MLB 2K12 News Post

MLB 2K12 Developer Diary #1 - Gameplay (Part 1)

05:06 PM - February 15, 2012 by rudyjuly2

2K Sports has posted MLB 2K12 Developer Diary #1, written by Mark Little, Senior Producer of the game. He walks through the additions and changes to the hitting and pitching systems.

Quote:


	For MLB 2K12 we completely rewrote the core of our hitting system. We listened to user feedback last year about the high frequency of soft line outs in MLB 2K11, and saw a great opportunity to improve the game. The mechanics of making swings remains the same, but what happens when you swing and make contact is entirely new. A lot of research went into every possible hit type that occurs during the MLB season as well as the frequencies in which each hit type occurs. We rebuilt the system from the ground up to recreate believable and accurate to real world results based on the timing of the swing and where the ball was pitched. The result is a much more accurate representation of hit results than ever before. Just like real life, your swing timing has a huge impact on where the ball is hit. You can now pull outside pitches by swinging early, but if you want to go to the opposite field, just let the ball get a little deeper into the zone before swinging. What type of hit you get is also based on your timing, but also factors in where the pitch was thrown. If your timing is good you will generally drive the ball hard, but if your timing is bad you will likely chop, ground, foul or fly the ball off the bat. Swinging at low pitches generally creates a few more grounders and lower line drives, while making contact on the pitches up in the zone offers a better chance to drive the ball hard. Where the ball is located doesn�t completely dictate the outcome but it influences the likelihood of the different types of hits. MLB 2K12 showcases many new types of hits including soft bloopers for singles, line drive home runs and line drives off the wall, high bouncing choppers, slow dribblers, and line drives and deep shots that fade and slice down the line based on the physics of the ball-spin. Overall, you will notice a much greater variety of hit results in MLB 2K12.

Read the entire MLB 2K12 Developer Diary, right here.

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Member Comments

# 21 Blzer @ 02/16/12 09:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nemesis04


	Nice read thanks for the link! In regards to the pitching feedback, can that be turned off? I kind of like it tucked under the hood and figure it out for myself.

You couldn't the last two years. You'd think all games would allow these kinds of presentation options.

# 22 tvman @ 02/16/12 10:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Blzer


	You couldn't the last two years. You'd think all games would allow these kinds of presentation options.

What do you mean the last two years, this is something new.

# 23 shogunofharlem3 @ 02/16/12 10:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bigfnjoe96


	I really want to see these ball physics in motion. As for Pitcher/Batter info I'm liking what I'm hearing. I'm also this means the Catcher Suggestions have been updated also. I love the concept, but sometimes what the catcher would suggest as a pitch was baffling Sent from Awesome Phone

Agreed. I want to Get to the Choppah!

Love the fact choppers are in the game. Very curious and very intrigued by this game. Damn, I have them all since 2k3, and even 2k1 on DC, damn that's alot of 2k baseball.

I swore I wasn't going to get this one but if the physics are good and there is coop, I am in!

# 24 jeffy777 @ 02/16/12 12:25 PM

Good to hear so much focus on gameplay. I may get the PC version again.....depends on the videos.

# 25 Blzer @ 02/16/12 12:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tvman


	What do you mean the last two years, this is something new.

I thought he was referring to the post-pitch feedback graphic. Now I'm sitting here, realizing that he is not referring to that at all.

Nevertheless, you could actually hide the pitch options in 2K8 (as in how you're supposed to throw them), so they technically had removed that visual option since then, which means that this still could be a nice option to hide as far as figuring out your pitches to hitters and stuff.

# 26 jmik58 @ 02/16/12 03:59 PM

I'm slightly intrigued by the improved impact of timing. However, the success is heavily dependent on what the programmers' concept of good timing is on each pitch location. Timing varies with the vertical and horizontal position of the ball as it enters the strikezone. A "late" swing (in comparison to a pitch down the middle) is actually "good" timing on an outside pitch. Did the programmers encorporate this? Because if not, we're going to be scratching our heads when we have to use the same swing timing for all pitch locations.

