MLB 2K11 Demo Available Now, Post Your Impressions Here (PS3/360)

[JayhawkerStL]

Quote: Originally Posted by metal134

How do you check swing?

Just pull back on the RS. It's very intuitive.

[Dazraz]

No access to the demo. I would much appreciate it if any of you guys could upload a video of your demo experience. Would love to see some 360/PS3 comparison shots. 2K games often look weaker on the PS3.

[rudyjuly2]

Quote: Originally Posted by Redemption

its hard for me to get a feel for the batting because I just can't get used to the pitch speed. It's just so damn slow on the demo I'm way ahead of everything. Even when I try to wait on it and feel like I'm going to be late, I still end up early I'm used to needing to make that split second decision and can't wait until the full game so I can crank that pitch speed up

I love the slower pitch speed in this game. It allows me to actually be patient at the plate and draw walks. The pitch speed slider worked well last year so people should be able to find a happy setting for their personal preference in the retail version at least.

Quote: Originally Posted by BA2929

Well. I've played two games and I'm 100% in picking guys off at 3rd. I've tried twice and been successful twice. Both times the runner started back, but instead of going to the base, he went to the right of it while shuffling his feet the entire time. Tagged out easily.

I picked someone off second base as well. It was too easy to pick off players last year but there are sliders for this. Again, 2K doesn't let us tinker with this in the demo unfortunately.

Quote: Originally Posted by jeffy777

Hey Blzer, are you sure about this, man? It seems to me the two-seamers are definitely breakpoint control, same as 2K10. With a RHP, they always break to the right of where I put the ball cursor and end up a few inches over to the right. If they were pinpoint, wouldn't that mean they would end up where I place the cursor? Or do I just need to lay off the doobies and work on my pitching gestures? hehe

I think Blzer is definitely wrong here. Two seamers are still breakpoint control imo. I had pitch movement cranked up in 2K10 last year to make it harder and the movement was definitely breakpoint last year as well. Blzer, if you still have 2K10, crank up that slider and you will see that two seamers are not pinpoint control.

[rudyjuly2]

Quote: Originally Posted by Jayhawker

So I went into Settings-->Profile-->Game Defaults-->General and set my default difficulty setting to Hard, as was suggested elsewhere in the thread. Holy ow has this made a difference. Let's just say that no one will be complaining about pinpoint pitching anymore. I got smoke 9-0 as the Rangers, which meant the Giants scored the runs in two innings. I'd say Hard is far from perfect, but it is a great indicator of what we will be able to do with the sliders. Fielding was significantly harder, as guys to not go after the ball at all. Throwing is tougher, too. I had a much tougher time making contact, getting just two hits in three innings. Also, in case anyone was really wondering, I pulled off three check swings due to my skittishness at the plate. So yes, they are in the game. The CPU had a check swing, too.

Man, I wish they had a trick like this for the PS3. That sounds good. Keep the impressions of the beatings coming.

[dolemint]

I've played a ton of the demo and just want to share some thoughts.

PROS
+ Uniforms look great this year. Numbers & letters look stitched on instead of painted on. Very nice lighting on SF's jerseys for the day game.
+ Fielding (the most different aspect) is fun and makes sense. Feeling the player differentiation is really nice.
+ Pitching (the best part of 2K10) has improved too, in that it's not as easy to be accurate. I've walked a couple batters and have gotten in some poor counts to boot. Being tempted to rely on your best pitch in a 3 ball count is realistic.
+ The camera for hitting is well done.
+ I actually stole a bag by diving feet first into second.
+ Variable strike zone is cool. While pitching, my brain still has to adjust to hitting the perfect borderline corner and not getting the call.
+ Although the post hit camera (baserunning) is unconventional and takes some getting used to, I sorta like it so far. It's not especially unrealistic to not know immediately if a player is going to make a catch. This pro could turn into a con if I can't adjust to it in the long run.

CONS
- There's a bug where you can pick off any CPU runner at first that doesn't have much of a lead off. For some reason, instead of walking to the bag, the CPU runner often gets trapped behind an invisible wall. This does not happen if the lead off is large enough to cue the dive animation. Hopefully, this glitch is in the demo only.
- Frame rate is inconsistent in hitters view, especially on foul balls. Hopefully this is for the demo only, but I assume it will be in the retail version. However, it does not affect game play negatively.
- There's still some wonky animation transitions that you'd expect after playing 2K10, but nothing major.

If by chance, some game reviewer is on the board and has the final build, please test out that pick off glitch as described. It's something a player would have to intentionally abuse, but when you're down by a run and know a way to score an easy out, it'd be tempting to use the exploit.

Bottom line is the game is a lot of fun and I'm really hopeful the retail game will deliver.

[Skyboxer]

Played the demo last night and short and sweet...I enjoyed it as it was pretty fun.

[PMO]

What is the default setting for hitting, is it the same swing stick as last year?

Pull back then push up for power and just push up for contact? The step means nothing again or did they go back to where its all just 1 motion and everything is based on timing?

[JayhawkerStL]

Quote: Originally Posted by PMO

What is the default setting for hitting, is it the same swing stick as last year? Pull back then push up for power and just push up for contact? The step means nothing again or did they go back to where its all just 1 motion and everything is based on timing?

It is exactly like last year.