MLB 11 The Show News Post

MLB 11 The Show Demo Available Now, Post Your Impressions Here

07:03 PM - February 22, 2011 by Pared

The MLB 11 The Show demo is available now. It weighs in at roughly 3 GB and features the Texas Rangers vs. the San Francisco Giants, in a 4 inning World Series rematch.

Please post your impressions here.

DO NOT post that you are downloading the demo, what % the download is at, the fact that you are starting to install it, etc.

IMPRESSIONS ONLY please.

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Member Comments

# 501 Heroesandvillains @ 02/24/11 05:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Qb


	Absolutely, sink. And not just with two strikes. Got a man on 3rd with less than two outs? Have you met my friend contact swing? Want to hit & run? Hello, my name is contact swing. Do your teammates often refer to you as Punch and/or Judy? Say hello to my little friend! I've seen all of these situations play out perfectly in 6 or 7 demo games. Slap hits with Borbon & Andrus and a flare with Sanchez -- even a couple texas-leaguers with the pitchers. Hit & run to stay out of the double play or simply wanting to advance the runner. Running up pitch counts by fouling off tough two strike pitches. As you can tell, I'm really digging the strategy it adds.

I LOVE this post.

The contact swing is precious gem, and I applaud the Dev team for implementing it this year. So far, it's helped me draw walks...oddly enough, and bring my K's down to a relatively realistic clip...

Now, how do I learn to man up, and use contact swing with a decent hitter? For instance, Kinsler. Even 0-2, my heart tells me to go 'normal' swing. But, my head really does know better...So far, my heart has won out on these battles.

Hmmmm...

# 502 Entiae @ 02/24/11 05:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Russell_SCEA


	You guys have no idea how much joy I'm taking in knowing that about 80% of you are struggling. This is the way the new controls where designed they aren't easy and the learning curve is very steep for batting but not much for pitching and fielding. I can't wait to see the posts after you get the hang of it. Until then swallow your pride and drop the difficulty level. Has anyone had the gonads to try Legend fielding?

I played on Rookie and still failed miserably. I have no pride left.

I really hope that tutorial video will help me, because I don't want to give up on the controls.

# 503 Pared @ 02/24/11 05:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Russell_SCEA


	We have the fastest pitch speeds of any baseball game ever made its like that for a reason.

I can't agree with this. All Star Baseball (not sure of the year) had to have the most ridiculous pitch speed of any baseball game as default ever released, in my experience.

I really like the speed of it here in The Show however. I wouldn't want it changed. And if I did, I could use the slider.

I think the batter-pitcher interface is the best it's ever been in any baseball game. The varying options for the user is a big part of that.

# 504 dasfette @ 02/24/11 05:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by thaSLAB


	The idea of using both sticks instantly reminds me of the whole "rub your belly and pat your head" thing... it WILL get awkward LOL Sent from my PC36100 using Tapatalk

No offense, and it may well get awkward for you.

I, however, am pretty good at picking a certain spot (low and inside, for example, depending on count and situation, of course), placing my PCI there, and being patient until a pitch ends up around there.

Plus, for those who don't like it, turn it off. Not to sound snobbish, but what does it matter to anyone else what I like? I pay the same $60 everyone else pays.

# 505 bcruise @ 02/24/11 05:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pared


	I can't agree with this. All Star Baseball (not sure of the year) had to have the most ridiculous pitch speed of any baseball game as default ever released, in my experience. I really like the speed of it here in The Show however. I wouldn't want it changed. And if I did, I could use the slider. I think the batter-pitcher interface is the best it's ever been in any baseball game. The varying options for the user is a big part of that.

Not to go all discussion'y in this thread, but I think you're right. That game had "real life" pitch speed option that was, well....as fast as the real thing.

But High Heat PC trumps all for pitch speed (if you wanted it to) - remember the tune file?

I mean we could tweak the throw speeds in feet per second, for crying out loud.

That said, Show pitching gets pretty fast when the slider is maxed - it looks enough like real life for me to enjoy watching a CPU game (like I'd ever try hitting at that speed...LOL!)

# 506 Skyboxer @ 02/24/11 05:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Russell_SCEA


	You guys have no idea how much joy I'm taking in knowing that about 80% of you are struggling. This is the way the new controls where designed they aren't easy and the learning curve is very steep for batting but not much for pitching and fielding. I can't wait to see the posts after you get the hang of it. Until then swallow your pride and drop the difficulty level. Has anyone had the gonads to try Legend fielding?

