MLB '08 news and info

lexbur · Post by **lexbur** » Mon Mar 10, 2008 10:20 am

fanatic wrote:I'm having a bit of trouble on ground balls just slightly out of reach of my infielders. Seems like they don't do the "reach" animation quite enough - the ball just goes past them. Should I be using the dive control? Keep in mind, these are ground balls that should be reachable without laying out.

Does it happen to below average fielders? I've noticed this a few times also, but mostly with my SS Jhonny Peralta, who in R/L fields his position like he's in quicksand. I just figured it's the game's way of compensating for his poor range. It doesn't seem to happen as much to my other infielders.

fanatic · Post by **fanatic** » Mon Mar 10, 2008 10:25 am

lexbur wrote:
fanatic wrote:I'm having a bit of trouble on ground balls just slightly out of reach of my infielders. Seems like they don't do the "reach" animation quite enough - the ball just goes past them. Should I be using the dive control? Keep in mind, these are ground balls that should be reachable without laying out.
Does it happen to below average fielders? I've noticed this a few times also, but mostly with my SS Jhonny Peralta, who in R/L fields his position like he's in quicksand. I just figured it's the game's way of compensating for his poor range. It doesn't seem to happen as much to my other infielders.

Haven't noticed a trend on who it happens to, but it's gone on enough to make me shake my fist at the screen a few times. Anyways, it's probably something I'll learn to compensate for once I get better. I'm just bitter because a sure double play was botched last night, leading to a 10 run inning by the Yanks against me.

phantompain · Post by **phantompain** » Mon Mar 10, 2008 10:58 am

Slumberland wrote:Yeah, I'm taking user pitch control all the way down, and bumping CPU hit quality and power all the way up. Early returns are inconclusive but vaguely promising. Also moving user hit quality all the way down, as I started averaging 15-20 hits a game. ALSO zeroing out CPU pitch control to see if I can get some more walks. Did anyone notice that there are two CPU pitching sliders that are only accessible from within the actual game menus, and strangely missing from the front-end and franchise slider screens? Pitch control and strike frequency. I'm going to leave strike frequency alone, as the description of CPU pitch control explicitly mentions frequency of walks.

I can't believe I've opened this can of worms. Oh well.

Slumberland, if you are able to work out some sliders that are tailored to your game, that's great. But you mentioned before you rarely use sliders so my suggestion would be to download ones that are already out there in SportsConnect. No reason to drive yourself batty trying to figure out which sliders do what and how much to use them when there are people that do this every year and already have a very good understanding of what to change.

Personally I tried SkyAllStar sliders from OS (online too) and they were great except I was too good pitching with the Reds. Then I saw someone at OS say basically the same thing and they said they raised CPU Contact Hit Quality up by 3 notches and the game played great. I tried it and sure enough my next game I lost 6-0. The difference in my hitting is that I was using guess pitch a lot, so I decided to stop using it. Great game all around.

But I am hoping that Nemesis at OS comes up with some good HOF sliders as he does every year. Until then I am going to play with Sky's sliders only witht he CPU hit quality up to default. (I should clarify that the person who I saw mention raising that slider said that they went to default and then raised it 3 from there, but I haven't needed to do that yet. Just 3 notches from where ever Sky's slider is at now is what I am using.)

Here is his last update that he will use (Skyboxer's All Star Sliders):

This is my last tweak unless any updates are out for the game.

Pitch Speed -4 (I got better at reacting/Reading)
Pitch Count +8
Umpire -1
Wind +5
Pitcher Fatigue Starters 0
" " Relief -3
Pitch movement: +3
Pitch Command: -10
Wild Pitch Freq: 0
Human Hit Quality -2
CPU Hit Quality -2
Human Power: +1
CPU Power: 0
Plate Vision: -3
Human Throwing Strength: -4
CPU Throwing Strength: -4
Human Throwing Accuracy: -2
CPU Throwing Accuracy: -2
Fielder Speed: -10
Passed Ball Freq: -2
Human Injury: +3
CPU Injury: +3
CPU pitcher Agg: -4
CPU Baserunning Agg: 0
CPU Base Stealing Agg: 0
CPU Pickoff Freq: 0
CPU Batter Plate Disc: +3
CPU Fielder Reaction Time: -10
CPU Stolen Base Freq: 0 (Adjust up to get amount of CPU steal attempts you like)
Manager Hook: +5
Human Timing Window -10
CPU Timing Window -7 (To give the CPU a small boost in hitting. They didn't need much as there are games I get hammered)
Human IF Error: +2
CPU IF Error: +2
Human OF Error: 0
CPU OF Error: 0
Human Throwing Error: 0
CPU Throwing Error: 0

