MLB 2K9 News Post

Major League Baseball 2K9 Review

09:45 AM - March 4, 2009 by RaychelSnr

March 3, 2009 was supposed to be a day of triumph for 2K Sports. The final chapter in a three-year development cycle that started with MLB 2K7.

Each new edition was to be another layer of bricks built upon the initial foundation, remaking the baseball video-game genre as we knew it. MLB 2K9 was to be the shining star at the top of a glorious skyscraper of baseball awesomeness.

As they say, "the best laid plans of mice and men."

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Game: Major League Baseball 2K9Reader Score: 6/10 - Vote Now
Platform: PS3 / Xbox 360Votes for game: 38 - View All

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# 81 Trevytrev11 @ 03/05/09 05:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Muskrat


	I understand what you are saying, and it makes sense, but why should the AI not swing at a slider on the outside edge on the first pitch but then swing at the same pitch later in the count.

It's all a gamble. Your betting as a hitter that you will get a better pitch to drive.

There are pitchers pitches and hitters pitches.

A pitchers pitch is in a spot where he wants it that is non desirable to the hitter. Again because a pitch is a strike doesn't mean it's a good pitch to the hitter. Each player has certain areas of the plate that they are better at hitting than others. If a hitter can't hit pitches low and away very well, then if possible it's a pitch he wants to avoid unless of course it means striking out.

A hitters pitch is something in his zone that he is more likely to drive and will have a better chance of being successful in his AB at.

As a hitter, you want pitches in your zone. As a pitcher you want to throw strikes that are out of the hitters zone.

# 82 Pared @ 03/05/09 05:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Muskrat


	Yes, I have seen baseball...in fact, last year I only missed watching maybe 4 Cubs games on MLB.com (I live in New York..no WGN). I have been a baseball fan for over 20 years and understand that players take pitches. BUT player take pitches because they don't know what's coming, or maybe they do and have problems hitting that pitch or location, or they expect something easier to handle later in the at-bat. I get it. But taking a pitch is based on a human element. Taking a first pitch strike that you can hit, simply because it's "what you do", to me, has always seemed a bit silly. If you think you can handle the pitch, why not go for it? Now, from an AI perspective, the AI knows what you are pitching and whether they can hit it or not..after all, we are playing the AI's game, so the only way the AI will take a pitch it can hit is for the programmer to put into place something that stops the AI from swinging at first pitches...simply because in baseball, that's what happens. It appears that there are mechanisms in place in the game to get the AI to not be as aggressive, and those mechanisms are simply not working, THAT is a problem that should be remedied. The AI is simply swinging at pitches that it can hit...I can't fault it for doing that, I can fault the programmer for improper implementation of mechanics that are in place to preclude this from happening.

Right, but the human element in video games is what typically is wrong with most games. That's what sets good games from bad games.

Think about Mortal Kombat where the CPU KNOWS what you are doing and can magically adjust. While this isn't THAT bad, it feels that way. Perception is reality, no? In this case, it would be...

# 83 nike23EA @ 03/05/09 05:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MMChrisS


	Haha, from what little bit I played of MLB 2K9 (literally two games) I would attest to most of the points made and the score. Not like I played it enough to give a review of my own, but MLB 2K9 is so far behind The Show it's not even funny. We're talking NBA LIve 06 compared to NBA 2K6 separation levels here.

Thats the problem with the stereo-type reviews. In some games (playing allstar difficulty) i get an offencive surge (sounds familiar ive seen 21 run ball games before in real mlb games)...but most of my games against the good teams with the reds im having 4-3 ball games 1-1 ball games going into the 11th inning and just lastnight i had a game against the Marlins go into 11 innings at 2-2 with each team only getting 8 hits and i had 12 strike outs with my pitcher (some were swinging some were looking and some were even checked swings.)

I guess its probablly because i am not trying to spam the right stick up...i get a variety of hits to all different directions just based on the timeing of my swing. This is the problem i have with most any baseball games that come out lets dump the hit aiming and the ability to jack home runs by pushing up on the stick...thats lame who comes up with these ideas when making sports games! While not the best baseball game in the history its not bad...sorry ill let you guys at OS get back to your show lovefest.

# 84 Muskrat @ 03/05/09 06:39 PM

I avoid the "right stick up spamming" except with certain hitters who typically swing for the fences (Soriano and Ramirez to be specific...and Lee sometimes..I'm using the cubs). I have noticed that certain "real life" situations work really well ie: hitting to the hole between 2b and 1b with a runner on first, etc...that works very well...

# 85 Jimbo68 @ 03/05/09 10:10 PM

I downloaded and played only three games of 2K9. I actually smiled as I turned the machine off. One of the biggest gripes that I'm seeing is that the AI batters swing at everything. In the last of my three, three-inning games, I had four strikeouts, two the AI batter did NOT swing, once he swung and missed and the other time the batter checked his swing and the plate ump punched him out. Not a bad pitching effort considering there aren't any sliders to adjust in the demo. I actually won that last game 4-0. Lost the first two games.

