The Other/Anti Little Things Thread

[The Gamer]

Re: The Other/Anti Little Things Thread

Pitchers hit entirely too well.

[jerm21]

Re: The Other/Anti Little Things Thread

Great idea for the thread. Hopefully 2k looks at this and uses it as a constructive to make next year's game better. Something tells me that I am dreaming because this thread wouldn't last 3 minutes on the 2k boards.

Presentation:
Maybe I am new to this style of menus, but I don't like the way one stick brings up the menu. Especially if every other sports game out there uses the right stick to do something else. It is great to be innovative, but I think this is just trying too hard to be different.

Even though the commentary is good, I have been noticing a ton of miscues... especially after the patch. The announcers would get the outs wrong and then they correct themselves. They will mistake groundballs for pop flys. If playing a fantasy draft franchise, they will talk about how a certain player from that team is making an incredible difference and they aren't even on the team any more (ex. "Ryan Ludwick is a serious threat to this lineup" Ludwick wasn't even on my team at that time).

Graphics
Bar none, the player faces and models are among the worse in current gen sport games. Well... it would be tied with MLB 2k7-2k8. Why is it that The Bigs from two years ago can get a better likeness and stadium design than a "sim" product? The player's faces look like they were burn victims. From what I have seen of the Show, the facial features and "body language" is much more fluid and life-like. The coaches look like something you would find out Star Wars. They look like aging monsters. Player's faces are emotionless and expressionless. Their expressions are forced. Do you ever notice that the players are looking out of the side of their eyes while they walk back to the dugout.

When animations occur within the game, many of the players are doing the same thing together. Ex. a manager and a player would wipe sweat from their brow at the exact same time. An entire bench will put their head in their hands when their team is down. Along with the animations, you will see that players will rotate without moving their feet.

Fielding is horrible. They totally took 2 steps back. Pitching is ok, but would like some feedback on how well I did with the pitch.

I am sure that I will have some more, but these are the little things that keep me from enjoying this game.

Amen brotha.. I wish they worked on improving their crowd more. I know it's definitely an improvement from previous years, but keep working on it. it's just not at that type of baseball game atmosphere yet

[tril]

Re: The Other/Anti Little Things Thread

When animations occur within the game, many of the players are doing the same thing together. Ex. a manager and a player would wipe sweat from their brow at the exact same time. An entire bench will put their head in their hands when their team is down. Along with the animations, you will see that players will rotate without moving their feet.

Fielding is horrible. They totally took 2 steps back. Pitching is ok, but would like some feedback on how well I did with the pitch.

I am sure that I will have some more, but these are the little things that keep me from enjoying this game.

cosigned. I mentioned this in the fielding thread. I think thats why the fielding doesnt work correctly. The fielders arent programed to react individually.

I do like the batting.

I like the commentary, atmosphere, and flow of the game. its a beautiful thing in surround sound. you'd swear thats its the middle of summer. the sounds in the distant background; cars, planes, breeze, all capture the summer pass time wonderfully.

The pitching is a mixed bag. Its not that immersive. The pitching should involve the pitcher's movement more. not set the indicator, wait for the circle to fill up, release, then watch the pitcher pitch through his animations. this should all happen at once.
(Look to the SHOW for a good example).

I like the throw meter pre patch. Post patch the meters dont really matter as much.

I dont like how the fielders hesitate in the outfield. That could also be one of the reasons there are a-lot of errors in the outfield.

Its also hard to read pitches in this game.

[goh]

Re: The Other/Anti Little Things Thread

Randy Johnson is apprently beside himself. Against the Rockies I had a no hitter going in the 7th as Randy Johnson and the announcer says something like "It'd be great to have your name beside Nolan Ryan and Randy Johnson" blew it in the 8th btw.

I hit a HR against the Cubs. It landed on the street and they still chanted throw it back. I understand that's the tradition if someone in the stands catches it but do they still do that when it's on the street?

[jeffy777]

Re: The Other/Anti Little Things Thread

I hit a HR against the Cubs. It landed on the street and they still chanted throw it back. I understand that's the tradition if someone in the stands catches it but do they still do that when it's on the street?

Actually, they do. I've seen people on the street throw it over the wall back into Wrigley.

[jeffy777]

Re: The Other/Anti Little Things Thread

-players of all ratings still make too many web gem diving plays in the infield. And to make matters worse, there still seems to be no correlation with these types of plays and the actual player's fielder ratings.

-there's not enough variety in the web gem animations...they all kind of look like the same diving robotic belly flop catch with the outstretched glove

-many of the animations lack fluid transistions so they start to have that unpolished preprogrammed scripted robo player feel

-outfielders crow hop and fire into the infield even on routine outs and non threatening base advancing hits...it looks silly. To make matters worse, sometimes they crow hop and fire in a different direction then their animations would suggest

-Cant SIM to END of a game or SIM to an INNING. Every game must be completely played out...who thought of this bone headed backwards decision?....This used to be a feature in all previous MLB games.

-players morph thru each other...there's no collision of player models. No double play break ups, outfield collisions, etc.

Great post

[BigBlue]

Re: The Other/Anti Little Things Thread

Here's hoping that 2K/VC reads this, takes our gripes and implements them into 2K10.

- I hate the way the batting cursor looks, hence it's why I don't use cursor hitting.