In Game Additions: Just make sure after the game to save sliders. I think I got them all
Human:

Foul Tip: -8
IF Throw Speed: -1
OF Throw Speed: 0
IF Run Speed: 0
OF Run Speed: -2
Baserun Speed: -2
GB Error: +3
FB Error: +1

CPU:
Pitch Control: -2
Pitch Movement: +3
Strike Percentage: -3
Foul Tip: -10 (lowered due to giving CPU a small boost in timing window)
IF Throw:-1
OF Throw Speed: 0
IF Run Speed: 0
OF Run Speed: -2
Baserun Speed: -2
GB Error: +3
FB Error: +1

This is it for now, and unless there is a patch that screws up some of these then I'm done. Thanks for all the feedback guys. Have fun playing! If someone wants to upload them go ahead. I might not be online for a few days.

---------------------------------------

Again if you find these to be too easy to pitch on, then raise CPU hit quality up until you feel it works good. Otherwise good luck!

Brando70 · Post by **Brando70** » Mon Mar 10, 2008 11:04 am

I have two questions:

1) do you have to use the power swing to hit realistic HRs, or does it overpower the game? All of my HRs have come with the contact swing, and the power swing seems too feast-or-famine.

2) I am having trouble throwing balls. Switching to classic pitching has woken up the CPU offense, but it seems like when I miss in classic, I tend to miss into the strike zone instead of away from it. This is the only part of the game I'm not completely happy with -- everything else is great. I tried bumping pitch count +3 and lowering pitch control -3, but that hasn't helped.

sportdan30 · Post by **sportdan30** » Mon Mar 10, 2008 12:06 pm

All of my homeruns have come from using the contact swing. I have had little success with the power swing. My only concern using the contact swing is that I'm not seeing my extra base hits. I remember last year, I would strictly use the power swing, and I was averaging a couple doubles a game.

It does seem as if the first baseman and third baseman have cat like reactions. I've had a couple extra base hits down the line, but I've been robbed more than I can ever recall in a baseball game.

I'm not having the same issues as you are on classic pitching. I'm throwing my fair share of balls. I think a lot has to do with the pitchers I'm using (bottom 3-5 pitchers for the Cardinals). Also, I'm trying to paint the corners as much as possible. That leads to more balls. I'm walking on average 2-3 batters a game unintentionally. I think it's going to be difficult to find that happy medium that everyone can agree on.

Brando70 · Post by **Brando70** » Mon Mar 10, 2008 12:23 pm

I was actually walking more guys with the meter than with classic. I've had two walks in three games with classic. I may turn the pitching icon back on for a bit because maybe I am not aiming far enough away from the middle of the zone. Also, I assume the pitch count and control sliders would have the biggest effect on this?

I have not really noticed any difference with the power swing. I have usually hit at least 1 double with the contact swing, and I've had as many as six doubles in a game. It seems to me that the power swing is more of a boost than a necessity -- good location, timing, and ratings for a batter will produce the appropriate power results. I think I'm going to ditch the power swing completely.

phantompain · Post by **phantompain** » Mon Mar 10, 2008 12:44 pm

Brando70 wrote:I have two questions:

1) do you have to use the power swing to hit realistic HRs, or does it overpower the game? All of my HRs have come with the contact swing, and the power swing seems too feast-or-famine.

2) I am having trouble throwing balls. Switching to classic pitching has woken up the CPU offense, but it seems like when I miss in classic, I tend to miss into the strike zone instead of away from it. This is the only part of the game I'm not completely happy with -- everything else is great. I tried bumping pitch count +3 and lowering pitch control -3, but that hasn't helped.

You definitely don't need power swing to get the hr amounts you desire. If you feel like you aren't hitting enough I would just up power slider a notch or two. Seems to make a good difference one notch at a time as opposed to other sliders that show very little difference from one end to another.

As far as missing over the plate, I noticed this too and posted about it at OS but no one replied so I assumed i was the only one seeing it. Seems like you miss a lot of the times over the plate (not always but a lot) and then the CPU rarely makes you pay for it. I wouldn't mind it so much if the CPU would hammer it every once in a while, but that doesn't seem to happen. Not sure what to do about it, if anything.

