Three Keys: MLB The Show 15

[DustinT]

MLB 14 The Show was an outstanding experience for baseball fans, but many parts of the series have begun to feel old and tired. The possibility that the series is getting stale is very real, so this year the franchise must ensure the product keeps growing.

To avoid becoming stale, and to continue to improve, will require a careful balance of redoing the necessary pieces of the game without going overboard and ruining the winning formula. Here are three key areas the team at SCEA should be focused on:

1. Commentary/Presentation. The commentary was once labeled as some of the best in the business — unfortunately it hasn’t changed much since what feels like forever. New lines or a new group in the booth will help the experience feel fresh instantly.

READ MORE - Three Keys: MLB The Show 15

[MDgolf]

Framerate!

[nemesis04]

They are well aware that commentary needs addressing. You have to build a new bridge before you can take down an old one. So basically you get small adjustments and fixes until one day your bridge is finished. If we do not get dramatic changes in 15, it does not necessarily mean they are not paying attention to the issue.

[HustlinOwl]

they will have to make some serious decisions moving forward in regards to the PS3 version of this game and eventually fade it out of the mix sooner the better. Online, I think it took a step in the right direction technically however gameplay/bugs/implementation new online franchise not so much. I want more customization (schedules) when it comes to setting up a league. Still find it confusing as much as I continuously hear about online on these boards and yet never see leagues here complete or the PSN list very active, guess it is more of a popular take than those with any real input on the mode

[Armor and Sword]

I understand commentary is feeling old and stale. But I don't agree with removing the three man booth currently in place. I love Matty V, I thought Lyons was a great addition and I am fine Karros as well.

What I want is far more dynamic commentary to make franchise and the post season feel even more authentic and alive. I really think historical stat's, career averages vs pitchers, career numbers vs certain batters...in key moments really would amp up the immersion.

How cool would it be (and I know 2K baseball had a lot of this great presentation in a sub par baseball game) to see Trout coming to the plate with bases loaded vs Michael Pineda and we get a stat swipe of his career average with the bases loaded vs how he is doing with the bases loaded during that current season. Then you get a career average stat swipe vs Pineda.

It just does so much for immersion and feeling like it's a real broadcast.

So that's in-game. More stat's, more dynamic commentary about the situation, the season itself etc.

And then of course a more robust off the field franchise presentation with weekly or monthly wrap up shows and highlights of great plays, hits etc. Heck even the newspapers were cool and had that "old school" flavor to franchise that kept me more immersed.

The Show is my all time favorite sports video game series...bar none. I want to see the next step taken on the PS4 to bring us even more virtual baseball utopia!!

I am confident this team is working hard to make this happen in future iterations of this great AAA+ sports franchise.

[GeauxTigers]

Certainly this won't be happening anytime soon until the NCAA works out all the lawsuits involving athletes and compensation; but since I doubt there'd ever be a big enough demand for an NCAA Baseball game how about just a College World Series mode. They could add the new stadium in Omaha and allow users to fill out the bracket from schools they download ... downloading may even help the NCAA with keeping track of which schools/players get how much compensation if they don't simply negotiate a flat fee.

[GeauxTigers]

As for the current game ... I don't have the history playing this game that many probably do. MLB the Show 14 was the reason I went PS4 as my next generation console rather than Xbox One (previously I had just the Xbox 360). As someone who's always loved baseball games for a first time player of this series it was hard to have too many complaints. Doesn't mean there isn't one area I'd like adjusted ... quick counts. I might enjoy this feature more if there was a way to customize the feature ... for example if you could cap it at 2 balls and 1 strike the max ... it can be frustrating to be in a situation where you might consider a bunt only to see you have 2 strikes so can't risk it ... also bringing in a pitcher from the bullpen and you're given a 3 ball count and you're not sure just how accurate the pitcher will be on that first pitch you risk grooving one just to get a strike or missing badly for ball 4. Also in this mode I'm pretty sure the pitch count for the CPU team doesn't stay accurate ... while it does for the user ... not sure if anyone else has noticed this.

[Armor and Sword]

Quote: Originally Posted by GeauxTigers

As for the current game ... I don't have the history playing this game that many probably do. MLB the Show 14 was the reason I went PS4 as my next generation console rather than Xbox One (previously I had just the Xbox 360). As someone who's always loved baseball games for a first time player of this series it was hard to have too many complaints. Doesn't mean there isn't one area I'd like adjusted ... quick counts. I might enjoy this feature more if there was a way to customize the feature ... for example if you could cap it at 2 balls and 1 strike the max ... it can be frustrating to be in a situation where you might consider a bunt only to see you have 2 strikes so can't risk it ... also bringing in a pitcher from the bullpen and you're given a 3 ball count and you're not sure just how accurate the pitcher will be on that first pitch you risk grooving one just to get a strike or missing badly for ball 4. Also in this mode I'm pretty sure the pitch count for the CPU team doesn't stay accurate ... while it does for the user ... not sure if anyone else has noticed this.

Excellent points about the mighty and awesome QC feature. It completely changed the way I play The Show. I was resistant at first....but fell in love with the feature and it is the only way I play the game now.

I am pretty sure we will see further evolution of this feature and more customization going forward. But like nemesis pointed out you have to start somewhere and 14 was the start of an amazing game changing feature.