Operation Sports Logo Header
Home
Operation Sports Logo Header
MLB 2K8 News Post

Major League Baseball 2K8 360 Impressions

  01:24 AM - February 26, 2008 by Steve_OS
Matt Blumenthal had an opportunity to demo Major League Baseball 2K8 this afternoon. His official writeup of the event will be up later this week, but we wanted to get some quick thoughts up here for you guys.
  • This game looks beautiful, the player models have improved but the real leap is in the animations. The animations move silky smooth and there is no need to worry about herky jerky animations of the past anymore.
  • I'm impressed with how intuitive and fresh the analog controls are. The pitching takes a little time to get the hang of but the new mechanics add a whole new dimension to the pitching model.
  • The baseball cards feature is surprisingly cool, expect me to have more on that later on this week.
  • In-game saves are officially in the game this year.
  • Check swings don't seem to be a chore anymore. They are now accomplished by pulling back on the right analog stick - no more right trigger necessary.
  • Stadium-specific animations are in. The Yankee Roll Call was mentioned specifically.
  • There should be plenty of foul balls this year. I saw several in the few at-bats I played.
  • No spring training games this year.
  • I counted eight unlockable classic stadiums. I think more might be available by default as well.
  • No co-op play
  • You will have the option to make trades for CPU-controlled teams in franchise mode, but you won't be able to edit their rotations and lineups.
  • It was suggested to me that the demo is done and has been submitted. If that's the case, it's in Microsoft's hands now.
  • I will hit on a few of the big questions from the forum here.

Game: Major League Baseball 2K8Reader Score: 6/10 - Vote Now
Platform: PS2 / PS3 / PSP / Wii / Xbox 360Votes for game: 74 - View All
Member Comments
# 741 HK-47 @ 03/04/08 02:54 PM
Please mention what difficulty setting your playing on when you say you hit 5+ home runs in a game!

Rookie and Pro= For the casual gamer.More arcadey.

All-Star and Legend= Sim.More realistic.
 
# 742 Direblaze @ 03/04/08 02:55 PM
Im started to feel weird about the framerates. I am starting to believe that some games are coming messed up and others are not or something along the line.
 
# 743 ChicagoChris @ 03/04/08 02:57 PM
Just got the game and it required any update right off the bat? Haven t seen this from any one in here.
 
# 744 ComaFaction @ 03/04/08 02:58 PM
Quote:
Originally Posted by Direblaze
Im started to feel weird about the framerates. I am starting to believe that some games are coming messed up and others are not or something along the line.
Hmmm, that's interesting. I don't know if any of you recall a similar thing with College Hoops 2k8, where random games would have a poor frame-rate. I hope this is the case -- I'll be playing all night after work (only got 1 in during lunch), so fingers crossed!
 
# 745 timisone @ 03/04/08 02:58 PM
I am like a kid in a candy shop with this game. It is better then i hoped. I cant wait to mess around with the player beats. I biggest thing i have noticed is when you pitch something tha t should sink, it really does sink and if the catch isnt good enough he drops it. One complaint i have is the size of the text. I have 32 lcd and i cant read some stuff. Well worth the money and i get to sell my bobble head on ebay haha or burn it.
 
# 746 PhantomPain @ 03/04/08 02:58 PM
Quote:
Originally Posted by drewman011
http://www.operationsports.com/forum...post2038185564

this is a list of triple A, the single and double A are further into that post

Thank you drewman, I don't think I would have ever found it since it was in the beta impressions thread.
 
# 747 jrod1981 @ 03/04/08 03:01 PM
How is this years swing stick compared to last years? I absolutley loathed the swing stick in 2k7. I REALLY want to learn the new swing stick and am hoping for it to be improved Thanks for the impressions thus far guys.
 
# 748 pdawg17 @ 03/04/08 03:01 PM
Is it possible the framerate issues depend on what stadium you are playing in? People should mention that as well...
 
# 749 timisone @ 03/04/08 03:04 PM
Quote:
Originally Posted by jrod1981
How is this years swing stick compared to last years? I absolutley loathed the swing stick in 2k7. I REALLY want to learn the new swing stick and am hoping for it to be improved Thanks for the impressions thus far guys.
I really dont use the swing stick, still classic swing for me. As far as no power swing dont need it. Just aim for the outfield when you swing and if you hit it perfect or have a meatball pitch. Bye bye ball.
 
# 750 ComaFaction @ 03/04/08 03:06 PM
Quote:
Originally Posted by jrod1981
How is this years swing stick compared to last years? I absolutley loathed the swing stick in 2k7. I REALLY want to learn the new swing stick and am hoping for it to be improved Thanks for the impressions thus far guys.
I think the swing stick is much better....whereas last year was pretty much crush it or miss, there is a lot more variation this year. You'll only wiff if you're sitting dead red and get something offspeed.

