News Post

MLB 09 The Show Demo Available, Post Impressions Here

07:58 PM - February 5, 2009 by Millennium

The MLB 09 The Show demo is up on the Playstation Network Store. Please post your impressions once you download and play the game.

Please don't post anything until you have played the game.

MLB '09: The Show screenshot gallery - Click to view

Game: MLB '09: The ShowReader Score: 9/10 - Vote Now
Platform: PS2 / PS3 / PSPVotes for game: 90 - View All

MLB '09: The Show Videos

Member Comments

# 381 ab1077 @ 02/06/09 10:51 AM

Awesome! I played a game as Phillies and Hamels struggled in the first with his control, walking 2 and giving up a run. FFWD to the bottom of 3rd, score is still 1-0 TB, when with 2 outs and a runner on second Rollins dribbles one to Longoria who picks it and fires over Pena's head. Tie game. Next up is Werth who jacks one to right for a 3-1 lead. Utley follows with one of his own to right and a 4-1 lead. I loved seeing that error, especially because it worked in my favor but was really cool regardless. I didn't play on PS3 last yr, just the PS2 version so I don't know if those kinds of errors were in or not.

# 382 BDawg35 @ 02/06/09 10:56 AM

Sounds like I need to fire up the PS3 and start downloading ...

# 383 GSW @ 02/06/09 10:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by callmetaternuts


	I havent checked it yet, only played two games and to be honest, i was a little inebriated from birthday dinner. Just thought id ask.

can you let me know if this is the case?

i noticed the pitch type 1-2-3-4-5, but i didint notice plam up , or palm down for location.. only saw low pitches being called for , but then when i would hit R2 i could see it was actually a high pitch he wanted.

# 384 countryboy @ 02/06/09 10:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by callmetaternuts


	I havent checked it yet, only played two games and to be honest, i was a little inebriated from birthday dinner. Just thought id ask.

lol...

No problem man, and please don't think I was trying to "talk down" your question because that certainly was not my intention. I didn't know about the strategy guide until someone posted it here. I knew it was there, but didn't know its why's and whatfor's.

# 385 JT30 @ 02/06/09 11:06 AM

Does anyone know what the pitch stick (R stick) is all about?

# 386 Seahawk76 @ 02/06/09 11:06 AM

After a freaking 8 hour download I finally managed to squeeze one game in this morning before I had to get ready for work. Everything looks and feels great except for me. I'm a little rusty after not playing The Show in about 6 months.

Also I'm seeing no choppiness at all and I play on a Samsung. I doubt the TV model is the problem for those having one.

# 387 callmetaternuts @ 02/06/09 11:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by countryboy


	lol... No problem man, and please don't think I was trying to "talk down" your question because that certainly was not my intention. I didn't know about the strategy guide until someone posted it here. I knew it was there, but didn't know its why's and whatfor's.

No worries, im stuck at work, so was just hoping someone could shed some light ont his. It's hard to be stuck in the office when everyone else is playing what could be the greatest sports game ever.

# 388 Tovarich @ 02/06/09 11:11 AM

A few things I didn't like. My CF caught a flyball, and right after he caught it to end the inning, he promptly ran through the guy who was out there to back him up. Second, I had a runner on 2nd, and hit a sharp, but certainly not a laser ground ball at the SS. The SS fires it in to 2nd, where my guy would've been out by 3 feet, but he didn't apply the tag, just turned and fired to 1st where they got the runner. The end result is correct, anyone would've gotten back to 2nd with no trouble at all with such a small lead, but I didn't like the way it happened. Animation was a tad choppy, but I expect that in a demo I guess. They've earned the benefit of the doubt though. Third, the OF fielding, I hated it in the last version, but when an OF is catching something on the run, they run past the ball and then just stick the glove back behind them for a 'routine' catch. It looks horribly unrealistic. I didn't notice on a popup or a flyball where if I ran under it, as the circle got smaller, the guys used to just zone or slide over without moving their feet, but I really hope that's fixed.

