MLB The Show 16 News Post

NBA 2K's Player Badges Could Work in The Show

03:37 PM - May 25, 2016 by RaychelSnr

I've talked candidly how about MLB The Show needs to continue to push itself to expand its gaming gap in both directions -- creating more separation from games on the rise like Madden and NHL, but also close the gap on the NBA 2K series. One of the ways The Show team can do that is by implementing a meaningful badge system similar to what NBA 2K has, allowing for SCEA to expand on the player personality and morale system introduced in MLB The Show 16. The beauty of the badge system NBA 2K is that the badges aren't just visual eye candy; they actually have an impact on a player's performance.

While this is not an exact top 10 list -- instead just an assortment -- here are a few badges that would add some uniqueness to perhaps otherwise similar players, thus providing more variety in franchise mode and online play.

Read More - NBA 2K's Player Badges Could Work in The Show

Game: MLB The Show 16Reader Score: 8/10 - Vote Now
Platform: PS3 / PS4Votes for game: 23 - View All

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Member Comments

# 1 CubFan23 @ 05/25/16 04:03 PM

This is a Great idea!

# 2 dansaint @ 05/25/16 04:12 PM

Love the idea for the lefty specialist badge. that's something that I think is missing in these games...the specialization of the game.

also something like "Lefty masher"....a guy you bring in that kills left handed pitching (usually a pinch hitter off the bench) or a "Righty masher"...guy you bring in that kills right handed pitching (usually a pinch hitter off the bench)

# 3 KBLover @ 05/25/16 04:30 PM

I like the idea for the more intangible things that would be difficult to reflect specifically in ratings or aren't "player abilities" per se - like Fan Favorite.

The badges for clutch performance - if those were in, I'd like the clutch rating turned into something else.

For specialist...I'd rather see pitchers actually have split abilities like hitters have. The lefty specialists would have ratings saying "I have no business facing RHB unless I must". Lefty closers would be strong against both sides.

# 4 spoofrice11 @ 05/25/16 05:36 PM

Eww, I don't like the badges. ON NBA 2K16, some players have 30 badges. It makes the players so random compared to their rating. Maybe if a player could only have 3 total it would make a little more sense.

# 5 Ruben2424 @ 05/25/16 07:46 PM

Hopefully this awesome idea will be in MLB The Show 17!!!

# 6 jshubert47 @ 05/25/16 07:53 PM

I love the badges in 2K. They would be a great fit in The Show if done correctly. One addition I'd make is to take "Closing Pitcher" away as a position, and replace it with a "Closer" badge that relievers could have. I've never liked the way closers are handled in The Show.

# 7 countryboy @ 05/25/16 08:44 PM

This is a very interesting idea for the Show. Never thought of it, but as a player of NBA 2k I feel that something similar to the badges being added would only help to separate the players and bring them to "life" outside of just ratings, especially when you're talking about TEAM LEADER or even something like a MENTOR. A way to help bring the intricacies of the game of baseball to life before our eyes.

A very good idea that I am hopeful, now that its brought to light, actually somehow finds its way into the Show. As a fan of both The Show and the NBA 2k series, I think the more that the Show borrows from the NBA 2k series in terms of bringing a franchise mode to life, the better.

# 8 cjthisguy21 @ 05/25/16 10:05 PM

I definitely like it, especially cuz we're offline. Certain badges in The Show, unlike 2K, can't be considered cheese unless they somehow implement a new online mode with our RTTSs.

# 9 consecutive27 @ 05/25/16 10:17 PM

I like the idea of the fan favorite, mentor, greedy, and team leader as they are more intangible traits. The other ones seem to be accounted for by ratings that already exist or could just be new ratings. Incorporating framing somehow would be really cool I think if it isn't overdone. The iron man would help differentiate between being able to play almost every game and susceptibility to injury which is much needed for position players, but I think having seperate stamina and durability ratings like they do for pitchers would be a simpler fix. Stamina would influence how often they need rest and durability would be there for injury. That's just how I see it.

# 10 Mike Lowe @ 05/25/16 10:51 PM

Thanks for the feedback, folks!

# 11 jdlsantos @ 05/25/16 11:00 PM

Pro Yakkuu Spirits had "badges," they're labeled "Special Skills." I would love if The Show implemented this feature into the game. It would add a lot more variety to every aspect of the game.