Well, I will now lol..
UPDATE:
You could have warned that you can overthrow the cuttoff.... lol
Well actually what happened was the cuttoff was cutting for a particular base(2nd) but I threw to cuttoff while pushing Left on stick(3rd)...so maybe that's what caused it???

# 507 Heroesandvillains @ 02/24/11 05:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Russell_SCEA


	We have the fastest pitch speeds of any baseball game ever made its like that for a reason. A vast majority of the time MLB batters can't hit or make good contact on a fastball if they are looking for an offspeed pitch. We've always tried to emulate this. Since analog is a three step mechanic (stride and swing L,R,Center) you have less time to adjust. Which is why you should start your stride a split second before the pitcher releases the ball. I've read a lot of people have already figured this part out. It just takes time and you are going to strike out more and make worse contact playing analog because of the three step process. It just takes time, when we prototyped all the new controls we didn't want them to be mastered in a week. That would have been a fail.

Oh, okay...got it.

I posted my thoughts on pitch speed to Nemesis before reading this. That makes a world of sense.

Default it is.

I think I may actually have to give hitting a go on a SD TV, just to make sure the minor lag I'm combating isn't presenting an additional peak to the already steep learning curve... It probably isn't.

Thanks Ramone.

# 508 nemesis04 @ 02/24/11 05:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by heroesandvillians


	Do you think dropping difficulty is a better suggestion than just dropping pitch speed FIRST (in caps, not as a 'yell', but to emphasize it for a first step...) Obviously, if a lower pitch speed doesn't cut it, than I'd absolutely recommend a drop in difficulty...don't get me wrong. Here's an example: Keep in mind, I HAD to drop pitch speed from default last year once I upgraded to HD. From 5 to 3. I did the same thing this morning, while still on AS, and hit my first homerun. I even found myself out in front of a couple of 93-95 MPH fastballs (meaning, I may need to bump it to 4). Everything started to feel more like baseball to me at that point. I was taking pitches, checking my swing, and starting to zone pitches.

The good thing about dropping to the lower difficulty levels is that you are not penalized as much for stride miscues and PCI placement. You still will be able to make some type of contact instead of swinging and missing all the time. Just my opinion though!

# 509 Pared @ 02/24/11 05:50 PM

Ok guys, back to impressions.

Thanks.

# 510 zeus9800 @ 02/24/11 05:57 PM

First impression was it took a ridiculously long time to download and install.

But as far as the game itself, it looks good. Really good. Had an outfielder crash into the wall trying to make a catch and it looked very realistic, although after checking out the replay he may have gotten up a bit too fast. Stadiums and lighting look fantastic.

Hitting took a little bit to get adjusted to, but I played the college baseball game that was from the folks at MVP baseball that had the analog hitting so it wasn't too bad.

Baserunning still seems to be a bit of a challenge. As a guy who likes to steal a lot, it seems to be impossible to do. Everytime you try to take a decent lead, you get picked off. Really something I'd like to see adjusted.

Pitching, well lets just say I'm probably going to throw a lot of pitches. Even when I throw a pitch that I think should be perfect it's not. Maybe I'm still not doing something right, and I'll get the hang of it. On the other hand, it could produce more realistic pitch counts as before I could get to the 9th on like 75 pitches(and since I seem to swing at pretty much everything their starter could be much lower than that, unfortunately this won't remedy my swinging at everything technique).

Fielding and throwing from the field seemed to take the most getting used to, but I like it.

Only real problem I had was the game got stuck. Threw a curveball in the dirt and Posey blocked it and then stood there, wouldn't move or pick up the ball. Nothing happened. Had to switch teams, then advance the runner a base before it corrected itself.

Also one statistical glitch, I was charged an error that shouldn't have been an error. I was screwing around and overthrew the third baseman on a relay, but it didn't allow anybody to advance, however it was still called an error.

All in all I think this is going to be a great game, not that I was expecting anything else.

EDIT: I should also mention that I echo comments earlier about Karros. He sounds like an "analyst in the studio" or something, certainly doesn't sound like he's at the game. He is much better than I expected though, but I still miss Hudler.

