R.B.I. Baseball 16 News Post

R.B.I. Baseball 16 Available For Xbox One, PlayStation 4, PC, Android & iOS

02:29 AM - March 29, 2016 by jyoung

R.B.I. Baseball 16 is available now for PC (on Steam $19.99) Xbox One ($19.99), Android ($4.99) and iOS ($4.99) and should be available later today for PlayStation 4 ($19.99) users. Play a few games and post your thoughts!

UPDATE: It is now available for PlayStation 4 users.

Features

Make the play

Make the play with your favorite Major League Baseball team and win the World Series!

Feel the action

R.B.I. Baseball 16 features new fielding moves like dives, wall catches, pump-fakes and more!

New and Improved

R.B.I. 16 features enhanced lighting and graphics, revamped defensive AI and improved batting system.

Season

Track your season stats by team, player and league leaders across multiple seasons. Sim through games in Season mode!

Your Team, Your Way

Modify your lineup with complete MLB rosters or play classic R.B.I. Baseball 16-player rosters. Downloadable roster updates throughout the 2016 season.

Multiplayer

Take your skills to the next level and compete online (Console and PC versions only)

More Details

Defense: A redeveloped defensive AI will introduce new fielding capabilities including dives, wall catches, fake throws and more. This system will give users more control than ever before in making defensive plays.
Baserunning: Built in part from MLBAM's award-winning tracking technology, Statcast�, baserunners' abilities will be driven by on-field metrics from the 2015 MLB season.
Batting: An improved batting engine will feature variable perfect timing. For the best outcome, swing earlier on inside pitches and later on outside pitches.
Pitching: With a reworked pitching strategy AI, pitchers will play to their individual strengths. For example, a pitcher who features a wide range of velocity will mix speeds more often.
Season SIM: During season mode play, sim a game or multiple games to quickly advance through the season and into the postseason -- should the team win its division or earn a Wild Card spot.
Lineup: Modify a team's lineup pregame or in-game, including substitution strategies such as double switches. Lineups can be set from a franchise's 40-man roster or the game's classic 16-player rosters.
Graphics: All 30 MLB ballparks will feature a new lighting system based on actual geographic locations, field views and additional hi-resolution realistic design elements.

Game: R.B.I. Baseball 16Reader Score: Vote Now
Platform: Android / iOS / PC / PS4 / Xbox OneVotes for game: 0 - View All

R.B.I. Baseball 16 Videos

Member Comments

# 101 bcruise @ 04/18/16 04:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Will I Am


	Don't have the game but I have a question about this "hitting the ball on the sweet spot", is there some aiming involved with the bat using a stick? I had presumed it was simply timing based hitting.

You can move (or "slide", if you will) around the batter's box. So you can hit the ball on various parts of the bat depending on your position.

# 102 Will I Am @ 04/18/16 04:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bcruise


	You can move (or "slide", if you will) around the batter's box. So you can hit the ball on various parts of the bat depending on your position.

So basically zone hitting except the hitter moves instead of the bat.

# 103 CMH @ 04/18/16 08:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Will I Am


	So basically zone hitting except the hitter moves instead of the bat.

Once you start moving your hitter, the hitting opens up.

I was resistant at first because I thought it was unnatural. But that's the game. Move your hitter out to hit an inside pitch. Move closer to the plate to hit an outside pitch.

I typically move with the pitcher. It opens up the strike zone.

# 104 Oaklandboy @ 04/18/16 08:31 PM

So is R.B.I Baseball 16 worth getting since it's the only baseball game on XB1

Sent from my SPH-L720T using Tapatalk

# 105 ballgameronny @ 04/19/16 09:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Oaklandboy


	So is R.B.I Baseball 16 worth getting since it's the only baseball game on XB1 Sent from my SPH-L720T using Tapatalk

I picked it up. I mean it isn't the show but it is baseball at its Rawest form. I am enjoying it. A good 20 dollar investment for sure.

Sent from my SM-G900V using Tapatalk

# 106 ballgameronny @ 04/19/16 09:20 AM

I mean the run totals maybe down but how many hits are you averaging per game? You shouldn't be having 15 hits and 9 runs if they are basing the game off of analytics you know

Sent from my SM-G900V using Tapatalk

# 107 Twigg4075 @ 04/19/16 10:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ballgameronny


	I mean the run totals maybe down but how many hits are you averaging per game? You shouldn't be having 15 hits and 9 runs if they are basing the game off of analytics you know Sent from my SM-G900V using Tapatalk

That's kind of the problem though. As someone else mentioned, he's halfway through a 162 game season and one of his players has the highest average in baseball with like a .330 average. The second highest was not really close and then there was a huge drop off after that. That is a serious issue when the computer apparently can't hit the ball either. I've noticed that in every game I've played so far probably 90% of the hitters are batting right around the Mendoza line or much lower. That's crazy.

I will also note that the runs are an issue as well. The CPU seems to have zero issues scoring from second on a base hit. Whereas 9/10 times I can't do it unless it was a hit and run, which is crazy.

