Ten Areas of Improvement for MLB 12: The Show

Feature Article

Submitted on: 10/26/2011 by Phil Varckette

With the World Series coming to a climax the next two nights (Editors note: or one if my Rangers have their way), you may be thinking that it’s a bit early to start looking forward to next season. But with free agency starting not long after the Classic ends, time will start to fly by. After all, MLB 12: The Show is the next big sports game release.

Here are a few things I think could improve the annual SCEA release.

1. More control over the fielders

This is something fans of The Show have been asking for, for a very long time. It was reported from those who attended The Show’s community day last year that Sony gave this a shot. It was said that the ball travels to fast for the user to field it effectively.

If possible, slow the ball down. Let us have total control to make the play.

2. Fix the Pick-Off System

Runners shouldn’t be getting picked off multiple times a game. It seems like whenever you take that extra step, your chances of getting picked-off skyrockets. Let us hold down L2 and release to take off, Instead of doing it automatically. MLB 2K11 does this very well.

3. Better Ball Physics

I would like to see the ball come off the bat more realistically. When a ball is hit down the line, it tends to slice. This is represented to a small degree, but could be done much better. This would also include balls with top spin and knuckling action. It would add just another touch of realism the series is so well known for.

4. PS VITA Compatibility

Whether it is the ability to actually play our franchise games on the VITA or just manage our franchise, give us something innovative. This is something the fans have wanted to see with the PSP for years, but it never came to fruition. Sony may be surprised how much VITA sales spike by implementing this feature.

5. Franchise Changes

Franchise mode, for the most part, is well done in The Show. The upgrades needed shouldn’t be in the form of an overhaul or anything like that, but we would love to see the scouting system get some love. Team tendencies should be tied to the manager; trade logic needs looked at as well as roster management; make managing rosters more user-friendly; and last but not least, give our editors, like Knight, better tools for roster adjustments.

6. Licensed Equipment and Accessories

Another long standing community wish. With seemingly every other current-gen sports game having licensed equipment and accessories, it's time for The Show to follow suit. It would add so much to the immersion factor. Being able to decide if I want Carlos Santana to use Nike or Under Armor catchers gear would be pretty cool. You could also take this a step further in Road to the Show mode and have certain brands offer to sponsor your player based on performance.

7. Presentation Upgrades

Announcing needs a breath of fresh air. You don’t necessarily have to add or subtract anyone; just give us a ton of new commentary. It would also be great to see enhanced presentation for rivalry games, or games with meaning. That could be something as simple as some special commentary, new graphical wipes. Same goes with playoff games; make it feel like October and give us some on-screen playoff logo splashes. Talk about the importance of each and every at bat.

8. MLB Today-Like Mode

Sometimes a competing company does something so well that you have to capitalize on it for yourself. I am a big “Play Now” guy, and this feature would be a fantastic addition. Keep the rosters updated daily and let the user follow along with the season.

9. Create-A-Team/Expansion Mode in Franchise

This was a blast in the now defunct All-Star Baseball series. The Show lovers love customization. Give us the ultimate customization experience with this mode. Let us select our city, build our own stadium and jump into whatever league and division we want and participate in an expansion draft.

10. Miscellaneous Additions

Co-op Franchise mode, more sounds of the show options, Single-A teams, cleaner user-friendly interfaces, more uniforms, umpire arguments, ejections for arguing, more stat overlays, more hit variety, stand-alone Playoff mode and more catcher animations.

Final Thoughts

This is just a small sampling of what the community would like to see this year. If we know the folks at SCEA like we think we do, I would be willing to bet a lot of our wishes will be granted this year.

After all, there may not be a company who listens to its fan base like SCEA.

MLB 12 The Show Videos

Member Comments

# 101 Scott @ 11/13/11 06:22 PM

I'd love for them to fix the Gold Glove awards, shouldn't go to the 1st eligible team. I always see a Baltimore Pitcher win the Gold Glove for the Pitcher.

# 102 bp4baseball @ 11/13/11 11:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jd369


	What licensed gear and accessories are in the upcoming game?

We have not heard any news about what features/additions will be in this years game. Though, getting licensed gear can be very difficult when you have to work through all the companies and legal stages.

# 103 Cavicchi @ 11/14/11 09:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Giants4Natic


	I guess my biggest issue with this game will not be addressed. The fielding is down right pathetic. I feel like I am not doing anything but sending my fielder within an area and the game takes over for me way before the fielder is at the spot or ball gets there. And this has zero to do with fielding because ratings mean nothing in terms of fielders. I can put Posada in the outfield and he would still be serviceable The animations have been the same for ever in terms of fielding. So why not scale back on them and allow us to play the game.

That is what bugs the hell out of me. In fact, it's one of the major if not the major issue I have with this game.

