Can we talk about gameplay?

[PVarck31]

With non-stop franchise talk going on in almost every thread, I'd like to talk about 19's gameplay improvements.

From what I've seen the gameplay looks to be substantially improved in the fielding aspect. This is something I have been wanting for years now.

To me, this is worth a purchase alone. I understand the disappointment about the lack of Franchise improvements, and I'm sorry to say that I am no longer strictly a franchise guy so I am not overly disappointed but understand why so many are.

But moving away from that, some of the fielding improvements look great. Outfielders ratings seem to matter more than ever due to their ability to get good or bad jumps on balls. I love how the infielders now have a sense of urgency or a sense of not needing to rush. I've been waiting for this for a while.

So anyway, I'd like to discuss gameplay in the thread and not any modes at all. I am interested in how many people will be buying the game because of this. And interested in peoples feelings about these improvements.

[HarlemYankee]

Re: Can we talk about gameplay?

I am just as disappointed about franchise as the next guy, but one of the biggest things that bums me out is the lack of “moments”... The same canned cut scenes for all walk off homers/hits, the same cut scene of the pitcher jumping on his catcher whether it’s a no hitter/perfect game/last out of wild card game or any series... They’re so old that they don’t even have the same frame rate as the rest of the game. That, with the lack of trackable accomplishments/records/all time leaderboards/etc should be no brainers but just keep on getting neglected.


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[pingponggame]

Re: Can we talk about gameplay?

The cutscenes fall under presentation I would imagine.

Good thread to switch things up. I’m pretty excited to see what kind of difference defense will feel like and look like this year. There isn’t a ton of true CPU vs CPU gameplay to see how it all works, but from the bits shown I think there is a lot to be optimistic about. New branching animations are always a plus. I think the “lazy” fielder is finally starting to get polished. Only a few weeks away from being able to check it all out and post some quality feedback.

[bigwill33]

Re: Can we talk about gameplay?

Looking forward to the fielding improvements. Really hope that weight transfer when throwing is applied and the tags work better. Tired of getting sucked into animations. Hitting was good last year, but they hopefully made it make more sense with regards to the pci and hit results.

[TheWarmWind]

Re: Can we talk about gameplay?

I REALLY like what I saw on defense, and the logic behind the hitting changes make a lot of sense to me. Most of my vitriol comes from the secondary position logic and the pitching tiers. It's so static and punishing to long term franchise players.

To be clear, I am perfectly fine with added punishments in some cases for players playing secondary positions, and same for pitchers throwing their "worst" pitches over and over. My issue is that some players can play their secondary position just as well as there primary, and some pitchers can change what their best pitch is over a career. It's yet another good in theory but terrible in implementation idea that punishes franchise players the most.

They really need to add a tiered system to secondary positions, where positions listed in green are just as good as their primary, positions in yellow have a slight debuff, positions in red have a significant one, and not listed drops fielding attributes below 50% or more. Pitchers need a way to change what there best pitch/s are over a career.

Maybe the implementation is better then what I perceived in the streams, and I'm hopeful it is, but the combination of this perceived negative change, the lack of real improvements or fixes for franchise (the fixes especially), and Nick coming out and calling franchise a piece of a bigger picture are what drove me away this year. The on the field improvements look fantastic, and the only reason why that isn't enough on its own to get me to purchase is because 18 is still pretty darn good.

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[KingOfLanglade]

Can we talk about gameplay?

I’ve said it plenty of times in other threads, SDS replicates it’s sport better than any other AAA Title IMO. Even with Franchise being light, using 30 team control, playing games every night felt so organic/dynamic in 18’.

I am super intrigued to see how they furthered humanity AI and what defense looks like now that they have built that out more.

If I had two critiques they would be:

1) Diving and jumping looks very rough. Especially diving considering one animation occurs for all ball placement. Most of the time the best play of the night is a diving outfield grab, and in TS they just look so clunky.

2) Bullpen AI Logic is still very archaic. There are times the CPU will match wits with me but it feels more like happens chance than actually a strategic move. it feels as if bullpen moves are pre determined regardless of situation sans the closer. To see the same players in the same innings for an entire 4 game series is frustrating. FWIW I am not afraid to switch sides and set up the proper matchups, but it would be nice for the CPU to feel a little more dynamic.

Long story short, 18’ Gameplay is so, so good. I still play it every night, and will probably continue to play it until a good roster drops on 19’.

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[Willis135]

Re: Can we talk about gameplay?

I am very much looking forward to the fielding improvements as well as contact hitters being more usable this year.

The minors in my carry over Tigers franchise is loaded with low power, high contact hitters with high fielding ratings. Somehow that's what I usually end up with in the draft. I guess my scouts knew what they were doing all along [emoji3]

On the field improvements is always the most important thing in my decision to purchase.

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[StormsWarning]

Re: Can we talk about gameplay?

I've been watching the boards I just havent been saying much, I plan to get the game, but maybe around black Friday or Christmas sale. Since moneys tight this go around, I'll watch streams and play 18.

The game play looks improved for sure, as far as fielding and hitting, since I use armor & swords approach, auto fielding should be as smooth as it always has been. When your playing manual fielding you don't get to see all the animations you do on auto. So it should be pretty good.

