MLB 11 The Show a quick tidbit

[Rodster]

too bad the camera's not offered when playing defense (ie RTTS). Where it is most needed...

We're not their target audience, Vinny.

[Diablo25]

Too lazy to check if this was already posted...Demo tomorrow (Tuesday). Saw it at OS..it is confirmed.

Plus a new gameplay trailer is due today...
http://www.gamestop.com/gs/landing/mlb- ... fragment-2

[GTHobbes]

Thanks for the link -- look forward to seeing the gameplay video later.

Got my pre-order in at my local Gamestop on Saturday -- I might skip the demo but can't wait until the 8th. Still deciding whether to play a little hookie that day -- hopefully nothing of major importance gets added to my schedule between now and then. Just a little more than 2 weeks away now!

[Diablo25]

Gameplay trailer is up...use link above.

[vinny-b]

is this a vidgame or WGN ?


not bad.

[Slumberland]

Pre-ordered. But REALLY looking forward to next year's version on NGP.

[vinny-b]

demo is available to download.

(note: you have utilize the 'search' function)

[sportdan30]

The demo did nothing to excite me, which is disappointing.

I'll start with the positives:

+ The crowd is a lot more varied
+ The new controls are a nice addition
+ The fields do seem larger
+ There are some cool new animations and cut scenes
+ Player models look better and the graphics are a bit sharper

- The game feels very much like '10 with new controls. Felt very similar and frankly I was rather bored after a couple innings.
- The commentary which at one time was a strength is the number one weakness
- Nothing screams excitement anymore about the game

There's really not a whole lot that jumped out at me. For the last few months, I've been anticipating this game. Right now, I'm strongly
considering renting it through Gamefly and seeing if it catches my long term enjoyment.

[Rodster]

A 3GB demo, are they nucking futs?

[vinny-b]

The demo did nothing to excite me, which is disappointing.

I'll start with the positives:

+ The crowd is a lot more varied
+ The new controls are a nice addition
+ The fields do seem larger
+ There are some cool new animations and cut scenes
+ Player models look better and the graphics are a bit sharper

- The game feels very much like '10 with new controls. Felt very similar and frankly I was rather bored after a couple innings.
- The commentary which at one time was a strength is the number one weakness
- Nothing screams excitement anymore about the game

There's really not a whole lot that jumped out at me. For the last few months, I've been anticipating this game. Right now, I'm strongly
considering renting it through Gamefly and seeing if it catches my long term enjoyment.

fair points, Dan.

I don't know. I feel this title is already a very strong title, and in a way vidgamers are getting kinda spoiled. If one is interested in a sim, not really too much to improve IMO.

the above, is why i believe RTTS mode is very important. While season/franchise mode is at a pinnacle, RTTS mode conversely does have much room for improvement/expansion. SCEA has basically been ignoring RTTS, while they've continued to improve season/franchise on an annual basis. A pity..


_

[Rodster]

It's a damn shame they don't beef up RTTS. It could be so freaking awesome for those of us that love to partake in a baseball RPG. At least do what 2K includes which is MLB Today mode.

I appreciate Dan's take on things because while I was leaning on buying the game I was literally bored within a week. I quickly switched to 2K last year and rarely went back MLB 10.

[sportdan30]

I'm definitely not giving up on the demo. Perhaps I just need to get a better feel for the analog controls. It didn't help that I was playing on All-Star which is the default skill level and getting crushed.

Heck, 99 percent of the gamers over at OS are very enthusiastic about the new controls, lighting, graphics, etc.

Vinny, it's true that this game is the epitome of a sports sim, and maybe I just don't have the patience for that type of game play anymore. Or perhaps I just don't have an interest in either of these two teams. Or it's too early to think about baseball video games. Like I said, hopefully something will click and my excitement will increase. Gonna go play again now and put the skill down to Veteran and try and take my time.

[Diablo25]

I'm currently downloading so I can't really comment but I'm not a fan of games that mess with a good formula. If the game maintains it's standard of solid gameplay, the new controls are fun, the visuals are upgraded...I don't know what else we can ask for. I can definitely see some getting bored with things because the improvements can only go so far.

[vinny-b]

Dan, and Rod:

is the audio in this demo compressed? Don't know if may need to change speaker wire, because the audio quality isn't on the level of MLB 10 The Show.

[sportdan30]

Alright, I must apologize. I take back a LOT of what I said with regards to the game play. Even though, I wasn't very specific before, but I did comment that it felt very much like '10.

I bumped skill level down to Veteran for both pitching and hitting. I still can't hit worth a lick on Veteran with analog. That said, pitching is 10 times better than it's ever been in this game. I finally got the hang of it in my second game. You can pretty much hit your location if you are precise, but if the pitch is off, you know it's off because you slipped up on the control. Whereas last year, the pitching interface felt very random, this year it's more in your hands. And that I love. In fact, it changes the whole game IMO.

