Major League Baseball 2K9 Demo Available, Post Your Impressions Here

[JoeRyan33]

So the early impressions are not good at all. I'll download this tomorrow on PSN with very low expectations.

Thanks for the updates lads. Keep them coming.

[EnigmaNemesis]

Quote: Originally Posted by ~Guru~

Am not trying to jump on you and sorry if it came off like that...but to me it seems that more members with the show avatars and those known for being show fans are the ones that are here saying i dont like this and that and this and that... if you love the show then this game is not going to be great for you at all... i just read all your post on this thread and they come off as just throwing dirt on the game instead of talking about good and bad yea we all know bat sounds are weak and graphics are not that great...etc but the game is improved over last year and it has some things that the show should have as well...

And you only choose to look at the things I was not pleased with, because there were other things that I was as well.

And why the heck are we still talking about this with each other. There is a post about getting personal, which you both are. And the mod already said I was giving Impressions. You got a problem with it, take it up with them.

If I am underwhelmed with things, that is my prerogative, and right to post about it. I am not targeting anyone, calling anyone out, or bashing anyone for their opinions.

Yet I can not say otherwise. Always vindications in others, when their opinion doesn't line up. Must be my "avatar" though.

[DaveDQ]

Quote: Originally Posted by SoxFan01605

Okay, played a couple games. Here are some quick pros and cons: +Commentary is very good. I think if they can keep repetition from being an issue, it could be the best "booth" in baseball videogames in terms of game quality. No, that's not hyperbole either. I'm talking general flow and work between the two guys. It's impossible to tell if it will have the staying power or neat touches through a season that The Show's crew has (that's doubtful anyway) but I like what I hear. +Camera work (presentational). This will be a boon for this game. They get the camera angles pretty well and make nice cuts at good times. The hitting/pitching camera is locked in the demo, so nothing to comment on there. +Real time. The "life" it adds to the park, mainly at field level, is very good and can help immerse you in the game. I had a neat play where I broke my bat on a hit and the bat boy went after both main pieces. Subtle touch that I liked. +Control responsiveness. Both pitching and hitting feel more fluid in responsiveness. The hitting "feels" much better and the pitching is more polished. Good stuff. +Fielding. I liked the fielding overall in 2K anyway, and it feels as fluid as ever. BIG fan of the throwing meter too. Not really new in that regard, but still a plus IMO. +Lighting. While I won't begin to debate relative sun positioning...lol (just playing Blzer) the lighting was a pleasent surprise. The colors had that "pop" I was looking for and the stadium looks good panned out. Now for the negatives: -Lets get all this out of the way...Organ, bat sounds, Organ, bat sounds, Organ , bat sounds...BIG FAT BOOOOOO...lol. There, that's done. -Animations. when they're on, they're beautiful. When they're not, it's painful. More off than on, unfortunately. the transitional and "reactive" animations are actually quite good overall. What brings it down is the herky-jerky running/walking, the weird no-look throws and horrible swings. I'm sure some will be ironed out a bit in the final, but some of those are trademark 2K baseball, so don't expect much there. -Real time. No, you're not hallucinating. I put it in as a + and a -. The thing is, for everything it adds, a lingering look at a player wondering around in a circle lost is shown (Picture a senile old man in a mega-mall....okay, now he's a robot...lol, got it?). It's part of the growing pains I'm personally able to live with, but it can be downright scary at times. -Collision Detection. Zero. Saw players go through players, walls, benches in the dugout, themselves, their gear...just not there. Hopefully they'll have at least reduced the opportunities for it to be so galring come final. -Ads. The game is brought to you by Pepsi, with a SP brought to you by Statefarm, whose stats are sponsored by Pepsi, in a park sponsored by Statefarm and Pepsi, in a game at the conclusion of which, your Pepsi player of the game is presented by Statefarm. The sad thing? Minus the very last State Farm, I didn't make any of that up. Yuck. -Control ease. Pitching might be okay with the ability to go back to the 3 step system. Hitting is a joke. I could close my eyes and hit the ball. That is not a joke...I actually did it to check. No step influence might have killed the hitting...dead serious. Hopefully in the final build, with slider adjustment and difficulty levels and all that, it will be better. I'm a bit worried here though. Now some other notes that aren't strictly a plus or minus. *Graphics are better than I though. Base player models are good and the stadium looks pretty good overall. The uniforms and equipment is disappointing at best. There is a general cartoonish look to the and they either look rubbery or inflatable (gloves are BAD for this). Still, much better than 2K8 overall and certainly a step back in the right direction. *gameplay felt relatively untouched other than it being easier. Again, hopefully this will be something that is flexable in the final build. Nothing to me jumped out as "new" here, though to be fair the fluidity of the controls being improved might carry over to gameplay with the right slider set. *hit variety is definitely improved over 2K8, but I personally don't agree with the rave reviews it's getting. That's subjective though, so I'l leave it at that. I guess the important thing is it has indeed improved. *Sig style are much more hit and miss than I thought they would be to be honest (always considered it a plus for the series). Odd the WS teams were like that. not making it a negative yet though. This is one area I'm willing to give 2K some benefit of the doubt. That's it for now (isn't it enough...lol). Sorry for the long post, just wanted to get across what I noticed. Bottom line is I do see an improvement over 2K8. Nothing to "wow" you particularly IMO, but certainly a good rebuilding effort and looks to be potentially enjoyable. I think if a couple of my gameplay concerns are ironed out (or can be adjusted for with sliders) it should be a fun game overall. Looking forward to renting it and seeing how much polish was added. The end (I know, I know...looong...lol...can't help it)

