MLB 2K9 Official Thread of 360 owners fingers crossed

Diablo25 · Post by **Diablo25** » Wed Feb 11, 2009 10:08 pm

K-Rod the best pitcher? Cliff Lee not even listed? And people wonder why this series isn't taken seriously.

greggsand · Post by **greggsand** » Thu Feb 12, 2009 4:07 am

Diablo25 wrote:K-Rod the best pitcher? Cliff Lee not even listed? And people wonder why this series isn't taken seriously.

Who doesn't "take it seriously"?

Diablo25 · Post by **Diablo25** » Thu Feb 12, 2009 8:54 am

greggsand wrote:
Diablo25 wrote:K-Rod the best pitcher? Cliff Lee not even listed? And people wonder why this series isn't taken seriously.
Who doesn't "take it seriously"?

Many gamers that I know just are tired of 2k's effort with MLB. I am not saying everyone but, let's face it, the series has been sub par for a while now.

bulls23 · Post by **bulls23** » Thu Feb 12, 2009 7:19 pm

bulls23 wrote:2k9 PC early release date at Gamestop:
Feb 23!!!:D

Linkage: http://www.gamestop.com/Catalog/Product ... t_id=73956

Crap must've been a typo

They have it back to March 3rd.

bdoughty · Post by **bdoughty** » Thu Feb 12, 2009 8:18 pm

OS Screens - a slew of them.

http://www.operationsports.com/newspost.php?id=294600

Rodster · Post by **Rodster** » Thu Feb 12, 2009 8:59 pm

The screenshots look alright. It's still not up to par graphically with The Show but as long as VC improves the gameplay i'll probably get it.

TheGamer · Post by **TheGamer** » Fri Feb 13, 2009 2:37 am

Cubs vs Cards game intro. Wrigley looks absolutely beautiful. The real time atmosphere, if it works during the game as it does during the intro, will be incredible. They have Big Z down to a t.

http://www.operationsports.com/videovie ... php?id=547

TheGamer · Post by **TheGamer** » Fri Feb 13, 2009 2:58 am

top of the 1st is also up now

bdoughty · Post by **bdoughty** » Fri Feb 13, 2009 3:25 am

Glad they got rid of that choppy pre game loading with the outside of the stadium shots. Unfortunately they replaced Jeanie Zelasco in the intro with the guy who does all the Monster Truck rally commercials.

Looks much better than 2K8 in motion and that was a biggie for me.

Rodster · Post by **Rodster** » Fri Feb 13, 2009 5:39 am

bdoughty wrote:Glad they got rid of that choppy pre game loading with the outside of the stadium shots. Unfortunately they replaced Jeanie Zelasco in the intro with the guy who does all the Monster Truck rally commercials.

Looks much better than 2K8 in motion and that was a biggie for me.

The choppy pre-game intro never bothered me for some reason. Dropping Jeannie does because she sounded good during the pre-game intro. But at this point i'm forsaking all of that for the hopes that Visual Concepts can turn around this franchise. If not, it's only one baseball game again this year.

Pete · Post by **Pete** » Fri Feb 13, 2009 9:20 am

Rodster wrote:
bdoughty wrote:Glad they got rid of that choppy pre game loading with the outside of the stadium shots. Unfortunately they replaced Jeanie Zelasco in the intro with the guy who does all the Monster Truck rally commercials.

Looks much better than 2K8 in motion and that was a biggie for me.
The choppy pre-game intro never bothered me for some reason. Dropping Jeannie does because she sounded good during the pre-game intro. But at this point i'm forsaking all of that for the hopes that Visual Concepts can turn around this franchise. If not, it's only one baseball game again this year.

Not quite sure how to ask this, but if MLB2K9 is decent, you would purchase that along with MLB'09?

That is a lot of baseball to play! The games take a while. Do others buy both games?

