MVP Impressions

JRod · Post by **JRod** » Thu Feb 24, 2005 1:28 am

Slumber,
I feel they toned down the hitting this year. I had a fantasy draft team single me to death. 20 hits 8 runs only 1 double and triple. I think they over corrected from last year's version. Good thing the slider's work...

Did I mention I'm having a ton of fun with MVP.

JRod · Post by **JRod** » Thu Feb 24, 2005 1:29 am

Slumberland.
I feel they toned down the hitting this year. I had a fantasy draft team single me to death. 20 hits 8 runs only 1 double and triple. I think they over corrected from last year's version. Good thing the slider's work...

Did I mention I'm having a ton of fun with MVP.

PS You can't type in "s-l-u-m-b-e-r" without getting an error when posthing.

Sully · Post by **Sully** » Thu Feb 24, 2005 1:43 am

One more time, JRod?

JRod · Post by **JRod** » Thu Feb 24, 2005 1:58 am

I have made the forums mad, it won't let me delete posts.

PK/Jared a little help.

HouOilers · Post by **HouOilers** » Thu Feb 24, 2005 1:58 am

Found you guys last month and thought I would start contributing.

This game is off the hook. I have the xbox version and they improved the graphics immensely from last year. The controls are perfect and you can just hop into a game and play.

Danimal · Post by **Danimal** » Thu Feb 24, 2005 2:24 am

HouOilers wrote:Found you guys last month and thought I would start contributing.

This game is off the hook. I have the xbox version and they improved the graphics immensely from last year. The controls are perfect and you can just hop into a game and play.

FoShizzel!

HouOilers · Post by **HouOilers** » Thu Feb 24, 2005 5:36 am

Does wind effect the ball this year?

HouOilers · Post by **HouOilers** » Thu Feb 24, 2005 5:41 am

Am I doing something wrong when posting here? I posted a few times and it sends me to 'debug mode'. Some of my posts are appearing and some are not. My count is still at zero. What's up?

HouOilers · Post by **HouOilers** » Thu Feb 24, 2005 5:41 am

Am I doing something wrong when posting here? I posted a few times and it sends me to 'debug mode'. Some of my posts are appearing and some are not. My count is still at zero. What's up?

Leebo33 · Post by **Leebo33** » Thu Feb 24, 2005 9:41 am

HouOilers:

I think everyone is getting that. The forums are getting worse by the day.

Slumberland · Post by **Slumberland** » Thu Feb 24, 2005 11:45 am

Browsing and posting the these days is like watching Robert DeNiro slowly slip back into catatonia at the end of Awakenings. Sad.

Where's the L-Dopa, Jared?

kicko · Post by **kicko** » Thu Feb 24, 2005 11:52 am

i went with the console version as well, i will get pc as soon as kinks get worked out, is it me or is the pitching meter a bit harder, i mean it should be but it might be a little too hard, i finally got the hang then went online and was lie not hitting that red mark worth a damn, lost the game 2 - 0. overall MVP is nice!

Slumberland · Post by **Slumberland** » Thu Feb 24, 2005 11:57 am

I can make the pitching meter very tough, but seemingly not in a way that will cause me to throw any walks. Anyone having any luck with the pitcher accuracy slider?

Dave · Post by **Dave** » Thu Feb 24, 2005 12:11 pm

Picked this up last night thanks to the Gamestop deal, but didn't have time to play a full game. I never played 2004, so the learning curve is fairly steep.

Played a couple innings as the Twins at (AAA) Indianapolis. The ratings for the Twins all looked pretty good to me (outside of some overly extreme right/lefty splits for a couple, but that's just my opinion) and they nailed some of their stances/swings very well. My initial opinion about the pitching meter is very positive. I was afraid it would be too "labor intensive" for my tastes in a baseball game, but it is pretty slick. Definitely smoother in the field than last year's ESPN game.

Anyone have a clue how players progress in this game? I have some "Top 100 Prospects" that I'd like to see develop but know how hard it is to get through a full season. If it works well, then maybe I'll sim a year or two to get guys like Mauer, Morneau, Kubel, and Durbin closer to their prime.

Spooky · Post by **Spooky** » Thu Feb 24, 2005 12:57 pm

Pick it up last night (X-Box) and got to play 2 games.

Quick initial assessments:

-I really enjoyed last years on the PC so I already am familiar with the series. I am glad to report they really do seem to have taken everything that people complained about last year and either implemented it right off, or put in a slider for it. Personally, I HATE sliders, but there are a TON here. At first I was kind of excited to see them (just to know they are available), and then I started to tweak them a little for fun and was totally bummed that they span such a HUGE range. That is what bugs me most. They go from -50 to +50. I was hoping they would just go from like -10 to +10. 50 points leaves way too much room for tweaking and testing. You could lose months. Too intimidating. Anyway, for you slider freaks, this games has them in spades.

-Graphics are only slightly upgraded from last year but added some nice animations. The game is in 720p though for all you HD users (enjoy DB!). It think the game looks fantastic (especially if your okay with EA’s typical semi-cartoonie player model look).

-Fundamental gameplay has not change much, which is a good thing. I have noticed the same things others have for improvements like more walks, no lefty bug (I think), ect… Anyway, like I said, I was already a fan of the series so this one will have me very happy in the gameplay area. I love the pitcher/batter interface.

-‘Hitters Eye’ is not nearly as gimmicky as I thought it would be. It is actually pretty cool as of right now. I like the concept at least.

-Cubs are rated #1!

-Nice assortment of hits so far. Foul balls, line drives, ect…

I am looking forward to playing online! I think this game shines in multiplayer. Although I read that you cannot change the default camera angles online!?!? Too bad as I LOVE the ‘angled’ cam, choice 2 I think. That has got to be the best hitters cam ever! So glad they kept that angle in there (I think I recall it being the default angle in the first MVP installment).

