MVP Impressions

MizzouRah · Post by **MizzouRah** » Mon Feb 28, 2005 9:10 pm

How are your stolen bases with the baserunning speeds up a tad?

I've thought about changing the fielder's speeds as well.

Todd

dbdynsty25 · Post by **dbdynsty25** » Mon Feb 28, 2005 9:15 pm

I haven't seen an abnormal amount of stolen bases for or against after adjusting the sliders, but then again it's only been a game and a half. The runners were fairly slow in the first place so I think it will make baserunning more enjoyable and more successful in the long run.

Slumberland · Post by **Slumberland** » Mon Feb 28, 2005 9:51 pm

I gave it a spin on All-Star default with the Yanks, just to see how a team with a good lineup would do me... what a blast. Yanks 3, Red Sox 2, Johnson and Schilling with 6 strikeouts apiece, actually hit two home runs on all-star default, one with Giambi, which sort of warmed my heart in a non-yankee-fan-but-aware-of-the-drama sort of way. I think my favorite moment was with Womack on first, I put on the hit and run with Jeter at bat, Bellhorn goes to cover second once Womack takes off, and Jeter goes the other way with it and sends it right through the hole where Bellhorn used to be. Baseball!

I do have a problem throwing runners out, but that might be because I play with the Mets, generally. Poor Piazza.

Slumberland · Post by **Slumberland** » Mon Feb 28, 2005 9:52 pm

One thing I'm glad to see is that I can still generally get at least two walks per game with the default sliders.

brendanrfoley · Post by **brendanrfoley** » Mon Feb 28, 2005 9:57 pm

This year's MVP is the best console baseball title I've ever played, plain and simple.

I'm not sure if it dethrowns the PC's High Heat 2002, which was just a fantastic title before Team .366 started breaking things, but I think MVP is pretty darn close.

I'm doing things while I play I haven't done since the glory days of HH. When I pitch myself out of a jam, when I get a key two out walk to extend an i nning, when I do something special, I physically celebrate. I also mope when I make a bonehead move.

Every game of MVP feels different, and anything can happen. Blowing a save because I didn't take Tony Womack seriously enough hurts, but I deserved it.

Man, this game is fantastic.

skinsfan · Post by **skinsfan** » Mon Feb 28, 2005 10:15 pm

brendanrfoley wrote:This year's MVP is the best console baseball title I've ever played, plain and simple.

I'm not sure if it dethrowns the PC's High Heat 2002, which was just a fantastic title before Team .366 started breaking things, but I think MVP is pretty darn close.

I'm doing things while I play I haven't done since the glory days of HH. When I pitch myself out of a jam, when I get a key two out walk to extend an i nning, when I do something special, I physically celebrate. I also mope when I make a bonehead move.

Every game of MVP feels different, and anything can happen. Blowing a save because I didn't take Tony Womack seriously enough hurts, but I deserved it.

Man, this game is fantastic.

My sentiments exactly.This one's a classic.I just hope I get decent enough at hitting to be competitive.

MizzouRah · Post by **MizzouRah** » Mon Feb 28, 2005 10:30 pm

dbdynsty25 wrote:I haven't seen an abnormal amount of stolen bases for or against after adjusting the sliders, but then again it's only been a game and a half. The runners were fairly slow in the first place so I think it will make baserunning more enjoyable and more successful in the long run.

I think I'll give these a try. Not a big problem, but the fielders do get to a tad too many should be hits. Again, not by any means a big issue.. I just think the fielders need to get bumped down a tad.

Todd

Slumberland · Post by **Slumberland** » Mon Feb 28, 2005 10:39 pm

dbdynsty25 wrote:I have adjusted 4 sliders...the two fielder speeds (-3) and the two baserunning speeds (+3). I'm getting some damn nice results.

When you say "the two fielder speeds" do you mean infield & outfield or human & CPU?

dbdynsty25 · Post by **dbdynsty25** » Mon Feb 28, 2005 10:41 pm

Slumberland wrote:When you say "the two fielder speeds" do you mean infield & outfield or human & CPU?

Human and CPU.

