MLB 2006 The Show Demo at EBGames for a Pre-Order

AJColossal · Post by **AJColossal** » Wed Mar 01, 2006 5:18 pm

Quick impressions after about 5 innings (PS2):

Hit variety seems pretty good. It's not all about liners and rocket ground balls anymore. It's not MVP, but better than last year.

Baserunning and defense seems exactly the same as last year's. For better or worse. So far, so good.

I drew a walk. Good sign there.

CPU offense put up a fight on All-Star.

Let me know if someone can score from second on a base hit to the OF. It was hard in the demo, and I got thrown out my 1st attempt here. Hard to tell yet, but something to keep your eye on. OFs seem too good at throwing home (maybe).

Seems to be a weird thing where if you check your swing with two strikes, you always seem to get called out. When you check the replay, you see the ball bounce off your bat and into the catcher's mitt. Again, maybe a freak occurence, but someone tell me if they can check a swing with two strikes.

Overall, I'm pretty satisfied so far.

10spro · Post by **10spro** » Wed Mar 01, 2006 5:36 pm

How's the rosters guys? Pretty much updated?

AJColossal · Post by **AJColossal** » Wed Mar 01, 2006 5:41 pm

I thought I heard someone say they were updated as of 2/27. I can't check now, because I'm back at work.

EDIT: That's 2/27 if you go online and get the roster update. I'm not sure what the cut-off date is out of the box.

Diablo25 · Post by **Diablo25** » Wed Mar 01, 2006 7:03 pm

AJColossal wrote:I thought I heard someone say they were updated as of 2/27. I can't check now, because I'm back at work.

EDIT: That's 2/27 if you go online and get the roster update. I'm not sure what the cut-off date is out of the box.

So there is an online roster update available?

dbdynsty25 · Post by **dbdynsty25** » Wed Mar 01, 2006 7:51 pm

Yes, there is a roster update. Once you go online, it'll download it automatically. Then when you exit, it'll tell you that the updated roster (I think it said Feb 26) is active and to use it offline you need to save it.

BTW...they did a fabulous job with this game. They fixed all of my issues with the game...especially from a roster standpoint. I'm definitely happy with it. Same thing holds true for the PSP version. Both are awesome.

Now the only issue is which platform gets 2k6. I can't really play MLB on both the PSP and the PS2 all season so I'm going to need to get 2k6 to break up the "sameness" so I assume it'll be on the 360...but who knows how good that'll be.

wabash97 · Post by **wabash97** » Wed Mar 01, 2006 7:59 pm

Db,

Can't remember if you were an MVP guy last year, too.

If so, any comparisons?

B

dbdynsty25 · Post by **dbdynsty25** » Wed Mar 01, 2006 8:09 pm

wabash97 wrote:Db,

Can't remember if you were an MVP guy last year, too.

If so, any comparisons?

B

Was a HUGE MVP fan last year. I thought it was the best baseball game ever made. That said, MLB doesn't surpass it yet, but it comes close.

They did a nice job with all of the stadiums, presentation, commentary, etc...and they fixed the things that bothered me in last years (and the year prior) MLB. All of the line drive hits, the rocket arms, the poor roster management (only being able to carry a certain number of pitchers), and the pass balls at the most ridiculous times. All of those have been fixed and I'm very happy about that.

The variable strike zones are better than MVP and I enjoy the "pick the start of the pitch" not where the pitch ends up that MLB employs. So in that respect, the pitching is much better in MLB. It's a lot harder to throw strikes when your pitcher tires as well. MVP didn't do a very good job mimmicking that part of the game. MLB seems to be better at this early stage. As for the hitting...I'm a bigger fan of the zone hitting than I was of MVPs weird hitting system, so that is another area where MLB shines.

The fielding...that's another story. I like the control that MVP gives you much better than MLB. But as I've said before, 90% of the gameplay takes place in the pitcher/batter interface so I'd rather have that be better than the fielding. The fielding isn't bad...it's just not as fluid and nice as MVP was. It also might be because I played so many games of MVP that I'm just not used to it. Hopefully it will smooth out and it won't be so difficult to do things I want to do. That remains to be seen though.

