Author Bio
Caley RoarkHome Town: Lancaster, PA
Sports: Football, Baseball
Games: NFL 2K5, MVP 05, NBA 2k series, Civilization
Teams: Phillies, Eagles, Sixers
OS Username: CPRoark
Tags: Live: Mr Rockit
Tuesday, April 24, 2012
11:59 PM - April 24, 2012. Posted by RaychelSnr. Written by Caley Roark
Know when there's a weak arm and when there is a strong arm behind the plate.
When Stealing, Know The Catcher
If you've decided that your runner is capable of stealing, double-check the opposing catcher's arm/throw ratings. While no catcher has a 100% success rate of throwing runners out, you probably shouldn't tempt the best.
Look for a weak catcher and get ready to run!
Which catcher is the hardest to steal on in the league?
Monday, April 23, 2012
04:49 PM - April 23, 2012. Posted by RaychelSnr. Written by Caley Roark
Ricky says, there isn't anyone like me so stop trying to send David Ortiz to steal third.
Before you should even think about stealing, you need to make sure that its possible.
Take a second look at your baserunner's speed/base-running ratings. Eliminate thoughts of swiping a bag if he doesn't have the tools. You can also usually forget stealing with most power-hitting first basemen, catchers, and (in the NL) pitchers.
Simply put, David Ortiz is not Ricky Henderson. Quit trying to steal bases with him.
Who are the top base stealers in the game in your opinion?
Friday, April 13, 2012
The best baseball game available gets better, thanks to some smart improvements.
I’ll skip the typical introductions and get right to the point: If you’ve played Out of the Park in prior years, you should buy OOTP 13. If you like text sims, you should by OOTP 13. If you’ve never heard of OOTP, but love baseball (and own a PC), you should really consider buying OOTP 13.
It’s really that simple. OOTP 13 represents the current pinnacle of text and baseball sims, and is a game nearly all baseball fans will enjoy.
Read More - OOTP 13 Review
Wednesday, March 28, 2012
12:50 PM - March 28, 2012. Posted by RaychelSnr. Written by Bishop Tart
Total immersion is all gamers want these days. They want accurate stats, seedings and signings. Well, what better way to experience this total immersion in an MLB game than completing a 162-game season? It's one feat that many, even our staff writers, struggle with.
So staff writers, have you ever finished a 162-game season?
Read More - OS Roundtable: Have you Ever Completed a 162 Game Season?
So staff writers, have you ever finished a 162-game season?
Read More - OS Roundtable: Have you Ever Completed a 162 Game Season?
Thursday, March 15, 2012
05:43 PM - March 15, 2012. Posted by RaychelSnr. Written by Caley Roark
The best sports games, at least on the simulation side of things, are those that best reproduce the sport they represent. We can hopefully project that one day a perfect sports game will be produced; one that completely mirrors its real-life counterpart in every way.
Here’s the problem: because the game it so closely imitates doesn’t change from year to year, this perfect reproduction -- the same down to the smallest detail -- doesn’t change either. And because we expect big innovations in our virtual sports, but not the real ones, it’s called “stale,” “repetitive,” and “boring” by both users and critics.
To be clear, MLB 12: The Show is not that perfect game, and has a long way to go until it is. However, I believe MLB 12: The Show to be the closest and truest representation of a sport on consoles today. You, like me, may find parts to be lacking, and I think that “stale” does accurately describe certain aspects of the game. But taken for what it is -- another step in the quest for the “perfect game” -- MLB 12: The Show is one of the best.
Read More - MLB '12: The Show Review (PS3)
Wednesday, March 14, 2012
01:09 PM - March 14, 2012. Posted by RaychelSnr. Written by Caley Roark
Here are some quick impressions of the three main modes in MLB 12:The Show: the new Diamond Dynasty, the always deep Franchise and the dynamic Road to the Show.
Read More - MLB '12: The Show Modes Impressions
Friday, March 9, 2012
12:43 AM - March 9, 2012. Posted by RaychelSnr. Written by Caley Roark
So far, I’ve spent a handful of hours with the newest edition of MLB: The Show. And, so far, my impressions will report that I’m, in fact, “impressed.” Most of the changes this year are sort of “under the hood,” but I think for the serious baseball fan, there’s a lot to like.
On the other hand, if you are a casual fan, you may miss what really makes this game stand out. Similar to NHL 12, there are a lot of aspects that look and feel the same as last year.
The Show’s approach has been gradual and effective refinement, as opposed to blowing things up for the sake of a bullet point on the back of the box. One could argue that these changes have come too slowly; others would say they are just hard to see.
Here are three aspects of MLB 12: The Show that have grabbed my attention thus far....
Read More - Three Attention Grabbers in MLB 12: The Show
On the other hand, if you are a casual fan, you may miss what really makes this game stand out. Similar to NHL 12, there are a lot of aspects that look and feel the same as last year.
The Show’s approach has been gradual and effective refinement, as opposed to blowing things up for the sake of a bullet point on the back of the box. One could argue that these changes have come too slowly; others would say they are just hard to see.
Here are three aspects of MLB 12: The Show that have grabbed my attention thus far....