Spooky · Post by **Spooky** » Mon Feb 28, 2005 10:47 pm

Leebo33 wrote: That's what is AWESOME about this game. Memorable plays. The game is wide open. Anything can happen.

Yep! I have found myself many times wishing I could save replays as I have had some AMAZING moments!!!

Spooky · Post by **Spooky** » Mon Feb 28, 2005 10:55 pm

Hi guys, I have a couple questions...

Does anyone know what the following menu option items actually do?

1. Varible Strike Zone

2. Check Swing Frequency

3. Varible 'Stuff'

???

As usual, the manual is like 3 pages total.

Leebo33 · Post by **Leebo33** » Mon Feb 28, 2005 11:10 pm

I am convinced that pitch meter difficulty is messing things up somehow. That's the only batting/pitching slider I messed with and I started having really low scoring games again. I turned it back to default and both the CPU and I started to hit realistically again. It's something I am going to keep my eye on. I understand that the sample size is small, but it's the *way* the game was playing with all the weak grounders and lazy fly balls.

HouOilers · Post by **HouOilers** » Mon Feb 28, 2005 11:31 pm

I played some exhibition games to improve my hitting skills at coors.

The ball flys out of there more than the other outdoor stadiums I've played in. It's pretty cool EA added the thin air realism at Coors.

MizzouRah · Post by **MizzouRah** » Mon Feb 28, 2005 11:41 pm

Spooky wrote:Hi guys, I have a couple questions...

Does anyone know what the following menu option items actually do?

1. Varible Strike Zone

2. Check Swing Frequency

3. Varible 'Stuff'

???

As usual, the manual is like 3 pages total.

1. The umps will have different strike zones. Sometimes I can nibble the outside corner, other times I can't.

2. I think that means seeing the replay, but I'm not sure here.

3. Part of this, I think, means players have on/off days. I've had pitchers pitch excellent, then come back the next week and get smashed. The same with batters.

Todd

MizzouRah · Post by **MizzouRah** » Mon Feb 28, 2005 11:42 pm

Slumberland wrote:
dbdynsty25 wrote:I have adjusted 4 sliders...the two fielder speeds (-3) and the two baserunning speeds (+3). I'm getting some damn nice results.
When you say "the two fielder speeds" do you mean infield & outfield or human & CPU?

He answered your q's, but I also think the infielder's speed needs a decrease as they dive way too much and get to balls. I know the Cardinals have a great defense, but it's almost too good.

Todd

Jeff · Post by **Jeff** » Tue Mar 01, 2005 12:58 am

Been giving about 50% of my time to both ESPN and MVP over the last week. While ESPN is not a terrible offering this year, there is no question that MVP has a far superior product.

Just played MVP..Marlins at Cards...Willis vs Morris..both are locked in a scoreless battle until the bottom of the 7th when on an 0-2 count Jimmy Edmonds launched a line drive off the right field facade for a homer (like that could of happened in last years game). Taveras and Izzy pitch the 8th and 9th and Cards win 1-0. I should have won 2-0 but I have to learn to slide at home!!!!

The games are just so clean..no bugs, issues, AI plays the way it should.
While MLB 2006 is in the wings its gonna take a major effort to knock MVP off the perch of top baseball game this year!

Jeff

HipE · Post by **HipE** » Tue Mar 01, 2005 2:00 am

I've finally broken through on offense the past couple of nights. The problem is, the CPU has also. I just gave up 9 runs in back to back games against the Cardinals and Pirates. On offense, what has really turned things around for me is that I am now more patient at the plate. I will no longer swing until I have taken at least one strike, with the exception being if I get a fastball up and in. I also sit on high inside pitches when I get ahead in the count, and crush them when they come. I'm now averaging over a homerun a game, and my runs per game are over 3 for the season, quite a turnaround from where I was after 10 games. I also have my walks per game over 3 now, drawing a high of 8 in my last game against the Pirates.

JRod · Post by **JRod** » Tue Mar 01, 2005 2:00 am

Leebo:

Any updates on your pitcher slider testing. I have it at -20. I have a hard time hitting the ball solid so I don't know how this would affect the human. I could see if the CPU's offense became anemic.

