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

# 101 drterb @ 02/11/09 05:06 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?

I believe another aspect of this is the Virtual Director. Since the events happen real-time and are not pre-rendered, different camera angles and views can be used to show similar shots throughout the game. Plus the timing of the camera switches (if it's implemented like I think it will be) will make every cut-away seem like you've never seen it before.

Everything just flows.....

# 102 Blzer @ 02/11/09 06:07 PM

To add onto the real time stuff, take things like the crowd, commentary crew, and PA announcer into account as well.

Let's say a player hits a home run. Not only will we finally get to see them rounding the bases the entire way through, but we will get a continuous roar throughout the crowd (perhaps some cuts with them too, cheering and such), the announcers maybe jibber-jabbering about which home run it is for them this season or if the team now tied it up, meanwhile that crowd is still going. Maybe they'll cut to replay while he's rounding the bases so you get the cheering in the background while the commentators are slowing down the pitch and home run, or maybe it will be after he crosses home plate while the crowd is still going and you're hearing the next player being announced as, behind the replay, he is actually walking up to the plate and maybe going through some of his routines, or maybe the catcher went out to talk to the pitcher or something of that nature. As we get away from replay, we can perhaps see the end result of the catcher running back to the plate and the umpire tossing the pitcher a new ball.

Basically, everything happens in real time. I'm not sure about between-inning stuff, but they did say some highlights at the end of innings as well as fading to black like going to a commercial. We'll see on Friday hopefully.

# 103 thegoons21 @ 02/11/09 09:14 PM

Good update. I definitely am excited with VC at the helm.

Just make sure you get Adam Dunn on my Nats....

# 104 johnnyg713 @ 02/11/09 10:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Blzer


	To add onto the real time stuff, take things like the crowd, commentary crew, and PA announcer into account as well. Let's say a player hits a home run. Not only will we finally get to see them rounding the bases the entire way through, but we will get a continuous roar throughout the crowd (perhaps some cuts with them too, cheering and such), the announcers maybe jibber-jabbering about which home run it is for them this season or if the team now tied it up, meanwhile that crowd is still going. Maybe they'll cut to replay while he's rounding the bases so you get the cheering in the background while the commentators are slowing down the pitch and home run, or maybe it will be after he crosses home plate while the crowd is still going and you're hearing the next player being announced as, behind the replay, he is actually walking up to the plate and maybe going through some of his routines, or maybe the catcher went out to talk to the pitcher or something of that nature. As we get away from replay, we can perhaps see the end result of the catcher running back to the plate and the umpire tossing the pitcher a new ball. Basically, everything happens in real time. I'm not sure about between-inning stuff, but they did say some highlights at the end of innings as well as fading to black like going to a commercial. We'll see on Friday hopefully.

I never thought of how a score would play out in terms of presentation. If a homerun plays out that way then that would be amazing.

# 105 Asp86 @ 02/11/09 10:26 PM

I still wish these sports titles would bring in to count the score of a game late. Where fans will start walking up the steps and out of the arena because it's a blowout. If it's a blowout, you rarely hear crowd cheers because of the lack of fans in the stands. If it's not close, the fans should pretty much be taken out of the game. Meaning it should be so silent in the stadium with some side chatter. Obviously if it's the home team, you'd be hearing plenty of excitement.

# 106 allBthere @ 02/11/09 10:32 PM

this is the only thing that bothers me: influencing outside pitches to pull will result in poor hits -

now a lot of people will say 'duh?' but I've always had great satisfaction out of pulling outside pitches, and my favorite players from the past made careers off of it. Joe Carter, Frank Thomas and Vlad Guerrero did this and many more - many players are bad at hitting inside pitches, the old saying 'they like to extend their arms'. as pathetic as it sounds, if you can't hit an absolute bomb to left center w/ and outside pitch (low or mid), it's a possible deal breaker to me.

# 107 mwjr @ 02/12/09 12:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SoxFan01605


	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

OK, I think I get the idea. I haven't seen 2K9, but I *think* I get it.

Wouldn't that slow things down? My concern from a gameplay perspective is the stuttering that would occur, e.g. when you're throwing the ball around the horn after a K. Would this real-time atmosphere help?

# 108 Shakedowncapo @ 02/12/09 01:10 AM

Man im telling you...If by year three, they don't have the bat sounds = to the hit...Im gonna **** bricks.

# 109 Blzer @ 02/12/09 01:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shakedowncapo


	Man im telling you...If by year three, they don't have the bat sounds = to the hit...Im gonna *** bricks.*

We're talkin' 5.5 years here, paly (MLB 2K5: WSE included).

# 110 Artman22 @ 02/12/09 01:15 AM

Everything sounds good so far. I guess now just wait until friday

# 111 Shakedowncapo @ 02/12/09 01:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Blzer


	We're talkin' 5.5 years here, paly (MLB 2K5: WSE included).

