MLB 11 The Show a quick tidbit

[sportdan30]

Upgraded to the May 9th rosters. Good to see rookie D. Cooper in TOR.

I guess I will try and get on now.

Do you think I'm a puss for playing on veteran?

I play on Veteran for hitting and All-Star for pitching.

Sliders of course are your personal preference, but I found making the following made the game much more enjoyable.

Lower CPU power by a click or two
Lower CPU foul frequency all the way down to 0 (you'll still see quite a few foul balls)
Lower CPU strike and control frequency (at default, the CPU is too precise in hitting the corners...also they throw too many strikes)

I don't have my full set of settings, but these are a good starting point.

[Brando70]

This is a hard game, especially hitting, so no shame on playing Veteran. I'm on All-Star default with classic hitting and easily lead the league in strikeouts and have a 9-16 record in my Cubs franchise. I was on a 9-game skid and was going to switch to Veteran if I hit a 10-game losing steak, but I won my last two and my hitting is coming around.

There is no question that the post-patch analog pitching has been seriously tweaked. I get a lot more random results now and find it much harder to hit my spots, especially if my pitcher is rattled or if I'm using a pitch with a low rating.

[Pete]

I pitch on Veteran and hit on All-Star.

The ups and downs you go through in this game are incredible. I was really struggling hitting with the Reds, about .220 and was a game under .500 as my pitching, especially my bullpen, was solid. I wasn't going to bump it down as I was hitting the ball solid but just right at people. Also, I couldn't get a two out hit. Well I reeled off 5 straight and have upped the average to .245.

I have really been patient at the plate lately. I even drew a bases loaded walk with the pitcher batting.

This game is so darn good it is just a joy to play.

[MizzouRah]

Upgraded to the May 9th rosters. Good to see rookie D. Cooper in TOR.

I guess I will try and get on now.

Do you think I'm a puss for playing on veteran?

Start your season with the minimum games which is 14 or 16 games and take it from there.

Will do!

[MizzouRah]

Upgraded to the May 9th rosters. Good to see rookie D. Cooper in TOR.

I guess I will try and get on now.

Do you think I'm a puss for playing on veteran?

I play on Veteran for hitting and All-Star for pitching.

Sliders of course are your personal preference, but I found making the following made the game much more enjoyable.

Lower CPU power by a click or two
Lower CPU foul frequency all the way down to 0 (you'll still see quite a few foul balls)
Lower CPU strike and control frequency (at default, the CPU is too precise in hitting the corners...also they throw too many strikes)

I don't have my full set of settings, but these are a good starting point.

Thanks Dan, will try these!

[lexbur]

Be afraid. This game has a curse. It's some kind of voodoo video game. In my Tribe season in The Show Grady Sizemore wound up on the DL. A couple days later in R/L, Grady Sizemore winds up on the DL.

[AJColossal]

Here's a dumb question.

I completely erased the game from the hard drive during the PSN fiasco (long story) and have since re-installed it. I was wondering what would be the easiest way to tell if the patch was re-installed.

I could have sworn I saw some software update prompting at some point, and now when I boot up there are no prompts for any patch, so I'm assuming it's there???

Is there anything in the game saves or something to just confirm that it's there?

[Brando70]

Here's a dumb question.

I completely erased the game from the hard drive during the PSN fiasco (long story) and have since re-installed it. I was wondering what would be the easiest way to tell if the patch was re-installed.

I could have sworn I saw some software update prompting at some point, and now when I boot up there are no prompts for any patch, so I'm assuming it's there???

Is there anything in the game saves or something to just confirm that it's there?

I am pretty sure if you didn't have the patch installed, you would be prompted for it.

[snaz16]

Got the roster update and started a 14 game season with the Reds. Season opener against the Pirates might be the wildest video game of baseball I've ever played. I play All Star with everything turned off except auto fielding(I throw) and auto running, and I also have checked swings turned off.
I never led in a 10-9 win until I hit a 3 run walk off HR with Brandon Phillips. I overcame deficits(but never took the lead) in the 3rd,5th ,7th,8th,10th,12th,and then after going down 2 runs once again in the 13th,got the 3 run dinger for the win. There were 9 HRs total ,,6 by me and 3 by the Bucs. Garrett Jones hit 2 HR for Pitts. and Scott Rolen was 6 for 6 with 2 dingers, and Votto was 4 for 6. I couldn't put down the controller down and got about 5 hrs sleep last nite.
I love how this game feeds off your tendicies,as I kept biting on the big curve falling out of the strike zone. So I made the adjustment to swing low and pretty soon I got to the starter. It was gratifying guessing right on a 1-1 bender in the bottom of the strike zone and swinging power swing with Rolen and launched a 2nd deck bomb. Gaming goodness at its finest!

[Brando70]

A rare rant from me about this game, but I've had a couple of really questionable losses in my last three games.