Rodster · Post by **Rodster** » Fri Feb 13, 2009 10:28 am

Pete wrote: Not quite sure how to ask this, but if MLB2K9 is decent, you would purchase that along with MLB'09?

That is a lot of baseball to play! The games take a while. Do others buy both games?

Yes because the only mode I play in MLB Show is the "Road to the Show". Trying to play MLB The Show online so far has been crap the last two years. I did like MLB 2K7 but I skipped MLB 2K6 and MLB 2K8 because they both had gameplay issues I couldn't get past.

sportdan30 · Post by **sportdan30** » Fri Feb 13, 2009 10:58 am

Game looks pretty good based on the video. I can't even begin to tell you how much more I prefer Gary Thorne than Jon Miller. If I had to listen to Miller call Cardinal games, I'd seriously turn off the sound.

I like the camera view from the pitcher. It looks like it's a little higher than other baseball games I've played. Also, the animations look better than they have in the past. IMO, 2K has always had atrocious animations compared to The Show. They look a lot cleaner now. I still don't like the sound of the bat hitting the ball. It sounds like a screen door slamming.

Graphically, it looks pretty darn impressive. Better than the still screenshots, but the models are still not close to The Show from what little I've seen thus far.

Definitely looking forward to the demo whenever that may be.

Pete · Post by **Pete** » Fri Feb 13, 2009 12:00 pm

sportdan30 wrote:Game looks pretty good based on the video. I can't even begin to tell you how much more I prefer Gary Thorne than Jon Miller. If I had to listen to Miller call Cardinal games, I'd seriously turn off the sound.

I like the camera view from the pitcher. It looks like it's a little higher than other baseball games I've played. Also, the animations look better than they have in the past. IMO, 2K has always had atrocious animations compared to The Show. They look a lot cleaner now. I still don't like the sound of the bat hitting the ball. It sounds like a screen door slamming.

Graphically, it looks pretty darn impressive. Better than the still screenshots, but the models are still not close to The Show from what little I've seen thus far.

Definitely looking forward to the demo whenever that may be.

If you go through the screens over at OS, they show the different camera angles for behind the pitcher. Some look real good.

Reminds me of when you could adjust the camera in High Heat for the PC. Gives a real broadcast type feel.

JackB1 · Post by **JackB1** » Fri Feb 13, 2009 12:13 pm

sportdan30 wrote: I still don't like the sound of the bat hitting the ball. It sounds like a screen door slamming.

Not sure why they can't get a realistic crack of the bat sound? This is a little pet peeve of mine with bb games and it's unfortunate to hear this.

bdoughty · Post by **bdoughty** » Fri Feb 13, 2009 3:28 pm

Practice Modes @ Wrigley
http://gamecinemahd.com/video/major_lea ... l_2k9/3863

Dodgers @ Reds
http://gamecinemahd.com/video/major_lea ... l_2k9/3862

Mariners @ Evil
http://gamecinemahd.com/video/major_lea ... l_2k9/3861

Rodster · Post by **Rodster** » Fri Feb 13, 2009 3:55 pm

Some quick observations from the new videos. Gary Thorne sounds exceptional and natural along with the 2nd guy in the booth. OK so MLB The Show has some competition here, finally.

The game looks good animation wise as long as the game is moving but suffers from NBA2K-itis. I hate the stop/start/rotating of the players when transitioning and branching from one animation to the next. It's apparent watching the pitcher.

The sound of the bat does sound off but I can live with that. I like the fact that last years pitching interface is back. I'm leaning on the PC version as it's only $19.99 and probably will be the same game sans online play. Again no biggie there as well.

edit: I just noticed that Visual Concepts is using the same crap right analog interface to move around in the game as is used in NBA2K9. Damn can't these guys get that right, geez.

Gurantsu · Post by **Gurantsu** » Fri Feb 13, 2009 5:19 pm

So far so good, everything is looking nice. I'm going to pre-order it tonight at work.

