MLB 2K9 News Post

Major League Baseball 2K9 Tim Lincecum Interview

12:17 PM - November 25, 2008 by iamemmittsmith

ESPN has posted an interview with Tim Lincecum, cover athlete for Major League Baseball 2K9.

Quote:


	"Last year, MLB 2K8 confused gamers with a pitching system casual fans saw as overly complex. MLB 2K9 changes all that as the developers of the game are really looking to simplify the pitching experience while at the same time bringing more realism to the mound. Lincecum has his own thoughts of what he'd like to see in the game. "Pitching is one of those things where a video game can only capture so much of what is really happening," he says. "Personality is something that would take gaming to a whole new level. If they could capture the attitudes of pitchers and get them how they are out on the field, capture that persona, that's what I want to see."

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

# 1 CMH @ 11/25/08 12:31 PM

As far as the video games go, if they had some sort of mini-game for pitchers to see if they could keep their emotions in check, that would be pretty awesome.

Goodness. Please no.

# 2 CMH @ 11/25/08 12:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jim416


	How unimportant is the cover guy of any game, ugh. If they are changing the pitching mechanics I just hope they get it right. If it means making it simpler and making the sliders what really tunes the game (AI and USER), then I'm all for it. Just as long as it works.

That's the key. Simple yet deep.

Simple enough to use, but deep enough to manipulate as we please for realistic results.

These mini-games, gimmicks, extras are just too much. We should throw with as few button presses as possible and let ratings come into play.

It would be nice if sliders let us decide how much we wanted ratings to affect the overall location/result of the pitch.

# 3 BigH2k5 @ 11/26/08 09:52 AM

I like the 2k8 pitching controls. they should just get rid of the magical every pitch missed turns iinto a fastball down the middle meatball thing. I hope they don't go the route of NHL2K9 which removed the prostick control that was in 2k8 to answer to the bitching about more simple controls.

# 4 Trevytrev11 @ 11/26/08 12:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by YankeePride


	That's the key. Simple yet deep. Simple enough to use, but deep enough to manipulate as we please for realistic results. These mini-games, gimmicks, extras are just too much. We should throw with as few button presses as possible and let ratings come into play. It would be nice if sliders let us decide how much we wanted ratings to affect the overall location/result of the pitch.

I hope they can find a way to implement both systems for yours and my sake, because personally, I like to be in control of the outcome. I enjoy realistic results, but to me they should be achieved through a good system and not just ratings...otherwise, why even use the controller...why even have the ability dictate what pitch should be thrown if the stats dictate otherwise?

I agree that the results have to be realistic, but I think that can be achieved in one of two ways:
1) The game uses stats and ratings and controls the outcome. (Ex: I press the a button, the pitcher executes whatever pitch his ratings and stats tell him to throw and the outcome is basically a random calculation of those stats).
2) The game has a system in place in which, when used properly at the right difficulty level, the outcomes are realisitc. (Ex: I control everything as best I can, I choose the pitch I feel is right for the situation based on how my guy is throwing, and if I execute everything perfect, I hit my spot, if I'm off a little, the pitch will be off a little).

My main problem with #1 is it just takes the feel out of the game. Scouting reports, stats and ratings are fine for a game plan, but they don't work nearly as well from pitch to pitch. Ex: If a guys late on a 0-1 fastball, and now you have an 0-2 count, you should probably stick with the heat, but the overall ratings may say curveball...In real life, you'd be doing the hitter a huge favor by giving him something he can catch up to.

The whole reason I play video games is to be involved in the game as much as possible, not to sit back and let the computer make all the choices. I like to decide the pitch type and location and then execute the pitch. I like to swing the bat, run the bases and make the plays in the field. Otherwise, your just playing Strat-O-Matic baseball with pretty pitctures.

# 5 CMH @ 11/26/08 01:47 PM

I agree. I don't mean ratings only. I just mean that ratings should be a part of the system.

I'm thinking of control. Ratings should be a part of the result. You can be 100% accurate with whatever meter is being used, but if the guy is a terrible control pitcher then it shouldn't be automatic that you hit your spot.

If it's Greg Maddux, different story.

# 6 kubankaos @ 11/26/08 01:59 PM

Oh oh. It sounds like the lowest common denominator won again. I still for the life of me can't figure out why people couldn't just choose classic pitching in their settings if they didn't like the new controls? Now they might be getting rid of it because it was too hard for some? Wow!!!

If anything, make classic/meter pitching the default for the idiots that can't seem to grasp the concept of changing an option. I'm talking about the people that don't like, you are entitled to your opinion, but what is wrong with having options?

If they make it just a simple meter based system, then I guess it will be a rental for me this year. I will buy the Show first.

Sucks, I really liked the controls of 2K8. A little tweaking and you would have an extremely addictive system.

# 7 Blzer @ 11/26/08 03:04 PM

What makes me sad is the time they wasted on 2K8 with those pitching controls if they weren't planning on sticking to them. It's like them spending a bunch of time and money on some major CGI shot for a movie, and then BAM! Scrapped. Does it make a difference in the movie? Not in the movie that you see, but behind the scenes, it meant a lot for them not to have those finances and resources and time readily available for something else greater in the movie.

