MLB 12 The Show

[dbdynsty25]

Analog hitting sucks in both games...don't understand how that is enjoyable. Just doesn't seem intuitive to me.

[MizzouRah]

The thing I like about in MLB 2k12 is you just press up for a normal swing, makes it easier for me.

I just don't get how pressing a button is fun. I guess too many games with NHL 12.

[JRod]

Can you create playoffs this time around? Still don't understand why we can't even have such a basic mode?

[backbreaker]

Analog hitting sucks in both games...don't understand how that is enjoyable. Just doesn't seem intuitive to me.

I love analog hitting and I'm very proficient at it. I understand the concept of hitting where they pitch left or right of the zone. I like that the velocity matters a normal thrust is contact and a forceful push up is power, it makes for a great and natural experience. I don't use guess pitch because you suffer penalties when you guess wrong(PCI shrinks). I like fighting off pitches in analog batting especially after selecting the "O" button. And, I almost forgot the stride timing adds to the overall experience and is essential to your success. My button pushing days are over in the show and I'm in my late 40's.

[Diablo25]

I like the idea of analog hitting and always try and give it a shot every year but I always end up going back to the zone hitting with the buttons. My bigges t reason is I just can't seem to check swing with analog. If I go...I go. With buttons I can lay off a pitch at the last minute. Just can't do that with analog. To each his own though.

[Aristo]

The thing I like about in MLB 2k12 is you just press up for a normal swing, makes it easier for me.

I just don't get how pressing a button is fun. I guess too many games with NHL 12.

2K12 went through a progression to get where it is now. In 2K8 and 2K9 pulling back was the first step. But it was hard for most people to get down. In 2K9 they enabled a slider that let you set Step Influence to 0, so that you still had to do the motion, but there was no penalty in timing.

In 2K10, they decided that they would eliminate the first step and use the RS to choose power, contact, or defensive swings. I think that was a big improvement. I was surprised The Show used the step influence since 2K already did the legwork to figure out what work for most gamers.

Of course, eliminating the step influence make using the RS equivalent of pressing a button. The one advantage to the the RS, at least in 2K12, is that it makes check swinging easy and intuitive.

[Danimal]

I decided to start a franchise to just get the hang of it while I wait for the opening day rosters. So I went with the Cubs since I will play the Braves once I start my real one.

Opening Day 6 inning ball hit deep to center. Byrd tracks it and jumps / dives (kind of couldn't tell what he was trying to do) into the Ivy making the play but he is hurt and man is he hurt out at least 3 months.

I also was getting squeezed by the home plate ump all game I was so frustrated I was yelling at him like he could hear me.

[Rodster]

I also was getting squeezed by the home plate ump all game I was so frustrated I was yelling at him like he could hear me.

I should never admit to it but i've done that myself many times in RTTS mode.

[Brando70]

Glad I didn't give up on pulse pitching because I'm not only getting the hang of it, I'm really starting to dig it. Mostly just had to ignore the ball marker and look at the circle as a whole, plus the pitch movement. Finished a shutout against the Padres with the Cubs where I gave up only three hits, four walks, and struck out eight. Won the game 3-0 on a three-run bomb by Soriano that went opposite field off the right-field poll.

Also saw an animation I have never seen before. I hit a high chopper up the middle that bounced over the leaping pitcher. The SS rushed over and picked up the ball, then tossed it around his back to second for the out.

This game is sports nirvana so far, and I think it's not only the best-developed sports game, but one of the best-developed games out there. The way they put out a realistic, exciting, and stable game year after year is amazing. So far the only thing I've seen that's a little off is that you can make outs at first from fight field (did it again on a hit by a pitcher), but that is pretty minor and also something that can be solved by not exploiting it. I really wish every game I played could be up to this standard of excellence.

[dbdynsty25]

Yeah I am definitely starting to dig pulse pitching on the ps3 version at least. The speed and accuracy when you get late in games is really damn difficult.

Just when I thought I was getting too good at pulse pitching (Two consecutive one run allowed games) I went into Arizona and gave up five runs in both the first and second innings and ultimately 13 in the game. Back down to earth I go. Lol. It was awesome.

[ScoopBrady]

My Vita copy arrived yesterday and when I popped it in the first thing I heard was a new song by the Mars Volta. That pretty much set the table for the awesomeness that followed. This game is seriously awesome and I cannot believe I was actually debating on whether or not to get it. This game could sell for $60 on the Vita and would be worth it. The fact that it sells for $40 is crazy. The fact that I got it for $20 is insane.

I am enjoying the pulse pitching quite a bit and have settled on the unpopular analog batting. After years of playing baseball video games I am really sick of aiming where I am swinging. That just seems so unrealistic to me as every time I have ever been up to bat in my life I have never felt like I was aiming at where the ball was but was just trying to time my swing. I am finding analog hitting to feel more like what I am used to and don't miss aiming at all. My initial fear was that hitting would be too easy but that hasn't been the case so far. With analog hitting I had an epic at-bat in the ninth inning down 3 with the lead-off man aboard. I was down 0-2 and switched to a contact swing. I fought off at least 10 pitches while working my way to a full-count before finally getting a base hit. Of course I was the Cubbies and failed to score a single run despite getting the first two on base and having the bases loaded in the inning.

