My Love Hate Relationship with The Show

[jskatt21]

First of all let me preface this with the fact that I am a diehard baseball fan, season ticket holder of my favorite team the Minnesota Twins, a huge sports fans, and a huge sports gaming fan.

I love The Show. Best baseball game ever, and best game ever in my opinion, and each year they raise the bar.

The struggles I have noticed I have, is as each year all the sports games get better in terms of features, and graphics, they also push the envelope in making it as realistic as possible. The problem this creates with me is each year I spend more and more time making it replicate real life.

I start a franchise with Knights rosters, get all my music set, play for a while, then a trade or injury happens, and I make that happen. Then it seems more and more I am spending more time making it replicate real life than actually playing and enjoying the game.

I am holding off on buying The Show 11, partly because of finances, and partly because I want to re-learn how to enjoy the game. Instead of putting all my efforts into making it mirror real life, and having all the Sounds of The Show accurate, which is a pain because players like to update their songs each year, I am going to try and enjoy the game itself. I may add some team specific sounds (homeruns, wins, etc.) but I want to enjoy the game.

This is not a knock at the guys that do all the work needed to enjoy the game, if I had the time I would. But as I spend time doing all of this I find myself further and further away from enjoying the game.

I did this with Madden last year, which in my opinion is miles away from The Show, but it helped me reconnect with a game I enjoyed for years.

Sorry to ramble on, just trying to enjoy games like I did when I was younger. To much focus on realistic, takes you further away from enjoying a great game.

[bwiggy33]

Re: My Love Hate Relationship with The Show

It really depends on the person. Every person's situation is different. For instance an adult with a wife and family isn't going to have as much time to play the game because of work, spending time with the wife and kids, and any other problems that may come up. This means that they may spend more time playing the game since they don't have a ton of time to set the sounds, rosters, etc. A college kid like me has a much greater amount of time to play. I, like you love to set the rosters and sounds to make it as realistic as possible. Also I can afford to do that because I know that I will eventually play the actual game. Also I believe that it doesn't take all that much time to edit all of that stuff since the rosters are done so accurately by Knight and many others. As I said though some people don't have as much time to edit stuff like that. All in all I believe that it depends on what the person wants out of the game, and also how much time they have to play it. I fully understand what you are saying though.

[DickDalewood]

Re: My Love Hate Relationship with The Show

I understand your dilemma, but I'm not quite following your logic... You're going to reconnect and re-learn how to enjoy and have fun with MLB 11 by holding off on purchasing it?

How exactly well that help? Why not, instead, buy the game, and do like I do? Immediately start a franchise, updated rosters be damned, and just immerse yourself in your own little baseball world. The other thing that helps; stay away from message boards for a little while Visit these forums for too long and you'll soon be convinced that every game is a mess of unrealistic bugs and glitches. Once this puppy drops, you won't see me around NEARLY as much.

[DJ]

Re: My Love Hate Relationship with The Show

I understand your dilemma, but I'm not quite following your logic... You're going to reconnect and re-learn how to enjoy and have fun with MLB 11 by holding off on purchasing it?

How exactly well that help? Why not, instead, buy the game, and do like I do? Immediately start a franchise, updated rosters be damned, and just immerse yourself in your own little baseball world. The other thing that helps; stay away from message boards for a little while Visit these forums for too long and you'll soon be convinced that every game is a mess of unrealistic bugs and glitches. Once this puppy drops, you won't see me around NEARLY as much.

This is the way to go. Just dive into the game and have fun. And yes, stay away from the boards ... well at least the threads that are people nitpicking and complaining.

[RoyalBoyle78]

Re: My Love Hate Relationship with The Show

I understand your dilemma, but I'm not quite following your logic... You're going to reconnect and re-learn how to enjoy and have fun with MLB 11 by holding off on purchasing it?

How exactly well that help? Why not, instead, buy the game, and do like I do? Immediately start a franchise, updated rosters be damned, and just immerse yourself in your own little baseball world. The other thing that helps; stay away from message boards for a little while Visit these forums for too long and you'll soon be convinced that every game is a mess of unrealistic bugs and glitches. Once this puppy drops, you won't see me around NEARLY as much.

so, so true, some people get the game and spend more time on the boards then playing the game.

[merchant1874]

Re: My Love Hate Relationship with The Show

Yup although I love this forum and how much everyone here loves sports I do agree it's sometimes a good idea to stay away.
I have in the past enjoyed games (not just sports games) only to have them ruined by people complaining about bugs I haven't yet experienced! Lol

Maybe that's my fault for listening too much to other people. Another problem is becoming obsessed with finding correct slider sets.

I suppose everyone is different and looks for different things in their games and how they play them

[misterkrabz]

Re: My Love Hate Relationship with The Show

First of all let me preface this with the fact that I am a diehard baseball fan, season ticket holder of my favorite team the Minnesota Twins, a huge sports fans, and a huge sports gaming fan.

I love The Show. Best baseball game ever, and best game ever in my opinion, and each year they raise the bar.

