MLB 2K12 News Post

MLB 2K12 Developer Diary #1 - Gameplay (Part 1)

05:06 PM - February 15, 2012 by rudyjuly2

2K Sports has posted MLB 2K12 Developer Diary #1, written by Mark Little, Senior Producer of the game. He walks through the additions and changes to the hitting and pitching systems.

Quote:


	For MLB 2K12 we completely rewrote the core of our hitting system. We listened to user feedback last year about the high frequency of soft line outs in MLB 2K11, and saw a great opportunity to improve the game. The mechanics of making swings remains the same, but what happens when you swing and make contact is entirely new. A lot of research went into every possible hit type that occurs during the MLB season as well as the frequencies in which each hit type occurs. We rebuilt the system from the ground up to recreate believable and accurate to real world results based on the timing of the swing and where the ball was pitched. The result is a much more accurate representation of hit results than ever before. Just like real life, your swing timing has a huge impact on where the ball is hit. You can now pull outside pitches by swinging early, but if you want to go to the opposite field, just let the ball get a little deeper into the zone before swinging. What type of hit you get is also based on your timing, but also factors in where the pitch was thrown. If your timing is good you will generally drive the ball hard, but if your timing is bad you will likely chop, ground, foul or fly the ball off the bat. Swinging at low pitches generally creates a few more grounders and lower line drives, while making contact on the pitches up in the zone offers a better chance to drive the ball hard. Where the ball is located doesn�t completely dictate the outcome but it influences the likelihood of the different types of hits. MLB 2K12 showcases many new types of hits including soft bloopers for singles, line drive home runs and line drives off the wall, high bouncing choppers, slow dribblers, and line drives and deep shots that fade and slice down the line based on the physics of the ball-spin. Overall, you will notice a much greater variety of hit results in MLB 2K12.

Read the entire MLB 2K12 Developer Diary, right here.

Game: Major League Baseball 2K12 Reader Score: 6.5/10 - Vote Now
Platform: PS3 / Xbox 360Votes for game: 12 - View All

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Member Comments

# 1 bcruise @ 02/15/12 05:22 PM

Nice read.

Interesting approach by 2K on the pitch selection/overuse front - that's something that's always been an "under the hood" kind of thing in baseball video games - how much you can throw the same pitch before hitters start to catch on. Now it's going to be out in the open, shown by a yellow or red background on the pitch, or a black area in the strike zone for location.

# 2 Hajmyis @ 02/15/12 05:22 PM

Loving the changes to the gameplay.

# 3 SoxFan01605 @ 02/15/12 05:30 PM

I like the fact that they are tracking abuse of pitches and location AND that it's based on Inside Edge data...should add some realism. Also happy to read hitting has been addressed in terms of types, variety, swing effort, etc. What I'm NOT happy to read (though, admittedly, not surprised to read it) is that the hitting options are, once again, untouched. Their hitting is far too simplistic and, IMO, boring.

Either way, it's nice to finally see a bit of concrete info on this game.

# 4 nemesis04 @ 02/15/12 05:40 PM

Nice read thanks for the link!

In regards to the pitching feedback, can that be turned off? I kind of like it tucked under the hood and figure it out for myself.

# 5 p00p1 @ 02/15/12 05:41 PM

I hope they also include a pitch history on a per batter basis. If Pujols is 3/3 off me, I'd like to know how I pitched him. I have no idea why 2K hasn't implemented this before, it's been in baseball games for 10+ years. The pitch track is a step in the right direction, but it's still not enough.

# 6 canes21 @ 02/15/12 05:59 PM

Now they just need to finally officially announce Online Franchise.

# 7 rudyjuly2 @ 02/15/12 06:45 PM

I echo a lot of the sentiments. I really like the fact you have to pitch to your pitcher tendencies and that abusing certain pitches and location will hurt you. As for turning off the display so you can't see it I'm guessing you can turn off the black zones if you turn the strike zone off. Last year you could turn off the strike zone and hitter's eye would automatically be off. Just a guess and I'm not sure about the abuse pitch meter as that is linked directly to the pitch selection. Normally 2K doesn't include a lot of options like that. You couldn't turn of the text that showed up and said "OUT" or "SAFE" last year.