Read More - Three Attention Grabbers in MLB 12: The Show
Wednesday, February 22, 2012
11:50 PM - February 22, 2012. Posted by RaychelSnr. Written by Caley Roark
There is some new information circulating regarding the follow-up to one of 2011’s highest rated games, Out of the Park 12.
While I think OOTP12 was an outstanding game (and gave it a 9.5), I don’t think it was perfect. That's especially true if you were new to the series. OOTP is sometimes betrayed a bit by its roots, often looking more like a spreadsheet program than a baseball game.
However, when we break down the new features, OOTP 13 seems to be on track to become a more user-friendly, interesting and ultimately better game.
Also, we posted six new screenshots you can check out here.
Read More - Out of the Park Baseball 13 New Features Preview
Thursday, February 2, 2012
01:31 PM - February 2, 2012. Posted by RaychelSnr. Written by Caley Roark
It’s a hard time to be a baseball fan: the “hot stove” is cooling down, pitchers and catchers still have a few weeks, and MLB: The Show 12 doesn’t release for another month. While we wait, let’s take a quick look at those teams you will most likely want to control when your fire up your PS3 on Mar. 6.
The following list isn’t necessarily composed of the best, most popular or most promising teams. These five teams are simply the ones that feature the biggest and most exciting signings, trades and roster moves from this off-season.
Read More - Five Teams to Be Excited About in MLB 12: The Show
Tuesday, January 24, 2012
07:07 PM - January 24, 2012. Posted by RaychelSnr. Written by Caley Roark
Back in November, I wrote an article detailing the changes I believe need to be made to Kinect sports game in order to make them critically successful. These were my ideas to combat what has simply become an endless churn of mini-game collections, most of which are done rather poorly. There hasn’t been much evolution since Wii Sports, a game now older than the youngest Kinect users.
Winter Stars, initially, looked like a game that was in sync with my thinking. While essentially still a collection of smaller events, the game took steps to break tradition.
Here’s a quick look at how this game addresses (not directly, of course) my complaints with the Kinect sports genre.
Read More - Does Winter Stars Fix What Ails Kinect Sports Gamers?
Wednesday, December 14, 2011
12:53 PM - December 14, 2011. Posted by RaychelSnr. Written by Caley Roark
Jimmie Johnson’s Anything with an Engine feels like a throwback. It’s a budget cart racer with "crazy" characters, and a game that would feel right at home on the original XBOX, circa 2002. That’s not to say that it's a game devoid of value or fun. In fact, the game features some innovative mechanics; unfortunately, it’s all wrapped in a pretty bland theme.
Read More - Jimmie Johnson's Anything With an Engine Review (360/PS3)
Wednesday, November 30, 2011
12:19 AM - November 30, 2011. Posted by DustinT. Written by Caley Roark
Though the connection between motion controls and sports seems like a natural fit, we’ve seen few great examples of these types of games.
Most would argue that the Wii peaked with Wii Sports, just as the PS Move hasn’t really topped Sports Champion. I have yet to play a Kinect sports game -- outside of the fitness genre -- that really captures all that is interesting about our favorite genre.
If Kinect sports games are to survive, let alone thrive, developers need to do a better job. Otherwise, this exciting technology will go down as a footnote in gaming history, a fad like the Powerpad or lightguns.
Here are five key items developers should focus on if they want to make the next (or first?) great Kinect sports game.
Read More - Improving Kinect Sports Gaming
Tuesday, November 15, 2011
12:47 PM - November 15, 2011. Posted by RaychelSnr. Written by Caley Roark
If you feel you’ve outgrown the kiddie and casual feel of games like Kinect Sports, MotionSports Adrenaline may seem like the logical next step. It replaces the mild events with “extreme” alternatives, favors realistic graphics and adds a lot of unlockable content. Yet beneath the hard(er) surface, MotionSports Adrenalin is just as mundane and pedestrian as many other motion-based mini-game collection.
Read More - Motion Sports Adrenaline Review (Kinect/360)
Friday, November 11, 2011
01:15 PM - November 11, 2011. Posted by RaychelSnr. Written by Caley Roark
Kinect Sports Season 2 works as an expensive and limited mini-game collection; not so much as a sports game.
If there is one sport in Kinect Sports Season 2 that embodies all that is right -- and wrong -- with the game, it’s football. More than the other events, I was most excited for football since it hasn’t been well represented in the growing “motion-sports” sub-genre.
Generally, the football event was immersive, fun and functionally sound. However, it also was extremely limited in scope and too slow paced. These things can be transferred in some degree to other other five sports (darts, baseball, tennis, skiing and golf) found in Kinect Sports Season 2.
Read More - Kinect Sports: Season 2 Review (360)
Thursday, October 27, 2011
05:26 PM - October 27, 2011. Posted by RaychelSnr. Written by Caley Roark
I wouldn’t blame anyone for passing on Real Steel, based simply on its description. It’s a game based on a movie. It’s a cheap(er) XBLA title that’s gotten little fanfare. It’s also made by Yukes, a company known primarily for wrestling, and occasional, children's games.
Yet despite these ingredients, Real Steel is a fun arcade boxer with an unusual theme and lots of customization options.
Read More - Reel Steel XBLA Review (360)
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