MVP 2004 Impressions...

Spooky · Post by **Spooky** » Wed Mar 10, 2004 12:21 pm

Well I picked up the PC versionlast night and only played for about 45 minutes (did NOT play a full game either). Just messed around more or less.
 
 I am super busy at work lately so my post will be brief, but in a nutshell the my first impressions is that it takes last years formula and improves upon it in every way !
 
 
 I really liked last years and it was my favorite sinlgle player baseball game of the season. My game time has really dwindeled recently so I am not really that pickey as I cannot get that deep into all the game has to offer. That said, I think that MVP will be able to provide me with everything I am looking for this year.
 
 The PC grahpics and gameplay are outstanding. Very smooth and tight. I just LOVE the ptich speeds in this series. The feel right. Plus, pretty much all aspects of the gameplay are ´tweakable´ via +1 or -1 increments. So far at default they are okay (again have not yet played one full game).
 
 Bottom line right now, if you liked or were intrigued by last years version, this years seems to have taken all of the great aspects and imporved upon them, while re-addressing all of the not so great aspects. Have not attempeted to play online yet either, hopefully tonight. I am really excited to play more but again, even with my limited play time I fell that you cannot go wrong with this if you enjoyed last years version.
 
 Please ask me all the questions you want since my impressions are quite breif. I will try my best to answer them.

lsdean · Post by **lsdean** » Wed Mar 10, 2004 12:56 pm

Spooky, what were your reasons for choosing the PC version over the xbox? I would guess for the mods and online play. The reason that I ask is that I am really thinking about picking up the PC version as well. [ This message was edited by: lsdean on 10-03-2004 08:58 ]

Spooky · Post by **Spooky** » Wed Mar 10, 2004 1:14 pm

Hey LS,
 
 Well, I have only recently gotten into PC gaming and have really enjoyed the other EA games I have for the PC (Tiger, NFS). My X-Box is not seeing a whole lot of game time lately and I am at my laptop A LOT.
 
 Top reasons for choosing PC over X-Box version:
 
 -Convenience : Cannot beat proping the ´ol laptop on my lap in bad or at the ktichen table for a quick game with headphones while the woman is watching some TV.
 
 -Graphics: Can´t be beat.
 
 -Online: Even though I doubt I will play a whole lot online with MVP, at least the option is there.
 
 -Convenience !!! (can´t say that one enough - I LOVE my laptop !!!)

lsdean · Post by **lsdean** » Wed Mar 10, 2004 1:30 pm

Thanks Spooky. I am getting to pickup a laptop and was thinking about the convenience of it.

JackB1 · Post by **JackB1** » Wed Mar 10, 2004 1:48 pm

spook.....is there a way to get the rumble feature while playin the game on PC? I really love that about the PS2 versions. When you pop in a 95 mph heater and feel it hit the catchers mitt!

Spooky · Post by **Spooky** » Wed Mar 10, 2004 2:06 pm

Jack,
 
 Funny you should mention that becasue that is the ONE thing I noticed missing last night while playing. No rumble. However, that really only depends on the controller you are using bacasue the game fully supports vibration. My Logitech PS2 type controller just does not have that feature. thinking of trying out a different controller for that reason. Anyone have any PC PS2 type controller w/ rumble suggestions???

TheTruth · Post by **TheTruth** » Wed Mar 10, 2004 2:34 pm

Spooky,
 Just got my copy of the pc version this morning. Here at work trying to think of excuses to leave. Wanna try to hook up for an online game sometime tonight?
 
 I hope a patch is released to support more controllers than what is listed in the readme file. I just ordered a smartjoy xbox to pc adapter for this game but now do not know if it will be useful. I always have my saitek p880 to fall back on. I know Saitek has a version of the p880 that supports vibration. Don´t know the model number though.

kevinpars · Post by **kevinpars** » Wed Mar 10, 2004 2:37 pm

My only impression so far has to do with the manual (I am at work). Per usual, it sucks. It does not even list the options available or the sliders. Once you get past the epilepsy warning you have about a dozen pages of info. The more complex games get, the less manual they give us. EA should do what Sega/ESPN does and give us a PDF manual to download. Honestly, I think EA could afford to give us a 40 page manual.

Spooky · Post by **Spooky** » Wed Mar 10, 2004 2:54 pm

Truth,
 
 Thanks for the info on the controller.
 
 I would be very into playing tonight, but right now I cannot comit to a time. Let´s keep it a definite possibility though...

cootdog · Post by **cootdog** » Wed Mar 10, 2004 3:16 pm

Just picked up my PS2 copy from GameStop. Started with Reds at Twins, Pro level. Here´s a few things that struck me immediately (1st inning).
 
