Holy Grail Sliders - 2K8 edition

[bulls23]

After many weeks of frustrating tweaking, I have finally got my set of sliders I'd like to share. I'd like to thank everyone on the slider board (joe, SFG, Bizcano, trinity especially) for all the research they have done, every little bit of information has helped me to create these for a realistic fun experience.

Please dont judge based on the numbers, experience the gameplay first.

KEY Sliders in BOLD

Human COMMENTS

Batting Skill: 80 (these may seem high, but combined with
Batting Contact: 50 AI pitching sliders, allows for varied
Batting Power: 85 hits and scores)
Foul Ball Frequency: 60
Batting Influence: 50
Step Influence: 50
Pitcher Difficulty: 65
Batter Bunt Assistance: 50
Batter Bunt for Hit: 50
Runner Base Running Speed: 95
Runner Stealing Success: 70
Infielder Errors: 25
Outfielder Errors: 80
Throw Meter Difficulty: 100
Infielder Speed: 30
Outfielder Speed: 50
Infielder Reaction Speed: 20
Outfielder Reaction Speed: 0 (this stops the "jog/speed up animation)
Fielding Aggression: 50
Pitcher Fatigue: 60 (allows chance to get to 100 pitches/complete game)
Total Control Pitching: 45
Injuries: 90 (causes variety of small injuries to simulate rigors of long season)
Pitch Speed: 60 (allows to judge balls/strikes but not to pound everything you see)

AI General Options

AI Infield Errors: 50
AI Outfield Errors: 80 (allows for juggle animations in outfield)
AI Infielder Speed: 10
AI Outfielder Speed: 40 (helps with the jog/speed up animation)
AI Fielding Aggression: 50
AI Hit n Run: 100 (allows more chance of a steal I think)
AI Sacrifice Bunt: 99 (Helps CPU play small ball at times)
AI Squeeze 50
AI Run Aggression: 100 (CPU dares you to throw them out/take xtra base)
AI Stealing Success: 50 (trying to remember the default for these, as it
AI Steal 2nd: 50 may help CPU steal more, thought it was 50 but may not be)
AI Steal 3rd: 50
AI Dive Back: 55
Infielder Reaction Speed: 10
Outfielder Reaction Speed: 0 (stops jog/speed up animation)

AI Batting Options:
INSIDE EDGE- ON
AI Take Strike Overall: 100 (CPU will work count with these)
AI Take Strike Ahead: 95
AI Take Strike Behind: 90
AI Take Ball Overall: 100
AI Take Ball Ahead: 95
AI Take Ball Behind: 90
AI Skill: 80
AI Contact: 25 (allows CPU to strike out)
AI Power: 5 (keeps HR reasonable)
AI Foul Ball Frequency: 85
AI Bunt for Hit: 50

AI Pitching Options:
INSIDE EDGE- ON
AI Corner: 70 (allows user to work walks/but not square up ball)
AI Change Speed: 100 (CPU throws more breaking balls, offsetting high USER Batting SLiders)
AI Throw Strike Overall: 0
AI Throw Strike Ahead: 0
AI Throw Strike Behind: 0
AI Fatigue: 50
AI Pickoff: 50
AI Pitchout: 50
AI Meat Pitch: 25 (allows for user to take advantage of pitcher mistake/read pitch on less talented pitchers, like MVP with the colored balls)

Last two games have been completely different,

STL 1, COL 10 (could not hit Jeff Francis, he kept changing speeds on me had me off balance the whole game). Didnt write down the box score.

Just played brewers.
STL 4 9 0 (3 solo HRs)
MIL 5 8 0

CPU brought in Gagne to close leading 5-3....GOt behind the first hitter 3-1, but grounded out with Molina....Kennedy hit a 3-1 fastball off the right field foul pole to cut it to 5-4....Pinch hitter Miles singled to left center....Izturis grounded out to end the game.

3 CPU Pitchers threw 100 pitches, 76 strikes, 24 balls.

I am interested in any and all feedback.