Hitting is a mixed bag for me thus far. There are over 10 different camera angles and I'm struggling to find one I like. Then again, I'm facing Lincicum and he's a definite ace. It's amazing how this games nails the difference between a number 1 and a number 4 or 5 starter.

Fielding is nice, but not as intuitive as pitching. Still, it's refreshing having to not rely on button presses.

By the way, I sped the game up by changing to fast play and it seems to be even quicker than last year. I can see getting in a game within 35 minutes easily on fast pace.

[sportdan30]

Dan, and Rod:

is the audio in this demo compressed? Don't know if may need to change speaker wire, because the audio quality isn't on the level of MLB 10 The Show.

I sure hope the audio is compressed. First of all, Matt sounded better last year, or shall I say it sounded more like a tv broadcast in MLB 10. Now, he sounds like he's been recorded in a studio. And Karros, while insightful sounds like he is definitely being recorded in a different studio than Matt. I turned down the other guy with the sliders. I may end up turning off the audio all together eventually.

[Rodster]

Thanks for the impressions. I'll wait for final impressions before deciding. One of the nice things about this game has been the presentation and audio until 2K creamed this series. Not good that they screwed that up.

Maybe next year we'll get the radio guy to do this game.

[backbreaker]

So glad I gave up on last years game after about 2 weeks. Because, this game is so much better now that I basically skipped a year. I had The show fatique and man do I love this game. I can't wait too try it in 3d. I love the analog controls and damn does it look good on my LCD/LED Sony Bravia WOW!!!!. I will be picking this up day one. Analog pitching is the business, getting the hang of hitting, and fielding I didn't know I was a gold glove, WHO KNEW!!!

[Diablo25]

Alright, I must apologize. I take back a LOT of what I said with regards to the game play. Even though, I wasn't very specific before, but I did comment that it felt very much like '10.

By the way, I sped the game up by changing to fast play and it seems to be even quicker than last year. I can see getting in a game within 35 minutes easily on fast pace.

Good to hear on the fast play. Thanks for the impressions.
I'm at 94% on my download so I'll be striking out in about 5 minutes

[JRod]

Alright, I must apologize. I take back a LOT of what I said with regards to the game play. Even though, I wasn't very specific before, but I did comment that it felt very much like '10.

By the way, I sped the game up by changing to fast play and it seems to be even quicker than last year. I can see getting in a game within 35 minutes easily on fast pace.

Good to hear on the fast play. Thanks for the impressions.
I'm at 94% on my download so I'll be striking out in about 5 minutes

The PSN gods will see this and it will take you 5 hours to download the other 5%.

[10spro]

Overall it took me awhile to get used to the new analog way to play the game and after a couple of games I had more trouble pitching with the new analog than say hitting. Boy did I have my share of walks in the beginning. The Stadium and graphics look like a carry over from 10 which is not a shabby thing but the crowd behind the plate looks blurry at times.

The analog throwing is going to take me a bit to get used to as I made some errors throwing to the wrong base. I never liked the meter for pitching in this game so I went back to classic for the last couple of versions, but with analog pasting the ball at the corners is a satisfying accomplishment.

The commentary while varied still bores me, but for a player that never played MLB I am pretty sure that they'll find it refreshing, for now it just feels like I've heard this and that before for the last few seasons.

I like the new analog way to control the game, it adds another dimension to an already fine game, I just need to settle on a default camera.

[Danimal]

I refuse to download a 3 Gig demo off PSN shitty service. I downloaded a 2 Gig demo on my PC tonight in around 30 minutes. The last netflix update on the PS3 was 19mb and that took 20 minutes. I'll just wait for the actual game.

[JRod]

I think the CPU is too tentative to swing at pitches outside of the zone on default all-star. Though, the Show has always had this problem and they never fix it. If I have 2 strikes and I throw a slider that just missed with Lincecum what's the chances that the batter looks at it. In this game they are just too good in those situations.

[sportdan30]

I refuse to download a 3 Gig demo off PSN shitty service. I downloaded a 2 Gig demo on my PC tonight in around 30 minutes. The last netflix update on the PS3 was 19mb and that took 20 minutes. I'll just wait for the actual game.

Interesting. Only took me a little over 30 minutes to download the demo last night. YMMV I suppose.

[Gurantsu]

My demo downloaded in about an hour and a half, not too bad for PSN.

After playing it, I may give a skip to this years version.

I really like the analog pitching and fielding. But the batting is just plain terrible. 2K tried this "take a step then swing" crap years ago, and dumped it because no one liked it. I feel super detached from the batting, can't hit a thing, and it's like a random influence. For Pete's sake, there is a line between realism and playability that you have to be careful about crossing. Sony jumped right over it!

I've only played 3 games (the final 2 switching teams so I could only bat), so I'll mess with it some more. But with people updating rosters online so far I'm thinking of saving my $60. I played 2K a lot more last year anyway, plus I won't have to start my RTTS guy over again.

Commentary actually got worse. Karros does sound like he is in a different booth when speaking. The dialog just sounds canned. Still, having sliders to turn down individual announcers is nice.

Sadly not impressed at all so far.