MLB 2K8 interview

Murph · Post by **Murph** » Tue Mar 04, 2008 2:22 pm

Just my opinion, but the framerate does indeed chug at times. Maybe I'm being nitpicky though.

I'm also getting shelled. Not used to the whole new pitching thing.

Gurantsu · Post by **Gurantsu** » Tue Mar 04, 2008 2:28 pm

Its not a consistent frame rate hit, just every now and then it chugs a bit. It certainly doesn't affect play at all, but it is noticable. And I'm on my 3rd game, and it is nowhere near as bad as it was in the first one, so again I think part of it is just a matter of loading things.

Hitting feels a lot like last year with the stick, as far as mechanics. Pull back to step, push up to swing. No power swing which is nice. I've tried pulling the ball and going the other way, but since I'm missing most of them it's hard to tell how that works. I did just have Ryan Howard dribble a ball down the 3rd base line by like 6 inches, that was cool.

I'm trying the Phils against the Nationals now, and I'm up 2-0, so it looks like team ratings make a difference (and of course I'm getting used to the game). Nats stadium looks nice, oh, and evening games are not real dark like last year.

greggsand · Post by **greggsand** » Tue Mar 04, 2008 2:33 pm

MizzouRah wrote:Someone on OS has a copy and is posting impressions. He had to turn his resolution down from 1080p to 720p to make the game smooth - similar to The Show.

He's liking the pitching and throwing thus far....

Are we talking 360 or PS3 version??

Danimal · Post by **Danimal** » Tue Mar 04, 2008 2:36 pm

Are you guys running in 720P?

What i read says the frame rate is fixed if you set you resolution to 720p.

Gurantsu · Post by **Gurantsu** » Tue Mar 04, 2008 2:47 pm

My 360 is always at 720, since my POS TV overscans a ton.

Murph · Post by **Murph** » Tue Mar 04, 2008 2:49 pm

My 360 is also set at 720p and my TV is native 720p.

It's not a huge issue, but it won't be the smoothest game (frame rate-wise) you'll ever play.

Gurantsu · Post by **Gurantsu** » Tue Mar 04, 2008 3:05 pm

I'm really digging the fielding with the stick. It's cool that your throws aren't always online. Only thing is, I was used to the speed burst button, now it's gone and I hit it anyway.

Playing a forth game now (not playing full games by the way), and the chugging is still there, but less than it was at first.

Getting better at pitching now. It really is cool that each pitch has it's own way that you need to move the stick. Eventually you won't even have to look at the diagram. The catchers still call the game also.

Inuyasha · Post by **Inuyasha** » Tue Mar 04, 2008 3:15 pm

Has the atmosphere improved? Or still the same boring stuff from last year?

macsomjrr · Post by **macsomjrr** » Tue Mar 04, 2008 3:19 pm

Inuyasha wrote:Has the atmosphere improved? Or still the same boring stuff from last year?

It is a baseball game after all:)

Gurantsu · Post by **Gurantsu** » Tue Mar 04, 2008 3:21 pm

A lot is the same as last year, but some of the new animations are cool. I had a guy pop up behind home and he threw his bat down in disgust before it was even caught. I also like how the batters will look towards the bench for the sign before hitting.

Getting to play a nice game of ball now that I'm getting accoustomed to it. I'm not touching any sliders.

JRod · Post by **JRod** » Tue Mar 04, 2008 3:22 pm

Apparently, 2K has put an embargo on reviews until release and since there's no demo yet, I'm seeing a game that 2K doesn't think is ready.

macsomjrr · Post by **macsomjrr** » Tue Mar 04, 2008 3:26 pm

JRod wrote:Apparently, 2K has put an embargo on reviews until release.

Can they do that?

Murph · Post by **Murph** » Tue Mar 04, 2008 3:27 pm

Can someone help me with pitching? I'm reading the tips and trying, but I'm still getting hammered.

Pete · Post by **Pete** » Tue Mar 04, 2008 3:39 pm

Gurantsu wrote:A lot is the same as last year, but some of the new animations are cool. I had a guy pop up behind home and he threw his bat down in disgust before it was even caught. I also like how the batters will look towards the bench for the sign before hitting.

Getting to play a nice game of ball now that I'm getting accoustomed to it. I'm not touching any sliders.

When hitting, is it really hard to distinquish between a ball and a strike?

JRod · Post by **JRod** » Tue Mar 04, 2008 3:43 pm

macsomjrr wrote:
JRod wrote:Apparently, 2K has put an embargo on reviews until release.
Can they do that?

They did.

It says to me that MLB 2k8 is chock full o bugs. Hope I'm wrong.

The OS forums are a good laugh. One guy played four games and feels his purchase was justified. Somewhere PK's head just exploded.

TheGamer · Post by **TheGamer** » Tue Mar 04, 2008 3:45 pm

Playing my first game against the Cards, me Cubs, and I'm getting shellacked. The pitching is going to take some getting used to as I really don't prefer using the analog sticks for things, but I'm going to give it a shot. I'm not real sure how to notice framerate things, but my set runs at 1080i. My first impression, I don't feel as though I'm as "down on the field" as I was with 2k7.

