Why isn't there more ASB love?

abrams99 · Post by **abrams99** » Mon Apr 12, 2004 11:08 am

Ok, maybe it has to do with the staggered release dates between PS2 and XBOX, but why is no one is talking about ASB?

When ESPN was delayed to May

, I gave in and bought ASB05. I owned ASB04 last year, but eventually went back to HH2002 on my PC. It had such a great franchise mode, but the lack of injuries, slow pace, and awkward graphics affected its long term prospects.

This year I feel that everything is fixed. The game moves at a steady clip, fielding is actually immersive (I was so skeptical of the "fielding cam", but it really adds another element to the same), with good pitching you can get K's and walks. Plus, I don't mind the cursor bating -- after years of high heat, it's not bad to try something different. Finally, it seems the game can accompany the unbelievable depth of franchise mode.

Any other PS2 gamers who just jumped aboard?

Badgun · Post by **Badgun** » Mon Apr 12, 2004 12:48 pm

Let's see...zone batting is completely broken which forces you to use a cursor to get a decent game. That's cardinal sin #1.

Online play could have been this game's saving grace, but they force you to use the awful fielding cam online. That's cardinal sin #2

I won't go into all the graphical glitches like hitting the ball out of the catcher's mitt, but they really detracted from the game as well.

Personally, I think this is the worst baseball game in at least 3 years. I had a lot more fun with Inside Pitch than I did with this trainwreck.

I've played all 4 games this year and here's how I see them:

1. ESPN
2. MVP
3. MLB 2005
4. All Star 2005

If you haven't tried MLB 2005, give it a shot. It's got some sweet animations and the deepest franchise/owner mode in any sports game. Plays a pretty solid game of baseball, too.

Parker · Post by **Parker** » Mon Apr 12, 2004 12:51 pm

My ranking:

1. ESPN
2. ASB 2005
3. MLB 2005
4. MVP

ASB is not a bad game if you accept the fact that zone hitting was designed for novices and cursor is the way to go. The graphical glitches don't bother me as much as some other people, and it represents baseball in ways the other games don't, although I'm getting pretty realistic pitch counts with ESPN too.

dbdynsty25 · Post by **dbdynsty25** » Mon Apr 12, 2004 12:52 pm

Last years All-Star was a better game. And I second the MLB 2005 recommendation. It's probably my favorite baseball game to play this year, even though they screwed up the roster management big time, especially in Franchise mode.

Badgun · Post by **Badgun** » Mon Apr 12, 2004 1:00 pm

Parker wrote:My ranking:

1. ESPN
2. ASB 2005
3. MLB 2005
4. MVP

ASB is not a bad game if you accept the fact that zone hitting was designed for novices and cursor is the way to go. The graphical glitches don't bother me as much as some other people, and it represents baseball in ways the other games don't, although I'm getting pretty realistic pitch counts with ESPN too.

Parker,
I will argue this point with you til the day I die.

Can't you just admit that Acclaim blew it on the zone hitting? There's no way that they said "ok, we're putting this in for the little girly man that can't handle a cursor". You argument might hold water if all the other games didn't employ a cursorless hitting system as it's main hitting method.

I agree with db, ASB 2004 was a much better game than 2005 was.

Parker · Post by **Parker** » Mon Apr 12, 2004 1:02 pm

It doesn't matter if we agree if they screwed it up or not, I agree if you don't like cursor hitting, stay away from ASB.

Last year's ASB had less bugs, but there are too many improvements in this year's version to say it was a better game. The fact that you can actually get challenging games against the cpu is huge.

abrams99 · Post by **abrams99** » Mon Apr 12, 2004 2:02 pm

So far, I've bought:

MLB 2005
ASB 2005
MVP 2004 (PS2)
MVP 2004 (PC)
High Heat 2004 (PC) -- which I never bought because I played 2002 to death.

(by the way, thank god for e-bay).

MLB had potential, but I was just plain bored. It didn't seem to have the excitement of the other games.

