Major League Baseball 2K9 Demo Available, Post Your Impressions Here

[SoxFan01605]

Re: Major League Baseball 2K9 Demo Available, Post Your Impressions Here

I had the opportunity to test drive the demo and was kind of back and forth on some things mainly the hitting. I know the demo was on a lower difficulty but there seemed to be nothing really interactive with it. My main question is if there is any sort of hit quality penalty for leaving the batter in the coiled position too long? In the demo it did not seem to be the case. I would hope there is one on the higher levels because if there is not the user is basically circumventing the system to a one step process along the lines of a button press.

Also, there seems to be a loss of feeling or connection when hitting the ball as to the quality of the hit or even the depth. I think the bat sounds have a lot to do with this in selling the different bat on ball hit qualities. In the demo so far I feel it comes up short. I am not really talking about the sound aesthetically but doing the job of selling the type of hit. I should feel/hear a difference from a ball that gets sent to the wall as opposed to being dunked over the infield.

Excellent points. To answer your question: no, there is no penalty for sitting "coiled." It's actually a design feature that they boasted (user friendly, accessable, pick your bullet point terminology...lol).

I don't think that will change with difficulty either (unless there is a hidden option that Steve's pictures missed where the step influence from 2K8 is there). That was the beauty of the step influence...it made the laoding of the hips matter. Oh well...I know plenty don't care, but this is a big downer for me.

Also, agreed on the bat sounds/feel. The hits just don't feel right to me. A HR can feel the same as a pop-up often times. It's been that way for awhile, and bat sounds do play a big part in that. Add in the kind of "suctioned" feeling of hitting (that's how it feels to me...not sure how else to describe it) and it's an ehh experience.

Hopefully it's polished up a bit in the final, but to be honest this is not likely to be too much different.

[EnigmaNemesis]

Re: Major League Baseball 2K9 Demo Available, Post Your Impressions Here

I had the opportunity to test drive the demo and was kind of back and forth on some things mainly the hitting. I know the demo was on a lower difficulty but there seemed to be nothing really interactive with it. My main question is if there is any sort of hit quality penalty for leaving the batter in the coiled position too long? In the demo it did not seem to be the case. I would hope there is one on the higher levels because if there is not the user is basically circumventing the system to a one step process along the lines of a button press.

Also, there seems to be a loss of feeling or connection when hitting the ball as to the quality of the hit or even the depth. I think the bat sounds have a lot to do with this in selling the different bat on ball hit qualities. In the demo so far I feel it comes up short. I am not really talking about the sound aesthetically but doing the job of selling the type of hit. I should feel/hear a difference from a ball that gets sent to the wall as opposed to being dunked over the infield.

I think it is also hard to sell the hit, because of the camera angle it goes to after.

You cant really tell the difference between a low line drive, or a high one, or most hits for that matter. The fielding camera is just all wrong.

[JonahFalcon]

Re: Major League Baseball 2K9 Demo Available, Post Your Impressions Here

I think it is also hard to sell the hit, because of the camera angle it goes to after.

You cant really tell the difference between a low line drive, or a high one, or most hits for that matter. The fielding camera is just all wrong.

The hits are what you'd see in real-life... from a roof camera, and televised baseball games aren't taken from the roof camera - at least, not since the 60's and earlier - they're taken from the press box, which is far far lower and allows you to see an arc.

If you can adjust the camera, all you need to do is lower it til it's press box level.

[nemesis04]

Re: Major League Baseball 2K9 Demo Available, Post Your Impressions Here

Excellent points. To answer your question: no, there is no penalty for sitting "coiled." It's actually a design feature that they boasted (user friendly, accessable, pick your bullet point terminology...lol).

I don't think that will change with difficulty either (unless there is a hidden option that Steve's pictures missed where the step influence from 2K8 is there). That was the beauty of the step influence...it made the laoding of the hips matter. Oh well...I know plenty don't care, but this is a big downer for me.

Also, agreed on the bat sounds/feel. The hits just don't feel right to me. A HR can feel the same as a pop-up often times. It's been that way for awhile, and bat sounds do play a big part in that. Add in the kind of "suctioned" feeling of hitting (that's how it feels to me...not sure how else to describe it) and it's an ehh experience.

Hopefully it's polished up a bit in the final, but to be honest this is not likely to be too much different.

Thats very unfortunate! They took away one of the most crucial components of the swing when it comes to determining a hit. They gave the hitting a lobotomy! LOL To me that negates innovation.

As far as the bat sounds, that is something they continue to keep struggling with.

[nemesis04]

Re: Major League Baseball 2K9 Demo Available, Post Your Impressions Here

I think it is also hard to sell the hit, because of the camera angle it goes to after.

