rudyjuly2's Blog
This is accurate as of Friday, 12:00 PM EST. I will start a new blog for Day 2 since this one is huge already! The numbers in italics are the post # in the Answers thread for reference.
Community Members Comments
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Jim (#10)
Nemesis 7
Legend 8
He lost in the 9th inning.
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Jim (#12)
We met with Russell and the SCEA crew sometime around 2:30 PST. First of all I want to convey to you all how absolutely BUSINESS like and professional these people are. These are serious people, with a serious mission and their studio is just hard to explain, but when you see beds set up in their cubicles, etc., and see the dozens of cubicles, how quiet and diligent everyone seems you can appreciate and respect that these people are creating for us.
Okay, let me start. I left dinner just a few minutes ago and am bushed, but I'll start and am sure that the other guys will chime in due time.
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Jim (#16)
The game jumps out at you. The lighting especially. We have been able to take screen shots and should be able to post these soon enough. Textures of the players uniforms, the player models themselves, the transitional lighting (it will knock your socks off at how well they pulled this off), and the scores of added animations, cut scenes, etc. just had us drooling.
Pared made a chant jeering Jose Reyes and the audio make it sound like the entire crowd was chanting and not just one person, it was hilarious to hear. This addition is going to be ton of fun for people. Where to begin? There's so much. So I'll just start with some observations and answer some of the questions.
1. The double play problems are g-o-n-e. The force outs at second, the first to SS to pitcher double plays, smooth as silk. Something new added this year. The computer hit a ground ball to first and the pitcher started running towards first. Well, I was going to throw to the pitcher, but he was going to be late covering. Last year we would have seen that big, high underhanded lob, runner safe. This year the AI is such that if the pitcher isn't going to get there on time, the throw button "0" will cause the first baseman to take it himself to the bag. Works like a charm.
2. I had another ball hit to my first baseman who had to charge in and towards the mound, he made one quick turn and side arm throw off his left foot to get the ball to the pitcher who ran over to cover first base.
3. Had two line shots down the left field corner, both doubles. Playing one of the devs he had a runner on 1st and started his runner. His batter hit a shot down the left field line, the runner heading for second scored and the batter had himself a double.
4. A nice touch is some of the replays on hits go to the press box view and you get a really good shot of the entire field.
5. A nice new edition is you don't have to hit the START button this year to pause the game, go to the bullpen, etc. You simply hit UP on the D-Pad and it opens a window and you scroll through the options you want, bullpen/pinch hitter/pinch runner, etc. This is a really nice touch and speeds things up a bit.
6. Lint, this one is for you. Your last name is in the name database. As a matter of fact they have first name/last names in the database.
7. A pinch hitter came up out of the dugout carrying his bat and putting his batting helmet on, nice touch. There are tons of new scenes like this, for example, guys coming in from the bullpen, etc.
8. For the Blue Jays fan, the strip of wall that was too light and interfered with the pitch ball has been darkened (dark gray now) and I had no problems picking up pitched balls.
9. Eight styles of sunglasses.
10. Stirrups.
11. Ryan Dempster does that little flicking motion with his glove when pitching.
12. There is a great highlight reel at the end of each game that automatically plays all the game highlights/recap.
13. When playing Franchise mode the game automatically generates overcast skies, cloudy skies, etc. They really pulled off the effect of a game being played on an overcast day.
14. Knight was playing and was screaming that he had a couple balls hit over his outfielders heads.
15. Warm up jackets on players.
16. The Free Agent list has a bunch of legend players (I think 80???) that can be assigned to your team before you start your franchise. I put Al Kaline on my Nats before I started my franchise.
17. I didn't see a single beach ball and understand they are still there, but perhaps more stadium specific.
18. The crowd. This is a big leap. It was really difficult to try to pick out duplicate people in the crowd. They're there, but the way they pulled it off it's hard to pick them out. Also the graphics/animations of the crowd is greatly improved.
19. The roster control is different this year. Instead of having three screens, ML/AAA/AA a teams roster is on ONE screen and you scroll down, then look to the right to see if they are ML/AAA/AA. Here is where you also have it noted if they are on the 40 man roster, or not.
It was a bit cumbersome for me at first because I wasn't used to it, but I can see where it's going to be better because you only have to look at one screen now, not flip the pages to see the AAA/AA. The lineups, pitching rotations are still set up the same.
20. There don't appear to be as many devs in the game. They are still uneditable, however their player ratings are not high, their attributes are not high, mostly look like AA type players rather than ML types.
Okay, just a break here.
PLEASE NO QUESTIONS AS THE OTHER GUYS STILL HAVE TO CHIME IN. I can tell you that today was mostly playing the game and being in shock at how far the presentation/gameplay/graphics/animations have come from last years game.
