MLB 2K9 News Post

What Are the Best Video Game Pitching Controls?

03:24 PM - November 7, 2008 by RaychelSnr

Right-analog stick control was first devised in baseball games with the release of MVP 06 NCAA Baseball from EA Sports. In the game, both "Load" and "Fire" batting and Precision Throw Control were introduced, allowing you to bat and throw, respectively, using only the right-analog stick. EA Sports continued the trend with its next baseball title, MVP 07 NCAA Baseball, which reinvented its old button-based pitching system with a new "Rock" and "Fire" pitching system, again mapped to the right-analog stick. This system allowed users to simulate the back-and-forth motion a pitcher would make during his windup, and influenced where the ball would be pitched. Now, a year after Rock and Fire Pitching, which baseball game -- 2K8 or The Show �- has constructed the most fun and intuitive pitching system?

Read More: Trying to Create the Perfect Video Game Pitching Controls

Game: Major League Baseball 2K9Reader Score: 6/10 - Vote Now
Platform: PS3 / Xbox 360Votes for game: 38 - View All

Major League Baseball 2K9 Videos

Member Comments

# 21 WatchdogXC @ 11/12/08 11:26 AM

I prefer the button system used in the Show. I really liked MVP's pitching and I like the Show's even better. I used to always want to get everyone out and just bat but it is just so much fun pitching and trying to set guys up and striking guys out feels rewarding.

# 22 BadKermit @ 11/12/08 12:30 PM

It seems to me that the writer says that 2K8 has the best pitching CONTROLS ("MLB 2K8 has the most in-depth and unique pitching system of any baseball game on the market."), but then gives the nod to The Show just because of the RESULTS ("MLB 08: The Show currently contains the favored pitching system...because the pitching system in The Show, simple as it is, gives more realistic results when pitching.").

I don't understand why the results would factor into which has the better control scheme? By way of analogy, an FPS with a great control scheme would still have a great control scheme, regardless of whether or not hit detection in the game sucked.

# 23 Trevytrev11 @ 11/12/08 12:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BadKermit


	I don't understand why the results would factor into which has the better control scheme? By way of analogy, an FPS with a great control scheme would still have a great control scheme, regardless of whether or not hit detection in the game sucked.

My thoughts exactly regarding the premise of the article. The question is which has the best controls, not which has the best overall pitching experience.

# 24 dogoreo @ 11/13/08 02:52 PM

To be the best possible make it like MVP baseball 2005.

# 25 Trevytrev11 @ 11/14/08 03:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dogoreo


	To be the best possible make it like MVP baseball 2005.

You didn't think it was too easy to pinpoint your pitches in MVP? Once I got the timing down, It was like throwing darts for me. I could pinpoint almost every pitch unless my pitcher was very tired.

The one thing I appreciate about this system, though it needs to be tweaked big time, is that both timing and movement impact the final outcome instead of just timing.

# 26 nemesis04 @ 11/15/08 10:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Trevytrev11


	You didn't think it was too easy to pinpoint your pitches in MVP? Once I got the timing down, It was like throwing darts for me. I could pinpoint almost every pitch unless my pitcher was very tired. The one thing I appreciate about this system, though it needs to be tweaked big time, is that both timing and movement impact the final outcome instead of just timing.

I enjoyed the pitching in MVP but you are correct, it did get easy over time. I do feel with a little fine tuning though they were more on track with a nice pitching feel than the one in 2k8. It just felt you were doing things just to make it more difficult with 2k8.

# 27 EnigmaNemesis @ 11/16/08 09:24 PM

"Sony�s game, however, has the more fun pitching system."

I agree with this assessment totally.

I tried out the 2K and it felt too gimmicky and unnatural. But some will obviously like it, I rather did not.

# 28 Trevytrev11 @ 11/17/08 03:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EnigmaNemesis


	I tried out the 2K and it felt too gimmicky and unnatural. But some will obviously like it, I rather did not.

When you say unnatural, do you mean the movement you make with the controller is unnatural to the movement to what a pitcher makes or do you mean that the movement you make just feels unnatural when you are doing it?

« Previous 12Next »

More Links

What Are the Best Video Game Pitching Controls?