[pdawg17]

Re: Holy Grail Sliders - 2K8 edition

Played first game with these sliders...first a quick summary on my 2k8 life...I play with the A's and using other slider sets here I would shut the other team down pretty well but couldn't hit worth a lick...now those of you out there that know baseball will say "that's realistic - that's the A's"...in general this is true except EVERY GAME was 2-0, 3-1, 2-1, etc...realistic or not, that is just boring...on to the game with these sliders:

MIN 3 9 1
OAK 6 14 2

Blanton over Livan Hernandez

Positives:

- Excellent variety of hits by both teams that I had not seen before...bloop singles, line drive singles that were not stabbed by an infielder like they usually do...
- Realistic # of singles, doubles, etc...I had 1 HR, 3 doubles, and 10 singles...CPU had 9 singles...
- Several grounders that were normally diving stops were mishandled just enough to cause some close plays either way...
- Better pitch count...I had 117 pitches and the CPU had 86 (I'm a pretty free swinger)...
- Not all pitches by CPU were right on the edge of the plate...with other sliders/games it seemed there were rarely/never pitches out over the plate...there were a few in this game (not many though)...

Not so positive:

- CPU struck out way too many times (11 - many of them looking) considering that out of my three pitchers only Huston Street usually gets K's...
- too many hits for me...it's only one game so it may balance out but considering I usually have 5 hits per game it seemed a bit much...someone playing with the Yanks, etc that has played more than me would have 20+ hits with these sliders...


So other than those couple of things I really liked these...they seem to play well for my type of game and skill level...what would be the best sliders to change first for my two issues? I don't want to mess up the positive points at the same time though...

[bulls23]

Re: Holy Grail Sliders - 2K8 edition

I think both your concerns can be addressed by tweaking the contact sliders. Lower user contact to 45 or 40 and raise CPU contact to 30 or 35.

[Hank Steinbrenner]

Re: Holy Grail Sliders - 2K8 edition

Hey Bulls,

I'm going to give your sliders a try tonight. Just a quick question...you haven't had an obscene amount of HR with power at 85!?

[bulls23]

Re: Holy Grail Sliders - 2K8 edition

Hey Bulls,

I'm going to give your sliders a try tonight. Just a quick question...you haven't had an obscene amount of HR with power at 85!?

That's why I said try the sliders in gameplay before you think about the numbers. Surprisingly I havent had an obscene amount of homeruns. I think it is because of the AI Corner and AI Change Speed settings. They keep me off balance so it is hard to square up pitches. I have to get my timing exactly right to hit a homerun. When I do hit them I hit to all fields including straight center field, and one I talked about in a game summary off the right field foul pole.

[bulls23]

Re: Holy Grail Sliders - 2K8 edition

I just had the best game of 2K8 with these sliders. Although I did get beat by the lowly Rays 5-4. They had got the lead over K. Lohse 5-1 after 6 innings. I managed to cut it to 5-2 on a Chris Duncan HR in the 7th. The 8th inning is when it really got good. The starter Hammel was still in with 76 pitches. He walks Molina on a 3-2 count. TB Manager brings in Dohmann who allows 2 hits and 2 runs in 0IP. TB Manager then brings in Percival who couldnt find the strike zone and walks my next two hitters. I couldnt get anymore runs though because he struck out the next two after I got impatient at the plate. 9th inning I rally again as the TB manager brings in Wheeler to close it out with my 2-3-4 hitters coming up. Duncan and Pujols both single, I think I'm in business. What do I do... bunt with Ankiel? (the cleanup hitter). I decide to swing away if I get a good pitch. Wheeler gets behind to me 3-1, so I swing a middle of the plate fast ball and fly out to right. Runners can't advance. I'm kicking myself! Still I got Glaus coming up..same situation...bunt with Glaus? I decide to swing away....hit a 2-1 fastball to the left center field gap. I think theres no way the CPU can catch it so the runners are moving ..TB made a smart move defensively bringing in Cameron to play LF in the 8th inning (Riggano had started). Cameron barely gets to the ball in LF, catches it and doubles up my runner at 2nd base to end the game

Final Stats:
TB 5 11 1
STL 4 10 1
2 homeruns for each team.....CPU Pitchers 82 strikes, 38 balls

[michaeldu]

Re: Holy Grail Sliders - 2K8 edition

What level are these set from? Do you use total control?

