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

pigpen81 · Post by **pigpen81** » Mon Mar 20, 2006 1:42 am

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?

My games take 20 minutes because I fast forward to my next AB after every inning. I pitch occasionally, but mostly hit.

Just hit L2 when on the mound and then press left, fast forwadr to the next half inning.

billharris44 · Post by **billharris44** » Mon Mar 20, 2006 6:49 pm

Pitching as a closer in career mode is a lot of fun. You get to pitch in pressure situations, maybe hit for an inning, and then move on to your next appearance. My ERA isn't getting calculated correctly, and I don't know how that's going to affect whether I get sent down to the minors or not, but otherwise it's been great.

BasketballJones · Post by **BasketballJones** » Mon Mar 20, 2006 7:14 pm

I have been complaining that hitting is too easy. However my son pointed out that my fantasy roster hitters include Pujols, Rolen, Nixon, Crisp, Hermedia, Delmon Young, V Martinez, Reyes, Everitt, L. Gonzales (IF), Morneau, Doumitt, Edw Encarcion, A Marte, & Monroe. I don't have an easy out in my lineup and that I'd have to be a total moron not to get 15-20 hits in a game. Well I got 12 the last game. So I stand corrected about the hitting.

Last year's game you couldn't toggle between fast play on/of in game, as the screen often froze. This was fixed this year; so an avg game is about 45 minutes depending on your own presentation preferences.

MizzouRah · Post by **MizzouRah** » Tue Mar 21, 2006 11:46 am

billharris44 wrote:Pitching as a closer in career mode is a lot of fun. You get to pitch in pressure situations, maybe hit for an inning, and then move on to your next appearance. My ERA isn't getting calculated correctly, and I don't know how that's going to affect whether I get sent down to the minors or not, but otherwise it's been great.

Being a starter is fun as well, although I'm on the Royals AA club right now.

Badgun · Post by **Badgun** » Tue Mar 21, 2006 11:55 am

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?

That's the real downside to this game, if there is one. It takes me almost an hour to play each game. I just can't bring myself to skip through any of the cutscenes and post-play animations...they're really what makes this game what it is. As much as I love this game, the time I have to invest is almost painful. Last year I could play an MVP game in 22 minutes, could easily do 2 in an hour, and usually would play at least 5 games in one sitting. To do that with this game would take the entire day. This is undoubtedly the best baseball game I have ever played. MVP did do some things better, but as a sum of its parts, no game gets baseball right like this one does.

Badger_Fan · Post by **Badger_Fan** » Tue Mar 21, 2006 12:44 pm

Badgun wrote:
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?
That's the real downside to this game, if there is one. It takes me almost an hour to play each game. I just can't bring myself to skip through any of the cutscenes and post-play animations...they're really what makes this game what it is. As much as I love this game, the time I have to invest is almost painful. Last year I could play an MVP game in 22 minutes, could easily do 2 in an hour, and usually would play at least 5 games in one sitting. To do that with this game would take the entire day. This is undoubtedly the best baseball game I have ever played. MVP did do some things better, but as a sum of its parts, no game gets baseball right like this one does.

The games do take longer to play, but only because none of us are willing to skip the cutscenes because the presentation is so good. If you turn the fast-play mode on you can get through a game in 20-25 minutes. So if you just wanted to get a quick fix in, you could.

MizzouRah · Post by **MizzouRah** » Tue Mar 21, 2006 2:45 pm

Badgun wrote:
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?
That's the real downside to this game, if there is one. It takes me almost an hour to play each game. I just can't bring myself to skip through any of the cutscenes and post-play animations...they're really what makes this game what it is. As much as I love this game, the time I have to invest is almost painful. Last year I could play an MVP game in 22 minutes, could easily do 2 in an hour, and usually would play at least 5 games in one sitting. To do that with this game would take the entire day. This is undoubtedly the best baseball game I have ever played. MVP did do some things better, but as a sum of its parts, no game gets baseball right like this one does.

