03:18 AM - February 24, 2009 by PVarck31MLB 2K9 News Post
03:18 AM - February 24, 2009 by PVarck31
Major League Baseball 2K9 Videos
Member Comments
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Different departments, different objectives. Focus on one of these aspects does not hinder the focus on the other.
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# 583
Blitzburgh @ 02/25/09 08:42 AM
After playing way too many 3 inning games about the only thing I am not enjoying is the fact that I can't use other teams and really start getting into this game. I understand some peoples negatives and it really comes down to what bothers you and what doesn't. It's never going to be unanimus. That is why previews/reviews are fun to read but take from them what you wish.
The suttle AI hicups and animation querks don't really bother me. Heck, even the organ and bat to ball sounds are fine with me. I personally would love to see some better lighting and faces but someone else might not care 2 cents about that.
From playing just a 3 inning DEMO I would give this game an 8 overall. It is IMO huge steps above 2k8 and the smoothness alone on a nice HDTV is something to see.
I hear some people are experiencing frame rate drops and the pitch speed is not fast enough... I am not and if I am, I just can't notice it enough for it to really matter. Each to their own, but remember, these are only opinions and everyone will have a different one.
The suttle AI hicups and animation querks don't really bother me. Heck, even the organ and bat to ball sounds are fine with me. I personally would love to see some better lighting and faces but someone else might not care 2 cents about that.
From playing just a 3 inning DEMO I would give this game an 8 overall. It is IMO huge steps above 2k8 and the smoothness alone on a nice HDTV is something to see.
I hear some people are experiencing frame rate drops and the pitch speed is not fast enough... I am not and if I am, I just can't notice it enough for it to really matter. Each to their own, but remember, these are only opinions and everyone will have a different one.
We can laud the positive aspects of the game, but where does that get us on making sure the inaccuracies and deficiencies are corrected?
When MVP 2004 was released five years ago it had some issues, but it also had many features that are lacking in this game. If the ability for take-out slides was available in a game five years ago, then why is it not in this game?
When a player throws to a base, that layer should look at the base he is throwing. Again this was in High Heat back in the early part of this decade, but is absent here.
Collision detection should have been more refined. Some of the collision issues are terrible. A player just stands over home plate while another bats… this is unacceptable for a major company.
As I have pointed out, Wall height is not a nitpicky complaint; it’s a real game play issue. It’s lazy to let this pass.
Missing animation frames when a batter moves to put the bat on his shoulder is another feature that should have not been overlooked.
Then there are issues that many of you are calling nitpicky:
Clouds moving too fast
Ball being too big
Too many of the same ads
Adding in buildings for the sake of advertisement
Many of these issues seem small and insignificant, but games many years ago had these issues ironed out. For the sake of technological advancement this game should too. I don’t understand why people are giving this game and company a free pass to produce a game that is inferior to its counterparts of today and yesteryear.
If these issues are not voiced, 2K will have no reason to fix them and produce a more complete videogame experience. Seeing as they hold exclusive multi-platform rights to Major league Baseball, we can only hope they take our concerns and act on them. Avoiding the inaccuracies and deficiencies will only get the consumer another poor game for your $60 or even the $20 PC price-point. In this economy, I want a quality product for that kind of money. MLB 2K9 is not that product.
When MVP 2004 was released five years ago it had some issues, but it also had many features that are lacking in this game. If the ability for take-out slides was available in a game five years ago, then why is it not in this game?
When a player throws to a base, that layer should look at the base he is throwing. Again this was in High Heat back in the early part of this decade, but is absent here.
Collision detection should have been more refined. Some of the collision issues are terrible. A player just stands over home plate while another bats… this is unacceptable for a major company.
As I have pointed out, Wall height is not a nitpicky complaint; it’s a real game play issue. It’s lazy to let this pass.
Missing animation frames when a batter moves to put the bat on his shoulder is another feature that should have not been overlooked.
