MLB 13 Ball Physics Discussion

[nomo17k]

I'd like to have a place to have discussions on the new ball physics in MLB 13, so I figured to create one myself.

MLB 13 is entirely on a new level in terms of ball physics, but how good really is it? Where does it still fall short? That sort of discussion I'd like to have. Basically it can be anything about the ball physics in the game though....

I personally will be posting probably the movies of the ball physics I like in the game, and from the real baseball game videos for the kind of ball physics that I don't see in the game yet. The latter especially is the key, since that give us ideas about how this aspect of the game can still be improved.



I am going to start to with one that I don't see in the game yet... Jimmy Rollins 2000th career hit:

Spoiler

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[m1ke_nyc]

Re: MLB 13 Ball Physics Discussion

I have one issue with the ball physics, too many pitchers getting hit with comebackers. It happens several times a game it seems.

[nomo17k]

Re: MLB 13 Ball Physics Discussion

I have one issue with the ball physics, too many pitchers getting hit with comebackers. It happens several times a game it seems.

I think this isn't really a ball physics issue. In order to hit pitchers, you need to hit the ball up the middle and low enough (i.e., grounders or line drives flying low), so it's probably a combination of timing and generating the same hit type.

[wisdom less13]

Re: MLB 13 Ball Physics Discussion

I got a hit that was similar to the Rollins', but over the 3rd baseman's head. Was a walk-off in Spring Training. I was almost as excited to the hit than the walk-off. Almost...

[ate55]

Re: MLB 13 Ball Physics Discussion

Still not seeing enough of ball tailing away on flyballs hit to opposite field. The video you posted, never seen a high hopper like that!

[TonyMoraco]

Re: MLB 13 Ball Physics Discussion

I think it has to do with the Baseball in the game not being "Heavy" enough, that's why balls hit stay longer in the air and don't fall in between infielder and outfielder, etc...and that is why balls hit don't bounce as high on infield hits or as far on deflections.

I also think fielder reaction is not a problem, it's the animations to get to ball that are too quick.

IMO, hopefully it can be calibrated in the future

[ralphieboy11]

Re: MLB 13 Ball Physics Discussion

I think there were some great strides this year, but I also see room for improvement. Last year everything felt a bit too "hard hit". Most batted balls were solidly hit. You didn't see any bloop hits like we see this year. That part I like very much.

I don't want to say the soft hits have been overdone this year, but there are times where I see ball reactions that don't quite seem realistic. There may be a few too many soft tappers in front of the mound this year. Also, sometimes I see a soft pop up on the infield or in foul ground that might only travel 20 feet or less in the air. When a fastball is coming in at 90 mph it's hard to imagine a full swing results in a tiny pop up behind the catcher that he cannot reach.

Overall, great work this year though. With the strides made in this area I think outfielder positioning and reactions are now slightly behind this department. I think changes in those areas would improve the variety of hits more so than additional tweaks to physics.

[JoeT]

Re: MLB 13 Ball Physics Discussion

I think there were some great strides this year, but I also see room for improvement. Last year everything felt a bit too "hard hit". Most batted balls were solidly hit. You didn't see any bloop hits like we see this year. That part I like very much.

I don't want to say the soft hits have been overdone this year, but there are times where I see ball reactions that don't quite seem realistic. There may be a few too many soft tappers in front of the mound this year. Also, sometimes I see a soft pop up on the infield or in foul ground that might only travel 20 feet or less in the air. When a fastball is coming in at 90 mph it's hard to imagine a full swing results in a tiny pop up behind the catcher that he cannot reach.

Overall, great work this year though. With the strides made in this area I think outfielder positioning and reactions are now slightly behind this department. I think changes in those areas would improve the variety of hits more so than additional tweaks to physics.

I agree with everything you've said. But I wanted to mention one thing as an FYI--don't know if you've (or maybe other users) have turned down the 'Solid Hit' slider. But if you have turned this slider down in '13 (which has been the norm for many users on previous editions) I think you will see too many of these tappers/pop-outs this year. After turning solid hits back up to default for the CPU (and 4 for me using zone hitting), I'm still seeing some of these, but not nearly as many as before. Yet I'm still getting a really good hit variety with bloopers, etc.

