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

billharris44 · Post by **billharris44** » Thu Mar 16, 2006 3:07 pm

[quote="webdanzer
So far I've seen the opposite, Bill! The CPU pulls starting pitchers early in quite a few of my games. Relievers haven't been noticably off one way or the other for me.[/quote]

That's great to hear. Maybe it does actually vary by manager.

AJColossal · Post by **AJColossal** » Thu Mar 16, 2006 3:21 pm

lexbur wrote:I don't know what's going on with my game, it feels out of whack all of a sudden. In my season I was cruising along at 8-8, getting realistic stats, but then all of a sudden I've lost 6 in a row. Last night the Red Sox beat me 17-1 and 12-5.

I don't get it. I'm playing on veteran but it feels like I'm playing on HOF or higher. The only thing I've adjusted since starting my season is bumping up the CPU power and contact 2 notches. I'm 1-6 since doing that. But I can't believe doing that would make such a huge difference.

Maybe this game is real streaky when you do a season. Or maybe there's some sort of built-in momentum thing that's really snowballling against me, like a "team morale/confidence rating" or something. I couldn't find anything.

Maybe it's just the teams I'm playing, half of Boston's lineup has that fire icon next to their names, but that's only been the last 3 games. Heck, I got swept by the Royals before Boston.

Anybody else who's doing a season come across some weird streaks like this all of a sudden?

I too have had weird streaks. I struggled for a time on All-Star, and now my pitching is lights out, and my team is hitting .352 for the season.

It's difficult to figure out what's going on because it can either be the fact that I'm getting too good at this level or my team is just going through a hot streak.

So I try HOF, and realize the fact that the pitcher will just be a little too cute with the corners, and barely walk you, which bugs me. So I think I'm back to All-Star.

Still trying to find that perfect setting. I'm thinking that All-Star will end up being closer to what I am looking for than HOF.

MizzouRah · Post by **MizzouRah** » Thu Mar 16, 2006 5:02 pm

lexbur wrote:I don't know what's going on with my game, it feels out of whack all of a sudden. In my season I was cruising along at 8-8, getting realistic stats, but then all of a sudden I've lost 6 in a row. Last night the Red Sox beat me 17-1 and 12-5.

I don't get it. I'm playing on veteran but it feels like I'm playing on HOF or higher. The only thing I've adjusted since starting my season is bumping up the CPU power and contact 2 notches. I'm 1-6 since doing that. But I can't believe doing that would make such a huge difference.

Maybe this game is real streaky when you do a season. Or maybe there's some sort of built-in momentum thing that's really snowballling against me, like a "team morale/confidence rating" or something. I couldn't find anything.

Maybe it's just the teams I'm playing, half of Boston's lineup has that fire icon next to their names, but that's only been the last 3 games. Heck, I got swept by the Royals before Boston.

Anybody else who's doing a season come across some weird streaks like this all of a sudden?

This is good news, I'm going to bump CPU contact and power +1 tonight as I'm also on Veteran and the only thing that's out of norm is I think the CPU doesn't hit enough HR's on me.

lexbur · Post by **lexbur** » Thu Mar 16, 2006 5:42 pm

MizzouRah wrote:This is good news, I'm going to bump CPU contact and power +1 tonight as I'm also on Veteran and the only thing that's out of norm is I think the CPU doesn't hit enough HR's on me.

I don't know, it doesn't feel like a slider thing. I'm not sure it was me adjusting the sliders two notches that made my team go into this funk. I'm starting to think maybe there's some sort of team momentum factor that comes in to play over the course of a season, that could throw your team into a slump, and that once you're in it, you don't seem to have much control over getting out of it.

Maybe I should just put the sliders back and see what happens.

Leebo33 · Post by **Leebo33** » Thu Mar 16, 2006 5:48 pm

One thing I don't like about the game is the way "energy" is handled. I've had a couple guys have low energy after a handful of games (no, it wasn't Derek Bell or George Hendrick). Jason Bay played in 162 games last year, but my 3rd base coach is telling me he's tired after 7 or 8 games. I just keep leaving him in and he's performing well. Hopefully, that doesn't increase his risk of injury. Maybe he's tired from the WBC?

dbdynsty25 · Post by **dbdynsty25** » Thu Mar 16, 2006 6:28 pm

Yeah, I'm not a very big fan of the energy thing either. Rarely do I get to play all of my regulars on consecutive days...there is always someone that needs a rest. I wish you could turn that off.

