MLB 2K10 News Post

Major League Baseball 2K10 Hands-on (IGN)

07:31 PM - January 13, 2010 by hitstreak13

IGN has posted their hands-on preview of Major League Baseball 2K10.

Quote:


	"The single clutch moment I played had my double-A team down one run with two men on in the bottom of the ninth. All I had to do was slap a single into the outfield and we'd win the game. Well, it didn't happen, but the potential was there for an exciting moment. Aside from standard games, you'll also take part in drills to build your attribute points."

Game: Major League Baseball 2K10Reader Score: 6/10 - Vote Now
Platform: PS3 / Xbox 360Votes for game: 33 - View All

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Member Comments

# 41 EnigmaNemesis @ 01/14/10 10:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DickDalewood


	He also mentions that "we gamers must make do with what we're given... and that's the MLB 2K series." That's... not the only option. Unless of course he was trying to say he was an Xbox only owner.

Well it was the 360 version he was previewing, so that could be the reason why. It is viewed on the 360 portion of the site.

# 42 ckarlic @ 01/14/10 10:39 AM

Not a big fan of pitching and hitting with the analog sticks. For the life of me I can never get the timing down and the hang of it. I hope they still have the option to use other methods.

# 43 countryboy @ 01/14/10 10:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DaveDQ


	The defensive swing is a good addition. It happens in baseball. The writer didn't explain it thoroughly, but what he did state is that it is difficult to time it. You have to time it and determine that's what you want to do. That makes complete sense. This is not a "fourth strike" option. it's not like you can flick your stick left or right and you are guaranteed a foul off. This is about gauging the count and pitch selection and defending your current situation.

I understand there is timing involved, but shouldn't a player's skill(in game not user) have some determining factor in the outcome?

I guess maybe the timing window expands/contracts given the skill of the batter?

# 44 DaveDQ @ 01/14/10 10:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EnigmaNemesis


	It is the same thing that was in 2K7. They only switched it to left or right instead of just flicking up. IMO, having it on a separate swing mechanic, now poses problems as far as a natural feel to hitting, and crosses into the lines of sim or not. Where as in The Show for instance. 1-2 count 2-2 count or even 3-2 count, you see a pitching coming in that will be borderline, and it tails outside or too high or too low in the zone, you know swinging at it last minute is going to most likely foul it off with a good vision hitter to stay alive for another pitch. It feels natural because you are still using the same swing mechanic. That gameplay mechanic is incorporated into the batter interface. Where as having this have its own swing mechanic that is not a part of the batter interface, just feels cheap IMO, and almost takes you out of the experience. It did not work well with flicking up on the stick in 2K7, and having it even more unorthodox to your swing, it seems even worse.

I think we need to hold off judgement on whether it is the same as 2K7. We haven't played the game. Inside Pitch plays a role in a hitter's potential, and according to the article, it has been "beefed up."

I don't think it's cheap either, nor does it border on "un-sim." You see a pitch you aren't sure of and they offer a controller mapping to put you in a situation to defend it. It's not like you are using a completely different button. You pull back on the stick, don't like what you see but aren't sure...try and knock it foul.

Makes perfect sense to me.

# 45 EnigmaNemesis @ 01/14/10 11:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DaveDQ


	I think we need to hold off judgement on whether it is the same as 2K7. We haven't played the game. Inside Pitch plays a role in a hitter's potential, and according to the article, it has been "beefed up." I don't think it's cheap either, nor does it border on "un-sim." You see a pitch you aren't sure of and they offer a controller mapping to put you in a situation to defend it. It's not like you are using a completely different button. You pull back on the stick, don't like what you see but aren't sure...try and knock it foul. Makes perfect sense to me.

We will agree to disagree on this one. It is the same feature from 2K7, even the same name.

# 46 brendanrfoley @ 01/14/10 11:09 AM

A quick note about the aforementioned "slowdown." The version of MLB 2K10 played by IGN, Gamespot and others is far from final. Those sites played it two weeks ago (the build is likely a month old at this point) and optimization is typically the last thing that happens during development.

MLB 2K9 ran smoothly (for the most part) and I expect no worse from 2K10.

# 47 m-dogg @ 01/14/10 11:39 AM

"the visuals have taken a bit of a hit"

i agree this is most dissappointing. I know gameplay is more important, but while the parks were fine for me last year, the players were so bland and lacking any detail or textures.. I was really hoping these would be upgraded as they optimized last years engine. its crazy, intead we have:

2k7 graphics >>>>> 2k9 > 2k10

why are we going the wrong direction in next gen?

honestly, I'd much rather have 30 fps and 2k7's graphics with 2k10's gameplay than have the overrated 60 fps. 2k7 was smooth enough for me, in fact, I don't remember anyone complaining about the frame rate of that game. it just had massive issues in gameplay and a horrendous hitting engine that made no sense at all.

