MLB 09 The Show Demo Available, Post Impressions Here

[bukktown]

Quote: Originally Posted by seveb

For me, the batter/pitcher interface is 90% of a baseball game, and I must say that I am WOWed by the improvement in this area. Last year I couldn't get around on fastballs (HOF difficulty), but it didn't matter because I could be pretty late even on an inside fastball and hit it very hard and very far the other way. I'd use pretty much the same timing to pull offspeed pitches. Pitches like sliders seemed a little "floaty". I could track them as they looped across the zone, and check my swing at the last second. 2 strike hitting was no big deal-I could check up easily on all balls and foul off pitches all day. Basically, everything was so forgiving. Now I can get around on fastballs (and have to if I want to jack them), and the offspeed pitches work so much better. Hamels is just NASTY. Kazmir's slider breaks off so hard and late, and it is so much harder to check up if I'm really fooled (as it should be). On legend, the hitting zone seems a lot more important as well. Two strike hitting is really nerve-racking, and if I get my pitch early in the count, I really feel the need to get ahold of it. As someone who fell squarely into the "too many hits" crowd, I think I'll be happier than in pig in s*** this year. The ball physics seem very much improved (less "floaty"). A scalded ball in the gap or down the line is really scalded. I know the fielding irks a lot of people, but it seems improved this year. Diving plays are now rare and impressive. In 08, I'd have at least a couple diving plays a game; now the ball often squeezes under the glove or just out of reach. Outside of things the guys have already confirmed fixed for the final build (stuck-in-the-mud outfielders), I can't say I've found a major problem. I know it's cause everybody's getting anxious to play the full game, but some of the quibbles seems awfully nitpicky. (I never see an outfielder trip and fall down. HOW COME OUTFIELDERS DON'T EVER TRIP AND FALL DOWN) jk. I guess I'd like to see more of a difference in the throwing meter between safe and slow tosses vs more risky guns, and maybe the pickoff/stolen base sytem could be revamped. The 2K9 videos looked like they had something where the pitcher actually has to look over manually (maybe with a small penalty if he throws a pitch quickly after looking back) that looked kind of cool. This was kind of long and rambly. But I know the SCEA guys stop in here from time to time, and just wanted them to know they've done a marvelous job this year. I think the batter/pitcher interface is darn near perfect! Also, I'm usually a cynical jerk, so I'm hard to please.

Excellent Post!

[rckabillyRaider]

Some of the commentary is off. For example, when Hammels is pitching they say he was right there at the top of the list for ERA leaders and they show the list of about 10 pitchers and Hammels is NOT on the list! LOL. Also some graphical glitches and of course the collision detection issues that has been talked about. Nothing major. Loving the game and can't wait to get it.

[SoxFan01605]

Quote: Originally Posted by rckabillyRaider

Some of the commentary is off. For example, when Hammels is pitching they say he was right there at the top of the list for ERA leaders and they show the list of about 10 pitchers and Hammels is NOT on the list! LOL. Also some graphical glitches and of course the collision detection issues that has been talked about. Nothing major. Loving the game and can't wait to get it.

On the ERA list, I think Pared said he caught that and mentioned it to the devs at the community day. So hopefully that won't be an issue any longer.

[NAFBUC]

Quote: Originally Posted by dave_sz

Like I said, it's both me and the CPU that is doing this. Seems every time I fire up he PS3 and play the demo, a different hing happens over and over. I guess no one cares. I was just pointing out that what they say goes and it's just that they don't know what they are saying is 100% true. Either way, I love you all bye...

Wow........Knight and Jim bend over backwards to assist the community members and you blame them for not giving an answer that YOU want.

If you have that much concern, do not purchase the game.

[callmetaternuts]

I played the demo a ton (again) this weekend. Im finally getting hitting down on Legend. Well, not down, but more than 1 hit every 3 games. Im actually not going yard as much as i thought i would. Cant figure that out. I hit alot to dead center or close to it. I need to start pulling those into the stands!

[countryboy]

Quote: Originally Posted by dave_sz

another thing, on all the ground plays, the infielders get a speed boost that just comes out of nowhere. You hit a grounder and it looks like it will go through the infield cause the fielder starts off slow and he's too far from the ball, then all of a sudden there is this unreal speed burst and he has the ball in his glove...

I haven't seen this at all. In fact, its been my opinion that the infielders are too slow to react and balls are getting through the infield more.

And as for the stealing thing, I've thrown out far more baserunners than not and the same has happened to me. I've seen the high throw to 2nd you speak of, but not nearly everytime as you project.

[ilpadrino78]

I want to wait until the game comes out to play...but how difficult is hitting on legend? Are we finally over the days of batting .320 as a team even on the hardest of levels?

[Motown]

Quote: Originally Posted by callmetaternuts

I played the demo a ton (again) this weekend. Im finally getting hitting down on Legend. Well, not down, but more than 1 hit every 3 games. Im actually not going yard as much as i thought i would. Cant figure that out. I hit alot to dead center or close to it. I need to start pulling those into the stands!

hehehehe...you just THINK...you have it down. you just playin' "the soup w/out the meat" right now