Major League Baseball 2K10 First Look (Gamespot)

[Scottdau]

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

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.

I disagree, but that is cool.

[Trevytrev11]

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

I disagree, but that is cool.

No worries, but answer me this:

Do you ever see Ryan Howard, Adam Dunn, David Ortiz, etc. just sit back and slap singles? There's a reason these guys strike out well over 100-150times a season...they don't get cheated on their swings.

[Cardot]

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

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

They never say it in the preview. You don't find out until the 4th inning of your first game when you have 7 dingers.

[Scottdau]

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

No worries, but answer me this:

Do you ever see Ryan Howard, Adam Dunn, David Ortiz, etc. just sit back and slap singles? There's a reason these guys strike out well over 100-150times a season...they don't get cheated on their swings.

I look at it this way. They look for a pitch to drive. They even try to work count to get that pitch. That is why you have a power swing. That makes those power hitters stand out more. I agree they need to do it with a reward and risk feature, but I like the power swing.

[Scottdau]

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

They never say it in the preview. You don't find out until the 4th inning of your first game when you have 7 dingers.

OK, so we are just basing this off the past games. Got you!

[stucker28]

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

anybody got xbox live if your up for some mlb 2k9 or madden 10 or ncaa 10 give it a shot ranked 7 in world iin month of july in mlb then went to afghanistan ill be back in 2 weeks but im a tough play give me your gamertag and ill hit you up when i get back

[Bahnzo]

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

Anyone see this:

At any point during the season, you can invite another human player to participate in a Franchise game.

Wonder if that's online, or just a 2nd player at the same console?

I personally like the Batter's Eye, and I think the way they implemented it is good also. With MVP05 you got it with every batter, it was mostly dependent on the pitcher and his motion. Having it done only with the better hitters, and then only a couple times at bat is a great idea. With video games you sometimes have to make allowances like this to help with things that just aren't possible (yet). Hopefully it can be turned off for those of you who consider it a testicle-shrinker.

[Artman22]

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

No worries, but answer me this:

Do you ever see Ryan Howard, Adam Dunn, David Ortiz, etc. just sit back and slap singles? There's a reason these guys strike out well over 100-150times a season...they don't get cheated on their swings.

What about A-rod, Manny, Pujols, etc?? I don't buy your theory sorry..

[kgisbeast]

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

I'm actually cautiously optimistic for this game. I dont expect miracles or real life graphics like the show, but i'm coming from the perspective that the show has never justified a purchase of the ps3 for me. Being an avid sports gamer you'd think it would but it just doesn't. 2k9 was a terrible game but it did some things right. The presentation was good. The flow of the game was good. The gameplay was fun at its core. If they tighten up their gameplay and make the pitcher and battle duels more realistic..... Last years game had some serious problems and just was lacking as far as the pitcher and batter duel. It was just a glitch fest, from pitching and fielding and the cpu swung at anything. It was also way too easy to hit homeruns. I know 2k is overlooking this game and I dont expect miracles as far as realistic player models and animations or them to spend money to incorporatd superior graphics to the show, but if it plays a good game of baseball I will be happy.

Last years game was fun in its own weird way. It just had some serious drawbacks that completely ruined it. I like the fact that the first thing they talk about is the pitcher and batter duels and having realistic tendencies. That makes me cautiously optimistic.

[JayhawkerStL]

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.

This is so true. I cut my teeth on the old Strat-O-Matic baseball, and played a ton of DMB's text based game. Anyone that has spent much time studying baseball statistics know that the stats these devs claim they are using will only throw the game off.

Ballpark and lefty/righty splits will be fairly predictable for players. But the vast majority have far too few at-bats to make reliable predictions. I wish the guys actually would go to tom Tippet's web site and read some of his articles. His entire premise for DMB was to get realistic results.

And DMB was not just a replay game. They would produce a roster file before each season that would do a better job predicting the standings than most baseball writers could muster. I understand that statistical accuracy is easier in a text-based game. but Tippet threw out individual match-ups and night day ratings, I'm not sure they are going make 2K10 a better game.

That said, I'm a bit hopeful for the direction they seem to be taking.

[JayhawkerStL]

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

I look at it this way. They look for a pitch to drive. They even try to work count to get that pitch. That is why you have a power swing. That makes those power hitters stand out more. I agree they need to do it with a reward and risk feature, but I like the power swing.

Actually, it's not the swing. It's the ability to predict what you are going to get with far more accuracy. They don't swing differently with a 3-1 count. They turn their focus to the one pitch they think they will see, and can safely take any pitch, even a strike, that is not what they were expecting.

It's so much easier to drive the ball when you can focus on one pitch, in one spot. Once you get 2 strikes, most guys do not alter their swings, but don't have the luxury of focusing on just one pitch.

This is actually why I liked the 2K8 technique of a variable sized zone that a batter could predict a pitch would thrown into. Better hitters had larger zones that would reult in a bonus. Weaker hitters had a very small zone. The zone was also variable depending on the count, as it would be smaller with two strikes.

That seemed like a better way to reward the better hitters, and did a pretty good job illustrating how guys hit.

[SoxFan01605]

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.

Yeah, this is exactly what I thought when I read this. They always seem to overcompensate. We take issue with the pitcher/batter matchup and they go nuts with every statistical split they can think of. As you said, the fact that they specifically referenced Longoria and his limited matchup numbers to go by, is an example of how this could backfire.

I don't mind all that being considered in more abstract ways (managerial decisions, strategy, approach, or even a hit/boost to something more arbitrary, like confidence), but a direct ratings hit/boost for some of these things is a bad idea IMO. Still, it's good news that they seemed to spend so much time looking at the pitcher/batter matchup...and it gives me hope that the whole experience might at least feel less disjointed. We'll see.

As for the rest, it sounds fine. I do like the additions to franchise mode and if they've also cleaned up the bugs there and expanded the roster/player editing ability, it should make for a very good franchise mode. I also like that they specifically addressed fielding animations...hopefully base animations (particularly running) are fixed as well.

Obviously, it's tough to get excited as a lot of the issues many of us had are more core things that won't necessarily stand out in these quick "first looks." Personally, I won't know what to think until I see it in action and, of course, try it for myself. Not a bad early breakdown though...and it's good to see some legitimate info finally start to seep out.

[rudyjuly2]

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

I think the concept of Batter's Eye could be really good. I like the fact that it doesn't show up all the time and that pitcher and batter ratings factor in. I'm obviously a Show guy but I was surprised by how much I liked the 2K9 demo (real time presentation, commentary, analog fielding) and look forward to trying out the 2K10 demo. Hopefully the pitcher-batter duel is more realistic this year.

[bigfnjoe96]

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

Wonder if that's online, or just a 2nd player at the same console?

I'm pretty sure that means inviting people from your Friends List or anyone to take a team & play during your franchise

[bonannogiovanni]

Correct, you can invite whoever you want to take a team in your offline franchise.