PSP: MLB Impressions...

OmflShark · Post by **OmflShark** » Tue Apr 19, 2005 11:43 am

I have played over 30 games, and I am loving the game. I would buy a PSP just for this one game, but the game is not perfect. I have some observations and questions for others that own the game.

1. Like some others have already stated, I tend to strike out at least 10 times or more per game. I use the guess pitch and location feature but I only guess correctly maybe 3 to 6 times a game, and when you do not guess correctly then your are penalized for guessing wrong (which explains the high amount of strikeouts). I also agree that the strikezone does seem to be too large.

2. I do average 8 to 12 hits a game, but I have a hard time generating runs. I am playing with the Reds (veteran skill level) and it is a struggle to generate more then 3 runs in a game. Is anybody else having this problem? Of all the games I have played, I have only scored more then 5 runs twice.

3. The wild pitches that are not my fault usually occur when there are people on base. In fact, I have quit throwing any junk pitches when the AI has people on base. Has anybody figured out a slider fix on this yet? This is not a game killer, but when there are baserunners on 1st and 2nd and you throw a slider or curveball perfectly executed on the meter only to have it go past your catcher and move the baserunners to 2nd and 3rd it is irritating to say the least. On average, this occurs once or twice a game for me.

I do not have the time or the space to list all of the positives of this game.
Any comments or suggestions would be great. Thanks

dbdynsty25 · Post by **dbdynsty25** » Tue Apr 19, 2005 11:43 am

Sully wrote:They went on to lose the game against the Phils, but it definitely wasn't his fault. Hell, he almost drove in the winning run, but Estrada was nailed at the plate.

Jim Rome said it best...Hampton would have won the game by himself if Estrada didn't have a piano strapped to his back.

Post by **ScoopBrady** » Tue Apr 19, 2005 12:25 pm

I posted my review here:
http://www.scooponsports.com/PostNuke/m ... ntent&id=7

MizzouRah · Post by **MizzouRah** » Tue Apr 19, 2005 12:54 pm

Well written Scoop!

Just so I understand hitting totally - you can just guess the pitch type and if you're right, you'll still get some visual help vs having to also guess the zone?

Thanks,

Todd

Post by **ScoopBrady** » Tue Apr 19, 2005 1:00 pm

MizzouRah wrote:Well written Scoop!

Just so I understand hitting totally - you can just guess the pitch type and if you're right, you'll still get some visual help vs having to also guess the zone?

Thanks,

Todd

Correct. The strike zone will flash red right before disappearing if you guessed the pitch regardless if you guessed location too.

MizzouRah · Post by **MizzouRah** » Tue Apr 19, 2005 1:50 pm

ScoopBrady wrote:
MizzouRah wrote:Well written Scoop!

Just so I understand hitting totally - you can just guess the pitch type and if you're right, you'll still get some visual help vs having to also guess the zone?

Thanks,

Todd
Correct. The strike zone will flash red right before disappearing if you guessed the pitch regardless if you guessed location too.

Funny.. I saw that happening last night and paid no attention to it.

Thanks,

Todd

sportdan30 · Post by **sportdan30** » Tue Apr 19, 2005 2:02 pm

Is it still possible to make contact if you guessed the wrong pitch and location?

dbdynsty25 · Post by **dbdynsty25** » Tue Apr 19, 2005 2:04 pm

sportdan30 wrote:Is it still possible to make contact if you guessed the wrong pitch and location?

Yes, it just won't be very good contact.

GTHobbes · Post by **GTHobbes** » Tue Apr 19, 2005 2:05 pm

sportdan30 wrote:Is it still possible to make contact if you guessed the wrong pitch and location?

Yes it is. Like I've said before, I use the feature just as much when I guess wrong as I do when I guess right. If I guess fastball outside, and the strike zone does not flash red or the cursor does not appear, I'll usually look for something off speed inside, etc. I probably get just as many hits when I guess wrong as when I do guess right.

GTHobbes · Post by **GTHobbes** » Tue Apr 19, 2005 2:06 pm

dbdynsty25 wrote:
sportdan30 wrote:Is it still possible to make contact if you guessed the wrong pitch and location?
Yes, it just won't be very good contact.

I don't believe this is true (see my post above).

dbdynsty25 · Post by **dbdynsty25** » Tue Apr 19, 2005 2:09 pm

GTHobbes wrote:I don't believe this is true (see my post above).

I still think it's true...

MizzouRah · Post by **MizzouRah** » Tue Apr 19, 2005 2:13 pm

I did read a tad about it.. I thought if you guessed it right, you would get a bonus - meaning HR, double, hard hit ball... Doesn't do anything if you guess wrong - at least I don't think so.

