R.B.I. Baseball 16 Available For Xbox One, PlayStation 4, PC, Android & iOS

[strawberryshortcake]

Quote: Originally Posted by MLBGames

Thanks boomhauertjs! I think people are starting to understand what RBI is all about and we are generally getting less of the "why aren't you that other product?" reactions. And with the refinements we've continued to make, some people such as yourself are also beginning to appreciate that it plays a really solid game of baseball. I find that each game feels different. Blowouts, barn burners, pitching duels. You get it all and it all feels like a game that could have occurred in real life, even though the gameplay is simple and quick. We're always listening to the feedback and the features that people want to see. We know some are disappointed that more hasn't been added to the roster / franchise type features, but we felt backend gameplay still warranted the bulk of our attention for this go around. We hope to bring you all more great stuff in the future!

First, congratulations on the release of RBI 16. Here's hoping for yearly releases including RBI 25, RBI 30, RBI 50, etc.

I've been watching several RBI 16 youtube videos. Just because it's not like the other product, doesn't mean you guys can't strive to replicate a simulation real life baseball game. There is no monopoly on real life simulation baseball games.

The following maybe too much, or maybe even possible. But "no cutscenes, everything live and in real time" would help give the series a more "real" feel to it. You can consider the following suggestions, or not. But the following is what I would do to take a baseball game to the next level.

Spoiler

On the field cosmetic "gameplay" suggestions:

(1) Transition Animations - instead of having players abruptly stop in their tracks, add in more transition animations so the player comes to a slow jog, and doesn't look lifeless. I can already see the potential in RBI 16 because the foundation to many of the fielding and throwing animations are actually very, very well done compared to real life baseball players. For one thing, I like the fact that the speed of the arm whip (follow through) of the pitchers in RBI 16 are fairly realistic.

(2) Individualized. Less uniformity. Less synchronized "swimming." I noticed when the 3rd out is recorded, whether that be a strike out, fly out, out at first, second or third, all nine players on defense suddenly stops in their tracks and runs off the field in a similar fashion. How about programming some walking and jogging back to the dug out at different increments, different rates. And then might as well include the opposing team walking/jogging onto the field for defense assignments.

(3) No cut scenes. Everything live and in real time. In a real baseball game with respect to how a player moves and what a player does. If the runner gets thrown out at 2nd, have him slowly get up, pat dirt off his uniform (or something), and physically jog back to the dug out across the field and take a seat as you'd see in a real baseball game instead of having him immediately disappear from screen. Given that RBI is from a top down view, this would help separate yourself from the other game. After an out is recorded, have the fielders toss the ball around, similar to real baseball players on the field. Upon a strikeout, the catcher would throw the ball to third base and ultimately at the end the ball would get back to the pitcher. No cut scenes, everything live and in real time.

Obviously, the scene cuts away from the batter/pitcher interface when the ball is hit into play. That type of "cut" is still perfectly fine.

(4) Think Camcorder. Think in One Take. In the movie "Snake Eyes" with Nicholas Cage, the first 15 minutes was shot uncut. The camera rolled for fifteen minutes straight. That's what I mean by "No cut scenes. Everything live and in real time." I simply don't want to see players disappearing immediately from screen. I would like to see the player actually run across the field back to the dug out.

[boomhauertjs]

IOS version was already patched on Saturday and the ball is much easier to see and the hitting is much improved because of it.

[MLBGames]

Thanks for the feedback, strawberryshortcake. Many of your suggestions are already on our radar. One core tenet of our gameplay though, that much of your feedback fights against, is to be able to complete games in around 20 mins. Certainly many of your suggestions can be accomplished while keeping game times short, but having no cuts at all would likely at least double the total time it takes to complete a game. #1 and #2 are definitely areas that we hope to improve on.

[thelounger456]

Thanks MLBGames for checking in an taking feedback. Just to add a bit from the other side - for me I am all about getting a solid game in quickly. Not to turn this into a debate or anything but just to share my thoughts that I as a user don't mind the quick cut scenes and folks just disappearing. It helps facilitate a quick game which is what I am after and why I play MLB.

[strawberryshortcake]

Quote: Originally Posted by MLBGames

Thanks for the feedback, strawberryshortcake. Many of your suggestions are already on our radar. One core tenet of our gameplay though, that much of your feedback fights against, is to be able to complete games in around 20 mins. Certainly many of your suggestions can be accomplished while keeping game times short, but having no cuts at all would likely at least double the total time it takes to complete a game. #1 and #2 are definitely areas that we hope to improve on.

Appreciate the response and appreciate that elements of #1 an #2 are on the docket. Best wishes. Obviously, no cutscene is simply a cosmetic improvement but it also doesn't mean it can't be implemented with the ability to button through them if desired. Considering it's not crucial to gameplay, having it on the whiteboard as a potential feature for the future wouldn't be a bad thing. If it ever does happen, you might consider calling it "RBI Baseball LIVE." It might simply be "icing on the cake" so to speak when all other priorities have been addressed.

Are players model changes in the works for future installments?

Are smoother animations in the works for future installments? (Might want to check out "Professional Baseball Spirits" on youtube for inspiration.)

Quote: Originally Posted by thelounger456

Thanks MLBGames for checking in an taking feedback. Just to add a bit from the other side - for me I am all about getting a solid game in quickly. Not to turn this into a debate or anything but just to share my thoughts that I as a user don't mind the quick cut scenes and folks just disappearing. It helps facilitate a quick game which is what I am after and why I play MLB.

Options for both sides is something that would be appreciative. Option to either button through or simply skip them altogether. But if the RBI development wants to stay the familiar course, then a potential segment of new customers might never consider RBI baseball.

[CMH]

Going to give this one a shot and download it today.

Haven't played any of the other next generation versions of RBI, but have been wanting a more laid back MLB game to play.

[jsucram]

I'm liking the game so far ... starting to really see the depth within the simplicity.

Too many people complaining about lack of features, options that were never intended to be part of the game anyway. It should be evaluated by how well it plays a game of baseball, not how it compares to other baseball video games.

Question for MLBGAMES ..... is online multiplayer bugged at the moment, or is my internet connection just bad? Every game I've attempted to play getting "the connection b/t you and XXX does not meet 712Kbps required to play online"

[CMH]

I agree. I'm enjoying it too. It's a casual game that plays baseball well.

Too many folks want something to be what it never intended to be and then we rate it against our desires and not the product.

RBI delivers as a casual baseball game.