How is this a downside attributed to the game? This is what a console sports game is all about.

webdanzer · Post by **webdanzer** » Tue Mar 21, 2006 2:59 pm

I'm still really digging this game. I'm playing HOF, and I'm around .500 with the Yankees. The CPU is definitely a challenge on that level. I've had a great variety of game results, some high scoring, some pitcher's duels. I tend to see these in streaks, though, which is a bit odd...a bunch of low scorers, followed by a bunch of high ones, etc.

I'm better at recognizing pitches, now, so I'm walking about 2-4 times per game on HOF now. Walks are definitely there on HOF level. I'm also getting plunked a lot, it seems. Someone theorized that this might be due to the maxxed pitch count slider? Anyway, to be fair, I think that the HPB is not too far out of whack with the MLB average, but it might seem worse because each one of them that I've seen almost always seems to be a fastball in the ear.

I hate to even mention this particular cry of wolf, but I do wonder if I get an occasional whiff of catch up logic, going both ways. It seems that the losing team in close games tends get some more breaks...passed balls, errors, etc. I don't know if there is a 'stress' level or something in the game that could explain this, or if it's simply my imagination. If it's there, it is certainly not blatant or unable to be overcome...but I've seen enough oddities to feel I should bring up the possibility.

nyisles16 · Post by **nyisles16** » Tue Mar 21, 2006 3:37 pm

man... whoever Joe Johnson on the Marlins is sure has a problem.. yesterday, in my mets franchise, he beaned Delgado.. so of course i bean Cabrera.. then next inning Heilman steps up & "clank" right in the head.. so next inning Heilman gets tossed for hitting a batter.. but Johnson goes out & hits the first two guys in my lineup & still stays in the game... ugh..

Badgun · Post by **Badgun** » Tue Mar 21, 2006 4:56 pm

MizzouRah wrote:
Badgun wrote:
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?
That's the real downside to this game, if there is one. It takes me almost an hour to play each game. I just can't bring myself to skip through any of the cutscenes and post-play animations...they're really what makes this game what it is. As much as I love this game, the time I have to invest is almost painful. Last year I could play an MVP game in 22 minutes, could easily do 2 in an hour, and usually would play at least 5 games in one sitting. To do that with this game would take the entire day. This is undoubtedly the best baseball game I have ever played. MVP did do some things better, but as a sum of its parts, no game gets baseball right like this one does.
How is this a downside attributed to the game? This is what a console sports game is all about.

That's YOUR opinion. We all have differing opinions about sports games. Mine is that a good sports game should have as much realism as possible, be fun to play, and hopefully allow you to do all that without taking up the entire day to so. I love the game...it's my favorite baseball game of all time, but the length of time it takes to play a game is a downside to me. I have tons of other things to do, kids to raise, stuff I like to watch on tv, and even a bunch of other games I love to play. For someone that's playing no other games, doesn't watch tv, and doesn't have a family, an hour to play a baseball game would be just fine. For me it's not. Is that going to make me can the game? No, but I doubt very seriously that I'll be able to get in a full season this year like I did with MVP last year.

MizzouRah · Post by **MizzouRah** » Tue Mar 21, 2006 6:00 pm

Badgun wrote:
MizzouRah wrote:
Badgun wrote: That's the real downside to this game, if there is one. It takes me almost an hour to play each game. I just can't bring myself to skip through any of the cutscenes and post-play animations...they're really what makes this game what it is. As much as I love this game, the time I have to invest is almost painful. Last year I could play an MVP game in 22 minutes, could easily do 2 in an hour, and usually would play at least 5 games in one sitting. To do that with this game would take the entire day. This is undoubtedly the best baseball game I have ever played. MVP did do some things better, but as a sum of its parts, no game gets baseball right like this one does.
How is this a downside attributed to the game? This is what a console sports game is all about.
That's YOUR opinion. We all have differing opinions about sports games. Mine is that a good sports game should have as much realism as possible, be fun to play, and hopefully allow you to do all that without taking up the entire day to so. I love the game...it's my favorite baseball game of all time, but the length of time it takes to play a game is a downside to me. I have tons of other things to do, kids to raise, stuff I like to watch on tv, and even a bunch of other games I love to play. For someone that's playing no other games, doesn't watch tv, and doesn't have a family, an hour to play a baseball game would be just fine. For me it's not. Is that going to make me can the game? No, but I doubt very seriously that I'll be able to get in a full season this year like I did with MVP last year.