Todd

OmflShark · Post by **OmflShark** » Tue Apr 19, 2005 3:03 pm

If you guess it then you get an advantage, if you do not guess it then you are at a disadvantage. You can still get a hit, but it will be more difficult, then if you did not use the guess pitch option.

GTHobbes · Post by **GTHobbes** » Tue Apr 19, 2005 3:27 pm

dbdynsty25 wrote:
GTHobbes wrote:I don't believe this is true (see my post above).
I still think it's true...

DB, I thought I saw you post somewhere that you play with the strike zone set to "off." Maybe I have you confused with someone else. But if not, how do you ever know that you guessed right?

MizzouRah · Post by **MizzouRah** » Tue Apr 19, 2005 4:08 pm

GTHobbes wrote:
dbdynsty25 wrote:
GTHobbes wrote:I don't believe this is true (see my post above).
I still think it's true...
DB, I thought I saw you post somewhere that you play with the strike zone set to "off." Maybe I have you confused with someone else. But if not, how do you ever know that you guessed right?

If the k zone is off, you can't use the guess pitch option? I thought that was only for pitching?

Todd

GTHobbes · Post by **GTHobbes** » Tue Apr 19, 2005 4:29 pm

You can still use the guess pitch and location feature if the k zone is turned off, but I don't know how in the world db or anyone else could ever know if they've guessed right since they would not see the flashing red.

BTW, glad to see you're giving the psp version a try Todd. I'm a big Cards fan (have been since I was a little kid), and the one thing that disappoints me is not being able to see the signature stuff for Walker, Pujols, Edmonds, etc. that they have in the PS2 version. Oh well, hopefully next year's psp version will also have this stuff. I am glad to see that the psp version of MVP will have the replays from its console cousin.

dbdynsty25 · Post by **dbdynsty25** » Tue Apr 19, 2005 4:33 pm

Someone please reference the post where I said I played with the strike zone off. I've never said that.

GTHobbes · Post by **GTHobbes** » Tue Apr 19, 2005 4:49 pm

Sorry db...I must've confused you with someone else. No offense.

Sport73 · Post by **Sport73** » Tue Apr 19, 2005 4:50 pm

Why don't they articulate this stuff clearly in the manual instead of leaving it up to us as gamers to decipher and debate how the hell hitting works.

Great game, but it's infuriating that both 989 and EA think that the computer logic for hitting is best kept in the same vault as the formula for original Coke.

MizzouRah · Post by **MizzouRah** » Tue Apr 19, 2005 7:40 pm

Sport73 wrote:Why don't they articulate this stuff clearly in the manual instead of leaving it up to us as gamers to decipher and debate how the hell hitting works.

Great game, but it's infuriating that both 989 and EA think that the computer logic for hitting is best kept in the same vault as the formula for original Coke.

I just re-read the manual and it does explain it pretty well.

Todd

MizzouRah · Post by **MizzouRah** » Tue Apr 19, 2005 8:33 pm

I'm still seeing way too many passed balls, mostly when someone is on base. Just normal pitches turning into passed balls and usually in bunches, then tappers off again. I just allowed 2 runs, both on passed balls. Once, I had two in a row, which caused the runner on second to score.

I hope someone finds a slider tweak - maybe the throw accuracy up +5?

Todd

Dave · Post by **Dave** » Tue Apr 19, 2005 8:55 pm

Mizzou, had the same problem...mine allowed the game-tying run with Joe Nathan on the hill.

The first one, a slider, just went by the catcher. Next pitch, a fastball, went screaming by way high and outside, right to the backstop. I was not happy.

I thought I saw people were adjusting the error slider to help, but I haven't tried it.

MizzouRah · Post by **MizzouRah** » Tue Apr 19, 2005 10:04 pm

Yeah, haven't read all that much about it yet, except for here at OS, but I'm having an issue with it. I hope arm strength doesn't have anything to do with it as I have that turned all the way down.

Todd

sportdan30 · Post by **sportdan30** » Tue Apr 19, 2005 10:06 pm

Just returned MLB for full credit at EB Games. What's even better is that the manager there said he'd refund my MVP for the Xbox at full credit and write it off as defective. If not, the trade in value on it would be $15 which of course would not be worth it.

MLB is a solid game with a few glaring issues that unfortunately ruined my overall experience. Honestly, I'm excited about next year's game more so than I would be about a rehashed MVP. With just a little tweaking done to the pitching, more hit variety, and the addition of slider adjustments, I can see it overtaking ESPN.

Dave · Post by **Dave** » Tue Apr 19, 2005 10:19 pm

Dan, can we start shipping our games to you for refunds?