News Post

MLB '09: The Show - Always Room for Improvement

02:11 PM - October 8, 2008 by RaychelSnr

Even though the baseball postseason is in full swing, it is never too early to start thinking ahead to next year's baseball games. MLB '09: The Show will be hitting store shelves in approximately 6 months and our own Kris Watson is anticipating the games release with a new article MLB '09: The Show - Always Room for Improvement.

Quote:


	"In my franchise, Game 5 of the Division Series has just ended and the Tampa Bay Rays have just won its third game, moving the squad one step closer to the American League Championship. This should be a joyous time for a gamer. I'll now be able to sit back and watch the dugout and bullpen empty, as they all run at full speed waving their hands and tossing their gloves off as they engulf closer Troy Percival on the mound. However, there's one huge problem here. The cut-scene begins and lasts for about two seconds before the normal "end of game" summary is given by Matt Vasgersian. I think I noticed what seemed to be my Rays, but unfortunately I must have blinked just once, which made me miss the whole celebration."

MLB '08: The Show screenshot gallery - Click to view

Game: MLB '08: The ShowReader Score: 8.5/10 - Vote Now
Platform: PS2 / PS3 / PSPVotes for game: 97 - View All

Member Comments

# 21 countryboy @ 10/08/08 08:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by zippy2212


	It always amazed me that ASB 05 had a better franchise mode then the new games. I've said it before I would rather have the Rule 5, 10/5 no trade, waivers, etc. then have to worry about ticket prices and promotions.

same here my friend, same here.

# 22 NiteLordz @ 10/08/08 08:47 PM

I agree, but you have to give The Show credit... it has ALOT of details in it that make you go wow, that really happens. First time for me was when the beach ball wind up on the field. no reason for that to be in the except for the fact, and to steal from EA, "It's in the game" really puts you in the atmosphere. One other thing i would love to see, would be closers coming in out of hte bullpen.

# 23 gator3guy @ 10/08/08 09:09 PM

Please fix the catchers gear. It looks TERRIBLE. It's been the same the last three years i owned the game.

# 24 green94 @ 10/08/08 09:35 PM

Dynamic lighting, HAS to be in this year.

Weather isn't a big deal, I'm not sure why people want this so much.

But yeah, I agree with playoff atmosphere. Got to get the towels in this year, and I'm not sure if they have this in or not now, BUT, would love to have different audio levels captured depending on the size of the crowd and playoff games...

Also have to get the crowd up with pitchers are pitching out of a jam and or have 2 strikes on a hitter.

# 25 fpe @ 10/08/08 11:47 PM

Stadium specific home run celebrations, i.e. fireworks, etc.. There is no excuse why these were left out, after all it is called "The Show". They even had them in the PS2 version.

# 26 prot22 @ 10/09/08 08:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hapa17


	can we please PLEASE have realistic body types for managers??? lou pinella, mike scioscia, and all the other big-gut managers haven't been that svelte in decades! and how about a team jacket on em instead of a plain uniform. it's been documented that terry francona has been asked to wear his uniform when managing. he argues that he has a circulatory problem that requires him to bundle up in the outer-wear jackets, etc. in other words, we should almost never see francona in a full bosox uni during a mound visit. i know this is purely cosmetic, but when you're trying to immerse yourself in a fantasy world and the manager trots out there looking nothing like his real life counterpart, you're ripped from the fantasy! The Show does such a great job in most aspects, but when i see that lean lou pinella paying a mound visit, i suddenly realize that i'm not at wrigley; i'm in my boxers on my recliner at 3 a.m. playing a video game (LOSER!). please don't remind me that i'm a loser!

I did forget to mention the ability to edit coaches bodies and names. Great point Hapa17. All year I wanted to edit the first and third base coaches on the Phillies to make them realistic.

# 27 Knight165 @ 10/09/08 10:41 AM

Good stuff ...nice little write-up.
There are so many little things that would go towards making this(and every) game so much more in depth.
The great thing about SCEA(for The Show at least) is that the devs seem to be genuinely interested in what we gamers are looking for.
Thanks for keeping the spotlight on these "issues".

M.K.
Knight165

# 28 zippy2212 @ 10/09/08 10:51 AM

Editing the coaches would be awesome! I hate having my third base coach wearing the same number as my starting catcher.

# 29 mrnickyb @ 10/09/08 11:21 AM

cursor hitting???? Yeah, ok.....

# 30 SDwinder @ 10/09/08 01:45 PM

Dynamic lighting/shadows and moving clouds with the wind should be priority number 1. This was handled very well in MLB2k7 360.

Rain is such an infrequent thing in baseball, that it just isnt worth spending the time to program it into the game. Football yes, baseball no. Get over it. Put all the efforts into dynamic lighting. That is one thing I really miss from the 2K series.

I would like to see the dugout and bullpen guys react to what is happening on the field in an appropriate natural way, This would enhance the reality aspect. Need more dugout and bullpen guys too. There is nobody in the bullpen at all until someone gets sent to warm up and there is not enough guys in the dugout to seem realistic. When a team is in the field there is nobody left in the dugout!

