Major League Baseball 2K9 Developer Diary: Gameplay

[bigfnjoe96]

Quote: Originally Posted by baa7

Joe keeps pointing out that it's possible it's still an option, so hopefully. But is zone hitting possible if you don't use the stick? That would be a reason to use it.

Baa supposedly Zone Hitting can be used with Classic Hitting or Total Control Hitting:

Quote:

Lastly, we implemented zone hitting as an alternate control scheme. Zone hitting is where you have a cursor and you have to put the cursor in the same zone that the ball crosses the plate in addition to your regular swing. Zone hitting works with either the Classic swing (press A button) or Total Control (RStick). We also added a “sweet spot” to the cursor, if you lineup the “sweet spot” of the cursor where the ball crosses the plate, the hitter will get an additional boost to your hit.

[Padgoi]

1. I believe the article states you can use the zone hitting with the hit stick OR the button hitting, it's your choice.

2. Am I the only one who is truly concerned about the pitching description? He says they removed the meatballs (which is good) and that if you mess up the gesture now, it will result in fastballs being straighter and slower and curveballs not curving as much. This concerns me greatly because it SOUNDS like a meatball, just with a different description. Instead of having a straight ball right down the middle, a fastball will be straighter and slower - that sounds like a glorified meatball . And a curveball won't curve as much - ALSO sounds like a glorified meatball.

I'd be happy if he said, "if you mess up the gesture and release too early, the pitch will sail high and the pitch won't have as much bite. Likewise, if you hold the gesture too long, the pitch will be in the dirt." But he didn't say that. He said the pitch won't have as much bite, which in essence means it will be more hittable. Again, to me, this isn't real baseball. If I'm pitching and I mess up my gesture (delivery), the pitch is definitely not going to have as much bite, that's true. But there's a DAMN good chance that pitch won't be near the strike zone either! Once again, he doesn't mention a THING about strikes being difficult to throw or working the count (as the pitcher) or pitches being balls if the gesture is wrong, just that the pitch won't have as much bite, which sounds like bad gestures will once again result in pitches over the plate and smashed.

Does this not concern anyone else or did I miss something?

[jeffy777]

Quote: Originally Posted by Padgoi

Does this not concern anyone else or did I miss something?

No, I'm not concerned yet because I haven't seen it in action or tried it, so it's to soon to really say whether this new method it's going to be good or not.

Quote: Originally Posted by Blzer

Also keep in mind of this screenshot: Remember that the guy playing IS indeed doing franchise mode, so he didn't set the time of day for this game. This must have been a 7:00 start, and at the first inning already being dark... tsk tsk.

Haha, only you would catch that Blzer, but nice job. Huge bummer though, such a big step back if you ask me. I wonder if that means they temporarily removed weather then too?

Quote: Originally Posted by bigfnjoe96

Baa supposedly Zone Hitting can be used with Classic Hitting or Total Control Hitting:

That's a nice option if that's the case.

[bigfnjoe96]

Quote: Originally Posted by Blzer

Also keep in mind of this screenshot: Remember that the guy playing IS indeed doing franchise mode, so he didn't set the time of day for this game. This must have been a 7:00 start, and at the first inning already being dark... tsk tsk.

So in the beginning of April, 7pm games still offer natural light?

[wsu_gb23]

Quote: Originally Posted by Blzer

Also keep in mind of this screenshot: Remember that the guy playing IS indeed doing franchise mode, so he didn't set the time of day for this game. This must have been a 7:00 start, and at the first inning already being dark... tsk tsk.

not to be cynical, but has 2K EVER made a good baseball game? 2K baseball was happening during the MVP era, and everyone knows how good the MVP series was...how did MLB ever decide on giving the exclusive license to 2K for baseball? What title/titles did they base their decision on? Just a Jack Handy deep thought there...

[Padgoi]

Just to put this point out there again so people realize that this is a bit more significant than the daytime-nighttime transition in terms of gameplay:

2. Am I the only one who is truly concerned about the pitching description? He says they removed the meatballs (which is good) and that if you mess up the gesture now, it will result in fastballs being straighter and slower and curveballs not curving as much. This concerns me greatly because it SOUNDS like a meatball, just with a different description. Instead of having a straight ball right down the middle, a fastball will be straighter and slower - that sounds like a glorified meatball . And a curveball won't curve as much - ALSO sounds like a glorified meatball.

I'd be happy if he said, "if you mess up the gesture and release too early, the pitch will sail high and the pitch won't have as much bite. Likewise, if you hold the gesture too long, the pitch will be in the dirt." But he didn't say that. He said the pitch won't have as much bite, which in essence means it will be more hittable. Again, to me, this isn't real baseball. If I'm pitching and I mess up my gesture (delivery), the pitch is definitely not going to have as much bite, that's true. But there's a DAMN good chance that pitch won't be near the strike zone either! Once again, he doesn't mention a THING about strikes being difficult to throw or working the count (as the pitcher) or pitches being balls if the gesture is wrong, just that the pitch won't have as much bite, which sounds like bad gestures will once again result in pitches over the plate and smashed.

Does this not concern anyone else or did I miss something?