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
Thursday, July 5, 2012
02:23 PM - July 5, 2012. Posted by RaychelSnr. Written by Caley Roark
Before delving into Pro Yakyuu Spirits 2012, I’m going to refer you to my impressions of the 2011 version of this annual Japanese baseball franchise.This article details the basics of gameplay, most of which hasn’t changed drastically since last year. Pro Yakyuu Spirits 2012 still represents a stellar baseball game, with tremendous graphics, atmosphere and ball physics.
However, most of the changes offered will probably be of little consequence to casual followers of the series (a group I firmly lump myself into). The graphics look a little better, especially cut-scenes and crowd shots. The ball physics are surprisingly more fluid.
I also find the default settings to present a bit more of a challenge, though I’m still able hack and make contact with ease (that’s not to say I get hits easily). And, apparently, there is a new announcer.
Outside of these changes, most will find a similar experience as last year. Rather than rehashing what makes this game so good -- again -- check the aforementioned article, or this review at Spirits Translations. I’ll break down whether this game might be for you .
Read More - Pro Yakyuu Spirits 2012: Is the Japanese Baseball Sim Right for You?
However, most of the changes offered will probably be of little consequence to casual followers of the series (a group I firmly lump myself into). The graphics look a little better, especially cut-scenes and crowd shots. The ball physics are surprisingly more fluid.
I also find the default settings to present a bit more of a challenge, though I’m still able hack and make contact with ease (that’s not to say I get hits easily). And, apparently, there is a new announcer.
Outside of these changes, most will find a similar experience as last year. Rather than rehashing what makes this game so good -- again -- check the aforementioned article, or this review at Spirits Translations. I’ll break down whether this game might be for you .
Read More - Pro Yakyuu Spirits 2012: Is the Japanese Baseball Sim Right for You?
Monday, June 11, 2012
11:44 AM - June 11, 2012. Posted by RaychelSnr. Written by Caley Roark
#3 Failed Console Match-up
I'll get a bit nostalgic here and throw down two fictional players who made their debuts on obsolete consoles: Victor Player vs. King. "Victor Player" was the main playable character in International Tennis Open, which was available on the Phillips CD-i system. I knew one kid in middle school who had this system, and he only had two "games": International Tennis Open and an encyclopedia. "King" lives on as the unlockable boss in the Virtua Tennis series, which was one of my favorite games on the Sega Dreamcast.
Friday, June 1, 2012
12:49 PM - June 1, 2012. Posted by RaychelSnr. Written by Caley Roark
#4: Battle of the Pioneering Sexes
This one is more poignant, but would give focus to two sports legends and pioneers: Arthur Ashe vs. Althea Gibson. Ashe rose to fame in the 60s and was the first black male to selected for the Davis cup. Lesser known is Gibson, who was the first black female to play on the world scene (she was also the first African-American in the LPGA)
Thursday, May 31, 2012
11:37 AM - May 31, 2012. Posted by RaychelSnr. Written by Caley Roark
1. Julio Teheran, Starting Pitcher, Atlanta
Teheran is another name that shows up a lot in my OOTP 13 franchise news, and also has good ratings in The Show. At 21, he already possesses a high stamina and control ratings.
For the AAA Gwinnett Braves, Teheran has a 3-2 record and a 3.31 ERA in 8 games. He did see some time last year in the Bigs, so expect another call up at some point this year.
11:35 AM - May 31, 2012. Posted by RaychelSnr. Written by Caley Roark
For my first suggested virtual match, I'd like to recreate the infamous match between Bobby Riggs and Billie Jean King. With proper pre-match cutscenes and the grandeur(?) of the Astrodome, and this could be a cornerstone of Grand Slam Tennis 3 (if that game ever happens).
To read more about this landmark moment in tennis history, there's always Wikipedia.
Thursday, May 24, 2012
12:51 PM - May 24, 2012. Posted by RaychelSnr. Written by Caley Roark
2. Shelby Miller, Starting Pitcher, St. Louis Cardinals
In The Show, Miller will strike out quite a few batters per game, while minimizing homers. He ranks second on many pitching prospect lists, and at 21, projects to have a great career.
That said, his real stats thus far in 2012 are a bit mixed. Batters are hitting .291 off of him, but he's got 48 strike outs in 40 innings.
Have you pitched with Miller in The Show? How did he fare?
Wednesday, May 23, 2012
01:20 PM - May 23, 2012. Posted by RaychelSnr. Written by Caley Roark
3. Manny Machado, Shortstop, Baltimore
Another 19-year-old fielding shortstop, Machado has decent contact and speed ratings. Going by his real life projections, Machado will be a middle of the lineup guy who may eventually transition to third.
Currently, he's hitting .266 for the Bowie Baysox.
How is Manny Machado in your MLB: The Show Franchise performing?
Tuesday, May 22, 2012
12:41 PM - May 22, 2012. Posted by RaychelSnr. Written by Caley Roark
4. Jurickson Profar, Shortstop, Texas Rangers
This guy is also a hot commodity in my OOTP 13 franchise, and for good reason. At 19, he has great fielding ratings, above average Contact, decent Clutch ability, and average speed.