# 511 thaSLAB @ 02/24/11 06:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dasfette


	No offense, and it may well get awkward for you. I, however, am pretty good at picking a certain spot (low and inside, for example, depending on count and situation, of course), placing my PCI there, and being patient until a pitch ends up around there. Plus, for those who don't like it, turn it off. Not to sound snobbish, but what does it matter to anyone else what I like? I pay the same $60 everyone else pays.

LOL, no offense taken. I'm actually ambidextrous, but it probably would give me more grief because there is less of a disconnect between R and L.

Anyway, the method you described isn't necessarily LS aiming (at least not in real time) - then of course you'd have to worry about the opponent pitching "away" from you... but like you said, what does it matter what you like?

(no offense) LOL

Edit: sorry Pared.

Sent from my PC36100 using Tapatalk

# 512 callmetaternuts @ 02/24/11 06:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Russell_SCEA


	You guys have no idea how much joy I'm taking in knowing that about 80% of you are struggling. This is the way the new controls where designed they aren't easy and the learning curve is very steep for batting but not much for pitching and fielding. I can't wait to see the posts after you get the hang of it. Until then swallow your pride and drop the difficulty level. Has anyone had the gonads to try Legend fielding?

I've tried it and it was what I expected. I didn't power up all the way and had more yellow than green, but operator error was the cause of it. I'll be on Legend across the board. Just a glutton for punishment.

# 513 bcruise @ 02/24/11 06:28 PM

Short impression, but an impression nonetheless:

Didn't see it posted, but the helmet-holding while rounding the bases (all the time, anyway) is gone from real-time presentation.

How do I know? Because I just hit my first analog Home Run with Josh Hamilton!

# 514 Tommyklaid @ 02/24/11 06:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bcruise


	Short impression, but an impression nonetheless: Didn't see it posted, but the helmet-holding while rounding the bases (all the time, anyway) is gone from real-time presentation. How do I know? Because I just hit my first analog Home Run with Josh Hamilton!

Noticed it as well...

**I still think that they need to have the player giving a 'high-side-five' to the 3rd base coach on his way to home-plate - THIS ALMOST ALWAYS HAPPENS in the MLB.

What'ya think?

# 515 slash @ 02/24/11 06:45 PM

I just played and lost a 14 inning 3-2 game with the Giants. 154 pitches with Lincecum lol. I saw Young, Blanco, Murphy, Davis, and Treanor off the bench and O'Day, Feliz, Rhodes, Francisco (should be on Toronto), and Oliver out of the 'pen for Texas. Any questions? And has anyone else gotten this many innings? I was pitching on all-star and batting on rookie. I'm god awful at hitting, but pretty good at pitching.

# 516 C_Bailey24 @ 02/24/11 07:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Russell_SCEA


	You guys have no idea how much joy I'm taking in knowing that about 80% of you are struggling. This is the way the new controls where designed they aren't easy and the learning curve is very steep for batting but not much for pitching and fielding. I can't wait to see the posts after you get the hang of it. Until then swallow your pride and drop the difficulty level. Has anyone had the gonads to try Legend fielding?

I'm currently in the 7th inning of a 0-0 tie where i've done all the batting and Lincecum has 15K's and C.J. has 9. This is beyond struggling. I'm lucky to make contact. Oh joy.

# 517 Raskal @ 02/24/11 07:44 PM

I really wish they had included an option to use the Left Analog Stick for batting with Analog.

# 518 Heroesandvillains @ 02/24/11 08:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Giants4Natic


	Damm I am killing myself on HOF analog fielding. I barely move the stick and is always errors. I committed 4 in one inning. LOL I am good with the pitching and to some extent the hitting on HOF. I get smashed at times but I can handle it The fielding is hard. I had to drop it to All Star. I hate buttons...LOL

HOF batting? Analog?

If so, congratulations. Seriously, I can't imagine HOF hitting right now.

# 519 Tommyklaid @ 02/24/11 08:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Raskal


	I really wish they had included an option to use the Left Analog Stick for batting with Analog.

I think that may be something SCEA could expand upon in later versions - I'm sure they've already thought that out and tested it out. This is their first year ANALOG, so don't be surprised if that's in the years to come.

# 520 WB1214 @ 02/24/11 08:14 PM

I can now smash with the Rangers, but struggle with the Giants. Doing nothing but hitting I won the last game 4-0 with Texas.

I really think the key to hitting with the stick is getting down the strides of your players. May just be, but when even I got comfortable timing up with the Rangers hitters I started hitting it with solid contact consistently.

I rake with Kinsler.

Looks better and better the more that I play

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