Otherwise, you'll probably nub it foul, or be ahead and pop it up, etc. Lots of variety.
 
# 751 MizzouRah @ 03/04/08 03:08 PM
Quote:
Originally Posted by ComaFaction
I think the swing stick is much better....whereas last year was pretty much crush it or miss, there is a lot more variation this year. You'll only wiff if you're sitting dead red and get something offspeed.

Otherwise, you'll probably nub it foul, or be ahead and pop it up, etc. Lots of variety.
Yeah, loving swing stick 2.0 much better this year.

LOVE how you turn for a ball in the OF and the catching circle disappears until you turn back around.

I believe the manual is wrong in terms of hitting as well. It says to pull back and release for a contact hit - I couldn't hit doing that, my guy would just stand there. I believe Brinkman said they took the power swing out, so if you pull back and then push up, hitting is fine once again.
 
# 752 jrod1981 @ 03/04/08 03:09 PM
Quote:
Originally Posted by ComaFaction
I think the swing stick is much better....whereas last year was pretty much crush it or miss, there is a lot more variation this year. You'll only wiff if you're sitting dead red and get something offspeed.

Otherwise, you'll probably nub it foul, or be ahead and pop it up, etc. Lots of variety.
Thats good to hear! Thanks for the info
 
# 753 Direblaze @ 03/04/08 03:09 PM
From a 1 to 10 how would the people with the game say the framerate issue affected the gameplay>
 
# 754 ahuey58 @ 03/04/08 03:09 PM
does anyone play this game without playing against the studs? i found pitching was easier with Brandon Webb and hitting Carpenter was tough. Pitching with Chacin and facing Washburn is fun.

i really think its funny that people post impressions 2 hours after they get the game.

overall, game 1 was fun. that is all I ask for.
 
# 755 Damanjinx @ 03/04/08 03:11 PM
I dont have the game yet, though i think the problem with the Stuttering is due to the individual person themselves, or instance 2k7 i was never really able to enjoy it due to the framerate over time it just wore me down, were there are those that didnt mind it. So i think its going to be a individual thing wich sux cause youre going to have to play it yourself to see if you like it or not...thanx 2k
 
# 756 soldaderyan @ 03/04/08 03:11 PM
thnx for the info im really happy
 
# 757 UNC_Pete @ 03/04/08 03:11 PM
One game impression:

Setup:
Hitachi 51 RP-HDTV (1080i) Component + digital audio
All-Star

First, there is stuttering after hitting the ball and the ball coming in from the outfield into the infield. Using Aerial view helps reduce the amount which tells me it has to do with the amount of graphics trying to be displayed in the infield (due to the amount of players possibly?). It's a pain but I doubt there will be a patch fix but who knows, they made CHoops 2k8 awesome with a patch.

Pitching is a lot of fun. I have no clue what I was doing until I realized you go in the first direction and then abruptly to the second direction and release when the zone is in the green area. I think I was too excited and didn't read it the first time. Fielding is also great with the analog stick. The way the bar is pointing determines how on point the throw is. I've already pulled my 2nd baseman off the bag allowing a double which wouldn't normally be a double.

The addition of these features really helps mimic "human error" in the game. Instead of probability logic, throwing now is dependent on how accurate your throws are by using the analog stick. Pitching is even more sensitive as it takes into account how precise you are with the action of the pitch.

The hit stick is going to take more to get used to. The nice thing is that there is an addition in that the game tells you when you step too early which has really helped with my timing. If you want to take the pitch outside you swing to that direction and pull to the other direction. Depending on how far inside or outside you swing will determine where the ball goes.

Overall it's a very fun game right now, and I think once I get the hang of the throwing/batting functions it'll be great. The only issue right now that is holding it back is the stuttering but if you can look past the occasional stutter I think you'll be in for a pleasant surprise.
 
# 758 lived @ 03/04/08 03:12 PM
HOw's the crowd atmosphere. Loud at right times etc.
 
# 759 Blzer @ 03/04/08 03:14 PM
Wow, framerate and strike zones were my two main concerns with this game. I just sat down and read every post in this thread for the last 80 minutes, and I can say with certainty that this has guaranteed a future PS3 purchase for me. Now I can't say for certain that I will be getting The Show this year, but I want to keep playing Power Pros and I want some options for next year.

I will probably try and rent this game this weekend, but I'm expecting the worst (when it comes to some visual things mostly). I'll admit that I'm a graphics whore, and so far the lighting changes have already left me disappointed in the videos and screenshots that I have seen.

Let's just hope that most all gameplay issues are resolved now, so they can prioritize visuals and presentation for 2K9. If not, then it will be The Show for me, without question.


It boggles my mind to see they took a step backward this year in some departments.
 
# 760 ahuey58 @ 03/04/08 03:15 PM
not loud enough
 


Post A Comment
Only OS members can post comments
Please login or register to post a comment.