Why the $60 you spend will never please you.

[EUBlink]

The subject stands true for, I'd say, a little less than half of the posters on OperationSports. We expect too much. We expect real-life at the tips of our fingers, on a television screen, in the clack of a bat, the touchdown-scoring dive, and even the least thread of grass. If you demand realism, and will be hell-bent on bashing until you get it, then do this: Take your PS3/360/Wii, carefully place it in a box, along with all of your games, and sell it. Then, go get yourself a nice football or baseball glove and play until your heart's content.

Until then, you will not be happy. You'll just be ruining the games for everyone else... even before they get here. I swear, a lot of you had this game on your hate list before a demo was even seen.

Moving on now, I've thoroughly enjoyed this game. I plan to post later on, upon any discovery of the atrocious bugs that everyone is claiming as game-killer. After three games, I've yet to notice any over-aggressive AI hitting. I've not had any run-through-the-fence-super-hero catches, and I haven't even had a dashboard Jesus ruin my 360. Okay, that was made up.

My most recent game? I chose two of the [in my opinion] worst teams in the game right now, the Atlanta Braves and Pittsburgh Pirates. Aside from a handful of inconvenient errors in a short span of time by the Braves, the game was very enjoyable. Here is the box score...

Pirates 0 0 0 2 0 1 0 1 1 5 12 0
Braves 0 0 1 3 0 0 0 0 2 6 14 3

The Pirates took the lead in the top of the ninth, but with two outs in the bottom of the inning, Chipper gave me the win with a walk-off, two-run homer (which also racked in some achievement points).

As I mentioned, I'll add on much more later, once I dig into the dynasty/franchise mode. Score-wise, I'd definitely give this game a 7.5/10 so far. And unless there are some little green men waiting to attack the gameplay in other modes, it'll stand as that. There are still several areas that need touching up, but the game is presented well, and was very smooth on my HD.

[kGinGreen]

Re: Why the $60 you spend will never please you.

I'm not sure if that is it. I enjoy this game somewhat but it is what it is. There are certain games I enjoy completely and are completely worth the price of admission. It just seems to me today developers are far and in between. I should probably not say anyhting and just play something else but i also like baseball and cant get a ps3 yet. The funny thing though is I'm not that picky. I've been gaming a long time and am probably moreso than the average gamer but most games i just enjoy and don't nitpick. Games are meant to be enjoyed..... They arent meant to drive you nuts. But 2k is kind of pissing me off, especially with all this licensing crap, because for a lot of us we don't have a choice. I coudl just do something else entirely and not play a baseball game this year and that would probably be the smartest thing. Or just enjoy this game for what it is.

[therockstar2005]

Re: Why the $60 you spend will never please you.

I totally agree that my $60 will never please me. It's the person that you give the $60 to.

But quite seriously (if possible), I somewhat agree with this. There might be some people who expect "perfection" out of this game or that game. But on the same hand, I think that there are people who can have genuine gripes with the games and what not. There exists that careful balance that people try to walk of expectation and reality when it comes to these things.

I'm actually having fun with the game and enjoying the fact that I know what the reviews are saying and yet I really don't care. I played and loved the demo, I'm playing and loving the game, and I'm making up my own mind. I've seen the other reviews and the low scores; yet I can still enjoy the game. Huzzah for making up our own minds. I don't think 2k9 is the best baseball game or the best sim ever, but I don't really care. I like it.

[Brooklynnets24]

Re: Why the $60 you spend will never please you.

I totally agree that my $60 will never please me. It's the person that you give the $60 to.

if you think about it the person you hand the 60 dollars to could care less if you bought the game becuase there not taking the 60 dollars for themselves unless you bought the game off of someone of course.

[therockstar2005]

Re: Why the $60 you spend will never please you.

if you think about it the person you hand the 60 dollars to could care less if you bought the game becuase there not taking the 60 dollars for themselves unless you bought the game off of someone of course.

I'm sorry. I meant for that line to be more highly suggestive then it clearly was and to not necessarily pertain to a video game. I will amend that now.

"I totally agree that my $60 will never please me. The prostitute that I pay $60 to will be the one who pleases me."

If offensive I will remove.

[hyacinth1]

Re: Why the $60 you spend will never please you.

I never buy games at $60 anymore, especially sports games. 90 percent of the time, you're getting a limited upgrade from the previous year's game. I usually wait for games to go on sale or if I happen to have any gift cards available.

I will pick this game up since I have 40 bucks off at TRU

[SevenTwentyNine]

Re: Why the $60 you spend will never please you.

