MLB 2K11 News Post

MLB 2K11 Demo Impressions Roundtable

01:28 PM - March 4, 2011 by RaychelSnr

Chase Becotte: Every time I think I'm out, they pull me back in.

Most of my initial thoughts about MLB 2K11 can be found in the preview I wrote a couple days ago, but this demo basically serves to cement a lot of those impressions.

Christian McLeod: For once, I'm with Chase. If you can look past some of its rough graphical and animation edges, the MLB 2K11 demo plays a very solid game of hardball.

Caley Roark: I'm with you guys: I think there is a fun game of baseball buried somewhere in 2K11. However, I'm not sure the demo reflects that. I saw too many flaws in the demo to truly say that 2K11 has improved a great deal over 2K10. (For the record, I thought 2K10 was much better than 2K9.)

Chris Sanner: If you are not as into realism as a hardcore baseball guy is, and if you are willing to overlook some pretty dumb AI moves, I think MLB 2K11 is going to be your type of baseball game. The Show can be a bit overwhelming to the casual baseball player, and I think 2K has wisely tried not to copy The Show's success verbatim.

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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

# 1 ericdrum @ 03/04/11 01:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jayhawker


	And while it may not be there yet, the notion that The Show is overwhelming to the casual fan is beyond a joke. In fact, it's reliance on style over substance, as it looks amazing, it exactly what draws in the casual fans that don't nail The show for its problems.

Yeah I don't see how the Show is overwhelming at all. That game can be dumbed down as much as you want it to. I think I understand where Chris is coming from, but he could have chosen different words. At the end of the day for me... I know that the Show is "better", but you'll never convince me that it's more fun. For some reason I can play 2k for hours and can't play the Show for nearly as long. I'm buying both, but I can tell you right now... 2k will get double the hours.

# 2 Picci @ 03/04/11 02:07 PM

Good job guys. 2k is great for a pickup fun baseball game. I need Rule 5, Waivers, Status 1, finances, etc...etc.....for my baseball lust though. Casual gamers probably wouldn't care for it much.

# 3 DontHateOnNumber2 @ 03/04/11 02:14 PM

Wouldn't Rule 5, waivers, etc. be more suited for Front Office Manager though?

# 4 Picci @ 03/04/11 02:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DontHateOnNumber2


	Wouldn't Rule 5, waivers, etc. be more suited for Front Office Manager though?

Yes it would, but when you add gameplay and graphics, it's even better.

# 5 Greene_Flash03 @ 03/04/11 02:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ericdrum


	Yeah I don't see how the Show is overwhelming at all. That game can be dumbed down as much as you want it to. I think I understand where Chris is coming from, but he could have chosen different words. At the end of the day for me... I know that the Show is "better", but you'll never convince me that it's more fun. For some reason I can play 2k for hours and can't play the Show for nearly as long. I'm buying both, but I can tell you right now... 2k will get double the hours.

You know what, I feel the same way. I've been playing The Show series since PS2 days, but after trying both demo I noticed I've been playing a lot of 2K11 than The Show. I can't explain it. I really do believe 2K11 has a 'hidden' fun factor.

# 6 Cryolemon @ 03/04/11 02:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DontHateOnNumber2


	Wouldn't Rule 5, waivers, etc. be more suited for Front Office Manager though?

Yeah, but that doesn't mean it should be in 2k11 too.

# 7 tinpanalley @ 03/04/11 02:37 PM

So funny... I've always considered 2K Baseball to be WAY more sim in their options and overall reflection of the game than The Show and across the board I find them to be more accurate than anyone else, even than EA Sports. Fun games, but if there was ever a bastion of arcadey game play... "it's in the game". The only reason 2K's failed in the past to me is due to glaring gameplay issues and mechanics. But as a side by side comparison of the experience of watching real baseball on television, 2K always comes out on top. To ME. Not as a fact, as an opinion. It's not just about looking pretty, it's about playing a good game. I think there's also a little placebo/peer pressure on this The Show supremacy thing. There are a LOT of graphical issues with The Show that people don't mention because they're considered to be the kings of console baseball. Look how long it took people to go, "ok, fine, I admit, Madden does suck a bit". I predict that if 2K11 comes out swinging (sorry, couldn't resist), you'll see a larger percentage of people this year seeing them as at least equal if not giving the edge more to 2K this year. You already see it in the reviews, people talking about why The Show didn't do anything new.