I'm very happy with MLB right now...and having almost an identical version on the PSP is almost scary good.

wabash97 · Post by **wabash97** » Wed Mar 01, 2006 8:13 pm

That's basically what I hoping to hear, because I've been playing MVP the last few weeks - and although I also think it's the best I've ever played - the pitching/batting interface was finally getting a little stale. I've played it to death, though, so it's no fault of the game.
I thought about a PC upgrade, but it's too pricey at this point.
So, MLB sounds like it offers a reasonably sound change of pace offering. I like the idea of tougher pitching and hitting, especially since I've never played the series.

Thanks,
B

Boom · Post by **Boom** » Wed Mar 01, 2006 8:26 pm

Have played 3 innings on the default level (not sure what it is).

Brewdogs at Rocks...

First inning we got them out 1,2,3 and then went on to score 5. One thing I noticed, the Brewers outfielf dropped two cans of corn. I hit a homerun with Atkins and the announcer was kind enough to point out that it was a product of coors field.

2nd inning I had a passed ball with a man on 3rd while throwing a change up aimed to start my delivery high and inside. It sailed right over the catcher's glove and on to the backstop... allowing the runner to score.

Commentary and presentation are all top notch... everyone already knows that though.

one issue I'm having is getting online. I created my account and everytime I try to login I get some error and then the game freezes on that screen and I can't back out... I must reboot.

Diablo25 · Post by **Diablo25** » Wed Mar 01, 2006 8:33 pm

Flat out great game! I just finished my first game and it was a great one. Beat the Pirates 3-2 on an Utley RBI double in the 8th! Just a tremendous, tremendous game. Everything I wanted fixed seemes to be fixed. All of the little things are what makes this game the best. Jon Leiber's motion is perfect. All of the stances are perfect. Hit variety is improved. The cut scenes are sweet...makes the game that much more "believable." Oliver Perez was shoving it up my arse into the 6th. I took him deep with Abreu in the 4th but he shut me down until the 7th. I made some great running catches with Rowan in the outfield. Rocket arms are no where near what they were last year...making, especially, relay throws from deep in the outfield very realistic. I honestly believe this is the best baseball game of the past 3-4 years. Just a super effort by the guys over at 989.

Diablo25 · Post by **Diablo25** » Wed Mar 01, 2006 8:35 pm

BTW, DB, did you see the Roster Control screen where it gives you the option to control the team, its lineups, etc. ? How great is that!

Boom · Post by **Boom** » Wed Mar 01, 2006 8:39 pm

just had 3 past balls in a row... without moving the aiming cursor at all and throwing fastballs.

Putting full power into the red is probably the cause, but i'm nailing the accuracy marker.

This is giving me a little cause for concern here.

Boom · Post by **Boom** » Wed Mar 01, 2006 8:41 pm

Correction.. not throwing fastballs... throwing sliders

10spro · Post by **10spro** » Wed Mar 01, 2006 8:41 pm

Boom wrote:just had 3 past balls in a row... without moving the aiming cursor at all and throwing fastballs.

Putting full power into the red is probably the cause, but i'm nailing the accuracy marker.

This is giving me a little cause for concern here.

Hmmm, this is a concern. A major weakness on the PSP last year, I didn't experienced it as much on the PS2, I assume you're talking about the PS2?

Boom · Post by **Boom** » Wed Mar 01, 2006 8:43 pm

Here's something I just had happen and love it.

Ball hit to right field, I come up firing to 3rd and throw the ball over the 3rd baseman's head. No worry about extremely accurate arms from the outfield this year.

Diablo25 · Post by **Diablo25** » Wed Mar 01, 2006 8:45 pm

Boom wrote:Here's something I just had happen and love it.

Ball hit to right field, I come up firing to 3rd throw the ball over the 3rd baseman's head. No worry about extremely accurate arms from the outfield this year.

Yep. I had Aaron Rowan miss a cutoff man and it cost me a run

Theo · Post by **Theo** » Wed Mar 01, 2006 8:49 pm

Does anyone know what the pitch count slider does? Thanks!!

dbdynsty25 · Post by **dbdynsty25** » Wed Mar 01, 2006 8:55 pm

Diablo25 wrote:BTW, DB, did you see the Roster Control screen where it gives you the option to control the team, its lineups, etc. ? How great is that!

Yes I did...I'm definitely stoked about that. Now the only issue is that I've had a freeze. Well not a freeze, but I can't advance.