Here's a few of the abilities from aforementioned game:

Batting:
-First Pitch: Power & Contact will increase before you get strike 1
-Big Stage: Performs better in playoff / "big games"
-Opposite Field Hitting: Produces hits to opposite field easier (the game had a "push" swing button, but this can still apply)
-Intimidation: Lowers the ability of the opposing pitcher
-Pinch Hit: Power and contact will increase when pinch hitting
-Chance Down: Power + contact decrease when runner is at 2nd or 3rd
-Infield Hit Down: Slow to get out of box

Pitching:
-Big Stage: Performs better in playoffs / �big games.�
-Escape Pitch: When you miss a release timing it will not easily become a meatball
Poker Face: Pitcher will not show emotion if rattled. Also, pitchers with Poker Face are immune to hitter's Intimidation skill.
-Choker: When team is winning in the 5th inning (when starters are qualified for win) or 9th inning (save situation), pitcher will consume more stamina and suffer decrease in velocity and control
-Responsibility: Pitcher's sharpness will drop if he comes in for relief and someone is on base from previous pitcher
-Slow Starter: In the first 3 innings, velocity, breaking ball levels, and control will all drop. The drop in the 1st inning is the biggest

Baserunning:
-Baserunning Up: Runner will round the bases at better angles (especially important for rounding 3rd to go home faster)
-Baserunning Down: Bad baserunning skills

Fielding:
-Block (Catcher only): Won't drop the ball easily during a home plate collision
-Relay Plays (2B/SS only): Faster motion on relay plays (i.e. shortstop catches the cut-off throw, fires to home quickly)
-Laser Beam (OF only): Allows an outfielder to throw the ball in a low trajectory
-Base Cover Up (Pitcher only): Run to cover 1B faster
-Short Bounce Down (Catcher only): Not as good at blocking bounced pitches

All these tendencies coupled with hitting bonus/penalty for pitches and individual ball trajectory attributes as well made the PYS series pretty deep.

This would ramp up Franchise, RTTS and DD modes greatly as these attributes can change your decision on player moves and overall team impact. I would love for this kind of feature to come to TS17.

# 12 rick diesel @ 05/25/16 11:05 PM

Most sports games have something like 2k's badge system for more player individuality and added depth in gameplay, career modes and even presentation. PES has player index cards, FIFA has traits, Pro Yakyuu has skills, but The Show has nothing really. While waiting for The Show 16 to release I put some thought into possible traits that could be assigned to players to take The Show to the next level.

PERSONALITY:
-some of the "negative" traits in this list probably would not be assigned to MLB players for the default rosters, but could be available to edit
CLUBHOUSE LEADER -player that encourages teammates and keeps the team focused on success (improves young player development, minimizes teammates personal cold streak impact) ex. Dustin Pedroia, Torii Hunter
RESPECTED VETERAN -long-time player whose experience is just as important as their playing ability (improves development of young players particularly in his position group) ex.
FAN FAVORITE -puts fans in the seats and sells memorabilia (increase fan support and sales, but getting rid of a fan favorite will have a big negative impact, amount is connected to player rating)
SHOWBOAT-always has a little something extra after a nice play or hit (inspires teammates but also any opponent hotheads, may get targeted with a fastball to the spine)
DIRTBAG -player that inspires the team with his hustle (boost to teammates when player dives, slides, or grinds out a good at-bat, but more likely to get injured)
HOTHEAD -gets demonstrative when things dont go his way (more likely to be suspended/fined, can inspire team but also get confrontational, increased personal cold streak impact)
HIGH-RISK -player that comes with some concern over their off-the field decision making (more likely to be suspended for off field issues)
ENERGETIC* -has an infectious attitude that teammates build off (decreases teammates stamina loss) ex. Brandon Phillips
LACKADAISICAL*^ -effort level leaves something to be desired (often doesnt hustle outside of the key moments in a game and particlarly not in blowouts, but less likely to get injured, limited development)
FUN-LOVING^ -often seen performing goofy dugout pranks or laughing it up on the basepaths and keeping the clubhouse atmosphere loose (minimizes team cold streak impact) ex. Miguel Cabrera
INTENSE^ -no-nonsense player that takes the game very seriously and does not handle losing well (boosts team in key moments, but increases cold streak impact)
*energetic trait and lackadaisacal trait are mutually exclusive
^intense trait removes possibility of having jokester trait and lackadaisacal trait
Teammate relationships: Player A being intense and Player B being lackadaisacal and/or a jokester may lead to clashes. An energetic player will have less positive impact on a lackadaisacal teammate.
A clubhouse leader+energetic player can improve a lackadaisacal player's effort level.