Anyway. One man's opinion. To me Hardball 4 on the PC is still king.

# 8 jeffy777 @ 03/04/11 02:44 PM

Good read guys, but I also have to disagree with Chris's comments about this being a game for casual fans. Yes, the graphics certainly are not as realistic as The Show, but beyond that I just don't see what would make this game more for casual gamers. Dont forget that the default demo difficulty is pretty low (there is way to put it on Hard if your on a 360 though.....and it makes a HUGE difference). The game is definitely going to be more challenging this year than previous years with the addition of variable strike zones, decreased pitching accuracy, more demanding fielding, etc. And the fact that we will actually have to worry about defensive substitutions in late innings is certainly not something the casual fan would be interested in. Then there's the beefed up injury system with reoccurring and nagging injuries.....Dynamic Player Ratings......I could go on......but my point is that I think this game will cater to both hardcore and casual fans, depending on the difficulty settings.

For me personally, I know I'm not a casual fan (I've been playing baseball games since the 80's) and I forsee myself really getting a lot out of this game.

# 9 acarrero @ 03/04/11 02:55 PM

The Show was a great game...in 2006, it's the same game since, until they decided to copy 2K this year with analog controls. Bottom line is The Show sort of admitted 2K was ahead of them when it comes to gameplay.

# 10 vln13 @ 03/04/11 03:22 PM

I'm with Chris all the way - I'm a Show guy who preordered both games because I am intrigued with the dynamic rosters and presentational elements. 2k11 is a very fun, more casual style game. It has a more easy, pick up and play style, and the controls make it a lot of fun. I have no problem with this, even if my passion is devoted to the more time-consuming, deep, true to life baseball of Sony's game.

# 11 ericdrum @ 03/04/11 03:23 PM

I fear the day when we only have one choice.

# 12 bigfnjoe96 @ 03/04/11 03:23 PM

Thanks for the info fellas.. Looks like the positives out weight the negatives. Which is a good thing IMO.

# 13 smearz @ 03/04/11 03:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by acarrero


	The Show was a great game...in 2006, it's the same game since, until they decided to copy 2K this year with analog controls. Bottom line is The Show sort of admitted 2K was ahead of them when it comes to gameplay.

Yeah, you're not biased, are you? That is the most ridiculous comment I've seen here.

# 14 tinpanalley @ 03/04/11 03:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by smearz


	Yeah, you're not biased, are you? That is the most ridiculous comment I've seen here.

It's his opinion. It's supposed to be biased. By definition, in fact.

# 15 Yeah...THAT Guy @ 03/04/11 03:52 PM

Regarding the AI walking human batters, in last year's game, when I got walked, I could just tell that it was going to be an at-bat where I'd get walked. Every time, the AI pitcher would throw 3 balls, then 1 strike, and then a ball on the last pitch. Is this the way it is in 2k11 or do you feel like you can swing at a ball every once in awhile and still eventually get walked in that at bat?

# 16 Jordanfan23 @ 03/04/11 03:53 PM

I would say the fact that many PS3 owners are even considering giving 2K11 a look, and many of us Show followers as well, is a victory for 2K sports!

# 17 Greene_Flash03 @ 03/04/11 03:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by smearz


	Yeah, you're not biased, are you? That is the most ridiculous comment I've seen here.

He's not biased at all. Yes, he could've put that in better words but the fact is, The Show was the same game since 2006 minus the gorgeous graphics, tweaked animations, and some features.

