MLB 2006 The Show Demo at EBGames for a Pre-Order

AJColossal · Post by **AJColossal** » Fri Mar 03, 2006 10:24 am

Played a couple more games. Won 4-3 and lost one 6-4. Great games.

Things looks good. There is an excellent balance of realism and fun. I am playing about .500 ball and there is excellent score variety.

Far and away for me, the absolute worse thing about this game is it's interpretation of the strike zone, especially the lower part of the zone. I'm sorry, but a ball at the shins is not a strike, but I've seen it called there regularly. And yes, I've tried a "tight" zone

They've fixed the strike zone in a sense where there can be some variability in an ump's call, but too many times I've seen a called strike at a guy's shoes basically.

Great game other than that.

sportdan30 · Post by **sportdan30** » Fri Mar 03, 2006 10:28 am

Not sure if this is happening in the PS2 version, but it's happening to me on the PSP:

Alright, there is something that is really bugging me about this game. It's to the point where I'm ready to take it back to the store. On line drives that are hit by the CPU to my user controlled outfielder, the ball will roll past the fielder and go all the way to the wall. Let me clarify by saying the ball will hit the ground first and then skip past my outfielder. It's not on the fly. I'm fairly certain it's not the angle I'm taking as I've never had this issue in any other baseball video games. Plus, it wasn't a problem last year with MLB 2005.

I've read a few others who have made the same comment, but I hadn't really paid much attention to it as I thought it was more user error. It's happened now to me in two consecutive games. Once was when the CPU had the bases loaded. It made the difference between a win and a lost.

The fielder should at least get in front of the ball and knock it down. It's really quite frusturating and dare I say it's a game killer. I don't like to use that word very often, but it appears to be one quite possibly.

AJColossal · Post by **AJColossal** » Fri Mar 03, 2006 10:37 am

I had a play like that happen once, but I blamed myself because I think I over-pursued the ball, and almost ran past it, despite the fact that the ball partially went through me.

I dunno. It would be nice if they would let you knock it down or something. IMO, it happens rarely enough where I don't see it as a big deal, and you see OF taking bad angles in the bigs and the ball getting by from time to time as well.

Leebo33 · Post by **Leebo33** » Fri Mar 03, 2006 10:40 am

AJColossal wrote:I had a play like that happen once, but I blamed myself because I think I over-pursued the ball, and almost ran past it, despite the fact that the ball partially went through me.

I've too seen it once in about 8 games. I blamed myself.

lexbur · Post by **lexbur** » Fri Mar 03, 2006 10:41 am

I had that happen to me last night (PS2 version). Since it was the first time I had seen that in 3-plus games, I just assumed it was user error.

It wound up costing me the game, my Tribe lost to the White Sox, 3-2. I hope this won't happen regularly. You're right, that could be a gamekiller.

Leebo33 · Post by **Leebo33** » Fri Mar 03, 2006 10:52 am

AJColossal wrote:Far and away for me, the absolute worse thing about this game is it's interpretation of the strike zone, especially the lower part of the zone. I'm sorry, but a ball at the shins is not a strike, but I've seen it called there regularly. And yes, I've tried a "tight" zone

I totally agree. They've come a long way with the strike zone, but it is still quite a bit off. It's especially apparent if you are using the the pitcher view. There's no way a strike should be called when the catcher's glove almost touches the ground.

Is anyone else walking more with the "wide" umpire setting? I switched to "tight" and didn't draw a walk for 3 games.

tjung0831 · Post by **tjung0831** » Fri Mar 03, 2006 10:57 am

I played this game at best buy and it's not that good, at least I didn't care for it. Talk about some rocket hits, it seemed like every hit was a rocket type shot and I also didn't care for the way the fielders reacted sometimes when the ball was hit. I might give 2K6 a shot when it comes out but I think i'll be sticking with MVP 05 and NCAA 06 this year.

Slumberland · Post by **Slumberland** » Fri Mar 03, 2006 10:59 am

There's a lot of debate as to the meaning of the 'wide' and 'tight' umpire settings. I agree that 'tight' yields almost zero walks, and think that 'wide' refers to the amount of variability in the umpire's calls and not the actual size of the strike zone, whereas 'tight' means they call the strike zone pretty much as delineated by the strike zone graphic.