# 104 wilb626 @ 11/14/11 10:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by oldschool127


	I agree with everything said here, especially the stand-alone playoff mode. That's a no-brainer and for the life of me can't figure out why this is left out every year. I love this game and it has lasting appeal. Out of all the games I own this game gets most of my attention. I'm still playing almost daily. But one thing that has bothered me for years is where are the rainouts and rain delays? MVP baseball did this well and that was '04 so I know it can be done. This would add to the realism of the game when you have to adjust your lineups because you're playing a double-header or say the game gets delayed and you have to bring in a new pitcher once the game resumes. Fields like Safeco should open and close the roof during the game or if the weather is bad. Again, MVP did this 7 years ago. The playoffs and weather are two things that really need to be added to the game.

Totally agree with you on the rainouts. That is a huge part of baseball. To extend that further...I would keep this as an option, because there will be some people who don't want it, but it would be very realistic to have your game called because of heavy rain and have to make it up in a double-header or off-day. I can't remember if All Star baseball or MLB had this. Initially you would be upset that the game got called, but then you would be stoked to see it's realism.

This is the best sports game ever created. I think the focus on 2012 should really be focused on:

- Gameplay (heavy focus on fielding)
- Crowd. I know this sounds little, but there are no crowd sound reactions in the game! If there is a hit, strikeout, stolen base, run....the crowd is completely silent. Please add crowd reactions to specific events in the game. Obviously, if there is a homerun...make the stadium go nuts!
- Adding a whole new library of commentary. Get really deep into stats and back-and-forth commentary on players (at least the very notable ones). Talk about the season the players are having in your franchise. Beef up the pre-game commentary about what this game means to the teams...get rid of Soup's 5 repeatable intro analysis that don't mean anything to the teams playing.
- Sounds of the Show. I am a huge fan of editing music in the game. Last year the Away pitcher being pulled slot didn't even work. Also if you had between innings music playing...you would never hear a new relief pitcher or closer music play the next inning...it would just keep playing the inning music. I edited all of these cool away pitcher sounds and closer songs and never got to hear them in the game.

# 105 Garrett67 @ 11/14/11 10:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wilb626


	Totally agree with you on the rainouts. That is a huge part of baseball. To extend that further...I would keep this as an option, because there will be some people who don't want it, but it would be very realistic to have your game called because of heavy rain and have to make it up in a double-header or off-day. I can't remember if All Star baseball or MLB had this. Initially you would be upset that the game got called, but then you would be stoked to see it's realism. This is the best sports game ever created. I think the focus on 2012 should really be focused on: - Gameplay (heavy focus on fielding) - Crowd. I know this sounds little, but there are no crowd sound reactions in the game! If there is a hit, strikeout, stolen base, run....the crowd is completely silent. Please add crowd reactions to specific events in the game. Obviously, if there is a homerun...make the stadium go nuts! - Adding a whole new library of commentary. Get really deep into stats and back-and-forth commentary on players (at least the very notable ones). Talk about the season the players are having in your franchise. Beef up the pre-game commentary about what this game means to the teams...get rid of Soup's 5 repeatable intro analysis that don't mean anything to the teams playing. - Sounds of the Show. I am a huge fan of editing music in the game. Last year the Away pitcher being pulled slot didn't even work. Also if you had between innings music playing...you would never hear a new relief pitcher or closer music play the next inning...it would just keep playing the inning music. I edited all of these cool away pitcher sounds and closer songs and never got to hear them in the game.

I'd want real rain delays, where you play a few innings and it starts raining. Also have games postponed or finished short because of rain during a game.

Not just a pop-up message that says "Today's game has been postponed" (or something like that ). That would be lame and pointless

# 106 acts238shaun @ 11/14/11 01:44 PM

The pickoffs issue pickoffs, no Class A ball and inability to edit potential were my only gripes with MLB 11. Minor gripes, but would be a great addition/fix.

# 107 mjsonoma01 @ 11/16/11 03:22 PM

Any chance the 2014 Franchise bug has been addressed? I started to play The Show 11 again, got to the draft and couldnt sign players because my team is broke, tried to trade away contracts and cant because every team is broke. Then I just dropped players from the roster to clear money and they were never picked up because all teams are broke. Has this been addressed at all? Im worried it has not because NO ONE is talking about this, which just completely baffles me.

Thanks.

# 108 whitesoxfan16 @ 11/16/11 08:39 PM

How about the all-star game voting. It's the most horrible thing I have ever seen. Players with the most votes still don't make it and it's puts in average players in their places.

# 109 whitesoxfan16 @ 11/16/11 08:53 PM

They said it would have rain and it would affect the game, well I always play with the white sox and I think I seen rain in 2 games and there were no game changing affects. The announcing stinks and the batter/pitching interface is boring. In the 2k series the announcers are on point and the pitcher/batter interface is on point, you just don't throw a pitch and the catcher or ump just throw it back the camera angle pans around like in a real game until the pitcher and batter are ready to resume. They took out home run hand shakes at the plate and never had the third base coach to shake the batter hand as he rounds third on a homer. They also remove the player that hit the home run to come out of the dugout to thank the crowd. There are no weather changes, no pre or post game shows, they took out the pre game fly ins to the stadiums, they have end of the game fireworks for the wrong teams and no pre game fireworks.

# 110 Scott @ 11/16/11 08:56 PM

Maybe we'll see rain delays and doubleheaders this year...

# 111 whitesoxfan16 @ 11/16/11 09:14 PM

Scott somehow I doubt it!