[bulls23]

Re: Holy Grail Sliders - 2K8 edition

What level are these set from? Do you use total control?

I set them from Legend. I use classic batting/fielding and Total Control Pitching

[Dealin Rams]

Re: Holy Grail Sliders - 2K8 edition

I think these sliders are really on to something. Good stuff, thanks.

[cuppylove]

Re: Holy Grail Sliders - 2K8 edition

Thanks for your work, bulls. I really like these.

[bulls23]

Re: Holy Grail Sliders - 2K8 edition

Thanks for your support. I am working on a final update to these. I will post soon.

[TripleThreat1973]

Re: Holy Grail Sliders - 2K8 edition

Just looking at your numbers (I know you said not too), specifically the 45 TPC difficulty and the 90+ "take" for all aspcts of AI batting, I have to ask if the AI takes a lot of strikes to get down 0-2, 1-2 in the count?

Also, are almost all of your strikeouts (computer batting, you pitching) called 3rd strikes?

I ask because SFG used 100-65-35 for ahead and behind in his slider set w/ 65 for TPC, and I found almost all of the hitters were taking and hitting from behind all game, and almost all of my K's were called 3rd strikes.

I am intrigued by your human batting ratings, especially for those of us struggling. Looking at the VIP stats posted by some, it seems hard to hit on this game to begin with. You don;t see many user teams (outside of those that use the Yankees or similar team AND trade for other great stars) with a team BA of .270 or above. MOst seem to be in the .230 to .250 range ... and without walks, it darn hard to score runs consistently.

These sliders are challenge for sure (maybe that's why 2K lets us do all the work), and when combined with the individuall differences in player skill and the inherent randomness of baseball, and the bigs/errors in programming it's difficult to get something that plays well consistently for a lot of people.

[bulls23]

Re: Holy Grail Sliders - 2K8 edition

UPDATED (changes highlighted)
Human COMMENTS

Batting Skill: 100
Batting Contact: 35
Batting Power: 45
Foul Ball Frequency: 60
Batting Influence: 75
Step Influence: 0
Pitcher Difficulty: 50
Batter Bunt Assistance: 50
Batter Bunt for Hit: 50
Runner Base Running Speed: 95
Runner Stealing Success: 70
Infielder Errors: 25
Outfielder Errors: 80
Throw Meter Difficulty: 35
Infielder Speed: 20
Outfielder Speed: 45
Infielder Reaction Speed: 40 (helps against too many singles by CPU)
Outfielder Reaction Speed: 0 (this stops the "jog/speed up animation)
Fielding Aggression: 50
Pitcher Fatigue: 60 (allows chance to get to 100 pitches/complete game)
Total Control Pitching: 25 (but adjust to your level of pitching)
Injuries: 90 (causes variety of small injuries to simulate rigors of long season)
Pitch Speed: 55 (allows to judge balls/strikes but not to pound everything you see)

AI General Options

AI Infield Errors: 50
AI Outfield Errors: 80 (allows for juggle animations in outfield)
AI Infielder Speed: 10
AI Outfielder Speed: 40 (helps with the jog/speed up animation)
AI Fielding Aggression: 50
AI Hit n Run: 100 (allows more chance of a steal I think)
AI Sacrifice Bunt: 99 (Helps CPU play small ball at times)
AI Squeeze 50
AI Run Aggression: 100 (CPU dares you to throw them out/take xtra base)
AI Stealing Success: 50 (trying to remember the default for these, as it
AI Steal 2nd: 50 may help CPU steal more, thought it was 50 but may not be)
AI Steal 3rd: 50
AI Dive Back: 55
Infielder Reaction Speed: 15
Outfielder Reaction Speed: 0 (stops jog/speed up animation)

AI Batting Options:
INSIDE EDGE- OFF (I've changed this to OFF, to lower CPUs chance of hitting HR)
AI Take Strike Overall: 100 (CPU will work count with these)
AI Take Strike Ahead: 95
AI Take Strike Behind: 90
AI Take Ball Overall: 100
AI Take Ball Ahead: 95
AI Take Ball Behind: 80
AI Skill: 95
AI Contact: 35 (upped 10, help with seeing to many called strikeouts)
AI Power: 10 (keeps HR reasonable)
AI Foul Ball Frequency: 90
AI Bunt for Hit: 50

