MLB 2K11 Demo Available Now, Post Your Impressions Here (PS3/360)

[brendanrfoley]

Re: MLB 2K11 Demo Available Now, Post Your Impressions Here (PS3/360)

I squeezed three games in today and like what I see so far.

Hitting feels better than it did last year and the improved hit variety is a big help. I can only imagine that on higher difficulties, the hit variety is even better (due the lack of consistent contact). I've seen slow rollers, choppers, line drives, looping liners into the gaps, slicing line shots... you name it. The physics of a rolling ball are much, much better as well. Pitching is also sublime and the lower tier pitchers certainly have trouble locating.

Visually, it's a mixed bag. The game is smoother than last year (the extra animations help) but it's still not pretty. I long for the day MLB2K is visually comparable to NBA2K.

[Redemption]

Re: MLB 2K11 Demo Available Now, Post Your Impressions Here (PS3/360)

as for the pitching argument. Yes there are still things about it that bug me. First and foremost, I wish we could go back to 2k8 with the 3rd step in the pitching. At least have it as an option for people that want the challenge.

I also wish there was more of a correlation between the gesture and the end result (aka, if I don't rotate enough on my curve, it should have less bite and be left hanging a little... and if I overrotate, it should end up in the dirt). But they have improved imo in that department over the years, minimizing the "randomess" some

but that is not how I interpreted emaths criticism (which seems much more trolling than actual constructive criticism/advice)

[inkcil]

Re: MLB 2K11 Demo Available Now, Post Your Impressions Here (PS3/360)

Impressions and observations:

- I like the atmosphere of the game, the constant murmur of the crowd, PA, ect.

- I like the cartoon graphics of the game (almost like half cartoon, half claymation), for me it adds to the FUN factor of 2k's offering; I also like the color palatte.

- While the animations have improved, they are still overall pretty goofy. Mainly in the fielding - players throw from awkward and unrealistic positions with cannon arm strength looking in the other direction of the base they are throwing; football catches are still in for infielders (turn around and look at the ball already!); and why does everyone running full speed down the first base line basically stop on a dime when they are thrown out? How about "running through the bag" animations 2k?

- Hitting, batting and throwing mechanics all work fine, although I prefer button pressing for hitting and throwing. I don't FEEL the big difference in fielding that was being touted...feels just like last year to me...i don't feel MORE in control of the fielder than in years past, i just have the little bar now to tell me how hard/accurate I am throwing. But I will say the the outfielders circle is a nice addition.

- Swinging the bat still feels like wiffle ball, but at least it seems like the ball goes in the direction it goes based on the timing of the hit and the placement of the pitch.

- I'm not crazy about any of the camera angles. I need a different angle for when I hit the ball then the one they have in the demo...I prefer to have the angle that I have when fielding the ball for when after I've made a hit.

- A few oddities: Top of first with Kinsler on base, one out. Hamilton hits a towering ball to left field and I am prompted to press square to wall climb. Even though I'm barely at the warning track I press square anyway out of desperation. My fielders warps to the wall and makes a leap, coming down with the ball somehow. I hear the ump say "OUT." But Then the screen reads HOME RUN and it is a 2 run homer - the scoreboard reads 2-0. I retire Cruz for the (3rd?) out, and the side is retired.

- Secondly, two out with runner on first and second, and I hit a ball off the top of the right field wall...like off the very top of the wall. It scores the run from 2nd. However, on the replay I notice that the runner got about 5 feet from home plate, stopped dead in his tracks and got in the "lead off the base" animation, then sprinted towards home (if you can sprint five feet, but he took off like he had 90 feet ahead of him). I guess the AI was waiting to see if the ball was going to be caught? First of all, the ball hit off the top of that high wall. Secondly, there were two outs, so why stop?

I hope more bugs like these are not in the final product.

[Raskal]

Re: MLB 2K11 Demo Available Now, Post Your Impressions Here (PS3/360)

I just played a game and the CPU made the worst substitutions ever to try and catch up while down 4-0.

Washington starts making pinch hit moves left and right while I have Zito on the mound starting in the first inning. Moreland out, Young In, Torrealba out, Davis in. Bourbon out, someone else in. When the final batter in the 3rd inning comes to the plate with the bases loaded and 2 outs tying run on 2nd, there is the relief pitcher Lowe coming to bat with no more subs left on the bench.

[BA2929]

Re: MLB 2K11 Demo Available Now, Post Your Impressions Here (PS3/360)

Well. I've played two games and I'm 100% in picking guys off at 3rd. I've tried twice and been successful twice. Both times the runner started back, but instead of going to the base, he went to the right of it while shuffling his feet the entire time. Tagged out easily.