A slightly more OT example, but this is the biggest problem I had with Saw IV being made... they spend so much time and effort closing out the trilogy with Saw III that when they broke the barrier, it demoralized the importance of Saw III and made it an inferior movie as it was not set up for another set of sequels.

In this case, they could have done so many other things in 2K8 that was not so revolved around pitching. Every God damn interview was about the new (and actually pretty cool) pitching controls, then BAM! Tea-bagged.

In a way, it disgusts me... but to be honest, give me options for an invisible cursor and a variable location slider, and I'm set. Just like the good ol' days of 2K3 and 2K4.

# 8 CMH @ 11/26/08 03:07 PM

I had no problem with the new pitching controls. I enjoyed them as well.

But, it needs a lot of tweaking and a lot of work.

To better understand me you just need to know that the only pitching system I ever really liked was High Heats ball/strike system. Still to this day the most realistic in gaming.

# 9 Trevytrev11 @ 11/26/08 03:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by YankeePride


	I agree. I don't mean ratings only. I just mean that ratings should be a part of the system. I'm thinking of control. Ratings should be a part of the result. You can be 100% accurate with whatever meter is being used, but if the guy is a terrible control pitcher then it shouldn't be automatic that you hit your spot. If it's Greg Maddux, different story.

Now this I agree 100% with.

I've posted this idea a few times before, but they could solve this with any system by just making the circle that you use to aim the pitch different sizes for different pitchers. And then the outcome of the pitch would be anywhere in this circle. The Maddux's would have a circle maybe the size of a softball and the Zito's would have them the size of a basketball or beach ball.

And then as you stated, the players ratings/stats would determine the size of the circle for each player and ideally for each pitch (as you would expect a fastball to have better location than a curveball).

# 10 Stroehms @ 11/26/08 05:09 PM

Meter pitching?

# 11 Trevytrev11 @ 11/26/08 07:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stroehmerbasebal


	Meter pitching?

My complaint is that then it's only about timing and once you get that down, pitching becomes automatic. The one benefit of the new system is that it requires timing and movement.

Away to make the meter system more difficult is to have the speed of the meter move at different speeds. A great pitcher would have a much more constant speed and a guy who typically struggles would have a different meter speed on almost every pitch making it hard to get into a rythem.

# 12 SoxFan01605 @ 11/26/08 08:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Trevytrev11


	My complaint is that then it's only about timing and once you get that down, pitching becomes automatic. The one benefit of the new system is that it requires timing and movement. Away to make the meter system more difficult is to have the speed of the meter move at different speeds. A great pitcher would have a much more constant speed and a guy who typically struggles would have a different meter speed on almost every pitch making it hard to get into a rythem.

The Show does this, based on both the wind-up itself (longer wind-ups have slower meters) and situation based on pitcher (runners in scoring position leads to faster meter). It's a decent idea in theory, but you can get the timing down for anything once you play a game enough. I thought the R Stick pitching was a good concept, just in need of tuning. I would like to see it based on pitch rating and just be variable as well

One thing I love about The Show's pitching is how your individual pitch confidence comes into play. with Beckett, for example, there are days when I was killing guys with my curve and used it to set up my fastball. Other games, I couldn't get it working and had to use my fastball more. It's these subtle things that help a mechanic along.

Meter pitching is becoming archaic for many people, yet The Show manages to make it work with these types of nuances. Imagine what could be done with the R Stick function if your were to add these details.

# 13 dodgerblue @ 11/27/08 02:37 AM

I liked the fact that different pitches required different motions to execute the pitch unlike the show. But, like everyone else has said, the meatballs have to go and it was still too easy to throw strikes. I also like the feature where during a critical point in the game the directional point would shake. Sounds like they are giving up and starting over when they should offer both!

# 14 SoxFan01605 @ 11/30/08 10:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sask3m


	figure out some system that gets rid of all the damn meters, i hate seeing that crap all over the screen.

I love the pitching in the Show as you still can be slightly off with a perfect meter hit. My only issue with it is the presence of the meter itself as it eventually becomes much to easy to time. I think with the visuals being as capable as they are now, it may be viable (at least as an option) to use a meter like The Show's system, just without the meter.

What I mean is you could time the button presses/releases as you do with the meter, but with the meter off, the visual cues in the actual windup and delivery would be you reference points. I think it would add challenge (particularly with a good variety of signature motions) and solve the problem of too many indications on screen.

You could even map something similar using the stick. It would then function much like Tiger Woods swing (as some people have been mentioning and wanting lately) and offer the analog control some want. I would think it would be easy enough to implement, as all options function essentially the same. The only difference is buttons vs Stick and meter on or off. Then the analog vs button discussion can be dropped and the actual system itself (meaning the overall tuning, ratings influence, and other influences) can be tweaked and perfected each year. Win-win-win, IMO.

# 15 Moegames @ 12/01/08 03:44 PM

Im REAL F'n stoked VC is behind this 2k9 game

More Links

Major League Baseball 2K9 Tim Lincecum Interview