# 48 DaveDQ @ 01/14/10 11:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EnigmaNemesis


	We will agree to disagree on this one. It is the same feature from 2K7, even the same name.

Sure, it's not a big deal really. I'm going to mess with the 2K7 demo and use that up stick to knock off pitches. I'll test it on the lower rated players to see how much of a difference that makes.

Quote:

Originally Posted by brendanrfoley


	A quick note about the aforementioned "slowdown." The version of MLB 2K10 played by IGN, Gamespot and others is far from final. Those sites played it two weeks ago (the build is likely a month old at this point) and optimization is typically the last thing that happens during development. MLB 2K9 ran smoothly (for the most part) and I expect no worse from 2K10.

2K9 ran ok except for that slowdown when a ball was hit to the outfield. Also, the foul bowl animation where the stands would reach for the ball looked nice, but it slowed the game down a lot.

Your optimization comment is something I have come to hope for but that is probably the most used comment we see right before a game is released. That hope often lets us down too. I agree with you, I just don't trust it will happen.

# 49 brendanrfoley @ 01/14/10 11:54 AM

Again, I'd take the "graphics have taken a hit" line with a grain of salt.

To start, screens show slightly improved player models and lighting over 2K9. The person who wrote the preview also talked-up many new features as "new" when they are in fact not (button-base throwing, hurry up baseball).

I get the sense this person played little (or none) of 2K9. In that case, if 2K8 is his last real frame of reference, the graphics have taken a hit. But 2K9 is at times a very pretty game that could look much better with solid animations.

I need to see the game in motion before passing judgement.

# 50 Trevytrev11 @ 01/14/10 11:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Blzer


	I think TrevyTrev will like the defensive swing mechanic, and it sounds appropriate with the control gesture you have to do. I hope they worked on cursor hitting, though... I'd much prefer that over the swing stick if there's no left stick skill for making contact.

It depends.

It sounds more like a tool used mainly to foul of pitches than one where a hitter is shortening up and trying to execute something on purpose. And I think there is a difference. Fouls, IMO, should be based on timing (for left and right) and I guess randomness as far as fouling balls back with a timing only system. In a cursor system, they should be 100% physics based at the relationship between the bat and ball, speed of the pitch, etc. would determine this.

My hope was for a shortened swing, which had a slightly larger window of contact opportunity at the cost of a reduction to power. I'm looking for more of a Jason Kendall 2 strike swing or a hit and run swing...not an automatic foul ball swing.

# 51 EnigmaNemesis @ 01/14/10 11:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Trevytrev11


	It depends. It sounds more like a tool used mainly to foul of pitches than one where a hitter is shortening up and trying to execute something on purpose. And I think there is a difference. Fouls, IMO, should be based on timing (for left and right) and I guess randomness as far as fouling balls back with a timing only system. In a cursor system, they should be 100% physics based at the relationship between the bat and ball, speed of the pitch, etc. would determine this. My hope was for a shortened swing, which had a slightly larger window of contact opportunity at the cost of a reduction to power. I'm looking for more of a Jason Kendall 2 strike swing or a hit and run swing...not an automatic foul ball swing.

Exactly.

# 52 Trevytrev11 @ 01/14/10 12:01 PM

It sounds like they skipped 2K9 and are comparing this to 2K8. Anyone else feel that wasy from they way the describe the improvements and changes from last year?

# 53 brendanrfoley @ 01/14/10 12:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Trevytrev11


	It sounds like they skipped 2K9 and are comparing this to 2K8. Anyone else feel that wasy from they way the describe the improvements and changes from last year?

Two posts above ya', buddy

.

This is one of the more embarrassing previews I have read in a while and there is no doubt in my mind the person who wrote it spent extremely limited (if any) time with 2K9.

# 54 myghty @ 01/14/10 12:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ckarlic


	Not a big fan of pitching and hitting with the analog sticks. For the life of me I can never get the timing down and the hang of it. I hope they still have the option to use other methods.

Im pretty sure they'll have the other options from the past for pitching & hitting but for me personally I do like the anolog controls. Thats the only thing that keeps me curious for this game.

# 55 HK-47 @ 01/14/10 12:50 PM

2K/VC need to let me preview the game

.

I'm not too far from Sand Diego.