I agree that ASB's reasoning as to why zone batting wasn't fixed is weak. But, for some reason, I seem to be digging the cursor.

High Heat is still the best gameplay, but that franchise mode is awful.

MVP is fun, but the lefty bug and the dynasty rotation bugs are game-killers for a long term franchise player like me.

dbdynsty25 · Post by **dbdynsty25** » Mon Apr 12, 2004 2:07 pm

Might as well go with ESPN then Abrams...it truely is the most complete experience, in terms of roster management and on the field play. I sure as hell wish MLB got all the roster stuff right because that is my favorite game to play on the field.

Parker · Post by **Parker** » Mon Apr 12, 2004 3:23 pm

The only thing that threatens to cut into the longterm enjoyment with ESPN are:

1. It's still apparantly too easy to make the cpu agree to bad trade deals

2. The player fatigue models during seasons don't seem to work as well as they did last year

It's pretty clear to me that ASB has the most complete franchise with the fewest drawbacks, but overall, ESPN is still the best American baseball game this year.

matthewk · Post by **matthewk** » Mon Apr 12, 2004 3:58 pm

ASB almost had me for the second year in a row. They lost me last year, and they lost me again this year. Next year they won't even get a chance.

What finally turned me off this year was the hitting model. As Badgun has stated, zone hitting is once again broken. I got he game a few days after this was discovered, so I never even used it. I started off with 2d cursor hitting. I had a slight issue with the cursor stopping once you started your swing, but I was getting used to it. After a while I discovered a couple things I simply could not deal with, and had me questioning if there was even more amiss than I had already noticed.

My first clue something was wrong: EVERY foul ball I hit went straight back. NOTHING down the lines. I played about a dozen games, but NOT ONE foul that didn't go straight back. The CPU could do it, but not me.

The second clue was noticing still too many fly balls, and hits that wer still too confined to the middle of the field. Turns out this is because your timing has little affect on where the ball goes, it's all up to the placement of the cursor. This I do not like. If I'm late on a fastabll, I expect to hit the ball to the opposite field. In ASB, I can be late and still pull the ball.

Acclaim really needs to revamp their engine to include some form of physics. Instead they hide this by programming around it with crap like this. It may be fine for some, but it doesn't pass with me.

Anyways, that is why I am not posting about ASB anymore. I sold it.

dbdynsty25 · Post by **dbdynsty25** » Mon Apr 12, 2004 4:01 pm

matthewk wrote:Anyways, that is why I am not posting about ASB anymore. I sold it.

You just did.

matthewk · Post by **matthewk** » Mon Apr 12, 2004 5:56 pm

Ha ha. Very funny. DOn't you have better things to do, like get a new cell phone? I'm sure there are ones out there for $600 now that would make your $400 one look like crap. Better get a new one quick.

dbdynsty25 · Post by **dbdynsty25** » Mon Apr 12, 2004 6:08 pm

I'm waiting for the Treo 600 to be released on Verizon and then you're right...I'll be buying a 600 dollar cell phone. What's your f*ckin' point?

At least I don't b*tch and complain about money in every finance thread and then buy every game that comes out. Hypocrite.

Toper · Post by **Toper** » Mon Apr 12, 2004 6:10 pm

Matt,

I pretty much echo your sentiments about ASB. I was never a fan of the series, but with all the competition this year I thought that they would really "step up to the plate" in the gameplay department...IMO they didn't, and now I'm done with that series for good.

Toper

SoMisss2000 · Post by **SoMisss2000** » Mon Apr 12, 2004 9:44 pm

I got rid of ASB today. I loved it last year and this year. However, after playing MVP, ASB is just to friggin boring.

bdoughty · Post by **bdoughty** » Mon Apr 12, 2004 10:13 pm

My 2 cents... Keep in mind this is from a person who simply wants a fun game of baseball. I do not require the ultimate simulation and rarely touch any baseball games dynasty mode.

