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Major League Baseball 2K8 Beta Impressions

Yes, these quick blurb impressions are all over the place, as I just typed some things down over the days I played the game.

I'm not working w/ retail here, just beta. I'm not sure how "complete" it is. But there are times where the game doesn't run 60FPS. During pitching/hitting, no problems, but there are occasional hiccups when throwing across the diamond. A few herky jerky animations here and there as well. Again, these may just be issues w/ my Beta.

Yankees stadium has roll call.

Runners are somewhat aggressive on pitches in the dirt.

Got A-Rod on an inside changeup on a 3-2 count. He jumped back as the pitch got closer and headed towards first, ump pumped his fist and A-Rob looked a bit pissed.

Fans do not go after homeruns or foul balls. The fans in general are not fun to look at. They sound pretty good, reacting to situations, etc. But they just look horrible.

Bat sounds are MUCH better than last year.

Ump throws the ball to the pitcher, after a foul ball, most of the time.

Matsui homerun swing/trot looks amazing. Same w/ Manny, Griffey, Beltre to name a few.

On pop ups behind the catcher, you can see the frustration from the batter, as he looks up at it, throws his bat down and jogs to first base, waiting for the catcher to make the grab. Happens w/ pop ups in the infield on occasion as well.

Funny moment. Pop up to the pitcher Wang, A-Rod comes over as Wong settles under it. He runs right into Wang and he falls on his face. Ball drops in play.

I'm actually impressed w/ the pitching interface. It has taken me a few games to get used to it, but wow. It is FUN to pitch!

Seeing a ton of variety in hits, liners, bloopers, hits sprayed all over. I do have an issue w/ the players in the outfield, kinda lazily getting under a fly ball, instead of getting in position, they sort of are in range of catching it...then as it gets closer, they race to actually catch it. Mind you, it doesn't happen all the time, but noticable enough to mention.

Baserunning is extremely easy and to me, feels like second nature.

Benches react on at bats, getting up off the benches to see how far the ball travels on homeruns.

If the AI has someone warming up in the bullpen, you'll see it flash at the bottom of the screen, then a few pitches later, show him warming up.

Jeter made a sick play from short, backhanding a ball to his right, taking 2 steps, then jumping, turning his body and firing to first....bang bang. SICK!

Saw a boneheaded AI play, where the 2nd basemen, instead of throwing to the SS at second for the force, tried to run the runner down going to second. He was safe and no play at first. Only saw this happen once, so far.

Very slick 1st baseman flip to the pitcher, who was on the run. Pitcher makes the catch and heads to the bench, as it was the 3rd out of the inning.

Announcer issues....I'm hearing quite a bit of repeating and a few things that don't make sense. For example, Joe Morgan says it's 3-2, the runners will be running on the pitch, then right after the pitch, screams out, the runner is stealing!

After the 7th inning, they show one of the big plays from the game. Jeanne Zelasko talks about what it's going to take for a team to win, lose, etc.

AI robbed me of a homerun. Nothing spectalar, but a pretty animation nonetheless.

Collision detection....players will run through players...haven't seen any during gameplay, but after a play is made, you will see some players running right through each other.

Runners will advance to home, more often than not, on singles hit to the outfield. Not seeing the third base coach waving the runner home.

Very cool to see a runner go by first and sometimes turn around, real quick after a bang bang play to see what the ump called. Looks very nice...

At the end of the game, Jeanie zolasko mentions the Chevy player of the game.  Showing highlights from the player of the game, then highlights from the game itself.


Member Comments
# 181 bsbllstr876 @ 03/02/08 08:14 PM
Crazy how nobody has this game early, with all the ppl who have the show early. I even offered the guy at EB $20 to break the street date.
 
# 182 bowlerguy92 @ 03/02/08 08:37 PM
That will be a blast playing in the minors parks! Too bad they don't have Hadlock Field (AA Redsox). I'm there all the time and love the field. Would have been a blast to play there.
 
# 183 rpm123 @ 03/02/08 08:40 PM
You're welcome! And this is good news in that the stadiums in the screenshots that we have are the generic ones, which is what I thought and was hoping. Now I just hope that the Avalanche's stadium will be available via download in the future. This should be a fun game! Rick
 
# 184 blkprince04 @ 03/02/08 08:40 PM
thanks steve for the impressions the game is sounding very good & much better than 2k7, althought 2k7 wasn't that bad , 2k8 sounds very solid
 
# 185 blackngoldfan @ 03/02/08 08:49 PM
I hope they have a patch later for more minor league parks. Even though I'm a Dodger fan, I would like to see the Fresno Grizzlies' Chukchansi Park (Giants) in the game. It is very nice.
 