# 112 whitesoxfan16 @ 11/16/11 09:20 PM

How hard is it too add all of these really good ideas that's a real part of our game anyways to a already good game? Madden has a lot of these features like weather and field conditions, home stadium default touch down music and celebrations and crowd interactions to name a few

# 113 antilowpe @ 11/17/11 03:46 AM

Please re-do the catcher animation.

How many times did I send the ball from my OF to home and when my catcher gets the ball, the slow tag animation starts and ends in a missed tag and a run scored ?
To avoid it, maybe we have to press a button to tag the runner ?

What was the theme of the 2010 game : "Nothing gets you closer" ?
I want that.
I want to feel the pressure of close plays.
When my OF fields the ball in an effort and the runner on 1st stops his run between the bags, I want to be able to make a quick throw to 1st and not been "blocked" by an animation.

Same thought on bunt, my guys fields it too "cool".

# 114 Cavicchi @ 11/17/11 01:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by whitesoxfan16


	How about the all-star game voting. It's the most horrible thing I have ever seen. Players with the most votes still don't make it and it's puts in average players in their places.

Yeah, the all-star thing is crazy. I wanted to find out who is pitching against me so I started the game and exited once I saw the pitchers. I scouted the pitchers and again started the all-star game but this time there were different pitchers! The lineup and pitching should be announced before the start of the all-star game--and no sudden changes unless due to injury. Oh, and yes, the voting should matter!

# 115 whitesoxfan16 @ 11/17/11 10:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jp121272


	Yeah, the all-star thing is crazy. I wanted to find out who is pitching against me so I started the game and exited once I saw the pitchers. I scouted the pitchers and again started the all-star game but this time there were different pitchers! The lineup and pitching should be announced before the start of the all-star game--and no sudden changes unless due to injury. Oh, and yes, the voting should matter!

Yeah the all-star thing is crazy just like the gold glove awards! Too many orioles are awarded gold gloves, just ridiculous! Did anyone notice when a batter hits a foul ball at the plate the ball remains there until the picture receives a new one from the ump and all of a sudden the ball just disappears? On broken bats no bat boy to bring the batter a new!

# 116 whitesoxfan16 @ 11/17/11 11:06 PM

If you are going to make a game and call it the best out there real fans of the game want a realistic game! You want our realistic $60 bucks every year for the same mistakes. I have played games and in the end or at some point in the game it freezes and that really pisses me off even if I'm having a bad game. What's the since in the franchise mode to add bill board advertisements but you can't see the bill boards of your choice around the stadiums? They took out the choice to change how your grass look on the infield and outfield grass.

# 117 bp4baseball @ 11/17/11 11:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by whitesoxfan16


	If you are going to make a game and call it the best out there real fans of the game want a realistic game! You want our realistic $60 bucks every year for the same mistakes. I have played games and in the end or at some point in the game it freezes and that really pisses me off even if I'm having a bad game. What's the since in the franchise mode to add bill board advertisements but you can't see the bill boards of your choice around the stadiums? They took out the choice to change how your grass look on the infield and outfield grass.

When you have miles of code (not sure how much there actually is, but I'm sure there is more than you could imagine) there are bound to be glitches. That's why they work hard every year to remove the ones the can and get feedback on any that made it through.

# 118 Knight165 @ 11/18/11 05:19 PM

Question....

For you guys talking about the All-Star voting, are you aware that each team must be represented in the All-Star game?

Is it the votes you guys are saying is off or the selections based off the votes?
...and as far as the GG....it is with players having identical stats, correct? and it's defaulting to the first team on the list.

M.K.
Knight165

# 119 Scott @ 11/18/11 05:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Knight165


	Question.... For you guys talking about the All-Star voting, are you aware that each team must be represented in the All-Star game? Is it the votes you guys are saying is off or the selections based off the votes? ...and as far as the GG....it is with players having identical stats, correct? and it's defaulting to the first team on the list. M.K. Knight165

As far as GG go, it's with identical stats.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

# 120 Cavicchi @ 11/18/11 07:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Knight165


	Question.... For you guys talking about the All-Star voting, are you aware that each team must be represented in the All-Star game? Is it the votes you guys are saying is off or the selections based off the votes? ...and as far as the GG....it is with players having identical stats, correct? and it's defaulting to the first team on the list. M.K. Knight165

What about Pitchers? It is not at all realistic that mediocre pitchers get picked over A rated guys having a better year--for my league. I play the All-Star game and I'm loaded with a bunch of B-C rated guys while the A's are left off the team, not all, but enough to devalue my league. Meanwhile, the CPU's league is loaded with A-rated pitchers. Thole, Montero, and Whiteside over Buster Posey! If a Giant was needed, Cain or Wilson could have been picked!

Also, why in heaven's name would the CPU pinch hit for the pitcher with Tyler Colvin when Prince Fielder and Ryan Howard are on the bench in the 8th inning against a right-handed pitcher?!

I watched Pujols more than once miss a fastball up in his hot zone--the very same pitch location he crushed for a homer in the WS. I played as manager of both leagues in two separate games.

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