User Pitch Meter Difficulty -20
User Pitch Control -50
CPU MVP Outfielder Speed -5
Human MVP Outfielder Speed -5
CPU Manual Infielder Speed -5
Human Manual Infielder Speed -5
CPU Foul Ball Frequency +10
User Foul Ball Frequency +10
CPU Baserunning Speed +3
Human Baserunning Speed +3
That's it. Obviously I've made it more difficult to pitch as I got better at the game. These tweaks are on All-Star Level. Like PK said, there weren't enough extra base hits because of the speedy outfielders. Minor tweaks were enough to fix it (which was pretty much my only beef with the game whatsoever).
Pack:
These are the DB 2.0 settings, because in the original MVP impressions thread all he listed was changing CPU and human baserunning speed +3 and human and CPU infielder and outfielder speeds -3.
That's what I used last night, and they were mint.
Good luck! Either way, DB is on to something here.
Take care,
PK
Thanks for re-posting these again PK. I was going to try these out when db first posted them, but I had some really good games so I stayed with defaults. The original ones sound just like what I'm thinking needs changed in the game. Pitching is still a challenge for me and with slower fielders, should be even more of a challenge.
I'm also going back to the EA updated roster set as I've been hearing the user created ones (I'm using one with some prospects named) might contribute to the whacky roster moves by the CPU teams. Not sure if it does or doesn't, but I can live with Dowd instead of Bonds.
HipE wrote:Have any of you guys tried the MVP fielding option? I didn't even realize it existed until a few games ago, I thought manual was as difficult as you could make it. This has completely changed the CPU offense for me. I'm giving up an extra 3-5 hits a game that would have been outs on manual. Instead of every line drive through the infield getting snagged by a fielder making an incredible read, balls are now actually getting through for hits. I've seen a tremendous increase in CPU doubles as I'm now coming up short on balls I used to run down in the gap. This has really helped make the game much more fun for me, as my team era was just a tad over 2 before making the switch from manual to MVP fielding.
I agree with HipE. I play with default AS and all I did to increase CPU offense was to change to MVP fielding. That little step being taken away has made a huge difference.
What's the best site to get a semi-accurate starting lineup for each MLB team? I've read over at OS where some people are noticing strange CPU lineups (i.e. Rolen batting leadoff for the Cards).
I tried out Web's idea of keeping the Meter slider at 0 and the User Pitch Control at -50. Actually worked pretty well. I still don't walk guys without working the edges, but the CPU was hitting a lot better. They really tater mistake pitches now. I had a wacky game against the Padres -- I lost 7-5, and they had 4 errors in one inning, including a pickoff by Brian Lawrence that went in the stands!
But I cannot for the life of me score very much. I can hit. Not great, but I usually scratch out 6-7 hits per game. I just am not doing enough to score. I get guys in scoring position, and I usually strikeout or hit into a double play. Not sure if I'm just getting to anxious or what, but it's a little frustrating. I don't really want to drop to Pro because, aside from this, the difficulty level feels right. I think you just have to be really selective at the plate and look for pitches in certain situations. I am getting killed on fastball/change up combos.
This is my biggest problem with the game. I never scratch out any runs. My offense consists of me hitting a single or drawing a walk, then hitting a homerun. I'd guess that 90% or more of my scoring comes off of homeruns. I'm scoring 4 runs a game and leading the league in homeruns, yet my team batting average is the lowest in the majors (.241) and I hardly hit any doubles. Quite often, I will score as many runs as I have hits, and rarely do I have more than a couple of more hits than runs.
HipE wrote:This is my biggest problem with the game. I never scratch out any runs. My offense consists of me hitting a single or drawing a walk, then hitting a homerun. I'd guess that 90% or more of my scoring comes off of homeruns. I'm scoring 4 runs a game and leading the league in homeruns, yet my team batting average is the lowest in the majors (.241) and I hardly hit any doubles. Quite often, I will score as many runs as I have hits, and rarely do I have more than a couple of more hits than runs.
HipE:
I had the exact experience as you until I made DB's initial, minor fielder and baserunner speed tweaks. Everything seemed to be a single or a tater, but I'm hitting more doubles and long singles into the gaps, letting baserunners score from second more often, with the tweaks.
Wasn't sure if you had made those changes or not.
Take care,
PK
"You know why I love boxers? I love them because they face fear. And they face it alone." - Nick Charles
"First on the throttle, last on the brakes." - @MotoGP Twitter signature
HipE wrote:This is my biggest problem with the game. I never scratch out any runs. My offense consists of me hitting a single or drawing a walk, then hitting a homerun. I'd guess that 90% or more of my scoring comes off of homeruns. I'm scoring 4 runs a game and leading the league in homeruns, yet my team batting average is the lowest in the majors (.241) and I hardly hit any doubles. Quite often, I will score as many runs as I have hits, and rarely do I have more than a couple of more hits than runs.
