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

[inkcil]

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...

Somehow I still like the game..remember 2k5 on xbox? It was so so pretty, and so so buggy. I truly had a love-hate relationship with that game. It was so immersive, yet so broken. So fun, but so frustrating.

Anyway, here's a "minor" bug that "appears" it would only be demo related:

At the end of a 3-inning match that ended in 0-0, my team (the rangers) celebrated. And at the end of a 3-inning match (CPU vs. CPU) the Rangers all gathered round homeplate for a 3-0 win and celbrated and fireworks went off.

[WazzuRC]

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

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.

I agree with you to an extent. However, here is my issue. All of my major issues from last years game were problems that shouldn't have ever been problems in the first place. There were zero errors and injuries, the franchise was a buggy disaster, and any pitcher could pinpoint their pitchers whenever they wanted.

To me, they have made slight improvements, but the areas where they have improved the most on were areas that shouldn't have ever needed improving if they did it properly the first time. That's my only gripe.

I still think it can play a solid baseball game for a quick change of pace, but to me, I just enjoy more of a baseball simulation and had hopes it had taken major steps towards that. Based upon the information released and playing the demo, it's only taken a minor step in that direction.

[JayhawkerStL]

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

So I went into Settings-->Profile-->Game Defaults-->General and set my default difficulty setting to Hard, as was suggested elsewhere in the thread.

Holy ow has this made a difference. Let's just say that no one will be complaining about pinpoint pitching anymore. I got smoke 9-0 as the Rangers, which meant the Giants scored the runs in two innings.

I'd say Hard is far from perfect, but it is a great indicator of what we will be able to do with the sliders. Fielding was significantly harder, as guys to not go after the ball at all. Throwing is tougher, too.

I had a much tougher time making contact, getting just two hits in three innings.

Also, in case anyone was really wondering, I pulled off three check swings due to my skittishness at the plate. So yes, they are in the game. The CPU had a check swing, too.

[bcruise]

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

I'm going to assume this "default difficulty" thing is a 360 feature....?

[elfdutch]

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

Not saying it's a bad game or anything. Too me its just so slow.
They obviously slowed it down from 2k10, but too much imo.

I'm still playing 2k10, about 80 games into my franchise right now.
I'll continue with 2k10 and give 2k11 a miss.

[Blzer]

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

Hey Blzer, are you sure about this, man? It seems to me the two-seamers are definitely breakpoint control, same as 2K10. With a RHP, they always break to the right of where I put the ball cursor and end up a few inches over to the right. If they were pinpoint, wouldn't that mean they would end up where I place the cursor? Or do I just need to lay off the doobies and work on my pitching gestures? hehe

Haha, that's how it was for me last year and that's how it looked for me this year. Then again, it was only three pitches. I'll have to try it out again.

[metal134]

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

So I went into Settings-->Profile-->Game Defaults
Also, in case anyone was really wondering, I pulled off three check swings due to my skittishness at the plate. So yes, they are in the game. The CPU had a check swing, too.

How do you check swing?

[JayhawkerStL]

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

How do you check swing?

Just pull back on the RS. It's very intuitive.

[Dazraz]

No access to the demo. I would much appreciate it if any of you guys could upload a video of your demo experience. Would love to see some 360/PS3 comparison shots. 2K games often look weaker on the PS3.

[rudyjuly2]

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

its hard for me to get a feel for the batting because I just can't get used to the pitch speed. It's just so damn slow on the demo I'm way ahead of everything. Even when I try to wait on it and feel like I'm going to be late, I still end up early

I'm used to needing to make that split second decision and can't wait until the full game so I can crank that pitch speed up

I love the slower pitch speed in this game. It allows me to actually be patient at the plate and draw walks. The pitch speed slider worked well last year so people should be able to find a happy setting for their personal preference in the retail version at least.

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.

I picked someone off second base as well. It was too easy to pick off players last year but there are sliders for this. Again, 2K doesn't let us tinker with this in the demo unfortunately.