Understood as I also have a job, kids, etc.. but I don't see how that's a downside of the GAME. It's a downside to you, but the game has a fastplay option to accomodate your style of play. I guess I just don't see how the best part of the game, the presentation and basball nuances, can be a downside, and MVP is actually better in reguards with little presentation, but faster gameplay.

No biggie...

Badgun · Post by **Badgun** » Wed Mar 22, 2006 3:10 am

MizzouRah wrote:
Badgun wrote:
MizzouRah wrote: How is this a downside attributed to the game? This is what a console sports game is all about.
That's YOUR opinion. We all have differing opinions about sports games. Mine is that a good sports game should have as much realism as possible, be fun to play, and hopefully allow you to do all that without taking up the entire day to so. I love the game...it's my favorite baseball game of all time, but the length of time it takes to play a game is a downside to me. I have tons of other things to do, kids to raise, stuff I like to watch on tv, and even a bunch of other games I love to play. For someone that's playing no other games, doesn't watch tv, and doesn't have a family, an hour to play a baseball game would be just fine. For me it's not. Is that going to make me can the game? No, but I doubt very seriously that I'll be able to get in a full season this year like I did with MVP last year.
Understood as I also have a job, kids, etc.. but I don't see how that's a downside of the GAME. It's a downside to you, but the game has a fastplay option to accomodate your style of play. I guess I just don't see how the best part of the game, the presentation and basball nuances, can be a downside, and MVP is actually better in reguards with little presentation, but faster gameplay.

No biggie...

Again, you're taking things too literal. Or maybe I'm using the wrong word. Maybe downside isn't the right word. Maybe saying "it's a bummer that games take so long to play" would be better. My point all along has been that if there is ONE negative about the game, it's that it takes an hour to play a game. I would love to play games quicker, but not at the expense of the great presentation that the game has, therefore quick play is not an option for me.

10spro · Post by **10spro** » Wed Mar 22, 2006 3:23 am

Something strange is happening to my memory card. as I start a new profile with different teams, once I save my options for gameplay, sound etc, the next time I reboot the PS2, those newly created profiles don't load, however the saved option files still appear visible.

Pete · Post by **Pete** » Wed Mar 22, 2006 9:17 am

Was wondering if anyone has unlocked the Legends yet.

I created a profile and have been accumulating points. How do I go about unlocking the teams? Do I have to unlock each player first?

Any help is much appreciated.

MizzouRah · Post by **MizzouRah** » Wed Mar 22, 2006 11:37 am

Again, you're taking things too literal. Or maybe I'm using the wrong word. Maybe downside isn't the right word. Maybe saying "it's a bummer that games take so long to play" would be better. My point all along has been that if there is ONE negative about the game, it's that it takes an hour to play a game. I would love to play games quicker, but not at the expense of the great presentation that the game has, therefore quick play is not an option for me.

Ok, it's a bummer.

I still don't understand how they could make the game quicker, but still have great presentation. Ok, I'm moving on.

GameSeven · Post by **GameSeven** » Wed Mar 22, 2006 12:37 pm

MizzouRah wrote:I still don't understand how they could make the game quicker, but still have great presentation. Ok, I'm moving on.

Some expression about possession of a cake and consumption of same.

Still, I understand what you mean, Bad.

-G7

MizzouRah · Post by **MizzouRah** » Sat Mar 25, 2006 7:14 pm

Why do I go out and spend some tax return money on a psp and MLB just to take it on vacation in June?

Glad I only lost $50 to my best friend on my last one. I'm sad.

Leebo33 · Post by **Leebo33** » Sat Mar 25, 2006 9:09 pm

MizzouRah wrote:Why do I go out and spend some tax return money on a psp and MLB just to take it on vacation in June?

Pretty impressive for a handheld game though, huh?