I enjoy using the sticks to pitch and bat. I don't like having to look at the pitching meters seen in The Show and MVP '05. But I did buy The Show '09 because I am a graphics and overall gameplay whore. It is what it is. Will pick up 2K9 when the price drops. Whatever happened to 2K games going for $19.99? Those were the days.

# 86 Blzer @ 03/05/09 10:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Muskrat


	Taking a first pitch strike that you can hit, simply because it's "what you do", to me, has always seemed a bit silly.

I just wanted to respond to this on a personal level.

I take the game of baseball very mentally when I play, and use everything to my favor when I can. I'm a leadoff hitter, so my job(s) are to: 1) get on base any way possible; 2) scout the pitcher for my fellow teammates. I abuse the latter so damn much when I play. If there were splits compiled into my stats, you would see that probably 80% of my at bats I have a two strike count, or last more than four pitches. I also walk over once a game on average. I'm a patient hitter in the sense that I'm looking in one zone for a long time, but this is besides the point.

Anyway, what I wanted to say about the "mental" thing is I'm really good at placing images into my head based on what I've seen. I recall my past at bats and pitches that came to me and in which sequence, and once I see a kind of pitch in the pitcher's arsenal, I remember how it moves and how the pitcher releases the ball, etc. But most importantly, if it's a pitcher that I haven't seen before, I never swing at the first pitch. I want to get the timing down and see where he releases the ball (when I bat, I don't look at the pitcher, I look at where the ball is going to fly out of his hand). I take the pitch without even really looking at the ball, but instead making a mental note on where he released it, and stay in the box for the next pitch to make it recognizable for myself.

Anyway, if there were AB splits, you'd also see that I have more success later in the game off the same pitcher. It's just that kind of mentality that I have.

So the only reason I made the post is to say that I'll take pitches right down the middle if it is the first time I'm seeing the pitcher. Otherwise, down the middle will be fair game to hack at.

# 87 BlyGilmore @ 03/05/09 11:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rocky


	Nobody is making excuses for anything being broken. If it can be remedied with sliders, it's NOT broken. Period. That's what they are there for. If you feel like the CPU gets too many hits, then lower the slider and there is no problem. That analogy is terrible for the simple fact that games which I think are unplayable without sliders (again NCAA Football 2009...much more unplayable than this game out the box, NBA2K9) are capable and in many cases, enjoyable to alot of people with default sliders. Point blank, the issues that MLB 2K9 has (wonky fielding, AI not taking strikes, lack of customization) can't be fixed with sliders. But don't give this rationale that sliders are meaningless or you shouldn't have to adjust them. They're apart of video games just like Franchise, CAP, Editing Players, etc.

I never said they are meaningless. I said they are to tweak and perfect - not fix.

# 88 bodean @ 03/06/09 12:16 AM

This game, like last years, is HORRIBLE!

Seems like 80% of the people on 2ksports forums seem to agree. Can't believe this company continues to put out sh|t products.

# 89 snugglyirishman @ 03/06/09 02:59 AM

I feel that this game is straight trash....bought a PS3 just for the Show and absolutely love it. Now I have played 2K baseball every year that it has been put out and to tell the truth I even found last years copy entertaining. That could be because I could strike people out in that game and didn't combine for 35 hits in my first game, the final score being 9-8 with 3 errors for the Cubs and 1 for the Astros. In the second game, the Cubs had 3 more errors by the 2nd inning and these weren't throwing errors, the outfielders dropped the ball 3 times. The player models are "okay" and the defense is choppy. I'm selling this game back and sticking with the Show....straight garbage.

# 90 Muskrat @ 03/06/09 03:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Blzer


	I just wanted to respond to this on a personal level. I take the game of baseball very mentally when I play, and use everything to my favor when I can. I'm a leadoff hitter, so my job(s) are to: 1) get on base any way possible; 2) scout the pitcher for my fellow teammates. I abuse the latter so damn much when I play. If there were splits compiled into my stats, you would see that probably 80% of my at bats I have a two strike count, or last more than four pitches. I also walk over once a game on average. I'm a patient hitter in the sense that I'm looking in one zone for a long time, but this is besides the point. Anyway, what I wanted to say about the "mental" thing is I'm really good at placing images into my head based on what I've seen. I recall my past at bats and pitches that came to me and in which sequence, and once I see a kind of pitch in the pitcher's arsenal, I remember how it moves and how the pitcher releases the ball, etc. But most importantly, if it's a pitcher that I haven't seen before, I never swing at the first pitch. I want to get the timing down and see where he releases the ball (when I bat, I don't look at the pitcher, I look at where the ball is going to fly out of his hand). I take the pitch without even really looking at the ball, but instead making a mental note on where he released it, and stay in the box for the next pitch to make it recognizable for myself. Anyway, if there were AB splits, you'd also see that I have more success later in the game off the same pitcher. It's just that kind of mentality that I have. So the only reason I made the post is to say that I'll take pitches right down the middle if it is the first time I'm seeing the pitcher. Otherwise, down the middle will be fair game to hack at.