# 27 DJ @ 02/16/12 07:29 PM

The pitching changes are intriguing. It sounds like a way to make users pitch smarter, and also give them an idea of how confidence in your pitches should work.

The only thing that worried me was this:

Quote:


	For example, if C.J. Wilson gives up a HR to Jay Bruce off his fastball, Wilson�s fastball will drop 5 points against all batters. However, the next time Bruce is up, the fastball will actually be rated 15 points lower than the original rating. This creates a different strategy and experience against each batter depending on who is having success at the plate that day and who isn�t. Singles, doubles, triples, and home runs will lower a pitcher�s ratings (by a different amount for each one) while strike outs will increase a pitcher�s rating.

15 points for giving up a HR? As we all know, sometimes batters will hit bad pitches out of the park, based on a variety of factors. To me, that's a pretty steep decline in rating for giving up a HR.

I'm OK with the hitting mechanics being the same. I just hope check-swings work properly this year.

# 28 m1ke_nyc @ 02/16/12 07:33 PM

this was a good read, bring on the demo

# 29 Trevytrev11 @ 02/16/12 09:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DJ


	The pitching changes are intriguing. It sounds like a way to make users pitch smarter, and also give them an idea of how confidence in your pitches should work. The only thing that worried me was this: 15 points for giving up a HR? As we all know, sometimes batters will hit bad pitches out of the park, based on a variety of factors. To me, that's a pretty steep decline in rating for giving up a HR. I'm OK with the hitting mechanics being the same. I just hope check-swings work properly this year.

I agree. You make a great pitch and the guy gets lucky and puts a good swing on the pitch, you tip your hat and get back to business as usual. No damage done. It is not uncommon at all to see great hitters crush pitches that are out of the strike zone over the fence.

A pitcher knows when he makes a mistake and knows when a hitter got lucky. Ratings should take a hit for the first and not the latter. Now, if you are a pitcher and you make several great pitches that get hit, then you start to lose some confidence, but one hitter hitting one good pitch won't shake even the shakiest of pitchers.

The pitch ratings, IMO, should be impacted by execution. If you can't locate and execute your pitch, that is when you start to get rattled. You give up an 0-2 hit on a hanging curve ball and that can be demoralizing. You throw back to back fastballs down the middle that are intended to be off the plate and that is when you start too feel that pressure. It's more about what you are doing (or not doing) than what the hitter does.

One good hit shouldn't have much of an impact at all, but two, three or four straight hits and as a pitcher, you get rattled. You start to think that you can't get anyone out.

On a similar note. the same thing goes for giving hitters bonus power on mistake pitches. Mistakes should get hit hard when they result in hittable pitches, not just simply because a pitcher missed his spot. If a pitcher is trying to come inside on a hitter and over throws the pitch and hits the outside corner, that pitch, to the hitter, is no different than if the pitcher was aiming out there. The hitter doesn't know what the pitchers intent was and shouldn't get a bonus like he did.

If a pitcher hangs a curve ball, the bonus to the hitter is he has a very hittable pitch to hit. He still has to sit back, time the pitch and execute a solid swing to hit that ball. A bad swing should still result in poor contact.

# 30 rudyjuly2 @ 02/17/12 05:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bosnian19


	i think they worked on it this time

He wants zone hitting and it's still a timing only hitting system as far as we know.

# 31 rudyjuly2 @ 02/17/12 06:01 AM

They did say they worked on hit variety. And the "hard liners" in the game looked a lot more like soft liners really. They said they worked on that too.

# 32 DetroitStyle @ 02/17/12 02:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by peigone


	My question is why is all of the devs' emphasis on creating a great pitching engine, while none of the focus is directed towards hitting, and creating an equally immersive and complex hitting model? Just another example of the complete lack of balance, focus and direction that has plagued this series since 2K5.