I still don't know if I believe them about pulling outside pitches. I'm going to have to see that to believe it. I really want the opposite field power to be toned down.

# 8 tvman @ 02/15/12 06:49 PM

Nice info and all but nothing about when Kate Upton will give a hitting lesson.

# 9 bonannogiovanni @ 02/15/12 06:54 PM

Cannot say that I'm surprised swinging mechanics is still the same, it's almost a game breaker for me, however I'm curious to know if the hitting distribution is so much improved as described in the diary, it seems too good to be true. I wanna see more foul balls as a consequence of my bad timing, not because I tilted the stick right or left (they said they listened to user feedback, so everybody likes defensive swings but me).

# 10 lnin0 @ 02/15/12 08:06 PM

Swinging is the same? They said the timing along with pitch location and player attributes will effect where the ball goes. Sounds much improved to me but I guess if you want to aim a little gun site around the screen then yeah - probably not what you wanted to hear.

# 11 rudyjuly2 @ 02/15/12 08:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lnin0


	Swinging is the same? They said the timing along with pitch location and player attributes will effect where the ball goes. Sounds much improved to me but I guess if you want to aim a little gun site around the screen then yeah - probably not what you wanted to hear.

Two different things. One is hit variety. The other is the hitting system. 2K uses timing only while some people want zone hitting.

# 12 queensbomber @ 02/15/12 09:17 PM

I wonder if the hitting system applies to button as well, I cant and dont see myself using the stick to hit, ever.
So pulling the left stick left or right doesnt influence the hit at all?
Like pulling and inside pitch or smacking an outside pitch to the opposite field?
Just curious.

# 13 Ollienyy @ 02/15/12 09:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by peigone


	For me as well, am now busy checking prices for PS3's at Futureshop.ca...

If you get a PS3 does that mean we won't see your posts saying the same thing over and over in this forum?

# 14 tvman @ 02/15/12 09:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by peigone


	For me as well, am now busy checking prices for PS3's at Futureshop.ca...

One investment you won't regret.

# 15 econoodle @ 02/15/12 10:37 PM

fun read.
2k does the best blogs in the biz, hands down.
things like 85,000 words, and its part 1. lol

# 16 Blitzburgh @ 02/15/12 10:54 PM

Great read IMO... I really love the pitching in this game and it definitely sounds improved! I am really interested to see how the new hit variety looks as well. For me I love when I am early on a fast ball and pull it down the left field line therefore timing only is great for me. It gets too complicated and frustrating to use both sticks to hit IMO. I cant wait to play this game.

# 17 SkillzKillz719 @ 02/16/12 01:26 AM

I think the focus on mostly gameplay is really refreshing! I'm actually starting to believe there is a battle going on between pitcher and batter!

# 18 elimack @ 02/16/12 06:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by p00p1


	I hope they also include a pitch history on a per batter basis. If Pujols is 3/3 off me, I'd like to know how I pitched him. I have no idea why 2K hasn't implemented this before, it's been in baseball games for 10+ years. The pitch track is a step in the right direction, but it's still not enough.

If I'm not mistaken it's been said in one of the hands on previews that history of each at bat will be available throughout the course of the game. Don't quote me on it though.

# 19 bigfnjoe96 @ 02/16/12 08:12 AM

I really want to see these ball physics in motion. As for Pitcher/Batter info I'm liking what I'm hearing. I'm also this means the Catcher Suggestions have been updated also. I love the concept, but sometimes what the catcher would suggest as a pitch was baffling

Sent from Awesome Phone

# 20 BigBlue @ 02/16/12 08:20 AM

Finally! Ejections for hitting batters. Nice read. I like what I read. I'm hoping that alot of these things can be toggled off for head to head games on the same box.

BigBlue

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MLB 2K12 Developer Diary #1 - Gameplay (Part 1)