GameSeven · Post by **GameSeven** » Mon Mar 10, 2008 1:04 pm

phantompain wrote:Personally I tried SkyAllStar sliders from OS (online too) and they were great except I was too good pitching with the Reds. Then I saw someone at OS say basically the same thing and they said they raised CPU Contact Hit Quality up by 3 notches and the game played great. I tried it and sure enough my next game I lost 6-0. The difference in my hitting is that I was using guess pitch a lot, so I decided to stop using it. Great game all around.

Just thought I'd note that this has been nearly identical to my experience. I was heavily using guess pitch but have nearly gone away from it altogether, reserving it just for situational issues with big sluggers. I haven't yet upped the CPU Hit Quality, but might.

RallyMonkey · Post by **RallyMonkey** » Mon Mar 10, 2008 1:06 pm

I just had to log in and say that i've been using SkyAllStar's sliders from OS for my last 5 games and i have REALLY been impressed. After playing my first 7 games on AS with Classic Pitching (all aids off) and no other real slider adjustments i was 5-2 with pretty boring games, often feeling very little challenge from the CPU batters and as such i was just loosely placing the mark and hurling. Let's just say things have changed. Playing the Sox i ended up heading back to Fenway to play three with the Tigers and input SkyAllStar's sliders. I lost 14-7 (Wakefield on the mound), 10-5, and 8-1. I then had the Yankees come to town where i won 3-2 and 10-6 after a 6 run bottom of the eight put me up to stay. I'm really digging them.

Sully · Post by **Sully** » Mon Mar 10, 2008 1:14 pm

I'm using Skyboxer's sliders as well, and I'm also getting great games with them.

GameSeven · Post by **GameSeven** » Mon Mar 10, 2008 1:16 pm

I also want to add that the commentary continues to impress in many ways. Played half of an exhibition between the Giants and D-Backs in SF as I wanted to try out prospective phenom Lincecum. When Conor Jackson came to bat it referred to his college days "across the bay" at UC Berkeley. On a diving miss by Omar Vizquel on a scorcher I shook my head noting his reputation. During the replay, Rex (I think) said something to the effect of "at this point, we are more surprised when Vizquel *doesn't* come up with the play." The way the game takes context into it's commentary is incredibly on point.

webdanzer · Post by **webdanzer** » Mon Mar 10, 2008 3:39 pm

fanatic wrote:I'm having a bit of trouble on ground balls just slightly out of reach of my infielders. Seems like they don't do the "reach" animation quite enough - the ball just goes past them. Should I be using the dive control? Keep in mind, these are ground balls that should be reachable without laying out.

Yeah, I've seen this too. It actually reminds me quite a bit of the problem that the game had a couple of years ago where balls would go 'through' outfielders if they were still running towards it in a 'one-hop' type situation. In the infield this year, it definitely seems like the fielders are close enough to grab it, and then just don't.

Actually stopping the fielder (hands off the controls) seemed to help in the OF situation a bit, so I'm going to try that for the infielders this year. Maybe stopping them allows the animation to kick in?

On another note -and I know that this has happened to plenty of you guys already- I'm finding I don't have much stomach for slider tweaking this year. I'm doing it with two baseball titles, neither one suiting my playstyle all that well out of the box, and my energy for doing so is already flagging after just a couple of days. I used to be able to go for weeks.

fanatic · Post by **fanatic** » Mon Mar 10, 2008 3:55 pm

webdanzer wrote:
fanatic wrote:I'm having a bit of trouble on ground balls just slightly out of reach of my infielders. Seems like they don't do the "reach" animation quite enough - the ball just goes past them. Should I be using the dive control? Keep in mind, these are ground balls that should be reachable without laying out.
Yeah, I've seen this too. It actually reminds me quite a bit of the problem that the game had a couple of years ago where balls would go 'through' outfielders if they were still running towards it in a 'one-hop' type situation. In the infield this year, it definitely seems like the fielders are close enough to grab it, and then just don't.

Actually stopping the fielder (hands off the controls) seemed to help in the OF situation a bit, so I'm going to try that for the infielders this year. Maybe stopping them allows the animation to kick in?

On another note -and I know that this has happened to plenty of you guys already- I'm finding I don't have much stomach for slider tweaking this year. I'm doing it with two baseball titles, neither one suiting my playstyle all that well out of the box, and my energy for doing so is already flagging after just a couple of days. I used to be able to go for weeks.

I'll try stopping the fielder like you suggest...thanks!

