Major League Baseball 2K9 Developer Diary: Gameplay

[jeffy777]

^^^ We heard you the first time, lol

[Knight165]

Quote: Originally Posted by bigfnjoe96

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

Ummm...yep.

....http://www.timeanddate.com/worldcloc...&afl=-13&day=1

M.K.
Knight165

[The Living Legend]

Quote: Originally Posted by 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?

I think it will be a mixture of both, you probably wont get a pitch right down the pipe but it will be damn close but nowhere nearly as much as last years.

[baa7]

Quote: Originally Posted by Padgoi

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.

That was my first thought when I read that as well. I guess we'll see. But if you throw a breaking ball that doesn't break, it should end up high in the strikezone or up around the letters. Hopefully that's what happens.

[baa7]

Quote: Originally Posted by bigfnjoe96

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

Thanks. Now, I guess there's no Power swing button any more, is there? That's about the only reason I'd go back to button hitting.

[bigfnjoe96]

Quote: Originally Posted by wsu_gb23

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...

Sorry but MVP had 1 good year. MVP 05. 2K when developed by Blue Shift made some great baseball games. All their games received 8's & better from reviewers with World Series Baseball 2k3 being recognized as 1 of the best baseball games ever.

Now in reference to the License, I'm pretty sure money had something to do with it... Ya Think???

[bigfnjoe96]

Quote: Originally Posted by baa7

Thanks. Now, I guess there's no Power swing button any more, is there? That's about the only reason I'd go back to button hitting.

No Power Swing Button. 1 Button Hitting...

[Trevytrev11]

Quote: Originally Posted by 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?

I'm not too concerned. The don't say the ball will go straight down the middle, just straighter. I take this as a 2 seamer won't run in as much or a cutter won't cut as much. I believe it will still be thrown towards your desired location, just not as a high quality as a pitch. I'm also thinking instead of a 94 MPH fastball it will be 90MPH, not a 75MPH BP fastball down the middle.

As far as curveballs. Pitchers usually mess up one of two ways. They don't get the bite on their pitch and the pitch flattens out and hangs up in the zone. Of they just miss their location. It sounds like they are going with #1, but I'm guessing location will be off as well.

In both cases, we don't know how the location of the pitch will be impacted by a bad gesture, just the quality of the pitch (slower, flatter pitches). Hopefully, they don't all miss location towards the center of the zone and instead miss in the direction they were intended.