- I too miss the stat overlays with a button press (ala 2K8)

- I think that the slo-mo replays of strikeout pitches was better in 2K8 (especially the dirt-cam view)

- I don't like how when you control an outfielder and overrun a fly ball, the way the arm reaches back to catch it (looks awkward), although not sure how VC can resolve this

- I hate that infielders DO NOT REACT to hard hit shots near them until After the ball is past them (3rd baseman doesn't even move on occassion).

- I don't like seeing batters run with bat in hand to the batters box (like a little leaguer)

- I hate how when there are runners on base, the pitcher is in the SET position before the batter is even in the box!

- Infielders sometimes do not charge grounders (choosing to wait for the ball to reach them) on routine plays.

- Plays at the plate are not fun because of animation quirks and lack of collision detection. Not talking about the barrel into the catcher here. Just the simple slide. It's the same at any base where sometimes the runner should be safe, but the umpire calls him out even though the catcher didn't really get the glove down to tag him out (or the runner stealing second).

- Upright running of fielders at the end of an inning (or when a relief pitcher is running towards the mound). UGLY!

- How about the throwback to the pitcher from a fielder who is literally a foot from him. How about just handing him the ball or sticking it in his glove with a pat on the back? As it is, it's very awkward-looking to see the ball arc towards the pitcher on the throwback when they're THISCLOSE!

BigBlue

[kashmir28]

Re: The Other/Anti Little Things Thread

Several things keep me from truly enjoying this game, but I'll stick to the tread of nitpick things that get to me:

-The dead areas of stadiums. It totally downplays the living crowd when concourses and picnic areas of stadiums are empty.

-I know the Royals aren't hot stuff, but Kauffman Stadium looks like crap. The renovation renderings were readily available, and thats the best they could come up with?

-The horrible and annoying Late/Early Swing notice. Perhaps on beginner difficulty, but other than that it just adds an element of arcadism.

-Home Run Derby. I have yet to understand why every baseball game developer cares to add their little tweaking on home run derby. Plus, as odd as it may seem, I like seeing the ball carom off of the stadium structure. 2k7 got it right, 2k8 had no collection carom in HRD mode and in 2k9 the camera cuts away back to the batter.

I'm sure there is more, but those are my little nitpicks right now.

[stlstudios189]

Re: The Other/Anti Little Things Thread

stat overlays and the lack of charging balls, the pinch hitter for pitcher glitch. I like the game but, these little things do hurt the overall experience.

[Trevytrev11]

Re: The Other/Anti Little Things Thread

Since it's advertised as "Zone Hitting"...how they about actually offer true zone hitting system.

I really have no idea why they decided to call this system zone hitting as it has nothing to do whatsoever with choosing or selecting an actual zone.

[Trevytrev11]

Re: The Other/Anti Little Things Thread

Fix the AI pick off moves at first (especially for lefties). You get about a two second advance notice because of the camera change before he actually throws the ball.

Also, make the picks realistic and not automatic.
-I'm down 9-1 in the 7th inning with the Rays against the Yankees and Sabathia throws over to Carlos Pena and Pat Burrell who has no extended lead two times (not a big deal, just annoying).

-Regarldess of who the runner is, if you get a large enough lead (I believe it's 4 steps) at first (or any bag), the AI will pick over every time (Just to see I had sabathia throw over 11 straight times) and you can make it back every time. MIX IN A PITCH OUT if you can't get the runner and you believe he is going to steal. Throwing over and having the runner beat it easily isn't accomplishing anything.

[Trevytrev11]

Re: The Other/Anti Little Things Thread

Why is it that when I pinch hit for the pitcher and I have to sub the pitcher out the next inning, the manager always takes the ball from my pinch hitter, it looks so awkward and it's definitely an oversight.

What makes this even worse is that there is a pop up that warns you that "You have a non-pitcher pitching." I think the options are press A to continue or B to cancel, but both do the same thing and take you to the game.

Why not have an option from this screen to go to your bullpen right there since 99.9% of the time you are going to want to put an actual pitcher in. This should happen right after the last out of the inning happens and before the screen fades out to the next inning.

[Trevytrev11]

Re: The Other/Anti Little Things Thread

Fielding is horrible. They totally took 2 steps back. Pitching is ok, but would like some feedback on how well I did with the pitch.

Why did they take this out? It was in last year. If you are going to offer such a sensitive and precise pithing system, which I do enjoy, you have to offer feedback so that the pitcher can correct himself.

They offer instant feedback on whether you swing early or late, why not offer what was already in last years game and let people understand their pitching gesture mistakes.

[Azkael]

Re: The Other/Anti Little Things Thread

There is just an insane amount of things, that were practical, that were taken out of this year's game.

Like being able to sort through fielding ratings on the roster management. Why take that out? It's just a hassle finding who is a good fielding, who has the strongest arm, ect.

And I liked the right analog stick from last year where it was easier to choose direction. I find it impossible to change directional hitting with the left analog, I have to have a predetermined direction before the pitch is thrown... no reaction time.

[FenwayMac]

Re: The Other/Anti Little Things Thread

please tell me if there is a reasonable way to do this, but:

when I am choosing a pitcher to warm up, there are no season stats telling me how he is doing, how many saves, era, etc...just his overall, stamina, and control.

Also, In order to see this info, I have to wait for the visuals of the manager walking to the mound, and the reliever running out of the bullpen...just to see his stats pop up on the screen for about 1 second.

Are these the stat overlays that people talk about.

Also, would be nice to see CPU pitch count and pitch history (I believe that was a left stick click in MVP 05 and was very valuable in predicating future pitches).