Some Survey Questions for those franchise players

[C-Bus]

I have finally settled on a set of slider Pitch Fx. I think they are good and provided for varied games. It is difficult to hit, maybe a little tough as I only have 3 homers in 7 games but then again I am the Padres. What I like most is the variety of hit for both me and the cpu. They actually score on something other than a homer.

One thing that was different with these sliders was I switched to classic hitting and what a world of difference. With classic hitting there is such a variety of hits.

Questions-

How many of you use classic hitting versus swing stick?

Is there anyway to set the pickoffs so that I actually have to worry about being picked off? I currently use auto return only because sometimes after a cut scene there is this immediate pickoff that I don't think you can get back on. So, how many use manual return vs. auto return?

I think that is it. Thanks

[TripleThreat1973]

Re: Some Survey Questions for those franchise players

Franchise: St. Louis

Sliders: SFG (Change: AI IF Reaction -10 clicks, stops 1st basemen from making unbelievable dicing plays all the time. They still make some, but there are also (for all IF positions) more dives where they knock the ball down and the runner either reaches or is thrown out by a step)

Hitting: SS2.0 The game REALLY kicks up a notch once you have this hitting system figured out. It took me about 40 human played games.

With Classic there are simply too many pop ups and weak grounders, IMO. Again, the hit variety REALLY kicks up when you learn to use the SS correctly (directional). With classic, you may think there are a lot of hit varieties ... until you get good with SS and you realize how much more there is.

I use auto diveback. At 30 there isn;t too many throw overs (but some) which greatly increases the pace of the game. At 50 they seem to throw over way too much, and A LOT to 2nd base (which doesn't hapen often in real life).

If they still has base brner mode I would use that and put it all in my hands.

[Qb]

Re: Some Survey Questions for those franchise players

You can safely use manual return for pickoff attempts provided you pay close attention to your leads. It will still automatically return you to the base provided that you don't manually increase the lead, so the cutscene glitch doesn't hurt you.

I've been using it for the past month or so and it does add some strategy to the user running game. I've been picked off a few times and felt like an *** just like a real player does, especially when it's a rally-killer as mine usually are. One thing I've noticed is that righties are much more deadly with their moves. As a matter of fact, I don't think I've ever been caught by a lefty. BTW, I actually picked off the CPU the other day, a first for me.


As for the other stuff, I use Classic hitting as I just can't get into the SS. I'll hit OK when I put the ball in play, but my discipline at the plate goes to crap (and I can't ever check my swing). For me, my success at the plate is entirely tied to my patience and I tend to get so geared up when using the SS that I seldom take unless it's clearly a ball.

But drawing walks is only half the problem, as you need to really wait for a good strike to hit if you have somewhat challenging User batting settings. This is the one area that the SS probably has an advantage over classic hitting, as in my experience it is easier to go with the pitch with right-stick hitting. But with my aforementioned qualms with that method, I'm willing to take the trade-off. I wish they had zone hitting!

[C-Bus]

Re: Some Survey Questions for those franchise players

I did not know the auto return will still work if you don't manually take a lead. I am immediately going to the manual return then. I always lead off the max amount and only got caught once, with a pitcher. It will be good to have to worry about it a little.

As I mentioned before, the Pitch FX sliders are great but the CPU still hasn't attempted a steal through 8 games this franchise, Not a once. I know this is a issue with the game in general but has anyone been able to improve this a little?

I have found that I can really work the entire field with the classic hitting. The key to not popping the ball up and hitting weak grounders is hitting the ball where it is pitched. If it is away go with it, if it is inside turn on it.

[TripleThreat1973]

Re: Some Survey Questions for those franchise players

As for the other stuff, I use Classic hitting as I just can't get into the SS. I'll hit OK when I put the ball in play, but my discipline at the plate goes to crap (and I can't ever check my swing). For me, my success at the plate is entirely tied to my patience and I tend to get so geared up when using the SS that I seldom take unless it's clearly a ball.

I have/had the same problem. Here's what I do ...

[1] Turn step slider to zero.

[2] As soon as the batters eye disappears, pull the SS back to start your step.

[3] Return the SS to the center as you watch the pitch.

[4] Push the SS in the direction you want to hit or the location of the ball.

It works great for me. You always get a "very early step" message, but with the slider turned off, there's no penalty for the early step.

With trying to time the step and swing, I essentially swing at everything, which makes the SS (for me) no fun and non realistic. Using it in the way I described as made the game much, much, more fun (and realistic) for me.

I also take until I get a strike, unless the ball is middle or up to one of my good hitters. I also lay off low pitches, and this has resulted in a fair amount of walks and quality pitches to hit ... using SFG's sliders and pokerlife's suggestion for AI corner to be at 5. Most other sliders turn every pitcher into a "nibbler" which [1] makes the game very difficult to tell balls and strikes, and [2] is very, very unrealistic.

[Qb]

Re: Some Survey Questions for those franchise players

Thanks for the tip, Triplethreat. I may try that for a few games and see how it works for me. There still is no way to check swing though, is there?

[frago]

Re: Some Survey Questions for those franchise players

I check swing quite a bit using SS2.0.

From what I can tell if you use the power swing all the time you will have more check swings due to longer travel time of the stick. I cant really check swing too good from the contact swing though due to it not being much of a movement with the stick.

Anyway to check swing you just quickly pull the stick back after beginning the forward movement to swing. Far far more realistic an interface to use and feels very much better to perform the check swing with the stick.