The games I am keeping

1. MVP 2004 (I can live with the flaws... I just have the most fun with the game and I love the pitching and throwing meters)

2. ESPN (Solid game but I can't stand the FP modes)

Bought and returned

3. MLB 2005 (If it was not for a few minor anoyances like having to switch the camera every half inning for a different perspective and problems when fielding/throwing, this would have been a keeper. Out of all the games I feel this one has the best zone hitting interface. Still along way to go in the graphics department but not an eyesore either.)

4. ASB 2005 (Not that it was a bad game but the behind the camera perspective was a letdown for me. I hope they decide to have the ability to use it only on defense, with the option of an alternate camera view on offense. They also need to work on the angles and height of the camera in that mode. I just refuse to change cameras every half inning. I did love the fish-eye camera when batting. They did have a ton of extra stadiums which I enjoyed playing on.)

Still plan on getting MLB Slugfest when it comes out.

bdoughty · Post by **bdoughty** » Mon Apr 12, 2004 10:19 pm

MatthewK and DB...

For the betterment of the forum, would it be possible for you two to drop those axes you are grinding? If Parker and I can get along civilly then I figure anything is possible.

They are only opinions on a video game. How can one persons opinion be wrong?

dbdynsty25 · Post by **dbdynsty25** » Mon Apr 12, 2004 10:23 pm

Just because you and Parker are playing queer eye for the straight guy with each other doesn't mean I've gotta do the same.

Parker · Post by **Parker** » Tue Apr 13, 2004 1:15 am

You don't have to be best friends to tolerate someone.

And your gay bashing is getting old...not even modern day 5th graders do it as much as you these days.

Bd, I assume you didn't return ESPN just because of the FP mode (which I haven't even tried).

dbdynsty25 · Post by **dbdynsty25** » Tue Apr 13, 2004 2:57 am

pigpen81 · Post by **pigpen81** » Tue Apr 13, 2004 3:28 am

come on guys, totally unnecesary. I love this place....1 big happy family....I love you guys, not in a homosexual way....like brothers....see, I am secure enough in my masculinity to say it.....man that guy on American Idol is one good looking guy.....

bdoughty · Post by **bdoughty** » Tue Apr 13, 2004 3:33 am

"Bd, I assume you didn't return ESPN just because of the FP mode (which I haven't even tried)."

I am keeping it as I like to have at least 2 baseball games in the collection.

Parker · Post by **Parker** » Tue Apr 13, 2004 9:01 am

Ooops, I saw the bought and returned title below ESPN and thought you had returned it.

matthewk · Post by **matthewk** » Tue Apr 13, 2004 10:18 am

DB, what exactly is your problem with me anyways? You always seem ready to stir s&*t up, for no better reason than you are an a-hole.

If you have a personal problem with me, please let me know what it is. There is no need to be dragging this out into the forums and ruin yet another thread with your insults. I'm tired of it, and I'm sure everyone else is too.

I am so sorry for sharing my views with the group. I just wish I could be a well off as you. maybe if I trade the kids in I can afford all the stuff you blow your money on. Enough. You have a problem with me, then send me PM about it. Your personal attacks don't belong out here.

matthewk · Post by **matthewk** » Tue Apr 13, 2004 10:24 am

bdoughty wrote:MatthewK and DB...

For the betterment of the forum, would it be possible for you two to drop those axes you are grinding? If Parker and I can get along civilly then I figure anything is possible.

They are only opinions on a video game. How can one persons opinion be wrong?

DB, I am trying. FOr some reason he wants to start s&*t with me in almost every thread I post in. I have dropped the war many times, only to have him start things up again. You know from personal experience how ahrd it is to not respond when attacked. If you look back, he has been the one to constantly re-ignite the fire. I don't even know WHY he still has an issue with me. I do not understand it at all.

We have had our scrums in the past, but like Parker said some of us have learned to get along, even if we don't always see eye to eye. I think you and I have been very civil since both coming here, and I like to use that as an example of how things should work around here.