MLB 2k12 Impression in few innings of play

[johnny132]

Hi everyone, I live in Taiwan and Taipei Game Show held here every year. This year Microsoft also got a MLB2k12 for people to experience(don`t know what version it is), I went the show earlier today and tried a few inning, try to share some impression here now.
My English is not very well, maybe I can`t describe what I see and feel precisely, also due to few innings of play, there`s something I can`t confirm.

Graphic
Graphic looks good, But since my 2k11 is PC version, I don`t know if 2k11 360 version already look like that.
Like the videos shown before, the icons and interface had been remake.
Shadow still edged.

Hitting
The feeling when you hit the ball is way better than 2k11, how ball fly out is also very good. Like the preview says, the hitting result is more on ball&bat physics.
If the ball is low on the plate but you hit it well, there will be more groundball hits, if the ball is high on the plate, will be easier to hit line drives. (not sure)
There are more hitting animations added, the hitting result and batter`s animation works pretty well, you can see the player is pulling or attacking opposite side through the new animations, or they just had a bad timing swim.
The transfer between batter and runner still not so smooth, but base running animations looks better.

Pitching
As good as 2k always been. When you strike out a batter with a kind of pitch, that pitch`s overall will rise, when getting hit, it will go down.
Next round you face the batter, overall will change again individually result in you strike him out or being hit. (not sure)
When a pitcher is fully warm up, you will get a message.
If you pinch hit a pitcher, next inning you will get a message asking you to change pitcher or not(camera is on batter, so we won`t see batter on the mound if we don`t want to)

Fielding
You can change where you throw now. before the ball is out of a fielder`s hand, you can redirect him to throw any bases or cut off, but it seems like you have to throw it out eventually.
New animations when a groundball hit in front of an infielder, very smooth.
When outfielders catch third out, sometimes they throw the ball to audience.
I haven`t figure out the difference between the green zone and yellow zone, because when I play I just try release the ball at green zone.

That`s all I can memorize so far, anyway, the gameplay is quite good I think, with they still have a month to adjust, I think it will be better.

[mpgm]

Re: MLB 2k12 Impression in few innings of play

hi johnny132
play angle various camera animations replay ?
Various real sights add?
but chek swing Action?

[nemesis04]

Re: MLB 2k12 Impression in few innings of play

hi johnny132
play angle various camera animations replay ?
Various real sights add?
but chek swing Action?

Spoiler

A couple nice details johnny132

[Blzer]

Re: MLB 2k12 Impression in few innings of play

hi johnny132
play angle various camera animations replay ?
Various real sights add?
but chek swing Action?

Johnny found a better translation program. You have been replaced.

LOL thanks for the impressions man. Glad to hear about the hitting and throwing. I still wonder how the PS3 version will hold up this year, but I'm afraid I won't truly be able to know until I have the game on my very own television screen, either by the way of the demo or the actual copy.

[DetroitStyle]

Re: MLB 2k12 Impression in few innings of play

I imagine the game looking exactly like last years edition. Mainly because it's on the same engine. There may be more unique cyberfaces and new aesthetically pleasing menus but that's about it. Also, it will always look better on the PC due to better AA, AF, and shadering.

That's why I'm mostly concerned with gameplay which, from a few impressions scattered about (including the teaser trailor) look to be improved. Including the clunky running animations which now look smooth!

[xBravesx]

Re: MLB 2k12 Impression in few innings of play

Nice! The more info I read the more I am looking forward to March 6. Would like to see some more videos though..

[dodgerblue]

Re: MLB 2k12 Impression in few innings of play

Thanks for the impressions!

Not to highjack the thread, but my .02

I'm always concerned about those "ratings adjustments" when a pitcher strikes someone out or makes a good pitch (positive adjustment for pitcher) or gives up a hit (negative adjustment).

This would create a snowball type effect? Baseball is a game of averages and actually when you think about it, one result (hit or out) increases the opposite effect the next time the batter steps up.

For example, Matt Kemp singles in his first at bat v. Matt Cain. CHANCES are, he will not be successful in his next at bat. Yet, in many video games, the adjustment is just the opposite.

[Blzer]

Re: MLB 2k12 Impression in few innings of play

This would create a snowball type effect? Baseball is a game of averages and actually when you think about it, one result (hit or out) increases the opposite effect the next time the batter steps up.

Technically, in real life, every at-bat should be considered independent from the other. In other words, though we assume players/teams will come back down to earth after some incredibly hot streak, nothing says they absolutely have to. There is some probability of successfully landing the ball in a safe spot past infielders and in between outfielders when you make contact with the ball, which is the most reflective thing of that law of averages... but that's not to say you can't get it there every time. The only thing that really changes that is how a team figures you out and plays against your hot streak.

So in a way, it's tough to say whether that player should become worse as time goes on, or better, or not change at all. I think there should be some variability in player numbers and that they shouldn't be so specific, but that's just me.

