Anyone playing and enjoying IP as a single player experience

sportdan30 · Post by **sportdan30** » Thu Jun 05, 2003 4:09 pm

This is something that I have been wondering about for the past week now. Specifically speaking, I tried the demo @ Gamestop last week and played for about 20 minutes (obviously not enough time to give an accurate review) and truly enjoyed the single player experience. Anyone else feel the same way?

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Thu Jun 05, 2003 4:29 pm

Dan:
 
 I love IP online or offline.
 
 But I think All-Star (hardest) is the only playable level offline. Otherwise, the ball icon shows up on the screen, locating the CPU pitch, on the lower levels. At AAA (easiest), I think the ball icon shows up as soon as it leaves the pitcher´s hand. At MLB (medium), the icon shows up as the ball is about halfway to the plate.
 
 There´s no ball icon or visible strike zone at the All-Star level, which increases the challenge. Plus the CPU hitters are tough at the All-Star level.
 
 Bottom line: I dig IP in any flavor. Really enjoying it.
 
 Take care,
 PK [ This message was edited by: pk500 on 05-06-2003 13:30 ]

sportdan30 · Post by **sportdan30** » Thu Jun 05, 2003 4:49 pm

PK,
 
 Your take on playing IP on All-Star seems to be the overwhelming opinion on single player experience. I re-rented ASB and HH just yesterday and for the life of me could not get into either game the way I did IP. There just seemed to be a lack of substance for one reason or another. I can´t put it exactly into words. However, I did notice on IP (not sure what setting I was playing on) that the AI pitcher seemed to really groove the first pitch down the middle. Not sure if you or anyone has noticed it yet. I also wonder if IP hasn´t gotten the credibility for 1P playability because it doesn´t feature a "franchise" mode. Now, I could care less about that to be honest. One thing does puzzle me however. I´ve heard that the computer will make some outlandish trades during a season. That may deter some from playing through a season.....to each their own. Thanks for your opinion.

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Thu Jun 05, 2003 5:32 pm

Dan:
 
 Let me warn you that there are issues with IP as a one-player game.
 
 No box scores, no replays, some goofy baserunning quirks at times, very few walks by human pitchers unless you really try, no double switches and a few more. But for a guy like me who´s not a baseball junkie, I think IP plays a solid game between the lines and doesn´t have any show-stopping flaws.
 
 Hell, every baseball game this year has flaws. And I can see how the hardcore don´t like IP compared to WSB or HH. It´s not as polished or deep.
 
 But there´s just an old-school feel to IP that I really like. It´s simple yet tough at the All-Star level. Really fun to play, as the battle at the plate between pitcher and batter is excellent. The fielding model is the best I´ve played in any baseball game, too. Really, really cool how getting a jump on a fly ball or rushing slow grounders makes a huge difference, and fielders´ foot speed and arm strength make a big difference, too.
 
 I´m just having more fun with IP -- online and offline -- than any of the other four baseball games available this year for the Xbox. And I´ve put time into the other four -- WSB, HH, ASB and MVP.
 
 To each their own. Baseball gamers are lucky this year: There really seems to be a quality game that suits everyone, regardless of their tastes. Virtual baseball life is good.
 
 Take care,
 PK

sportdan30 · Post by **sportdan30** » Thu Jun 05, 2003 6:05 pm

Well, according to Hiper there´s a demo disk including IP in the new XBM magazine. I think maybe I´ll play that just to be sure it´s to my liking. I like the comparison to the old school baseball games you touched upon. I very much enjoyed "Bases Loaded" on the NES and how fun the fielding aspect was. Like you, I could care less about franchise mode, replays, and even the box scores. The only thing I´m questioning now is the poor AI baserunning, but to be quite honest, how many times do I screw up the baserunning in a game.....countless of times! Is that realistic? No but I deal with it. The same way I´ll look past these gripes. In addition, I´m pretty sure evenw with online play humans royally mess up on the base paths. I´m checking it out...what´s the worst that can happen. Thanks again.

