MLB The Show 16: The Little Things in This Year's Game

[RaychelSnr]

In the latest stream, some MLB 16 The Show developers revealed some of the "little things" we can expect to see improved this year.

-The Operation Sports community got some love from the developers when they (re)introduced "Sounds of the Show" on the PS4. I am excited to see customized soundtracks, walk-up music and chants return because these things really help create an authentic atmosphere. The feature has been sorely missed this generation, and its inclusion seems like a real labor of love for the developers.

-Sounds of the Show looks to be as fully featured as we remember, and doesn't seem too difficult to use. The number of tracks and sounds seems suitable for most users, and using a webcam or other device for chants is a reasonable hurdle to clear.

-Interactive and context-sensitive tutorials are something all games should have. While this might not be the biggest addition for longtime users, those of us with kids appreciate the help they provide for the youngest fans.

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[capa]

Re: MLB The Show 16: The Little Things in This Year's Game

Isn't there already a thread about this?

[Joho16]

Looking forward to the release. Always a great time and a sign that Spring is near!

[jkra0512]

I haven't been paying too much attention this cycle, but they ever announce anything about new guys in the booth? Love Matty V., but I'd like to hear somebody else. I don't mind Lyons, but Karros is cringe-worthy.

[zukes]

Re: MLB The Show 16: The Little Things in This Year's Game

I haven't been paying too much attention this cycle, but they ever announce anything about new guys in the booth? Love Matty V., but I'd like to hear somebody else. I don't mind Lyons, but Karros is cringe-worthy.

Not blasting you specifically here, just the idea in general. Why do people want to change the people so bad? Think of how long these guys have been in the "booth" on this game. Now think of how many lines they have added year by year. If SCEA were to switch the announcing team, they would need to start completely from scratch, so yes, we would have new voices, but commentary would take a HUGE step back as there is only so much content that can be added in one development cycle.

I think maybe a better solution is to continue to revamp how and when the lines these guys have laid down are implemented. For example, last year one of the additions is Matt cutting off whoever is talking (hilariously sometimes himself) at the end of an inning..."we'll have to leave it right there"

Adding things like this and maybe some more natural back and forth and anecdotal conversations would be preferable to having to start from scratch.

[jkra0512]

Not blasting you specifically here, just the idea in general. Why do people want to change the people so bad? Think of how long these guys have been in the "booth" on this game. Now think of how many lines they have added year by year. If SCEA were to switch the announcing team, they would need to start completely from scratch, so yes, we would have new voices, but commentary would take a HUGE step back as there is only so much content that can be added in one development cycle.

I think maybe a better solution is to continue to revamp how and when the lines these guys have laid down are implemented. For example, last year one of the additions is Matt cutting off whoever is talking (hilariously sometimes himself) at the end of an inning..."we'll have to leave it right there"

Adding things like this and maybe some more natural back and forth and anecdotal conversations would be preferable to having to start from scratch.

For me, it's nice to change it up every once in a while. It's not that I don't think they're good, it's merely to have a fresh perspective of the action. The same recycled lines year after year are a complete bore and this part of the game is in need of a makeover. Is anyone really that enthralled by the boring monotoned Eric Karros? I cringe anytime he chimes in and drones on and on, it's Campbell-worthy. Steve Lyons has a little conviction behind his lines and Matty V.'s dry humor is great, and I love him as the play-by-play, but I would like to see some more enthusiasm in key moments. Genuine excitement (which is probably very hard to capture when not in the moment, I'll admit) is needed overall.

That said, I'm down with revamping lines and stitching them into more of a conversation, but I think even then you'd have to record said lines, when it might be easier to start anew with a fresh team and have them come into it like that, rather than trying top pigeon-hole a few lines here and there into combine them into a pseudo-conversation.

In the end, I can always mute them now that we have SOTS back

[dran1984]

Re: MLB The Show 16: The Little Things in This Year's Game

For me, it's nice to change it up every once in a while. It's not that I don't think they're good, it's merely to have a fresh perspective of the action. The same recycled lines year after year are a complete bore and this part of the game is in need of a makeover. Is anyone really that enthralled by the boring monotoned Eric Karros? I cringe anytime he chimes in and drones on and on, it's Campbell-worthy. Steve Lyons has a little conviction behind his lines and Matty V.'s dry humor is great, and I love him as the play-by-play, but I would like to see some more enthusiasm in key moments. Genuine excitement (which is probably very hard to capture when not in the moment, I'll admit) is needed overall.

That said, I'm down with revamping lines and stitching them into more of a conversation, but I think even then you'd have to record said lines, when it might be easier to start anew with a fresh team and have them come into it like that, rather than trying top pigeon-hole a few lines here and there into combine them into a pseudo-conversation.

In the end, I can always mute them now that we have SOTS back

As has been stated before, the commentary/lines themselves aren't the issue. The issue is the programming and logic of the lines, that is what leads to them becoming stale and repetitive. In a stream last year they discussed that they wanted to improve in that area. I'm looking forward to see what they have done with it. The main thing here is, they can do other things to improve the commentary aspect without starting from scratch and bringing in a new broadcast team.

[Turbojugend]

Re: MLB The Show 16: The Little Things in This Year's Game

Think of how long these guys have been in the "booth" on this game. Now think of how many lines they have added year by year. If SCEA were to switch the announcing team, they would need to start completely from scratch, so yes, we would have new voices, but commentary would take a HUGE step back as there is only so much content that can be added in one development cycle.

