Major League Baseball 2K10 Gameplay Video (Mets @ Cubs)

[Pro Bowler]

The posted pics look a lot better than the video. I can't really see much difference between this and 2K9 after watching the video. That's the batting view i used last year so that's fine for me.

The animations look nice but they are a little too fast. I don't see the big deal with the numbers. I think the camera view has more to do with the size. I did notice that every player stands the same distance from the plate. It looks like every batter really crowds the plate. Derek Lee had an open stance but his right foot was still in the same position as the rest.

I'm one of the few that liked 2K9 as far as playing a single game. The only problem i had was the aggressive CPU hitters. I will still need to play the demo and see how it feels before i can make any real comparisons to 2K9. As of right now they look pretty much the same imo outside a few overlays and batting view.

[WaddupCouzin]

I don't think the pick-off play looks that bad, sometimes you have to dive back into first base depending on your lead, but I do hope they have varied get back to the bag animations. Only having one type wouldn't be cool.

[Blzer]

Quote: Originally Posted by capa

There is something still just not right about the way the players swing the bat. C

I can explain it, but just keep in mind this is from a hitting coach's perspective, so I don't want to be bashed or anything for the explanation that I'm about to give. I only want to explain what you're seeing, so this is purely instructional and observational, nothing more.

Well off the bat, the first issue is the video being down-converted from sixty frames per second when it was uploaded. Sometimes you're watching swings and it looks like you don't even see the bat go through the zone. That should be better ironed out when you watch it on your own TV.

The second issue is partly a swing issue that you'll see from baseball players in real life, but I think it's a bit exaggerated to the point that it doesn't quite seem physically possible. The issue is the wrist roll-over coming way too early in the swing. I think we're seeing it about during the contact point, which as most baseball players should understand is a huge no-no. A batter normally gets themselves "squared" to the pitcher by their pivot opening up their hips, so that way when they start their hands at the ball, the torque will open up their bat facing as well. For most of your swing, your bat will actually kind of stay along the same plane rather than getting a completely perfect arch-swing like Griffey's shoes show. And, at the point of contact, you should be well behind the ball (normally as a result of your weight being back). See here:






You can tell that his wrists yet haven't rolled over because his left wrist is still facing palm-up and his right wrist is palm-down. The normal "roll-over" point for a baseball player is when they extend the bat head out pointed toward the pitcher or the side of the field which they bat:




(notice this is when his wrists are finally rolling over, and palm facings are switching roles)


For one-handed swingers, this is also the earliest point they will let go with their top hand, because they don't want to have to roll over and carry through with their swing.

So in MLB 2K10 (and you can really see it in the Hitters video where Longoria doubles down the line), it seems the hip rotation moves independently with the hand movement. He'll get his pivot through, but not square up to the pitcher; then to get his arms around, you'll see that he rolls over around the point of contact and lets go of the bat shortly after that, then finish his hip opening when he follows through and lets go of the bat to run down the line.

Speaking of follow-throughs, that's the third issue. I don't really think I need to explain it, but they look awkward. They especially look bad on swings and misses when they do that helicopter thing. Not all of these hitters are Matt Williams, so I don't know why they're all doing it. It just looks weird is all.



So I just hope that it explains what's going on here. Again, take this as only a lesson from a hitting coach explaining some of the fundamentals of a swing, and how this is not only fundamentally incorrect, but almost physically impossible to separate body motion and flow with your hand gestures.


EDIT: Sorry if that Utley pic enlarges on you. I'll try and find a smaller picture to use.

[GhostWriter99]

As a x-box 360 only owner, I have no choice but to get the game. Well I guess I do have a choice but I need a Baseball game and this has to be it.

The video is ok I guess.

I really like the batters camera, I think this could allow more people to bring more high counts into a game. I loved the way Wrigley looked. I am not really too upset with the numbers but I can see what everyone is complaining about. I like the wildness of Oliver Perez, that will teach you patience because if you swing at those pitches you will get in trouble.

No too crazy about the quick inning in the top half. The fans didn't seem too realistic to me. Fielding seemed really fast. The "Play of the day" comment after the double play I did not like at all. A run scored and they acted like he did a good thing by hitting into a double play, I am not sure how easy that is to correct but still.

Overall I am not too dissapointed and am still on pace to getting the game the day of release (x-box 360 only owner). I am hoping more gameplay videos are coming so I can see some more to get a better idea of what to expect.

[rudyjuly2]

Holy crap Blzer! Nice breakdown. You always find a way to get technical lol.

[Pared]

Lots of potential there! The signature style is once again on top of its game.

[playball335]

I hate the fact (I know it's trivial) that all the names on the back of the jerseys are the same font. It's this lack of attention to detail that really bugs me with 2K. Along with the crippling bugs that always seem to plague franchise mode year after year. I am really hoping they have finally gotten things right.

I am really hoping for a pc baseball fix!

[Padgoi]

I think the video looked solid. Much improved over last year. I just don't understand why some of you are so nitpicky when it comes to 2K but let "the other game" slide like there aren't any issues with it.

Personally, the only issues I saw from that video were:

- as everyone said, the font on the Cubs uniform was atrociously large.
- the pickoff attempt with Soriano on first looked wonky and not fluid. Also, not sure if anyone noticed, Soriano starts his dive back VERY late. Like, I thought he was gonna get picked off BOTH throws. His dive back was late and LIGHTNING quick.
- The first basemen seems to makehisstretchcatchtheballthrowitbacknextplay . . . just like that, VERY fast. I actually had a hard time seeing the first basemen catch the ball on the grounders hit because the animation was so fast.

That's it. Nothing else seemed bad.

- People complaining that the crowd needs to interact with each other more. Do you want them to break out turkey sandwiches and play boggle? They were fine. They're 3D and went after the ball in the stands.
- I don't see the issue with the ball coming off the bat too quickly. There was a slow seeing-eye grounder through the right side and there was an opposite field bloop single as well. Were those fast? No. Again, seems fine to me.

I'll pass judgment when I see more gameplay. Looks like a solid first video in my opinion.