Oh, and I had a ball inexplicably go past my outfielder last night. Cost me the game. Sucks!

sportdan30 · Post by **sportdan30** » Fri Mar 03, 2006 10:59 am

tjung0831 wrote:I played this game at best buy and it's not that good, at least I didn't care for it. Talk about some rocket hits, it seemed like every hit was a rocket type shot and I also didn't care for the way the fielders reacted sometimes when the ball was hit. I might give 2K6 a shot when it comes out but I think i'll be sticking with MVP 05 and NCAA 06 this year.

To be fair, the game at BB is a demo and I believe 2-3 months old. The variety of hits is better in the full version.

The complete game is much better, but there are some alarming issues with it.

AJColossal · Post by **AJColossal** » Fri Mar 03, 2006 11:21 am

Leebo33 wrote:
AJColossal wrote:Far and away for me, the absolute worse thing about this game is it's interpretation of the strike zone, especially the lower part of the zone. I'm sorry, but a ball at the shins is not a strike, but I've seen it called there regularly. And yes, I've tried a "tight" zone
I totally agree. They've come a long way with the strike zone, but it is still quite a bit off. It's especially apparent if you are using the the pitcher view. There's no way a strike should be called when the catcher's glove almost touches the ground.

Is anyone else walking more with the "wide" umpire setting? I switched to "tight" and didn't draw a walk for 3 games.

I drew 3 walks against Dontrelle Willis using the "tight" zone. I drew walks as well on "wide". You definitely can draw walks in this game. I'm pretty happy about that.

I'll try Slumber's suggestion about using a "wide" zone. Maybe the strike zone interpretation is better there.

As for the balls getting by OF's, maybe you just gotta "justify" it as a bad fielding play, and move on. It does happen in MLB, and it doesn't seem to happen enough here to cause too much alarm. It happened once for me in 6+ games.

MizzouRah · Post by **MizzouRah** » Fri Mar 03, 2006 11:22 am

Slumberland wrote:There's a lot of debate as to the meaning of the 'wide' and 'tight' umpire settings. I agree that 'tight' yields almost zero walks, and think that 'wide' refers to the amount of variability in the umpire's calls and not the actual size of the strike zone, whereas 'tight' means they call the strike zone pretty much as delineated by the strike zone graphic.

Oh, and I had a ball inexplicably go past my outfielder last night. Cost me the game. Sucks!

I agree, after using tight for a few games, I like wide better. Seems like there are more balls called on the wide setting.

JackB1 · Post by **JackB1** » Fri Mar 03, 2006 12:10 pm

what are those issues Dan? I was considering picking up a PSP or a PS2 just to play MLB The Show. Is that stupid?

sportdan30 wrote: The complete game is much better, but there are some alarming issues with it.

MizzouRah · Post by **MizzouRah** » Fri Mar 03, 2006 12:46 pm

JackB1 wrote:what are those issues Dan? I was considering picking up a PSP or a PS2 just to play MLB The Show. Is that stupid?

sportdan30 wrote: The complete game is much better, but there are some alarming issues with it.

I've been playing the heck out of the ps2 game and I haven't found any "alarming" issues.. a few annoyances, maybe? but overall the game has really improved over last year.

I'm going to start up a franchise today, so we'll see how the AI does over the course of season games.

Bottom line for me.. is it fun? Yes - Is is immersive? Yes - does it have that "one more game even though it's 3am" feeling? Yes indeed!

sportdan30 · Post by **sportdan30** » Fri Mar 03, 2006 12:52 pm

Jack,

The major issue I'm having with the game is stated above in my earlier post. It seems everyone is attributing the problem I pointed out to be possibly user error. However, if it truly is a problem with the game, then it doesn't happen frequently enough to be a problem. I'm calling B.S. on this issue. I'm sorry, but if it happens once a game, that is major to me. Plus, the games when I've played it's happened in critical situations.

I'm sorry, but I just don't see many games on tv where the ball skips by the outfielders and rolls all the way to the wall for a triple. Sure it happens every now and then, and generally with lower skilled outfielders. Granted, I haven't seen this problem with the center fielder....yet.

Other than that, the game is rather fun. My only other beef with the game is the fielding. As JackDog stated, there's a detachment with this part of the game. It's hard to fully enjoy the game because of this. MVP did it so right in that regard.

