Major League Baseball 2K9 Developer Diary: Gameplay

[Trevytrev11]

Quote: Originally Posted by baa7

"When evaluating the hitting system we knew that we really liked swinging with the right stick. We wanted to keep the same basic swing of pressing DOWN and then UP to time the actual swing. In MLB 2K8, we felt that most pickup and play users struggled with figuring out when to press down thus resulting in many poor hits. In order to fit our overall goal of making the game more accessible, we allowed the user to press down to “set” at any point during the at bat. We found that this not only made the game more accessible, it also made the game significantly more fun and allowed us to implement other aspects of hitting so that the user can focus more on pitch, and location of the pitch. So let me get this straight. They removed the step influence feature, to make the game more "assessible" to "pick up and play" gamers. FAN-tastic...

I know this is a big game killer for you and others that appreciated the sytem.

My one saving grace is that hopefully the incorporation of zone hitting will add back most or all of the level of difficulty that is lost with the step influence. I imagine with pitch speed way up, it will be one helluva challenge just to locate the ball and time the swing to make solid contact.

And who knows, without giving it a try, an analog hitting system with pure step influence and a zone hitting system may have just been too much to handle, but who knows without trying.

[7stringking]

Quote: Originally Posted by DiddyGotGrillz

Please, Please, Please make this game so that it works OUT OF THE BOX!!! 2K Baseball Games have been pathetic for Next Gen systems and it is ridiculous! I admit, I have never been a 2K sports fan. I feel like the controls are loose and sloppy. I never feel like I have control over my guy. I just don't see what you spend your time on during the offseason? Your player models are horrific and the gameplay isn't great. STEP IT UP 2K....this is your last chance for me.

2k games, as a general rule, have far better physics and controls than most EA games.....It is hard to compare playing defense in 2k Football to madden Defense....Overall I would say that 2k have a much more analog and warm feel, as opposed to EA, whose games are more digital and sterile

I am a huge fan(and very recent convert) to NHL09 and FIFA09...These games are fantastic!FIFA in particular feels very warm and responsive(especially on a morezoomed in camera in BAP mode)...NHL09 is just solid

Even though I have bashed EA a lot in the past, I am glad to see them improving...The more good sports games, the better......So making a baseless statement about 2k Sports is pure drivel.If you were being critical of their past few MLB games you might make some sense.

[JayhawkerStL]

Everything sounded like they are making solid improvements where they need to be. I had set my step influence to 0 on 2K8, so even ther hitting feels like they are doing the right thing. I would hope, though, that they include the step influence as an option as theyhasve wit the release timing for pitching. Step influence would not be bad if they gave a more measurable way to indicating when to step.

But baserunning has me a little worried. I really enjoyed last year's version. the trigers woked very well, and I would like to sick with that control.

I did like the new basestealing controls. You are now giving the user much more control over the success rate. The only downside could be an over-emphasis on that part of the game in online play. I can see lots of pick-offs and steal attempts moving the focus away from the pitcher/batter match-up. Playing solo, this is great, as having a runner on should skew the focus. But online, this could be a part of the game some players will make more annoying than ever.

[Blzer]

Well in the end, at least real time is finally explained to those who didn't get it. I hope they stop saying "living world" and all of that jazz, thinking that like grass is supposed to grow and birds are supposed to ****.

So far, it seems that my only issue with the game is the lighting in general. It doesn't seem to be progressive, and there's just something about the day games where the sun's position in the sky doesn't feel right. I know, nitpicking at its finest, right? Well anyone that watches their favorite team on TV might feel like they aren't at their stadium with the way that it's presented, as it's somewhat right overhead yet a bit behind the batter, but at the same time it still feels earlier than later (most stadiums are positioned for the sun to fall behind the third base line, meaning even if the sun ever hit this position it at least wouldn't be so "early" out).

But if that's the only issue, then I have high hopes for this game returning back to basic form, which is great! Now the only concern is if the PS3 version will hold up at all.

[baa7]

Quote: Originally Posted by Trevytrev11

And who knows, without giving it a try, an analog hitting system with pure step influence and a zone hitting system may have just been too much to handle, but who knows without trying.

You make too much sense. Let me wallow in my misery. Hey: The good news is that I'm DEFINITELY not going to run out and buy this game now until I rent it first!

[totalownership]

My biggest concern with the game is hit variety. Hopefully it's not just the same 3 or 4 type of hits all the time. I've been playing MLB 09 demo and they got it down over there. I'm hoping against hope that 2K has mixed it up as well.

[The Living Legend]

Hmm that article defintly has peaked my interest. The only thing i worry about its Animation, animation is sooooo key in Baseball and pretty much every sporting game, and it was a huge factor in 2k8 for me. I was hoping to see something about that but didnt i mean there was so many hiccups in the transitions and slowdown for no reason, i hope they ironed all that out.

[brendanrfoley]

I think there is a lot to like here. I'm not surprised, it means Visual Concepts is doing its job and hyping the title.

I won't worry about the removal of the step timing for hitting just yet. If tweaks to the hitting engine allow improved hit variety and place a bigger emphasis on where a ball is pitched too, I'll be okay. I personally like step-timing, but I can't deny there is a big-time learning curve.

Pitching is hold back to fill the meter to preferred effectiveness, gesture and release (not timed release). I like the explanation for what happens with an imperfect gesture... pitches have less movement.

I love the changes to the base running controls. But, the question about directional sliding is a great one. How do we influence our slide?

I'm excited to see the RTA in action. Bat boys? You've got to be kidding me!

I can't wait until gameplay videos hit at the end of the week.