This is probably b/c you are pressing up too much on the stick which leads to more power, but less hits and good contact. Just like in real baseball, if you try to hit line drives you will have more success than by trying to jack every pitch. Try just aiming inside, center or outside for awhile and see if you end up being more consistent at the plate. Although I do understand how tempting it is to press up.
Last edited by snate on Mon Mar 14, 2005 5:35 pm, edited 1 time in total.
I have also started paying more attention to the hot zones. Those really do seem to make a bigger impact in MVP than other games I've played. I noticed it batting with Nomar -- he's got a hot zone up and away against right-handers, and he really crushes those pitches if I time it right.
I will get on hot streaks with doubles, and I've even gotten a couple triples with faster guys like Jerry Haiston Jr. It really varies by ball park, too.
Brando70 wrote:I have also started paying more attention to the hot zones. Those really do seem to make a bigger impact in MVP than other games I've played. I noticed it batting with Nomar -- he's got a hot zone up and away against right-handers, and he really crushes those pitches if I time it right.
I will get on hot streaks with doubles, and I've even gotten a couple triples with faster guys like Jerry Haiston Jr. It really varies by ball park, too.
That could be the reason you're pitching so well. I have the hot/cold zones off and it's harder not knowing the player's h/c zones.
I was also using my logitech wireless controller with an "A" button that sticks - switched to the standard controller and I hit many more perfect pitches. I was wondering why everyone was saying pitching was too easy... I guess it was my controller.
HipE wrote:This is my biggest problem with the game. I never scratch out any runs. My offense consists of me hitting a single or drawing a walk, then hitting a homerun. I'd guess that 90% or more of my scoring comes off of homeruns. I'm scoring 4 runs a game and leading the league in homeruns, yet my team batting average is the lowest in the majors (.241) and I hardly hit any doubles. Quite often, I will score as many runs as I have hits, and rarely do I have more than a couple of more hits than runs.
HipE:
I had the exact experience as you until I made DB's initial, minor fielder and baserunner speed tweaks. Everything seemed to be a single or a tater, but I'm hitting more doubles and long singles into the gaps, letting baserunners score from second more often, with the tweaks.
Wasn't sure if you had made those changes or not.
Take care,
PK
I haven't tweaked any sliders yet, but I can see how turning down the fielder speeds could help. I don't have a problem with their arm strength really, but the ridiculous reaction times they have are robbing me of quite a few hits I think.
Snate, I think I'm going to try a few games where I just swing inside, middle or outside, like you suggest. My strategy right now has been to sit up and in until I fall behind in the count, and then I switch to complete zone hitting. I think maybe that even though I'm swinging up and in at pitches in the zone that are up and in, I'm still robbing myself of hits just because of using that fly ball swing. How are your numbers coming out in terms of batting average, runs per game, and extra base hits?
Brando70 wrote:I have also started paying more attention to the hot zones. Those really do seem to make a bigger impact in MVP than other games I've played. I noticed it batting with Nomar -- he's got a hot zone up and away against right-handers, and he really crushes those pitches if I time it right.
I will get on hot streaks with doubles, and I've even gotten a couple triples with faster guys like Jerry Haiston Jr. It really varies by ball park, too.
That could be the reason you're pitching so well. I have the hot/cold zones off and it's harder not knowing the player's h/c zones.
I was also using my logitech wireless controller with an "A" button that sticks - switched to the standard controller and I hit many more perfect pitches. I was wondering why everyone was saying pitching was too easy... I guess it was my controller.
Todd
I have hot zones set to fade. Plus, from the behind-the-pitcher view, I don't think they are nearly as helpful, both because they are harder to see, and also because I think the CPU will pick up if you keep going to the blue areas.
HipE wrote: Snate, I think I'm going to try a few games where I just swing inside, middle or outside, like you suggest. My strategy right now has been to sit up and in until I fall behind in the count, and then I switch to complete zone hitting. I think maybe that even though I'm swinging up and in at pitches in the zone that are up and in, I'm still robbing myself of hits just because of using that fly ball swing. How are your numbers coming out in terms of batting average, runs per game, and extra base hits?
Unfortunately, with work, 2 toddlers, and my recent move, I have only been able to get in a few exhibition games. I have no idea about my numbers, but I can say I have improved my hitting by swinging up less.
