MVP Impressions

[GridIronGhost]

BTW, how would this baby run on my:

P4 2.6(800mhz)
512mb ddr(400mhz)
Radeon 9200

I may wanna try playing it on the PC.

It will run fine and look incredible. You *might* get the stuttering on throws across the infield (I do) but it is not a very big deal. Other than that the game is SMOOTH.

(Some people with 9200 cards but fast CPUs (like yours) are saying they DON'T get the stuttering problem at all.. so maybe you'll luck out.)

But the stuttering is not bad enough to steer you away from the PC version IMHO.

See you on EASO. I'm "srjamese" on there.

How is the online play on EASO? Is it smooth amd responsive? Is it better to play IP to IP then on EASO? Some video cards like the one the poster asked about (9200) will not allow high player res.

[GridIronGhost]

On another note, it blows my MIND that the difference between the conglomerate scores of MVP 2005 and MLB 2K5 at gamerankings.com is one sixth of a percentage point.

It just goes to show you that there are a lot of people who value presentation and style. 2k5 has that in droves...it just doesn't play a very good game of baseball.

I'm one of those people, I beleive Mr. Abner would call me something like fluffy? I loved MVP last year, but I can't seem to get into it after playing MLB 2K5. I'm really confused as to why so many here dislike the game. Remind me again what's wrong with the game, because the only thing that sticks out is passed balls by the CPU and I'm not seeing it!

Go figure, last year I could not play ESPN Baseball because how dull, boring and awful looking the game was and now it's MVP filling that spot, with MLB 2K5 taking the drivers seat. Let's see how long this love affair lasts, they say beauty is only skin deep.

Most of you will not see what I mean about MVP because you prolly did not play it the last 2 years and it's prolly the same for me because I did not play ESPN Baseball for the last 3 years. I like the new coat of paint.

[dbdynsty25]

Most of you will not see what I mean about MVP because you prolly did not play it the last 2 years and it's prolly the same for me because I did not play ESPN Baseball for the last 3 years. I like the new coat of paint.

Something tells me that you haven't started a franchise or a season in MLB 2k5 yet...that's where most of the bugs show up (besides the pass ball issue). I played the hell out of both ESPN 2k4 and MVP 2004 and MVP 2005 is the biggest step up I've seen in a long time. There is literally nothing wrong with the game in my eyes. Most don't like the hitting model but if you play the game long enough, it starts to become clear and you appreciate the nuances it allows. Hitting a ball behind the runner during a hit and run is one of the most rewarding things you can do with a bat and it's conveyed well in MVP...can't say the same for 2k5.

[Diablo25]

Anyone expecting MLB 2006 to be great will likely be disappointed because 989 sports has NEVER EVER produced a decent sports game. It has NEVER happened and it is foolish to expect anything more than a turd. It is 989 afterall.....remember Gameday 2001 and all the disasters that followed? I do not think it has changed and probably never will.


As disppointing as MLB 2K5 is it will probably be much better than MLB 2006.

I don't know you TRI, but this may be the most least informed post I've seen this year.

I agree with GT here. 989 has very nice franchise with MLB. Last year's version was super and with 2006 they have fixed some of the things that NEEDED to be fixed. They aren't trying to reinvent the wheel with 2006 and that is good. IMO, its the most promising game of the big 3. The only negative I have to say about it is that its PS2 only. Do some research TRI and I'm sure you will be impressed. If not...thats ok.

[Boom]

Most of you will not see what I mean about MVP because you prolly did not play it the last 2 years and it's prolly the same for me because I did not play ESPN Baseball for the last 3 years. I like the new coat of paint

I've played MVP the past 2 years as well and always felt it had a very good base, but had stuff going wrong that bugged the s*** out of me. Some of the things from MVP 03 and 04 that I remember are (not subject to both games of course):
- Catchers not tagging runners out at the plate
- Batters not swinging at pitches out of the strike zone... EVER.. .they would not do it
- No fatigue factor over course of time
- Poor AI substitutions
- No AI steal attempts
- Lefty bug

that's off the top of my head, a list of things that I personally had issues with over the past two years. All of that has been fixed and packaged up into right now, what I think is damn near most perfect game of baseball I've every played.

[GridIronGhost]

Most of you will not see what I mean about MVP because you prolly did not play it the last 2 years and it's prolly the same for me because I did not play ESPN Baseball for the last 3 years. I like the new coat of paint.