Then there are issues that many of you are calling nitpicky:
Clouds moving too fast
Ball being too big
Too many of the same ads
Adding in buildings for the sake of advertisement
Many of these issues seem small and insignificant, but games many years ago had these issues ironed out. For the sake of technological advancement this game should too. I don’t understand why people are giving this game and company a free pass to produce a game that is inferior to its counterparts of today and yesteryear.
If these issues are not voiced, 2K will have no reason to fix them and produce a more complete videogame experience. Seeing as they hold exclusive multi-platform rights to Major league Baseball, we can only hope they take our concerns and act on them. Avoiding the inaccuracies and deficiencies will only get the consumer another poor game for your $60 or even the $20 PC price-point. In this economy, I want a quality product for that kind of money. MLB 2K9 is not that product.
As an older gamer with a career, I'm fortunate in that I'm able to own both an Xbox 360 and a PS3. I nearly sold my PS3 at the beginning of the year because I simply don't use it that much. I utilize my 360 much more and prefer it to the PS3. I'm glad I didn't ditch the PS3. Even if I just keep it around for occasional Blu Ray viewing and baseball gaming it will be worth it.
But, I am disappointed by the baseball gaming options on the 360. After playing numerous 3 inning games via the demo I can say that I think MLB 2K9 is an improvement over MLB 2K8 but it still is rather disappointing compared to SCEA's MLB.
I've decided that once again, I won't be purchasing MLB 2K. I do applaud their efforts on improving the game and hope they continue to do so. I would like to purchase a baseball game to play on my 360 one day but it won't be this year.
My impressions:
The fielding is not very fluid and this, IMO, is the biggest detraction in the demo.
I do like the batting and pitching.
Presentation: The play-by-play is very good. Bat sounds? Not so good. Graphics? Average for next gen.
If this game's fielding becomes more fluid and the graphics and player models improve slightly, I will purchase this game. Until then, I think I'll just be buying one baseball game.
But, I am disappointed by the baseball gaming options on the 360. After playing numerous 3 inning games via the demo I can say that I think MLB 2K9 is an improvement over MLB 2K8 but it still is rather disappointing compared to SCEA's MLB.
I've decided that once again, I won't be purchasing MLB 2K. I do applaud their efforts on improving the game and hope they continue to do so. I would like to purchase a baseball game to play on my 360 one day but it won't be this year.
My impressions:
The fielding is not very fluid and this, IMO, is the biggest detraction in the demo.
I do like the batting and pitching.
Presentation: The play-by-play is very good. Bat sounds? Not so good. Graphics? Average for next gen.
If this game's fielding becomes more fluid and the graphics and player models improve slightly, I will purchase this game. Until then, I think I'll just be buying one baseball game.
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No one is forcing you to do anything. You're not supposed to keep playing the demo, yet you do.
Funny how that works.
For those saying the demo should have been more solid, I completely agree with you. Either way, it's out there, and if you want to give the final a shot by renting it (Gamefly is pretty affordable) then by all means, do so. If they haven't fixed most of the issues you're seeing, pat yourself on the back for a job well done and move on.
Wow. Some of these animations are awful.
1. Second baseman charges in to field a weakly-hit ground ball. He grabs the ball and I want to try a throw to 3rd base. Now, because of where his momentum is taking him, in order to make this throw the 2nd baseman would have to either (a)stop and swing his body around clockwise so that his feet are planted and he can throw or (b) do a complete 360 and throw to 3rd as he spins. Instead, the 2nd baseman holds his arm out towards 3rd base, like he's pointing a gun, and the ball magically shoots out of his arm, again, as if he were shooting a gun. It was awful.
2. Left fielder breaks on a ball hit down the line. He makes the catch, and keeps walking right into the wall. And walking. And walking. He's trying to walk into the wall for like 10 seconds. Pretty rough.
3. I knew these would be annoying, and I was right. Those omni-present puffs of dust are just ridiculous. It looks like the players' feet are on fire.
On the positive side, the CPU stole a couple of bases, which was a very nice touch.
Overall, the graphics look good. I like the new Stick swing, and, if I'm not mistaken, it feels like the zone hitting is in the demo, which I really like. But the animations I mentioned above are weak. I don't know that they're enough to keep me away from the game as long as there's an immersive franchise mode.