The struggles I have noticed I have, is as each year all the sports games get better in terms of features, and graphics, they also push the envelope in making it as realistic as possible. The problem this creates with me is each year I spend more and more time making it replicate real life.

I start a franchise with Knights rosters, get all my music set, play for a while, then a trade or injury happens, and I make that happen. Then it seems more and more I am spending more time making it replicate real life than actually playing and enjoying the game.

I am holding off on buying The Show 11, partly because of finances, and partly because I want to re-learn how to enjoy the game. Instead of putting all my efforts into making it mirror real life, and having all the Sounds of The Show accurate, which is a pain because players like to update their songs each year, I am going to try and enjoy the game itself. I may add some team specific sounds (homeruns, wins, etc.) but I want to enjoy the game.

This is not a knock at the guys that do all the work needed to enjoy the game, if I had the time I would. But as I spend time doing all of this I find myself further and further away from enjoying the game.

I did this with Madden last year, which in my opinion is miles away from The Show, but it helped me reconnect with a game I enjoyed for years.

Sorry to ramble on, just trying to enjoy games like I did when I was younger. To much focus on realistic, takes you further away from enjoying a great game.

I some what agree. It seems like the more realistic the graphics have gotten it's just caused our expectations of the game play being "realistic" to go even higher. Almost to the point of disappointment.

Like you, I love the game and have very few complaints. But I don't enjoy games like I used to when I was a kid. I can't get totally emmersed in a game because the second something doesn't feel right I'm looking to tweak things. And having so many "tweakable" options it's almost become a destraction, and that takes away from the enoyment of the game.

It's almost getting to the point where its getting frustrating when you don't find the perfect setting. Back in the day, the game was the game...you either liked it or you didn't. If you liked it, you played the heck out of it, if you didn't you didn't.

I will be buying the show on day one because I think it is the best sports game made but for most other games, I've been taking a pass. I used to buy basketball, golf, football and yes even games like rugby every year but I don't anymore for some of the reasons mentioned above. I've basically given up on new football games because the older Madden games sitting on my shelf are better than what's coming out these days. At least with the Show, it does getting better and they continue to add features. Like last year they made a huge leap forward with the online gameplay, I'm hoping they make even more progress in that area this year...if they do I'll be happy.

[ps2baseball]

Re: My Love Hate Relationship with The Show

I have recently done this with NHL 11. It has been fun. I haven't made any of the recent trades and, and likely won't.

Looking forward to doing the same with the Show, although I too may not buy it this year.

[Kearnzo]

Re: My Love Hate Relationship with The Show

I never really understood making the game mirror real life. All of the stats, win loss records, etc. are from your own baseball universe, but you want the injuries and roster moves to keep up with real life? Doesn't make much sense, but different strokes I suppose.

My only issue the last couple years has been deciding on a team to stick with. I start and restart franchises frequently, so I think this year i'm gonna MAKE myself stick with one through a month or so and from there, i'll hopefully keep on trucking with it.

[ckarlic]

Re: My Love Hate Relationship with The Show

I never really understood making the game mirror real life. All of the stats, win loss records, etc. are from your own baseball universe, but you want the injuries and roster moves to keep up with real life? Doesn't make much sense, but different strokes I suppose.

My only issue the last couple years has been deciding on a team to stick with. I start and restart franchises frequently, so I think this year i'm gonna MAKE myself stick with one through a month or so and from there, i'll hopefully keep on trucking with it.

Agreed. I don't have the time to mimic what happens in real life in my game. I think I would drive myself nuts doing that and feel that the fun of playing the game in "MY world" will be washed away by doing this. I download one roster set and go with it and whatever happens in my virtual franchise then so be it. I play it out to the end.

Similarly, I avoid tweaking any sliders when it comes to the Show since I feel the game plays great out of the box on default sliders. Ive learned that tweaking sliders can end up being a never ending psychological battle to find the ideal ones.


I suggest just playing the game out with whatever rosters you like and go with it, regardless of what happens in real life.

[kt-od]

Re: My Love Hate Relationship with The Show

I understand your dilemma, but I'm not quite following your logic... You're going to reconnect and re-learn how to enjoy and have fun with MLB 11 by holding off on purchasing it?

How exactly well that help? Why not, instead, buy the game, and do like I do? Immediately start a franchise, updated rosters be damned, and just immerse yourself in your own little baseball world. The other thing that helps; stay away from message boards for a little while Visit these forums for too long and you'll soon be convinced that every game is a mess of unrealistic bugs and glitches. Once this puppy drops, you won't see me around NEARLY as much.

I'm going to take your advice this year DDW. I'm going to stay away from these boards, for a few weeks after I get it on Tues. For the last few years, I have been in the same boat as the OP. Great advice!

[BwanaKuu]

Re: My Love Hate Relationship with The Show

Agreed. I don't have the time to mimic what happens in real life in my game. I think I would drive myself nuts doing that and feel that the fun of playing the game in "MY world" will be washed away by doing this. I download one roster set and go with it and whatever happens in my virtual franchise then so be it. I play it out to the end.

Similarly, I avoid tweaking any sliders when it comes to the Show since I feel the game plays great out of the box on default sliders. Ive learned that tweaking sliders can end up being a never ending psychological battle to find the ideal ones.


