MLB '08 news and info

Nozzleman_216 · Post by **Nozzleman_216** » Sun Feb 17, 2008 9:53 pm

I am just excited to have choice when it comes to my National Pastime game. I am not sure if I will buy both, but with my excitement for Road to the Show, MLB08 is a buy and 2k will probably be a rental for the 360 with a potential buy. Who knows, maybe I will like 2k better

Brando70 · Post by **Brando70** » Mon Feb 18, 2008 10:56 am

I love this game, but one question: have you guys given up many home runs? I think I've probably played about 20 innings (switching between teams) and have yet to give up a home run. I've hit three, but haven't given up one.

I've already seen some very cool stuff -- a ground-rule double and a past third strike that I was able to just beat out at first.

One other question: can you use the Web browser on the PS3 to get roster files from places like OS?

Diablo25 · Post by **Diablo25** » Mon Feb 18, 2008 11:25 am

Brando70 wrote: One other question: can you use the Web browser on the PS3 to get roster files from places like OS?

Good question. Not sure. Even if its not possible you can just transfer the rosters via USB Jump Drive.

Diablo25 · Post by **Diablo25** » Mon Feb 18, 2008 11:27 am

Brando70 wrote:I love this game, but one question: have you guys given up many home runs? I think I've probably played about 20 innings (switching between teams) and have yet to give up a home run. I've hit three, but haven't given up one.

Have you jacked up the CPU power slider?

MizzouRah · Post by **MizzouRah** » Mon Feb 18, 2008 11:49 am

dbdynsty25 wrote:
Have you guys played them back to back though? Play 07 for a bit, play 08, then go back to 07. The difference is really significant.

Never played 07.

MizzouRah · Post by **MizzouRah** » Mon Feb 18, 2008 11:50 am

Diablo25 wrote:
Brando70 wrote:I love this game, but one question: have you guys given up many home runs? I think I've probably played about 20 innings (switching between teams) and have yet to give up a home run. I've hit three, but haven't given up one.
Have you jacked up the CPU power slider?

Here we go talking about sliders already, yeay!!!

Diablo25 · Post by **Diablo25** » Mon Feb 18, 2008 12:05 pm

MizzouRah wrote:
Diablo25 wrote:
Brando70 wrote:I love this game, but one question: have you guys given up many home runs? I think I've probably played about 20 innings (switching between teams) and have yet to give up a home run. I've hit three, but haven't given up one.
Have you jacked up the CPU power slider?
Here we go talking about sliders already, yeay!!!

LOL. A guy named Nemesis from OS had some great ones for '07. They played a really good game of baseball. I'm sure he will update his once the full version arrives. Knight (also an OS member and a TPG member) made a great full minors set too. He already has plans for an '08 set.

sportdan30 · Post by **sportdan30** » Mon Feb 18, 2008 12:18 pm

If I recall, MLB 2K7 was a slider MESS. That's just one reason I shelved that game quickly. I barely touched the sliders last year in MLB '07. The only thing I touched was the arm strength of the outfielders and infielders. I never had an issue with the power of the CPU, and I'm hoping that's not a problem in this year's game. Sometimes when they fix something, they screw something else up.

RallyMonkey · Post by **RallyMonkey** » Mon Feb 18, 2008 12:21 pm

I've played all of my demo games on All-Star and have yet to hit a single home run (and i played the hell out of 07 so i'm not a newb) and have given up plenty of HR's to the CPU. My slider tweaks have basically been upping CPU power and contact, dropping my own power and contact, upping foul ball sliders and dropping passed ball and wild pitch frequency.

This game plays a very good brand of baseball out of the box on AS, but plays a near perfect brand with very minor slider tweaks. Unlike a lot of slider-fests, this game has sliders available to those who want to play as close to a sim as possible. They are not there to correct problems, but rather to perfect what is already a great product. When's March 3rd again!!!