Progressive lighting was awesome. Everything was very nice graphically, even without me having HD. Pitching was harder to hit the corner, which I liked, because I think my ERA online last year was in the 1.5-2 range because I could paint the corner and I played way too many 2-1, 1-0 type games because runs were hard to come by I thought. I had some 6-4 types, but that was the exception, not the norm. Hitting seems a bit harder. I never hit the AI all that well though. I was a much better hitter against humans last year, so we'll see. The dynamic strike zones don't seem new to me. Last year my 'circle' of where the ball hit would be entirely in the zone sometimes, and they wouldn't call it, and I would want to throw something, and then the circle wouldn't even be touching the zone and I'd get the call. That seems the same to me. I don't know how I feel about the IF fielding yet. Iwamura backhanded a ball he had more than enough time to get in front of and field normally. The transition from fielding to throwing to 1st didnt seem entirely smooth to me. That could be a demo thing, I don't know. I've only played 2 games, so I'm sure I'll run into a lot more, but those are the basics for me so far.

# 389 Pared @ 02/06/09 11:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by brunnoce


	man , this is gonna be a great season! just played an 8inn game batting for both teams, look what i got: Rays: 0R 2H 1E Phillies: 1R 1H 0E Kazmir: 7.2inn 1H 0ER 3BB 8K Hamels: 8inn 2H 0ER 4BB 7K Thats using contact, timing and solid hits sliders at 0, power at 3 cause on default i was hitting HR bombs in every squared ball i had. (all those on LEGEND level btw) finnaly i have a chalange getting hits!! gonna have to focus and put some effort now, no more cheap singles!

Can I add "told ya so?"

Seriously though, this "Legend" difficulty is cake compared to what we played at San Diego Studios. Yellow cake with chocolate frosting. Mmm.

# 390 DirtyJerz32 @ 02/06/09 11:16 AM

I played 2 games last night and I am truly amazed. I didn't think it could get much better than 08 but, I was pleasantly shocked at the demo. I played 08 demo and 09 demo to see the difference between the two. Although I didn't notice much in terms of game play I did notice the lighting and over feel of the game has been tuned.

Top of the 4th Rollins on 2nd and Utley comes to bat. 2 balls 2 strikes. I get a slider away but, catches enough of the plate to take a swing. I press X just to see if I can get Rollins over. To my suprise I make great contact and as soon as I hit it I could tell I nutted it. 357 feet later Utley is rounding 3rd and I have a 2 run HR.

I'm going nuts. Why, you may ask. Well there are a couple of reasons.

1. I liked that the cpu was trying to hit the outside corner on a 2/2 count. Trying to make me think about getting the bat off my shoulders.

2. Only pressing X and putting the LS down and to the left and knowing I made great contact.

3. Hitting a HR only pressing X on Ledgend difficulty

4. And the probably the most important. The crowd went crazy and remained crazy until the Rays got another out.

5. The WOW factor. I didn't think they would be able to make a better game than 08 and (Demo's only) I think they have.

Very impressed Sony. Now, only if you could get your basketball franchise even half as good as The Show and bring back some football. Sorry, I got side tracked.

Keep up the impressions guys. At work til 5. The fiance is going out with the girls for happy hour so I'll have a solid 4 to 5 hours of play time in tonight and I can't wait.

# 391 JT30 @ 02/06/09 11:18 AM

Anyone know what the pitch stick (R stick) is for? I can't seem to use it or figure out how to use it?

# 392 brunnoce @ 02/06/09 11:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wsu_gb23


	I agree with you on the check swings....it feels much more realistic and rewarding when I actually check my swing this year...in 08 it seemed like I could check swing way too much...great job SCEA...

yeh it just got to a point where i could layoff anything i wanted..just too easy...i would barely never swing and miss cause of that...

i like how its working now

# 393 Pared @ 02/06/09 11:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HustlinOwl


	Hope this is just in the demo, but when you turn off guess pitch swing analysis is not available.

Nope, that's how it is. Leave it on but don't use guess pitch.

Quote:

Originally Posted by x1Blumpkin1x


	I am noticing that when there are shadows on the field I cannot see a ball shadow. I prefer to play with no indicators on but I don't see how that is possible now. Did the version played at the community event have some shadow for the ball even if shadows were cast on the field from the stadium? I also noticed in the outfield I cannot see the catch region indicator if there are shadows. But I can in the corners on the dirt.

