MLB 2K11 News Post

MLB 2K11 Developer Diary #3 - Pitching and Hitting

01:01 PM - February 18, 2011 by Fiddy

Check out the latest MLB 2K11 Developer Diary #3. Designer, Shawn Bailey covers pitching and hitting.

Quote:


	"Through the Pitcher Control slider, you can change the concept of control to be more or less challenging. This new slider will allow you to customize the pitching experience to your liking. This is a sensitive slider that will make it noticeably easier or harder to throw strikes. And don�t worry,we are not disabling achievements this year if you change the sliders. It�s your game and it should be played however you want to play it."

Game: Major League Baseball 2K11Reader Score: 5.5/10 - Vote Now
Platform: NDS / PC / PS2 / PS3 / PSP / Wii / Xbox 360Votes for game: 17 - View All

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Member Comments

# 21 DirtyJerz32 @ 02/18/11 03:04 PM

The AI managers will now be monitoring these pitch counts and will take it into consideration when deciding who to warm up in the bullpen or when to pull a pitcher from the game. However, the AI manager is looking at a lot more than just pitch count. Today, I was able to chase Kansas City�s Vin Mazzaro out of the game in the middle of the first inning after scoring a quick 3 runs on his Royals. Performance and composure will mean just as much to the AI manager�s decisions as pitch count.

This has me pumped!!!

I'm telling you guys, SHOCK THE WORLD!!!

2k is not sitting back and letting the baseball series be the decline of the company. Their doing all the right things so far. Now we need more gameplay vids and the demo.

IMO, they need to get that demo out before the other games demo. Just sayin...

# 22 jeffy777 @ 02/18/11 03:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Steve_OS


	2K is sending us another bonus soon.

Wooooooooot!

# 23 sroz39 @ 02/18/11 03:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Money99


	I hope that you can still hit a decent amount of homers using contact swing. I'm still of the belief there's no use for a variety of types. It should be completely stats based.

Agree. One of the best things about The Show is being able to hit homers with contact/normal swings and only using the power swing on 2-0 and 3-1 counts. Hopefully it's similar in 2K11 without a major slider overhaul.

I'm about 97% of the way there as far as pre-odering this game goes. Nothing I've actually seen is holding me back. Recent history is though. Since the jump to these consoles, there hasn't been a single 2K baseball game released that didn't require a major fix (or fixes) in a patch. I may jump in regardless, but it's in the back of my mind.

This game is looking pretty damn sweet though. Getting difficult to ignore the urge. March 8th will be an expensive day for me, it seems, with The Show, Homefront and this all out on the same day

# 24 Golds @ 02/18/11 03:10 PM

I'm glad I have a PS3 and had the opportunity to get exposed to the Show and not 2k baseball. If only SCEA had a desire to try to develop a football/college bball game with a dedicated staff as the san diego studio.

# 25 jeffy777 @ 02/18/11 03:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kpkpkp


	I love that adjusting sliders will not stop acheivements..... its about time!! Im concerned there was no mention of check swings... Last year none of us could believe they removed check swings from a baseball game... and when it turned out to be true they had to be patched in. I hope they're still there... I mean whats next... a football game without pump fakes? A basketball game without lay-ups?

I seriously doubt they would make that mistake again. Based on all the changes they're making this year, it really seems they have a much better grasp on what baseball really is now.

# 26 bigfnjoe96 @ 02/18/11 03:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Golds


	I'm glad I have a PS3 and had the opportunity to get exposed to the Show and not 2k baseball. If only SCEA had a desire to try to develop a football/college bball game with a dedicated staff as the san diego studio.

Wrong Thread maybe?

# 27 True Talent @ 02/18/11 03:29 PM

Sounds like they put a lot of effort into the game this year. Can't wait to see if there's a demo to judge for ourselves.

