Major League Baseball 2K10 First Look (Gamespot)

[ckarlic]

Re: Major League Baseball 2K10 First Look (Gamespot)

I don't like how they refined the swing stick mechanic, so I think if I ever get my hands on the retail copy I am either only going to use cursor hitting (if that's still an option) or create sliders designated for the "power" swing. I think what they did with that sounds messy.

I really like the pitcher-batter statistical analysis they went through, though. In the amount of time I have played baseball, I know for a fact that "ownage" exists in the real world, and I like how they've incorporated it in the game.

More to read, but so far I'm not too much of a fan of any sort of batter's eye (never was), but it sounds like it's implemented as best as possible behind the scenes. Now let's see if it's visually appealing as well.

Unfortunately, a lot of the information sounds like things that were put back in from 2K6, 2K7, and 2K8. It's not a bad thing, but to know they first scrapped it all just to put it back in seems like a waste of energy. This is why we want to stick with one development team always.


Oh, and uh...

Yeah. Im with you on the swing stick blzer. Even though I can't stand the swing stick, id much rather have you just pull back on the stick and then forward for all types of hits and not separate contact from power. Other than that, i like what 2K is trying to do and will keep an open mind towards the game this year.

[Blitzburgh]

Yeah, I hate to be to negative at this point but I really am not happy with the follwing:
1. Text that tells me the pitch type- even on occasions I don't like that.
2. The swing mechanic- there is not enough time to be defensive with your swing. There should be 1 swing type back for step and up to swing. TIme it right and based on ratings it's good or bad.
3. nothing at all mentioned about improved graphics, player models, stadiums etc...
4. pitching rings again! I hated that things. oh well I guess...

[duke776]

Re: Major League Baseball 2K10 First Look (Gamespot)

Really love the additions to franchise mode(40 man rosters, comp picks, rehab assignments). I'm a big franchise guy, so these things are huge for me. I'm looking forward to playing my player mode, and am glad I can't just take someone like Pujols' job. Also on the note of my player mode, they mentioned how you can pick the batting stance so hopefully we will be able to do for every single player in the game, which was a big reason I didn't get it last year.

Can't wait to see some gameplay sometime (hopefully)soon. I'm definitely looking forward to this more because of what I've read, and hopefully they'll deliver with some solid gameplay.

[Trevytrev11]

Re: Major League Baseball 2K10 First Look (Gamespot)

I'm not a fan of flashy junk on the screen. I don't need flashing words to tell me what pitch is coming. If it looks like ****, don't swing, simple as that. I hope there's an option to turn this stuff off.

The devs need to quit catering to the players with no skill. These same lamers quit online games if you throw them balls.

I don't know man, hitters pick up pitches by reading the rotation of the seams or spin of the ball...you don't get that in a baseball video game. Everything is a fastball at first until it changes direction and you react.

Now I'm not saying I can't ever distinguish one pitch from another, but it's later than a hitter actually would and if you're playing at faster pitch speeds becomes more of a guess than a recognition. They're just trying to add a real life element to it.

Now adding texts, IMO, is not the direction I'd prefer. I liked the color coding of the MVP series and suprised they didn't stick with that.

[Craigsca]

Re: Major League Baseball 2K10 First Look (Gamespot)

The key for me was the beginning of the preview, when Bishop discusses their culling of statistics like day vs. night, pre-All Star vs. post-All Star performance. My next question is, "What kind of sample sizes are we talking about here?" I mean, these statistics, unless they're shown to be replicated from year to year for that individual is nothing more than trying to find some kind of pattern in random data. To me, this is so typical of 2k Sports - hanging their hat on some kind of dubious statistical information and quoting it as fact. That's not the way it is - and it's not part of simulation of baseball.

Even the Pettitte vs. Longoria thing. He's 2 for 16 lifetime against him. 16 at bats?! So what! So, the game is going to ding Longoria because of 16 at bats? I understand trying to add a little statistical atmosphere to the game, but in this context it makes no sense and it just the typical asinine drivel you hear from the same recycled announcers who don't quite understand the game. 16 at bats does not a pattern or trend make.

[bigfnjoe96]

Re: Major League Baseball 2K10 First Look (Gamespot)

I really wish the writer would have said how 2k10 & what he saw differed from 2k9. He mentions VC admitting 2k9 wasn't good & suffered from a short Dev Cycle. He then says VC claims the game has benifited from a normal Dev Cycle, but that's it.

Very disappointing. I really appreciate the additions in Franchise Mode (40 Man Rosters, Sept call-ups etc, etc, etc) but I really wanted to hear how the game plays compared to last year.

