MLB 2K11 Developer Insight #1 - Marketing Looks Back at MLB 2K10

[CincinnatiRedlegs]

Quote: Originally Posted by Jayhawker

That's fair. I'm not sure what you consider big improvements. I think they have to: -Improve the fielding by adding errors, and increasing the influence of the RS on throwing. I'd like to see this be modeled so that players' ratings will influence this appropriately. I would not expect them to drastically change how fielding is handled in terms of using more dynamic camera angles, as you suggest in my blog post. It's a good idea, but would take far more time and $$$ than I expect them to throw at this game right now. -Introduce a legitimate injury system that happens in-game, and not just during sim. -Improve the in-game interface so that the user can access the opponent's roster so that we can easily see who is left on the bench, who is left in the bullpen. And for god's sake, we need to see the what handed each of those players are. -Increase the variability of ball placement when pitching. Simply force us to center the pitches of worse pitchers, and let a pitcher's wildness rating affect just how close to center a pitch can land. If they just do all of this, I'm going to enjoy the heck out of the game. I suspect we will only see a portion of this done, and probably it won't be tuned as well as it needs to be. So I will still enjoy it more than last year's, but no one is going to be talking game of the year. I'd like to see an improved hitting model. But I really found a way to make last year's model work nearly perfectly for me. So they can leave it, as imperfect as choosing between power and contact is. Actually, if they just reverted to the 2K8 model for hitting and pitching, it would be a plus. I think VC altered stuff that did not need to be fixed from that game. 2K8's primary flaw was frame rate and tuning. While many complained about how hard it was to pitch and hit, it was mostly due to the newness of the interface. The complaint now is how easy it is to pitch. I would have even left the meatballs in. the two step hitting is more iffy. I think it is fair to call the current hitting model as nothing more than a glorified button press. But I do think the check swing on the stick was perfectly used in 2K9 and 2K10 (once it was patched in). There is no way that using button presses can simulate that. But there is a real problem with the timing required to step into a pitch in way that feels right. It's an important part of hitting, but I just don't think it can be duplicated in a video game that makes its mastery feel like it is improving the game. I would love to see the improved commentary that we see in NBA 2K11, but that is expensive, and I just don't think the game can afford that expense. An improved franchise mode would be nice, and I know it is much higher on many folks' priority lists. But MLB Today became my way to play the game. All I want would be for the stats I put up in MLB Today to replace the stats from real life. That would create the ultimate season mode. As a bonus, the ability to go back and play any previous game in MLB Today would be awesome. But I just don't see this other stuff making the cut this year. I hope I am surprised. But 2K10 sold like Backbreaker. And that company has decided to no longer make console games. I don't see 2K investing too much in a baseball series until they can negotiate a better license. It's within the realm of possibility that when this deal is done, 2K baseball will go the direction of College Hoops. If that happens, I will then be rooting for the return of EA to baseball. With the introduction of analog controls to The Show, I feel like we can count on EA Baseball of including them in their game. I'd prefer to see EA and 2K battle it out.

I couldn't agree more. If they can improve on 2K10, it should be a solid game. I honestly enjoyed 2K10 despite the no injuries and errors, but am hoping to see them back in.

I remember in 2K9 when comebackers to the pitcher would result in concussions and then 2K10 made the super-fielding.

In a nutshell, if they could find a happy medium with everything, it would be awesome.

I'm somewhat optimistic, but kind of nervous about 2K11 as well.

[rudyjuly2]

Adding more sliders will help a ton imo. Pitch accuracy was still too easy and the cpu used the contact swing way too often. I'd love to be able to tune the cpu aggressiveness at the plate.

[ryan36]

This isn't the end of the world for 2k, OS, or mlb fans. I suppose it's not really even indicative of the quality of the game...even though I asked about that awhile back in a thread I created.

The bottom line is as bfjoe said, it is what it is.

[Saberq]

Does anyone have an idea when the next insight is supposed to come out?

[Trevytrev11]

Quote: Originally Posted by Saberq

Does anyone have an idea when the next insight is supposed to come out?

Do you mean:

MLB 2K11 Developer Insight #2 - Pack It and Ship It, with the head of 2K's west coast distribution center...or...

MLB 2K11 Developer Insight #3 - Less is More with the assistant graphic artist behind MLB 2K's four-page instruction booklet.

[Saberq]

Quote: Originally Posted by Trevytrev11

Do you mean: MLB 2K11 Developer Insight #2 - Pack It and Ship It, with the head of 2K's west coast distribution center...or... MLB 2K11 Developer Insight #3 - Less is More with the assistant graphic artist behind MLB 2K's four-page instruction booklet.

Let's hope not......I expect some genuine info on the next insight.....

[hitstreak13]

I have a gut feeling that 2k11 is going to be a solid game this year. If they add 40 man rosters, waivers, futures game, etc. people are going to be ecstatic (including myself). The gameplay, from the look of things, has looked pretty good the last two years, so that shouldn't be a problem. Like some of you have mentioned, if they iron out a few things (such as errors and injuries) it's going to be a good year for 2k.

[Philly Fanatic]

Quote: Originally Posted by hitstreak13

I have a gut feeling that 2k11 is going to be a solid game this year. If they add 40 man rosters, waivers, futures game, etc. people are going to be ecstatic (including myself). The gameplay, from the look of things, has looked pretty good the last two years, so that shouldn't be a problem. Like some of you have mentioned, if they iron out a few things (such as errors and injuries) it's going to be a good year for 2k.

What ? How ? I didn't see that.