MLB 2K9 News Post

Major League Baseball 2K9 Developer Diary: Gameplay

07:44 AM - February 10, 2009 by bronco92

MLB 2K9 Gameplay Producer, Jonathan Rivera, drops by today to blog about some of the new AI improvements and enhancements you'll find in this year's version of 2K baseball.

Quote:


	"Signature style is something that we�ve been doing quite a while now across our sports titles, and we expanded on that this year even more for MLB 2K9 with over 300 new signature animations. When we announced that Tim Lincecum was going to be our cover athlete, we were all pretty excited to have a Cy Young winner represent our game, but even more than that it was going to be a great opportunity to really nail his signature delivery."

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Member Comments

# 81 SoxFan01605 @ 02/10/09 10:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SPTO


	I don't feel like going through this entire thread so can anyone kindly tell me if there'll be timing (button) hitting in this year's game?

Yes

# 82 jeffy777 @ 02/10/09 10:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SPTO


	I don't feel like going through this entire thread so can anyone kindly tell me if there'll be timing (button) hitting in this year's game?

The answer is YES. You can do classic button hitting, or button hitting combined with zone hitting.

EDIT: SoxFan01605 beat me to the punch

# 83 SPTO @ 02/10/09 10:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SoxFan01605


	Yes

Quote:

Originally Posted by jeffy777


	The answer is YES. You can do classic button hitting, or button hitting combined with zone hitting.

Thanks guys

# 84 Checmate101 @ 02/11/09 12:48 AM

Still havent' heard anything about the end of the game, the winning team line up and give each other high fives at the end..Hope this is in this year. Instead of just standing around

# 85 Bahnzo @ 02/11/09 01:12 AM

What about the pitch recognition stuff (ala MVP 05) that was talked about earlier? I hope it's still in and I would've loved to have heard about how it is implemented.

I'm still gunshy about this game due to last year's ****-up, but I will admit that with each new peek I'm more interested. The guy said everything right in this blog and VC seems like they are heading in the right direction.

# 86 JoshCA916 @ 02/11/09 01:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Checmate101


	Still havent' heard anything about the end of the game, the winning team line up and give each other high fives at the end..Hope this is in this year. Instead of just standing around

yes i need to know too, this is a huge game breaker, i mean if they just walk around with their thumb up their a** then i can't buy this game

j/k

# 87 Blzer @ 02/11/09 01:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by brendanrfoley


	Blzr, Keep in mind 2K took that screen from an unfinished version of the game -- not the guy at ESPN behind the controls.

Actually, this was from the ESPN guy, but also probably from an unfinished version of the game (which is what I'm hoping for).

Quote:

Originally Posted by JoshCA916


	yes i need to know too, this is a huge game breaker, i mean if they just walk around with their thumb up their a* then i can't buy this game j/k*

Things like this aren't really game killers, but instead can be yet another reason why you would want a game.

Think if SCEA didn't add those things in The Show that are in the details video. Those things add immersion to the authenticity of the game, it's unbelievable.

Remember, it's the little things that count.

# 88 acarrero @ 02/11/09 01:43 AM

For a while there I wondered if I would ever see cursor batting again. This is awesome news. Zone hitting plus a modified hit stick, sounds perfect. Those who are disappointed with no step-hitting or whatever it's called, I feel your pain. That was a great, hardcore batting control. But try zone hitting, it could be as realistic and even more fun.

It was actually MVP 06: NCAA Baseball that introduced the batting system that inspired MLB 2K8's. The same producer took it with him when 2K hired him after he developed MVP 06 (which will always be an underrated game because it was college baseball, but it's gameplay was as good as any baseball game). To me the step-hitting was the most realistic in terms of how challenging it was to get a hit. My co-favorite batting system was World Series 2K3 zone hitting with cursor (or invisible cursor for hardcore).

# 89 CarryTheWeight @ 02/11/09 03:01 AM

It's definitely a positive sign when a member of the development team ends his production diary assuring that his (disgruntled) audience's criticism is valid and that his team is hard at work, producing an improved game. I liked what I read.