Hopefully either OS or Jon Robinson (ESPN Video Games) can talk about the difference & the feel of the game & how they compare (2k9/10)

[HK-47]

Re: Major League Baseball 2K10 First Look (Gamespot)

I don't know man, hitters pick up pitches by reading the rotation of the seams or spin of the ball...you don't get that in a baseball video game. Everything is a fastball at first until it changes direction and you react.

Now I'm not saying I can't ever distinguish one pitch from another, but it's later than a hitter actually would and if you're playing at faster pitch speeds becomes more of a guess than a recognition. They're just trying to add a real life element to it.

Now adding texts, IMO, is not the direction I'd prefer. I liked the color coding of the MVP series and suprised they didn't stick with that.

I never had any problems, even with the pitch speed maxed out.

If I can have success without flashy junk, anyone can. You just have to focus, and stop swinging at everything.

[bonannogiovanni]

Re: Major League Baseball 2K10 First Look (Gamespot)

I hope Batter's eye can be turned off, I wonder how obtrusive this text on screen may result.

Has anyone got an idea on how we're gonna check our swing with this overhauled swinging mechanics?

[Eddie1967]

Re: Major League Baseball 2K10 First Look (Gamespot)

Fielding is a bit more straightforward than other aspects of MLB 2K10. However, it's worth pointing out that special attention has been paid to animation. "We have a ton of new fielding animations this year. We spent a lot of time adding in lots more gathers, grabs, and catches. But one of the cool things you can do is cue up throws this year," says Bishop. "Start holding the button for the base you want to go to and he'll start making the throw and you'll get to see a whole new cool set of animations." Fielding also lets you throw off to a cutoff man when the situation calls for it, and you can use either the face buttons or the analog stick to make a throw at any given time. On the baserunning side of things, you can also cue up how you run by pressing either of the triggers on the controller, so if you want to automatically run to second, you simply click the trigger twice. Conversely, if you want to run back a base, you simply press the trigger once. There are also options to give commands to all baserunners at once or to give them to individual runners.

I love this!!

[Scottdau]

Re: Major League Baseball 2K10 First Look (Gamespot)

I hope Batter's eye can be turned off, I wonder how obtrusive this text on screen may result.

Has anyone got an idea on how we're gonna check our swing with this overhauled swinging mechanics?

It sounds like it is only for the stud hitters though. If that is the case I love that, now you will see real good numbers by your studs. That goes a long way with me. I love knowing if I am great hitter I am going to maybe see two good pitches to hit. That is pretty much real life too. So now I get that edge, which the good hitters have in real life, but in a video game if they are expecting me to make that happen it wont happen, so I like this hitter's eye.

[Trevytrev11]

Re: Major League Baseball 2K10 First Look (Gamespot)

I never had any problems, even with the pitch speed maxed out.

If I can have success without flashy junk, anyone can. You just have to focus, and stop swinging at everything.

I guess it also differs if you use cursor/zone hitting or the stick.

[Cardot]

Re: Major League Baseball 2K10 First Look (Gamespot)

Here is what I don't like about a "power swing." the majority of the time a hitter is trying to hit the ball as hard as he can..so if this is how this swing was intentioned, I'm fine with that, but just call it a "regular swing". But if it is swing you use when only trying to jack one that is going to result in a high % of HR's, I'm against it. You almost always hear hitters say that a HR was just the result of them making solid contact.

I agree. I am not a big fan of the power swing....at least not in the way it has been implemented in past games. If it has to be in there, it should be a risk reward thing resulting in more strikeouts...instead it becomes a HR fest.

I like the idea of defensive swings.....but in past games, that has generally been used when the batter wants to hit a dribbler to an infielder....at least in my experience.

[Scottdau]

Re: Major League Baseball 2K10 First Look (Gamespot)

Not always Trev. Some hitters work the count so they can get a pitch that they can take a power swing on. Once you work that count in your favor and you are a power hitter and can win the game with one swing of the bat that is when you go it!

[Scottdau]

Re: Major League Baseball 2K10 First Look (Gamespot)

I agree. I am not a big fan of the power swing....at least not in the way it has been implemented in past games. If it has to be in there, it should be a risk reward thing resulting in more strikeouts...instead it becomes a HR fest.

I like the idea of defensive swings.....but in past games, that has generally been used when the batter wants to hit a dribbler to an infielder....at least in my experience.

Did they say anything about it being a HR fest though?

[Trevytrev11]

Re: Major League Baseball 2K10 First Look (Gamespot)

Not always Trev. Some hitters work the count so they can get a pitch that they can take a power swing on. Once you work that count in your favor and you are a power hitter and can win the game with one swing of the bat that is when you go it!

But it's so rare. Most guys take the same rip 0-0 that they do 2-0 or 3-1. You really only see hitters shorten up and protect when their at risk for a strike out. No reason to take a different swing 0-1 vs. 2-0.

Most power guys take the same swing regardless of the count. They get paid to hit the ball out of the park.