Totally agreed. Anyone who wants a new team in the commentary booth would probably end up disappointed with the results, at least initially. They've spent years building up an asset library, to scrap everything and rebuild from the ground up would be a massive undertaking and we wouldn't see the benefits for years to come.

[jkra0512]

Re: MLB The Show 16: The Little Things in This Year's Game

As has been stated before, the commentary/lines themselves aren't the issue. The issue is the programming and logic of the lines, that is what leads to them becoming stale and repetitive. In a stream last year they discussed that they wanted to improve in that area. I'm looking forward to see what they have done with it. The main thing here is, they can do other things to improve the commentary aspect without starting from scratch and bringing in a new broadcast team.

Totally agreed. Anyone who wants a new team in the commentary booth would probably end up disappointed with the results, at least initially. They've spent years building up an asset library, to scrap everything and rebuild from the ground up would be a massive undertaking and we wouldn't see the benefits for years to come.

I guess we'll have to agree to disagree here. While I think a move to a more conversational commentary would be great and most feasible, I'd like to hear new voices in the game with a fresh perspective.

[dran1984]

Re: MLB The Show 16: The Little Things in This Year's Game

I guess we'll have to agree to disagree here. While I think a move to a more conversational commentary would be great and most feasible, I'd like to hear new voices in the game with a fresh perspective.

So you would be fine taking multiple steps back in that area just to hear new voices broadcast the game?

[jkra0512]

Re: MLB The Show 16: The Little Things in This Year's Game

So you would be fine taking multiple steps back in that area just to hear new voices broadcast the game?

If it meant we'd be in a better position in a year or two, yes. Thankfully, this is a part of the game that can be turned off and/or somewhat improved with SOTS. Lucky for you, I'm in the minority, apparently.

Also, what multiple steps are you talking about? I'd rather them focus on gameplay, franchise, and RTTS, but if we're going to go ahead and improve on some things, the commentary is somewhere that could use some TLC.

[dran1984]

Re: MLB The Show 16: The Little Things in This Year's Game

If it meant we'd be in a better position in a year or two, yes. Thankfully, this is a part of the game that can be turned off and/or somewhat improved with SOTS. Lucky for you, I'm in the minority, apparently.

Also, what multiple steps are you talking about? I'd rather them focus on gameplay, franchise, and RTTS, but if we're going to go ahead and improve on some things, the commentary is somewhere that could use some TLC.

If they ripped out all existing audio like was mentioned they could not possibly replace it all in one cycle. The lines in the game have been compiled over several years. So you would basically have "bare-bones" commentary. It would also cause more problems with repetitive lines, dead air, and such because there would only be so many lines to chose from. They certainly would not have any kind of stat based commentary and conversational value included. On top of all of that they would have to re-record every name in the data base.

This would be a massive undertaking and would take hours and hours of recording and engineering time. There are many other ways they could enhance what they have now that would require less time and fewer resources. Another possible issue, they could have the current broadcast team under contract, we will never know.

The commentary may not be perfect now, but its a hell of a lot better then it would be if they started from scratch.

[Factzzz]

Re: MLB The Show 16: The Little Things in This Year's Game

Meh, if we're thinking this way, as in there's so much lines of commentary, that it makes no sense to get rid of them, then we'd literally never get new commentators. Because the lines are just going to continue to pile up over time.

The Show got rid of Rex Hudler in 2011 and added Eric Karros, then they got rid of Dave Campbell in 2013 and added Steve Lyons. So it's not they like they haven't proven capable of adding a new commentator into the game already.

Besides, adding a new commentator, and replacing one would add a whole new feel to the game, because we wouldn't be hearing some of the same lines we've been hearing for so many years. As well as the fact that it'd be a new voice all together.

I'm not saying i want new commentators or anything (although it might be cool), as i don't have any problem with the current commentators. I actually like Matt Vasgersian, in real life he has some really good calls, especially during the playoffs. But i'm just saying i don't like the excuse about there being so much lines of commentary already in the game.

Sometimes you just have to take the plunge for the betterment of the game in future iterations (*cough* player models *cough*).

[dran1984]

Re: MLB The Show 16: The Little Things in This Year's Game

Meh, if we're thinking this way, as in there's so much lines of commentary, that it makes no sense to get rid of them, then we'd literally never get new commentators. Because the lines are just going to continue to pile up over time.

The Show got rid of Rex Hudler in 2011 and added Eric Karros, then they got rid of Dave Campbell in 2013 and added Steve Lyons. So it's not they like they haven't proven capable of adding a new commentator into the game already.

Besides, adding a new commentator, and replacing one would add a whole new feel to the game, because we wouldn't be hearing some of the same lines we've been hearing for so many years. As well as the fact that it'd be a new voice all together.

I'm not saying i want new commentators or anything (although it might be cool), as i don't have any problem with the current commentators. I actually like Matt Vasgersian, in real life he has some really good calls, especially during the playoffs. But i'm just saying i don't like the excuse about there being so much lines of commentary already in the game.

Sometimes you just have to take the plunge for the betterment of the game in future iterations (*cough* player models *cough*).

Some very valid points.

I am no way saying that the commentary doesn't need improvement. I'm just looking at what it would take to actually implement a new team/announcer. For all we know they could have added someone new this year. I just think there are so many things that could be improved, commentary shouldn't be at the top of the to do list for 16.

[Jeffrey Smith]

Re: MLB The Show 16: The Little Things in This Year's Game

Perhaps they have a multi year deal with the commentators and no change will come until the contract expires.

Might be as simple as that.