I just lost 5-3 to the Reds in my Cubs franchise. After being a strikeout machine at the plate all season, I had my best game ever in terms of discipline -- just 4 Ks and 6 BBs. Yet through seven innings I managed just three hits, all singles. At one point I drew three consecutive walks to load he bases with one out, then hit into a double play. I had first and second with one out the next inning and hit into a DP where Scott Rolen dove for the ball and still had enough time to get up, make the throw to second and get a fairly fast runner out at first by a whole step.

Bottom of 8, I was down 2-0 and then hit it big: two consecutive walks, followed by a 2RBI double by Aramis Ramirez and a sac fly to go ahead 3-2. I brought in Carlos Marmol, who has been hot for me as a closer. Here's where I got pissed: With 1 out, I face Chris Heisey. I'm aiming way down with a sinker, but the right stick won't move laterally as I do my wind up, and Marmol throws a huge meatball over the plate. Heisey connects for his first HR to tie it 3-3. Marmol gives up a single, and then Jeremy Hermida comes in to hit for the pitcher. Same thing happens: aiming far away from the middle, but I lose all control and grove a fastball down the heart of the plate, which Hermida smacks for a 2-run HR and a 5-3 final.

I would chalk it up to one of those games, but an almost identical thing happened just two games before against the Dodgers. All game with Zambrano and then Marmol, it's like the right analog control would periodically disappear and I lost all lateral motion with my delivery and kept leaving pitches over the heart of the plate. Same thing happened in the 9th: up by a run and Marmol inexplicably threw a sinker over the middle that was smacked for a game-winning 2-run HR, despite my aiming down and in.

I know there is no comeback code in the game, but it's very frustrating to lose due to inexplicably losing all control over the analog pitching. It makes it feel like the loss was premeditated.

[webdanzer]

Brando, the main reason I switch back and forth between The Show and other baseball games is that in the Show forces other than player stick ability and pure player stats seem to sometimes decide the results on the field. Call it comeback, 'clutch factors,' seasonal streaks, bad biorhythms, etc, I generally feel that 'something other' than joystick jockeying and player stats has influence over game results.

Still really enjoy the game, but I've always wanted more transparency as to 'why things happen' in my baseball games.

[Slumberland]

This is the first year where I can usually point to one bad play/moment/decision on my part as the difference between winning and losing. I've long complained of The Show feeling scripted but I haven't felt it nearly as much this year. Sometimes the shape of a game will feel somewhat prescribed (i.e. pitcher's duel, homer-fest), but I'm almost never feeling helpless.

[tmdba37]

Brando,

For me, Marmol is a two-pitch guy. I can't get his curve or sinker to work and have had both taken out on me.

I'm torn on the "scripted" stuff because 95% of the bad that happens to me has been user error.

[dbdynsty25]

Brando, the main reason I switch back and forth between The Show and other baseball games is that in the Show forces other than player stick ability and pure player stats seem to sometimes decide the results on the field. Call it comeback, 'clutch factors,' seasonal streaks, bad biorhythms, etc, I generally feel that 'something other' than joystick jockeying and player stats has influence over game results.

Still really enjoy the game, but I've always wanted more transparency as to 'why things happen' in my baseball games.

But isn't that exactly why they have the clutch factor in the game in the first place? The chances of a particular player performing in tight, late game situations is directly linked to that particular slider. I believe you can disable that if you like to have the transparency and have the person controlling the player have all of the control. It's available, you guys just aren't using it.

I personally like the randomness of games and having some fluke things happen occasionally...that's baseball in real life.

[Brando70]

I think Web is right where there seems to sometimes be a conflict between ratings and user input. This is especially apparent with analog pitching after the patch. I don't mind a little randomness and don't want pinpoint control, but the method they made pitching harder kind of goes against the point of analog control. I push back and then forward to the left, only to watch the indicator go straight or to the right, for no reason other than some random dice rolls appearing behind the scenes. And at least in my case, it seems like a lot of those random pitch motions tend to drift back into the zone by a lot.

The part that irritated me was that, in the case of Marmol, there seemed to be no statistical or rating reason behind it. He was red-hot going into this stretch, 10-for-10 on saves and an ERA under 2. His clutch and pitcher ratings were high. It's like the game just decided he was going to suck.

I would have been fine if I'd missed slightly into the zone, or even better, if I'd had trouble finding the zone and had to decide between trying to nibble or pitching more deliberately into the zone. Or if the pitch went where I intended and the batter made a great hit. I can live with any of that stuff and like ratings to have some bearing on play. It's the feeling like my pitches were magnetically attracted to the heart of the plate that feels a bit cheap.