Other than that I really haven't had any issues to speak of. The choppy camera on foul balls doesn't bother me in the least. I would like to know if there's a button to cancel a throw, however.

[elfdutch]

Re: MLB 2K11 Demo Available Now, Post Your Impressions Here (PS3/360)

I just found a big bug. I haven't looked through the entire thread so someone might have already said it.

Anyway. First inning as the Rangers. They get two quick outs. Hamilton hits a homerun over the right field wall then Cruz follows that with a triple. Adrian Beltre up. He hits one deep into centerfield. I see the fans 6 rows back stand up. Andres Torres goes through the wall and catches it but it counts as a homerun and an out. So I'm up 3-0 going into the bottom of the first having only got out twice.

Had the exact same thing. Score was 0-0. 2 outs, nobody on base.
I hit one out of the park, but the leftfielder climbs the wall and then somehow morphs into the wall, or through it. He catches the ball somewhere behind that wall. On my screen the words "out" and "homerun" are written. So, a homerun and an out. Its scored as a run.

Really do not like that. High foul balls behind the catcher makes players go soooo sloooooow.
Don't like the new camera at all. Hit a homerun on the very 1st pitch i got, but could not see the ball for the life of me.
Replays still suck, only showing the runners.
I loved mlb2k10 but am really not digging this at all.

Very very underwhelming......

[Artman22]

Re: MLB 2K11 Demo Available Now, Post Your Impressions Here (PS3/360)

Does nobody see the huge jagged edges on EVERY player and shadow model???????
It's ridiculous, they are obvious to anyone using a large plasma or any HDTV

This along with the framerate inconsistency and the jarring animations make this a no buy for me....This is ESPECIALLY frustrating considering I haven't bought a baseball game since 2k7 ARGHHHHHH

I'm on a "50 panasonic, and there's no jaggies. I'm on the 360 version. If you're sitting 3 feet away from the tv, that might be a problem.

[Bat]

Re: MLB 2K11 Demo Available Now, Post Your Impressions Here (PS3/360)

Pitching is great, gameplay seems solid, but the graphics and camera angles are awful.

The batting cam is way too far away. I am looking forward to seeing what other options are available in the retail version.

[pietasterp]

Re: MLB 2K11 Demo Available Now, Post Your Impressions Here (PS3/360)

Uh-oh....not liking what I'm hearing lately. I'm downloading the demo as I type this, but my high hopes are sinking fast...Bugs? Glitches? Overall lack of polish/attention to detail? Deja-vu all over again...

If that's how the demo is playing, then that's how the retail game is playing...it's not like they release beta builds as demos, and this game is a week from the street (i.e. it's been packed and delivered already). I wouldn't hold out any hope that things will be better in the retail version if you guys are seeing a lot of nonsense in the demo...

[inkcil]

Re: MLB 2K11 Demo Available Now, Post Your Impressions Here (PS3/360)

Had the exact same thing. Score was 0-0. 2 outs, nobody on base.
I hit one out of the park, but the leftfielder climbs the wall and then somehow morphs into the wall, or through it. He catches the ball somewhere behind that wall. On my screen the words "out" and "homerun" are written. So, a homerun and an out. Its scored as a run.

Really do not like that. High foul balls behind the catcher makes players go soooo sloooooow.
Don't like the new camera at all. Hit a homerun on the very 1st pitch i got, but could not see the ball for the life of me.
Replays still suck, only showing the runners.
I loved mlb2k10 but am really not digging this at all.

Very very underwhelming......

you will see in my impression post on this very page that i chronicled basically the same experience...the "homerun-out" bug.

Also, I've noticed even stranger animations...no one on and no outs, i single up the middle to center field, the CF gloves the ball and instead of just throwing it casually to the cutoff, he spins and throws in one motion...LOL.

Speaking of balls up the middle, I've noticed that deep fly balls and pop-outs up the middle lead to the frame-rate hiccup, as well as tall pop-ups behind the plate, which I've had a high number of.

Lastly (on a good note), I really love 2k's lead off system. Using the rear triggers to lead off is so natural, and the controller sensitivity is instantaneous with playr movement on the screen. It's so good, in fact, that I began to play a little "Rickey Henderson" with Barry Zito...lead off a little, then come back a little, lead off a little more, then come back. It was REALLY messing with the Pitcher AI's head b/c he took forever to throw the pitch while I was doing this. At one point, the camera even cut to the "beside the pitcher cam" but he didn't throw over. Totally Cool. Very immersive. I even forced an errant throw by the catcher later in the at-bat.

To me, 2k's lead-off controls are so responsive to the the controller, that I consider it the most technically sound and immersive aspect of controls in the game.

