"Pitching is one of those things where a video game can only capture so much of what is really happening," he says. "Personality is something that would take gaming to a whole new level. If they could capture the attitudes of pitchers and get them how they are out on the field, capture that persona, that's what I want to see."
Major League Baseball 2K9 Tim Lincecum Interview
				
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 Major League Baseball 2K9 Tim Lincecum InterviewESPN has posted an interview with Tim Lincecum, cover athlete for Major League Baseball 2K9.
 
 "Last year, MLB 2K8 confused gamers with a pitching system casual fans saw as overly complex. MLB 2K9 changes all that as the developers of the game are really looking to simplify the pitching experience while at the same time bringing more realism to the mound. Lincecum has his own thoughts of what he'd like to see in the game.
 
 "Pitching is one of those things where a video game can only capture so much of what is really happening," he says. "Personality is something that would take gaming to a whole new level. If they could capture the attitudes of pitchers and get them how they are out on the field, capture that persona, that's what I want to see."Tags: None
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 Re: ESPN: Lincecum interview/new pitching info
 
 As far as the video games go, if they had some sort of mini-game for pitchers to see if they could keep their emotions in check, that would be pretty awesome.
 
 Goodness. Please no."It may well be that we spectators, who are not divinely gifted as athletes, are the only ones able to truly see, articulate and animate the experience of the gift we are denied. And that those who receive and act out the gift of athletic genius must, perforce, be blind and dumb about it -- and not because blindness and dumbness are the price of the gift, but because they are its essence." - David Foster Wallace
 
 "You'll not find more penny-wise/pound-foolish behavior than in Major League Baseball." - Rob Neyer
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 Re: ESPN: Lincecum interview/new pitching info
 
 How unimportant is the cover guy of any game, ugh.
 
 If they are changing the pitching mechanics I just hope they get it right. If it means making it simpler and making the sliders what really tunes the game (AI and USER), then I'm all for it.
 Just as long as it works.Comment
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 Re: ESPN: Lincecum interview/new pitching info
 
 That's the key. Simple yet deep.
 
 Simple enough to use, but deep enough to manipulate as we please for realistic results.
 
 These mini-games, gimmicks, extras are just too much. We should throw with as few button presses as possible and let ratings come into play.
 
 It would be nice if sliders let us decide how much we wanted ratings to affect the overall location/result of the pitch."It may well be that we spectators, who are not divinely gifted as athletes, are the only ones able to truly see, articulate and animate the experience of the gift we are denied. And that those who receive and act out the gift of athletic genius must, perforce, be blind and dumb about it -- and not because blindness and dumbness are the price of the gift, but because they are its essence." - David Foster Wallace
 
 "You'll not find more penny-wise/pound-foolish behavior than in Major League Baseball." - Rob NeyerComment
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 Re: ESPN: Lincecum interview/new pitching info
 
 I like the 2k8 pitching controls. they should just get rid of the magical every pitch missed turns iinto a fastball down the middle meatball thing. I hope they don't go the route of NHL2K9 which removed the prostick control that was in 2k8 to answer to the bitching about more simple controls.Comment
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 Re: ESPN: Lincecum interview/new pitching info
 
 its going going GONE! im with YankeePride on this oneComment
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 Re: ESPN: Lincecum interview/new pitching info
 
 yeah, simple doesn't mean better.I like the 2k8 pitching controls. they should just get rid of the magical every pitch missed turns iinto a fastball down the middle meatball thing. I hope they don't go the route of NHL2K9 which removed the prostick control that was in 2k8 to answer to the bitching about more simple controls.Comment
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 Re: ESPN: Lincecum interview/new pitching info
 
 I hope they can find a way to implement both systems for yours and my sake, because personally, I like to be in control of the outcome. I enjoy realistic results, but to me they should be achieved through a good system and not just ratings...otherwise, why even use the controller...why even have the ability dictate what pitch should be thrown if the stats dictate otherwise?That's the key. Simple yet deep.
 
 Simple enough to use, but deep enough to manipulate as we please for realistic results.
 
 These mini-games, gimmicks, extras are just too much. We should throw with as few button presses as possible and let ratings come into play.
 
 It would be nice if sliders let us decide how much we wanted ratings to affect the overall location/result of the pitch.
 
 I agree that the results have to be realistic, but I think that can be achieved in one of two ways:
 1) The game uses stats and ratings and controls the outcome. (Ex: I press the a button, the pitcher executes whatever pitch his ratings and stats tell him to throw and the outcome is basically a random calculation of those stats).
 2) The game has a system in place in which, when used properly at the right difficulty level, the outcomes are realisitc. (Ex: I control everything as best I can, I choose the pitch I feel is right for the situation based on how my guy is throwing, and if I execute everything perfect, I hit my spot, if I'm off a little, the pitch will be off a little).
 
 My main problem with #1 is it just takes the feel out of the game. Scouting reports, stats and ratings are fine for a game plan, but they don't work nearly as well from pitch to pitch. Ex: If a guys late on a 0-1 fastball, and now you have an 0-2 count, you should probably stick with the heat, but the overall ratings may say curveball...In real life, you'd be doing the hitter a huge favor by giving him something he can catch up to.
 
