Major League Baseball 2K9 Video: Cardinals @ Cubs Top 1st

**DaveDQ** · 02-13-2009, 08:04 AM

Re: Major League Baseball 2K9 Video: Cardinals @ Cubs Top 1st

Visual Concepts is written all over this game. There are some issues, don't get me wrong, but the style and presentations is vintage VC. From commentary to the sleek camera angles and cuts, this game looks great in action.

Two things I'm concerned about. The slow motion animation where a fielder approaches the ball may still be there. It happened last year, especially with outfielders. In this video, the pitcher runs to position after a foul ball and while the rest of the team is normal time, he's sort of in slow motion. I hope that's not in the fielding. The other thing is the transition of animations. I didn't have problems with the video feed running choppy, but there are some jerk animations going on. It reminds me of early next-gen NBA 2K. In fact, some of that is still in NBA 2K. I'm not too concerned, but it's there.

I'd like to see cases where there is scoring. I think we'll get variance in crowd and atmosphere. How about the commentary though? It's as if Thorne is a video commentator first and the real thing second.

Overall, you can't deny that VC has turned this game around in a positive direction. That's all I wanted to see this year. This is NFL 2K4.

**texbuk84** · 02-13-2009, 08:10 AM

Re: Major League Baseball 2K9 Video: Cardinals @ Cubs Top 1st

the game is so awesome. i just love it, love it, love it.

**scott4171** · 02-13-2009, 08:11 AM

Re: Major League Baseball 2K9 Video: Cardinals @ Cubs Top 1st

Still not great but better then 2k8. Animations stink, crowd is still non-existant and I hate the stupid organ music get rid of that already. Also, no progressive lighting. Hi The Show...

**BigH2k6** · 02-13-2009, 08:16 AM

Re: Major League Baseball 2K9 Video: Cardinals @ Cubs Top 1st

Originally posted by jeffy777

If you've ever been to Wrigley, the organ is a mainstay there, so it would seem weird if they didn't have it in the game. But yeah, it's not that way at every MLB ballpark. So it would be nice if 2K9 has the organ for the ballparks that actually use it, and then leave it out for those that don't.

Depending on the custom soundtracks, that may be fixable through that.

**wsu_gb23** · 02-13-2009, 08:29 AM

Re: Major League Baseball 2K9 Video: Cardinals @ Cubs Top 1st

Originally posted by Brooklynnets24

meh im not likin pujols batting stance

I thought 2K was so good at signature styles....Pujols' stance doesn't look very good...way too stiff....

I do like the presentation. The no cutscene idea is working pretty well...players actually walk into the dugout.

Player faces are off; I didn't know Rick Ankiel is Japanese.

Jersey textures, helmets and hats are very bland...

Bat sounds are still terrible...they have NEVER fixed them in the last 5 years...

All in all, doesn't look like a bad game. Will the PS3 version be up to par?

**Blitzburgh** · 02-13-2009, 08:31 AM

Re: Major League Baseball 2K9 Video: Cardinals @ Cubs Top 1st

My first impressions after watching all three vids was WOW! I absolutely loved it! I'm not a big nitpicker on swings or batting stances however i would like to see the faces get better for next year. I also saw a few frame rate hiccups but who knows at thsi point. All in all this is a day 1 pick up for me! Would love to see a night game at PNC park!

**Rod_Carew29** · 02-13-2009, 08:36 AM

I am a 100%, certified The Show kinda guy...but I will say that the 2 clips dated February 13 are VERY, VERY impressive

**orthostud23** · 02-13-2009, 08:41 AM

Re: Major League Baseball 2K9 Video: Cardinals @ Cubs Top 1st

My 2cents is that this game looked to run much smoother than last years game. Commentary was very good during that inning as well. It looks like a step in the right direction. Definately will get a gamefly rental from me. I also look forward to seeing some more videos this weekend.

Overall if your a 360 owner then this game looks to have made some progress over last years beta game.

**BigL** · 02-13-2009, 08:45 AM

Re: Major League Baseball 2K9 Video: Cardinals @ Cubs Top 1st

Positives

-We saw some foul balls. YAY!