I am having the most fun I have had in a long, long time with a baseball video game with this one.

[Rodster]

The fact that it sells for $40 is crazy. The fact that I got it for $20 is insane.

You suck, go ahead and rub it in.

[sportdan30]

Amazing that something so small like a hard ground ball up the middle brought a big ol' smile to my face. The ball struck the mound first and then proceeded to bounce a few times off the ground and the center fielder gloved it. Really looked realistic and something I don't recall seeing last year.

Also, I hit a ball that hit the line down the left field line that hit the chalk. Last year, you could pretty much tell when a ball was going to be fair or foul. With the new ball physics, the game just plays so true to life. I also love the high bounders just over the pitchers mound. Split second reaction is crucial!

[MizzouRah]

PP on AS is freaking very difficult.. I gave up 7 runs with Carp.. ouch!

I can't hit for a lick though on analog, but I still love the feel of it. Fielding is odd with analog.. sometimes they won't throw to a base I have specified.

I'm seeing way too many errors, I guess I'll check out that slider.

[JRod]

I also love the high bounders just over the pitchers mound. Split second reaction is crucial!

Does that mean you have less time to get a good read on a ball??

[toonarmy]

I am having the most fun I have had in a long, long time with a baseball video game with this one.

That is the main reason I am loving this game so much. Yeah, it has wonderful gameplay, graphics, etc., but the fact that I am having a great time playing a video baseball game for the first time in a while is why I am so enamored with Show 12.

[Diablo25]

Beautiful night in Anaheim for baseball...on the Vita Loving this game.

[10spro]

I am getting caught a lot of times looking pretty trying to hit with the analogs on the Vita but I must admit that it feels more generic hitting that way and in my last couple of games, my timing has been much better.

BTW are any of you Eduarlein that sent a friends request?

[MizzouRah]

Yeah.. I just can't bring myself to use timing or zone.. just straight analog all the way.

[Zeppo]

Brando et al, I'm curious what is it about the mechanics of the pulse pitching that is getting you to throw walks? Is the age old problem now a thing of the past, or are you still relying on a long list of house rules to achieve some measure of realistic human walks?

[Brando70]

Brando et al, I'm curious what is it about the mechanics of the pulse pitching that is getting you to throw walks? Is the age old problem now a thing of the past, or are you still relying on a long list of house rules to achieve some measure of realistic human walks?

Nope. What makes it hard is that, on any pitch, the circle will always expand at least a little outside the strikezone at its largest point. Every single pitch sequence therefore includes a chance to throw a ball, even if you leave the marker in the middle. The initial trajectory of the ball can go anywhere in that circle, with the break of the pitch further putting the ball outside where you're aiming. Pitcher accuracy, the current rating for that pitch, and confidence also seem to affect how much control you have.

So the short answer is, it's really hard. I've only played a handful of games, granted, but compared to analog pitching, this seems much more difficult. For me I get the large circle probably 40-50% of the time. Even at its smallest point, the circle is about the size of 4-5 baseballs, so nailing the pulse on the corner is not a guarantee of a strike.

I never liked Classic because it seemed so detached. Analog was fun but way too precise. This is a good balance between ratings and control, although I miss the Analog interface.

[fanatic]

I'm also completely sold on pulse pitching (playing on the Vita). I've seen the whole spectrum - walking guys/striking out the side/missing spots, etc...

On the other side of things, I'm really liking analog hitting. I've always been terrible at zone hitting/aiming. Now, I can really focus on "what pitch I want to swing at", which to me, is the true essence of hitting - that split second decision.

Just to clarify - Does "how" I push the stick up matter at all? For example - if you press it fast/hard, does it result in a harder swing? Or, is it all dependent on timing? Thanks!

[MizzouRah]

I love pulse pitching, but I don't walk very many.

Odd thing is, I walk many players in MLB 2k12.

[Danimal]

Hell I walk a ton of guys with just the classic pitching. No meter, no pulse, no analog. Ryan Dempster walked 3 in a row last night and walked in a run. It really depends on the guys ratings with everything turned off. If you're playing with a good pitching staff then you probably will have less walks.

I like Pulse pitching as well but not on the vita. It's hard enough with the sticks to even line up a pitch on the Vita version. What's funny is I am enjoying the Vita version more then the PS3 though.

[lexbur]

Hell I walk a ton of guys with just the classic pitching. No meter, no pulse, no analog.

Yeah, I walk a lot of guys with classic pitching, too. My closer even walked in the winning run in one game (a walk-off walk). I was p*ssed!

I'm 5-6 in my Tribe season so far. Last year I had a hard time figuring out what level to play on, veteran seemed too easy, all star too hard. This year all star seems just right (so far).