CrazyStanley · Post by **CrazyStanley** » Fri Jun 06, 2003 8:18 am

<TABLE BORDER=0 ALIGN=CENTER WIDTH=85%><TR><TD>Quote:<HR></TD></TR><TR><TD><BLOCKQUOTE>
 On 2003-06-05 13:49, sportdan30 wrote:
 PK,
 
 Your take on playing IP on All-Star seems to be the overwhelming opinion on single player experience. I re-rented ASB and HH just yesterday and for the life of me could not get into either game the way I did IP. There just seemed to be a lack of substance for one reason or another. I can´t put it exactly into words. However, I did notice on IP (not sure what setting I was playing on) that the AI pitcher seemed to really groove the first pitch down the middle. Not sure if you or anyone has noticed it yet. I also wonder if IP hasn´t gotten the credibility for 1P playability because it doesn´t feature a "franchise" mode. Now, I could care less about that to be honest. One thing does puzzle me however. I´ve heard that the computer will make some outlandish trades during a season. That may deter some from playing through a season.....to each their own. Thanks for your opinion.
 </BLOCKQUOTE></TD></TR><TR><TD><HR></TD></TR></TABLE>

CrazyStanley · Post by **CrazyStanley** » Fri Jun 06, 2003 8:19 am

<TABLE BORDER=0 ALIGN=CENTER WIDTH=85%><TR><TD>Quote:<HR></TD></TR><TR><TD><BLOCKQUOTE>Dan:
 
 Let me warn you that there are issues with IP as a one-player game.
 
 No box scores, no replays, some goofy baserunning quirks at times, very few walks by human pitchers unless you really try, no double switches and a few more. But for a guy like me who´s not a baseball junkie, I think IP plays a solid game between the lines and doesn´t have any show-stopping flaws.
 
 Hell, every baseball game this year has flaws. And I can see how the hardcore don´t like IP compared to WSB or HH. It´s not as polished or deep.
 
 But there´s just an old-school feel to IP that I really like. It´s simple yet tough at the All-Star level. Really fun to play, as the battle at the plate between pitcher and batter is excellent. The fielding model is the best I´ve played in any baseball game, too. Really, really cool how getting a jump on a fly ball or rushing slow grounders makes a huge difference, and fielders´ foot speed and arm strength make a big difference, too.
 
 I´m just having more fun with IP -- online and offline -- than any of the other four baseball games available this year for the Xbox. And I´ve put time into the other four -- WSB, HH, ASB and MVP.
 
 To each their own. Baseball gamers are lucky this year: There really seems to be a quality game that suits everyone, regardless of their tastes. Virtual baseball life is good.
 </BLOCKQUOTE></TD></TR><TR><TD><HR></TD></TR></TABLE>

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Fri Jun 06, 2003 11:35 am

Stanley:
 
 Uh, I don´t get your last two posts, copying Dan´s and my responses. Want to shed some light?
 
 Out,
 PK [ This message was edited by: pk500 on 06-06-2003 08:35 ]

CrazyStanley · Post by **CrazyStanley** » Sat Jun 07, 2003 12:11 am

Uhhhh
 
 What happened, hmmm... still confused myself.
 
 What I THOUGHT happened was that I accidently copied his when I meant to copy yours. I THOUGHT I went in to the post to EDIT, not post another msg.
 
 The reason why I wanted to copy/paste your msg is because I feel the same way.
 
 Sorry about that.

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Sat Jun 07, 2003 11:01 am

No worries, man. Just curious!
 
 Were you drinking Bud or Miller when you did that? <IMG SRC="images/forum/icons/icon_smile.gif">
 
 Take care,
 PK

CrazyStanley · Post by **CrazyStanley** » Sat Jun 07, 2003 11:34 am

Rolling Rock <IMG SRC="images/forum/icons/icon_smile.gif">

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Sat Jun 07, 2003 1:27 pm

Good choice, Old Latrobe!
 
 Take care,
 PK