The hit variations look pretty solid to from what I've watched of the dev streams. As a beta tester I can say after watching the dev streams the ratings will definitely matter, speed will be serious, and slower players may cost ya especially if that single could have been a double type of situation in the late innings. So bench and bullpen management will be key.

Yes of course we all want deeper modes but 19 does look to be the better quality as far as gameplay goes.

Anyways gl in ya games and most of all have fun.

[KnightTemplar]

Re: Can we talk about gameplay?

The game play looks improved for sure, as far as fielding and hitting, since I use armor & swords approach, auto fielding should be as smooth as it always has been. When your playing manual fielding you don't get to see all the animations you do on auto.

The hit variations look pretty solid to from what I've watched of the dev streams. As a beta tester I can say after watching the dev streams the ratings will definitely matter, speed will be serious, and slower players may cost ya especially if that single could have been a double type of situation in the late innings. So bench and bullpen management will be key.

.

I’m one of those people who use auto field (manual throw though) and the game has never let me down in this regard. I’m also one of those directional, but center swing guys. I really believe because of this, and not getting good wood (or good controller) on the ball the hit variety is amazing. 19 should only improve this. And with the added presentation it will shine again.

Being as it’s a video game there are somethings I simply don’t obsess about.

[MLB14]

Re: Can we talk about gameplay?

Did the company release a stream that just covers gameplay improvements?

[jeffy777]

Re: Can we talk about gameplay?

Did the company release a stream that just covers gameplay improvements?

Yes, two actually: one for defense and one for hitting:

https://www.twitch.tv/videos/380599528

https://www.twitch.tv/videos/380702747

The defense stream especially pretty much sold me on getting 19. The level of detail is outstanding. They basically went through almost every gameplay complaint from 18 and addressed it in both of those streams with gameplay examples demonstrating the improvements, which is pretty impressive to say the least.

[tessl]

Re: Can we talk about gameplay?

With non-stop franchise talk going on in almost every thread, I'd like to talk about 19's gameplay improvements.

From what I've seen the gameplay looks to be substantially improved in the fielding aspect. This is something I have been wanting for years now.

To me, this is worth a purchase alone. I understand the disappointment about the lack of Franchise improvements, and I'm sorry to say that I am no longer strictly a franchise guy so I am not overly disappointed but understand why so many are.

But moving away from that, some of the fielding improvements look great. Outfielders ratings seem to matter more than ever due to their ability to get good or bad jumps on balls. I love how the infielders now have a sense of urgency or a sense of not needing to rush. I've been waiting for this for a while.

So anyway, I'd like to discuss gameplay in the thread and not any modes at all. I am interested in how many people will be buying the game because of this. And interested in peoples feelings about these improvements.

Gameplay in 18 once they finally finished patching it was the best ever. Not perfect but better than anything previous.

Truth is we don't know what gameplay is until we get the game and the devs patch.

[jada855]

Re: Can we talk about gameplay?

While the defensive fielding Gameplay for MLB The Show 19 look improved. I feel like a lot was said very similar for MLB The Show 18. I actually want to watch 18's gameplay stream and compare what Chris Gill is saying for 19. Offhand some of it seemed repetitive in some of the key points that were being pointed out.

A Huge Missing Fundamental
But for me MLB The Show has yet to address a huge core component of gameplay in a Baseball game. And that is Base running. Even what is being shown in MLB The Show 19. From the CPU side there is just no awareness for it.

The most expressive thing I have seen in 5 years of playing this series on the Base running side. Was the runner slipping and trying to get back to the bag. But we all know this one animation will be the same for all runners on base. That's 5 year's guys think about that for a second. I don't think it was a question about could or how it would be done. I just think it was overlooked at this point!

As an example name one MLB The Show iteration where you have actually seeing a CPU get caught in a run down! Or be alert on the base paths in a aggressive situation outside of a pass ball to the backstop! It just does not exist and it should as Base running is a core component. It's never mentioned or highlighted in Twitch Streams.

We are just now getting some decent fielding logic but these things should have been done iterations ago!

As someone who mainly plays Player Lock Short Stop there is so much left to be desired when playing that position. Biggest visual improvement was the fielding cone. But outside of that the defensive experience outside of full team control is very anemic!

If anyone wants to test how bad it is. Player Lock a Short Stop wait to a shift hitter comes to the plate prompting the CPU to do a defensive shift.

If you do not complete the shift the defense adjust without you. If you do complete it. You have to repeat it for each pitch reset or (defensive ready position) Poor programming decision! This has not being changed or fixed since MLB The Show 14! It's broken because you can literally be sitting in front or on top of the 3rd Basemen at any time. Quick Tip To avoid the reset set Player Lock fielding tries to Some

By now I hoped for organic fielding especially while playing the cut off man position through Player Lock. The CPU lacks the ability to know where you are on the field. And that just does not cut it at this point in the series!


I expect the same repeat for MLB The Show 19 this is why even though improved I can't give gameplay a complete pass because too many basic Base Ball ideas for gameplay are still missing. If you have played the series for a while then you know exactly. If you are new to MLB The Show 19. Well that's a different story!

[jimmy13]

Re: Can we talk about gameplay?

I just wish we could see some more gameplay. And between teams other than Red Sox dodgers.

[countryboy]

Re: Can we talk about gameplay?

I just wish we could see some more gameplay. And between teams other than Red Sox dodgers.

The Dev tournament is this Thursday so there should be plenty of gameplay to view.