JackB1 · Post by **JackB1** » Fri Mar 03, 2006 1:10 pm

Dan.....I have similiar issues with NCAA baseball. If my o/f missed a ball into the gap and it rolls to the wall, many times the AI will get an inside the park HR. I had to turn up my OF speed and lower the AI baserunner speed to stop this from happening few times every game.

tjung0831 · Post by **tjung0831** » Fri Mar 03, 2006 1:15 pm

sportdan30 wrote:Jack,

I'm sorry, but I just don't see many games on tv where the ball skips by the outfielders and rolls all the way to the wall for a triple.

Dan...you obviously didn't see many Cubs games last year!!!

Leebo33 · Post by **Leebo33** » Fri Mar 03, 2006 1:18 pm

tjung0831 wrote:
sportdan30 wrote:Jack,

I'm sorry, but I just don't see many games on tv where the ball skips by the outfielders and rolls all the way to the wall for a triple.
Dan...you obviously didn't see many Cubs games last year!!!

LOL or the Pirates over the past decade. They've had their share of 4(+2) e15 outfielders.

AJColossal · Post by **AJColossal** » Fri Mar 03, 2006 1:23 pm

Sportdan, I'm curious as to what exactly you're seeing. Is the ball going through your OF or does the ball go close to your OF, and it looks like he should be close enough to make a play on the ball?

And does it happen on routine plays or on plays where the OF is trying to cut off the ball or make a tough play?

As I said before, I had a questionable play, but it was in a situation where it was a tough play and I was running and took a bad angle.

sportdan30 · Post by **sportdan30** » Fri Mar 03, 2006 1:35 pm

AJ,

It's happening when it's a well hit line drive. It starts out a good 8-10 feet off the ground and then quickly descends landing 4-5 feet in front of my fielder. What happens is that my fielder doesn't make a move to try and either make a diving catch or crouch down to block it from getting past him. He stays standing straight up and it appears as if the ball goes through his legs. I'm quite certain it's not the angle in which I'm taking.

What's worse is that the center fielder doesn't back up the play. So, I have to use the fielder who misplayed the ball to run all the way to retreive it. MVP '05 was great in this regard.

sportdan30 · Post by **sportdan30** » Fri Mar 03, 2006 1:38 pm

Before completely writing off the game, I am going to try and do something a bit unorthodox. I'll go back on the ball in attempt to knock it down that way. I do think it's a gameplay issue and not a user issue. Perhaps there is a work-a-round.

AJColossal · Post by **AJColossal** » Fri Mar 03, 2006 1:52 pm

I haven't seen this happen, but I don't think I've had a line drive land 4-5 feet in front of me either.

I wonder if there's a connection between this and the increase in hit variety. Maybe the fielding AI has not been upgraded to take into account all of the new hit possibilities, if that makes any sense whatsoever. Like charging for loopers and trying to cut off gappers. Last year, most of the defense was just a reaction to pop-ups and hard hit liners and grounders that were mostly right at somebody.

MizzouRah · Post by **MizzouRah** » Fri Mar 03, 2006 4:06 pm

You could try diving next time.. the AI will not automatically do that.

AJColossal · Post by **AJColossal** » Fri Mar 03, 2006 6:22 pm

After a quick game to verify, the strike zone is *much* better on wide. Don't use tight. It's basically last year's strike zone.

dbdynsty25 · Post by **dbdynsty25** » Fri Mar 03, 2006 7:59 pm

As I play more and more, I'm starting to like it more and more. I still don't think it's better than last years MVP, but it's a damn fine baseball game.

Leebo33 · Post by **Leebo33** » Fri Mar 03, 2006 8:14 pm

AJColossal wrote:After a quick game to verify, the strike zone is *much* better on wide. Don't use tight. It's basically last year's strike zone.

Yeah, I agree. It's much better.

I just hit an inside-the-park homerun with Podsednik that ranks up there as one of the best moments I've ever experienced in videogame baseball. I hit a towering flyball that hit off the leftfield fence in Cleveland. The ball took a strange bounce towards centerfield. I saw the fielder stumble a bit at the base of the fence as I was rounding second, so I kept going and made it home!