Yup, mentioned this at the community event although we liked the extra challenge it brought.

Quote:

Originally Posted by countryboy


	not trying to sound like a smartass but have you looked through the Strategy Guide thats in the game? I haven't looked through it myself, but was thinking that maybe it might give the detailed answer in there. My take on it is that after he displays the pitch he wants, he'll then ask for location and when I played it was palm down for low and palm up for high. I haven't noticed that in the game as it seems he's always calling for the pitch down in the zone. After that, he'll indicated whether it should be inside or outside, by gesturing his hand towards that particular side. I hope that made sense Tater.

The catcher doesn't actually get up for a high strike. Asked for this as well.

# 394 PhantomPain @ 02/06/09 11:23 AM

Am I the only one that is having the ps3 lock up when trying to exit the game or is this a widespread issue? If there is a way to keep this from happening then I would love to know.

THANKS.

# 395 Pared @ 02/06/09 11:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jim416


	Rollins just threw one in the dirt past first, catcher there to back up. THREE ERROS IN AN INNING AND A HALF. WOOO HOOO.

That's great to hear. I hadn't seen any errors in all the games I played at the CD.

# 396 RogueHominid @ 02/06/09 11:27 AM

Poster formerly known as Trojan Man here . . . Damn you all. I love you guys and hate you all at the same time.

I sold my PS3 on a lark and thought I could make it by without The Show. In my boredom I read this thread, and now I'm thinking that there's gotta be a way I can move a couple bricks and find the quid for another PS3 and The Show 09.

J/K about the bricks, but man, this game sounds incredible. It was already the premier game of its kind, but now the lighting is better, it's even more subtle in terms of the little things, and it seems that the hitting sliders actually work.

Damn. I'm gonna go get set up and put some impressions of my own down pronto.

Thanks to those who did the community event. And to Countryboy and the 100 game log. Are you posting that game by game, or in chunks?

# 397 adam42381 @ 02/06/09 11:29 AM

Just finished up my 4th game with the demo and I'm finally getting the hang of it. I played 3 last night with the third game going 13 innings before I finally scored. Final 1-0 Phillies.

I am having a lot of trouble hitting because I'm early on almost every pitch. I played a ton of 08 so that may be my problem. I was the Phillies again this time and I allowed no hits in 4 innings with 4 K 0 BB by Hamels. I only managed 1 hit but it was a HR by Howard in the 2nd.

Everything looks amazing (although I am noticing a small framerate issue like everyone else - my tv is a Philips and the PS3 is set to 720p).

I noticed one issue which may just be demo related - in the 4th inning Dave Campbell said something to the effect of, "now lets take a look at last year's NL leaders in ERA...you can clearly see that Hamels is at near the top of the list." The problem is, the list they showed was the 2007 NL leaders and Hamels wasn't on the list. I just wanted to see if anybody else has noticed anything similar to this?

# 398 Motown @ 02/06/09 11:29 AM

A few more impressions here. 1st the bad: last night when i played...smooth as silk. today, pretty choppy for some reason...the framerate's almost like an ole time movie

. I'm playin' on a 42" Toshiba SDTV Svideo

Now some pretty cool animations. Victorino hit a laser down 3rd...only to be robbed, & he ran half way down the line...then he realized he got robbed lol...then he slammed his bat down in disgust lmao...glarin' @ the 3rd baseman. Kaz pointed to 3rd, went back to the mound... took his glove off & reached down to tie his shoe.

*edit* CANNOT HIT A SLIDER TO SAVE MY AZZ!!!

# 399 slickdtc @ 02/06/09 11:35 AM

I like it.

Haha. That's about all I can say. I just got a PS3 a few weeks ago and only have 2 games, neither of which are MLB The Show. I did download the 08 demo and liked it. This 09 demo is a step up and further in the right direction. But the demo is such a tease! We all know the gameplay will be great because they didn't fiddle around with it, but rather just added and tweaked elements that needed fixing. Now I want to play around with the extras they have in there!

# 400 Blzer @ 02/06/09 11:38 AM

So I played my first game on Hall of Fame mode, and let's just say that I need to get some work done with my offense. At the same time, I shut them down all day too. Here was the ending box score (I was the Phillies):

Yep, that just happened.

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