MLB 15 The Show: Online Impressions After A Week of Playing

Feature Article

Submitted on: 04/05/2015 by Robert Kollars

If you read my first impressions of MLB 15: The Show's online experience, than you have a full understanding that after some very early testing in multiple settings, the reports were generally positive. Early on the only issue that we ran into was on-screen synching of what was being displayed.

With it being almost a full week now since the release of Sony San Diego’s new baseball title, we are happy to report that our experiences have remained mostly positive. We are still seeing the occasional out of action synching still playing out, which hopefully can be fixed sooner rather than later, but the other than that the overall online experience has been consistently favorable. It is no secret that I have been rather hard on the developers of The Show over the last few years, and rightfully so about the inability to create a stable and enjoyable online component. As a participant of past online leagues and franchises, the disconnects and freezes have left a bad taste, but we tried to look at this year’s version as a single entity, and not the series as a whole.

We understand there have been reports from the community about the same problems that have plagued the series in the past, continuing to do so in 15, but that has not been the case for us. In fact, our experiences have been quite the opposite. We have yet to experience a single freeze or disconnect, Not a single hint of slow down, and just a handful of scenarios in which we would describe as a minor hiccup, but nothing that would have us describe the overall online experience as debilitating or frustrating. We would even go so far as to describe our online play as very close to the experience one would have while playing offline.

We also have a full understanding that there are multiple factors that play into the online experience as a whole, and so we have tried to enlist and emulate as many of those variables into each attempt. Whether it be distance, type of connection, game mode, time of day, or different stadiums and teams. To our surprise none of these factors seemed to have a negative impact on the experience. MLB 15 The Show finally seems to be the year that many will finally be able to enjoy the game as a whole, and not just the offline experience.

How has your online experience been so far with MLB 15 The Show?

Member Comments

# 1 DGuinta1 @ 04/05/15 12:03 PM

How are the opponents you have played? Online cheese or pretty good sim?

# 2 chitownwonder @ 04/05/15 12:37 PM

Online has been horrible. The only mode I play online franchise. On a positive note the gm looks great.

# 3 SOBAY310 @ 04/05/15 01:29 PM

I must say the online play has been great for me so far. I even had a 19 inning game the other night that was so smooth it felt like an offline game. That's where I'm most impressed. There doesn't appear to be any lag with the timing of hitting and pitching that'd you expect in comparing online vs. offline games.

I'm definitely encouraged at this point!

# 4 Dabears554 @ 04/05/15 07:10 PM

Had a lot of games where my opponent's fielders are lagging behind

For example, I'll think I got a ball into the gap and I'll start heading for 2nd, only for his center fielder to suddenly be 20 feet to the left with the ball throwing me out at 2nd.

When I'm pitching, their swings lag behind. The ball will go through the zone, then they'll swing and put the ball in play.

Also had a game freeze after I stepped off the rubber and threw to 2nd trying to catch his guy stealing. Had to turn off my PS4 and got hit with a loss.

# 5 CPRoark @ 04/05/15 07:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dabears554


	Had a lot of games where my opponent's fielders are lagging behind For example, I'll think I got a ball into the gap and I'll start heading for 2nd, only for his center fielder to suddenly be 20 feet to the left with the ball throwing me out at 2nd. When I'm pitching, their swings lag behind. The ball will go through the zone, then they'll swing and put the ball in play. Also had a game freeze after I stepped off the rubber and threw to 2nd trying to catch his guy stealing. Had to turn off my PS4 and got hit with a loss.

This has been my (limited) experience too. What I'm seeing onscreen doesn't always match what's "really" happening.

With runners on second and third with two outs, I hit a long fly ball to the gap in right center. Commentary supported what was onscreen: a double that one-hopped the fence. The fielder was clearly lagging behind.

All of a sudden, the music comes on and the transition to the next half inning starts to play. Apparently, the fielder actually made the catch.

# 6 bluengold34_OS @ 04/05/15 07:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DGuinta1


	How are the opponents you have played? Online cheese or pretty good sim?

I have only played guys from OS(which is my preference)

# 7 RahKhem @ 04/05/15 09:46 PM

I've had mostly good experiences, except for the fact that there's a certain glitch people seem to do to cause the game to desync, and then it becomes a game of chicken to see who will just get tired of waiting and close the game. Besides that, it's been pretty good.

# 8 Yankees_CT @ 04/06/15 09:41 AM

So far no issues online. Only played about 10 games but so far so good

# 9 DoUHaveSkill @ 04/06/15 10:10 AM

Yeah I'm having a lot of fun with it this year. Only issues have been the camera lag when the opponent is fielding and a few times I've hit homeruns where a runner just stays at first base.

# 10 jm2054 @ 04/06/15 11:11 AM

Played like 45 DD games since Tuesday and the lag was real bad Saturday and Sunday and some auction house issues other then that perfect. I think they just got overloaded on the first weekend.

# 11 HustlinOwl @ 04/06/15 11:34 AM

Easily one of the most active online guys here on OS and so far so good. Saturday had close to 6 straight disconnects and was sorted out later in the day, but other than that online has been great.

# 12 seafoamgreen @ 04/06/15 02:17 PM

I've had the same lag issues as others, especially with infielders throwing to first (commentary will say he tagged the guy down the line but the throw is clearly going there) and teleporting outfielders. The lag on almost every opponent swing is annoying too but I don't think its affected my ability to field.

My question about online play is if there's code in the game to balance out matchmaking errors with events in-game. I ask because I was going along pretty well against an opponent ranked lower than me, then suddenly Ian Kinsler can't field a routine grounder and every pitch I throw gets lined into the gap. Guy beat me in 10 innings on a BS wild pitch from a fresh reliever throwing a near-perfect pitch in the zone. Insanely frustrating.

# 13 DFWTexan @ 04/08/15 11:24 AM

Game has a problem w/ freezing after a BB & it cuts to the scene where the pitcher walks around the mound!!! Happens 100% of the time. Other than that it's been acceptable. If there are no longer walks.

# 14 cardinalbird5 @ 04/08/15 04:11 PM

It plays a lot better but it is just the freezing that occurs 2/10 games or so....some people will also do it intentionally once they are losing.

# 15 RunN1st @ 04/08/15 04:23 PM

You haven't played me because you are a scared little-boy, Kollars! Go A's!

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