When do you guys decide it's time to 'UP' the difficulty?

[Gophils26]

I'm playing with the Phillies, and on MLB 11 I hit on All-Star using Pure Analog. I seemed to get realistic results. I'm not sure if this year is easier, but using the same setup I lead the league in batting average @ .285. Most of my hitters are above .300 except Ty Wigginton and Chooch Ruiz are below .200. I can't with them for some reason! I have a 16 game winning streak; which has never happened to me in any version of the show. As much as I hate to admit it, my Phillies aren't exactly a hitting powerhouse anymore so I'm assuming I'll just have to up the difficulty.

I prefer a challenge, but I also don't want to be getting shut-out every game if I move up to HoF for hitting. Can anyone tell me how significant the jump is from All-Star hitting to HoF?

Thanks!

[Pared]

Re: When do you guys decide it's time to 'UP' the difficulty?

Just give it a shot. It's natural for someone to get better with the game as they play.

And if you start losing, you start losing. That's the point of upping the difficulty - right?

[Gophils26]

Re: When do you guys decide it's time to 'UP' the difficulty?

Yea you're right dude, honestly just wasn't sure if I was on a hot streak or people actually found pure analog a little easier this year. I usually struggle with hitting, but maybe it's just time to make the jump. Thanks man

[Heroesandvillains]

Re: When do you guys decide it's time to 'UP' the difficulty?

I agree with Pared.

I like to play 20 uninterrupted games (meaning consistent sliders) before making the call to change anything. And even 20 is debatable as to whether it's long enough.

After I feel comfortable that I have enough games in, I look at the numbers. If they're "close," I adjust sliders. If they're way off, I look at interface first then difficulty level.

16 is a lot of games to win consecutively. LOL! Not that the Phillies can't do it though.

Care to post your team stats? That may help you get a better opinion.

[Gophils26]

Re: When do you guys decide it's time to 'UP' the difficulty?

I'll definitely post the team stats tonight, at work right now shhh
I agree with you though 16 games is too many, even for the Phils. Our offense is average to below average so I should probly up the difficulty if I want the stats to reflect that.

Thanks for your input!

[Heroesandvillains]

Re: When do you guys decide it's time to 'UP' the difficulty?

I'll definitely post the team stats tonight, at work right now shhh
I agree with you though 16 games is too many, even for the Phils. Our offense is average to below average so I should probly up the difficulty if I want the stats to reflect that.

Thanks for your input!

I won't tell if you won't tell that I'll be at work later when I read the stats. Deal?!

It may just be one of the difficulties too. Not necessarily all three (hitting, pitching, and fielding).

[Gophils26]

Re: When do you guys decide it's time to 'UP' the difficulty?

lol you got it! Ya I hear ya I'll probly post just hitting stats because that's the one I'm most concerned about. Thanks again

[CarrotJuice]

Re: When do you guys decide it's time to 'UP' the difficulty?

I wish I could hit like that on all star. Thats about what I hit on veteran.

[NateAndStuff]

Re: When do you guys decide it's time to 'UP' the difficulty?

I always start off on a hard difficulty and just grind through it. I've always done that with any kind of video game. A week ago, my friend was making fun of me for getting struggling to win when I was on All-Star, but it's better than dominating on Veteran like he does. When we play H2H online, he can't touch me.

[Heroesandvillains]

Re: When do you guys decide it's time to 'UP' the difficulty?

lol you got it! Ya I hear ya I'll probly post just hitting stats because that's the one I'm most concerned about. Thanks again

You should post both pitching and hitting. It would be helpful if you can.

[Gophils26]

Re: When do you guys decide it's time to 'UP' the difficulty?

Hitting allstar pure analog
Avg .285 (1)
Ab 603 (13)
R 78 (7)
H 172 (3)
Dbls 42 (3)
Triples 5 (5)
Hr 16 (18)
RBI 75 (8)
Sb 11 (8)
Cs 5 (25)
Sb % .687 (22)
Bb 20 (30)
K 124 (12)
Slug% .451 (2)
On base% .311 (18)
Tb 272 (5)
Pa 642 (26)
Gidp 13 (25)


Pitching HoF Analog

Era 2.10 (1)
Cg 4 (1)
Shutouts 1 (12)
Saves 7 (4)
Bs 1 (4)
Hits allowed 151 (12)
Runs allowed 37 (1)
Earned r 37 (1)
Hr allowed 11 (2)
Bb 25 (1)
K 114 (25)
Win% .941 (1)

After looking I didn't notice but my pitching stats are a little much too.... Jump to legend? I really appreciate everyone's feedback, thanks especially heroesandvillians!

[Gophils26]

Re: When do you guys decide it's time to 'UP' the difficulty?

Forgot to include I'm about 19-1 so it's a 20 gm sample size

[marcus flemming]

Re: When do you guys decide it's time to 'UP' the difficulty?

I'll definitely post the team stats tonight, at work right now shhh
I agree with you though 16 games is too many, even for the Phils. Our offense is average to below average so I should probly up the difficulty if I want the stats to reflect that.

Thanks for your input!

16 games isn't necessarily too many, as long as it is more of an aberration rather than a constant happening. Remember, the Athletics won 20 in a row several years back and weren't the most proficient team.

[Heroesandvillains]

Re: When do you guys decide it's time to 'UP' the difficulty?

Are those stats from exactly 20 games?

And are you only 20 games into your season?

Your hitting stats suprisingly don't look that bad. The average is a little high so you could either (A) drop Contact a click (which in turn will also bring your team average back down into this stratosphere) or (B) raise difficulty for now. Remember, if going up is too much, you could always come back down.

By any chance did you reduce the Pitch Speed slider? If so, you could also try raising it instead of anything else.

Now, pitching wise, I'd recommend you either (A) raise the difficulty level or (B) change to a harder interface. Though Philly is definitely capable of a 20 game stretch like this with their rotation, unless you're willing to continue to see if your luck changes south, you should probably consider doing something in this department more urgently than hitting.

And to add: I wonder why your K's are so low in comparison to your ERA? Does that bother you at all? How about your team BB's? 1 per game is well below any reasonable real life MLB average.

[Bobhead]

Re: When do you guys decide it's time to 'UP' the difficulty?

Every night God tells me what difficulty level to play on.

But really I'd say it's definitely time to raise the difficulty, or try different control schemes to freshen things up. Last year I went up to Hall of Fame hitting, but when I started getting too good at that I simply continued my franchise with Pure Analog instead. That kind of transition isn't for everyone, but I think just randomly switching to a new control scheme in a franchise, without practicing in exhibition or practice modes at all, can be quite a challenge, and often more interesting than just making things harder for the 30th time.