My Thoughts After A Weekend of ASB....

[HMcCoy]

Re: My Thoughts After A Weekend of ASB....

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Thanks, HMMcoy, I'll check out the icon with Thome. Maybe lefty righty is implemented in the game, huh? A previous post indicated otherwise and the roster managment doesn't break down ratings for righty and lefty. Anyhow, did you try any of the other games and what was your reason for sticking with ASB? Purely animation and graphics?

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I have ASB, WSB and believe it or not, HH. All the games have great strengths and unexplainable weaknesses but there is one thing that brings me back to ASB....The pitch speeds.

No matter how much I try to like WSB and to a lesser extent HH, those slow, slurvy, loopy 10-seconds-to-reach-the-plate pitches just turn me off. Sometimes in ASB, against the best pitcers, your brain barely has time to instruct your fingers to press the button before the ball is in the catchers mitt.

I just can't get past that.

ASB's gameplay and batting interface have both been crucified relentlessly in the media but in the end it's the very, very best at representing what must go through a batters mind while standing at the dish. It's the tension, pure and simple.

Then add the features, the best franchise, and great atmosphere and I'm an unapologetic fanboy.


Do this. Put in WSB. Play against the Red Sox w/ your most challenging settings. Face Pedro for 1 inning and pretend it's game 7 of the World series, bottom of the ninth with bases loaded. One hit and you win it all! ....Then put in ASB, All-Star difficulty, normal pitches, normal batting with the same situation in your head. Pedro will rip you a new a**-hole.

YOU.....WILL.....FEEL...HELPLESS!! That is how you SHOULD feel facing Pedro, see the difference?

Try it!

[RahKhem]

Re: My Thoughts After A Weekend of ASB....

You do realize you can use realize that you can jack up the pitch speeds McCoy, i have all my pitch speeds set to 10 and if im facing RJ, and im thinkin that fastball or slider, and i get the other one, im either way out in front or that thing is blown right by me.

[RahKhem]

Re: My Thoughts After A Weekend of ASB....

You do realize you can use realize that you can jack up the pitch speeds McCoy, i have all my pitch speeds set to 10 and if im facing RJ, and im thinkin that fastball or slider, and i get the other one, im either way out in front or that thing is blown right by me.

[HMcCoy]

Re: My Thoughts After A Weekend of ASB....

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Would you say ASB is a sim, given the gameplay issues (pinpoint control over pitches, fielding gaffs, etc.) Do you find the AI an intelligent baseball strategist?

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Oh yeah, there is no fielding problems. The circle in ASB indicates where the ball will hit the ground, so if you put yourself right in the middle of it the ball will land at your feet! Just remember to position yourself on the front edge of the circle and you will catch it every time (unless he boots it)

[HMcCoy]

Re: My Thoughts After A Weekend of ASB....

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Would you say ASB is a sim, given the gameplay issues (pinpoint control over pitches, fielding gaffs, etc.) Do you find the AI an intelligent baseball strategist?

<hr /></blockquote><font class="post">


Oh yeah, there is no fielding problems. The circle in ASB indicates where the ball will hit the ground, so if you put yourself right in the middle of it the ball will land at your feet! Just remember to position yourself on the front edge of the circle and you will catch it every time (unless he boots it)

[HMcCoy]

Re: My Thoughts After A Weekend of ASB....

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You do realize you can use realize that you can jack up the pitch speeds McCoy, i have all my pitch speeds set to 10 and if im facing RJ, and im thinkin that fastball or slider, and i get the other one, im either way out in front or that thing is blown right by me.

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Ain't the same bro.

If pitch speed is my fix, don'tcha think the VERY FIRST THING I WOULD DO IS CRANK THE SPEED TO THE MAXIMUM? I tried it. especially on WSB cause I just Loooooove the backdrops and park atmosphere in that game. The difference in pitch speed between two types of pitches is what causes what your talking about, not neccessarily the overall pitch speed.