 I´ll have to check in other stadiums, but the lighting, at least on the players, seems really bright in the Dome, which is not how it was last year. Player models seem slightly more detailed, and player faces (esp. Junior, Shannon Stewart, and Hunter) are very nice. Even Luis Rivas looks like himself.
 
 It was immediately apparent how EA´s changed the gameplay. Top half of the first, Larkin laces a triple to left center. I make an attempt to dive backwards for it (a ludicrous decision, since the ball turns out to be well behind me) using the R analog, but Stewart wisely just puts his glove up, and the ball sails over. This is, I guess, a sign of the context sensitivity that´s been added along with the R stick fielding.
 
 What happened next delighted me even more: Griffey takes the first two pitches for strikes, one in his hotzone, the other in cold. Now, these are very nice Radke pitches. I start pitching crap to see what he´ll do. He takes the first and swings at the second, well outside, for a popfly out. That´s something I don´t recall happening last year. If it wasn´t on the edge of strike zone, they usually laid off. If the AI hitting has become as dynamic as rumored, this is really going to be an enjoyable game.
 
 First obvious flaw spotted: In the Dome so far I´ve seen a 12 mph and a 9 mph wind. I know the thing´s pressurized, but we shouldn´t be seeing such a breeze indoors. Too early to tell if this is affecting balls to the outfield.
 
 I look forward to playing more and posting more.

Post by **Jared** » Wed Mar 10, 2004 3:49 pm

Welcome to the forums cootdog. And thanks for the impressions. It´s great to know that the fielding R3 controls are context sensitive. That´ll probably decrease the number of potential inside the park HRs.
 
 I´ve heard that baserunning is too fast. How has that seemed to you? And have you (or anyone) seen any stupid baseball AI (like not tagging up from 3rd on a deep fly, poor double play decisions, etc.)?
 
 Look forward to more impressions.

JackB1 · Post by **JackB1** » Wed Mar 10, 2004 4:00 pm

I have been on the fence trying to decide between PS2 or PC for this game.....I have been reading that online play for the PS2 makes you use your #1 starter all the time....if this is true for the PC also, at least it could be fixed in a patch. This could be a major issue if true.

dbdynsty25 · Post by **dbdynsty25** » Wed Mar 10, 2004 4:09 pm

Wind in a F´ing dome...are you kidding me? How does that pass QA?

TheGamer · Post by **TheGamer** » Wed Mar 10, 2004 4:31 pm

If its in the game... Its in the game.....
 
 http://staging.charleston.net/stories/0 ... .err.shtml

Spooky · Post by **Spooky** » Wed Mar 10, 2004 4:38 pm

<TABLE BORDER=0 ALIGN=CENTER WIDTH=85%><TR><TD>Quote:<HR></TD></TR><TR><TD><BLOCKQUOTE>
 On 2004-03-10 12:31, TheGamer wrote:
 If its in the game... Its in the game.....
 
 http://staging.charleston.net/stories/0 ... .err.shtml
 </BLOCKQUOTE></TD></TR><TR><TD><HR></TD></TR></TABLE>
 That´s great ! Nice referencing. A clip from a news source out of my favorite city too (Charleston).

cootdog · Post by **cootdog** » Wed Mar 10, 2004 4:52 pm

Yeah, the wind stayed at 10 mph throughout the game, a crosswind blowing towards right. Maybe, hope against hope, it doesn’t happen in dynasty mode (I was playing the Play Now option, which probably defaults a lot of settings). I’ll have to mess around a bit more and see.
 
 All the glaringly stupid baseball intelligence seen was my own. <IMG SRC="images/forum/icons/icon_biggrin.gif"> I definitely have an eye out for it. I don´t expect Pro level to be too crafty, so there´s the caveat. I had a 3 run lead from the middle of the game onward, so I couldn’t test out the alleged closer error (CPU subs in closer for last out of the 9th).
 
 More new stuff seen, based on 1 complete game, Pro level, all defaults:
 
 - Griffey fouled a ball off his foot (which the announcers remarked on). It was a rough day for the guy, going 0-for-4 with 2 K’s (one looking).
 
 - I hit a scorcher back at the pitcher – last year, it seemed like the pitchers caught everything hit to them, the animation suggesting that they had just taken a shotgun blast to the gut, but they always held on to the ball. Then there would be times that the pitcher just stood there and the ball appeared to cleanly pass through his body. Not so this year. The pitcher took a goofy-looking lunge at it and the second baseman dove to keep the ball in the infield, without coming up with it.
 