I suggest just playing the game out with whatever rosters you like and go with it, regardless of what happens in real life.

The thing I don't get is that a lot of people use OS 3.2 for their sliders and one of the OS or an OS-based roster. But according to some posts I've read by Knight, the rosters are made for default sliders. This has always confused me. I've stopped tweaking the sliders as well, unless I get really unrealistic stats.

One other things is I NEVER go above the "normal" setting for difficulty. Anything higher in sports games usually just results in the CPU cheating. I HATE that.

[travis72]

Re: My Love Hate Relationship with The Show

First of all let me preface this with the fact that I am a diehard baseball fan, season ticket holder of my favorite team the Minnesota Twins, a huge sports fans, and a huge sports gaming fan.

I love The Show. Best baseball game ever, and best game ever in my opinion, and each year they raise the bar.

The struggles I have noticed I have, is as each year all the sports games get better in terms of features, and graphics, they also push the envelope in making it as realistic as possible. The problem this creates with me is each year I spend more and more time making it replicate real life.

I start a franchise with Knights rosters, get all my music set, play for a while, then a trade or injury happens, and I make that happen. Then it seems more and more I am spending more time making it replicate real life than actually playing and enjoying the game.

I am holding off on buying The Show 11, partly because of finances, and partly because I want to re-learn how to enjoy the game. Instead of putting all my efforts into making it mirror real life, and having all the Sounds of The Show accurate, which is a pain because players like to update their songs each year, I am going to try and enjoy the game itself. I may add some team specific sounds (homeruns, wins, etc.) but I want to enjoy the game.

This is not a knock at the guys that do all the work needed to enjoy the game, if I had the time I would. But as I spend time doing all of this I find myself further and further away from enjoying the game.

I did this with Madden last year, which in my opinion is miles away from The Show, but it helped me reconnect with a game I enjoyed for years.

Sorry to ramble on, just trying to enjoy games like I did when I was younger. To much focus on realistic, takes you further away from enjoying a great game.

I am the same way, I like things to mirror real life and tend to struggle playing because of it. This year I am not going to let what happens IRL affect me. Its going to be my little world. However I won't go out and trade or sign someones thats unrealistic for my team, I will keep all that as real as possible but keeping up on player movement in minors and injuries i will let play out as they may. My main thing is simulated stats being accurate and as long as that is good I am the happiest gamer in the world.

[jskatt21]

Re: My Love Hate Relationship with The Show

I understand your dilemma, but I'm not quite following your logic... You're going to reconnect and re-learn how to enjoy and have fun with MLB 11 by holding off on purchasing it?

How exactly well that help? Why not, instead, buy the game, and do like I do? Immediately start a franchise, updated rosters be damned, and just immerse yourself in your own little baseball world. The other thing that helps; stay away from message boards for a little while Visit these forums for too long and you'll soon be convinced that every game is a mess of unrealistic bugs and glitches. Once this puppy drops, you won't see me around NEARLY as much.

I guess what I was trying to say, was that before I drop $60 on a game I want to see if I can get my self re-engaged. Much like you stated, get immeresed in my own baseball world. If I can do this, I will pick up the game at some point when it is probably a bit cheaper, and as the season gets underway. If I can't I will avoid the purchase.

I want to enjoy the game like I did enjoy games as a kid. The Ken Griffey Jr games, and MVP Baseball. I was immersed into those games and treated them as my own baseball world. But as more customization happpend, the sense of having an accuracte depiction of the game in real life took over. I used to play Ken Griffey Jr Baseball and had a notebook for all my stats, including all my Homeruns and distances.

I also will do the same and maybe stay away from the boards a bit. With a family and job I don't have the time I once did, but I should still be able to enjoy my favorite sport with my favorite game.

[BwanaKuu]

Re: My Love Hate Relationship with The Show

I guess what I was trying to say, was that before I drop $60 on a game I want to see if I can get my self re-engaged. Much like you stated, get immeresed in my own baseball world. If I can do this, I will pick up the game at some point when it is probably a bit cheaper, and as the season gets underway. If I can't I will avoid the purchase.

I want to enjoy the game like I did enjoy games as a kid. The Ken Griffey Jr games, and MVP Baseball. I was immersed into those games and treated them as my own baseball world. But as more customization happpend, the sense of having an accuracte depiction of the game in real life took over. I used to play Ken Griffey Jr Baseball and had a notebook for all my stats, including all my Homeruns and distances.

I also will do the same and maybe stay away from the boards a bit. With a family and job I don't have the time I once did, but I should still be able to enjoy my favorite sport with my favorite game.

Gentlemen, this is actually a studied issue because it doesn't just occur in The Show. Think about the amount of options out there for some things like cars. There are an overwhelming number of brands, drivetrains, options, colors, etc. etc. Researchers have found that there are two type of people: Satisficers and Maximizers. Maximizers try to make the "best" choice while satisficers just make a good choice. In general, satisficers are much more satisfied with their decision and don't spend so much time thinking and analyzing what to do and actually do it.

Simply put, just keep it simple.