The changes to the hitting, pitching, fielding and baserunning systems may take some getting used to at first, but the reasons for their change were valid IMO. Also, on paper, this real-time environment idea keeps getting better and better. If the "Virtual Director" feature is used wisely in conjunction with the living world idea, we could be in for a treat.

A high-quality product will restore faith in this series. Let's hope that the developers' good intentions translate into a solid final product.

# 90 TheTruth @ 02/11/09 03:54 AM

good question Lisa. I would like to know as well.

# 91 GotZfunk @ 02/11/09 01:05 PM

What about roster updates?

# 92 swaldo @ 02/11/09 02:06 PM

But will there be walks? It mentions the AI will paint the corners and throw some outside the zone. How do we know it won't throw 3 perfect pitches after an 3-0 count. As a batter the goal is to get on base any way possible. If walks aren't there I'm not there.

# 93 jeffy777 @ 02/11/09 02:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by swaldo


	But will there be walks? It mentions the AI will paint the corners and throw some outside the zone. How do we know it won't throw 3 perfect pitches after an 3-0 count. As a batter the goal is to get on base any way possible. If walks aren't there I'm not there.

Well, there were walks in 2K7 and 2K8 (with slider adjustments) so it seems very likely there will be walks in 2K9, hopefully with the default difficulty levels too.

# 94 SoxFan01605 @ 02/11/09 03:49 PM

Plus, as I recall, the guy said he was able to draw some walks on default.

Yup! Here it is from BrianEk

:

"@drterb - Yeah it's possible to walk. For whatever reason--perhaps default pitch speed?--I'm able to pick out pitch locations easier this time around. This has resulted in longer pitch counts and even a few walks here and there. Still, I really do swing at practically everything."

So that's encouraging...especially since it sounds like he's not particularly patient

# 95 Shakedowncapo @ 02/11/09 03:54 PM

Two things I would love fixed...The computer doing nothing but painting corners(2k7) and not being able to see the ball all the way through the zone(2k7 & 2k8)

Never played 2k8 so I can't speak for my first complaint.

# 96 jeffy777 @ 02/11/09 04:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SoxFan01605


	So that's encouraging...especially since it sounds like he's not particularly patient

And I think that's putting it nicely as far as his patience goes

# 97 SoxFan01605 @ 02/11/09 04:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jeffy777


	And I think that's putting it nicely as far as his patience goes

lol...true enough. Maybe I should have said "especially since it sounds like the guy couldn't lay off a pitch if his life depended on it"

There, that's better.

# 98 mwjr @ 02/11/09 04:51 PM

I'm not getting the Real-Time atmosphere. How exactly will that be different from the cut scenes we're used to?

# 99 jeffy777 @ 02/11/09 04:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mwjr


	I'm not getting the Real-Time atmosphere. How exactly will that be different from the cut scenes we're used to?

The cut scenes we've seen in past games have been pre-rendered scenes, which is why there was a pause in 2K8 when the cutscenes were loading.

This year, the cut scenes will be actual live views of what's happening on the field. For example, if a bat boy was running out to pick up a bat before someone walked up to the plate, you'll actually see the bat boy running back to the dugout when the camera zooms in on the batter coming to the plate.

So overall, it's going to have a much more realistic feel to it, closer to what it would be like if you were watching a real game.

# 100 SoxFan01605 @ 02/11/09 04:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mwjr


	I'm not getting the Real-Time atmosphere. How exactly will that be different from the cut scenes we're used to?

It's the same stuff, but not pregenerated. Everything is (in theory) flowing around you. The fans are moving, the bat boy collects the bat after a hit, the dugout and bullpens are live, etc.

Basically it all fits into the moment naturally rather than an event "triggering" the proper cutscene. It makes the environment seem more "alive" that way, if it's done well.

A good example would be if you played 2K9, to look at he benches. The coach is moving, barking at players, the bench is active and celebrating scores, the guy comes out to mop the floor, etc. All of this happens naturally throughout the game and isn't prerendered to happen...it just does.

Hope that helps somewhat

EDIT: Long-windedness strikes again...lol. Jeffy beat me to it

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