Interesting article from pastapadre

[ARMORALLL]

http://www.pastapadre.com/category/baseball doesn't reveal anything new about the game. Mostly his opinion on the voice recording feature. Interesting read though.

[jim416]

He thinks there should have been something "more significant" than the new sound mode. I don't know exactly what is wanted, speaking from a baseball sim standpoint. I think it's obvious that SCEA is tweaking the game significantly, the sliders (big item, but certainly not a selling point for someone new to the game, but means a heck of a lot to we crazed sim fanatics), the ability to play/watch all games, 40 man rosters, choose your unis, new animations, etc., the list goes on.

I think this is a really great addition and shouldn't wear off anymore than a batting practice mode/homerun derby, or some other gimmick. I can honestly say I would not use either of these modes if they were/are in the game, but that's just me. To each his own though, but I disagree at how absolutely great this feature should/might be.

[Blzer]

Eh, the feature itself is only subpar, but it is also great in a way that it shows how much they have correct, that they can add little things like this. As long as it's not a "back of the box" feature, I'm pretty sure it's safe to say that this game is more than just a minor upgrade.

Besides, it could leave for some vulgar entertainment through the ol' home theater system.

[Crash Davis]

Custom Soundtracks for walk up music is HUUUUGE for me, the chants and heckling could get old fast, but I dunno its hard to tell right now. but the music addition along with the lighting system alone is worth a purchase for me personally and the game still has some more new things to offer.

[baa7]

Quote: Originally Posted by jim416

He thinks there should have been something "more significant" than the new sound mode. I don't know exactly what is wanted, speaking from a baseball sim standpoint.

I'll tell you what that "more significant" feature should be. It should be a complete and total revamping of the way the game impliments the hitting interfaces in conjunction with sliders.

First off, the manner in which timing versus zone hitting is tied to specific difficulty levels is one of the worst and certainly one of the most archaic programming choices in any video sports game, ever. It's ridiculous that one does not have the freedom to choose to use either timed or zone hitting on whichever difficulty level they choose to play. And if this has finally been changed for 09, then I apologize for bringing this up.

Second, the way in which some sliders are implimented in conjunction with the hitting programming in particular, is equally bizarre. This game has suffered from the same issues for 2-3 years now, issues that could have easily been rectified with a contact slider that determined the ability to make contact, rather than a slider that determined contact quality. Really, a contact slider of the former variety is so basic to every other baseball game, that it's almost impossible to fathom why this hasn't been changed and fixed in The Show. Instead, we hear that 09 will only feature yet another pre-set, pre-determined difficulty level -- based on this same archaic slider system I presume -- which apparently is supposed to somehow appease gamers. Bizarre.

I guess I don't get what's going on with The Show. It's a fantastic game in so many ways, yet some of the most basic gameplay elements appear to be stuck in a kind of weird PS1-era limboland. That "more significant" feature needs to be to finally make this a true next-gen game, and not just from a graphical perspective. Because as it is now with the current last-gen controls and ineffective, backwards slider system, the Show is nothing more than a prettied-up PS2 game.

Which is why someone like Pastapadre starts to question the point of spending development time adding a voice recording feature. Spend the time and effort to bring the gameplay into the 21st century (swingstick, anyone?), and then toss in those features and extras that keep the masses happy and allow them to putz around when they get bored with swinging at baseballs.

[jim416]

Well, they've said the sliders are being worked on, so I trust them with that. My point is that they do need a selling point for new gamers and this one is solid and, for me, is also huge.
Don't know if you picked up on that fact about the sliders, or not. I trust the game play IS being tweaked, but they aren't going to put that on the box, or make it a selling point.

Swing stick. For the life of me I don't know why that has to be labeled "next generation", and I simply don't get it having to be in a game. It sure worked good in 2k, lol.

[EnigmaNemesis]

Quote: Originally Posted by jim416

Well, they've said the sliders are being worked on, so I trust them with that. My point is that they do need a selling point for new gamers and this one is solid and, for me, is also huge. Don't know if you picked up on that fact about the sliders, or not. I trust the game play IS being tweaked, but they aren't going to put that on the box, or make it a selling point. Swing stick. For the life of me I don't know why that has to be labeled "next generation", and I simply don't get it having to be in a game. It sure worked good in 2k, lol.

/agree

The way they market these new features are for the 'average joe' to go "thats cool". Not us hardcore nuts that they will share the information we are looking for, but not on the box with in due time.

[Cubfan]

The Show doesn't need a swing stick or some crapy pitching system that requires you to move the analog stick 4 diffrent ways to throw a screw ball. Im happy to have a upgraded franchise mode which inclues 40 man rosters.