BasketballJones · Post by **BasketballJones** » Thu Mar 16, 2006 7:30 pm

Well in my fantasy league I am 19-9. Pujols has 22 Hrs and 33 RBIs (I can't bunt with him and still would be a dinger) and is hitting 607. His player progression is all thumbs down. Veteran, All-Star, HOF he's still a beast.

Rolen hovering around 200 I can't by a HR with him and 5 RBIs. Maybe this is a good thing, oddly most of his progress is thumbs up .

Coca Crisp must have ate Wheaties because all of a sudden he had two 3HR games in a week and has 8 for the season. Hitting is getting ridiculously easy

I traded Joel Pineiro for Jose Reyes. OK he had 2 wins but questionable trade.

If the fatigue is low and I play him he hurts something and misses a game or two.

If I pitch too much in the cold zones I get blasted and if I'm perfect in the hot zones I'm successful, so I like that challenge aspect.

I simulated the month of May 3 times without saving. Pujols had 31, 29 and 33 total Hrs ( I didn't write down the other stuff). I'm playing as the Pirates and the Brewers and Cardinals made some trades that made their rosters more sensible. (didn't check the other 2 simulations).

I then went and played a AAA game with the same settings and there seemed to be more balance. It was an enjoyable game, much like when I first got the game.

sfz_T-car · Post by **sfz_T-car** » Thu Mar 16, 2006 7:44 pm

Leebo33 wrote:One thing I don't like about the game is the way "energy" is handled. I've had a couple guys have low energy after a handful of games (no, it wasn't Derek Bell or George Hendrick).

Nice Joggin' George reference.

lexbur · Post by **lexbur** » Fri Mar 17, 2006 10:07 am

My season's broke. There's no other way to describe it. I put the CPU batting sliders back down two notches to default (I still doubt that has anything to do with it) and I still lost to Texas last night 17-1. That's 7 losses in a row, and I've given up 46 runs the last 3 games. My bullpen is totally depleted. And this is on veteran. I don't get it. I can't be playing this bad. I was doing fine the first 16 games 8-8, then I just hit this wall.

Then I played a random exhibition game last night and everything felt fine. It's just my season that's out of whack. I dunno, I must have screwed something up.

Maybe when I was playing exhibition games on All Star and HOF last weekend, somehow it converted my season to HOF, even though it still says Veteran.

Sorry for the rant, I know you guys probably don't care, and since nobody else has come across this, it must be something I did somehow. I think I'm just gonna delete everything I have saved and start over again this weekend.

Leebo33 · Post by **Leebo33** » Fri Mar 17, 2006 10:12 am

dbdynsty25 wrote:Yeah, I'm not a very big fan of the energy thing either. Rarely do I get to play all of my regulars on consecutive days...there is always someone that needs a rest. I wish you could turn that off.

I never really noticed this before, but I started a new season yesterday with the Dodgers and some of my position players still had low energy after only 3 games AND a day off!

I had one of my most memorable games ever last night. I robbed my first homerun (a grandslam!), scored 3 runs in the 9th to tie, and won it in the 12 with two outs.

MizzouRah · Post by **MizzouRah** » Fri Mar 17, 2006 12:18 pm

Yeah Pujols is a beast in this game. He's also leading the league in avg in my franchise with the Cardinals.

kicko · Post by **kicko** » Fri Mar 17, 2006 12:34 pm

Yeah i too robbed a HR, never in a game have i ever done that one.

Sudz · Post by **Sudz** » Fri Mar 17, 2006 4:52 pm

kicko wrote:Yeah i too robbed a HR, never in a game have i ever done that one.

u never play baseball stars?

dbdynsty25 · Post by **dbdynsty25** » Fri Mar 17, 2006 5:47 pm

Sudz wrote:
kicko wrote:Yeah i too robbed a HR, never in a game have i ever done that one.
u never play baseball stars?

That sh*t happened in almost every game of Baseball Stars. I think that was one of the first games that ever let you climb the wall...and I think it was also the first baseball game that allowed you to change the names of the players. That is why that is probably my favorite baseball game ever. I probably played at least 1000 games of it back in the day.