Something tells me that you haven't started a franchise or a season in MLB 2k5 yet...that's where most of the bugs show up (besides the pass ball issue). I played the hell out of both ESPN 2k4 and MVP 2004 and MVP 2005 is the biggest step up I've seen in a long time. There is literally nothing wrong with the game in my eyes. Most don't like the hitting model but if you play the game long enough, it starts to become clear and you appreciate the nuances it allows. Hitting a ball behind the runner during a hit and run is one of the most rewarding things you can do with a bat and it's conveyed well in MVP...can't say the same for 2k5.

You're right I have not started a franchise yet, I only simmed through one. Bummer you can't play spring training games. Are most of the bugs stat related? I really don't pay too much attention to stats.

[HouOilers]

Anyone expecting MLB 2006 to be great will likely be disappointed because 989 sports has NEVER EVER produced a decent sports game. It has NEVER happened and it is foolish to expect anything more than a turd. It is 989 afterall.....remember Gameday 2001 and all the disasters that followed? I do not think it has changed and probably never will.


As disppointing as MLB 2K5 is it will probably be much better than MLB 2006.

I don't know you TRI, but this may be the most least informed post I've seen this year.

I agree with GT here. 989 has very nice franchise with MLB. Last year's version was super and with 2006 they have fixed some of the things that NEEDED to be fixed. They aren't trying to reinvent the wheel with 2006 and that is good. IMO, its the most promising game of the big 3. The only negative I have to say about it is that its PS2 only. Do some research TRI and I'm sure you will be impressed. If not...thats ok.

I've never played a 989 game, mainly just EA and sometimes Sega. Was last years game close to what MVP is this year? I've read magazine previews about it and they say it has the best graphics of all the baseball games on either ps2 or xbox, even better than mvp. But most of those previews don't mention how it plays.

[GridIronGhost]

Most of you will not see what I mean about MVP because you prolly did not play it the last 2 years and it's prolly the same for me because I did not play ESPN Baseball for the last 3 years. I like the new coat of paint

I've played MVP the past 2 years as well and always felt it had a very good base, but had stuff going wrong that bugged the s*** out of me. Some of the things from MVP 03 and 04 that I remember are (not subject to both games of course):
- Catchers not tagging runners out at the plate
- Batters not swinging at pitches out of the strike zone... EVER.. .they would not do it
- No fatigue factor over course of time
- Poor AI substitutions
- No AI steal attempts
- Lefty bug

that's off the top of my head, a list of things that I personally had issues with over the past two years. All of that has been fixed and packaged up into right now, what I think is damn near most perfect game of baseball I've every played.

I agree, what I ment was that the core game play was always there, they just polished it this year like they said they would do by the third year of the franchise. So it just feels the the same to me, more so when I'm playing a fresh new game like MLB. The last two bugs you listed were fixed on the PC version, so I'm not too exciting by that fix as some of the xbox/PS2 fans are. I'm more of a football fan then baseball, so when it's Nov. and I'm still playing a baseball game and not football, you know this game (MVP) is good. I just like the new blond too!

[dbdynsty25]

I've never played a 989 game, mainly just EA and sometimes Sega. Was last years game close to what MVP is this year? I've read magazine previews about it and they say it has the best graphics of all the baseball games on either ps2 or xbox, even better than mvp. But most of those previews don't mention how it plays.

There were four main things wrong with last years MLB 2005 for the PS2. Lack of Walks, Lack of Check Swings, limited fielder control (beautiful animations took over a little earlier than people are used to), and the thing that bothered me the most, the roster limitations (you could only carry 10 pitchers).

Their batting and pitching model was by far the best of the bunch last year and it is still better than the games that came out this year. That's the biggest draw for the series...because you spend 90% of the game in that mode.

All of the above mentioned flaws supposedly have been fixed. If that's the case, I believe it will surpass MVP's very very impressive offering this year. MLB was a damn nice game last year...but like I said, there were a couple issues. The few of us on here who tried the game liked it (some loved, myself included)...I don't expect that to change this year.

[dbdynsty25]

You're right I have not started a franchise yet, I only simmed through one. Bummer you can't play spring training games. Are most of the bugs stat related? I really don't pay too much attention to stats.