I will add that I played three more games last night. The first one had a lot of scoring and gave me some hope as I won 8-3. Then the following two were 3-2 in 11 innings and 2-1.

# 108 Twigg4075 @ 04/19/16 10:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by roadman


	I haven't doubted what you said, the hitting is lighter this year. I've played them all too. We just differ on what makes games more exciting. You like more 9-5 games and I like more 4 to 3 games. Not that big of a deal.

I think you misunderstood me. I'm not saying your extra inning game wasn't exciting. I think all close games are exciting. But when a majority of the games are one run games and very low scoring, that's an issue.

Quote:

Originally Posted by MLBGames


	Hi Twigg4075, you don't just need to hit the big part of the bat, you need to hit near the middle of the "big part of the bat". Actually just slightly past the middle towards the tip - aka the sweet spot of the barrel. The part with pine tar on it cannot be contacted at all. Near the pine tar or near the tip is considered a bad contact location. Also, in addition to a hitting the sweet spot, timing obviously factors in as well. If you make contact on the sweet spot, with good timing, the only possible outcomes are a line drive or fly ball. And since both of those factors were good, it will also have good power on it. If both factors are bad, you will only get a weak grounder (dribbler or chopper) or pop-up. If one factor is good and one is bad (e.g. good contact location with bad timing; or vice versa), you will have some chance for all hit types. In this case, the biggest chance is for a hard groundball. The smallest chance is for weak grounders and popups. Also, the power will be reduced compared to the "good/good" outcomes, and greater than the "bad/bad" outcomes. Hope that helps to clarify.

No, I totally get it. I'm very familiar with baseball. There just seems to be a drastic difference in hitting and scoring from last year's game. I also feel that scoring is cut down because trying to score from second on a base hit is quite difficult compared to last year. The CPU doesn't seem to have an issue, which I guess is because the computer anticipates the hit and gets a better jump.

# 109 MLBGames @ 04/19/16 10:42 AM

Thanks for all of this feedback guys, this is all very useful.

Twigg4075, since you seem interested and eager to explore the balance, if you have the time and are curious, would you mind playing some games with the Blue Jays and/or Cubs? I am curious to see what your results are with those offenses.

What team do you usually play with? (sorry if I missed that)

# 110 Twigg4075 @ 04/19/16 11:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MLBGames


	Thanks for all of this feedback guys, this is all very useful. Twigg4075, since you seem interested and eager to explore the balance, if you have the time and are curious, would you mind playing some games with the Blue Jays and/or Cubs? I am curious to see what your results are with those offenses. What team do you usually play with? (sorry if I missed that)

I think I used the Cubs in an Exhibition game but I'll definitely try them again.

I'm an O's fan so I'm using them in my season. They're full of sluggers so hitting and scoring runs shouldn't be an issue. I didn't have any issues with it in '15 and I think their lineup is more potent this year. I'm about 15 games into my 162-game season and Trumbo finally hit his first HR last night. Davis has 4 I think which seems to be solid. I'm playing on Medium difficulty.

I will say that I love the stadiums. I thought they looked good last year but they seem even better this year. You guys seem to have really captured all of the little nuances which is really cool for an 'arcade' game. I loved playing against the Red Sox at Fenway.

Also, I thought there was supposed to be a new animation for an outfielder to climb the wall to rob a HR or an infielder to lean over a wall for a foul ball? Again, I've maybe only played 20 games total but there have been several times where the situation seemed ripe for one of those animations and I never saw it. I do appreciate the dramatic increase and jumps and dives but I do wish we had actual control of it. Maybe next year.

# 111 MLBGames @ 04/19/16 12:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Twigg4075


	I thought there was supposed to be a new animation for an outfielder to climb the wall to rob a HR or an infielder to lean over a wall for a foul ball? Again, I've maybe only played 20 games total but there have been several times where the situation seemed ripe for one of those animations and I never saw it.

It's funny, I'll go a bunch of games without seeing any of those, and then I might see 3 in one game. The conditions for them to occur are pretty specific. The low lean in particular, we'd love to get them leaning farther into the stands. We'd also love to have them do leaning misses for added suspense and a better lifelike reaction to those balls - they won't currently try for ones that are just out of reach. We agree that watching them stare at a ball that is only 4 feet into the stands is not great. But if its only 2 feet into the stands and the wall is low enough, the leaning catch should trigger.

# 112 johnnydangerously @ 04/19/16 06:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MLBGames


	�you don't just need to hit the big part of the bat, you need to hit near the middle of the "big part of the bat". Actually just slightly past the middle towards the tip - aka the sweet spot of the barrel. The part with pine tar on it cannot be contacted at all. Near the pine tar or near the tip is considered a bad contact location. Also, in addition to a hitting the sweet spot, timing obviously factors in as well. If you make contact on the sweet spot, with good timing, the only possible outcomes are a line drive or fly ball. And since both of those factors were good, it will also have good power on it. If both factors are bad, you will only get a weak grounder (dribbler or chopper) or pop-up. If one factor is good and one is bad (e.g. good contact location with bad timing; or vice versa), you will have some chance for all hit types. In this case, the biggest chance is for a hard groundball. The smallest chance is for weak grounders and popups. Also, the power will be reduced compared to the "good/good" outcomes, and greater than the "bad/bad" outcomes. Hope that helps to clarify.

