My Take on MLB 11: The Show First Look - vln13's Blog

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vln13's Blog

My Take on MLB 11: The Show First Look

Posted on December 15, 2010 at 07:09 PM.

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WELL PLAYED, MAUER. DO YOU HAVE MORE PICTURES? ARE YOU ON THE COVER BACK TO BACK YEARS BECAUSE A CERTAIN VP IS BLACKMAILING YOU??? lol

It's that time of year again - we FINALLY find out about MLB: The Show, my favorite of the gaming franchises, and now we have to wait 2.5 months. In this excruciatingly long amount of time, I will look over every single screenshot, every preview from gaming sites, and finish my 10: The Show franchise mode in agony, thinking about what I can do come first week of March. (March Madness means something very different for me - it means staying up late, pursuing my virtual rings and awards, my W's and K's and HR's, and satisfying my thirst for this great game.)

09: The Show was just voted the Baseball Game of the Decade here at OS, and deservingly so. We all wondered how they could really make improvements to 10, other than securing much needed online stability and consistency. Last year, we got a similar ESPN preview, in which a solid list of features were revealed. A few were introduced later, but the bulk was there. Come March 3rd, I was impressed by many of these things, but the still unsure online play and some weird, uncharacteristic glitches quickly spoiled my impressions. Several patches fixed things, but there was a duality that they had made great improvements but left sour grapes in the mix as well. However, eventually I got over my disappointments and had another great year of baseball. Those bitter tastes feel like they never hit my tongue.

Let's go back and review the feature list from last year, and see how 11 compares to 10 in content and what we can expect in delivery:

MLB 10 Features as Previewed in December 09:

1. Online improvements
SCEA made their annual but most pressing statement yet that they were working as hard as they could on fixing online play. Turns out some things were fixed, but it wasn't enough to solidify this department.
2. RTTS
They were very confident in a lot of subtle improvement to RTTS. I am not a big Road to the Show or career mode person in general, but it was clear to me that the number of improvements were a little disappointing.
3. Pickoffs
The new pickoff system was a great touch in the game. However, I think they over-hyped its importance, and in the end, it wasn't a game changer.
4. Catcher Mode
1 sound wraps this up - Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
5. Real Time Presentation
This was a great addition, though ironically taken from MLB 2k9, the worst baseball game ever made. It had room for improvement, but it was good starting point.
6. Little Things
Graphics, Franchise, Replay Editor, Collision Detection
The little things, combined with consistency, is where this series has shined for me. The graphics, again, were just breathtaking, the subtle changes to Franchise mode like single-A rosters and manual handling of injuries were nice touches even though the mode was a little stale, the replay editor was also appreciated, and many of the collision detection problems that ruined 09 were fixed. This department was what made the game for me. Unfortunately, things like the frame rate in cut-scenes and old commentary also added some negative aspects.
7. Home Run Derby
This was a cute mode that was welcomed back. I did not spend much time in here, but it was still appreciated by a more casual audience. I wish they could add special commentary to this mode.
8. Classic Stadiums
This was not in the initial announcement, but was a pre-order incentive. A great touch that I really enjoyed (I just wished they would have had Ebbtt's Field). You could also buy them for $10, and it was actually worth the value.

Other good things - Post release support, new overlay graphics, Catcher signs, ability to schedule when to bring in relievers, good menu music, new fielding meter, a lot of things that weren't advertised.

If thought that was a lot, I think 11 makes this list seem modest - and we've only seen one preview as of Wednesday Dec. 15. And a lot of things will only be released in later developer blogs or not mentioned at all. I think that this list could potentially be one of the finest we have seen in a while, minus a Michael Jordan equivalent from NBA 2k11.