[nonoirie]

Re: MLB 13 Ball Physics Discussion

Perhaps this is not ball physics issue but does the ball deflect off the base in the Show? I can't remember if I ever saw one.

No video but I saw an wicked cue ball off the end of the bat IRL where the ball was first in foul area but rolled back fair just in front of home plate.

[Bobhead]

Re: MLB 13 Ball Physics Discussion

I think the pitcher-comebacker thing is tied to two things:

1) The pitcher occupies too much space. Maybe not visually, but I think internally... almost like a disjointed hit box in a fighting game - contact without contact. I feel like some of the balls that rebound off the pitcher should not have even hit the pitcher at all. The most obvious example is a ball that barely grazes the uniform in real life, which would rebound diagonally in The Show... towards Shortstop.

2) While ball physics are stellar, it seems like where on the bat you make contact is still pretty rigidly determined. I think if there were more hits that were off other parts of the bat, like the end or the base or whatever...

If you could make contact a few inches to the left or right of the sweet spot, on the bat, you'd get more comebackers that veer a few inches to the left or to the right of the pitcher.

[barsoffury]

Re: MLB 13 Ball Physics Discussion

I love the ball physics but what I would like to see that we do see in real life are the different locations the ball ends up on homeruns in each stadium. For instance, would love to see the odd 5th deck shot at the Rogers Center. No matter how hard you hit it now it never goes passed the second level.

[JoeT]

Re: MLB 13 Ball Physics Discussion

Perhaps this is not ball physics issue but does the ball deflect off the base in the Show? I can't remember if I ever saw one.

No video but I saw an wicked cue ball off the end of the bat IRL where the ball was first in foul area but rolled back fair just in front of home plate.

Yeah, I've seen many base deflections in The Show--seems like a bit more than I have IRL. But today saw A. Cabrera hit one off 2nd base against the Yanks that got him a hit instead of maybe a DP, so it does happen. And I haven't seen the crazy spins you mentioned (cue balls) in The Show that sometimes you do see, but I'd think those should be extremely rare occurrences.

[JoeT]

Re: MLB 13 Ball Physics Discussion

I think the pitcher-comebacker thing is tied to two things:

1) The pitcher occupies too much space. Maybe not visually, but I think internally... almost like a disjointed hit box in a fighting game - contact without contact. I feel like some of the balls that rebound off the pitcher should not have even hit the pitcher at all. The most obvious example is a ball that barely grazes the uniform in real life, which would rebound diagonally in The Show... towards Shortstop.

2) While ball physics are stellar, it seems like where on the bat you make contact is still pretty rigidly determined. I think if there were more hits that were off other parts of the bat, like the end or the base or whatever...

If you could make contact a few inches to the left or right of the sweet spot, on the bat, you'd get more comebackers that veer a few inches to the left or to the right of the pitcher.

Well said. I would just add 4) while IRL pitchers do reach for balls, they generally get out of the way when it's drilled right back at them. It seems like they may have improved on this this a little year, but they don't avoid the balls well enough to my eye.

They should use the same logic the base coaches or baserunners use to avoid getting hit. Granted they have a bit more time to react, but they always avoid the ball.

[bautistabomb]

Re: MLB 13 Ball Physics Discussion

Absolutely love the ball physics this year. They were better last year, but nothing compared to now. I've seen so much hit variety this year. Bloppers, Cue shots off the end of the bat, jammed shots, hard liners, texas leaguers you name it. The one thing I think that has really been improved is how the ball reacts to balls being hit off the end of the bat and jammed shots. They just seem so authentic this year.

I do agree with previous posters saying that I am seeing a few too many weak squibbers just out front of the plate, but part of that is likely my fault for not laying off the low pitches enough. I agree solid hits needs to be at default or maybe even a notch above otherwise there are way too many weak hits. Also there are too many balls hitting the pitcher still. It usually happens at least once or twice a game and in real life it's not nearly as frequent.

I'd give ball physics a solid 9-9.5 out of 10. Great job SCEA.

[nonoirie]

Re: MLB 13 Ball Physics Discussion

Does IF play faster on turf?

Does the ball fly further at let's say at Coors than Petco park?

Is there different ball physics when it's night/ day or hot/ cold days?