[snaz16]

I can take a little from all the posts above since my 10-9 Reds win post. I would like to think I had a hand in that 10-9 win by getting better at reading pitches,and thats probably true to a certain extent,as well as there was probably a little "script" to it as well. As a baseball fan in general,Marmol has been known as having more than his share of erratic moments,so as frustrating and "scripted" as one might think,it certainly is not out of the realm of impossibility. I just finished a Cleve. 14 game season which I started out 5-2,only to finish at 7-7. Pitching and bullpen was solid,and the hitting was to say the least,challenging. This is where this game separates for me. When I'm patient,even with the Tribe offense,when I got into hitters counts,I could do some damage. Maybe not a lot of homers,all though I had my fair share,but extra bases and what not. And then some games where I got nothing. And that is more than fair in my opinion. And we have all seen what the Tribe in real life has done so far this year,and of course ( me and lex in particular) are waiting for the bubble to burst. I guess my point is, that this game provides a balance that gives the user both the ability to combine user and rating ability to achieve what I think is the best baseball title to date. Its Fri nite,I'm off for a Capt. and coke and my 1-0 Reds have a date at Sportsman Park in St Louis against Albert,Tony and the boys. Alternate stadiums for all 30 teams SCEA ??...just sayin Enjoy this game gents. Its got its quirks,but its a hellava lot of fun!

[dbdynsty25]

The part that irritated me was that, in the case of Marmol, there seemed to be no statistical or rating reason behind it. He was red-hot going into this stretch, 10-for-10 on saves and an ERA under 2. His clutch and pitcher ratings were high. It's like the game just decided he was going to suck.

But that's exactly the point...save for Gagne that one year he was on steroids...closers are a volatile bunch. They are bound to have a bad game or five in the case of Kimbrel this year. I think that's just the game depicting those situations and flukeyness. Yes, that's the reason for analog control, but even the worst joystick jockey can eventually figure out how to hit the spot each and every time. There has to be some variability in the controls and you, as the person doing the controlling, has to realize when a pitcher "doesn't have it" and sub him accordingly. That is what the game is depicting. If they didn't do that...everyone would have sub 1.00 eras.

[snaz16]

The part that irritated me was that, in the case of Marmol, there seemed to be no statistical or rating reason behind it. He was red-hot going into this stretch, 10-for-10 on saves and an ERA under 2. His clutch and pitcher ratings were high. It's like the game just decided he was going to suck.

But that's exactly the point...save for Gagne that one year he was on steroids...closers are a volatile bunch. They are bound to have a bad game or five in the case of Kimbrel this year. I think that's just the game depicting those situations and flukeyness. Yes, that's the reason for analog control, but even the worst joystick jockey can eventually figure out how to hit the spot each and every time. There has to be some variability in the controls and you, as the person doing the controlling, has to realize when a pitcher "doesn't have it" and sub him accordingly. That is what the game is depicting. If they didn't do that...everyone would have sub 1.00 eras.

Bingo!!

[AJColossal]

What up with the catchers getting errors when a guy gets a walk on a ball in the dirt?

Thought this was corrected and/or in past editions of the game.

[Brando70]

The part that irritated me was that, in the case of Marmol, there seemed to be no statistical or rating reason behind it. He was red-hot going into this stretch, 10-for-10 on saves and an ERA under 2. His clutch and pitcher ratings were high. It's like the game just decided he was going to suck.

But that's exactly the point...save for Gagne that one year he was on steroids...closers are a volatile bunch. They are bound to have a bad game or five in the case of Kimbrel this year. I think that's just the game depicting those situations and flukeyness. Yes, that's the reason for analog control, but even the worst joystick jockey can eventually figure out how to hit the spot each and every time. There has to be some variability in the controls and you, as the person doing the controlling, has to realize when a pitcher "doesn't have it" and sub him accordingly. That is what the game is depicting. If they didn't do that...everyone would have sub 1.00 eras.

I agree with that, and I want some variability, but there's something about the way it's been implemented that seems off. It seems like the game errs on the side of generating hits rather than walks. I had a stretch where about six games in a row the CPU make late-game comebacks on me because pitches aimed pretty far outside the middle didn't just drift into the zone, they all touched the center of the plate and were smacked either for HRs or extra bases.

Mistake pitches will happen, especially in pressure situations, but in my case it seems that instead of my pitchers having trouble finding the strike zone, they have trouble staying out of it. I would rather see a guy having trouble throwing strikes or having his pitches become more hittable without it feeling like he's throwing batting practice pitches down the heart of the plate.

Still love the game and nearly play it every day. Just think they overcompensated a bit with the patch in an effort to make analog pitching harder.

[FifaInspected]

Do much fun last night. A thirteen inning pitching duel ending with a 2 run walk off winner!

[AJColossal]

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=6201006

Article by Baseball Tonight's Steve Berthiaume about creating baseball's past using The Show.

Dude is crazy.

[lexbur]

As good as this game is, I think I might be burnt out on it a little. I haven't touched it in weeks. This is going to be the first time in the last three or four years I'm not going to finish a full 162-game season.

[Rodster]

This is also the first year for me I was officially burned out on the game. I traded it in to Amazon and I made a few bucks from the Modells crazy deal. I have had no desire to play it again.

[Slumberland]

I'm going strong. I un-burned myself out.