Even at it's fastest it can't touch ASB for speed.

[HMcCoy]

Re: My Thoughts After A Weekend of ASB....

</font><blockquote><font class="small">Quote:</font><hr />
You do realize you can use realize that you can jack up the pitch speeds McCoy, i have all my pitch speeds set to 10 and if im facing RJ, and im thinkin that fastball or slider, and i get the other one, im either way out in front or that thing is blown right by me.

<hr /></blockquote><font class="post">



Ain't the same bro.

If pitch speed is my fix, don'tcha think the VERY FIRST THING I WOULD DO IS CRANK THE SPEED TO THE MAXIMUM? I tried it. especially on WSB cause I just Loooooove the backdrops and park atmosphere in that game. The difference in pitch speed between two types of pitches is what causes what your talking about, not neccessarily the overall pitch speed.

Even at it's fastest it can't touch ASB for speed.

[Mr_October]

Re: My Thoughts After A Weekend of ASB....

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the gameplay elements described above. "Feels" like baseball, just doesn't play like it. Love that bullpen warm-up, though. Just my take.

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That's exactly how I feel. Other games like WSB and HH play like baseball, but don't feel that way. I think Acclaim just needs to work out a few of the stuff in the game.

[Mr_October]

Re: My Thoughts After A Weekend of ASB....

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the gameplay elements described above. "Feels" like baseball, just doesn't play like it. Love that bullpen warm-up, though. Just my take.

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That's exactly how I feel. Other games like WSB and HH play like baseball, but don't feel that way. I think Acclaim just needs to work out a few of the stuff in the game.

[nikeford]

Re: My Thoughts After A Weekend of ASB....

The circle used in fielding a ball on ASB is not a glitch....the ball will always, I repeat always land in that circle. The reason some people have balls land at their feet when they are positioned inside the circle is because the projectory of the ball. A high pop fly will go right to the glove directly overhead, so you should position yourself in the circle, but if its a line drive, or a not so high pop up, then stand infront of the circle so your getting caught with a ball at your feet. It's really simple physics...but not all of us took that class in school I guess.
Now on to more pressing stuff....
I've played all the games but WSB, and ASB has by far, I mean by far the best AI of any baseball game out there, and possibly of any sports game out there. While it has its flaws, I just feel like I'm playing real baseball when I put that game in!
What I'm excited about, and I'm sure you are too...is that with a little work on cleaning up the animations and adding some new ones (like double play animations, pitching, and throwing animations, more throws from the knees), and continueing to improve the overall gameplay, this game looks to be far ahead in the franchise mode than any other game. I feel like I have to make actual crucial decisions with players and my team such as do I bring up a veteran, or a younger player with options, do put him on the trade block, or do I keep him, where should my budget be focused at?? I'm having so much fun with this game, and with a few touchups and a few new ideas, ASB will be even better next year.
I recently went on record saying I liked the MVP idea with the pitch meter, but I have throught on that and have decided just like the field goal meter in football games, I'm sure anyone could master it to where its not a factor anymore. Instead, I think ASB should possibly tweak the control of the pitches and make the pitches a little more wild at times. Everyone knows how a pitcher loses his control in the 6th and 7th innings in ASB, well maybe they should start there in the 1st inning as default and then get worse, because I would like to see a little less control with my pitches, if I need to throw a strike, I can everytime.

[nikeford]

Re: My Thoughts After A Weekend of ASB....