MLB 11 Features as of December 15:

1. ANALOG CONTROLS
This should be several bullet points, because each aspect of the game has its own analog control feature set. The pitching is almost identical to MVP 2007, which was a blast to pitch, the hitting is like MLB 2k9 in concept, but I can almost guarantee that in execution it will be at least acceptable (time will tell), and fielding is analog like MLB 2k10 except for the fact that now you have to preload your throws, which sounds like it will take getting used to. The preloading sounds like an addition that will only make the game harder, something that it doesn't need already, but let's see how it plays out. This gets me excited, but if you are not an analog guy, just go back to the button controls.
2. Update to Guess Pitch
This is a nice addition in which you can choose to do a normal, contact, or power swing before the pitch.
3. Co-op
This seems like it will be a blast if the online functionality holds up, but you can also play it offline. Up to 2v2 looks fun, and it seems like they are giving you many options how to play it, which is key. It might need more of a long term reason to keep playing, though, or else it will be OTP in Madden 11.
4. Challenge of the Week
He didn't say much about this but it seems like a stupid gimmick that no one will care about. I hope they put about 22min of development time into this.
5. RTTS Improvements
The stupid goals are finally gone, but let's see if the CPU actually tracks your stats optimally and makes accurate decisions. If I hit .347 in AAA I do want to be called up to the majors faster than someone hitting .233.
6. 3d and Move (only in HRD)
These are just selling points that we have known would be included since the release of MLB 10. There was a demo of 10 released in 3d, so nothing that big of a deal here. I was initially thinking of looking into Move if it was incorporated into the actual gameplay, but it looks as if it will only be available in Home Run Derby.
7. Hudler, Out, Karros, In
This is a much needed change - The trio has been consistently good, but Rex Hudler has been the least popular of the three, and with a shakeup needed, this is the obvious choice without replacing all three (which I think could happen next year.) Eric Karros is a color guy for FOX, and hopefully he will have chemistry with the team.
8. Little Things - Dynamic Weather, Rain, Camera Editor, Jumbotron Design... and BALKS
This list is not complete yet. Let's hope this is once again where the game shines. Dynamic Weather has been at the top of every "What we want for next year" list, with rain included. I just wish they have rain delays and rain outs on optionally with like a meteorologist in studio and a radar graphic, maybe even with a live feed. Doubt that will be incorporated, but I'm fine with just the more basic approach. The Camera Editor was a BIG one for me (doesn't seem that big, but 2k had it already and it was the one thing I really missed in The Show.) It will come preloaded with the actual broadcast angles for each stadium!!! Jumbotron Design has also been upgraded, as you can see in the screen above. EDIT: BALKS!!! Already, another thing added, and this is great as well.
9. Online League Imrpovement, XP added
Should be nice touches online if...
10. Online Functionality Improvements (again)
Is this finally the year? It seems like they made a bigger deal of it last year, but that doesn't mean that you won't see improvements. I still have hope, but I am not totally gullible. Let's wait on this one.

Comments

# 1 bms715 @ Dec 15

I'm liking everything I'm seeing...the only other thing I wish they would fix that is sort of trivial is the swing follow throughs...they are all practically the same and they aren't really realistic

# 2 PhillsPhan26 @ Dec 15

I with you.... It's that time of year and being a Phillies fan, It is going to be along wait for me.

# 3 vln13 @ Dec 16

PhillsPhan, I can just imagine what kind of wait you are going to have! lol. This is like the Miami Heat fan waiting for NBA 2k11. In the meantime, put Cliff Lee on your Phils in MLB 10!

# 4 mikesapienza @ Dec 16

Alot of Philly Phans here. I am from Philly and we can't be beat, we wont be beat urrrrrrrrr Cliff Lee, Hamels, Oswalt, Halliday......THe top 4 pitchers in the league

# 5 MLBCONTRACTGURU @ Dec 16

Best 4 pitchers in the league? If only Oswalt was given this much credit by goofballs when he was here in Houston. Funny one though.

# 6 MLBCONTRACTGURU @ Dec 16

Franchise mode and RTTS need revamping. Potential ratings need fixing and if things arent progressing, the countdown for Dynasty mode, Create a Stadium and actual coaching philosophies with the MVP baseball franchise will begin.

# 7 Armor and Sword @ Dec 19

Still playing 2009. And since I play with auto field and auto base running I will again stick with 2009 as I will be going into my 3rd year of my Yankees Chise.

I had heard the little things were a nice touch to 2010 but the game was essentially the same. I am getting that same feeling with 2011. The game will have more graphical polish (although I am still blown away by 2009) and the new analog controls will appeal to those that wanted them. But it won;t be enough to get me to purchase 2011. I am sure the game will rock. If indeed I read and hear great things (and I will play the demo) I will wait for a big price cut.

Enjoy it everyone!