Major League Baseball 2K9 Developer Diary: Gameplay

[baa7]

Re: Major League Baseball 2K9 Developer Diary: Gameplay

I think its would be virtually impossible to pull back on the R stick at the correct time while then trying to aim the L stick at the ball all the while then trying to time the push of the R stick

Right, just like real hitting. And if Alex Rodriguez can do it, why can't you? Oh wait, if you're saying you don't do steriods then I can see what you're getting at.

[DJ]

Well, it sounds promising and the removal of the Meatball is a big plus.

I understand their decision on removing the step; it'd be nice if there was a way to put that back in with a slider adjustment for those of us that do use it.

I will certainly give the game a rental and see what the finished product looks like. If it's decent, I'll probably run with it AND The Show on PS2.

[ericjwm]

Re: Major League Baseball 2K9 Developer Diary: Gameplay

Day/night progression has been in every year Blzer, what are you seeing that makes you think it's not this year?

No one knows for sure on here. But the dude answering Q's on GameSpot mentioned that he didn't notice any time of day progression. VC started over & changed alot, so they might of temporarily removed it for 09.

[Stroehms]

Wow. Can't wait

[baa7]

Re: Major League Baseball 2K9 Developer Diary: Gameplay

I understand their decision on removing the step

I guess I don't understand why people are so accepting of this. I'll try to be very clear: 2K8 introduced an innovative hitting system unparalled in baseball games. But it goes beyond that. There are few stick movement features in video sports games that mimic the actual physical activity it's attempting to copy, to the degree 2K8's swing stick mimics hitting a baseball. The closest comparison I can think of is the way the RB running is mapped to the R stick in 2K football. So imagine if there had been an NFL 2K6, but VC decided to go back to the way running was in 2K4. Football gamers would have hit the roof.

With last year's system, you approached hitting the way an MLB player does (minus the aiming of course). The key component was the pulling back on the stick, which emulated the leg lift/timing mechanism hitter's use as the pitch approaches. That timing mechanism is 50% of hitting. And it's never been included in a baseball game. We had the perfect system, and now it's gone. That's like Michaelangelo carving the statue of David, and then taking a chain saw hacking the thing in two.

[sask3m]

Re: Major League Baseball 2K9 Developer Diary: Gameplay

Right, just like real hitting. And if Alex Rodriguez can do it, why can't you? Oh wait, if you're saying you don't do steriods then I can see what you're getting at.

ok, i might be able to manage all those moving parts but i wouldn't need steroids just a couple espresso's

[The Living Legend]

Re: Major League Baseball 2K9 Developer Diary: Gameplay

I guess I don't understand why people are so accepting of this. I'll try to be very clear: 2K8 introduced an innovative hitting system unparalled in baseball games. But it goes beyond that. There are few stick movement features in video sports games that mimic the actual physical activity it's attempting to copy, to the degree 2K8's swing stick mimics hitting a baseball. The closest comparison I can think of is the way the RB running is mapped to the R stick in 2K football. So imagine if there had been an NFL 2K6, but VC decided to go back to the way running was in 2K4. Football gamers would have hit the roof.

With last year's system, you approached hitting the way an MLB player does (minus the aiming of course). The key component was the pulling back on the stick, which emulated the leg lift/timing mechanism hitter's use as the pitch approaches. That timing mechanism is 50% of hitting. And it's never been included in a baseball game. We had the perfect system, and now it's gone. That's like Michaelangelo carving the statue of David, and then taking a chain saw hacking the thing in two.

I agree with you to an extent. I liked the hitting system, though i think to the vast majority it didnt fly to well, maybe more people found it to hard hit. Removing it completely and not making it a option is rediculous and never should of happen, maybe im wrong.

[brendanrfoley]

Re: Major League Baseball 2K9 Developer Diary: Gameplay

Trevy, did you ever play High Heat?

The game cheated a bit, in the sense it never modeled the bat to ball collision. But it did use a bevy of stats and ratings to calculate quality and direction of hit based on pitch type, location, speed, swing timing, so on and so forth.

There were choppers to charge, slow rollers, shots down the line, hooking and slicing liners, etc. The game truly was (and still is) something special. It did so much right that both Visual Concepts and SCEA are still trying to perfect.

[Stroehms]

Re: Major League Baseball 2K9 Developer Diary: Gameplay

Love the new stealing controls. Just flat out awesome!

[Fiddy]

hmm i hope this doesn't disappoint again.. looks promising!!

[brendanrfoley]

Re: Major League Baseball 2K9 Developer Diary: Gameplay

Love the new stealing controls. Just flat out awesome!

The whole mechanic is brilliant. Tap the L trigger to lead, hold to wait to take off, release to run. I have hopes it will imitate the waiting game a good base runner has with the pitcher.. looking for the first sign of movement to take off.

I am increasingly worried about directional sliding, however.

[ronnyballgame]

This game is SO Money! I cannot wait until March 3rd, I believe we are going to get a worthy game that we will play longer than a few weeks! I am excited!

[porkchop]

Re: Major League Baseball 2K9 Developer Diary: Gameplay

Eh... sounds good, but all the jazz they were blowing out their butt trumpets sounded great this time last year too. Color me super skeptical on this one. Sure I guess I'll buy it but that doesn't mean I necessarily have to like it. If I feel it's as bad as 2k8 was then I'll probably get a PS3 for the Show. I mean... if the game's a flop like 2k8 it's only $60 wasted which isn't that huge a deal, but the thought of paying over $500 just to play video game baseball without making the Kermit face does kind of make me a little upset to think about.

[baa7]

Re: Major League Baseball 2K9 Developer Diary: Gameplay

I agree with you to an extent. I liked the hitting system, though i think to the vast majority it didnt fly to well, maybe more people found it to hard hit. Removing it completely and not making it a option is rediculous and never should of happen, maybe im wrong.

Put it this way: One of the mods on the 2K forum brilliantly pointed out that removing the step influence feature reduces the swing stick to a glorified button hitting system. Think about it. There's really no difference:

Push the stick up when the pitch arrives = push a button when the pitch arrives.

The difference -- the thing that set swing stick hitting apart from button hitting -- is the leg kick/timing mechanism component. And now that's gone. Now the batter in 2K stands at the plate, and you simply push a particular control to activate the swing animation... which is EXACTLY the same way The Show's button hitting system operates.

[brendanrfoley]

Re: Major League Baseball 2K9 Developer Diary: Gameplay

Put it this way: One of the mods on the 2K forum brilliantly pointed out that removing the step influence feature reduces the swing stick to a glorified button hitting system. Think about it. There's really no difference.

I never looked at it that way. I don't disagree with it, but I won't be upset if there is greater hit variety in 2K9. I liked the Hit Stick in 2K8 because it offered improved hit variety due to the timing mechanism. If we see choppers, liners, bloops and blast with the tweaked hitting model... I won't need the hit stick.

It is too bad Visual Concepts didn't keep it, however. It's always nice to have options.