MizzouRah · Post by **MizzouRah** » Sat Mar 25, 2006 10:10 pm

Leebo33 wrote:
MizzouRah wrote:Why do I go out and spend some tax return money on a psp and MLB just to take it on vacation in June?
Pretty impressive for a handheld game though, huh?

No doubt. Last year's wasn't awful, but from reviews I knew this year's version had a ton more content. I like the simplified season mode as all I do in the franchise mode on the ps2 is play the games and let the CPU take care of the finances, etc...

Only a few games, but on veteran it seems harder than the ps2 version, probably the smaller size, but that's a good thing. I seem to strike out more and pitching is harder with the nub.

Anything new on the psp scene a must have? I'm going to get the logitech gel headset, but I'm sure alot has come out since I had one.

Can't wait to go over to the sister in law's house tomorrow and use her wireless network.. I really need to get a wireless router sometime soon.

brendanrfoley · Post by **brendanrfoley** » Sun Mar 26, 2006 2:01 pm

This game continues to amaze me.

I loved last year's MVP, but I'm enjoying this one a little more. And as amazing as it seems, I enjoy the fielding more.

In MVP, fielders have incredible range. And the dive covers a lot of ground. In MLB, fielders do not cover as much ground -- which means positioning is much more important.

And, the dive does not cover much ground -- so when you pick off a ball up the middle, man is it satisfying. Given the quality of the animations, it looks spectacular. And (unlike MVP), you only get one of those show stopping defensive plays once or twice a game.

Last game I played, JT Snow snagged a ball down the line, full extension. Tossed the ball from his stomach to Schilling. Web gem, right there.

I've been playing on HOF, with contact and power tuned way down. Getting great, great games.

And, even though they take an hour and 15 minutes to play, the presentation makes it well worth it. This is fantastic stuff.

kicko · Post by **kicko** » Sun Apr 02, 2006 12:13 am

I have been looking for some sliders just wondering if anyone here found some good one. I was feeling a bit too much power( little many HR's) so maybe a drop in power and up the pitch count, i also cant decide which levels to settle on

Inuyasha · Post by **Inuyasha** » Sun Apr 02, 2006 2:14 am

I got my ps2 back up and running and this game is still awesome. I can pretty much play this all summer without any other game and I think I would be statisfied.

Yes it takes long to play a game but the pace is perfect for a baseball game. If I want something quick to fit in , I'll just use fast play even thought you can't get the same enjoyment with the presentation turned off.

pigpen81 · Post by **pigpen81** » Sun Apr 02, 2006 2:41 am

Another thing from tonight that I love:

On a pop-up on the pitchers mound, a SS or 2B will come in and wave off the P....so freakin realistic.

One play, the C goes in front of the mound, they bump...and then the pitcher waves away the C before making the catch....another play, the C moved the P out of the way....awesome!

I tell you, fast forwarding to my teams AB's is the best....games in 20 minutes.

GTHobbes · Post by **GTHobbes** » Sun Apr 02, 2006 10:45 am

If there's ever been a better baseball game released on a console or portable system, I haven't played it.

I was playing on the psp yesterday and Edmonds made a decent but unspectactular play in centerfield. Afterwards during the replay, Buck says, "that's a nice catch but it's somewhat routine compared to some of the web-gems that Jimmy makes out there on a regular basis." I still can't believe the whole package on the psp, compared to where they were with handheld sports videogames just 2-3 years ago.

Diablo25 · Post by **Diablo25** » Sun Apr 02, 2006 11:43 am

GTHobbes wrote:If there's ever been a better baseball game released on a console or portable system, I haven't played it.

I was playing on the psp yesterday and Edmonds made a decent but unspectactular play in centerfield. Afterwards during the replay, Buck says, "that's a nice catch but it's somewhat routine compared to some of the web-gems that Jimmy makes out there on a regular basis." I still can't believe the whole package on the psp, compared to where they were with handheld sports videogames just 2-3 years ago.

Quit making me want to get the PSP version!! My biggest problem with the PS2 version is that i have little time to play it. If I had the PSP version I would definately be sneeking in some games.