HITTING:
CROWD THE PLATE -a batter that hogs the plate and racks up HBPs and bruises (more likely to get hit but also injured)
PINCH HIT HERO -performs well coming off the bench to hit late in games (boost to hitting when pinch hitting after 6th inning)
STREAKY -when he's hot he's HOT, when he's cold he's ice cold (player that tends to go on extended run of great hitting but then cool off big time for long stretches)
PATIENT HITTER* -usually takes the first pitch) ex. Alex Avila
AGGRESSIVE HITTER* -steps up ready to swing at the first pitch ex. Alcides Escobar
* mutually exclusive

BASERUNNING:
BIG LEADOFF -able to take big leads while still being able to get back safely on pickoffs
HEADS UP RUNNER -reads plays better and gets great jumps on balls put in play and wild pitches/passed balls
ELUSIVE SLIDE -able to occasionally avoid tags with excellent sliding ability

FIELDING:
LEAPING CATCH -fantastic jumping ability enabling the player to get high up to snag the ball
DIVING CATCH -excellent ability to cleanly catch the ball when laying out
ACROBATIC THROW -ability to perform extra-athletic throws
OFF-BALANCE THROW -accurate throws even when not able to set feet for a throw, such as while moving or across the body or from knees/butt
QUICK RELEASE -able to quickly and accurately throw the ball when necessary
ONE-HAND CATCH -tendency to catch fly balls/pop ups with one hand
TWO-HAND CATCH -tendency to catch fly balls/pop ups with two hands
PITCH FRAMER -catcher with a knack for getting strikes called on borderline pitches ex. Buster Posey

PITCHING:
LEFTY SPECIALIST -pitcher that typically only comes in to face a left handed hitter or two, a LOOGY
RIGHTY SPECIALIST -opposite of Lefty Specialist; these two traits would assist CPU in determining which pitcher to bring out of the bullpen
QUICK PICKOFF -maintain accuracy when performing a quick pickoff and therefore improve likelihood of success

Some other ideas:
Hitter's pitch recognition/vision (rather than bat speed, as there is more readily available data regarding batter #s versus pitch types)
Fastball Vision (Good, Average, Bad) ability of a player to recognize, square up, and catch up to the heat
Breaking Ball Vision (Good, Average, Bad) ability of a player to recognize, square up, and stay balanced on curves, sliders, and the like
Change Up Vision (Good, Average, Bad) ability of a player to recognize, square up, and stay back on change ups

Manager Traits and Tactics:
Steal Tendency
Hit and Run Tendency
Sacrifice Bunt Tendency
Pitcher Hook
Defensive Shift Strategy
Player Rest Tendency
Umpire Argument Tendency
Team Identity Focus (Young player development, veteran experience, combination)

# 13 strawberryshortcake @ 05/25/16 11:07 PM

It would certainly enhance the gameplay. I would certainly welcome it. Always great to see a company willing to adopt concepts from other games that will enhance their own game's experience.

Plus, it's actually not a novel concept in baseball video games. It's actually a signature part of the Japanese baseball video game (Pro Yakyuu Spirits [Professional Baseball Spirits] and Jikkyou Power Pro).

Player badges includes both negative and positives. After 2 strikes, your player may have a negative badge that increases that same player's likelihood of striking out. Better opposite field hitter badges, composure badges, higher batting average with runners in scoring position, etc.

The badge could also disappear during the at-bat. The player has a better slugging percentage when he still has no strikes on the count. Once he picks up the 1st strike, that particular badge would disappear just for that particular at bat.

# 14 Bunselpower32 @ 05/28/16 09:41 AM

I love this. Even if you don't have any specific game altering stats, just having stuff like "Clubhouse Guy" or "Captain/Leader" or something like that would greatly enhance the in season feel.

Also, we need a Call Game rating, and each alternate position needs an aptitude rating, among other things. MLB 2K had all of these ratings, and they gave the game so much more depth.

# 15 scooterperpetual @ 05/28/16 10:22 AM

I love badges in 2k but the only way I would like them in MLB TS is if they are only personality badges.

Some rough ideas:

Leader - Generally a veteran that can keep guys calm in big moments and can start rallies. Also could play in with player morale.

Clutch - Simply put a clutch rating. 2 outs bottom of the 9th this guy is your go to guy.

Postseason Performer - Plays better in the postseason, I feel like there is nothing other than a player getting hot in MLB TS for playoff performers, some guys are average in the regular season then just come into the postseason and are a completely different player.

These are just a few ideas but I wouldnt want there to be many, definitely not as many as 2k.

# 16 Spc Garza @ 05/30/16 02:19 AM

No badges ruin the game. Makes an unbaleced game by relying on certian badges.

# 17 Jr. @ 05/30/16 12:59 PM

I would love anything that adds life and personality to players.

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NBA 2K's Player Badges Could Work in The Show