Like you, I won't be doing much slider tweaking past the first week or two. There's a point where it takes up time and energy that should be used to enjoy the game. I think most of the guys who play The Show around here are in the same boat- they realize how special the game is and how much of a pity it would be worrying about how left handed relievers don't throw enough changeups when ahead in the count in the 7th inning.

Sudz · Post by **Sudz** » Mon Mar 10, 2008 4:15 pm

how do i freaking dive for a grounder?
how do i hit a hard grounder instead of flying out to the RFer?

sportdan30 · Post by **sportdan30** » Mon Mar 10, 2008 4:24 pm

R2 to dive for a grounder.

Before the pitch, press the right stick down for a ground ball. Up for a fly ball.

lexbur · Post by **lexbur** » Mon Mar 10, 2008 4:43 pm

sportdan30 wrote: Before the pitch, press the right stick down for a ground ball. Up for a fly ball.

Am I the only one that just times it? I just press the X button when I swing and don't touch the stick at all. I have a hard enough time deciding in that split second if I want to swing or not, let alone trying to figure where to swing.

I get a good variety of flyballs and groundballs that way.

sportdan30 · Post by **sportdan30** » Mon Mar 10, 2008 4:53 pm

lexbur wrote:
sportdan30 wrote: Before the pitch, press the right stick down for a ground ball. Up for a fly ball.
Am I the only one that just times it? I just press the X button when I swing and don't touch the stick at all. I have a hard enough time deciding in that split second if I want to swing or not, let alone trying to figure where to swing.

I get a good variety of flyballs and groundballs that way.

You can definitely time it. I honestly don't think you need to use the the left stick for zone hitting if you don't want. I experimented with that yesterday, and I still was able to hit the low and high pitches by just timing the pitch. But, but pushing the right analog stick up in a sacrifice fly situation does seem to help.

Jackdog · Post by **Jackdog** » Mon Mar 10, 2008 4:55 pm

JRod wrote:I'm using slider's by (OS Name) Rod Carew. Try those and see if if the CPU doesn't get more power.

Thanks for the heads up John! I am liking this set of sliders big time.

10spro · Post by **10spro** » Mon Mar 10, 2008 7:12 pm

Just updated the latest rosters as of today. J. Santana is officially wearing a Mets uniform. Which other sports game does it so quick?

TheGamer · Post by **TheGamer** » Mon Mar 10, 2008 7:40 pm

he was on the mets on 2k8 on the 2/29 roster update.

Leadfoot5 · Post by **Leadfoot5** » Mon Mar 10, 2008 8:14 pm

TheGamer wrote:he was on the mets on 2k8 on the 2/29 roster update.

I think 10spro just got served.

10spro · Post by **10spro** » Mon Mar 10, 2008 8:41 pm

Leadfoot5 wrote:
TheGamer wrote:he was on the mets on 2k8 on the 2/29 roster update.
I think 10spro just got served.

If 2K8's rosters as of Feb 29th are more accurate than 'the Show' then more power to them. I don't have that game so I could care less. My original post was to indicate that Sony had a new update today and among the new changes was the one of Santana wearing the Mets uniform. Also, my reference in general was to see how nice it is to receive weekly or bi-weekly rosters updates especially on a sports game.

dougb · Post by **dougb** » Mon Mar 10, 2008 8:48 pm

Played a bit of the game when I was in futureshop. I was floored by the animations and graphics - they reminded me alot of how well konami has integrated animations and the gameplay in their soccer game (well, at least until the last version).

I was tempted to buy the Ps3/Show bundle for $399. But I still have doubts about whether I can get through even 1 full 162 game season regardless of how good the game is.

Best wishes,

Doug

dbdynsty25 · Post by **dbdynsty25** » Mon Mar 10, 2008 8:53 pm

Leadfoot5 wrote:
TheGamer wrote:he was on the mets on 2k8 on the 2/29 roster update.
I think 10spro just got served.

Except the roster update that the Show had available on release date had him on the Mets as well. So no one got served. Just a whole 'lotta nothing going on.

Slumberland · Post by **Slumberland** » Mon Mar 10, 2008 8:57 pm

I lost 9-8 to the Phillies tonight. Heading in the right direction. I just need to have a couple games where I don't get 15 hits and I'll feel more comfortable. I've got hit quality (is that what passes for 'contact' these days?) all the way down to zero, but don't really want to mess with power.

Stealing seems a bit automatic to me, as well. No real tension there. The question is whether to slow down baserunners or increase infielders' arms.