[BA2929]

Re: MLB 2K11 Demo Available Now, Post Your Impressions Here (PS3/360)

Uh-oh....not liking what I'm hearing lately. I'm downloading the demo as I type this, but my high hopes are sinking fast...Bugs? Glitches? Overall lack of polish/attention to detail? Deja-vu all over again...

If that's how the demo is playing, then that's how the retail game is playing...it's not like they release beta builds as demos, and this game is a week from the street (i.e. it's been packed and delivered already). I wouldn't hold out any hope that things will be better in the retail version if you guys are seeing a lot of nonsense in the demo...

The bugs/glitches you're referring to aren't happening very often and aren't that big of a deal really. I'm going to assume the retail game has commentary and the ability to take out players and adjust lineups, something the demo doesn't have. It's a small demo, I'm sure a few of these tiny problems have been addressed.

If not, then 2k will have egg on their faces.

[ChubbyBanana]

Re: MLB 2K11 Demo Available Now, Post Your Impressions Here (PS3/360)

its amazing to me that some people get warnings for legitimately making comparisons between the Show and 2k (you know, constructive posts), and then someone like emath shows up and trolls the hell out of this thread and nothing....

The mod team here is doing the best we can. If you have a concern with someone's post or posting style, please use the "report post" feature (the little yield sign looking thing under the username) instead of calling out the way we are handling things or another member in the public forums.

If you have any questions about this policy, please PM me or another member of the staff.

Thanks

[WazzuRC]

Re: MLB 2K11 Demo Available Now, Post Your Impressions Here (PS3/360)

I had very low expectations of 2k11 in winter, but started to get high hopes lately. However, after spending a good a hour with the demo I came away unimpressed.

While I do think it probably will be a "fun" pick-up-and-play type baseball game, I just want more. I thought that the graphics looked pretty much like a carbon copy of 2k10. I do like some of the new animations, but fielding just seems rushed to me. It feels like especially on plays in the infield, everything is a line drive to my fielder. I laid down a bunt to move a runner over and the CPU catcher caught it and threw to first with a really jerky animation that looked horribly unnatural.

I love pitching in 2K (always have) and this year is no different. I can tell they've put some work into tweaking it. Batting seems just like last year, with no real idea where the ball will go once I make contact. I did experience a fair share of jaggies and a few frame-rate drops, which was disappointing.

I do think they've made some solid improvements, but to me, this is what 2k10 should have been. I was hoping to purchase two baseball games this summer, but I'll probably only end up with one and this won't be it.

[Hooe]

Re: MLB 2K11 Demo Available Now, Post Your Impressions Here (PS3/360)

I do think they've made some solid improvements, but to me, this is what 2k10 should have been. I was hoping to purchase two baseball games this summer, but I'll probably only end up with one and this won't be it.

Not to single you out (yet I'm going to, sorry), but this type of comment on a sports game I will never understand. How can one penalize a current year iteration of a game by this logic? If anything, this is an indictment of the previous year's game, and the improvements that the new iteration have made upon the last year's game's issues. It should be praised for that, not knocked.

The developers can't go back in time and make this the 2K10 version, and 2K11 is still going to be going up against this year's crop of baseball titles, and it should be judged as such. If you decide that another baseball title from this year's crop is better based on a comparison between the two, that's your prerogative and I won't fault you for it, but it should be because of a comparison between the current iterations alone, not because "well, MLB2K11 is what MLB2K10 ought to have been, so now the expectations for MLB2K11 are based on that assumption and plus unquantified amount X; by that logic it's not good enough". No annual sports game title would EVER be good enough, given that expectation.

This commentary isn't specific to MLB2K, as this likely will be my first year purchasing a game in this series and I'm not overly familiar with its faults over the years, though your post brought my issue into focus; it's not unique to the commentary on this game, certainly. Apologies for the rant, carry on.

[wcu25rs]

Re: MLB 2K11 Demo Available Now, Post Your Impressions Here (PS3/360)

been playing alot today and I love it more each time I play, but one thing happened in a game I just got finished with that made me say "not this again." I was the Rangers and a flyball was hit to Julio Borbon in center. As I'm sure yall know, his flyball circle is pretty big. I get near the middle of the circle and he sets up to catch it. Then the yellow indicator appears. I'm a little off, so I move the analog stick over. He completely takes his hands down....I get in the yellow circle and it takes him too long to get his hands back up, but the balls lands for a hit.

Ive played all the 2k games so they are kinda run together. But IIRC, this was a huge problem in 2k9 and they fixed in 2k10....or was it a problem in 2k10 and they patched it? I cant remember but I remember it was extremely annoying. Hopefully this was just an isolated incident.