BasketballJones · Post by **BasketballJones** » Fri Mar 17, 2006 7:42 pm

I tried adjusting the sliders every couple innings for variety to keep the games close, so I can set my self up for a save situation. I'm wondering if there is a chemistry thing in this game. I'm unstoppable hitting and pitching. I gave Pujols a day off and got trashed. I was up by 6 in the 7th and pulled out Pujols or should I said Yanked) and blew the game in 10 innings. Repeated it the next game and blew a 4 run lead in the 9th with Chad Cordero pitching (fantasy draft). Everyone else is on a hot streak but their stats aren't super human.

All my run production centers around Pujols. I can't get him to steal a base. I don't want to edit him down. I would love for him to whiff 5 times in a game like Rolen. Strange thing is he has all thumbs down for progress.

And has anyone seen this glitch. I gave up a solo home run to Reggie Sanders and my team greeted him at the plate. My 7 year old thought that was the funniest thing. I still enjoy the game.

10spro · Post by **10spro** » Fri Mar 17, 2006 11:13 pm

Not that I care for PS2 points but so far this is what a few games did for me online. I've received 10 points for each game the guy quit on me. Oddly, I only received 5 points for my wins. Very playable not much lag, has anyone else played much online?

kicko · Post by **kicko** » Sat Mar 18, 2006 12:25 am

Sudz wrote:
kicko wrote:Yeah i too robbed a HR, never in a game have i ever done that one.
u never play baseball stars?

yeah i loved baseball stars but even then it was so long ago if i did rob a HR i'd be happy but lets say since then this was the 1st game.

Sudz · Post by **Sudz** » Sat Mar 18, 2006 9:27 am

baseball stars is awesome. i probably played as many games as you have.

what is a wren....

Leebo33 · Post by **Leebo33** » Sat Mar 18, 2006 11:15 am

It seems like the durability rating is the one that relates to the energy level. They should have separate ratings for injuries and stamina IMO. Just because JD Drew has a history of injuries it doesn't mean that he needs every 4th day off.

dbdynsty25 · Post by **dbdynsty25** » Sat Mar 18, 2006 2:57 pm

Leebo33 wrote:It seems like the durability rating is the one that relates to the energy level. They should have separate ratings for injuries and stamina IMO. Just because JD Drew has a history of injuries it doesn't mean that he needs every 4th day off.

Sure it does. That's about how often he plays if you take all of the games he's missed in the past 4 years or so. The only year he played consistently is when he was on the Braves...other than that, he's the Grant Hill of MLB.

MizzouRah · Post by **MizzouRah** » Sun Mar 19, 2006 9:54 pm

I never thought career mode would do much for me, but I tried it tonight and I can't stop playing. A young 18 yr old hard throwing, no control lefty starting pitcher getting a chance to come out to the Cardinals spring training. It's so much fun putting the fielding on auto and seeing how much fun it is to pitch behind that defense.

I struck out the first player I pitched to, the Orioles Brian Roberts. From there, I was hit like batting pratice and came out in the 4th inning.

This is going to be a blast. I love how you can fast foward to your turn in the rotation and also during the game until you pitch and or bat. Great job so far!

dbdynsty25 · Post by **dbdynsty25** » Sun Mar 19, 2006 9:55 pm

Anyone else notice that a team will use the same starting pitcher a couple times in a row occasionally. I notice it in almost every other series (could be more, I just recently started watching for it). Kinda stupid.

TRI · Post by **TRI** » Sun Mar 19, 2006 11:27 pm

The impressions seem very positive so far and I feel the urge to buy it. How long does it take to play a complete game?

Inuyasha · Post by **Inuyasha** » Sun Mar 19, 2006 11:29 pm

TRI wrote:The impressions seem very positive so far and I feel the urge to buy it. How long does it take to play a complete game?

45min - 1hr

MizzouRah · Post by **MizzouRah** » Mon Mar 20, 2006 12:53 am

LaRussa said I looked good, but they didn't even offer me a minor league contract. I sat out the whole season while the Yankees beat Houston 4-1 in the World Series. Next season rolls around and my phone rings 4 times.

Kansas City
Texas
Atlanta
Cincinnati

all offer me 1yr/$30,000 contracts. Now I have that, "I'll show them" attitude and I accept the contract to play for the Kansas City Royals AA team. Never thought I'd be in the AL to start my career.