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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
# 161 Steve_OS @ 03/02/08 06:31 PM
Quote:
Originally Posted by bowlerguy92
Does the hitting feel like it has loosend up any? Like there are more ways to hit the ball and that it doesn't seem like there are only about four ways the ball can actually come off the bat?
Oh yes, definitely seeing more variety in the hits this year. You'll be happy.
 
# 162 Steve_OS @ 03/02/08 06:32 PM
Quote:
Originally Posted by pjv31
Steve, does it feel like a different game than 2k7? Also when there are grounders hit in the infield does it seem like it takes more time for the ball to get to the fielder. Last year it felt like you hardly had any time to react.
Other than a few lasers shot back up the pitchers box, I'm not having trouble getting to any balls, that I can realistically get to.
 
# 163 Spectre @ 03/02/08 06:34 PM
Hey Steve,

You mentioned how much you're liking pitching, which is great to hear. Are you having trouble exactly pinpointing your spots? Are you getting realistic pitch counts as a result?
 
# 164 K_GUN @ 03/02/08 06:37 PM
steve-

not sure if u touched on this yet

your feel for double plays.....breaking them up...too easy?...too often?....do the animations look real ?........(in MVP they looked 'sped up'/not realistic)

thx!
 
# 165 Steve_OS @ 03/02/08 06:38 PM
Quote:
Originally Posted by boomhauertjs
Steve, can you tell us what the Class AA and A stadiums are?
AA

Double AA Stadium (Default for most teams)
Blair County Ballpark
First Energy Stadium
Five County Stadium
Hank Aaron Stadium

A

Sam Lynn Ballpark
High Single A Stadium (Default for most teams)
Bright House Network Field
Bill Hammond Stadium
Tradition Field
 
# 166 BBondsRod @ 03/02/08 06:38 PM
I don't know if you can find this out or not, but can cards be earned through online play?
 
# 167 Steve_OS @ 03/02/08 06:40 PM
Quote:
Originally Posted by Spectre
Hey Steve,

You mentioned how much you're liking pitching, which is great to hear. Are you having trouble exactly pinpointing your spots? Are you getting realistic pitch counts as a result?
Oh yes, definitely having issues getting my spots, LOL. Which makes the pitching that much more fun. I'm getting anywhere around 90 to 110 lately.
 
# 168 thescoop @ 03/02/08 06:41 PM
anything on wind effects yet?
 
# 169 Steve_OS @ 03/02/08 06:42 PM
Quote:
Originally Posted by K_GUN
steve-

not sure if u touched on this yet

your feel for double plays.....breaking them up...too easy?...too often?....do the animations look real ?........(in MVP they looked 'sped up'/not realistic)

thx!
Animations looks real, yes. Doesn't seem too easy to pull off though, it just has to be at the right time. I've seen it quite a few times, but it's not overdone, IMHO. It's all about the timing of it all. I should probably send my runner at first a little more often, lol.
 
# 170 Steve_OS @ 03/02/08 06:43 PM
OK guys, hope you enjoyed the impressions and Q&A. I am going to try and get some screenshots up now, if I can get it working. Something quirky w/ it the past 2 days.
 
# 171 PVarck31 @ 03/02/08 06:46 PM
Great job and thank very much, I am even more pumped for this game now. PS: Maybe get some vids up?
 
# 172 dodgerblue @ 03/02/08 06:50 PM
Quote:
Originally Posted by Steve_OS
It's too early to tell, but I can tell you that it feels much better than 2K7 ever did.
Thanks for all the impressions! Can't wait for tuesday!
 
# 173 Spectre @ 03/02/08 06:52 PM
Great stuff Steve, thanks for answering. Pitching is bread and butter of any game for me and it sounds like Brinkman and the 2K team really hit a homerun with this system. I can't wait to hear impressions from everybody on Tuesday

Tradition Field is in too, awesome!
 
# 174 sirk @ 03/02/08 06:58 PM
hey can you answer this please
1-is there a long white streak everytime you hit the ball and can you take it off if there is
2-how are the homerun camera angles..is that red arrow still there or is the homerun camera angle new?
3-are games realistic? like do you go 4-4 or 5-5 or 3-3 with a batter very easily with like 3 homeruns or a lot of hits and homeruns? or is it finally realistic making it difficult to hit a lot of homeruns and just in general hit a lot and score too much like 20 runs. Sorry these are a lot of questions
4- also, how are the difficulties...is Pro waaaay to east and Allstar way to hard like 2k7?
-thanks =)
 
# 175 dodgerblue @ 03/02/08 07:02 PM
I know that in question 1 you could turn it off in 2k7. I hate that thing too!
 
# 176 MizzouRah @ 03/02/08 07:19 PM
Thanks Steve!

Can't wait to pick this one up next week. Demo-schemo be dammed!
 
# 177 ehh @ 03/02/08 07:20 PM
Quote:
Originally Posted by Steve_OS
OK guys, hope you enjoyed the impressions and Q&A. I am going to try and get some screenshots up now, if I can get it working. Something quirky w/ it the past 2 days.
Not sure if you're taking requests or not but I'd really appreciate it if you could post one of Hughes and Joba.
 
# 178 boomhauertjs @ 03/02/08 07:20 PM
Quote:
Originally Posted by Steve_OS
AA

Double AA Stadium (Default for most teams)
Blair County Ballpark
First Energy Stadium
Five County Stadium
Hank Aaron Stadium

A

Sam Lynn Ballpark
High Single A Stadium (Default for most teams)
Bright House Network Field
Bill Hammond Stadium
Tradition Field
Thanks Steve.

How long is a game typically taking you? 45 min. to an hour?
 
# 179 rpm123 @ 03/02/08 08:12 PM
Quote:
Originally Posted by Steve_OS
AA

Double AA Stadium (Default for most teams)
Blair County Ballpark=Altoona Curve (Pirates)
First Energy Stadium=Reading Phillies
Five County Stadium=Carolina Mudcats (Marlins)
Hank Aaron Stadium=Mobile BayBears (Diamondbacks)

A

Sam Lynn Ballpark=Bakersfield Blaze (Rangers)
High Single A Stadium (Default for most teams)
Bright House Network Field=Clearwater Threshers (Phillies)
Bill Hammond Stadium=Fort Myers Miracle (Twins)
Tradition Field=St. Lucie Mets
Quote:
Originally Posted by Steve_OS
Here are the AAA stadiums available.

Fifth Third Field=Toledo Mud Hens (Tigers)
Triple A Stadium (Most teams play here)
The New McCoy Stadium=Pawtucket Red Sox
Cashman Field=Las Vegas 51s (Dodgers)
Tucson Electric Park=Tuscon Sidewinders (Diamondbacks)
I added the teams' affiliations to these stadiums in bold. Looks like the Phillies and Diamondbacks fans got lucky.
 
# 180 ShowTyme15 @ 03/02/08 08:43 PM
Steve,
Can we possibly get a picture of the Kansas City Royals in the New home alternate powder blues they'll be wearing this season? Thanks in advance.
 


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