outfielder problem. The patch also reduced power big time, and the pitch difficulty is laughable to me - all it did is make me miss badly on one pitch ouf of 15 or so and the rest is exactly the same as before. All the patch did is create new problems for me.

1. Play with the old 2k8 style of three gesture pitching.
2. Adjust Sliders to 100% with regards to Timing, Gesture, and Release.
3. Make the Pitch Meter Speed 85

Now throw pitches and watch what happens. I am chewing my fingernails off when the other team's big hitters are at the plate. Now you have to decide to pitch around them, or try your luck with balls in the sweet spot.

I guarantee it is a lot more fun this way.

syf

[FenwayMac]

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

So far so good with me and the patch. Finally started the Franchise after waiting it out. Beckett went 8 innings against the Rays, 103 pitches, and struck out 10. Wow, is the pitching a LOT different post-patch. I have the sliders set at 100% as far as Gesture, Release, etc... and I will tell you, you swallow hard when you make that 3-1 pitch now. I LOVE the fact that you can dial back the meter a bit to try and gain more control, but you really have to be careful with the release, and there is no more dotting the corners with every pitch in your arsenal. Also, the pitches themselves have been tweaked, and you might head out to the practice mound before your game, and test out how the new movement affects the pitches. Beckett's Two-Seamer used to tail back almost a foot from the aiming point, making hitting the corner pretty easy.. not anymore. The pitches all react differently, and you really need to get a handle on what does what now. I hit three Rays with Beckett, so before game 2 of the season, Dice-K is going to hit the practice field for some bullpen work before I start throwing balls all over the place. Even on a 4 seamer, you had batter be close to the perfect gesture and release, and even then, it doesn't always go exactly where you aim it.... hmm... *insert flashing lights and siren here*.. about time...!!

I won the game in the 11th inning on a sac fly by JD Drew, who scored Papi from third, but I am still fumble-fingered when it comes to the baserunning when the S hits the fan, and I am trying to do 5 things at once. It is hard to tell if the batter has tagged up all the way to the bag when the ball is in the air, and even though they supposedly fixed the "jog home" problem, Papi had to run over the catcher even after the throw from medium depth right was cut off... Papi knocked the ball out for the game-winning run and mayhem ensued with everyone surrounding him and congratulating him for the walk off Opening Day victory!!! Oh wait, no they didn't. Drew walked all the way across the diamond back towards the dugout with nary a teammate even walking near him after he drove in the winning run. They also ignored Papi who steamrolled the catcher for the win... Must be the rookie hazing thing where your teammates ignore you for winning the game. I mean, I am gald they fixed what they did, but golly, could a guy get a little celebration for a thrilling extra inning win? weak.

So, the Sox are 1-0 in this short season, and Dice-K head to the bump for game 2 on the season.

Love the patch, and honestly, I love it just for the pitching tweak itself. The other stuff was never really an issue with me, so Becks striking out 10 on opening day with the control a lot tougher now, I am thrilled with that performance. No HR's for either team, and the game ended 2-1. Lowell and Youk both went 3-4, Lowrie doubled, and Papi went 2-4 with a couple singles...

More to come.

syf

Hi, curious as to whether you are using custom settings or just going with default? I would like to earn cards for my efforts, so can I choose a default setting and tweak it? I think all the slider set loaders finally said "F it" and gave up! I tried a set this morning and love the pitching (7 K's with Beckett), but hitting was horribly bad. Even solid contact only made it to mid outfield. Original question...which difficulty are you using?

Thanks

[Zalf]

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

I'm having some major declines in the HR department since the patch.

I wasn;t hitting them like crazy pre-patch but it was around normal.

Since patch I have power on 100, contact 50, batter succes 45, and I'm having some problems with hrs. I know it might be me sucking, but any tips? Move that contact number up? Batter success up? I just don't want to have tons of hits in a game, just regular amount of hits and hrs. I thought maybe if I turn success up, I might be getting hits in the over 10 realm alot.

For me the User Batting Pitch Influence slider was a big part of the post patch power outage. Pre-patch I was getting solid contact and good power. Post patch same pitches and swings were weak flies or foul balls. Dropped the User Batting Pitch Influence one spot from my pre-patch settings and power is back to where it was.

I think something in the patch changed the balance between swing and pitch in determining the type of hit. To get back to where it was I just dropped the slider down. No changes needed to the power slider.

[StormJH1]

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

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</td> <td align="left"> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"> <tbody><tr> <td> </td> <td style="background-image: url(/vBulletin/images/quotes/09.gif); width: 100%; height: 24px;" align="left" valign="middle" width="100%" nowrap="nowrap"> Originally Posted by brendanrfoley</td> <td> </td> </tr> </tbody></table> </td> <td align="right" width="100%"> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"> <tbody><tr> <td width="100%"> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"> <tbody><tr> <td style="background-image: url(/vBulletin/images/quotes/11.gif); width: 100%; height: 24px;" width="100%">
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</td> <td style="background-image: url(/vBulletin/images/quotes/00.gif); width: 100%; height: 1px;" width="100%"> Oh, life can be so cruel.

My outfield play was fine before the patch, now it's a mess. I now hit "A" as soon as a flyball is hit, and let the computer field it for me. Five games played today, and about five or six misplays.

I'm also re-learning how to pitch. CPU hitters can really crush curveballs now.
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</td> <td width="18"> </td> </tr> </tbody></table> </td> </tr> </tbody></table> Same here on all accounts.

---

Same here too! I don't understand how some people on here were "confirming" that flyballs were fixed. Why, because you caught one? Pre-patch, that glitch didn't happen every time. I'm not convinced that it's improved at all. I think that the 1st base thing has been noticeably fixed or improved, but with so many game breaking glitches still in place, I may have no choice but to trade this thing in and cut my losses.

Looks like MLB The Show 09 for PS2 in glorious standard def for me

I lost something like 11 straight games (many of them close) because I refuse to use anything but cursor batting, and I can't do it with that razor thin cursor (which doesn't respond well when you're trying to move it quickly). Swing stick is a joke because there is nothing that requires you to actually AIM where you are swinging. How is that a game? Why would you want to use a batting mechanic that demands realism for one aspect of hitting (timing) while COMPLETELY ignoring another one (location)? At least cursor batting tries to get it right...but it's just a crappier hitting mechanism than The Show, PowerPros, Baseball Advance, World Series baseball, or just about any other baseball game you could imagine.

[stealyerface]

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