I don't know maybe it's just Harsh and me but I love just the simple one button timing for hitting. I LOVE the interactive pitching but when I hit, I just want to time it and swing and be done with it.

# 33 Blzer @ 02/17/12 02:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DetroitStyle


	I don't know maybe it's just Harsh and me but I love just the simple one button timing for hitting. I LOVE the interactive pitching but when I hit, I just want to time it and swing and be done with it.

That's fine with me as well, but the Classic one-button hitting option isn't just one swing. It's three different swings (power, contact, defensive), and the game decides which swing to put on for you based on the batter/pitcher match-up, the scenario at hand (count included), the pitch location, etc. I'd rather that it was really just one swing type, or that they had all three swing types mapped to different buttons ala The Show, so that way I could fine-tune sliders to just one swing type and stick with that.

# 34 ChiILL @ 02/17/12 04:00 PM

Two things that I hope are addressed.

1. Loading up your swings. You shouldnt be able to hold back on the stick, they should make it that once u pull back it only last a second before pushing you back in place..forcing you to power hit in one fluent motion.

2. Online they should not let you start bullpen guys, and you should not be able to select another starter until your bullpen is used up.

# 35 bigfnjoe96 @ 02/17/12 04:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Big Jim


	At that point, why not just use the stick? As for zone or cursor hitting, I kind of get why people want them. But it is pretend skill that replicate hitting at all. I never had to try and aim for the ball past first grade. It has been about form and timing ever since. It doesn't seem like anyone uses it, but using the LS to pull or go the other way based on the location is the most realistic way to think about hitting. and it really does result in more solid contact if use it correctly. The main reason zone and cursor hitting is left out is overwhelmingly, no one uses it because it feels difficult and unintuitive. I'm glad 2K has worked on hitting without having to patch in a mode no one really uses. The result has been better hitting over the long haul. I hope we see an even even more realistic spread of hits this year. Rudy is right in that the game game is too opposite field centric. Sent from my LG-C900 using Board Express

Great post Jim. Add in the Batters Eye & 2k did a pretty job last year. I thought it worked well with the Player's Batters Eye Rating in the game. For me it was the best Hitting Engine the game has had since 2k5. Here's hoping they refined it even more this year like you said

Sent from Awesome Phone

# 36 rudyjuly2 @ 02/17/12 04:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DetroitStyle


	I don't know maybe it's just Harsh and me but I love just the simple one button timing for hitting. I LOVE the interactive pitching but when I hit, I just want to time it and swing and be done with it.

Me too but I don't have much of a choice either. I am just not good enough to do zone hitting. It's like rubbing your stomach and tapping the top of your head - just can't do it.

# 37 Blzer @ 02/17/12 04:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Big Jim


	At that point, why not just use the stick?

Because the game still has an issue with confusing "power swing" and "home run swing." You hit more fly balls in general with that swing, and that's the only way I would want to play with the stick is by loading back and firing forward, and they don't offer a "normal" swing that way.

Besides, this game still hasn't put in proper check-swinging. I just don't get where their head is at sometimes.

# 38 bigfnjoe96 @ 02/17/12 05:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by peigone


	If by best you mean the easiest, yes, that's correct. And no other baseball game has ever come so close to making hitting so easy. Imagine, we no longer even have to think about what kind of swing to take, just flip the stick and watch the game engine decide for you.

C'mon man, it's not just about flipping the stick & you know it. Just because this game doesn't over the option you want, doesn't mean you have to minimize the system. And when I say engine I just don't mean mechanic, I also mean hit variety

# 39 liberaluser @ 02/17/12 06:11 PM

I've only played the demo for the most recent MLB 2k game and was annoyed I couldn't put on button controls and was stuck with the odd stick twirling pitching type.

I wanted to know how button pitching feels since it's always ignored, and also in comparison to "the other game" if that's allowed.

# 40 Charles Hustle @ 02/18/12 10:48 PM

Why do all the screens in the previews look like they are from a PS2?

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MLB 2K12 Developer Diary #1 - Gameplay (Part 1)