Hey Blzer, are you sure about this, man? It seems to me the two-seamers are definitely breakpoint control, same as 2K10. With a RHP, they always break to the right of where I put the ball cursor and end up a few inches over to the right. If they were pinpoint, wouldn't that mean they would end up where I place the cursor? Or do I just need to lay off the doobies and work on my pitching gestures? hehe

I think Blzer is definitely wrong here. Two seamers are still breakpoint control imo. I had pitch movement cranked up in 2K10 last year to make it harder and the movement was definitely breakpoint last year as well. Blzer, if you still have 2K10, crank up that slider and you will see that two seamers are not pinpoint control.

[rudyjuly2]

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

So I went into Settings-->Profile-->Game Defaults-->General and set my default difficulty setting to Hard, as was suggested elsewhere in the thread.

Holy ow has this made a difference. Let's just say that no one will be complaining about pinpoint pitching anymore. I got smoke 9-0 as the Rangers, which meant the Giants scored the runs in two innings.

I'd say Hard is far from perfect, but it is a great indicator of what we will be able to do with the sliders. Fielding was significantly harder, as guys to not go after the ball at all. Throwing is tougher, too.

I had a much tougher time making contact, getting just two hits in three innings.

Also, in case anyone was really wondering, I pulled off three check swings due to my skittishness at the plate. So yes, they are in the game. The CPU had a check swing, too.

Man, I wish they had a trick like this for the PS3. That sounds good. Keep the impressions of the beatings coming.

[dolemint]

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

I've played a ton of the demo and just want to share some thoughts.

PROS
+ Uniforms look great this year. Numbers & letters look stitched on instead of painted on. Very nice lighting on SF's jerseys for the day game.
+ Fielding (the most different aspect) is fun and makes sense. Feeling the player differentiation is really nice.
+ Pitching (the best part of 2K10) has improved too, in that it's not as easy to be accurate. I've walked a couple batters and have gotten in some poor counts to boot. Being tempted to rely on your best pitch in a 3 ball count is realistic.
+ The camera for hitting is well done.
+ I actually stole a bag by diving feet first into second.
+ Variable strike zone is cool. While pitching, my brain still has to adjust to hitting the perfect borderline corner and not getting the call.
+ Although the post hit camera (baserunning) is unconventional and takes some getting used to, I sorta like it so far. It's not especially unrealistic to not know immediately if a player is going to make a catch. This pro could turn into a con if I can't adjust to it in the long run.

CONS
- There's a bug where you can pick off any CPU runner at first that doesn't have much of a lead off. For some reason, instead of walking to the bag, the CPU runner often gets trapped behind an invisible wall. This does not happen if the lead off is large enough to cue the dive animation. Hopefully, this glitch is in the demo only.
- Frame rate is inconsistent in hitters view, especially on foul balls. Hopefully this is for the demo only, but I assume it will be in the retail version. However, it does not affect game play negatively.
- There's still some wonky animation transitions that you'd expect after playing 2K10, but nothing major.

If by chance, some game reviewer is on the board and has the final build, please test out that pick off glitch as described. It's something a player would have to intentionally abuse, but when you're down by a run and know a way to score an easy out, it'd be tempting to use the exploit.

Bottom line is the game is a lot of fun and I'm really hopeful the retail game will deliver.

[Skyboxer]

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

Played the demo last night and short and sweet...I enjoyed it as it was pretty fun.

[PMO]

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

What is the default setting for hitting, is it the same swing stick as last year?

Pull back then push up for power and just push up for contact? The step means nothing again or did they go back to where its all just 1 motion and everything is based on timing?

[JayhawkerStL]

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

What is the default setting for hitting, is it the same swing stick as last year?

Pull back then push up for power and just push up for contact? The step means nothing again or did they go back to where its all just 1 motion and everything is based on timing?

It is exactly like last year.