Best example are the controls. Before the analog, The Show stuck to their plan even before this gen, which isn't a bad thing. Because I always believe in the saying "if it's not broken, don't fix it". So that's what they did.

Think about it, without the analog controls this year how is it different from last year? (gameplay wise)

*note*

I'm still confuse which one to get this year. I've been playing the show since old gen.

# 18 Yeah...THAT Guy @ 03/04/11 04:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Greene_Flash03


	He's not biased at all. Yes, he could've put that in better words but the fact is, The Show was the same game since 2006 minus the gorgeous graphics, tweaked animations, and some features. Best example are the controls. Before the analog, The Show stuck to their plan even before this gen, which isn't a bad thing. Because I always believe in the saying "if it's not broken, don't fix it". So that's what they did. Think about it, without the analog controls this year how is it different from last year? (gameplay wise) note I'm still confuse which one to get this year. I've been playing the show since old gen.

It's really like basic business. The company on top tends to not take many risks because if they screw up, it's bad, and if it's good, it doesn't make much of a difference anyway. Whereas the company looking up at them will tend to take more risks to try to make the jump because they don't have as much to lose.

# 19 WAT @ 03/04/11 04:08 PM

Just wanted to say something about how some think that MLB 2K11 is for the casual gamer. I played both demos with my brothers 18 year old friend who is not a big baseball fan or gamer at all. He was kinda like my guinea pig experiment to figure out which game he would consider better and have more fun with at the end of it all. (didnt tell him that though). Well we played MLB:The Show for about an hour when the demo first released. Funny thing was, he and I were both having fun when playing the game. After awhile though I started to get bored of throwing pitches with just an up and down motion on the stick. Also playing the whole guessing game of where the ball was going to be pitched and what was being thrown was getting really annoying. But my brothers friend was having a blast. With that said, when the demo for MLB 2K11 came out we played maybe 15 minutes of it. The reason it was only 15 minutes was becuase he wanted to go back to playing The Show for the fact he couldent get the pitching scheme down nor didnt like the fact you had to judge where the pitches were going instead of guessing where and what was coming. I was enjoying the game completley, finding it way more difficult and fun than The Show. What I'm getting at is this kid was having more fun and finding it way more easy pushing the stick up and down all day instead of having to perfect your stick skills the way you need to on MLB 2K11. And what game is for the casual gamer agian?

# 20 tinpanalley @ 03/04/11 04:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WAT


	Just wanted to say something about how some think that MLB 2K11 is for the casual gamer. I played both demos with my brothers 18 year old friend who is not a big baseball fan or gamer at all. He was kinda like my guinea pig experiment to figure out which game he would consider better and have more fun with at the end of it all. (didnt tell him that though). Well we played MLB:The Show for about an hour when the demo first released. Funny thing was, he and I were both having fun when playing the game. After awhile though I started to get bored of throwing pitches with just an up and down motion on the stick. Also playing the whole guessing game of where the ball was going to be pitched and what was being thrown was getting really annoying. But my brothers friend was having a blast. With that said, when the demo for MLB 2K11 came out we played maybe 15 minutes of it. The reason it was only 15 minutes was becuase he wanted to go back to playing The Show for the fact he couldent get the pitching scheme down nor didnt like the fact you had to judge where the pitches were going instead of guessing where and what was coming. I was enjoying the game completley, finding it way more difficult and fun than The Show. What I'm getting at is this kid was having more fun and finding it way more easy pushing the stick up and down all day instead of having to perfect your stick skills the way you need to on MLB 2K11. And what game is for the casual gamer agian?

Well said. Good example. I don't know too many people that would be willing to put up with different motions for pitching. Also, maybe I'm an idiot but I can NEVER get the ball to land in the right place on the upswing with The Show's new pitching mechanics. The locations you have to hit are on too short of an arc so it's not intuitive enough to know exactly where to land. Added to which, you're range of angles on an analog stick is simply too small for that.

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