# 28 Money99 @ 02/18/11 03:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sroz39


	Agree. One of the best things about The Show is being able to hit homers with contact/normal swings and only using the power swing on 2-0 and 3-1 counts. Hopefully it's similar in 2K11 without a major slider overhaul. I'm about 97% of the way there as far as pre-odering this game goes. Nothing I've actually seen is holding me back. Recent history is though. Since the jump to these consoles, there hasn't been a single 2K baseball game released that didn't require a major fix (or fixes) in a patch. I may jump in regardless, but it's in the back of my mind. This game is looking pretty damn sweet though. Getting difficult to ignore the urge. March 8th will be an expensive day for me, it seems, with The Show, Homefront and this all out on the same day

I hear you. I only have the one option based on my console, but I haven't purchased a 2K ball game because of their history.
But this year, it seems that under the watchful eye of VC, they're doing all they can to make sure this years game is a winner.
The pain that was caused by handing the project over to VC this late in the game seems to be paying off. From my understanding they've only had 2 years to turn this mess around and it seems like we're finally being rewarded with their work.

# 29 The Bimmer @ 02/18/11 03:39 PM

Nice article. I was wondering though, since I havent kept up with 2k baseball since 2k7, will 2k11 feature dynamic lighting and attendence?? This would not be a reason not to buy it, just curious?

# 30 CMH @ 02/18/11 03:41 PM

Someone finally said it.

"It’s your game and it should be played however you want to play it."

Call it foolish, call it ridiculous, but the very fact that a developer finally acknowledged this in a sports game is reason enough for me to play it.

# 31 l3ulvl @ 02/18/11 03:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CMH


	Someone finally said it. "It�s your game and it should be played however you want to play it." Call it foolish, call it ridiculous, but the very fact that a developer finally acknowledged this in a sports game is reason enough for me to play it.

Bingo man, my eyes did a mini-bulge when I read that quote, practically gave me chills.

# 32 bigfnjoe96 @ 02/18/11 03:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Bimmer


	Nice article. I was wondering though, since I havent kept up with 2k baseball since 2k7, will 2k11 feature dynamic lighting and attendence?? This would not be a reason not to buy it, just curious?

Dynamic Lighting was in last years game, so we should be good this year. Dynamic Attendance wasn't in last years game & there's been no mention about it for this year as of yet.

Quote:

Originally Posted by CMH


	Someone finally said it. "It’s your game and it should be played however you want to play it." Call it foolish, call it ridiculous, but the very fact that a developer finally acknowledged this in a sports game is reason enough for me to play it.

Now all they have tell us is there's no limit in the CAP Engine & this place may go crazy...

# 33 The GIGGAS @ 02/18/11 03:50 PM

Wow, a lot of good improvements there.

# 34 The Bimmer @ 02/18/11 03:51 PM

Thanks for that answer BigJoe.

# 35 CMH @ 02/18/11 04:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by l3ulvl


	Bingo man, my eyes did a mini-bulge when I read that quote, practically gave me chills.

It made me feel good about this game. Makes it seem like they are listening to the consumer rather than aliens that never played baseball.

The improvements are staggering. My biggest issues with last year's game was lack of scoring from the CPU because my pitching was too effective and a lack of runs being scored via doubles hit into the gap.

Offense was based on singles and home runs. When the CPU can't hit homeruns or singles because the pitching is too dominant, they can't score runs. It's also boring to play station-to-station baseball with your offensive team because guys aren't running from 1st to home on a double.

Improved distribution of hit types and increased difficulty in hitting spots makes me feel wonderful.

I also love, LOVE, how they are incorporating variable strike zones. Best way to go about it in my opinion. Truly feels like real baseball. Now, if they found a way to still differentiate the umpires by having some with a better eye on pitches up, down, left, right then it'd be even better.

# 36 DJ @ 02/18/11 04:08 PM

2K has really stepped its game up this year. I am definitely going to be buying this (along with The Show). It's been a long time since I've owned 2 baseball games in a single year, but I think it's going to be more than worth it.