Incredibly helpful and useful to those of us new to the game or revisiting this year�s edition. Thanks!

I agree with Twigg on the stadiums, too! They look great.

# 113 thelounger456 @ 04/19/16 08:46 PM

Thank you very much MLBGames for the detail on the hitting. A cool feature for the future may be a training session where a user would get feedback on where it was hit so we can get an idea of where we need to put the barrel on the ball. I have got better via trial and error. A lot of time I was thinking I was nailing but after now getting better hits on what I thought was closer to the 'outer' part of the bat I now try and aim for that part of the bat. Not saying it is the outer or not just to my eyes it is and I can see the difference.

I agree it does not need to be pure sim or even 12-11 arcade style games but I think it is a bit on the low side right now.

I messed up and accidentally simmed a few games (totally my fault not paying attention in the calendar) so I decided to sim to the end of the season. Still had low hitting stats in my season.

Votto was the only player to finish over .300. Second was Trout at .290
Votto got the triple crown with 29 HRs and 99 RBI
6 triples lead the league

I simmed 4 more seasons from scratch all with similar way below normal stats. Here are the leaders in a few stats to show this. I simmed about 5 more to check and didn't keep the stats but no one ever hit .300 or had more than 30 HRs. So if nothing else the sim engine needs a boost in hitting.

Also a few relief pitchers every year would have 200+ innings.

BA	0.291	0.276	0.294	0.274
HR	23	25	27	24
RBI	99	107	94	96
3B	4	6	5	7
2B	40	38	36	41
SB	41	45	43	54
OPS	0.754	0.764	0.772	0.749

# 114 boomhauertjs @ 04/20/16 08:09 AM

[quote=thelounger456;2048128335
Also a few relief pitchers every year would have 200+ innings.

[/QUOTE]

My guess is that is due to the starters getting tired too early. I hope that, along with the hitting getting a boost, would be tweaked in a future update.

# 115 ballgameronny @ 04/20/16 09:38 AM

In season mode is there a way to see stats and standings?

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# 116 MLBGames @ 04/20/16 11:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by thelounger456


	Also a few relief pitchers every year would have 200+ innings.

The sim AI doesn't handle long relievers well. That is, pitchers in the bullpen who have enough stamina to be a starter. We don't want to nerf their stamina, because some of you may prefer to put that pitcher in the rotation.

But yes, we would like the sim AI to better handle these long relievers. Because they tend to have aggregate ratings on the higher end AND they have lots of stamina, they are chosen very frequently for substitutions.

The best way to handle this is probably to implement a deeper bullpen role system. Currently, only the Closer is assigned a role and is used by the AI based on that role. Everyone else is just considered "a reliever who is not a Closer" and are simply compared by their ratings, the score, the number of innings left in the game, the handedness of the batter, and current stamina level when the AI chooses a relief pitcher.

# 117 MLBGames @ 04/20/16 11:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ballgameronny


	In season mode is there a way to see stats and standings?

Yes.

On Consoles and Steam, Stats and Standings are available directly from the Season Hub (the main screen for Season Mode with "Today's Game" at the top).

On mobile, these can be be accessed through the Stats button on the Season Hub.

# 118 Twigg4075 @ 04/20/16 01:09 PM

I finally robbed my first HR yesterday. I saved it to my Live account but I'm not sure how to share it anywhere else? I also saw the CPU attempt to rob me of a HR but got the '!' like he made an error and the ball fell back on to the field. Pretty cool.

# 119 Twigg4075 @ 04/22/16 10:58 AM

The more I play this the more I feel like the hitting is pretty much the same as last years. I didn't change anything so I'm not sure what changed my stance. I was actually able to win three straight games before finally losing a 3-1 game to the Royals. All of my starters are doing pretty well, Davis has 6 bombs, a few others (like Machado) have 4 HRs. I have a few guys, including Davis, that are batting over .300 too. I'm really enjoying the game, as I did last year's, but now most, if not all, of the bugs and glitches seem to be ironed out.

# 120 MLBGames @ 04/22/16 11:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Twigg4075


	The more I play this the more I feel like the hitting is pretty much the same as last years.

We definitely improved upon last year's system rather than overhaul it. So it should not feel drastically different. The biggest difference is that opposite field power is much lower. There were too many opposite field homers last year, especially by non-sluggers.

Another change in 16 is that perfect timing for an inside pitch is earlier and outside pitch is a little later (in relation to the batter, not the plate/strikezone). In 15, perfect timing was the same no matter the pitch location. This change was made to make it more satisfying to "turn" on an inside pitch or wait a tick on an outside pitch and slap it the other way.

And finally, the detection of bat/ball collision should be a little more accurate than 15.

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R.B.I. Baseball 16 Available For Xbox One, PlayStation 4, PC, Android & iOS