Yeah...I figured the whole "don't swing up" thing a few days ago. Yesterday for example, I hit two home runs without pressing up at all. Both balls were crushed and it felt good to hit them hard over the fence without having to joystick jockey. I still am in the habit of pressing up for high pitches, just because it's in my blood from past baseball games. The whole muscle memory is hard to shake.
dbdynsty25 wrote:Yeah...I figured the whole "don't swing up" thing a few days ago. Yesterday for example, I hit two home runs without pressing up at all. Both balls were crushed and it felt good to hit them hard over the fence without having to joystick jockey. I still am in the habit of pressing up for high pitches, just because it's in my blood from past baseball games. The whole muscle memory is hard to shake.
Scott so you don't use the stick at all? Are you just timing your swings? If so I will try that with your sliders. That would make this game even better.
dbdynsty25 wrote:Yeah...I figured the whole "don't swing up" thing a few days ago. Yesterday for example, I hit two home runs without pressing up at all. Both balls were crushed and it felt good to hit them hard over the fence without having to joystick jockey. I still am in the habit of pressing up for high pitches, just because it's in my blood from past baseball games. The whole muscle memory is hard to shake.
Scott so you don't use the stick at all? Are you just timing your swings? If so I will try that with your sliders. That would make this game even better.
Thanks
Jack,
You gotta aim in or out too. I think what he is saying is not to aim up or down unless the situation calls for it. That is what I do.
dbdynsty25 wrote:Yeah...I figured the whole "don't swing up" thing a few days ago. Yesterday for example, I hit two home runs without pressing up at all. Both balls were crushed and it felt good to hit them hard over the fence without having to joystick jockey. I still am in the habit of pressing up for high pitches, just because it's in my blood from past baseball games. The whole muscle memory is hard to shake.
Scott so you don't use the stick at all? Are you just timing your swings? If so I will try that with your sliders. That would make this game even better.
Thanks
Jack,
You gotta aim in or out too. I think what he is saying is not to aim up or down unless the situation calls for it. That is what I do.
Thanks man. I am having a hard time hitting in this game right now. But man I really am learning to love this badboy.
Even with my current lack of power, I am close to calling myself addicted to MVP. There has been more positive talk about 2K5 lately, so I dusted it off for an exhibition game after adjusting sliders a littel bit more. I ended up making it throgh 7 innings before switching back to MVP for "just one more game".
This game does feel like WE8 and NFL 2k5 (yes, I know about the issues with it, but it's IMO) in that even when I'm getting my a$$ handed to me or when I can't do some things (like hit HRs) I feel like there is something here worth investing the time into in order to get better. It's like there is more to understand about the game that I dont know. I like that feeling of depth.
I think all three of these games feel dynamic, in that you never feel like you know what's coming next. Last night I had Omar Daal throw a shutout. The next game I played, Lieber got hammered in the first 2 innings. The results can be surprising, but I never feel screwed by it.
Once I figure out how to get some runs off homers, I will definitely be ready to call this my favorite baseball game ever.
Snate's right JD, you definitely need to swing inside or out so that you don't try to pull a ball on the outside half of the plate resulting in a weak grounder to ss or 2b. The hitting is definitely an aquired taste. You have to convince yourself to change the way you hit in MVP, because it goes against everything we've ever learned in any game before it. After you do that, the game really opens up and becomes a hellova lot of fun. It's by far my favorite baseball game in the last 10 years. There are only two games in that span that have given me as enjoyment as MVP...Hardball 3 (PC) and High Heat 2004 (PC).
dbdynsty25 wrote:Snate's right JD, you definitely need to swing inside or out so that you don't try to pull a ball on the outside half of the plate resulting in a weak grounder to ss or 2b. The hitting is definitely an aquired taste. You have to convince yourself to change the way you hit in MVP, because it goes against everything we've ever learned in any game before it. After you do that, the game really opens up and becomes a hellova lot of fun. It's by far my favorite baseball game in the last 10 years. There are only two games in that span that have given me as enjoyment as MVP...Hardball 3 (PC) and High Heat 2004 (PC).
Thanks man. I am getting my ass handed to me right now,but I am starting to hit better. I am getting a lot of satisfaction from a simple double! Game is growing on me big time!!
dbdynsty25 wrote:Snate's right JD, you definitely need to swing inside or out so that you don't try to pull a ball on the outside half of the plate resulting in a weak grounder to ss or 2b. The hitting is definitely an aquired taste. You have to convince yourself to change the way you hit in MVP, because it goes against everything we've ever learned in any game before it. After you do that, the game really opens up and becomes a hellova lot of fun. It's by far my favorite baseball game in the last 10 years. There are only two games in that span that have given me as enjoyment as MVP...Hardball 3 (PC) and High Heat 2004 (PC).
Thanks man. I am getting my ass handed to me right now,but I am starting to hit better. I am getting a lot of satisfaction from a simple double! Game is growing on me big time!!
Jack-
I agree. Even though I keep getting my ass kicked, and only have hit maybe 7 homers in 50 games, I keep jonesing to play more.