AI Pitching Options:
INSIDE EDGE- ON
AI Corner: 70 (allows user to work walks/but not square up ball)
AI Change Speed: 70 (helps user hitting)
AI Throw Strike Overall: 2 (borrowed from other sliders to help with
AI Throw Strike Ahead: 1 too many borderline pitches from CPU)
AI Throw Strike Behind: 5
AI Fatigue: 60
AI Pickoff: 50
AI Pitchout: 70
AI Meat Pitch: 25 (allows for user to take advantage of pitcher mistake/read pitch on less talented pitchers, like MVP with the colored balls)

[ulua]

Re: Holy Grail Sliders - 2K8 edition

UPDATED (changes highlighted)

Human COMMENTS

Batting Skill: 100
Batting Contact: 35
Batting Power: 45
Foul Ball Frequency: 60
Batting Influence: 75
Step Influence: 0
Pitcher Difficulty: 50
Batter Bunt Assistance: 50
Batter Bunt for Hit: 50
Runner Base Running Speed: 95
Runner Stealing Success: 70
Infielder Errors: 25
Outfielder Errors: 80
Throw Meter Difficulty: 35
Infielder Speed: 20
Outfielder Speed: 45
Infielder Reaction Speed: 40 (helps against too many singles by CPU)
Outfielder Reaction Speed: 0 (this stops the "jog/speed up animation)
Fielding Aggression: 50
Pitcher Fatigue: 60 (allows chance to get to 100 pitches/complete game)
Total Control Pitching: 25 (but adjust to your level of pitching)
Injuries: 90 (causes variety of small injuries to simulate rigors of long season)
Pitch Speed: 55 (allows to judge balls/strikes but not to pound everything you see)

AI General Options

AI Infield Errors: 50
AI Outfield Errors: 80 (allows for juggle animations in outfield)
AI Infielder Speed: 10
AI Outfielder Speed: 40 (helps with the jog/speed up animation)
AI Fielding Aggression: 50
AI Hit n Run: 100 (allows more chance of a steal I think)
AI Sacrifice Bunt: 99 (Helps CPU play small ball at times)
AI Squeeze 50
AI Run Aggression: 100 (CPU dares you to throw them out/take xtra base)
AI Stealing Success: 50 (trying to remember the default for these, as it
AI Steal 2nd: 50 may help CPU steal more, thought it was 50 but may not be)
AI Steal 3rd: 50
AI Dive Back: 55
Infielder Reaction Speed: 15
Outfielder Reaction Speed: 0 (stops jog/speed up animation)

AI Batting Options:
INSIDE EDGE- ON
AI Take Strike Overall: 100 (CPU will work count with these)
AI Take Strike Ahead: 95
AI Take Strike Behind: 90
AI Take Ball Overall: 100
AI Take Ball Ahead: 95
AI Take Ball Behind: 80
AI Skill: 95
AI Contact: 35 (upped 10, help with seeing to many called strikeouts)
AI Power: 10 (keeps HR reasonable)
AI Foul Ball Frequency: 90
AI Bunt for Hit: 50

AI Pitching Options:
INSIDE EDGE- ON
AI Corner: 70 (allows user to work walks/but not square up ball)
AI Change Speed: 70 (helps user hitting)
AI Throw Strike Overall: 2 (borrowed from other sliders to help with
AI Throw Strike Ahead: 1 too many borderline pitches from CPU)
AI Throw Strike Behind: 5
AI Fatigue: 60
AI Pickoff: 50
AI Pitchout: 70

AI Meat Pitch: 25 (allows for user to take advantage of pitcher mistake/read pitch on less talented pitchers, like MVP with the colored balls)

need to change the yellow fonts, can't see them

[bulls23]

Re: Holy Grail Sliders - 2K8 edition

need to change the yellow fonts, can't see them

What color would you prefer? And how do you know if they are yellow if you can't seem em