Yeah, most of the bugs in 2K5 are stat related in the franchise mode outside of the wild pitch thing. I'm a big franchise guy so those things stick out like a sore thumb to me.

[webdanzer]

Last year's MLB computer opponent was also terribly easy to beat. The CPU offense could only barely generate runs. I think I went 6 games giving up a grand total of 2 runs combined, on the hardest difficulty settings.

This too has supposedly been addressed.

[Danimal]

Can't the three people who actually enjoy MLB2K use one of the 45 threads JackB has started to discuss it?

[Slumberland]

Are you guys generally pitching with faded cursor or no cursor at all?

[Spooky]

Can't the three people who actually enjoy MLB2K use one of the 45 threads JackB has started to discuss it?

LOL!

[Danimal]

Are you guys generally pitching with faded cursor or no cursor at all?

In order for me to walk anyone that is not intentional (ie. I am nibbiling the corners and miss.) I use the following

No Strike Zone
Cold / Hot Zones Faded
No Cursor
No Vibration

I also make sure I pitch from the pitchers view as it makes hitting corners more difficult. This make pitching much more challening.

[HouOilers]

I turn all pitching aides off. It's the best way to play the game on AllStar.

[Slumberland]

That's what I figured. I've had it set to fade, and my ERA has been a little too low.

[MUTTS]

That's what I figured. I've had it set to fade, and my ERA has been a little too low.

Wow- I just suck. I'm giving up like 10 runs per game and 4-5 homeruns. Why the hell cant I pitch?

Tony

[Brando70]

That's what I figured. I've had it set to fade, and my ERA has been a little too low.

Wow- I just suck. I'm giving up like 10 runs per game and 4-5 homeruns. Why the hell cant I pitch?

Tony

Because you've been working 90 hours a week for the last few years instead of playing videogames like the rest of us slackers

[Danimal]

I played some really good games tonight with my adjusted sliders, think I'll give them a few more games and post them in case anyone wants to see them.

Anyway I played a 17 inning effort as the Cub vs Brewers. I went into the 8th inning with a 2-0 lead, when Carlos Lee singled in a two out run off of Borowski. So I head into the bottom of the 9th up 2-1, I put Hawkins in and he procedes to blow the save again by surrendering a game tying homerun.

Now it is a chess game of bullpen moves, pinch runners / hitters etc. Nothing much happens until the 15th, my bench is depleted and I have runners on 1st and 2nd. Derick Lee is on second and Walker is up at the plate. Only guy on my bench to run in Blanko so no upgrade there.

Walker singles into right field and I send Lee, of course Carlos Lee fires a bullete to home and Derek bowls over the catcher who holds onto the ball.

Cut to the bottom of the 15th, Brewers have a fast runner on second and Spivey is up. He singles down the right field line, Burnits gets to the ball and I can tell I need to fire a pee to the plate. I charge that thing all the way Red and he throws home it is off line, but gets there ahead of the runner. Barrett handles the throw and lunges at the runner and tags him out. Argument insues and the Brewers skipper is tossed.

We go to the bottom of the 17th, all I have left is Mitre or else start using starters. He is at like 72% stamina so I figure he can do it. Again some really fast guy singles, moves over on the Sac bunt. I get the next batter to foul out. I then walk the next.

First and second, two outs. Carlos Lee comes to the plate. He hits a 2-1 4 seamer up the middle, I'm thinking no problem, Corey Patterson will get that and can throw the guy out if he even goes. The ball hits the second base bag and it caues the ball to lose speed and kick into left field. By time anyone got to it the runner had scored.

It was one of those moments where I just hung my head, controller in hand and said as loud as i could

F$%&ING HAWKINS

[MizzouRah]

Great story!

I had a 16 inning Cards - Cubs game last night. I had to finally bring in Marquis because I was out of pitchers. Ended up losing and ran my record to like 4-9.

I use everything off, except for cursor on fade. Next game I think, "should I turn the cursor off?" my scores have been a tad low lately, I leave it on fade and the Astros crush me 12-2.


Todd

[JRod]

I am going to rent MLB 2006. But here's where its not going to surpass MVP.

In MVP, I feel I have total control over the ball game. A bad throw is my fault, I ground into a DP with bases loaded to end the inning my fault.

Not only that but some of the ball physics quirks have remined me of the weirdness in WE8:I.

