Re: The MLB 2K9 Developers Are Listening
I became a fan of baseball, the sport itself, from playing Sega Home Run King (2002), and World Series Baseball 2k3. What I liked about playing these games was it's sheer simplicity. Not that there weren't dozens of little things to pick up later when I was ready, but they weren't required to have fun.
I have stopped buying the 2k series baseball games for many reasons:
a) Zone hitting is gone. The best baseball controls in my mind are the ones that reward the batter, by making the batter not only time the swing, but more importantly move the left stick in the corresponding zone. For example, not moving the left thumb stick into position at all will only result in contact if the ball is thrown down the middle. Zone hitting such as
123
456
789 (where 5 is right down the center).
The reward of knowing your success and failures were a direct result of what you did (forget swing stick), meaning base hits occurred because the cursor or zone hitting was spot on and nothing else attributed to that. Even if the swing stick is more real (it's not), it's very uncomfortable. I can't chill out if I have to be on my toes with flicking this damn thing.
b) The fun factor. The "one more game" addiction. Unfortunately the addiction factor has been removed from 2k baseball. What makes a baseball game addicting? When simplicity meets industry leading graphics, minus any and all clutter (see 2002). Absolutely nothing that wasn't necessary was displayed, but the option to see stuff if desired (balls and strikes of a current at bat) with the press of a button.
Things that were done right, and mysteriously removed from later versions even though these characteristics were what made the game great:
-No doubter home run cam (pans out to show beautiful stadium shot) from 2002 (Home Run King), 2k3, and 2k4.
-Beautiful foul ball cam pan into the lights (looked like a real TV broadcast) 2k3, 2k4
-Zone hitting! The argument can be made that analog stick swinging is "more realistic," but either way you look at it, you'e pushing a controller. Would it be more realistic to move the left and right sticks up and down to make players run? Maybe, but is it fun? No. Is it comfortable? No.
-Industry leading character and/or graphics models. Even as far back as 2002, the batter walkup sequences, reflections, look more realistic than the cartoon stuff that's in 2k now.
-Smoothness. Watch how a pop up plays out in Home Run King. Look at the fielder get into place. DAMN! Sega/2k used to be so F'ing smooth!
-If you control pitcher you can have the pitcher tilt his head towards a base instead of actually throwing to the base - makes for some interesting fake outs, and mental battles. 2k4
Little things you could add, but don't bother with until you bring back the "one more game" addictive gameplay.
-Custom situation soundtracks (enable me to pick a 5 or 10 second clip of a song on my hard drive for different situations such as: walk off, pitcher change, and so on. See NFL 2k5 for reference)
-Make it fun! Seriously. Call up "WOW!" (Sega Home Run King), Blue Shift or Blue Castle, or whoever the hell made the CLASSIC greatness that went on for 3-4 short years beginning in 2002.
-Not sure if this is in the most recent 2k baseball because as I said I no longer buy or play them, but the ability to turn the strike zone off (as in the outline that's displayed on screen) online and offline.
-Speaking of getting rid of the strike zone outline - Immersion factor. Once you get the hang of the game (any game for that matter), we should be able to turn clutter off that's only purpose is to remind us we're playing a video game.
New things that would be a great touch, but again, mean nothing without the reimplementation of your once fun game play:
-Panning into the stadium to start the game, starting with an outside shot of the stadium. Home Run King did this (Gamecube 2002), but see Madden 09 for a different take.
Sega and 2k baseball used to be at the forefront of my entertainment. I actually bought an Xbox 360 thinking this was guaranteed to continue, but also be improved (it could only get better, right?). Little did I know I was taking what I assumed to be a successful baseball game for granted.
Between the years 2002 and 2005 people would spend any free time they had coming over to play the Sega/2k baseball games. They were simple, but had little intricities that although not required to play - if you learned them made the experience that more rewarding.
I know this is pathetic, but I'm writing this because I care. I'm actually mad at the direction of sports gaming, and I'm looking at 2k baseball first, the state of football gaming second. Your company got me into this whole thing (buying video games and consoles) and now I'm craving something that hasn't existed in years and years.
Don't try and reinvent the wheel. Just pop in Sega/2k 2002, 2003, and 2004, and minus some unsightly jaggies and the stuff of the past, the game itself was GOLD.
Last edited by bakesalee; 09-15-2008 at 06:08 PM.
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