The Show: Several Months Later

brendanrfoley · Post by **brendanrfoley** » Tue Aug 22, 2006 11:45 am

Morning gang...

Is anybody here still playing the show regularly? I think I've banged out about 5/6 games over the last couple days. And, the more I play, the more I'm impressed.

Save for walk totals that are a little too low, the game plays a great game of baseball. I never thought I'd say it -- but I enjoy it more than MVP.

Infact, I enjoy The Show so much, and TakeTwo's effort is so poor, I'm actually tempted to go PS3 for the next generation.

In case any of you were wondering, I'm 7-13 with the Red Sox on HOF. My offense is the best in the AL East. But suprise, suprise, my bullpen blows a game every chance it gets.

Slumberland · Post by **Slumberland** » Tue Aug 22, 2006 11:48 am

Still playing it, and it's still awesome.

lexbur · Post by **lexbur** » Tue Aug 22, 2006 12:16 pm

It's pretty much the only video game I've played all summer. I'm doing a Tribe season and I'm only a few days behind where they are on the schedule in r/l.

I'm in last place, about 30 games behind, playing with default settings on All Star.

AJColossal · Post by **AJColossal** » Tue Aug 22, 2006 12:30 pm

Awesome game. Best baseball game in years, and the main reason I'm even contemplating a PS3.

Hopefully the series will progress on a next-gen console, and not take a big step back a la Madden 06.

Gurantsu · Post by **Gurantsu** » Tue Aug 22, 2006 12:49 pm

I'm still playing it on my PSP, doing a career with the O's. Fantastic baseball game, on any size screen!

dbdynsty25 · Post by **dbdynsty25** » Tue Aug 22, 2006 1:43 pm

Still playing it on the PSP. I'll never drop 600 on a system, so PS3 baseball will have to wait. I'll just get next years on the PSP...it'll be gravy anyway. Take a great game and make it a little greater. Of course the people that are excited for the PS3 version are going to be disappointed...same as we always are when we jump to the next generation from a great game.

brendanrfoley · Post by **brendanrfoley** » Tue Aug 22, 2006 2:08 pm

Glad to see so many are still playing.

I'm now 9-14, after taking 2 of 3 from Cleveland at the Jake.

In the third game, Manny went deep, and Rex said "Looks just like old times, except he's wearing a different uniform." I'm amazed. I've played more than 50 games -- and I'm still hearing and seeing new things.

Even though my walks still aren't where I want them to be, I'm learning to "see" pitches better. I'm getting deeper counts -- and realizing the computer will through a lot of balls.

If I was a little more patient, I'd draw more free passes. I managed just one walk in games 1 and 3 of the series. But, I did draw 4 against Sabathia.

What a fantastic game.

brendanrfoley · Post by **brendanrfoley** » Tue Aug 22, 2006 2:10 pm

dbdynsty25 wrote:Still playing it on the PSP. I'll never drop 600 on a system, so PS3 baseball will have to wait. I'll just get next years on the PSP...it'll be gravy anyway.

DB, I had a chance to play the PSP version at Best Buy the other day. I'm amazed at how good it looks, and how well it played.

It's a great showcase for the system. And, if I traveled more, would probably get my attention.

GTHobbes · Post by **GTHobbes** » Tue Aug 22, 2006 5:37 pm

This game is a perfect example, in my mind, of the strides that a series should make over a 2-3 year period. For my money, it's the best baseball game I've ever played.

Diablo25 · Post by **Diablo25** » Tue Aug 22, 2006 5:57 pm

Simply the best baseball game of the past 4-5 years. Its nice to see a developer can still do it.

slyguy · Post by **slyguy** » Tue Aug 22, 2006 6:51 pm

I still play it on my PSP and it is a gem of a game and i can't believe what they put into this handheld

dbdynsty25 · Post by **dbdynsty25** » Tue Aug 22, 2006 6:53 pm

I disagree with some of you because I still think MVP 05 is a better all-around game, but I love MLB...so it's not like I will completely disagree.

Millennium · Post by **Millennium** » Tue Aug 22, 2006 6:55 pm

Brendan or anyone else:

Just curious what sliders you settled with. Can't seem to find ones that control my offense and allow me to strike out the CPU a some...

10spro · Post by **10spro** » Tue Aug 22, 2006 7:29 pm

I also thing that MVP 05 is a better baseball experience overall, I have both the PSP and PS2 version and the only thing I wish Sony had was the direct USB link for both systems.

Blublub · Post by **Blublub** » Tue Aug 22, 2006 7:37 pm

Literally every day still with the PSP version in my Twinkies season. Best console baseball ever, IMHO. Still seeing new stuff all the time - feels a lot like Winning Eleven in terms of never feeling scripted. I've even contemplated getting another PSP just to leave it in one, really.

Can't wait for next year's version. I'd be delighted if they left the nearly perfect gameplay the way it is, fix the few bugs (like the stuck "out" indicator), add franchise mode, fantasy draft, and playable minors. That would be perfect.

Tough call with MVP 05, but edges it out in my book.

Diablo25 · Post by **Diablo25** » Tue Aug 22, 2006 8:06 pm

Millennium wrote:Brendan or anyone else:

Just curious what sliders you settled with. Can't seem to find ones that control my offense and allow me to strike out the CPU a some...