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Jim (#18)
You CAN play any game on the schedule. I started a franchise with the Nats, but also played some other games on the schedule of other teams.
You can still put roster control ON and keep the other teams rosters current.
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Jim (#20)
You could actually take the legend guys from the FA list, replace an entire roster and play your franchise with the legend guys if you wanted.
Scooters name is in the database (don't know if it was there last year, or not)
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Jim (#25)
Well, they brought in Pizza for us while we were playing and we had three huge plates of entrees at the restaurant and THEN they wanted to eat. I just couldn't put another ounce of food in my mouth, and am a little bushed.
Truthfully we didn't get to a bunch of questions yet as we spent the time playing and testing the game. We have a full day tomorrow beginning at, I'm figuring, around 10 am PST until whenever, but I know the other guys are probably going to chime in here in a bit too.
I just gotta say that seeing this game in action, in HD.......wow. You can tell they work hard on it. One of the devs took me into his cubicle and showed me how they program everything right down to the angles/speeds/player reactions/jumps/dives, etc., etc. and I tell you, it IS rocket science. It's amazing to watch and see these guys sitting for HOURS in front of their monitors programming the things we take for granted and demand in the game.
Anyway, standby for a few....I'm headin' to my room. More tomorrow from me and more tonight, I'm sure from the other guys.
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Pared (#31)
Well I know I'm freakin' exhausted.
I won't go into too much; Jim covered a lot already. Just a few things I wanted to add:
-Legend mode is HARD against number 1 starters. You get a better feel against a 2 or so but number 1's on the top teams are just... exhausting. You have to be completely focused and into every single pitch. It's tough to gauge on such a small sample but I don't know if people will want to play an entire season against the CPU on it. But it's awesome that it is there.
-I saw the actual style guide. Wasn't a good thing, as the Mets jerseys had some inconsistencies and I'm sure there were a few others. But man, the MLB style guide just is NOT correct. I see the developers bind in delivering what we want and what the MLB dictates.
-The stadiums are just incredible with the new lighting. You can lose a hit by having the ball shadow disappear into the shade! Very, very cool feature!
That's all I'm getting into for now. I'm not completely sure on what we can/can't discuss so better safe than sorry. Once we get all that sorted out we'll be able to get to most of your questions sooner or later.
As for the game... WOW is all I have to say. The best just got better... and that's saying a lot for what most consider the best sports game of last year. Any baseball fan would be pleased.
One last thing: All the complaints about hitting are thrown out the window at this point. If you think you'll have consistent games with 10-15 hits on a few runs, then you'll be surprised. A lot of work has been put into the batter-pitcher interface and it shows. Amazing.
Until tomorrow. J
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Also Pared commented on the issue of too much opposite field power and too many home runs to opposite field (post #33 in Pushing vs. Pulling HRs)
This just does not feel like an issue this year. I agree and felt it was an issue last year but we have seen many bombs pulled this year among all the games we played on default sliders.
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Pared (#33)
Ok, I lied; One last thing.
Catch region indicator was fixed! You can not play with the region on and the actual spinning ball off, just like you could 2 years ago.
More tomorrow!
EDIT:
Ok, last one. Swear.
The replay angles are beyond ridiculous this year. There are so many new ones that are just... indescribable. Just like you'd see on an actual broadcast.
Much work was put into them and it shows.
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Knight (#41)
Truly....truly impressive.
I can't think of a better way to state it.
The lighting gives this game a whole new state of "wow". Not a jump out of your chair wow, but a sit back and take it in sense of impressiveness. You'll see what I mean.
Fielding is much improved.
Franchise mode is going to be FANTASTIC.
Little things? ....that is going to be one LOOOOONG thread this year!
NO SCEA GUYS READING THIS PLEASE...
..
Spoiler
...and like stated already, those guys at SCEA are money.
I'm extremely impressed by that whole team.
I really thought going into this.... that we would kind of be a tolerated distraction these two days.... but I feel anything but that now. (we probably are though).... but the pride in this series is evident in every member. The place was full with team members...all willing to answer our questions...having fun breaking our balls (thanks Travis.... I owe you one..making a grown man break down and cry over a game! )..... and making us feel very welcome.
...and these guys know their $hit. That was very evident.
(okay enough blowin' these guys.... I know you're reading Chris!)
All in all.... a great experience and just be prepared for a phenomenal game.
I'll get to the answers tomorrow or Saturday!
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Knight on Legend Mode in Legend Thread (#453)
Legend mode.
You don't feel like there is cheating at all.
You will be punished......for making mistakes.
They should rename this mode...."There Will Be Blood" mode.
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UPDATE Friday 11:10 AM
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Nemesis (#80)
Knight got destroyed by the Yanks on Legend. I think we even may have a pic of him tapping out and even crying!
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Jim (#83)
We are NOT playing a final build.