The demo is lacking. It needs more teeth. Right now there's not enough to make me go out and buy it without renting it first. When a demo is done right, I can be enticed into buying a game without renting; NASCAR 09 is a great example of how a demo should be done. I played that demo and was hooked because there was so much depth to the demo. This? Not much there. So it's definitely a rental.
1. Second baseman charges in to field a weakly-hit ground ball. He grabs the ball and I want to try a throw to 3rd base. Now, because of where his momentum is taking him, in order to make this throw the 2nd baseman would have to either (a)stop and swing his body around clockwise so that his feet are planted and he can throw or (b) do a complete 360 and throw to 3rd as he spins. Instead, the 2nd baseman holds his arm out towards 3rd base, like he's pointing a gun, and the ball magically shoots out of his arm, again, as if he were shooting a gun. It was awful.
2. Left fielder breaks on a ball hit down the line. He makes the catch, and keeps walking right into the wall. And walking. And walking. He's trying to walk into the wall for like 10 seconds. Pretty rough.
3. I knew these would be annoying, and I was right. Those omni-present puffs of dust are just ridiculous. It looks like the players' feet are on fire.
On the positive side, the CPU stole a couple of bases, which was a very nice touch.
Overall, the graphics look good. I like the new Stick swing, and, if I'm not mistaken, it feels like the zone hitting is in the demo, which I really like. But the animations I mentioned above are weak. I don't know that they're enough to keep me away from the game as long as there's an immersive franchise mode.
The demo is lacking. It needs more teeth. Right now there's not enough to make me go out and buy it without renting it first. When a demo is done right, I can be enticed into buying a game without renting; NASCAR 09 is a great example of how a demo should be done. I played that demo and was hooked because there was so much depth to the demo. This? Not much there. So it's definitely a rental.
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I will have to agree with you 100%. I too own a 360 and a PS3 . I played the 2k9 demo and wasn't impressed at all. Quite honestly, i feel bad for those baseball fans who do not own a PS3. They really have no choice. But, like you said, that game is a great improvement over last years version. Now, I know the demo was from an earlier build so who knows what the final product will look like. Anyway, here are my pros and cons of the 2k9 demo:
PROS:
**Play by Play--Great commentating and just like watching a tv broadcast...nice
**Pithcing and hitting--Pitching has been improved alot from the 2k8 iteration. So much so that I feel confident in what I throw.
**Presentation--Great atmosphere
CONS:
**Players faces--They just look awful in my mind
**Bat sounds are bad and annoying IMO
**Fielding seems a bit herky jerky
**Player animations are just weird
All in all, I was left unimpressed with the demo. Im still on the fence about whether or not I will be getting this game. I will definitely want to rent it first to see if it is a lot better than the demo.
The problem I have with 2k baseball since MLB 2k7 is realism. When you have a competing game that is so much better you really need to step it up and MLB 2k8 and now 2k9 (based on this demo) has not done that. MLB The Show is to 2k baseball what NFL 2k5 in to Madden football. They are the games by which all that follow will be judged. As EA with Madden has not yet been able to capture the excellent game play and realism of NFL 2k5, The MLB 2k series has not been able to capture the game play and realism of MLB The Show.
After playing both demo's, MLB 2k9 and The Show 09 there is just no way I could justify buying 2k9 this year.
After playing both demo's, MLB 2k9 and The Show 09 there is just no way I could justify buying 2k9 this year.
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Oh, and I really like how when you're in the field you can see the baserunner's steal rating by holding the LT. Very nice addition.
As a side note. I have to admit, when I originally played the demo for NBA 2K9, I was not that impressed. I was leaning towards Live 09, but when the actual games came out, NBA 2K9 delivered an improved product in the final product.
This could very well be the case from what i saw in the G4 video. It's possible so I am not jumping to conclusions.
This is all we have on 360 and overall, I can already see improvement over 2K8 and the final product could have some of these ironed out.
