Home
Feature Article
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
# 81 Steve_OS @ 03/02/08 09:55 AM
Quote:
Originally Posted by Bat9th
Sorry if this has been answered before. Are there practice swings and can we turn off the 7th inning highlight show with Jeanne Zelasko? I know I will get tired of that fast.. I hope we can turn it off. Thanks.
No practice swings and I'm not sure if you can turn off the highlight show, but pressing any button skips it entirely.
 
# 82 SeaNNyT @ 03/02/08 10:01 AM
Ugh at the crappy crowds.
 
# 83 dkrause1971 @ 03/02/08 10:05 AM
1) do the retro players have the signiture stances

2) Are there alot of fouls balls? and/or are your team pitch counts over 100-125?

thank you
 
# 84 The GOAT34 @ 03/02/08 10:08 AM
How about check swings. In 2k7 I found it very difficult to check swing. I hope its a little easier in 2K8.
 
# 85 Steve_OS @ 03/02/08 10:21 AM
Quote:
Originally Posted by dkrause1971
1) do the retro players have the signiture stances

2) Are there alot of fouls balls? and/or are your team pitch counts over 100-125?

thank you
There are foul balls, not as many as I would like to see, but there are sliders for that. Haven't checked on retro anything, sorry.
 
# 86 Steve_OS @ 03/02/08 10:23 AM
Quote:
Originally Posted by The GOAT34
How about check swings. In 2k7 I found it very difficult to check swing. I hope its a little easier in 2K8.
Ahhh yes. My gripe last year too. It's MUCH easier this year. As long as you pull back on the swing stick in time, you will check swing. Of course if you don't pull back quite fast enough, the ump will ring it up as a strike.
 
# 87 markprior22 @ 03/02/08 10:30 AM
Thanks so much for doing this Steve
 
# 88 stilts1844 @ 03/02/08 10:35 AM
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?
 
# 89 bryanm18 @ 03/02/08 10:54 AM
do you know if the stuff in front of the batters eye in PNC Park is right. its supposed to be a bush thats cut to spell pirates but in 2k6 and 2k7 it just had a random looking tree there instead
 
# 90 AngelsRock02 @ 03/02/08 10:55 AM
Hey, Steve how many camera angles are there to chose from and can you please list them?Thanks.
 
# 91 Steve_OS @ 03/02/08 10:55 AM
Had a few emails about this post.

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.

To be more specific here, I am referring to the guy on second. If there is a single to the outfield, more often than not, the AI plays it a bit more aggressive this year and advances that runner home.
 
# 92 Steve_OS @ 03/02/08 10:56 AM
For the new guys posting, please read the second post, if you want your question answered.
 
# 93 Steve_OS @ 03/02/08 10:58 AM
Quote:
Originally Posted by AngelsRock02
Hey, Steve how many camera angles are there to chose from and can you please list them?Thanks.
Fielding camera:
Pole Camera (Default)
Dynamic Camera
Aerial Camera

Batting Camera:
Default
Tight
Wide
Default Zoom
Tight Zoom
Wide Zoom
 
# 94 coffeeholic @ 03/02/08 11:05 AM
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
I guess they didn't re-instate the Behind the pitcher cam? I know I'm probably in the minority on this-but that's a buzzkill for me. That's the only view i can really hit from anymore. 2K's old BTP cam was great IMO,why they would leave that out
 
# 95 AngelsRock02 @ 03/02/08 11:08 AM
How much better is the defense from last year, do you have better control over it?And that was my only gripe from 2K7.
 
# 96 Bwnarrow3 @ 03/02/08 11:10 AM
Hey Steve, I was wondering if there are bars to adjust attributes/ratings on the create-a-player, or if there are actual numbers.

Thanks.
 
# 97 bowlerguy92 @ 03/02/08 11:15 AM
Ok Steve, I set up my mini avatar. Now how about an answer to that question! "Do players have weight to them when they run etc or are they still 100% nimble little cutouts?"
 
# 98 Steve_OS @ 03/02/08 11:23 AM
Quote:
Originally Posted by AngelsRock02
How much better is the defense from last year, do you have better control over it?And that was my only gripe from 2K7.
Defense seems more responsive, but I didn't have much issue w/ it last year, is there anything specific you are wanting to know?
 
# 99 Steve_OS @ 03/02/08 11:25 AM
Quote:
Originally Posted by Bwnarrow3
Hey Steve, I was wondering if there are bars to adjust attributes/ratings on the create-a-player, or if there are actual numbers.

Thanks.
Bars.
 
# 100 Bwnarrow3 @ 03/02/08 11:26 AM
^^^

Uhh... that sucks.
 


Post A Comment
Only OS members can post comments
Please login or register to post a comment.