There is something else new with fielding and it shocked the heck out of me. For example, you dive for a ball.....last year you could completely dive over it, but this year the AI will determine if the fielder is actually going to dive, or just stretch out and field the ball. It's something to get used to but I saw it twice when I pressed dive where the player merely bent over, stretched out, fielded the ball and threw to the base.
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Pared (#87)
Ha, Jim is up early as well.
About the uni's: many are fixed. I should get final word later on but not every team is 100% correct to the point where a fan will go, "Now that is every correct uni for my team." For instance, the Mets don't have their all black away uniform that says NY at all, but they DO have their all black uni that says Mets. To add insult to injury, it's only possible to select it while away.
There's a Rockies fan on the team so I'm sure their black sleeve alternates are in. Like I said, we can look up the jerseys today.
The build is NOT final, so there is no worries on my end in terms of anything we're seeing not being addressed. I would hold any sort of freaking out guys want to do until the final disc is in your hands. Any sort of gaffe anyone of us has mentioned has been addressed 100% by the team and they are more than willing to have things fixed.
I'm truly amazed at the amount of work put into the new stadiums. Apparently it has been very difficult getting correct info on the specifics of each stadium and while they may not be 100%, they look so damn good I can't do anything other than praise their effort.
There so much I want to say, but like I mentioned earlier I'm holding close to the NDA.
BTW, the signature animations are really, really good. My only complaint, if you can even call it that, is you can really see the goofiness of BSG shine through at times. It's not THAT bad but the obsessive guys you are will notice it right away and it may bother some. BUT... and this is a bit but... they are few and far between. Much better than last year.
Jeter's signature throw to first is in and looks great.
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Nemesis (#88)
I played 3 Legend games:
Rays 12
Yanks 0 (me)
Yanks 0
Cubs 6
phillies 8
Yanks 7
The third was my best game by far. I hung tough with them as it was 2-2 for a while. Then they pulled away and made the score 6-2, then 7-2. It was funny, everybody walked away from me because they figured the game was done, lol. In the bottom of the 8th I managed to score 5 runs. Then I had about 10 people watching me, the controller was heart pumping, talk about nervous!
To be honest I miss managed my bullpen in the 9th, I did not get Mo ready for the ninth in time. Marte walked the first batter, I brought in Rivera before totally warm and gave up a single and then another 8-7. In the bottom of my frame I just made loud outs.
Phils 8 14 0
Yanks 7 13 0
This was all on default so far!
I have looked at the sliders, they cleaned things up and the descriptions are excellent imo.
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Pared (#89)
lol Number 1 starters are making us their ***** on legend. I approve this difficulty.
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Pared (#417 in Question thread on whether you can cut the ball off with cutoff man)
No. (You cannot choose to cut the ball or not - Nemesis states the same thing on the the next post).
You can change your queue for throwing, however, as I don't recall that being in last year.
So if you're holding 3rd while your outfielder is getting ready to field the ball, then realize you'd rather hit the cut off, you can change it before makes the throw attempt. But you can't catch a throw with the CO man once it has been released.
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11:20 am
Nemesis (#421 – Questions thread)
One thing I have learned being here is the developers ooze baseball. If it is not there it is not because of an oversite, the focus needed to be put on something else that was of more importance.
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Nemesis (#94)
For my fellow Yankee fans: Girardi is in with the proper number, he looks good. He is always yelling at the players,lol. In one of the games where I was getting killed, I swung at a first pitch and popped up and Girardi was giving Damon mouth. Matt and Dave were commenting on how Damon should have taken some pitches being down and Girardi was getting his point across! LOL
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Jim (#96)
I've got to say that my favorite presentation moment yesterday was seeing a pinch hitter walk up OUT of the dugout, on the stairs, with his batting helmet in his hand.
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Pared (#97 on if there are any new pitching deliveries)
Lots of guys have new motions. They look immensely better than what we've had.
Personally I still feel like the pitchers don't seem to put enough "oomph" when they throw a pitch. Hope that makes sense.
But leg kicks, glove positions... a good amount of them look very good.
I'll add my favorite presentation moment:
The game introductions. Only slightly changed but simply... "Wow." Still the best in the business.
Again, the replay camera angles. Close ups on the face of the pitcher right before a pitch.... incredible.
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11:40 a.m.
Jim (#103 on the possible fielding issues still)
I've been told not to comment on this by the guys. So, I won't.
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Nemesis (#105 on online leagues)
Because of the new features we cannot comment on some things right now.
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Jim (#109)
Today is going to be a real work day. Knight only has an entire book of questions, lol.
So far....glove colors are the same as last year.
Also appears accessories colors cannot be changed.
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Nemesis (#10 in Pasta thread)
I am going to mess with sliders today and see there overall affect.
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