MLB 2K12 Demo Available Now, Post Impressions Here

[kpkpkp]

YES!! THEY FIXED CHECK SWINGS!!

In last years game check swings were bugged. More specifically it was the umpire calling check swings that was bugged... they would always call a strike on you even if you held up on a ball outside the zone. This effectively rendered check swings useless.

The FIRST thing I did in the demo was check my swing over and over, and sure enough its finally fixed. When you hold up on a ball, they correctly appeal to the 1st base coach and he makes the call.

Aaaaanyways.. my impressions:

PROS
-Check swings work! A baseball game with check swings! Who woulda thunk it??
-Less jaggies on player model edges. Though shadows still look jagged.
-I like the new pitch system where over using certain pitches has drawbacks.
-I noticed a couple of the new catcher animations which is nice.
-I had a nice variety of hits.
-Base running being more rounded looks much better.
-I did not see hardly any vacuum gloves on infield liners. Except a little bit when one hit to my 2nd baseman came at him fast, he dove and the ball sorta magically got sucked into his glove, but it was incredibly minor.
-There are much less 2D fans in the stands. Paper thin fans always looked so dumb.. more of the fans are 3D models which makes it look so much better.

CONS
-I still saw some stuttering when I hit foul balls like lat year. I guess this isnt the end of the world cuz I NEVER saw it on balls in play. And usually a foul is headed to the stands so its not like you're going to make a play anyways. If you are going to make a play its usually on a foul ball popped up high giving you plenty of time to get under it.. so occasional stutter on fouls is a non-issue for me.
-Shadows on player models still look jagged.


All in all I'll probably buy it. But with all the bugs in years past I wont buy it right away. Check swings working is huge for me... but the other bugs in franchise mode ruined 2K9 2K10 and 2K11 for me. I will wait to buy... I wont be burned again on a bug filled product. I'll wait untill after the first patch and then decide. Skyrim keeps me plenty busy in the mean time.

[Blazzen]

I've played 6 innings and overall its better than I thought it was going to be. It's a more polished version of 2k11. I saw a lot of the things already mentioned in this thread, nothing really to add. Still on the fence about buying it.

[Cavicchi]

I don't care for the overuse of a pitch thing. If a pitch is working, I see no reason a pitcher should suffer just because he's getting guys out. And, I don't see where giving up a hit should affect the rating of that pitch. Pitchers do not throw perfect games all the time and hits will be given up, and that does not mean the pitch quality is going downhill. Location is key and missing your location one time does not mean that same pitch loses efficiency unless we are supposed to pitch perfect games all the time.

[nemesis04]

Quote: Originally Posted by jp121272

I don't care for the overuse of a pitch thing. If a pitch is working, I see no reason a pitcher should suffer just because he's getting guys out. And, I don't see where giving up a hit should affect the rating of that pitch. Pitchers do not throw perfect games all the time and hits will be given up, and that does not mean the pitch quality is going downhill. Location is key and missing your location one time does not mean that same pitch loses efficiency unless we are supposed to pitch perfect games all the time.

I am starting to think this pitching system addition was added to combat pitching exploits in dealing with the contest. The system is way over the top as far as changing from one at bat to the next. Not a fan of it all actually.

[Herky]

I loved 2K11 and enjoyed the demo. I always tell myself that demos are just that and not the finished product.

I'll do what I did last year though and wait for the patches before I buy it however. Probably get it around May if the patches work well.

Things look positive however. Just need to hear how franchise is once it's out.

[NINJAK2]

I must say that I liked the demo very much. The graphics and animations are an obvious improvement over 2 k 11 imo. only played 1 game an endEd up losing 10 to nothing. I had a hard time throwing some pitches and couldn't figure out fielding in outfield for life of me. I kept getting a late start on some balls resulting in hits that could have been outs. Liked what I played.

[Alonzo]

My first 2k baseball demo since 2009 or something. I gotta say I absolutely love the real-time presentation, stats overlay (and usually the commentators, even though they are disabled in the demo) Pitching is fun, great system. You get used to it, but still feels more natural than button-tapping. And a question for guys having played the 11 version...when you play the demo, there is a stat overlay after every pitch (i.e. 1-0 count: .266 BA, 20 HR, 37 RBI) Does this stat pop up in franchise mode or does this only work with the real MLB stats from 2011? I hope you get what I mean. All in all, the game is very decent, far from horrible. It's definitely worth a look.

[Beetlebum]

After years of playing The Show, I gave this demo a try and I was really impressed.
The game feels realistic, pitching animations are awesome and even though the graphics are not impressive at all I will probably buy it.

Now, in The Show I've always used broadcast camera even when batting, does anyone who had MLB 2k11 know if the batting camera is customizable and if it's possible to use the broadcast camera for both pitching and batting?

Thanks!