Gurantsu · Post by **Gurantsu** » Tue Mar 04, 2008 3:48 pm

Pete wrote:When hitting, is it really hard to distinquish between a ball and a strike?

For me it is, but I'm swinging at everything trying to get the timing of the step down.

Finished first full game, my Harrisburg Senators lost to the Trenton Thunder 3-0.

MizzouRah · Post by **MizzouRah** » Tue Mar 04, 2008 3:50 pm

Thankfully I'm going to try the aerial cam to see if it improves the framerate.

I really liked MLB 2k7 last year, with that being said.

Setup: Dell 24" monitor with VGA cables (right away I had to step down to 1280x720 as the framerate on 1920x1080 was horrible)

You have to update right off the bat, there is a roster update dated 2/29 - didn't see anything on Xbox Live to download yet.

You pick your favorite team. From there I played an exhibition game vs Seattle (I'm the Cardinals).

The graphics are definitely worse this year, no wow factor at all from me this year.

I didn't see any studdering while the game loaded up, but when a ball is hit to the OF with the default fielding cam, framerate.. even at 720p is definitely a bummer. Had me thinking of The Show on my neighbor's ps3 and how smooth that game played.

Swing stick 2.0 seems much better, imo so far.

You can hit pause when pitching and engage a pitching tutorial.. (much needed), after some practice, I really like the pitching .

Fielding is SO MUCH BETTER than last year and throwing is quite fun.

Sexton hit a HR against me and the crowd reacted like they should.

So far, I'm a bit disappointed, but it's an initial impression. I definitely need more games under my belt and I hope the aerial cam alleviates some of this annoying choppyness.

Gurantsu · Post by **Gurantsu** » Tue Mar 04, 2008 3:52 pm

TheGamer wrote:Playing my first game against the Cards, me Cubs, and I'm getting shellacked. The pitching is going to take some getting used to as I really don't prefer using the analog sticks for things, but I'm going to give it a shot. I'm not real sure how to notice framerate things, but my set runs at 1080i. My first impression, I don't feel as though I'm as "down on the field" as I was with 2k7.

Pitching is going to be the biggest hurdle for most people. I'm getting the hang of it though, and it just feels right to be using the stick, I won't go back to the buttons.

MizzouRah · Post by **MizzouRah** » Tue Mar 04, 2008 4:05 pm

LOVE how you turn for a ball in the OF and the catching circle disappears until you turn back around.

I believe the manual is wrong in terms of hitting as well. It says to pull back and release for a contact hit - I couldn't hit doing that, my guy would just stand there. I believe Brinkman said they took the power swing out, so if you push up, hitting is fine once again.

Murph · Post by **Murph** » Tue Mar 04, 2008 4:18 pm

The IGN review is finally out:
http://xbox360.ign.com/articles/856/856712p1.html

Danimal · Post by **Danimal** » Tue Mar 04, 2008 4:21 pm

Hmm I have an unopened copy sitting right here, so far you guys aren't making me want to open it.

sportdan30 · Post by **sportdan30** » Tue Mar 04, 2008 4:28 pm

Regarding the pitching interface that had me initially intrigued, are you guys throwing a lot of "meatball" pitches down the heart of the plate, or are you missing your fair share of pitches? I think Todd (Mizzourah) had pointed out there's a "meatball" slider. So, if you're getting shelled, can you turn it down and does it make a difference?

Gurantsu · Post by **Gurantsu** » Tue Mar 04, 2008 4:31 pm

sportdan30 wrote:Regarding the pitching interface that had me initially intrigued, are you guys throwing a lot of "meatball" pitches down the heart of the plate, or are you missing your fair share of pitches? I think Todd (Mizzourah) had pointed out there's a "meatball" slider. So, if you're getting shelled, can you turn it down and does it make a difference?

It seems to me that a lot of it hinges on when you let the stick go. If you are out of the green watch out. So you have to balance that with the velocity, which makes the green zone smaller. I find I get shelled more when I miss that final green zone rather than the first one.

TheGamer · Post by **TheGamer** » Tue Mar 04, 2008 4:40 pm

to my 2nd game now. I'm really enjoying the fielding and throwing with the analog stick. I really see what they are trying to do with the pitching. It does put you in the mind of what kind a motions a pitcher goes through with different pitches. I switched to 720p and the game "looks" better than originally at 1080i. I'm still getting shellacked by the Cards however. One thing I don't like is the locating of the catcher prior to the pitch. since you use the right analog for pitching, you have to use A to move your catcher around, and it doesn't seem like he goes where I want him to. in regards to fielding, if you take the meter all the way to the top, there's really a chance that you may throw the ball away. in regards to meatballs, they are not guaranteed homers. I threw 3 straight to Pujols, and he fouled off 2 and then grounded out to shortstop. Also, when I switched to 720p, I felt a little closer to the action than I did at 1080i if that is possible. I think at 720p the colors looked a little more vibrant.