The circle used in fielding a ball on ASB is not a glitch....the ball will always, I repeat always land in that circle. The reason some people have balls land at their feet when they are positioned inside the circle is because the projectory of the ball. A high pop fly will go right to the glove directly overhead, so you should position yourself in the circle, but if its a line drive, or a not so high pop up, then stand infront of the circle so your getting caught with a ball at your feet. It's really simple physics...but not all of us took that class in school I guess.
Now on to more pressing stuff....
I've played all the games but WSB, and ASB has by far, I mean by far the best AI of any baseball game out there, and possibly of any sports game out there. While it has its flaws, I just feel like I'm playing real baseball when I put that game in!
What I'm excited about, and I'm sure you are too...is that with a little work on cleaning up the animations and adding some new ones (like double play animations, pitching, and throwing animations, more throws from the knees), and continueing to improve the overall gameplay, this game looks to be far ahead in the franchise mode than any other game. I feel like I have to make actual crucial decisions with players and my team such as do I bring up a veteran, or a younger player with options, do put him on the trade block, or do I keep him, where should my budget be focused at?? I'm having so much fun with this game, and with a few touchups and a few new ideas, ASB will be even better next year.
I recently went on record saying I liked the MVP idea with the pitch meter, but I have throught on that and have decided just like the field goal meter in football games, I'm sure anyone could master it to where its not a factor anymore. Instead, I think ASB should possibly tweak the control of the pitches and make the pitches a little more wild at times. Everyone knows how a pitcher loses his control in the 6th and 7th innings in ASB, well maybe they should start there in the 1st inning as default and then get worse, because I would like to see a little less control with my pitches, if I need to throw a strike, I can everytime.

[jjoe]

Re: My Thoughts After A Weekend of ASB....

Excellent responses. Nikeford, HH has the pitch variability down to the tee. The graphics ain't pretty, but the pitch count, walks, etc. are perfect. You really sweat it out if the bases are loaded in a crucial game because you can't "automatically" throw a strike.

October, do you feel as if ASB can be mastered? It seems like you're getting crazy offensive football scores. Baseball is more about pitching duels. Does the timing of the pitch speed get learned like the football meters? The one thing about HH is that you can never master that game, due to the dependency on player ratings.

Fielding issues I'm hearing about are the non-responsiveness of the fielders, difficulty in turning double plays, lack of ground balls. Are the fly balls to center an issue with everyone? Lack of grounders results in the inability to move runners over, turn double plays, etc. Gosh, this game is so close to being awesome, if only these issues could be addressed.

[jjoe]

Re: My Thoughts After A Weekend of ASB....

Excellent responses. Nikeford, HH has the pitch variability down to the tee. The graphics ain't pretty, but the pitch count, walks, etc. are perfect. You really sweat it out if the bases are loaded in a crucial game because you can't "automatically" throw a strike.

October, do you feel as if ASB can be mastered? It seems like you're getting crazy offensive football scores. Baseball is more about pitching duels. Does the timing of the pitch speed get learned like the football meters? The one thing about HH is that you can never master that game, due to the dependency on player ratings.

Fielding issues I'm hearing about are the non-responsiveness of the fielders, difficulty in turning double plays, lack of ground balls. Are the fly balls to center an issue with everyone? Lack of grounders results in the inability to move runners over, turn double plays, etc. Gosh, this game is so close to being awesome, if only these issues could be addressed.

[nikeford]

Re: My Thoughts After A Weekend of ASB....

I thought last year's ASB was masterable, but not this year's version. Check that, using classic cursor, and no aids, and on all star level, no way you can master this game. I've played 60 plus games, and I still sometimes get creamed and shut down. It's very dependent on player ratings. Most these high scores you see, if not all of them, are people playing on easy levels, with aids. I don't get it, whats the challenge of beating a team 18-3 and winning 145 games a year. Some people just fear challenges, those are the unsuccessful ones in life.

[nikeford]

Re: My Thoughts After A Weekend of ASB....

I thought last year's ASB was masterable, but not this year's version. Check that, using classic cursor, and no aids, and on all star level, no way you can master this game. I've played 60 plus games, and I still sometimes get creamed and shut down. It's very dependent on player ratings. Most these high scores you see, if not all of them, are people playing on easy levels, with aids. I don't get it, whats the challenge of beating a team 18-3 and winning 145 games a year. Some people just fear challenges, those are the unsuccessful ones in life.