If you have exclusive rights to making a game. You better make one hell of a game. It's not just this year's game, it's 2k8, 2k7, 2k6, and 2k5. It's the lack of choice that has most 360 owners PO'd. I've had it, I'm getting a PS2 and the Show. It'll have to do.

[SoxFan01605]

Re: Why the $60 you spend will never please you.

While I agree that some can be too picky, I disagree with the prevailing notion by supporters of the game that if you don't like the style it offers, you're somehow unreasonable. I could make the same type of argument to counter:

"If you don't expect anything from a game, then stay off of forums discussing them, because your low expectations are exactly why some of these games never move forward."

These are both silly notions IMO, when painting in broad strokes. There's too much in play to make such blanket statements. This isn't GTA vs Saint's Row. Or shooter "A" vs shooter "B."

This is a game that is supposedly designed to be representative of a given sport. There is little wiggle room in terms of authenticity in the matter unlike other games in different genres. You can like the game for what it is...that doesn't mean it gets the job done for what it should be.

The fact that a given game developer bought 3rd party exclusive rights to a license to represent a sport and has done a mediocre job at best in doing so, is open to the criticism it gets, IMO. I'm not talking bashing for the sake of bashing, but honest critique of what it's not doing right as a representation of the sport.

Add in the fact that some of the issues are so glaring (not to mention in some cases, repetative over the years) and people tend to become less forgiving. The reality is, that the focus of the series is all wrong. There seems to be a prevailing notion that a game is either "fun" or "sim." The truth is if you like the sport being represented, they could easily be one and the same.

The general issue is not that some people can't be happy. The issue is some people have come to expect more. These expectations aren't generally coming from nowhere. People usually have examples in mind when they come to the discussion. No game is perfect, and I don't ever expect them to be. I do like to see a developer take a stab at it though, as idealistic as that may be.

The point is, I guess, that I can understand what a game is meant to be...doesn't mean I have to like it.

[HealyMonster]

Re: Why the $60 you spend will never please you.

The subject stands true for, I'd say, a little less than half of the posters on OperationSports. We expect too much. We expect real-life at the tips of our fingers, on a television screen, in the clack of a bat, the touchdown-scoring dive, and even the least thread of grass. If you demand realism, and will be hell-bent on bashing until you get it, then do this: Take your PS3/360/Wii, carefully place it in a box, along with all of your games, and sell it. Then, go get yourself a nice football or baseball glove and play until your heart's content.

Until then, you will not be happy. You'll just be ruining the games for everyone else... even before they get here. I swear, a lot of you had this game on your hate list before a demo was even seen.

Moving on now, I've thoroughly enjoyed this game. I plan to post later on, upon any discovery of the atrocious bugs that everyone is claiming as game-killer. After three games, I've yet to notice any over-aggressive AI hitting. I've not had any run-through-the-fence-super-hero catches, and I haven't even had a dashboard Jesus ruin my 360. Okay, that was made up.

My most recent game? I chose two of the [in my opinion] worst teams in the game right now, the Atlanta Braves and Pittsburgh Pirates. Aside from a handful of inconvenient errors in a short span of time by the Braves, the game was very enjoyable. Here is the box score...

The Pirates took the lead in the top of the ninth, but with two outs in the bottom of the inning, Chipper gave me the win with a walk-off, two-run homer (which also racked in some achievement points).

As I mentioned, I'll add on much more later, once I dig into the dynasty/franchise mode. Score-wise, I'd definitely give this game a 7.5/10 so far. And unless there are some little green men waiting to attack the gameplay in other modes, it'll stand as that. There are still several areas that need touching up, but the game is presented well, and was very smooth on my HD.

No, I have spent 60 dollars on plenty of games that have pleased me. I have spent 60 dollars year after year on MLB 2k series and Madden and they have been the only games that I have felt ripped off. I didnt buy Mlb 2k this year, nor am I going to and it feels great and Im thinking about picking up a game I wouldnt have normally tried, if the game even works Ill feel like its 60 dollars better spent.

[porkchop]

Re: Why the $60 you spend will never please you.

The reason my $60 doesn't please me in this case is because I didn't get what I feel is fair value in return for that $60 and in fact due to exclusivity I feel that the money was extorted out of me. The game's a mess, and everyone knows it. You take two competing games and put them next to each other and you realize that you have the far lesser of the two. Of COURSE my $60 in that case doesn't please me.

But I pay $60 for games all the time. Sometimes I get my money's worth (Fallout3, TW 2009) and sometimes I get hosed (2k8, 2k9, GTA 4.)