# 56 brendanrfoley @ 01/14/10 01:21 PM

Gamespot's is due tomorrow, though I doubt we will see new screens (it attended the same event IGN did).

I hope Ronnie posts the Developer Insight today to hold us over.

# 57 queensbomber @ 01/14/10 01:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EnigmaNemesis


	Where as in The Show for instance. 1-2 count 2-2 count or even 3-2 count, you see a pitching coming in that will be borderline, and it tails outside or too high or too low in the zone, you know swinging at it last minute is going to most likely foul it off with a good vision hitter to stay alive for another pitch. It feels natural because you are still using the same swing mechanic. That gameplay mechanic is incorporated into the batter interface. Where as having this have its own swing mechanic that is not a part of the batter interface, just feels cheap IMO, and almost takes you out of the experience. It did not work well with flicking up on the stick in 2K7, and having it even more unorthodox to your swing, it seems even worse.

Couldnt have said it better myself, thanks Nemesis!
Btw...F*&$ the Sawx!

# 58 ryan36 @ 01/14/10 01:44 PM

In that first screen with the catcher behind him and the left handed batter, does it look like the ball is in the catcher's mitt still? Or maybe that's his knee coming through?

# 59 Blzer @ 01/14/10 01:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EnigmaNemesis


	It is the same thing that was in 2K7. They only switched it to left or right instead of just flicking up.

For all we know, they could have completely recoded it. I never used the swing stick when I played my friend's 2K7, so I can't comment on it.

Quote:


	IMO, having it on a separate swing mechanic, now poses problems as far as a natural feel to hitting, and crosses into the lines of sim or not.

I guess I would need to see how this thing works control-wise, because as a baseball player myself, I don't pre-plan a defensive swing, but I'll do it if I am off about a two-strike pitch and need to fight one off, even if the ball is put in play as a result. In this game's case, there may be a penalty to using the defensive swing by putting it in play. I only hope it's an on-the-fly maneuver rather than just flicking left or right predeterminingly.

Quote:


	Where as in The Show for instance. 1-2 count 2-2 count or even 3-2 count, you see a pitching coming in that will be borderline, and it tails outside or too high or too low in the zone, you know swinging at it last minute is going to most likely foul it off with a good vision hitter to stay alive for another pitch. It feels natural because you are still using the same swing mechanic.

No comment. This is a correct statement.

Quote:


	That gameplay mechanic is incorporated into the batter interface. Where as having this have its own swing mechanic that is not a part of the batter interface, just feels cheap IMO, and almost takes you out of the experience. It did not work well with flicking up on the stick in 2K7, and having it even more unorthodox to your swing, it seems even worse.

I am off and on about this new feature, as Trevytrev11 and I have had numerous back-and-forth conversations about this exact topic. I always felt it was ludicrous because I felt most people would utilize it to risk not striking out, but just like the major leagues, people are willing to risk the strikeout if it means they can achieve the long ball. Same thing happens here, which is why, like I said, I hope it's not something that we plan beforehand.

What I mean by that is that I hope we still have to load first (pull the stick back), so that way if we're lost on a pitch but still want to swing, we can instinctively go one way or another on the stick. It may result in a foul ball, a ball put in play, or a swing and a miss. Whatever it is, I have certainly done it myself in real life and it was in my control, which Trevytrev and others would rather have as much control of their game as possible rather than letting the game decide what kind of swing they'll give them.

It's like there's a runner on second and a ground ball is hit to the shortstop's left side. He scoops it up and attempts a routine throw to first, but the ball is slightly bobbled, giving enough time for the batter-runner to reach first and the runner on second to go all the way around to score just in time. Now, what if we didn't want a slow, time-taking, routine throw? What if we wanted to charge through it? Even if there was the same bobble and the runner on first was safe, that extra time taken away is now time found in making sure that runner on third didn't score, whether we got them out at the plate or held them at third. This is why we have a throwing meter, so we can control our throws. This is why we have different swinging options at the plate as well.

I'm not defending the new swing system, but I'm throwing in logic for it. As of now, while I'm not too happy with the idea, I see it as possibly the best way to go about it (as long as you load first). If it's only a flick thing, then that's a predetermined act, and I don't see why they chose to do it that way. I'm just saying don't shut the idea down yet, especially since it's not required to use. Don't make things better if it's not done right, though. I hope they at least rewrote the code, since this is a different company making the game.

# 60 countryboy @ 01/14/10 01:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pitchingcoach36


	In that first screen with the catcher behind him and the left handed batter, does it look like the ball is in the catcher's mitt still? Or maybe that's his knee coming through?

its the catcher's knee/leg showing through.

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