The CPU decides the game....

[BigTone1970]

I know there have been many rants about this game, but I have spent a great amount of time playing this game on the all-star level using timing hitting in a franchise with the Angels. The bottom line is that my skill levels are not deciding the outcome of these games. Before you say that I suck or that I have no skill let me say that I work the count, I am very patient at the plate and usually draw 3-4 walks a game. I only attempt power swings when I am up in the count 2-0, 3-1. But like many have stated before me, nothing is more upsetting than seeing that you have perfect timing on a swing (it is timing after all) and you have just missed it or you have weak contact. This is a video game. Who is deciding whether or not I am successful, the CPU, not me, not you. It is very frustrating to battle and finally get the pitch that you are looking for and receive the just missed/perfect timing info. What else can I do?? I don't want a game where every one is Albert Pujols, but at the same time, I do want my skill level to have some type of effect on the game. I don't want to have to use the Red Sox or Yankees in order to win games. For those who argue that they want the VIDEO game to accurately reflect players ratings, then maybe you should play SIM baseball instead of a video game or just let the CPU simulate the games. The whole point of us playing is to be able to change the outcome of the game based on our skill level, not just to be somewhat involved in a pre-determined computer simulation. Video games should attempt to be realistic, but also be fun. There is nothing more frustrating than doing every thing right and not being rewarded. I can live with hard balls being outs because that happens in real life. I cannot live with the CPU randomly deciding if my perfect timing results in weak contact or no contact at all because then my skill does not matter. I might as well watch the CPU play itself instead of getting my hopes up that my performance will have an effect on the outcome. By the way, I am 40 years old and have been playing video games (in particular sports games) since video games were invented. I have never felt this helpless in determining whether I win or lose. When you use timing hitting and your timing is perfect, you should see results. It is hard enough to be patient at the plate and time your swings perfectly.

[rondoman]

Your issue is using timing hitting.

Timing hitting means the CPU uses ratings and stats to determine where the PCI is. So, by using timing hitting yes, the CPU is deciding "where" you swing.

Try zone hitting. This is much more reliant on the user.

[SoxFan01605]

Quote:

When you use timing hitting and your timing is perfect, you should see results. It is hard enough to be patient at the plate and time your swings perfectly.

That's not entirely true though. You can time a pitch perfectly, but if you swing over/under a pitch you won't make good contact or flat out miss. The 3 modes of hitting aren't designed to give different results, just different user interface. In other words, things like pitch type and location, hitter ability, etc all still count even if you time it perfectly.

With timing hitting, you should have the best chance if you time perfectly, but you are also asking the AI to handle bat placement through the zone, which is dictated by ratings, the pitch, etc. So you are essentially asking the CPU to dictate more for you.

If you are using timing only or analog, since aiming is handled almost solely by ratings (up and down for analog, and virtually 100% for timing only) you have the least overall user control. If you want the most control, then you should use Zone. I've never once felt "cheated" out of my control. It's much more challenging than timing though.

[spit_bubble]

Quote: Originally Posted by BigTone1970

...It is very frustrating to battle and finally get the pitch that you are looking for and receive the just missed/perfect timing info. What else can I do??

You can raise the "Human Solid Hits" slider all the way up to 10.

What that slider does is effect the alignment of the PCI (plate coverage indicator). With it raised all the way up to 10 you will have the PCI line up more often, and thus make the hitting more about your own timing... Rather than having the CPU "decide" the game.

Mind you, it's not going to make the hitting all about timing, but it will alleviate some of the frustration.

The other thing you gotta do is just accept the fact that ratings will dictate a certain percentage of the game, and proceed accordingly...

Also maybe press "Enter" every now and then when posting a message here, to prevent your thoughts and ruminations from being presented as a giant wall of text.

[BigTone1970]

Sorry, but hitting the enter button still doesn't change what I am saying.

Anyways, I shouldn't have to change the settings of the game to get realistic results and to have some feeling of having using input affect the results of a VIDEO game. Anyone that has ever played baseball knows that hitting a baseball requires reaction, not pre-planning. Yes you can look for a ball in a certain spot, but mostly, when you have 2 strikes on you, you are swinging at strikes.

When I was successful as a baseball player, it was because I was swinging at strikes, and my hand/eye coordination automatically took over and contact was made. It was not because I looked at a certain area, it was because I had trained to swing at strikes and knew where the strike zone was. Timing hitting is the closest to this because you have to make one decision and that decision is simply to swing or not to swing. Everything else was done naturally.

With that being said, the few responders are saying that maybe I am playing the wrong mode (not using zone hitting) or to raise the PCI level. That let's me know that I am correct about my original post because I am subjecting myself to the randomness of the CPU and that my skill (or lack of) has no bearing on the outcome of a VIDEO game. I am merely a spectator. I am playing a game mode that says that timing is the only factor that I can control, yet I am not being rewarded when I am successful. Like I said in the first post, I don't mind getting out, but the ball should be hit hard somewhere, not missed/just missed/weak contact because then I am not in control of a VIDEO game. Isn't that the point of playing a VIDEO game, to be in control?

[cas850]

all i know is i just use analog on all-star and that works for me. i feel like i have complete control and it's not random at all. don't really have any suggestions for you.

[johnpreyes]

Quote: Originally Posted by BigTone1970

Sorry, but hitting the enter button still doesn't change what I am saying. When I was successful as a baseball player, it was because I was swinging at strikes, and my hand/eye coordination automatically took over and contact was made. It was not because I looked at a certain area, it was because I had trained to swing at strikes and knew where the strike zone was. Timing hitting is the closest to this because you have to make one decision and that decision is simply to swing or not to swing. Everything else was done naturally.

Then you should also know that baseball has a lot of randomness to it. How many times have you seen a batter hit a ball hard and just line out? Maybe this game isn't for you. Just move along.

[Knight165]

You say you have perfect timing on the ball....so even if your swing is perfect/perfect....what should happen when the pitcher throws a perfect/perfect pitch at the same time?(it's not indicated like batting, but of course it is and should happen)....
Should YOU always get the nod?
I think you have unrealistic expectations and not really unexpected game results.

M.K.
Knight165