This could very well be the case from what i saw in the G4 video. It's possible so I am not jumping to conclusions.
This is all we have on 360 and overall, I can already see improvement over 2K8 and the final product could have some of these ironed out.
# 593
callmetaternuts @ 02/25/09 09:39 AM
Donwloaded the 360 demo last night to try. I rented 2k8 last year before buying "the other game". While 2k9 isnt perfect, it does alot of things right, and corrects alot of 2k8's crappy problems (framerate, meatballs, and overall awful gameplay). I know its a demo but hitting seemed too easy. First pitch i saw with Rollins was deposited over the centerfield wall for a homer. Pitching seemed fun and even if they did take away the meatball, i still dig the motion controlled pitching.
Batting on the other hand just seemed like you pre-loaded and pusehd forward and you would hit almost anything.
Not sure about the dust clouds everywhere. Is Pigpen from Charlie Brown playing?
Overall its a big step forward, but still has some work to do.
Batting on the other hand just seemed like you pre-loaded and pusehd forward and you would hit almost anything.
Not sure about the dust clouds everywhere. Is Pigpen from Charlie Brown playing?
Overall its a big step forward, but still has some work to do.
# 594
baseball88 @ 02/25/09 09:42 AM
A demo is a demo.
The final product will tell it all. This says it all
The final product will tell it all. This says it all
Played a couple of games last night and while the game is a definite step-up from 2k8, there's not enough there to warrant a full-price purchase, IMO.
I thought hitting was way too easy. Taking out the step really made a difference as I could react super-late to a pitch and still drive it for either a HR or an extra-base hit.
I do like the re-worked pitching mechanics. Getting rid of the meatball pitch was a big plus.
Fielding was OK; I thought the camera was pulled back too far for some plays in OF but the R-stick throwing works well.
I thought hitting was way too easy. Taking out the step really made a difference as I could react super-late to a pitch and still drive it for either a HR or an extra-base hit.
I do like the re-worked pitching mechanics. Getting rid of the meatball pitch was a big plus.
Fielding was OK; I thought the camera was pulled back too far for some plays in OF but the R-stick throwing works well.
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# 598
Blitzburgh @ 02/25/09 09:53 AM
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# 599
The Living Legend @ 02/25/09 10:03 AM
Well after playing the Demo about 5 times last night i have to say i love it....
Graphics - I was pleasantly surprised maybe it was because all the low res video's and how crappy 2k8 was but i mean seeing all the different times a day, overcast, dusk, and night you can see the difference completely on the field and the lighting on the players i though the grass textures were pretty nice too. Player faces hit or miss but honestly i couldn't care less since i skip most of the walk-ups so i really do not get in to close. Uniforms are pretty good, and the stadium look pretty good overall, i guess to me it had a upgraded 2k3 feel for me like the camera and the slight cartoonist look for me which is ok since I LOVED 2k3.
Sound - Bat sounds, sound ok to me i mean i notice the difference depending on where and when the batter makes contact. Love the crowd noise umpires all those things.
Commentary - Best ever period NEXT.
Gameplay - This is a very tricky topic so i guess i will do my best. I love the pitching mechanics the yellow bar doesnt bother me actually it helps me know how much effort im putting into the pitch. Computer does swing alot but i dont mind to an extent, the AI does take pithes as well not as much as i would like to but its all good. The fielding is alot better since the game is running so damn smooth. I noticed little hiccups here and there but nothing major at all. And defintly nothing to effect gameplay all the weird animations are post play so i mostly skip that crap anyway. Love the meter for fielding though i might have to use that quick throw modifier cause sometimes havent had a problem yet with throws but know since someone mentioned it it does take a little long to throw in since the animation takes a bit but i will have to play more and havent run into that problem yet.
Hitting, i find it challenging maybe im not that good since i havent played a baseball game enough in 2 years. I played 2k7 pretty good but all the glitches and framerate i couldnt take it anymore. And 2k8 Fail. I find it hard to get alot of hits, out of the 5 demo tries i onl hit 2 homeruns and probably got 10 hits maybe out of all demo tries.