You cant really tell the difference between a low line drive, or a high one, or most hits for that matter. The fielding camera is just all wrong.

The camera is definitely odd with foul balls to the backstop. Not really understanding that camera vantage point.

[EnigmaNemesis]

Re: Major League Baseball 2K9 Demo Available, Post Your Impressions Here

The hits are what you'd see in real-life... from a roof camera, and televised baseball games aren't taken from the roof camera - at least, not since the 60's and earlier - they're taken from the press box, which is far far lower and allows you to see an arc.

If you can adjust the camera, all you need to do is lower it til it's press box level.

I understand this. We are talking about the demo, and in the demo, the way the camera is, it is hard to distinguish between hit types. They lack that flare ... especially HRs and Pop Flies.

[SoxFan01605]

Re: Major League Baseball 2K9 Demo Available, Post Your Impressions Here

I understand this. We are talking about the demo, and in the demo, the way the camera is, it is hard to distinguish between hit types. They lack that flare ... especially HRs and Pop Flies.

HRs aren't likely to change in the final either, in terms of flare. Haven't been a fan of the 2K HR view for a long time. They've been very "ho-hum" in this series. Hopefully that's something that gets attention in 2010.

[JonahFalcon]

Re: Major League Baseball 2K9 Demo Available, Post Your Impressions Here

For those who need the help:

It's a demo.
The demo is on a low difficulty level.
It's a demo.
The demo is unfinished.
It's a demo.
This game is obviously in year one of a rebuilding phase and it's not going to be the most perfect game out.
It's a demo.

Okay, let me tell you what's wrong with what you're saying:

1. It's a demo, so what? It's also the first impression. What am I supposed to base my expectations on? Hm? What they tell me it will be like? And bad AI is bad AI is bad AI, and I'd love to hear how the demo's bad fielding and baserunning will improve in the main game.

If your demo is bad, don't release the demo. (See: Hellgate: London)

2. Rebuilding phase? So... I'm supposed to pay $60 for a BETA of MLB 2K10? This is precisely what's wrong with games today, not just sports games. This is the reason Harmonix flat out said there would be no Rock Band 3 for many a moon. When I got Earl Weaver Baseball, I didn't have to worry about Earl Weaver Baseball 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, etc. ONE game. Oh, and it didn't need sliders.

(Of course, 2K8 was suipposed to fix everything in 2K7. So 2K8 was a beta people spent $60 on for... what?)

[allgames]

Re: ***Official MLB 2K9 Demo Impressions Thread.***

The graphics ... ho hum. Not nearly as good as the "official shots" 2K showed.

Arcade Arcade Arcade. The meters, the fat looking strike zone with the ball cursor, the SWING TOO LATE font pops up after the particle effect flash. Ugh!

I know this is a demo, but man, not the behemoth of an improvement I was expecting like most on here were eluding to. Yes the framerate is improved, but the gameplay feels identical. Was hoping for a larger upgrade in that department.

There is a flicker whenever the animation tries to switch to another animation. Last year the cutaways were all fake, they tried to make the whole thing "live" and it's horrible. It feels so robotic.
The icons and meters same feeling as you.
This feels like a step back. When a ball is hit in The Show the park feels huge. Not here
Also the sound of the pitch hitting the mit in The Show is miles ahead of the sound here. How hard can it be to get that sound in perfect.
Some times players will stand and look up like a zombie or how about a 5 second cutaway of cole slowly walking backward towards second for no apparent reason after a play.
The icon for the baserunner looks like its from an atari 2600
If the show would just put a swing stick and swing pitching in it would be great.
This does feel like a beta they want to sell as final. Which is what they did LAST year remember?

[Foo4Everlong]

Re: Major League Baseball 2K9 Demo Available, Post Your Impressions Here

I've played about seven to ten games or so now and this is what I've come up with.

*GOOD*

* The commentary is fantastic. I knew that Steve Phillips would be the Chris Collinsworth(Madden 09) of 2K9.

* The stadiums and atmosphere look so much better than last year. Closer to 2K7.

* The weather appears to have some movement this year. The clouds seem to keep moving along overhead.

* Always have loved the controls.

* Crowd is a big step in the right direction.

* I enjoy the pop up Inside Edge info.

* Real-Time Living World

*BAD*

* The player models look bad. The faces appear to have taken a hit since last year. The clothes look too stuck to the body. The last to years that could be fixed with the player edits. You could change the jersey and pants to look bigger, and while I have seen a screenshot to possibly fix the pants, I haven't seen anything regarding the jersey which frightens me. I have been a huge fan of 2K's editting system, which is part or mostly the reason why I've played 2K over The Show. You could edit each player to make them look as they do in real life, but what I have seen from screenshots, videos, and the demo, it appears that this year it might not be as vast. I also noticed that the equiptment looks funky, the colors especially, as well as the batting gloves, mitts, and batting helmets also look wierd. I noticed that The how has really added a lot to this area, so I might be playing The Show more this year than ever before. The problem is I really enjoy 2K's controls much better.

