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

[deucepoppi17]

Not very impressed with fielding.

[Pujols_5]

I'm getting better. I dropped the difficulty down to veteran. Patience is the main key for me and it was with the button push anyways. I'm learning to take more pitches and even lay off the strikes that arent in the zone I want. Here are my tips and if anybody has anybody they would like to add I would love to see them as well as others would.

-I pull back my stick a tick before the pitcher gets ready to release the ball
-Without a strike, I usually look to take a pitch unless I guess the pitch and spot correctly
-Early in the count I use power swing unless I'm in a special situation (moving runners over, trying to get runner in from third with bottom of lineup, or just a guy that doesnt have much power)
-I use contact button with 2 strikes usually no matter what. I atleast fight off pitches until I get something to hit or simply get myself out
-Finally, like I said before, PATIENCE, especially on off-speed pitches. I would rather be a tad late on a fast ball then to be way early on breaking pitches and even fastballs at times, especially with pitchers that dont throw as hard as Wilson or Lincecum.

[ped3328]

Quote: Originally Posted by DJ

Thanks, Russell. I'll accept my demotion and report for Rookie ball next time I fire up the Demo Although, I think 99% of my problem is that I don't have the new MLB-themed Dualshock 3 to use. I know I'm going to rake once I get that in my hands. What are your thoughts on Pitch Speed? It seems real fast on default, and the natural instinct is to lower the slider. But, will that throw off the timing with Analog controls? Not sure if I should try and just adapt to default or again, swallow some pride and lower that slider, so long as it doesn't negatively affect timing. I appreciate you being around the forums to help us out.

Speaking of Dualshock 3, I started to use it when the '09 game came out. Been using it for '10 too. Will it make a difference if I use this new MLB dualshock that's coming out? In other words, does it wear out after a while? Thanks in advance.

[Russell_SCEA]

Quote: Originally Posted by DJ

Thanks, Russell. I'll accept my demotion and report for Rookie ball next time I fire up the Demo Although, I think 99% of my problem is that I don't have the new MLB-themed Dualshock 3 to use. I know I'm going to rake once I get that in my hands. What are your thoughts on Pitch Speed? It seems real fast on default, and the natural instinct is to lower the slider. But, will that throw off the timing with Analog controls? Not sure if I should try and just adapt to default or again, swallow some pride and lower that slider, so long as it doesn't negatively affect timing. I appreciate you being around the forums to help us out.

We have the fastest pitch speeds of any baseball game ever made its like that for a reason. A vast majority of the time MLB batters can't hit or make good contact on a fastball if they are looking for an offspeed pitch. We've always tried to emulate this. Since analog is a three step mechanic (stride and swing L,R,Center) you have less time to adjust. Which is why you should start your stride a split second before the pitcher releases the ball.

I've read a lot of people have already figured this part out. It just takes time and you are going to strike out more and make worse contact playing analog because of the three step process. It just takes time, when we prototyped all the new controls we didn't want them to be mastered in a week. That would have been a fail.

[Agathos]

Saw that glitch that was mentioned a few times in this thread. Timmy drops a curve in the dirt well short of the plate. The ball bounces, then straightens out and flies on a suspiciously straight path into the strike zone. Batter swings and fouls it straight down into the ground, but it's treated as in play. Easy out at first.

The Vlad-style swing at a bouncing pitch was funny, but I wonder why the foul ball was in play.

[DJ]

Quote: Originally Posted by Russell_SCEA

We have the fastest pitch speeds of any baseball game ever made its like that for a reason. A vast majority of the time MLB batters can't hit or make good contact on a fastball if they are looking for an offspeed pitch. We've always tried to emulate this. Since analog is a three step mechanic (stride and swing L,R,Center) you have less time to adjust. Which is why you should start your stride a split second before the pitcher releases the ball. I've read a lot of people have already figured this part out. It just takes time and you are going to strike out more and make worse contact playing analog because of the three step process. It just takes time, when we prototyped all the new controls we didn't want them to be mastered in a week. That would have been a fail.

So, if I can read into what you are saying, set pitch speed to where the ball is coming towards you in a realistic way. If you slow it down too much, you are taking the power out of the pitchers' hand and giving yourself too much of an advantage.

Going from default to Zero wouldn't be fair to the CPU as I'd have more time to read the pitch and that's not how it works in the real world, unless you are facing Jaime Moyer

I still may drop the slider 1-2 clicks because default blows me away, but again, that's on AS. Who knows how it'll play out on Rookie?

Thanks again for the help, Russell. Very much appreciated

[Heroesandvillains]

Quote: Originally Posted by nemesis04

You really need to go down a level or even to rookie and work your way up to get accustomed to the system. When I was first introduced to the new hitting I took that advice and worked my way up. From there I climbed the ladder all the way up to HOF and Legend.

Do you think dropping difficulty is a better suggestion than just dropping pitch speed FIRST (in caps, not as a 'yell', but to emphasize it for a first step...)

Obviously, if a lower pitch speed doesn't cut it, than I'd absolutely recommend a drop in difficulty...don't get me wrong.

Here's an example:

Keep in mind, I HAD to drop pitch speed from default last year once I upgraded to HD. From 5 to 3.

I did the same thing this morning, while still on AS, and hit my first homerun. I even found myself out in front of a couple of 93-95 MPH fastballs (meaning, I may need to bump it to 4).

Everything started to feel more like baseball to me at that point. I was taking pitches, checking my swing, and starting to zone pitches.

[PhilliesFan13]

After playing the demo a few times since Tuesday night, I'm still not really sure how I feel about the new analog control scheme.

Analog pitching feels smooth to play, but it seems like the only difference with it is throwing more balls than in other pitching modes. I've always been a classic pitching guy.

Analog fielding isn't too bad. I haven't had any problems with it thus far. I believe I've only made one error in a demo game so far. Might stick with it.

Analog hitting doesn't feel all that smooth to me. Maybe my opinion on it will change by playing it more, but I have a strong feeling I'll be playing this year's game with classic button controls.

I love that fact that SCEA wanted to give people plenty of options for controls. Like I said, I'm not saying no altogether to these controls, I still may use them if I practice more, but I'm sure there will be plenty of people who will be sticking with the classic button controls. Nothing wrong with that. To each their own.