# 186 bowlerguy92 @ 03/02/08 08:54 PM
Hadlock Field!







Something about a minor league field that has always made me want to be able to play on it or walk on it. I now will finally be able to experience that through MLB 2K8. So needless to say, I'm pretty pumped about being able to play in a Redsox AAA field. It's a nice one too.
 
# 187 King Gro23 @ 03/02/08 09:12 PM
The impressions sound great for a beta version
 
# 188 bigmoe @ 03/02/08 09:14 PM
Quote:
Originally Posted by Steve_OS
Fielding camera:
Pole Camera (Default)
Dynamic Camera
Aerial Camera

Batting Camera:
Default
Tight
Wide
Default Zoom
Tight Zoom
Wide Zoom
Just wondering, with any of the cameras do you actually see the ball in flight on fly balls to the outfield ?
 
# 189 specialman @ 03/02/08 09:22 PM
Hey Steve, what about classic hitting? The swing stick has kept me away from this game and I think Sony's MLB game has the hitting perfect, where u aim ur swing with the left analog. Can you do that in classic hitting in this or is it still pretty much just timing with only the ability to influence fly ball or ground ball?
 
# 190 dmbfan1970 @ 03/02/08 09:26 PM
Quote:
Originally Posted by specialman
Hey Steve, what about classic hitting? The swing stick has kept me away from this game and I think Sony's MLB game has the hitting perfect, where u aim ur swing with the left analog. Can you do that in classic hitting in this or is it still pretty much just timing with only the ability to influence fly ball or ground ball?
Classic hitting: (in 2k7) was as follows... Button to swing. UP on L analog stick for flyball. DOWN on L analog stick for ground ball. There was both a contact and power button as well.

I really recommend you giving the swing stick a try. Once you learn you won't go back I assure you. Button for swing is very arcade-ish and just doesn't do it for me anymore.
 
# 191 Rebel10 @ 03/03/08 12:44 AM
Yeah, McCoy Stadium is nice... although it's sort of odd to get to. I'm hoping to make it up to a few Sea Dogs games this year.
 
# 192 fiedler2k3 @ 03/03/08 08:44 AM
Quote:
Originally Posted by bsbllstr876
Crazy how nobody has this game early, with all the ppl who have the show early. I even offered the guy at EB $20 to break the street date.
for people like you video games cost more and more every year....
 
# 193 ac11367 @ 03/03/08 09:32 AM
Thanks for the impression, and this is making today and tomorrow seem longer and longer.

Questions: When batting against CPU pitcher, was all his breaking balls devastating like in 2K7, or do some breaking pitches actually flattens out? Were you able to distinguish a curve from a fastball from the pitcher's release?
 
# 194 Flaxseed Oil @ 03/03/08 10:21 AM
Dont forget, there will be downloadable stadiums too.

Confirmed are

Legends Field -- Tampa Yankees
Durham Athletic Park --Durham Bulls

Hope these are available on Day 1
 
# 195 Tomba @ 03/03/08 11:33 AM
what percentage complete is this beta at?
 
# 196 Portlander29 @ 03/03/08 01:15 PM
Will somone who has a mini avatar ask Steve if during franchise you can select to play your games in any stadium you want? I really like to play in parks I don't get to use with my MLB franchise team...I tend to like to play my Minor League games in random places. That's what I do for MVP 05 anyway.
 
# 197 bowlerguy92 @ 03/03/08 02:06 PM
Hey steve, got a question for ya. If during franchise can you select to play your games in any stadium you want? I really like to play in parks I don't get to use with my MLB franchise team...I tend to like to play my Minor League games in random places. That's what I do for MVP 05 anyway.
 
# 198 ExtremeGamer @ 03/03/08 02:31 PM
Great impressions Steve!

I am going to give this a shot now based on what I read, along with The Show. I'm a baseball freak anyway.
 
# 199 KushGamer @ 03/03/08 06:39 PM
Quote:
Originally Posted by dbrandon
I don't believe them, sorry to say.
I would think the Beta version Steve has, has the final sliders in it.
 
# 200 KushGamer @ 03/03/08 06:43 PM
Quote:
Originally Posted by bowlerguy92
That will be a blast playing in the minors parks! Too bad they don't have Hadlock Field (AA Redsox). I'm there all the time and love the field. Would have been a blast to play there.
Hadlock is the other field that should be downloadable on Day 1.
 


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