 - Off-line throw from catcher on a steal drags Reds second baseman off base, allowing Guzman to easily take the base when he was dead to rights. I hope it wasn’t the Dome wind that did it! <IMG SRC="images/forum/icons/icon_eek.gif"> Nice unique animation for the infielder on the play.
 
 - I have seen a little slowdown in transitional screens, but nothing during play, except maybe on the batters after they reposition themselves after a pitch. It’s not a problem, but I understand why people are concerned, given EA’s lack of optimization on PS2 Live ’04.
 
 - So far I’ve seen two different animations for batters getting out of the ball’s way on inside pitches, a dive-away and a dance-away. Haven’t checked if there’s a lean-in option yet to take the hit. There should be, esp. when it would be strategically to my advantage to take the base.
 
 - First appeal on a strike call was to third base umpire on a check swing in the 8th, with Stewart on third, two outs, and Reds trailing by a few. “He didn’t go,” was the call. Showing the base umpire in tandem with the PIP was cool-looking, I thought.
 
 - First AI pitchout was with 2 out in the top of the 9th, and Jones (rated 78 speed) on 1st, on the first pitch to the next batter.
 
 - One of my guys (Koskie) hit a check-swing dribbler back to the pitcher. The ball moved as if it had been bunted. It was sad.
 
 From what I’ve seen I can confidently say this plays a much better game of baseball than last year’s MVP. I have no idea if this will be the best of the ’04 bunch, but based on my early impressions, this is definitely a fun experience, and I haven´t even touched the real meat of the game, the Dynasty mode, yet.

Spooky · Post by **Spooky** » Wed Mar 10, 2004 5:32 pm

Great impressions Coot !
 
 I too saw similar things in my few innings for play (cool fouls, hits to the pitcher, appeals to 3rd base ump, ect...)

Bill_Abner · Post by **Bill_Abner** » Wed Mar 10, 2004 5:49 pm

No real impressions yet but the fact that Drew Henson is on the Clippers is just wild. I didn´t read any of the previews for MVP so I dunno what to expect, but the fact that the game has real AAA and AA teams and players is kinda...spooky.

cootdog · Post by **cootdog** » Wed Mar 10, 2004 5:57 pm

Quick updates before work:
 
 There is some PS2 slowdown on foul balls in the infield, at least down the 3rd base line. This is just a guess, but I think it has to do with the number of players onscreen. It doesn’t seem to affect gameplay.
 
 The Metrodome wind is the same in Dynasty too. I tried at Tampa Bay and got the same kind of wind at 11 mph. Toronto had the dome open and blowing out to left center at 9 mph, so that’s OK. Has anyone else seen this yet, or heard people talking about it? I assume it’s not unique to the PS2 version. There’s nothing I can toggle that would affect the presence of wind one way or another. To those who have it, is the PC version the same way?
 
 The Toronto dome being open brings up this conundrum. If it won´t close, will there be rain-outs in Toronto? What about retractable roof stadiums?
 
 I’ll check back during work to see if anyone asks questions that I can answer from memory.

matthewk · Post by **matthewk** » Wed Mar 10, 2004 6:21 pm

Well, I´m home with the game! I snuck in a 1/2 day vacation just for this. I needed an afternoon at the ballpark <IMG SRC="images/forum/icons/icon_wink.gif">
 
 After 1 1/2 games and some exploring....
 
 - No actual minor league stadiums. They have 3 AAA and 3 AA to choose from.
 
 - Check swings can make contact! I held up on a pitch that still hit the bat. It was very weak, and lloked like a bunt.
 
 - First MAJOR AI test for me: Runner on 2nd, I hit a medium grounder to the 2nd baseman. The runner on 2nd advanced to 3rd. Nice!!!
 
 - Pitch speeds are fast, but can be adjusted by sliders. I faced Wood my first game and could not catch up to his fastball most of the time.
 
 - Hitting works much better than last year. You should aim where the ball is thrown for best results. Pressing up does NOT automatically mean a fly ball. I was worried about how this would be implemented, but so far so good.
 
 - Still has the fielding bug from last year when switching fielders. It seems like if you start with a fielder and then switch, the one you switched off of still goes off in the direction you last left him. It´s alreadt cost me a run. Guess I´ll just have to avoid this.
 
 - More hit types. The liners to 2b/ss have been greatly toned down.
 
