Major League Baseball 2K9 Developer Diary: Gameplay

[Stroehms]

Wow. Can't wait

[baa7]

Quote: Originally Posted by Djwlfpack

I understand their decision on removing the step

I guess I don't understand why people are so accepting of this. I'll try to be very clear: 2K8 introduced an innovative hitting system unparalled in baseball games. But it goes beyond that. There are few stick movement features in video sports games that mimic the actual physical activity it's attempting to copy, to the degree 2K8's swing stick mimics hitting a baseball. The closest comparison I can think of is the way the RB running is mapped to the R stick in 2K football. So imagine if there had been an NFL 2K6, but VC decided to go back to the way running was in 2K4. Football gamers would have hit the roof.

With last year's system, you approached hitting the way an MLB player does (minus the aiming of course). The key component was the pulling back on the stick, which emulated the leg lift/timing mechanism hitter's use as the pitch approaches. That timing mechanism is 50% of hitting. And it's never been included in a baseball game. We had the perfect system, and now it's gone. That's like Michaelangelo carving the statue of David, and then taking a chain saw hacking the thing in two.

[sask3m]

Quote: Originally Posted by baa7

Right, just like real hitting. And if Alex Rodriguez can do it, why can't you? Oh wait, if you're saying you don't do steriods then I can see what you're getting at.

ok, i might be able to manage all those moving parts but i wouldn't need steroids just a couple espresso's

[The Living Legend]

Quote: Originally Posted by baa7

I guess I don't understand why people are so accepting of this. I'll try to be very clear: 2K8 introduced an innovative hitting system unparalled in baseball games. But it goes beyond that. There are few stick movement features in video sports games that mimic the actual physical activity it's attempting to copy, to the degree 2K8's swing stick mimics hitting a baseball. The closest comparison I can think of is the way the RB running is mapped to the R stick in 2K football. So imagine if there had been an NFL 2K6, but VC decided to go back to the way running was in 2K4. Football gamers would have hit the roof. With last year's system, you approached hitting the way an MLB player does (minus the aiming of course). The key component was the pulling back on the stick, which emulated the leg lift/timing mechanism hitter's use as the pitch approaches. That timing mechanism is 50% of hitting. And it's never been included in a baseball game. We had the perfect system, and now it's gone. That's like Michaelangelo carving the statue of David, and then taking a chain saw hacking the thing in two.

I agree with you to an extent. I liked the hitting system, though i think to the vast majority it didnt fly to well, maybe more people found it to hard hit. Removing it completely and not making it a option is rediculous and never should of happen, maybe im wrong.

[brendanrfoley]

Trevy, did you ever play High Heat?

The game cheated a bit, in the sense it never modeled the bat to ball collision. But it did use a bevy of stats and ratings to calculate quality and direction of hit based on pitch type, location, speed, swing timing, so on and so forth.

There were choppers to charge, slow rollers, shots down the line, hooking and slicing liners, etc. The game truly was (and still is) something special. It did so much right that both Visual Concepts and SCEA are still trying to perfect.

[Stroehms]

Love the new stealing controls. Just flat out awesome!

[Fiddy]

hmm i hope this doesn't disappoint again.. looks promising!!

[brendanrfoley]

Quote: Originally Posted by stroehmerbasebal

Love the new stealing controls. Just flat out awesome!

The whole mechanic is brilliant. Tap the L trigger to lead, hold to wait to take off, release to run. I have hopes it will imitate the waiting game a good base runner has with the pitcher.. looking for the first sign of movement to take off.

I am increasingly worried about directional sliding, however.