MizzouRah · Post by **MizzouRah** » Mon Feb 18, 2008 1:54 pm

sportdan30 wrote:If I recall, MLB 2K7 was a slider MESS. That's just one reason I shelved that game quickly. I barely touched the sliders last year in MLB '07. The only thing I touched was the arm strength of the outfielders and infielders. I never had an issue with the power of the CPU, and I'm hoping that's not a problem in this year's game. Sometimes when they fix something, they screw something else up.

Yes it was, thankfully a guy on OS had some excellent ones.

I wasn't picking on The Show, I'm just so tired of games not playing decent out of the box. I haven't touched a slider in NHL 08 and it plays fine. I know older versions of The Show played well out of the box.

I've also read where there is no arm strength sliders this year, is this true?

Brando70 · Post by **Brando70** » Mon Feb 18, 2008 3:29 pm

I played on Veteran for a few innings, so the lack of CPU power didn't surprise me. But I've played on All Star for about 4 games, and I have missed some of my pitches badly against some good hitters (using the pitching meter). I have gotten hit a couple of times, but no dingers.

I did hit at least two of my HRs with the contact swing, so that was nice to see.

Danimal · Post by **Danimal** » Mon Feb 18, 2008 3:35 pm

I've given up HR's to the CPU, I haven't kept track but if I was guessing at least 4 or 5 in what I guess is around 60+ innings.

fanatic · Post by **fanatic** » Mon Feb 18, 2008 3:43 pm

Diablo25 wrote:
RallyMonkey wrote:Quick question, is there a way to turn off the directional arrows that are just below the ball marker indicating the amount of break on a pitch. It wasn't a huge deal as even with them i had very realistic pitch counts, but i worry that will become too much of a crutch the longer i play the game. I looked everywhere but couldn't see anything. I guess i could set the ball marker to off but i like to use fade at least to get that initial look at where i want to start my pitch.

On another note, in two games last night i saw no fewer than 10 new animations or hit variety that i didn't see, or at least don't remember seeing, last year. (i realize that's horrible grammar but i mis-remember the correct way--thanks Roger) I can only imagine what that means for the full version.

All i can say is i better bust some ass on Mass Effect, Bioshock, and NHL because come March 3rd they probably won't be doing much more than acting as a coaster for my nice tall glass of MLB Kool Aid.
Yes. Its called pitch callout or something in the display menu. There is simple, full and off. I usually go with ALL pitching aids off and use CLASSIC pitching. Meter pitching is of but I like the classic model because it relies on the pitcher's ability more than my ability to time the meter.

Just wanted to follow up on this post.

How does one then get rid of the catcher suggestions (marked by the catcher mit icon before the pitch)? I thought the suggestion above would do it, but I don't think it does.

Diablo25 · Post by **Diablo25** » Mon Feb 18, 2008 6:13 pm

fanatic wrote:
Diablo25 wrote:
RallyMonkey wrote:Quick question, is there a way to turn off the directional arrows that are just below the ball marker indicating the amount of break on a pitch. It wasn't a huge deal as even with them i had very realistic pitch counts, but i worry that will become too much of a crutch the longer i play the game. I looked everywhere but couldn't see anything. I guess i could set the ball marker to off but i like to use fade at least to get that initial look at where i want to start my pitch.

On another note, in two games last night i saw no fewer than 10 new animations or hit variety that i didn't see, or at least don't remember seeing, last year. (i realize that's horrible grammar but i mis-remember the correct way--thanks Roger) I can only imagine what that means for the full version.

All i can say is i better bust some ass on Mass Effect, Bioshock, and NHL because come March 3rd they probably won't be doing much more than acting as a coaster for my nice tall glass of MLB Kool Aid.
Yes. Its called pitch callout or something in the display menu. There is simple, full and off. I usually go with ALL pitching aids off and use CLASSIC pitching. Meter pitching is of but I like the classic model because it relies on the pitcher's ability more than my ability to time the meter.
Just wanted to follow up on this post.

How does one then get rid of the catcher suggestions (marked by the catcher mit icon before the pitch)? I thought the suggestion above would do it, but I don't think it does.

I think its called API. Turn that off and the catcher won't call the pitches.

fanatic · Post by **fanatic** » Mon Feb 18, 2008 11:58 pm

Thanks Diablo.