Your post makes total sense to me and I completely understand this..the more pitches you see, the more likely you are to do better when trying to make contact. My argument is mainly towards those that are getting worked up over the aggressive AI hitting..I just find it a little over the top.

# 91 keats624 @ 03/07/09 02:44 AM

Just bought 2K9 when it came out...its terrible...im tradin it back in for 2K8
They had a good thing going in 2K8 and alot to build off of but they decide to take alot of things out of it and ended up taking all kinds of steps back.

Nothing will ever top EA's MVP series...especially 2005, one of my favorite games ever

# 92 Tyrant8RDFL @ 03/07/09 06:15 PM

One of the problems I have always had with 2k baseball is the feel of hitting the ball. It always felt like I was playing whiffle ball, and I never liked the sound effects used when the ball was hit.

Also the animations make the players seem like they only posses half a brain. They tend to look dazed at times when going from one animation to another.

# 93 bkrich83 @ 03/07/09 11:54 PM

Fair review imo. I think the game is fun, and will make a nice change of pace type game to play, but ultimately is not quite ready for prime time.

# 94 jeffy777 @ 03/08/09 06:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CubsNBroncos


	but the game isn't nearly as bad as some make it out to be.

You are right. It's not that bad, but it's just not as great as it should be either though. But I'm not going to pass final judgment until I see what VC does with the next patch. That's the only thing that's keeping me from going back to 2K7 right now or getting The Show for PS2. But if they can iron out the kinks, I'll stick with it and give it a high 7 or maybe even an 8.0 if they really work some mojo with that patch. We'll see.

# 95 ajb1980 @ 03/09/09 12:41 PM

Hi guys, can someone please tell me how to substitute my pitcher. I am not very familiar with baseball and it keeps saying something about a Bull Pen, help me please?

# 96 Eddie1967 @ 03/09/09 01:05 PM

Pause the game, scroll up and you should see the substitute menu.
If your talking about a pitcher getting hurt during the game then it should come up automatically.

# 97 Diesel3649 @ 03/09/09 02:17 PM

Very good review, fair and balanced, hit all the points, good and bad.
I've always had the theory with 2K baseball games that the game engine is just not that great, and needs to be scrapped and a new one built from the ground up. I still have that feeling when I see some of the same issues year after year. With 2k's money problems, I don't see that happening any time soon.

This is just a theory, but I haven't seen much to make me feel that I'm wrong in the past 3 or 4 years. Every year I still hope they come up with something great, but I feel that I should wish VC good luck making chicken salad out of chicken ****.

# 98 DMB82 @ 03/09/09 03:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pared


	That's exactly my point, and why I put it in quotes. How can you review a game, expecting the reviewer to be level in how reviews this game compared to other sports games, and expect them to factor in that sliders can "fix" a game for them? Does that make sense?

Exactly. People expecting another review based on sliders are being ridiculous and grasping at straws. What sliders is he supposed to review on considering everyone would change different things if they were making their own sliders? Besides, expecting people to tinker with sliders for hours to attempt to play a game of baseball that isn't completely broken after they've just spend $60 on the game is beyond absurd.

# 99 DMB82 @ 03/09/09 03:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by allBthere


	I don't really get it. I'm saying to people it isn't broken, and that if sliders can make the game more to your preference - that should be factored in. We are talking about videogame baseball, and your idea of what bliss is like will differ than mine. I feel like the point of the review was to dock major points for the game not simulating real life baseball extremely closely - right out of the box. I think your argument against mine is that the game is fundamentally 'broken' in certain aspects - is that right? And that sliders can band-aid those aspects and that the consumer shouldn't be expected to have to fix those issues himself..at least I think that's where you're going. I'm just saying this is all very subjective and I'm not convinced that the game has to be extremely sim right out of the box to get a good score. I think it's a great 'fusion' of sim, especially with my current sliders and I'm very happy w/ how it's playing now. I could list stats like my team BA or pitch count and things like this. I'll have lower walks (taken and given) and pitch counts - but everything else is very believable and my games only take 40-45 minutes.

So basically why you disagree with the review is that you like arcade baseball. You'd probably loved the old Triple Play games too didn't you? Personally I want a realistic experience from my baseball experience right down to allowing me to control everything all 30 teams do with their rosters (thank you The Show!) and having 20-2 games and 85 HRs in a season by one player is neither fun nor acceptable. If I wanted to play MLB slugfest I'd play the baseball game that comes with the Wii. For $60 I want a baseball sim and 2K has once again failed miserably at creating that although I'd argue that they aren't trying to make a sim game anymore. They are clearly going for a more arcade experience (and like I said if that's your cup of tea, enjoy!).

# 100 DMB82 @ 03/09/09 03:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by allBthere


	the main difference is that 2k9 isn't broken...at least in my eyes. a typical game of mine I throw 85-95 pitches and the other team 95-120. That's not 'passable'? the game isn't for you...that's fine, but it's not broken imo either.

Amount of pitches thrown in a game determines whether this game is broken or not? Are you serious?

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