MVP will more play time has a lot of things going for it. Some things remind of Winning Eleven.

- Each team feels differently. I started two owner mode games last night. One with Minnesota and the other with the Cards. The Cards are dangerous. The can hit anything and have the pitching staff to win a lot of games. Minnesota on the other hand has no bats. I think their highest HR hitter had 25. I just could not over power teams with them. On top of that who you face is also amazing. Santana started against the Mariners, another not that great hitting team. It ended up in a 1-0 18 inning affair. Geez that was the longest game I've played in my life. I thought the the shoe was about to drop because I mastered the pitching. I then fired up a St. Louis owner's game and played Houston. Not the best hitters club but they had more bats than Seattle. I got rocked.

- AI as good as or better than HH. There's no throwing to 1st on a bunt to the pitcher with a slow runner advancing. You miss hit that bunt and the pitcher is going to get you out. There's very little head scratching going on.

- The wonderful "anything can happen" feeling. Listen to this play. At STL, Sheffield hits a hard grounder to Pujols. He can knocks it down but he has to chase. Isringhausen comes over to cover 1st. Pujols palms the ball but makes a leaping fade away throw to 1st. I had to max out the meter to beat out the runner. The throw isn't close and while Isrinhausen dives for it, there's no way he can make the play. What's sure to be Sheffield advancing to 2nd on the error, the ball then HITS SHEFFIELD IN THE FOOT, knocking it down. I've never seen these types of thing happen in any baseball game. I've seen hits off the pitcher and the IF make the proper adjustements to cover. I've seen players complety miss a ball while they were trying to palm it to make a throw.

I could go on and on. This game has met every and exceeded my expectations this year.

[MizzouRah]

I'll also say that winning a game even with my Cardinals in MVP is quite an "accomplishment" feeling. Hitting a homerun has me jumping up and down, striking out Berkman with two on and two outs has me pumping my fists.. I could go on. The game does A LOT right - and out of the box to boot.

When you bring up that minor leaguer who's tearing it up and he hits a double in his first at bat, has that High Heat feeling to it. The AI rests players, pinch hits in key spots, and brings in a lefty to face Larry Walker in a tight game. The game was tested VERY well. (take note Sega)

As with any game, it's not for everyone.. but I think it might be the biggest improvement in any sports game in just one year that I've ever seen. They fixed my gripes and nothing was broken in the process.. quite a feat.


Todd

[MizzouRah]

Down 3-0 vs Andy Pettite all game and have a big 7 run 7th inning off of him, which sent him to the showers! Rolen capped off the 7 run inning with a 3 run HR. Final was 7-4.. I love this game.

I saw the ball really well in that game. I really think the "variable stuff" makes each game different. That first inning with my starter usually tells me if he's "on" or is going to struggle.

Another thing, I'm still seeing a ton of different hits in this game. Biggio was injured early in the game and their replacement was much slower, which allowed me a key bloop single in front of him. Little things...


Todd

[brendanrfoley]

I'll also say that winning a game even with my Cardinals in MVP is quite an "accomplishment" feeling. Hitting a homerun has me jumping up and down, striking out Berkman with two on and two outs has me pumping my fists.. I could go on. The game does A LOT right - and out of the box to boot.

When you bring up that minor leaguer who's tearing it up and he hits a double in his first at bat, has that High Heat feeling to it. The AI rests players, pinch hits in key spots, and brings in a lefty to face Larry Walker in a tight game. The game was tested VERY well. (take note Sega)

As with any game, it's not for everyone.. but I think it might be the biggest improvement in any sports game in just one year that I've ever seen. They fixed my gripes and nothing was broken in the process.. quite a feat.


Todd

Amen. I've seen obvious strikes called balls, then am amazed when the pitcher loses control on the mound. I've seen light hitting short stops get real hot for a series and destroy me. I've shut down the other teams big hitter with my number five starter. I've had my ace take the hill with nothing in the tank. I've seen my best hitters struggle. I've had my worst hitters hit a game breaking double.

Nothing feels scripted in this game -- and now that I'm drawing and throwing walks, I'm slowly starting to think this may be my favorite baseball game of all time.

As sad as it is (nostalgia wise), I think High Heat has been replaced. In my opinion, this is the baseball game we've been clamoring for the past few years.

I'm thrilled.