[capa]

Re: Why the $60 you spend will never please you.

You are dealing with human nature here. There will never be consensus on any game, or anything in life. One man's steak is another man's poison. We all expect and look for different things. What breaks the game for some people is irrelevant to others. Graphical quality is number 1 for some, others could care less. Stances, windups, equipment, crowd noise, etc. is paramount for some, others do not care.

The reality is, some people will feel cheated by this title, others will enjoy it immensely. Some will find the Show is not their cup of tea, others will say it is the best sports game ever created. Who is right? Everyone. Because in the end, all that matters is what is important to the individual.

It's all about preferences and expectations. If not, we'd all be driving the same car, live in the same type of house, have similar looking wives/girlfriends, etc. To some, it is $60 well spent. To others, a complete waste of time and money.

Don't look for or expect consensus on anything in life. Implying that people are wrong for wanting more, or wrong for being satisfied with what they have, is where the train starts to derail.

C

[Blzer]

Re: Why the $60 you spend will never please you.

I definitely don't expect perfection. I hope that's what they're striving for (though impossible), but I never want to over-hype video games.

MLB 2K9 does a lot of fundamental things wrong, and they have been wrong since Kush adapted the title five years ago. Small things such as bat sounds, ball and ground physics, hell even generic stances have been terrible (and far and few between to boot). I'm expecting them to capture the game of baseball, I don't think that's too much to ask.

What's worse is this year they removed things. You want to talk hyping features? How about assuming features would remain in the game for the next year. Exhibition, editing generic stances, step influence... I mean even visual aids such as the pitch cursor, contextual swing feedback, names under players and meters... we can't turn these things off. They are annoying to look at and they are visually degrading.

The worst change/addition probably has to be the fielding camera. Considering balls put in play are the other half of the reason we watch baseball games, it is a monstrosity to look at (as well as the N64 baserunning windows). To my knowledge (or best guess or what have you), I'm going to safely assume this was their way to get the game running at 60 FPS this year. Let's hope there are at least options next year where the framerate stays stable.


I don't blame VC for this first go-around, but things better start looking up for next year. If not, you're right... many people won't ever be satisfied. Look around you, this game is no better than a 7, and even that's being generous. Yes, it's playable as opposed to last year. Yes, it's on PC. But if someone could truly pinpoint the beneficial difference between this game and last year's game from a baseball playing standpoint, I'd be willing to listen. Until then, I think and hope that argument is best reserved for next year.

[onlybygrace]

Re: Why the $60 you spend will never please you.

Screw perfection...

We all know that will never happen.

Lets take MLB 08 The Show...I loved that game despite its nuaces, which although not glaring, were there.

But last night in one inning my outfielder dropped an easy flyball and then consecutive hot shot groundballs became infield singles because my first baseman did not touch first when catching the throws on routine plays that have the runners out by about ten feet.

That did it for me.

UNEXCUSABLE.

[GoVols1985]

Re: Why the $60 you spend will never please you.

Well, I'm glad the Braves won in your game dude. I just got finished playing the Mets and got hammered by Johan Santana. I only got 4 hits the entire game, and they won 3-0.

[Eski33]

Re: Why the $60 you spend will never please you.

The reason my $60 doesn't please me in this case is because I didn't get what I feel is fair value in return for that $60 and in fact due to exclusivity I feel that the money was extorted out of me. The game's a mess, and everyone knows it. You take two competing games and put them next to each other and you realize that you have the far lesser of the two. Of COURSE my $60 in that case doesn't please me.

But I pay $60 for games all the time. Sometimes I get my money's worth (Fallout3, TW 2009) and sometimes I get hosed (2k8, 2k9, GTA 4.)

I agree...I also agree that gamers have become spoiled. I have played games for nearly 30 years (gasp -- hurts to say) and I have seen the evolution of the visuals and game play. It kills me that there are people who gripe about the lack of refs in a football game, or FG nets or a team's socks are off a bit.

I remember playing games when players didn't have uniforms, helmets or their likenesses in the game. With today's technology, people expect more. I have never made a game nor will I pretend what it takes to make one.

However, if I buy a game I want authenticity to a point. At the same time, the game should play like the game it emulates. I have played 2K9 and I see way too many things that should not happen (such as the first baseman not touching first base on a routine throw). Gameplay is the most important aspect of any game. The visuals help sell the game but if the game plays like crap then all of the best eye candy goes for naught.

There are people who will enjoy 2K9 for what it is and that is fine. But for me to spend any amount of money on a game, especially a sports game, it should at least have the fundamentals down pat....