* Appears that the run into the catch mode has been removed.

* Slide takeouts or collision detection is or appears to be gone.

* Catchers appear not to stand up for pitches up in the zone. Instead they just hold their gloves up, sometimes in front of their eyes, which I don't get cuz how are they gonna catch the ball if they can't see it.

* No various umpires (which I mean that they call balls the way they see it instead of the way it should be called. It makes for interesting calls, and harder to find the strike zone.

* Some of the more famous baseball players like Carlos Pena, Shane Victorino u would think they would by now finally have a Signature Style but don't.

* Wind animation gone. I now this is sota mixed with respect to who likes it and who doesn't, but I did. I thought it gave a touch of realism.

* The ball cursor is too big

* The basball itself appears to be too big.

* Not a big deal, but I miss the coaches linup card to make subs and whatnot from.

*THE CONCLUSION*

I love the way the stadiums look as well as all presentation. I think the presentation has gotten a lot better this year. The one thing that is sorta a big deal to me, and something that I never thought I would have had to worry about, was the player models, faces, uniforms, hats, and pretty much anything to do with the players themselves look bad this year. And have seen to have taken a turn downwards ever since 2K8. That means the last two years the player models have gone down in quality. Unfortunately there seems to be more of the bad than good, but I really will have to wait to see the released game cuz who knows what version of this game the demo is.

I have been and continue to root for 2K big time, but it seems that every year intead of keeping the good and building ontop of that (ala The Show) it always seems like they are always trying to rebuild the game. I'm gonna really wait to make my final decision to what game I will really play this year, which was never a question(2K), but from just playing both demos I am leaning slightly towards The Show, but I will wait until next Tuesday. Later

[JonahFalcon]

Re: Major League Baseball 2K9 Demo Available, Post Your Impressions Here

This feels like a step back. When a ball is hit in The Show the park feels huge. Not here

Whoever designed the demo used an awful camera for fielding. Should be at press box level, because it's a roof cam.

If you've ever seen shots of a baseball game from a camera at that height, it looks EXACTLY what you see in the demo.

[nemesis04]

Re: Major League Baseball 2K9 Demo Available, Post Your Impressions Here

Conceptually I think the real time presentation is a great addition. As far as execution goes, right now I would say it is between fair and good. A project this size I would think takes a couple years to get it flowing correctly. I always wonder in these situations if it is better not to release these types of things until it is closer to being done or just throw out there what you have and keep fixing it. For right now I think the Show's presentation is sewn together tighter and offers a more seamless feel. I can see how in the future the real time presentation will be the benchmark in presentation.

Even though the game was running well at 60fps, the game is still lacking frames of animation to ensure believable movement and I think that really hurts the overall fluidness game.

[MukaMuka]

haha this thread is damn fun to read

You have the usual trolls who bash the game 400 times in one thread, and then you have the reverse trolls who defend every negative by saying "it's just a demo!" as if the final version will be a complete 180.

But seriously now 2KSports...you wasted your time working on the freakin CLOUDS instead of the batter/hitter A.I.??? Is this a joke?

[Captain Mallow]

Re: Major League Baseball 2K9 Demo Available, Post Your Impressions Here

I downloaded the demo and have played one game once and I'm interested. Looks good, seems fun, but I have a lot to learn and explore before I can form a final impression. Odds are pretty good that I'm buying the full game on Tuesday.

But one note: please people, stop with the "not bad for a first try" or "in a couple of years this should be good" or "it takes some years to get this right and they are headed in the good direction" type of posts.

This is, what, the third year on next gen systems? Fourth? This is a 2K product. The fact that they change developers shouldn't set them back because they still have Blue Castle's work to build on. If that was the case (getting set back), then maybe they shouldn't have changed developers. By now this game should be darn near close to perfect.

The fact that VC did the game (or whoever) does not change the fact that it's a 2K product. They are responsible for the end result. Sooner or later it's time to say "this year's game is the culmination of x amount of years of work". I'm hoping 'x' amount of years isn't the last season before the next XBox300060 comes out (you know, the next, next gen).

Like I said, I'm a buyer on this one but enough with the development-cycle excuses.

[SoMiss2000]

Re: Major League Baseball 2K9 Demo Available, Post Your Impressions Here

When NFL 2K first came out I hated it. Eventually, the game grew on me and I loved it. I've NEVER liked 2K Baseball. This demo has done nothing to change it. I had planned to get both games but since I own a PS3, there is really no point to buying this one. Of course, you will not see me post much in this forum. I may rent this one eventually.