Zlax45 · Post by **Zlax45** » Tue Feb 19, 2008 2:52 am

I just got a WII and already have a 360...Do I really need a PS3 or is the Show still good on the PS2?

Pete · Post by **Pete** » Tue Feb 19, 2008 9:21 am

Last years Show was excellent on the PS2. I am sure it will be great again this year.

Obviously, you are giving up graphics and maybe some other features from the PS3 version, but gameplay on the PS2 should be outstanding.

I was wavering about purchasing a PS3 for this. I believe I am going to wait, rent 2K8, if it is decent, buy that for the 360 and buy MLB for the PS2.

phantompain · Post by **phantompain** » Tue Feb 19, 2008 9:59 am

Brando70 wrote:I love this game, but one question: have you guys given up many home runs? I think I've probably played about 20 innings (switching between teams) and have yet to give up a home run. I've hit three, but haven't given up one.

I've already seen some very cool stuff -- a ground-rule double and a past third strike that I was able to just beat out at first.

One other question: can you use the Web browser on the PS3 to get roster files from places like OS?

Unfortunately you cannot use the browser to download the roster and just get them that way. not really sure why you can't do this but you can't. Hopefully in a later update this will be possible. But like someone else said you can just use a usb flash drive to get it and they go for like $10 if you don't need a big drive.

Also, Knight at OS will have full rosters with minors by Opening Day. He and someone else (I think Jim) are going to bust their tails off and have this done quickly. Should be fun!

10spro · Post by **10spro** » Tue Feb 19, 2008 11:56 am

Always nice to have the latest rosters, but Sony has been quite good actually in the past to update the latest including the PSP.

Dave · Post by **Dave** » Tue Feb 19, 2008 12:31 pm

Why did I download this demo? I was blissfully ignorant, think Power Pros would hold me over this season since the Twins are going to suck.

Now I am thinking about which NL team I want to run with after I buy MLB 08...

This is one slick demo, that's for sure!

sportdan30 · Post by **sportdan30** » Tue Feb 19, 2008 1:13 pm

Dave wrote:Why did I download this demo? I was blissfully ignorant, think Power Pros would hold me over this season since the Twins are going to suck.

Now I am thinking about which NL team I want to run with after I buy MLB 08...

This is one slick demo, that's for sure!

I'm forcing myself not to play the demo but a couple times a week. The demo is such a TEASE. I want to play this game so badly, but I'm tired of the Red Sox and the Rockies. I don't think I've ever been more excited about a sports video game as long as I can remember.

Slumberland · Post by **Slumberland** » Tue Feb 19, 2008 1:44 pm

Finally winning some "games" on HOF, though I still haven't hit a home run in the demo! It's like I'm batting with a wet noodle. Hitting the ball harder as I get re-accustomed to the timing, though. I played as the Rockies last night and Big Papi worked out a walk against me after a 15 pitch at-bat. He just kept fouling them off and fouling them off. It was so cool.

I think the graphics are spectacular. There are times when the faces and animations are so good, it gets a little uncanny valley-ish... the only thing that keeps it slightly unreal is the bright color palette.

lexbur · Post by **lexbur** » Tue Feb 19, 2008 1:56 pm

sportdan30 wrote: I don't think I've ever been more excited about a sports video game as long as I can remember.

Apparently you're not the only one, considering there's already an 11-page thread for a game that doesn't even come out for two more weeks.

I'm trying to decide if I should take a vacation day March 4th. I probably won't but I'm tempted.

sportdan30 · Post by **sportdan30** » Tue Feb 19, 2008 2:25 pm

I was strongly considering it too Lexbur. Actually, I was going to call in sick, but unfortunately I've already had to call in this past month for really being sick. So, I think I'm going to just wait it out at work on the 4th. It's going to be an excruciatingly long day.

Post by **Jared** » Tue Feb 19, 2008 2:32 pm

I'm excited about the game as well, and I don't even have a PS3. The main thing stopping me from getting a PS3 (and MLB 08 ) is the PK in me. Though right now, it's a struggle....