After I finished a franchise game I pressed X to get past the box scores...it just sat there...and it's still sitting there. WTF...and I've got a brand new PS2 Slim as well.

Nothing like ruining a perfectly good game with freezes. F*CK.

JackDiggity · Post by **JackDiggity** » Wed Mar 01, 2006 9:07 pm

dbdynsty25 wrote:
Diablo25 wrote:BTW, DB, did you see the Roster Control screen where it gives you the option to control the team, its lineups, etc. ? How great is that!
Yes I did...I'm definitely stoked about that. Now the only issue is that I've had a freeze. Well not a freeze, but I can't advance.

After I finished a franchise game I pressed X to get past the box scores...it just sat there...and it's still sitting there. WTF...and I've got a brand new PS2 Slim as well.

Nothing like ruining a perfectly good game with freezes. F*CK.

Sorry to hear this man. I read your first impressions and was going to order the game. Now I think I'll wait. Please keep us updated.

dbdynsty25 · Post by **dbdynsty25** » Wed Mar 01, 2006 9:12 pm

Will do JD...I'm playing again now, so we'll see if it does it again. I'm going to be PISSED if it does. Hopefully I just triggered some random event that is impossible to reproduce. Basically what I suggest is not advancing through the end of the game quickly...let the guys blab on and on about the game and just let it go. I was trying to skip through it when it happened.

MizzouRah · Post by **MizzouRah** » Wed Mar 01, 2006 10:16 pm

BTW...they did a fabulous job with this game. They fixed all of my issues with the game...especially from a roster standpoint. I'm definitely happy with it. Same thing holds true for the PSP version. Both are awesome.

I agree. A fabulous job indeed.

Rocket arms are gone, except for Rolen who can gun it like no other. Hit variety is better than MVP, imo. I've seen high choppers, bloop hits, rockets down the third base line, etc... unreal how much better it is this year.

Animations are really good and the commentary is just.. well MLB.

The only issue I see that merits mentioning is the hit through the infield that the fielder just stands there as it goes into the outfield. It happens almosts once a game for me so far and while it's not a gamebreaker by any means, it looks goofy in an otherwise great game animation wise.

Seriously, I'm playing on rookie with the CPU pitch speed set to max.. I know I suck, but I love the simplicity of "timing" hitting and on fast pitch speed, I still K sometimes. The CPU offense is great on rookie level and I almost think that part of the game does not change with the level, that is CPU gameplay AI.

All in all so far, it's a great game and everything that turned me off last year has been fixed. I'll post back after several more games, but so far it's been quite a fun game to play. Too many times in console sports games people compare stats to real life and all I really want is a fun game to play. Well, this game does that.

Inuyasha · Post by **Inuyasha** » Wed Mar 01, 2006 11:01 pm

Does the game move fast this year? Last year I thought it played a little bit too slow with some of the pitching animations.

dbdynsty25 · Post by **dbdynsty25** » Wed Mar 01, 2006 11:05 pm

The pitching animations are pretty much the same as last year in terms of their pace. At least the Braves pitchers are.

Badgun · Post by **Badgun** » Wed Mar 01, 2006 11:27 pm

JackDiggity wrote:
dbdynsty25 wrote:
Diablo25 wrote:BTW, DB, did you see the Roster Control screen where it gives you the option to control the team, its lineups, etc. ? How great is that!
Yes I did...I'm definitely stoked about that. Now the only issue is that I've had a freeze. Well not a freeze, but I can't advance.

After I finished a franchise game I pressed X to get past the box scores...it just sat there...and it's still sitting there. WTF...and I've got a brand new PS2 Slim as well.

Nothing like ruining a perfectly good game with freezes. F*CK.
Sorry to hear this man. I read your first impressions and was going to order the game. Now I think I'll wait. Please keep us updated.

I have played about 6 games, Jackdog without any technical problems whatsoever. I still have the same slim PS2 I had last year when I had all the freezing problems. Also, I haven't seen anyone at OS complain about a freeze, at least in the impressions thread. I'd pull the trigger if I were you.

Badgun · Post by **Badgun** » Wed Mar 01, 2006 11:29 pm

Inuyasha wrote:Does the game move fast this year? Last year I thought it played a little bit too slow with some of the pitching animations.

To me, that's the biggest negative. It takes 45 minutes to an hour to play one game. If you turn off all the presentation, then you are really missing out on the best part of the game.