News Post

MLB 12 The Show Preview - Pulse Pitching, Zone Analog Batting, Collision Awareness

04:53 PM - December 13, 2011 by Russell_SCEA

ESPN's Jon Robinson has posted his MLB 12 The Show hands-on preview, as he talks about the new Pulse Pitching, Zone Analog Batting, collision awareness and much more.

Quote:


	Another big gameplay improvement comes in the form of the new "Pulse Pitching" dynamic. If you're not a fan of last year's analog pitching, you can go back to the old-school buttons, only with a new level of intensity that really helps up the challenge of pinpointing pitches. Basically, after selecting your pitch and location, you'll need to hit X to pitch the ball (same as classic pitching). Only now, there is a giant pulsating X on the screen in the location of your pitch, and you need to time your button press when the X is at its smallest point in order to throw the ball accurately. The more you're off, the bigger the X will be when you throw the ball, making your pitch wild, or even worse, left hanging right over the plate for someone like Albert Pujols to crush over the fence. I was a fan of the analog pitching last year, but I have to say, after about four games of switching back and forth between the analog and the pulse, I ended up playing the rest of the games with the pulse pitching and I don't think I'll go back to the analog once the game ships. It just feels right to me.

Game: MLB 12 The ShowReader Score: 9/10 - Vote Now
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MLB 12 The Show Videos

Member Comments

# 221 ryan36 @ 01/03/12 01:47 PM

I'm excited for videos of pulse pitching. Seems a little arcadey to me.

The new analog zone hitting... Well I couldnt hit with analog at all.

# 222 Knight165 @ 01/03/12 02:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ryan36


	I'm excited for videos of pulse pitching. Seems a little arcadey to me. The new analog zone hitting... Well I couldnt hit with analog at all.

Not that I know

....but I'm gonna say it's "probably" not arcadey at all!

M.K.
Knight165

# 223 nemesis04 @ 01/03/12 02:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Knight165


	Not that I know ....but I'm gonna say it's "probably" not arcadey at all! M.K. Knight165

Objection! Leading the witness!!

# 224 EnigmaNemesis @ 01/03/12 04:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nemesis04


	Objection! Leading the witness!!

Overruled... I'll allow it.

# 225 ryan36 @ 01/03/12 05:20 PM

Lol, maybe I shouldve said "videogamey"

. I'm sure it will be well implemented.

I'm more worried about the visual aspect

# 226 tabarnes19_SDS @ 01/03/12 05:48 PM

I'm looking forward to trying it and this is coming from a classic pitching guy. From what I have read looks alot like classic with a timing element.

# 227 nemesis04 @ 01/03/12 05:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tabarnes19


	I'm looking forward to trying it and this is coming from a classic pitching guy. From what I have read looks alot like classic with a timing element.

On point!

# 228 metal134 @ 01/04/12 03:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bobhead


	There has already been a "zone hitting" mode for a few years. "Analog" is the one that was born in 2011, and many (including myself), requested a new mode that combined the two, thus "zone analog". So to answer your question, what you are talking about will definitely be available this year. Also does anyone else feel weird referring to The Show 2011 as "last year?" My how time flies...

The thought of trying to coordinate using zone aiming with swing stick timing is enough to make my head explode.

# 229 nomo17k @ 01/04/12 03:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by metal134


	The thought of trying to coordinate using zone aiming with swing stick timing is enough to make my head explode.

I'm actually surprised that most Zone guys here can actually move PCI on fly. That's definitely harder and takes some reflex and skills, but another way of using Zone is to fix PCI around a location and wait for a pitch to come to that location. That's a legit way of increasing solid hits. If I end up using Zone analog, that would be what I will be doing... I don't think I'll ever be good enough to move PCI as the pitch comes to the plate.

A few guys that I pitched against online have amazing abilities to move PCI on fly...... I still wonder how they do it. Takes a lot of practice...

# 230 Pared @ 01/04/12 11:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ryan36


	Lol, maybe I shouldve said "videogamey" . I'm sure it will be well implemented. I'm more worried about the visual aspect

...as am I...

