MLB 11 The Show Demo Available Now, Post Your Impressions Here

[Rattler17]

Let me start by saying i sucked at MLB 10 and i sucked even worse at MLB 09 lol.

Ive played about 25 games since the demo dropped and i won my first game today but the kicker is why i think i was losing. I for some reason was using X to swing all the time which i believe is the button used to just hack at the ball. I saw in the bottom of the screen that O was in fact the contact swing and on the first use of this button i smashed a triple, next swing i hit a double and then a homer lol. But thats not what i noticed that really caught my attention this is:

MLB 10 scenario: Lincecum looks in for the sign, throws the pitch and a ball is sent screaming right at him, the ball goes through him and rolls out into CF.

MLB 11 scenario: Lincecum looks in for the sign, thorws the pitch and a ball is sent screaming right at him, the ball SMOKES HIM IN THE LEG and careens off into foul territory. I then sit as he limps around in visible pain while Posey follows him around making sure he is ok to continue.

Needless to say this years game has been upgraded considerably from last season as that is not the first new animation i have seen either.

[Knight165]

I just think some guys either aren't giving it enough time....or already have it in their mind that they don't want analog.
I'm horrible at hitting and I got the hang of it after a few days. Is it timing? Sure it is as hitting is mostly timing.
The biggest problem is going to be guys who are pulling back on the stick before the pitcher starts his motion. You really lose the swing there.
Think of hitting....you start relaxed...the pitcher starts his motion...you hitch your hands up a bit...and lean back ....when the ball comes in...you uncoil and hit. That's how I hit a ball and IRL...if there was one thing I could do it was hit.
This system is nearly identical to that.

M.K.
Knight165

[ryan36]

Quote: Originally Posted by Knight165

I just think some guys either aren't giving it enough time....or already have it in their mind that they don't want analog. I'm horrible at hitting and I got the hang of it after a few days. Is it timing? Sure it is as hitting is mostly timing. The biggest problem is going to be guys who are pulling back on the stick before the pitcher starts his motion. You really lose the swing there. Think of hitting....you start relaxed...the pitcher starts his motion...you hitch your hands up a bit...and lean back ....when the ball comes in...you uncoil and hit. That's how I hit a ball and IRL...if there was one thing I could do it was hit. This system is nearly identical to that. M.K. Knight165

Yeah, you guys just aren't hitting the "Play ball" button hard enough before the pitch

I wish they would've done the mechanic with a straight up and down on the r-stick... and I hope they release the hitting video tutorial since the demo has nothing about analog.

[PVarck31]

Quote: Originally Posted by Knight165

I just think some guys either aren't giving it enough time....or already have it in their mind that they don't want analog. I'm horrible at hitting and I got the hang of it after a few days. Is it timing? Sure it is as hitting is mostly timing. The biggest problem is going to be guys who are pulling back on the stick before the pitcher starts his motion. You really lose the swing there. Think of hitting....you start relaxed...the pitcher starts his motion...you hitch your hands up a bit...and lean back ....when the ball comes in...you uncoil and hit. That's how I hit a ball and IRL...if there was one thing I could do it was hit. This system is nearly identical to that. M.K. Knight165

Agree 100%

Once you get the timing down its a fantastically realistic hitting system imo. Instead of just standing there, you actually get to "stride and ****" just like every player does in real life. Then as the ball is coming in you decide to uncoil into a swing or not. Even the way you check swing is more realistic now.

They also nailed the look of the strides. I got locked up with a Timmy 12-6 and it looked exactly how it looks when that happens in real life. Stride, ****, a little forward movement Then completely froze me. Even though I struck out, I loved it.

Oh man, "****" is filtered. Just think of something that rhymes with block.....Come on. its a baseball term. lol

[Qb]

Quote: Originally Posted by sink4ever

Good call on contact swing, I think that may be one of those "little" things that ends up making a big impact on gameplay.

Absolutely, sink. And not just with two strikes.

Got a man on 3rd with less than two outs? Have you met my friend contact swing?

Want to hit & run? Hello, my name is contact swing.

Do your teammates often refer to you as Punch and/or Judy? Say hello to my little friend!

I've seen all of these situations play out perfectly in 6 or 7 demo games. Slap hits with Borbon & Andrus and a flare with Sanchez -- even a couple texas-leaguers with the pitchers. Hit & run to stay out of the double play or simply wanting to advance the runner. Running up pitch counts by fouling off tough two strike pitches. As you can tell, I'm really digging the strategy it adds.

[BronxBombers22]

Overall, I feel that the new analog systems add a lot to the game. I just stink with them right now.

It is just me or are the graphics not to sharp? It seems that there are a ton of jaggies. I take it that the demo is an earlier build and is not the final product that we will be receiving come release?

Just to let you know, I have a Sony Bravia XBR9.

[Chef Matt]

Quote: Originally Posted by Qb

Do your teammates often refer to you as Punch and/or Judy? Say hello to my little friend!

Scarface?


Wow when you think about it this one small addition of contact swing has huge strategic implications.

[Qb]

Quote: Originally Posted by chefdad

Scarface? Wow when you think about it this one small addition of contact swing has huge strategic implications.

Yup. And from what I've seen, it seems fairly well balanced. You can still swing & miss if your timing or PCI are way off and even good contact can still result in some weak hits. But if you use it correctly, the trade off is worth it.