I still enjoy Jon Miller and Joe Morgan, but the new announcers sound much more natural in the way they present the game. Thats always been a big thing with the Show games.

The only thing that bugs me a bit is the huge yellow circle when pitching, I wish it was a little less pronounced.

bdoughty · Post by **bdoughty** » Fri Feb 13, 2009 5:34 pm

Teaser Trailer 3 - Signature walkups

http://2ksports.com/videos/new/mlb2k9/201

I also liked from the Cincy game that the crowd was not sold out (hopefully they have dynamic attendance based on the team and how they play).

Gurantsu,

The yellow circle was really annoying, along with the flashes as it is caught by the catcher.

bdoughty · Post by **bdoughty** » Fri Feb 13, 2009 5:39 pm

10 minute video at GS --- Cards @ Cubs

540p
http://www.gamespot.com/xbox360/sports/ ... vie-3?hd=1

SD
http://www.gamespot.com/xbox360/sports/ ... ay-movie-3

Screens
http://www.gamespot.com/xbox360/sports/ ... mages.html

Rodster · Post by **Rodster** » Fri Feb 13, 2009 5:48 pm

I love how the dugout is in sync with their animations and the ball in the pitchers glove looks like he's about to serve a grapefruit.

MizzouRah · Post by **MizzouRah** » Fri Feb 13, 2009 6:01 pm

Thanks.. some of it looks great.. some of it.. eh..so-so.

What's up with that damn organ music and sound of the ball off the bat? I mean, it's year 3 now...

I think it will be an "average" game... probably get about a 7.5 - 8 rating.

bdoughty · Post by **bdoughty** » Fri Feb 13, 2009 6:04 pm

They play organ music at Wrigley for at bat music. Seems like you lose a bit of realism if they remove it.

http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article_enterta ... &fext=.jsp

bdoughty · Post by **bdoughty** » Fri Feb 13, 2009 8:25 pm

Gamespot Videos

Lesser Evil @ Evil

540p
http://www.gamespot.com/xbox360/sports/ ... vie-4?hd=1

SD
http://www.gamespot.com/xbox360/sports/ ... ay-movie-4

Nationals @ Royals

540p
http://www.gamespot.com/xbox360/sports/ ... vie-5?hd=1

SD
http://www.gamespot.com/xbox360/sports/ ... ay-movie-5

IGN has added a few videos

http://media.xbox360.ign.com/media/142/ ... ids_1.html

bdoughty · Post by **bdoughty** » Fri Feb 13, 2009 8:42 pm

RECAP OF TODAYS MLB2K9 Q&A with the Developers.

http://2ksports.com/forums/showthread.php?t=206422

Some of the biggies

Q. Did you guys record new bat sounds for 2k9?
A: This year we supported grounders/pops/choppers with a much bigger
variety of sounds. You really have to play the game to hear the variety
of the different hit sounds which are big improvement over last year.

Q: Are online leagues still in the game? If so, Have they changed in any drastic way? (new functions, features, stats, lobbies, etc)
A: Online leagues saw the similar upgrade that NHL & NBA got this year.
This includes a new web page and dozens of new stats, features and other goodies.

Q: Any word on the online? Is it going to be like NBA or can you play
your friends for rank? Also will it be lag free or no?
A: No it's still a quick match only system, we are planning on doing
something for the future. As for lag it's much improved from last year we're running 60 frames per
second.

Q: Can you turn off the bright ball or strike marker when it crosses the plate
A: No, you can't turn it off. The color corresponds to the pitch type so
it has a use.

Q: Thanks for your time. Are the minor leagues the same as last year?
A: We have all AAA, AA, and High A teams and leagues this year. The main difference is only AAA games will be playable this year. All rosters
have been updated for minor league teams.

Hate that the colors are not given the option to turn off. I am hoping that all minor league teams can be played with in exhibition mode? Hopefully he means only AAA games can be played inside a dynasty.