# 231 EnigmaNemesis @ 01/04/12 12:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ILurk


	I'm not intending to boast, but I've gotten very good at that.. It feels awesome when I get around on a low and inside pitch and smash it - whether it's a HR or not. What I do is place my PCI in the upper right or upper left corner depending on what hand the pitcher throws with, then as the ball comes in, I track it from the pitcher's release point. The variety of hits I get is nice cause of the PCI movement. I've crushed ones up in the zone too, but it's much more rare cause I'm usually late. I've gotten weak bloop hits swinging inside and outside. They sound like cue shots.

That is a pretty good tip. I will have to give that a try.

# 232 Bobhead @ 01/04/12 02:22 PM

That is indeed a great tip, especially since the hardest pitches to hit in Zone are definitely the higher ones. Thanks, ILurk.

# 233 NYYanks26 @ 01/04/12 04:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ILurk


	I'm not intending to boast, but I've gotten very good at that.. It feels awesome when I get around on a low and inside pitch and smash it - whether it's a HR or not. What I do is place my PCI in the upper right or upper left corner depending on what hand the pitcher throws with, then as the ball comes in, I track it from the pitcher's release point. The variety of hits I get is nice cause of the PCI movement. I've crushed ones up in the zone too, but it's much more rare cause I'm usually late. I've gotten weak bloop hits swinging inside and outside. They sound like cue shots.

It took me a while but that's really the key..Watch the release point and track the ball. It's very tough at first and takes practice (plus real good reflexes) but it's so rewarding when you start spraying the ball all over the field. That's a good tip with the PCI. I pretty much do the same thing but I like to keep it lower because it's easier for me to see the ball and react that way. Maybe if I tried more your way, I'd have more success on high pitches.

But I'm with you on being late on balls up in the zone.. IMO it's very tough to catch up. If I do crush one, it's because I'm looking high, not adjusting on the fly, like I would when I see a ball in my happy zone. The only drawback sometimes is that I feel like I can hit anything and that produces some real bad at bats! More times than not I'm swinging late at a high ball I had no business swinging at in the first place.

# 234 Bucfan56 @ 01/07/12 01:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Russell_SCEA


	Can't do it

Can you maybe elaborate a little bit as to why World Series patches are unable to be added? I know it's a relatively minor detail, but IMO it's such an important detail that adds that extra bit of realism. Why is it that The Show is constantly the best sports game out there when it comes to details, but they can't add the patches where every other sports game has found ways to make this work? This game is always great, but it's SO close to being perfect. The fact that they update the WS logos on the field for each year (even though they're always RWB, but that's ok) is an awesome feature and it would be such an awesome thing to see the patches on the hats and jerseys.

# 235 ARoid1313 @ 01/07/12 04:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bucfan56


	Can you maybe elaborate a little bit as to why World Series patches are unable to be added? I know it's a relatively minor detail, but IMO it's such an important detail that adds that extra bit of realism. Why is it that The Show is constantly the best sports game out there when it comes to details, but they can't add the patches where every other sports game has found ways to make this work? This game is always great, but it's SO close to being perfect. The fact that they update the WS logos on the field for each year (even though they're always RWB, but that's ok) is an awesome feature and it would be such an awesome thing to see the patches on the hats and jerseys.

Totally agree the patches Add so much. Its actually a very easy asset to create, so I'm assuming they must not have a very Flexible game pipeline

# 236 Pared @ 01/07/12 11:49 AM

It's still at the top of my list for MLB:13. I'm hoping you'll make it a top priority.

# 237 BlueSkies7776 @ 01/07/12 02:41 PM

I have to ask and sorry if this has been answered already, but will all of the classic controls still be available in MLB 12? This is always on my mind with each new game and I'm sure others think about it too. I use classic batting (buttons) with zone. PCI on vs. A.I., API off, Guess pitch off.

For pitching I use meter, pitch info set to "simple", with strike zone and hot zones set to on. Ball marker set to "On".

I've been using these exact settings since MLB 07 so please don't make them unavailable to me this year.

# 238 nomo17k @ 01/07/12 02:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BlueSkies7776


	I have to ask and sorry if this has been answered already, but will all of the classic controls still be available in MLB 12? This is always on my mind with each new game and I'm sure others think about it too. I use classic batting (buttons) with zone. PCI on vs. A.I., API off, Guess pitch off. For pitching I use meter, pitch info set to "simple", with strike zone and hot zones set to on. Ball marker set to "On". I've been using these exact settings since MLB 07 so please don't make them unavailable to me this year.

The existing interfaces will remain available.

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