 The whole reason I play video games is to be involved in the game as much as possible, not to sit back and let the computer make all the choices. I like to decide the pitch type and location and then execute the pitch. I like to swing the bat, run the bases and make the plays in the field. Otherwise, your just playing Strat-O-Matic baseball with pretty pitctures.Last edited by Trevytrev11; 11-26-2008, 11:07 AM.Comment
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 Re: ESPN: Lincecum interview/new pitching info
 
 I agree. I don't mean ratings only. I just mean that ratings should be a part of the system.
 
 I'm thinking of control. Ratings should be a part of the result. You can be 100% accurate with whatever meter is being used, but if the guy is a terrible control pitcher then it shouldn't be automatic that you hit your spot.
 
 If it's Greg Maddux, different story."It may well be that we spectators, who are not divinely gifted as athletes, are the only ones able to truly see, articulate and animate the experience of the gift we are denied. And that those who receive and act out the gift of athletic genius must, perforce, be blind and dumb about it -- and not because blindness and dumbness are the price of the gift, but because they are its essence." - David Foster Wallace
 
 "You'll not find more penny-wise/pound-foolish behavior than in Major League Baseball." - Rob NeyerComment
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 Re: Major League Baseball 2K9 Tim Lincecum Interview
 
 Oh oh. It sounds like the lowest common denominator won again. I still for the life of me can't figure out why people couldn't just choose classic pitching in their settings if they didn't like the new controls? Now they might be getting rid of it because it was too hard for some? Wow!!!
 
 If anything, make classic/meter pitching the default for the idiots that can't seem to grasp the concept of changing an option. I'm talking about the people that don't like, you are entitled to your opinion, but what is wrong with having options?
 
 If they make it just a simple meter based system, then I guess it will be a rental for me this year. I will buy the Show first.
 
 Sucks, I really liked the controls of 2K8. A little tweaking and you would have an extremely addictive system.Comment
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 Re: Major League Baseball 2K9 Tim Lincecum Interview
 
 What makes me sad is the time they wasted on 2K8 with those pitching controls if they weren't planning on sticking to them. It's like them spending a bunch of time and money on some major CGI shot for a movie, and then BAM! Scrapped. Does it make a difference in the movie? Not in the movie that you see, but behind the scenes, it meant a lot for them not to have those finances and resources and time readily available for something else greater in the movie.
 
 A slightly more OT example, but this is the biggest problem I had with Saw IV being made... they spend so much time and effort closing out the trilogy with Saw III that when they broke the barrier, it demoralized the importance of Saw III and made it an inferior movie as it was not set up for another set of sequels.
 
 In this case, they could have done so many other things in 2K8 that was not so revolved around pitching. Every *** **** interview was about the new (and actually pretty cool) pitching controls, then BAM! Tea-bagged.
 
 In a way, it disgusts me... but to be honest, give me options for an invisible cursor and a variable location slider, and I'm set. Just like the good ol' days of 2K3 and 2K4.Samsung PN60F8500 PDP / Anthem MRX 720 / Klipsch RC-62 II / Klipsch RF-82 II (x2) / Insignia NS-B2111 (x2) / SVS PC13-Ultra / SVS SB-2000 / Sony MDR-7506 Professional / Audio-Technica ATH-R70x / Sony PS3 & PS4 / DirecTV HR44-500 / DarbeeVision DVP-5000 / Panamax M5400-PM / Elgato HD60Comment
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 Re: Major League Baseball 2K9 Tim Lincecum Interview
 
 I had no problem with the new pitching controls. I enjoyed them as well.
 
 But, it needs a lot of tweaking and a lot of work.
 
 To better understand me you just need to know that the only pitching system I ever really liked was High Heats ball/strike system. Still to this day the most realistic in gaming."It may well be that we spectators, who are not divinely gifted as athletes, are the only ones able to truly see, articulate and animate the experience of the gift we are denied. And that those who receive and act out the gift of athletic genius must, perforce, be blind and dumb about it -- and not because blindness and dumbness are the price of the gift, but because they are its essence." - David Foster Wallace
 
 "You'll not find more penny-wise/pound-foolish behavior than in Major League Baseball." - Rob NeyerComment
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 Re: ESPN: Lincecum interview/new pitching info
 
 Now this I agree 100% with.I agree. I don't mean ratings only. I just mean that ratings should be a part of the system.
 
 I'm thinking of control. Ratings should be a part of the result. You can be 100% accurate with whatever meter is being used, but if the guy is a terrible control pitcher then it shouldn't be automatic that you hit your spot.
 
 If it's Greg Maddux, different story.
 
 I've posted this idea a few times before, but they could solve this with any system by just making the circle that you use to aim the pitch different sizes for different pitchers. And then the outcome of the pitch would be anywhere in this circle. The Maddux's would have a circle maybe the size of a softball and the Zito's would have them the size of a basketball or beach ball.
 
 And then as you stated, the players ratings/stats would determine the size of the circle for each player and ideally for each pitch (as you would expect a fastball to have better location than a curveball).Comment
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 Re: ESPN: Lincecum interview/new pitching info
 
 My complaint is that then it's only about timing and once you get that down, pitching becomes automatic. The one benefit of the new system is that it requires timing and movement.
 
 Away to make the meter system more difficult is to have the speed of the meter move at different speeds. A great pitcher would have a much more constant speed and a guy who typically struggles would have a different meter speed on almost every pitch making it hard to get into a rythem.Comment

 
		
	 
		
	 
		
	
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