 - The fields are HUGE! I saw a couple blooper hits that no one could get to in time. Seems realistic, because I´ve seen this in the MLB.
 
 - If you slide or dive, the dirt will be there all game.
 
 - Wood stayed in for 8 innings. Much better than last year.
 
 - 1 home and 1 away classic jersey per team. Same year, meaning the Brewers are the 1982 home and away. Oh, and they have to be UNLOCKED!!! BASTARDS!!!
 
 So far it seems much more polished compared to last year. Gonna go play some more....
 
 - One last item I forgot. After a home team HR, the crowd gets LOUD and stays that way through the next batter. The crowd was still going nuts after my first pitch to the next batter.
 
 -Matt
 [ This message was edited by: matthewk on 10-03-2004 14:22 ]

Brando70 · Post by **Brando70** » Wed Mar 10, 2004 6:43 pm

Thanks for all the impressions guys. After what I´ve read here and at OS, I think I´m going to pick up the PC version and a Logitech gamepad today. Sounds like EA really pulled out the stops this year on baseball. Maybe next year they´ll do the same for March Madness.

Blublub · Post by **Blublub** » Wed Mar 10, 2004 6:56 pm

Great impressions coot, they answered a lot of the questions I had not seen addressed before.
 
 But, this pitcher bug for online really is worrisome. In fact, if it isn´t addressed I think will render the online capability virtually useless. Otherwise the BoSox are going to be impossible to beat in any league and my guess is that we´ll find nothing other than them as the opponent for even quick random pickup games online (think Mike Vick and the Falcons in Madden, only worse(. We really need to hear from EA as to when/if they plan to fix this somehow. Until then, I´m in a quandry as to which version to get as I certainly would pick up the Xbox version if the PS2 online is useless.
 
 I can´t believe this wasn´t caught before release.

J_Cauthen · Post by **J_Cauthen** » Wed Mar 10, 2004 7:08 pm

Well, this is totally out of character for me, but all the buzz about this game has done something no other baseball game has done in years - force me to rent it before the Final Four is over. I usually don´t take a whack at baseball until the college hoops season is history.
 
 I lucked up and walked into Blockbuster just as they were putting up the PS2 and Xbox versions for rent. I don´t have a network adaptor for my PS2 so I opted for the Xbox version.
 
 I´d forgotten Blockbuster´s retarded policy of not putting the manuals in with rental games, so I´m left trying to decipher the interface. Some of it is pretty straightforward, but I´m making a lot of gaffs because I don´t know how to exexcute certain actions. Anyone know of any online docs on this? Blockbuster should publish them at the very least for stranding the gamer out of the gate!
 
 I got killed in my first game. First pitch I threw was a gopher ball. In fact, I threw three of them in the first inning, while working my way to a 10-0 deficit to the Royals (I was the Braves). You´ve really got to hit the corners or these computer batters will kill you!
 
 I suck at baseball games so don´t take my experience as any sort of barometer, but I wound up losing 27-1. Chipper Jones homered for my only score and I only managed 4 hits. The power sensitive throwing in the field is going to be tough to get a handle on, especially with the baserunners being too fast. I can see already that I´m going to have to tone that back. Others are chiming in on this note - anyone got what they think is a reasonable setting for baserunner speed?
 
 I think the animation is slick, and the pitching/batting interface the best I´ve seen. It really feels smooth. Some of the graphics look a little Spartan, particularly in the crowds, but the player ani´s are pretty impressive.
 
 Until I can a better idea on the controls, I´m going to be at a real disadvantage. It´s hard for me to gauge my overall reaction at this point because my baseball hormones are still dormant because of my season dependency. It´s that way with all team sports for me, so I can´t just lay it on baseball. Still, there´s something to this game that already makes a statement to my unawakened senses.

dbdynsty25 · Post by **dbdynsty25** » Wed Mar 10, 2004 7:33 pm

Picked up MVP Xbox at lunch...now I just gotta get through the rest of the day which is always fun.
 
 BTW...I went to get that Saturday Night Speedway dirt track game and it wasn´t in...apparently Gamestop isn´t getting them for a few days.

Jackdog · Post by **Jackdog** » Wed Mar 10, 2004 8:02 pm

I am playing on pro and getting my ass kicked <IMG SRC="images/forum/icons/icon_biggrin.gif">
 
 This could be a great replacement for HH......."could be" is the key words here.
 
 I come back with some comments a little later tonight. I am hooked right now.
 
 
 DB....get home and play this puppy and let us know what you think brother. I think you might be surprised <IMG SRC="images/forum/icons/icon_wink.gif">