I use HOF sliders. As far as the User sliders, from default, I lower Contact all the way down , bump Errors up 2 and lower Throw Accuracy 1 or 2. CPU...I max out the Pitch Count, leave Contact and Power at default. Baserunning Aggressiveness is also maxed. Throw Accuracy is the same as User. I think I let injuries at default. Oh, and pitch speed I have at 2 from the minimum for both user and CPU.

icvu42 · Post by **icvu42** » Tue Aug 22, 2006 9:06 pm

Millennium wrote:Brendan or anyone else:

Just curious what sliders you settled with. Can't seem to find ones that control my offense and allow me to strike out the CPU a some...

Im playing on the PSP with the Yankees, and am only 2 games behind in the schedule compared to the real life boys. Unfortunately, I'm 6.5 games behind the Sox, but I do hald a 3 game lead in the wild card.

I love this game. Very good representation of baseball. I avg about 1 walk per game, but when Im patient, Ill get 2-3.

As far as sliders, I kept jumping back and forth between Heisman and All-Star. I finally settled on All-Star with some tweaks (next time I play Ill write them down) But what I do is use the power button to swing, until I have 2 strikes on me. That keeps my offensive totals pretty realistic.

Rick

dbdynsty25 · Post by **dbdynsty25** » Tue Aug 22, 2006 9:08 pm

I hate the heisman level...I can never get realistic passing statistics when I throw my breaking pitches.

GTHobbes · Post by **GTHobbes** » Tue Aug 22, 2006 9:22 pm

That's pretty impressive for a game that came out in March to still be getting this kind've love...especially with this crowd. I'm pretty sure the developers stick their head in around here every now and again, and they really do deserve the compliments IMO. Can't wait for next year's game on all systems.

snaz16 · Post by **snaz16** » Tue Aug 22, 2006 10:30 pm

dbdynsty25 wrote:I hate the heisman level...I can never get realistic passing statistics when I throw my breaking pitches.

Blublub · Post by **Blublub** » Tue Aug 22, 2006 10:53 pm

Diablo25 wrote:
Millennium wrote:Brendan or anyone else:

Just curious what sliders you settled with. Can't seem to find ones that control my offense and allow me to strike out the CPU a some...
I use HOF sliders. As far as the User sliders, from default, I lower Contact all the way down , bump Errors up 2 and lower Throw Accuracy 1 or 2. CPU...I max out the Pitch Count, leave Contact and Power at default. Baserunning Aggressiveness is also maxed. Throw Accuracy is the same as User. I think I let injuries at default. Oh, and pitch speed I have at 2 from the minimum for both user and CPU.

For me I've found a sweet spot on HOF with pitch speed and throwing strength at zero, and largely the same settings as above. I think the latter is especially important otherwise it's nearly impossible to score from second on a single, even a dribbler through the hole.

I also upped power 2 or 3 notches since I hate using the power swing and a few leave the park this way without.

brendanrfoley · Post by **brendanrfoley** » Wed Aug 23, 2006 1:16 am

Millennium wrote:Brendan or anyone else:

Just curious what sliders you settled with. Can't seem to find ones that control my offense and allow me to strike out the CPU a some...

Hall of Fame difficulty.
Tight strike zone.
CPU pitch speed to 0 ( fastballs were blowing me away too often).
Downed human contact/power by a 2 clicks.
Set arm strength/accuracy to about 4 clicks (from the left).
I also maxed out pitch count.

Playing as the Red Sox, my typical offense line looks something like 5 runs, 10 hits, 6 strikeouts.

All the CPU hitting sliders are at HOF default. My good pitchers are striking out hitters (Schilling gets about 5-7 per start, Beckett 4-6 per start)... but my bullpen is getting shelled.

Except Papelbon

Inuyasha · Post by **Inuyasha** » Wed Aug 23, 2006 2:10 am

I play it from time to time too. The fast play option really helps move this game along so you can play 162 games.

Gurantsu · Post by **Gurantsu** » Wed Aug 23, 2006 8:01 am

I actually even contemplated buying a used PS2 just to play it (since I sold my PS2 to help pay for my 360). But the PSP version is so good I never pulled the trigger.

Hmmm... I wonder if the exclusivity deal means that Sony can put it out on the 360 next year...?

Oh, and in my opinion it has the best commentary in a sports video game ever. NFL 2K5 is pretty darn close, and it certainly wins for overall presentation, but for the way the announcers react to what is actually happening on the field it has no equal. My wife even asked my a couple of times if I was playing a game or listening to a radio broadcast.

Millennium · Post by **Millennium** » Wed Aug 23, 2006 12:37 pm

brendanrfoley wrote:
Millennium wrote:Brendan or anyone else:

Just curious what sliders you settled with. Can't seem to find ones that control my offense and allow me to strike out the CPU a some...
Hall of Fame difficulty.
Tight strike zone.
CPU pitch speed to 0 ( fastballs were blowing me away too often).
Downed human contact/power by a 2 clicks.
Set arm strength/accuracy to about 4 clicks (from the left).
I also maxed out pitch count.

Playing as the Red Sox, my typical offense line looks something like 5 runs, 10 hits, 6 strikeouts.

All the CPU hitting sliders are at HOF default. My good pitchers are striking out hitters (Schilling gets about 5-7 per start, Beckett 4-6 per start)... but my bullpen is getting shelled.

Except Papelbon

Interesting, so you left Human pitch speed alone?

Thanks for the suggestions, everyone. I'm gonna mess around with some of these in Franchise mode.