Just to go back to your Matt Kemp example, I want to say that future at-bats are independent in the sense that you can't just say "chances are" they won't do something. However, if you are able to look back at something, then maybe you are able to form a better opinion on something. In other words, if Matt Kemp went 2-for-5 the night before and you are watching the archived version of that game (where you know that he went 2-for-5), and he singles in his first at-bat, you're going to say "chances are he won't get a hit his next at-bat," only because we already know that he only gets one hit in his next four at-bats. However, we can't predict that he won't do something.

[ill23matic]

Re: MLB 2k12 Impression in few innings of play

Technically, in real life, every at-bat should be considered independent from the other. In other words, though we assume players/teams will come back down to earth after some incredibly hot streak, nothing says they absolutely have to. There is some probability of successfully landing the ball in a safe spot past infielders and in between outfielders when you make contact with the ball, which is the most reflective thing of that law of averages... but that's not to say you can't get it there every time. The only thing that really changes that is how a team figures you out and plays against your hot streak.

So in a way, it's tough to say whether that player should become worse as time goes on, or better, or not change at all. I think there should be some variability in player numbers and that they shouldn't be so specific, but that's just me.

Just to go back to your Matt Kemp example, I want to say that future at-bats are independent in the sense that you can't just say "chances are" they won't do something. However, if you are able to look back at something, then maybe you are able to form a better opinion on something. In other words, if Matt Kemp went 2-for-5 the night before and you are watching the archived version of that game (where you know that he went 2-for-5), and he singles in his first at-bat, you're going to say "chances are he won't get a hit his next at-bat," only because we already know that he only gets one hit in his next four at-bats. However, we can't predict that he won't do something.

..................No

[dodgerblue]

Re: MLB 2k12 Impression in few innings of play

There are hot and cold streaks, where players hit above or below their average understandably. But over the long haul, a player is going to hit his norm. If a game adjusts ratings + for good results and - for bad results, the variability won't be realistic imo.

Back to Matt Kemp. If he goes 2-5 and gets a ratings boost, he will be more likely to get more hits in the next game and so on and so on. IRL however, he may have a hot streak, sure where is going 2-5 or better each game for a week. But eventually he will fall off and average out over time.

I guess what matters in the video game world is that statistics are realistic and hot and cold streaks occur however the programming is done. I'm just not a big fan of ratings adjustments based on how someone performs one at bat or one pitch earlier.

[Blzer]

Re: MLB 2k12 Impression in few innings of play

There are hot and cold streaks, where players hit above or below their average understandably. But over the long haul, a player is going to hit his norm. If a game adjusts ratings + for good results and - for bad results, the variability won't be realistic imo.

Don't get me wrong, I know what you're talking about and think the same way you do. ESPN MLB 2K5 had a problem with players doing far too well when their confidence was so high.

Back to Matt Kemp. If he goes 2-5 and gets a ratings boost, he will be more likely to get more hits in the next game and so on and so on. IRL however, he may have a hot streak, sure where is going 2-5 or better each game for a week. But eventually he will fall off and average out over time.

I'm just saying that real life does not have "boosts" of sorts. Every at-bat should be independent. Yes, we expect him to "come back down to earth," so to speak... but players simply hit how they hit.

If this wasn't the case, then we wouldn't be laughing at Joe Morgan when he said that the A's should save some runs for the next day after dominating their opponent (and he was truly serious about that).

I guess what matters in the video game world is that statistics are realistic and hot and cold streaks occur however the programming is done. I'm just not a big fan of ratings adjustments based on how someone performs one at bat or one pitch earlier.

I care about these things too, but I don't want the game to have any sort of "catch-up logic" that says because he is supposed to hit .330 and not .380, they are going to dumb down my player's abilities for some at-bats to better his chances of making an out.

..................No

Honestly, with my post being all over the place to begin with, I have no idea what your response means.

[bosnian19]

Re: MLB 2k12 Impression in few innings of play

so whats changed?

[Ollienyy]

Re: MLB 2k12 Impression in few innings of play

Thanks Johnny! Sounds interesting. Now if only we can get them to release a inning of video like they did last year about this time...

One thing, thank god MPGM didn't get to see this. We would be trying to work out what he was saying for weeks...

[peigone]

Re: MLB 2k12 Impression in few innings of play

I'm always concerned about those "ratings adjustments" when a pitcher strikes someone out or makes a good pitch (positive adjustment for pitcher) or gives up a hit (negative adjustment).

As long as that stuff can be shut off. Because these devs never get these momentum/confidence cheats right in their games, it's always way overdone. And I never play with it on.

Thanks for the article. Game sounds like last year's game with smoother animations? Is that about it? I just finished watching a video on zone analog hitting. And boy, it makes 2K's hitting system look like something for children. Better be something more to the game this year than just smoother animations.

[bigfnjoe96]

As long as that stuff can be shut off. Because these devs never get these momentum/confidence cheats right in their games, it's always way overdone. And I never play with it on.

Thanks for the article. Game sounds like last year's game with smoother animations? Is that about it? I just finished watching a video on zone analog hitting. And boy, it makes 2K's hitting system look like something for children. Better be something more to the game this year than just smoother animations.

Must you continue to take cheap shots @ the Timing Only System 2k offers?

We know from your countless post you hate the system.

Please do those of us who enjoy the system a favor "Let it go already"

Thanks

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