Playing for the real AA Frisco Roughriders, Profar is hitting .296 with 5 triples and 4 home runs through 40 games.
With Elvis Andrus at short already, what should you do with Profar as he matures further in your The Show franchise?
Monday, May 21, 2012
12:49 PM - May 21, 2012. Posted by RaychelSnr. Written by Caley Roark
5. Trevor Bauer, Starting Pitcher, Arizona Diamondbacks
In The Show, Bauer possesses above average K/9 and Control ratings as well as outstanding stamina for a 21 year old.
In real life, Bauer owns an 8-1 record with a 1.60 ERA in 9 starts.
Who has played with Bauer in the majors? How'd he fare?
Thursday, May 17, 2012
06:24 PM - May 17, 2012. Posted by RaychelSnr. Written by Caley Roark
Last year, I gave my impressions of Dynasty League Baseball Online, a virtual edition of the classic board game, as well as a pre-season update.
I loved the game's ability to recreate everything about real baseball, including injuries, park-effects and the truly bizarre events that make baseball special. But since then, they've added a few elements that make the game more customizable, and in turn, even more interesting.
Read More - Dynasty League Baseball Online: New Features Impressions
I loved the game's ability to recreate everything about real baseball, including injuries, park-effects and the truly bizarre events that make baseball special. But since then, they've added a few elements that make the game more customizable, and in turn, even more interesting.
Read More - Dynasty League Baseball Online: New Features Impressions
Monday, May 7, 2012
01:44 PM - May 7, 2012. Posted by RaychelSnr. Written by Bo McCready
We recently asked our staff what they thought of the initial feature releases of Madden NFL 13. Read their impressions of the tweaked gameplay and presentation after the jump!
Read More - OS Roundtable: Our First Impressions of Madden's Features
Read More - OS Roundtable: Our First Impressions of Madden's Features
Wednesday, May 2, 2012
11:58 AM - May 2, 2012. Posted by RaychelSnr. Written by Caley Roark
We haven’t seen many sports or Kinect games hit the XBox Live Marketplace, at least compared to other genres. For every Trials or Fruit Ninja, there are about ten dual joystick shooters. So it’s odd to see an arcade game that’s both sports themed and Kinect Supported.
And, to be blunt, odd is the best way to describe Diabolical Pitch.
Read More - Diabolical Pitch Review (XBLA)
Monday, April 30, 2012
01:09 AM - April 30, 2012. Posted by RaychelSnr. Written by Caley Roark
Knowing the full gravity of the situation will lead to a higher steal success rate.
Know the Situation
If you feel good about your runner, their battery, and the count, the last thing to check is the situation. Is the risk of an out worth the extra bag? Does a successful swiped bag drastically increase my odds of scoring? Will opening up first base take the bat out of my best hitter, due to an intentional walk?
In general, you should be stealing as part of a larger game plan, not simply to rack up stats. You may be getting a guy into scoring position late in a close game. It's sometime helpful for avoiding a double play.
Essentially, stealing bases is a fine art, not just on the base paths, but in the dugout. They can help you win, of course. But you can just as easily "run" yourself into a loss.
What are your tips on stealing successfully in The Show?
Thursday, April 26, 2012
03:12 PM - April 26, 2012. Posted by RaychelSnr. Written by Caley Roark
It's a 3-0 count with 2 outs...you probably don't want to steal home.
Know the Count
There are ideal "stealing counts," based around when a pitcher might throw fastball and if he'll pitchout. Again, a faster pitch means it's less likely you'll be successful.
Any count in the pitcher's favor (0-1, 0-2, 1-2) can be good, since they may tempt the batter with off-speed junk in the dirt. Plus, many pitchers will start with a first-pitch fastball, reducing the odds that they'll throw again for a strike.
2-1 is a good count to go too, since the pitcher will most likely not pitchout to force a pure hitter's count. However, without the fear of a walk, he may still rely on a good off-speed pitch. This is also a good hit-and-run count.
Of course, many know the full count, two outs rule for putting the runners in motion. There's no risk, really (unless you get picked off)
What's your favorite count to steal on?
12:07 AM - April 26, 2012. Posted by RaychelSnr. Written by Caley Roark
Some pitchers are faster to the plate than others. Knowing these small things that will lead to more steals.
Know the Pitcher
One thing that often goes overlooked is the opposing pitcher. There are main three things to be mindful of when factoring pitchers into the "steal equation:"
- His pickoff move. If it's a good one, you won't be able to extend your lead enough to be successful. You'll only know this by making him throw over a time or two.
- His delivery: If he's slow or deliberate to plate, it will give you more time to get a better jump. Look to activate the runner as soon as he's in his motion home.
- Pitch speed: A harder throw means less time to the plate, and more time for the catcher to throw you out.
So, if you are facing a soft-throwing pitcher with a poor pickoff move and a long delivery time, have fun!
Who are the easiest pitchers to steal on in the game?
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