So far so good, but then again, I know it would be for me. I am just very glad to see they seem to have listened to the consumer and fixed the things that were issues last year. I know it’s hard to say this most of the time, but, thanks EA!!!

Post by **ScoopBrady** » Thu Feb 24, 2005 2:19 pm

I only had a chance to play 1 game last night but I liked what I saw. No glaring issues screamed out at me with the exception of walks. I didn't mess with any sliders though and from what I hear the sliders really work this year. I played as the Cubbies at home against the Reds and lost 3-0. Everything seemed to have been fixed from last years version and fielding seems to have been improved as well. It was pretty realistic though as I had a couple of different innings where I was heating up and threatening but failed to plate any runs.

dbdynsty25 · Post by **dbdynsty25** » Thu Feb 24, 2005 2:39 pm

Spooky wrote:The game is in 720p though for all you HD users (enjoy DB!). It think the game looks fantastic (especially if your okay with EA’s typical semi-cartoonie player model look).

Oh I did enjoy it...I actually like the look of MVP better than 2k5. The player models are a little more cartoony, but when I see Bartolo Colon, I want to see a big ass...you don't see that in 2k5. I also think the colors are more realistic...they just seem too bright and overly saturated in 2k5. Regardless, both look outstanding on the new TV...its awesome.

I know you're proud that I got a widescreen too...LOL.

dbdynsty25 · Post by **dbdynsty25** » Thu Feb 24, 2005 2:48 pm

Spooky wrote:The game is in 720p though for all you HD users (enjoy DB!). It think the game looks fantastic (especially if your okay with EA’s typical semi-cartoonie player model look).

Oh I did enjoy it...I actually like the look of MVP better than 2k5. The player models are a little more cartoony, but when I see Bartolo Colon, I want to see a big ass...you don't see that in 2k5. I also think the colors are more realistic...they just seem too bright and overly saturated in 2k5. Regardless, both look outstanding on the new TV...its awesome.

I know you're proud that I got a widescreen too...LOL.

HouOilers · Post by **HouOilers** » Thu Feb 24, 2005 5:09 pm

I was fooling around with the options and the Cooperstown thing is pretty cool. If you play at a older stadium like the Polo Grounds with Cooperstown on, it makes the graphics look like an old film reel. Pretty cool.

MizzouRah · Post by **MizzouRah** » Thu Feb 24, 2005 5:23 pm

It seems to me if you're in your particular farm team's roster screen and elect to optimize rosters, it doesn't screw up your major league roster. However, if your just select to optimize when it asks you during the sim screen, it screws everything up.

Does this seem right? I hope so as I hate messing with my farm team's rosters all the time due to suspensions, injuries, etc..

Todd

JRod · Post by **JRod** » Thu Feb 24, 2005 5:39 pm

Mizzou,
Ya I think that's the trick. Manager your own rosters/lineups and you can get with only letting the CPU optimize the minors, when it calls for it. Otherwise, it does a pretty good job of managing the rosters.

Spooky · Post by **Spooky** » Thu Feb 24, 2005 5:49 pm

Just played a couple more games and there is not much more that I can say except that I am VERY impressed!

EA freakin' listened! Imagine that...

I think it is safe to say the the initial forum impressions seem favorable to MVP over 2K5 right now (which might not be a good thing for MVP knowing DSP's initial impressions track record

). With that said, looks like we might be a bit more bummed than we thought next year when the licensing agreements start to kick in. I know it may be premature, but I could not help thinking to myself as I was enjoying my few games with MVP that this is probably the last we'll see of this series for a while.

I know I am very excited to get this game for my PSP as well now! Maybe they can find a loophole in the agreements that lets them use the MLB license for handhelds.

Also, if they impressions of this game hold up (whether or not it is your cup of tea, more impressions of gameplay strengths, i.e. no bugs, realistc, ect...) I am wondering how our view towards EA might shift a little. I for one am very impressed that they seemed to have addressed all of the complaints that I have seen posted here. Now, whether or not that makes it a better game, or your game of choice is moot. I think that EA (so far) deserves BIG kudos on the development of this series.

webdanzer · Post by **webdanzer** » Thu Feb 24, 2005 5:54 pm

I can't dismiss weeks of:

"What lefty bug? You just suck."

so easily.

Danimal · Post by **Danimal** » Fri Feb 25, 2005 7:54 pm

I haven't played enough yet to make a judgement. But I did notcie on the PC version that the grass on the field is very fuzzy looking and the choppiness is back on the throw from 3rd to 1st. Anyone else have the PC version and find a way to fix this?

I hit a couple of dingers with lefties in the few games I playes so that seems fixed, saw some steals and even a hit & run. Walked a few times a game, but have not walked anyone yet while pitching.

Brando70 · Post by **Brando70** » Fri Feb 25, 2005 8:39 pm

Having played both, I want to keep playing MVP. I've only played All-Star default levels, and my free swinging has made it hard to draw walks. But even on default, I saw a lot more balls from the pitchers and also threw a lot more when I missed the green zone on the edges of the strike zone. Put it this way -- it didn't seem like I would have to tweak much to get it where it's more realistic.

Also, the MVP meter is just more fun than K-Zone. It mimics the rocking back and forth of firing a pitch, whereas K-Zone feels a bit like a basketball freethrow system tacked onto a baseball game.

Another big selling point for me are the controls. This game just feels so much tighter in terms of control than Sega's game. Fielding is an absolute blast.

I don't want to declare a winner after just a few games. But right now I want to play MVP and I'm not going to ignore that for the sake of giving the other guy a chance. MVP wins the battle of first impressions by quite a bit with me.