This year's MVP is the best console baseball title I've ever played, plain and simple.

I'm not sure if it dethrowns the PC's High Heat 2002, which was just a fantastic title before Team .366 started breaking things, but I think MVP is pretty darn close.

Hell I'm going to go as far and see it beats it out. Modded HH is a different story. Who ever said that "anything can happen" was spot on. MVP just gets baseball right without getting in the way of the user. And unlike HH, the user has more input and control of whats going on.

When I lose a game, I can pick out the situations that cost me a loss. Not only that I can pick out the times that I throw an "off" pitch that cost me a hit or run. I can't say that about HH. There are some problems with error tracking. Really odd errors won't get charged all the time or a really odd play will get charged with an error. Maybe this will happen 1 out of 10 games. Other than that, I have a hard time finding out fundamental flaws. Oh and hey, a camera angle doesn't CAUSE PASSED BALLS.

If EVERY EA Sports game was this complete, I would be a very happy and broke gamer. Too bad the one series they get it "right" is a casualty of their own greed.

webdanzer · Post by **webdanzer** » Tue Mar 01, 2005 2:08 am

"I also sit on high inside pitches when I get ahead in the count, and crush them when they come"

Yep, see my earlier response. This is a key to good batting results in this game, and frankly, it's somewhat annoying.

James_E · Post by **James_E** » Tue Mar 01, 2005 2:11 am

How do I warmup pitchers in the bullpen while I'm at bat?

The only option I have is to "view" my or the opponent bullpen. The option that is used to get to pitchers to warm them up is grayed out. I can access this option while I'm pitching, not while batting. ANyone else?

MizzouRah · Post by **MizzouRah** » Tue Mar 01, 2005 2:14 am

If EVERY EA Sports game was this complete, I would be a very happy and broke gamer. Too bad the one series they get it "right" is a casualty of their own greed.

If that isn't the quote of the year, I don't know what is.

Todd

GTHobbes · Post by **GTHobbes** » Tue Mar 01, 2005 2:14 am

Glad you guys are enjoying the game, but I've got to ask:

After a solid week of playing this game, aren't you guys starting to get bored to tears by the presentation in this game? MVP has so many sliders that I don't doubt that you can tweek it to play a good game of baseball, but I have trouble making it past the 7th inning because it's just so....dull to play.

I don't know..maybe it's just me, but the lack of flare in the presentation of this game just bores me to death.

pigpen81 · Post by **pigpen81** » Tue Mar 01, 2005 2:15 am

"I also sit on high inside pitches when I get ahead in the count, and crush them when they come"

Yep, see my earlier response. This is a key to good batting results in this game, and frankly, it's somewhat annoying.

Web, I disagree somewhat. Good baseball hitters will sit on a pitch in their zone. Heck, most major leaguers crush pitches from the waist to the letters.

There is nothing wrong with being rewarded for sitting on a pitch up in the zone, recognizing it, and actually hitting it with the rewuired perfect timing.

If it is to easy, pitch speed and other settings can be changed to make it more dificult.

Some games I am highly successful and other games I suck completely and get shut out.

While not perfect, this game does hitting better then anything yet, even last years excellent MLB2005.

webdanzer · Post by **webdanzer** » Tue Mar 01, 2005 2:20 am

I don't have a problem with hitters waiting on their zone, piggy...it's just that in this game, the best pitch to hit, period, is up and in. It's just how the hitting system works.

Like I said, it makes for an odd hitting experience compared to zone or cursor hitting.

Danimal · Post by **Danimal** » Tue Mar 01, 2005 2:20 am

James_E wrote:How do I warmup pitchers in the bullpen while I'm at bat?

The only option I have is to "view" my or the opponent bullpen. The option that is used to get to pitchers to warm them up is grayed out. I can access this option while I'm pitching, not while batting. ANyone else?

You should be able to do this, I do it all the time. Not sure what to tell you on why it is not working. Make sure you are by any cut scene type things going on before brining up the menus.