I dont know what to tell people i like the game i like what its going for maybe im not a true simulation junky and i like the little arcade aspects since that keeps it fresh and fun for me, but overall i can look over the little hiccups here and there since the glitches to me hardly show themself.. i applaud the effort of VC and look forward to see what the final game offers.
Graphics - I was pleasantly surprised maybe it was because all the low res video's and how crappy 2k8 was but i mean seeing all the different times a day, overcast, dusk, and night you can see the difference completely on the field and the lighting on the players i though the grass textures were pretty nice too. Player faces hit or miss but honestly i couldn't care less since i skip most of the walk-ups so i really do not get in to close. Uniforms are pretty good, and the stadium look pretty good overall, i guess to me it had a upgraded 2k3 feel for me like the camera and the slight cartoonist look for me which is ok since I LOVED 2k3.
Sound - Bat sounds, sound ok to me i mean i notice the difference depending on where and when the batter makes contact. Love the crowd noise umpires all those things.
Commentary - Best ever period NEXT.
Gameplay - This is a very tricky topic so i guess i will do my best. I love the pitching mechanics the yellow bar doesnt bother me actually it helps me know how much effort im putting into the pitch. Computer does swing alot but i dont mind to an extent, the AI does take pithes as well not as much as i would like to but its all good. The fielding is alot better since the game is running so damn smooth. I noticed little hiccups here and there but nothing major at all. And defintly nothing to effect gameplay all the weird animations are post play so i mostly skip that crap anyway. Love the meter for fielding though i might have to use that quick throw modifier cause sometimes havent had a problem yet with throws but know since someone mentioned it it does take a little long to throw in since the animation takes a bit but i will have to play more and havent run into that problem yet.
Hitting, i find it challenging maybe im not that good since i havent played a baseball game enough in 2 years. I played 2k7 pretty good but all the glitches and framerate i couldnt take it anymore. And 2k8 Fail. I find it hard to get alot of hits, out of the 5 demo tries i onl hit 2 homeruns and probably got 10 hits maybe out of all demo tries.
I dont know what to tell people i like the game i like what its going for maybe im not a true simulation junky and i like the little arcade aspects since that keeps it fresh and fun for me, but overall i can look over the little hiccups here and there since the glitches to me hardly show themself.. i applaud the effort of VC and look forward to see what the final game offers.
# 600
ronnyballgame @ 02/25/09 10:11 AM
So I finally got a chance to play the demo, I started downloading it yesterday, but I had to go to work, and finished it when I got home, but only sampled it, because I had to go to class. So this morning, I pulled one game of the demo, which was all the time I had, and needed to figure out MLB 2k9.
From those 3 innings, I felt that this game is heading for a direction I have been waiting for. I loved the commentary, the game itself felt so smooth, I loved the controls, last year I had them, but playing with the right stick is going to only make this game so much better. This game is leaps and bounds better than 2k8 and it may equal out to MVP 05 in my book once I get my hands on the retail version. I am a franchise guy, and the franchise sounds great. Less than a week.
So in my game, I lost 3-2 to Tampa, Burrell killed me with a 2 run bomb after I struck out 2 in the first. Cole's change up was sick, as it is in real life. I was on the edge of my seat the whole game. Wasn't fair they got to bring in bullpen guys, but I couldn't, haha. Good job VC!
From those 3 innings, I felt that this game is heading for a direction I have been waiting for. I loved the commentary, the game itself felt so smooth, I loved the controls, last year I had them, but playing with the right stick is going to only make this game so much better. This game is leaps and bounds better than 2k8 and it may equal out to MVP 05 in my book once I get my hands on the retail version. I am a franchise guy, and the franchise sounds great. Less than a week.
So in my game, I lost 3-2 to Tampa, Burrell killed me with a 2 run bomb after I struck out 2 in the first. Cole's change up was sick, as it is in real life. I was on the edge of my seat the whole game. Wasn't fair they got to bring in bullpen guys, but I couldn't, haha. Good job VC!
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