Wow...I wasn't playing 2k series then(and for good reason) so that's pretty bad to hear. I think I'll press the producers on friday about this. Probably end up lying.

# 112 SoxFan01605 @ 02/12/09 05:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mwjr


	OK, I think I get the idea. I haven't seen 2K9, but I think I get it. Wouldn't that slow things down? My concern from a gameplay perspective is the stuttering that would occur, e.g. when you're throwing the ball around the horn after a K. Would this real-time atmosphere help?

I honestly don't know. I have concerns about this as well, but the framerate is just fine in the NBA game.

I'd imagine that they have some tricks to cover for those concerns as well (like maybe reducing the details of the backround stuff while it's not in clear view or something).

I have absolutely ZERO knowledge of programming...lol...so that is just a guess on my part, based on what I've heard some developers talk about.

I'd like to think that, given last years framerate troubles, they wouldn't have added anything that they thought would cause them further trouble in that area. We'll see how it works out soon enough, I guess.

# 113 mwjr @ 02/12/09 01:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SoxFan01605


	I honestly don't know. I have concerns about this as well, but the framerate is just fine in the NBA game.

OK, that's good to know.

Quote:

Originally Posted by SoxFan01605


	I'd like to think that, given last years framerate troubles, they wouldn't have added anything that they thought would cause them further trouble in that area. We'll see how it works out soon enough, I guess.

Like you, I have no programming experience, which is why I ask this question:

Is poor framerate the cause of all of the stuttering and stammering in 2K8, e.g. the hang-ups when they throw the ball around the horn, the pause just as the ball is hit and the camera switches from batter view to fielding view?

# 114 brendanrfoley @ 02/12/09 01:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mwjr


	Is poor framerate the cause of all of the stuttering and stammering in 2K8, e.g. the hang-ups when they throw the ball around the horn, the pause just as the ball is hit and the camera switches from batter view to fielding view?

Yes.

The graphics engine in 2K8 tries to do too much and is, I would imagine, poorly coded. The hardware can't keep up with everything it's being asked to do and it "stutters."

Some of the underlying animation in 2K8 is actually beautiful - it was just difficult to see it.

# 115 bigfnjoe96 @ 02/12/09 01:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mwjr


	Like you, I have no programming experience, which is why I ask this question: Is poor framerate the cause of all of the stuttering and stammering in 2K8, e.g. the hang-ups when they throw the ball around the horn, the pause just as the ball is hit and the camera switches from batter view to fielding view?

YES.

# 116 nefanman @ 02/12/09 02:46 PM

I am a PS3 owner and was (yes I said was) a former 2k homer. I loved the swing stick and a lot of the features. In my opinion 2k7 was a beautiful game on the PS3. Last years game was just plain bad, I did not enjoy it at all. I ended up playing for a couple of months and ultimitely sold on eBay and picked up The Show.

I am hooked on the Show, and personally if I didn't have a PS3, I would buy one just for this game. Best sports game out there....ever!!! With that being said I am looking forward to playing the 2k demo after looking at some of the screen shots and doing some reading.

Sorry if you have no options (x-boxers)

# 117 SoxFan01605 @ 02/12/09 02:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nefanman


	I am a PS3 owner and was (yes I said was) a former 2k homer. I loved the swing stick and a lot of the features. In my opinion 2k7 was a beautiful game on the PS3. Last years game was just plain bad, I did not enjoy it at all. I ended up playing for a couple of months and ultimitely sold on eBay and picked up The Show. I am hooked on the Show, and personally if I didn't have a PS3, I would buy one just for this game. Best sports game out there....ever!!! With that being said I am looking forward to playing the 2k demo after looking at some of the screen shots and doing some reading. Sorry if you have no options (x-boxers)

lol...I wonder if you would go into a cancer ward and say "well, I used to have cancer and it sucked, lucky for me I was cured. Sucks for you that you still have it though."

Sorry...j/k...but the post comes off as mainly hype for The Show

# 118 nefanman @ 02/12/09 04:45 PM

lol...I wonder if you would go into a cancer ward and say "well, I used to have cancer and it sucked, lucky for me I was cured. Sucks for you that you still have it though."

Again, my condolences to you and your x-box

# 119 jeffy777 @ 02/12/09 05:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nefanman


	Again, my condolences to you and your x-box

Please stop being a troll.

# 120 SoxFan01605 @ 02/12/09 05:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nefanman


	lol...I wonder if you would go into a cancer ward and say "well, I used to have cancer and it sucked, lucky for me I was cured. Sucks for you that you still have it though." Again, my condolences to you and your x-box

Point proven...and you're very attentive too, I see

. Those would be Show pictures in my sig and a PSN link to the left with my profile

. I wonder why that is...hmm...lol. So my Xbox and I are fine. As are my PS3 and I. Thanks for your "concern" though...lol.

4 posts in and sounding like a winner...well done!

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