The cloud cover in the SF screen shots looked really nice.

# 37 Trevytrev11 @ 02/18/11 04:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CMH


	It made me feel good about this game. Makes it seem like they are listening to the consumer rather than aliens that never played baseball. The improvements are staggering. My biggest issues with last year's game was lack of scoring from the CPU because my pitching was too effective and a lack of runs being scored via doubles hit into the gap. Offense was based on singles and home runs. When the CPU can't hit homeruns or singles because the pitching is too dominant, they can't score runs. It's also boring to play station-to-station baseball with your offensive team because guys aren't running from 1st to home on a double. Improved distribution of hit types and increased difficulty in hitting spots makes me feel wonderful. I also love, LOVE, how they are incorporating variable strike zones. Best way to go about it in my opinion. Truly feels like real baseball. Now, if they found a way to still differentiate the umpires by having some with a better eye on pitches up, down, left, right then it'd be even better.

Yes...Finally, Finally, Finally after about 4 or 5 straight years of the community begging them to forgo new modes and gimmicks and focus stricly on the nuts and bolts of baseball, it appears they have done exactly that.

We won't know for sure until we see it in action (more than just from a shaky camera), but it sounds like we may just get to play a game that truely resembles all facets of baseball this year. Barring any major misses by 2K, I don't think the small misses and bugs that are bound to show up can prevent this game from being enjoyable to baseball fans.

On that note, I still am waiting the better part of a week after release before buying.

# 38 CMH @ 02/18/11 04:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Trevytrev11


	Yes...Finally, Finally, Finally after about 4 or 5 straight years of the community begging them to forgo new modes and gimmicks and focus stricly on the nuts and bolts of baseball, it appears they have done exactly that. We won't know for sure until we see it in action (more than just from a shaky camera), but it sounds like we may just get to play a game that truely resembles all facets of baseball this year. Barring any major misses by 2K, I don't think the small misses and bugs that are bound to show up can prevent this game from being enjoyable to baseball fans. On that note, I still am waiting the better part of a week after release before buying.

Yea, I think if this game does what it says it will do, then it won't have a large first week sales number. The Show is the king right now. I'm sure VC knows that. The best they can do is improve the game so that those that give them a chance can spread the word.

A community like OS will do that. I'm looking forward to the demo and to impressions from buyers. Then we have to focus on the things we really really care about here. I like a pretty game. I like nice animations like everyone else. But, we want realistic baseball results. We get those, I can deal with a little hiccup here and there on animations.

# 39 sroz39 @ 02/18/11 05:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jayhawker


	I leave on the 11th for a week in Boston, so depending on when amazon ships, I'm going to be stuck mostly seeing other's impressions. But Amazon had a good deal with $20 off a future game. It was an easy buy. But I agree, they really have nailed down a lot of the little stuff. I have not seen anything on my personal pet peeve, which was easy access to view your opponent's bench and bullpen so you can plan out your endgame strategy. and this year, with improved defensive ratings and hot and cold streaks, it will be even more important to know who might pop in the game. But really, all i wanted was 2K10 with less accurate pitching (check), errors (check), and improvements in MLB Today (check). What it looks like I am getting is a ton of gravy, too.

I'm right with you, pal. The only game in this series I haven't bought since the jump to this generation is 2K9 and I've enjoyed every other one from a little (2K6, 2K7) to alot (2K8, 2K10). This is all the while getting The Show every year. There's aspects of this series that are better and in my opinion, the gesture-based pitching is the second best implementation of analog controls in a sports game, just behind the Skill Stick in the NHL series. It's absolutely awesome and adds a level of immersion to pitching that no game can match (the only game I've ever actually enjoyed pitching in).

This game is looking really great, pre-release. And I know any true fan of baseball has room in their library for two outstanding games. Especially when they are so different in how they approach the game.

# 40 Wavebird99 @ 02/18/11 05:22 PM

This sounds great. Cant wait til the game comes

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