Collision detection between players and calling for a popup like in the 2k series would be great. Also, with that goes breaking up double plays at 2B. That should be a gimme.

I would like to be able to mod the rosters for exhibition play too, because the weekly updates are not always accurate.

# 31 SDwinder @ 10/09/08 01:50 PM

Also, we need a behind the pitcher view for online play, but only when in the field.

# 32 green94 @ 10/09/08 02:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SDwinder


	Dynamic lighting/shadows and moving clouds with the wind should be priority number 1. This was handled very well in MLB2k7 360. Rain is such an infrequent thing in baseball, that it just isnt worth spending the time to program it into the game. Football yes, baseball no. Get over it. Put all the efforts into dynamic lighting. That is one thing I really miss from the 2K series. I would like to see the dugout and bullpen guys react to what is happening on the field in an appropriate natural way, This would enhance the reality aspect. Need more dugout and bullpen guys too. There is nobody in the bullpen at all until someone gets sent to warm up and there is not enough guys in the dugout to seem realistic. When a team is in the field there is nobody left in the dugout! Collision detection between players and calling for a popup like in the 2k series would be great. Also, with that goes breaking up double plays at 2B. That should be a gimme. I would like to be able to mod the rosters for exhibition play too, because the weekly updates are not always accurate.

Actually this guy gets it. COMPLETELY. Please do all of this SCEA.

# 33 dbray64 @ 10/09/08 07:01 PM

I would like to see MLB 09 offer Seasons from the Past like the PC games Hardball and Tony LaRussa baseball did. The simulation PC games offer all teams and players from 1900-2008. I think an addition such as this would be really cool. I think being able to play as some of the old players would add depth to game and no other console game has done this yet. They may offer teams from the past but not an entire seasons.

# 34 Revolution42 @ 10/10/08 07:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hapa17


	can we please PLEASE have realistic body types for managers??? lou pinella, mike scioscia, and all the other big-gut managers haven't been that svelte in decades! and how about a team jacket on em instead of a plain uniform. it's been documented that terry francona has been asked to wear his uniform when managing. he argues that he has a circulatory problem that requires him to bundle up in the outer-wear jackets, etc. in other words, we should almost never see francona in a full bosox uni during a mound visit. i know this is purely cosmetic, but when you're trying to immerse yourself in a fantasy world and the manager trots out there looking nothing like his real life counterpart, you're ripped from the fantasy! The Show does such a great job in most aspects, but when i see that lean lou pinella paying a mound visit, i suddenly realize that i'm not at wrigley; i'm in my boxers on my recliner at 3 a.m. playing a video game (LOSER!). please don't remind me that i'm a loser!

Recliner.....boxers....3a.m....excellent, you ain't a loser, you are a fanatic. I can relate. I cannot count the number of times I have found myself in the same situation. Ok....some expert rationalization went into this post....plus...there is alot worse things a guy could be doing at 3a.m. Of course, there could be some more interesting things as well. I am quite fortunate as my GF is VERY understanding. She often mentions the effect an extra inning victory over the Yankees has on me prior to "bedtime"

# 35 GoldenGlove @ 10/10/08 11:44 PM

All of that stuff is cool and all, but I'd rather see improvements and tweaks to gameplay and the online then "the little things".

I'd like to see ball boys down the foul lines though. But I'd really want them to make improvements to the online portion more than anything else.

# 36 bighou @ 10/11/08 08:44 AM

Only two things need to be improved or added to this game and it will be a perfect 10 out of 10.

1. Make the ball a little more obvious to see when it leaves the bat. This game does a good job of it for ground balls but when you hit home runs, you barely see the ball at all when it comes off the bat. I like to enjoy the flight of a ball when it comes off the bat to know that it's an obvious home run. MVP 05 baseball on XBOX 360 did a good job with this.

2. Can a baseball game FINALLY get a BATTING PRACTICE option. I mean, HELLO, this is a part of Baseball. Can we please get an option for Batting practice with the cage and the whole 9. I haven't seen this in a baseball game with the behind the pitcher view since Hardball on Sega Genesis. Mind you that was 1991! You put those two things in this game and it will be PERFECT!!!

Oh yeah, a wish list. Can you add Single A as well. Hey, just want to keep the game real, that's all.

Thanks

# 37 rjackson17 @ 10/11/08 07:16 PM

Hey you guys I agree with the weather delay! But I still think that we need the 40-man rosters to start on Auguest 31 and end on the first week of October and reset the the 40-man rosters to the 25-man rosters before the post seasons!

Thanks,

RJ

# 38 DaImmaculateONe @ 10/12/08 08:27 AM

i wanna see people not going through other people like casper the ghost

# 39 nemesis04 @ 10/12/08 09:16 AM

I am really hoping for a new throwing system for 09 in which throwing errors are closely tied to it, so if you decide to take risks you will be punished. In regards with errors, there also needs to be more diversity in this portion of the game. Majority of the errors in the game currently are the over throw and the occasional bobble.

# 40 aznpunk @ 10/13/08 02:46 AM

I hope the player's sleeves will appear in dome stadiums like the Metrodome and Tropicana Field.

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