- Player models look much better than last year's.

- Real time is looking sweet

- Overall framerate issue seems to be cleansed but ill mention some things in my negatives too

- I like how they show you a picture of every player and his stats when they go through the starting lineup.

Negatives

- They brutally whiffed on Pujols' batting stance which is odd since he is a premiere player and 2K prides itself on sig style. Soriano's, though, is spot on.

- While the overrall framerate appear to be improved there are still some hitches. The missing frames when batters go into their stances are still there and some throwing animations seem to be missing a few frames too. The ball doesnt appear to come out of th eplayer's hand in a smooth fashion.

- Yea the bat hitting the ball sounds like a shot gun, but lowering this in the settings does a good job of hiding that

- The crowd models look great but too many of them dont appear to be watching the game

- The Gloves look awkward.

**WaddupCouzin** · 02-13-2009, 08:47 AM

Re: Major League Baseball 2K9 Video: Cardinals @ Cubs Top 1st

Coming from a MLB Show fan, the game is looking good! I enjoy seeing the catcher follow on the double play. The Atmosphere was serious! I may actually pick this game up on the 3rd.

**bryan_05** · 02-13-2009, 09:07 AM

Re: Major League Baseball 2K9 Video: Cardinals @ Cubs Top 1st

Hello State Farm!

Just pickin apart Wrigley a bit. And what is that brown & red building?

Attached Files

wr.jpg (58.6 KB, 113 views)

**bigfnjoe96** · 02-13-2009, 09:17 AM

Re: Major League Baseball 2K9 Video: Cardinals @ Cubs Top 1st

Not much to say because I was late to the party.....

I will say that Pujols stand doesn't look that bad. I think him not going thru the full animation after he steps out of the box is what is making it look bad & un-natural...

BTW did anyone look @ his fore-arms... Talk about detail. You can see his veins if you put face real-close to the screen.. LOL

**stealyerface** · 02-13-2009, 09:37 AM

Re: Major League Baseball 2K9 Video: Cardinals @ Cubs Top 1st

Well, as much as I look forward to the first videos, the new critique season, and then buckle my seatbelt for the obligatory, "Pujols' shoelaces are crossed the wrong way for the fact he is right handed, and would NEVER start with a left-lace cross- 2K sucks again", the one thing that stood out immediately that Blazer and I have gone round and round about every year, is the seemingly better interpretation of the size of the field.

Maybe it is the camera angle, maybe it is the settings for this first video, but it seems to me that the outfield now looks like the expanse of lawn that they are in real life, and the models of the players are scaled appropriately this year. That double in the gap would have been caught last year, as the players were just too big and had way too much range. I can see another slider tweak on the way for the speed, but at least the core is there for a more properly scaled field/player ratio. Even the infield seems to have a little more space that looks far more accurate than previous iterations of the game. Anyone else seems to notice this right away?

syf

**Trevytrev11** · 02-13-2009, 09:48 AM

Re: Major League Baseball 2K9 Video: Cardinals @ Cubs Top 1st

Isn't Wrigley one of the few stadiums that plays the organ during games? Hopefully, it's just a Wrigley thing and not an every stadium thing this year. And if they are going to offer the organ, give us an option to shut it off.

**Trevytrev11** · 02-13-2009, 10:02 AM

Re: Major League Baseball 2K9 Video: Cardinals @ Cubs Top 1st

One other thing that was a little concerning to me was Ludwicks double.

It looks like the centerfielder was shading him to the left and was extremely deep, but that ball was hit well to the gap and would have one hopped the fence for what should have been a stand up double, but the CF is able to get behind the ball and pick it up before it even hits the wall and throws to second for a bang-bang play.

Even with the shift they had on (CF to the left) there is nobody that could get that jump and cut that ball off before it gets to the wall.

Hopefully the shift was just more dramatic than it looked (seems when the video flashes to the OF after the hit, the CF is standing only a few feet infront of the warning track, which is weird ever with a guy with power).

It's just that easy doubles have always been fewer and father between than they should be.

Major League Baseball 2K9 Video: Cardinals @ Cubs Top 1st

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