MLB 11 The Show Demo Available Now, Post Your Impressions Here

[ped3328]

Quote: Originally Posted by Drew127

After extended time with the demo, I finally feel safe about stating my feelings on it, as I've had time to let things sink in. 1. The graphics are certainly improved. For reference, I popped in MLB 10 and started a night game at AT&T Park. First thing I noticed, the grass looks significantly better this year. Second thing, the lighting is vastly improved. From player shadows to how the stadium lights impact the stands. The stadium as a whole just looks lit correctly. Last year, during night games, parts of the stadium (and even parts of the field in the early evening, covered by shadows) were way too dark. An example of last year vs. this year, is last year during night games in lots of stadiums you couldn't even see the individual pads on the outfield fence, from the default hitting cam. The fence was just shrouded in darkness. This has been fixed and looks perfect this year. I think the lighting changes are huge. 2. The new player models look great, although I never really had a problem with the old ones to begin with. 3. The custom camera is great and really makes the game fresh, in my opinion. I originally was really disappointed at the lack of being able to adjust "focal point" on the custom cameras, but after playing with it more today I think I've found my perfect hitting cam. I love it, it adds a whole new element to the game. The new team broadcast cameras are superb, also. So far I'm favoring the straight-behind-the-mound angles, such as St. Louis, Boston and Minnesota. 4. Ball physics are improved, this is evidenced on foul balls and how they bounce off of the walls and other objects down the lines. It's not so much like a pinball anymore, where the ball will fire well back into fair territory. I think it looks spot on. The ball physics on hits is better also, already I've seen some choppers which were rare last year. And doubles down the line look picture perfect as they slice in the air and bounce around in the corner. Thing of beauty. 5. I'm loving the new analog pitching. For me, this might be the best pitching system I've experienced. Granted, I did not play MVP NCAA, nor have I played the 2k series so I don't have much basis for comparison to other analog schemes. But I'm actually walking people now and am seeing pitches that I just miss my location on, getting called for balls, etc. The pitch counts and ball/strike ratios seem perfect so far. An aside note, I struck out Nelson Cruz with a curveball that bounced in the dirt, and he chased. That was awesome. 6. Analog hitting will take some time. So far I'm on the fence with it. Same goes for fielding. Now the things that disappoint me. The presentation is just stale, and I don't really understand why it's been left untouched for so long. In my opinion, that is the most glaring flaw of the game. Sure, three years ago the presentation was nice, but it's been mostly untouched since MLB '08 and now it's just looking dated. Someone mentioned the overlays are way too busy...which I agree with. They could be cleaned up and simplified a lot. 2k really has this done well, I think. And 2k did it in one year, so I don't really get why the design team at SCEA can't step up. Replays still have those same awkward angles that you would never see on a TV broadcast (not all of the replays, some do have a nice broadcast angle). The top two priorities for '12 should be presentation and franchise overhaul (better stat tracking, a meaningful spring training, etc). And yes, I know they added things like pitch sequences and the ticker this year. Announcing obviously is stale also. I'm not so pressed about the announcing either way, I can take it or leave it. But this needs lots of work too. Overall I'm impressed with the game and for me, the changes do warrant a purchase. The analog pitching and custom cameras alone are enough to freshen the game up for me. I hated meter pitching and always used classic pitching, but had my qualms with it and admittedly it was very boring. Analog pitching is fun AND realistic. However, if you are talking about freshening up a game that lots will argue has become stale, presentation is the single biggest element that can be enhanced. The game play is stellar and doesn't need as much attention, next year. Let's get the other stale elements of the game brought up to date.

This is a very intelligent and articulate analysis of the game. You are spot on on everything. And it's so well written. I wish more people wrote that clearly. Hopefully, the folks at SCEA will take good note. They have done a masterful job with the game over the years, but as this person points out, there's lots of room for improvement. I'm sure the weak areas will be worked on next year. Whether this demo was made in December or Jamuary, all indications are that the finished product come March 8th will please the majority of us.

[dingleberryfinn]

my impression?
took too long to download for a demo
but as for teh actual game, i'd still pay $165 for it,lol

[Solid-Hock]

Could be the broadcast angle, but I seem to notice more movement on pitches. Curveballs look like they break more and Tim's RFB actually shows movement.

Analog controls are one of the greatest things to happen to this game.

Day-Night transition is amazing.

Umpires blowing strike calls is annoying me, but only because it's so realistic.

My only demo complaint is that we can't have any control of the bench/bullpen without doing a workaround.

Other than that I'm satisfied and have gladly pre-ordered from amazon. $0.99 release shipping FTW!

[Checmate101]

Oh, I can't stand this ump behind the plate either..dude is super blind

[Drew127]

Quote: Originally Posted by ped3328

This is a very intelligent and articulate analysis of the game. You are spot on on everything. And it's so well written. I wish more people wrote that clearly. Hopefully, the folks at SCEA will take good note. They have done a masterful job with the game over the years, but as this person points out, there's lots of room for improvement. I'm sure the weak areas will be worked on next year. Whether this demo was made in December or Jamuary, all indications are that the finished product come March 8th will please the majority of us.

Thanks for the feedback, I appreciate it! BTW, I see that you are an O's fan...as am I. In fact, a lot of the stuff I mentioned when I was talking about lighting were based on how Camden Yards was lit in MLB 10. Night games were way too dark. After comparing the lighting in AT&T Park between the demo and MLB 10, I have faith that Camden will be much better lit. Last year, you couldn't even make out the brick behind home plate during a night game!

Go O's!

[starwars]

cant what for the full game.The analog pitching i like it is cool and not to hard to get use to the thing i find the hardist about it is adding and subtracting power. The analog hitting i dont like but i havent tride it a lot but i think i will use zone hitting as i like beable to control the pci and with analog i tend to swing at more bad pitches. I love have all the carmore options has in the past game i stakout to mutch becuase i couldnt tell where the pitches whore going and it made it to hard to drawl walks with the new carmores and custerm carmores that shouldnt be a problem any more. The graphics look about the same as 10 beside the sky and new player models i cant what to see the rain and fog. The analog fielding iam steal triering to figure it out as sometime i still push the buttuns and i fill like it is hard to not over throw. This game add basicly ever than i could have hast for and before playing the demo i thought i wouldnt use analoge controlls but now i thank i will use analog for pitching and fielding but buttuns for hitting. The one thing i hope for is that the computer outfields dont make so many diveing catchies like last year it was one of the most fusterating parts of this great game.

[bellz666]

For the first time in the last few years, this truly feels like a $60 roster update. Everything about the demo seems so much like prior years. I actually dislike Eric Karros in the "booth" completely. He sounds like hes in a closet, and basically adds nothing as he's predominantly reading Rex's lines.

The analog controls are pretty welcome, although the hitting is virtually impossible for me.

I am going to buy the retail version in the hopes that the demo is simply not polished enough.

[Skyboxer]

Quote: Originally Posted by bellz666

For the first time in the last few years, this truly feels like a $60 roster update. Everything about the demo seems so much like prior years. I actually dislike Eric Karros in the "booth" completely. He sounds like hes in a closet, and basically adds nothing as he's predominantly reading Rex's lines. The analog controls are pretty welcome, although the hitting is virtually impossible for me. I am going to buy the retail version in the hopes that the demo is simply not polished enough.

After seeing/hearing all the improvements: (RTTS, Analog controls (which were loudly asked for by the gamers) Lighting, player reactions time, player models, tweaks to trade/franchise logic etc..) you think it feels it's basically a roster update?
To each their own I guess....