Great impressions. I'm not real crazy on the lighting. It doesn't seem to offer depth, almost too bright and crisp.

The batting though, it might be the best improvement this game has seen. I've never felt a game be so responsive with direction and placement like this.

[brezz2001]

FWIW, I'm impressed. Maybe it's because I had super low expectations, but the game is pretty good. I really enjoy pitching with the right stick, it makes you have to concentrate more. The meter throwing is also fun. There was very little framerate drop as well, which I was looking for closely. Commentary is great too, I got sucked into the action right away.

It's not perfect. The ball still "floats" too much for me. Both on pitching and on balls hit to the field, it just feels strange. I agree with the comments on collision detection as well.

One thing I wish they included (like the Show demo had) were a brief description on the controls. For example, I couldn't figure out baserunning or stealing, which is going to be a lot of trial and error. Also, when batting do I have to pick a zone or do I just swing away? How do you check swing?

While in the end it's not going to change my decision to get The Show, it made me think about it a little. If I only had an Xbox, I don't think I would be that disappointed to have this as my only baseball game this year. This is a massive improvement compared to last year's game, in my opinion.

Brian

[SoxFan01605]

Couple more things...

Game is still a user HR fest on default (I'm assuming this is default. I've now gone back-to-back-to-back on two separate occassions. 4 games-11 HRs....thant's almost a HR per inning played. I really have to hope the zone hitting is the answer. While the hitting feels pretty good actually, it's just too easy IMO.

It also feels to easy to strike guys out. The CPU is downright terrible at the plate. Maybe Dusty Baker stole the Iside Edge info and just put "No Walkie...must swing...lol." Very Aggressive CPU early in the count. They actually seem more patient late in the count, oddly enough.

I like what I've seen with the errors. Had Pena drop a ball that hit him right in the mit, had a hot shot that I bobbled and dropped (looked great too...realistic fumbling).

I also have seen a few (one by me) were I bobbled the ball and actually kicked it away. The best part was it seemed user controlled as it "kicked" with my controller movements. If this is the case, then color me impressed on that. The fielding is one aspect I prefer about 2K baseball...more user control.

Oh, and for Dorismary....no paperback at this time (still gauging the market...lol)

[dlasp66]

Quote: Originally Posted by ~Guru~

Am not trying to jump on you and sorry if it came off like that...but to me it seems that more members with the show avatars and those known for being show fans are the ones that are here saying i dont like this and that and this and that... if you love the show then this game is not going to be great for you at all... i just read all your post on this thread and they come off as just throwing dirt on the game instead of talking about good and bad yea we all know bat sounds are weak and graphics are not that great...etc but the game is improved over last year and it has some things that the show should have as well...

I agree with you and Art, but its best just to ignore those types of people

[SoxFan01605]

Quote: Originally Posted by DaveDQ

Great impressions. I'm not real crazy on the lighting. It doesn't seem to offer depth, almost too bright and crisp. The batting though, it might be the best improvement this game has seen. I've never felt a game be so responsive with direction and placement like this.

Yeah, I get what you mean about the depth of lighting. I thought it an improvement over 2K8 though, which is the main reason it's a plus for me. I did find it helped make the colors more vibrant which was nice, IMO. 2K8 was just so washed out to me.

[dlasp66]

Quote: Originally Posted by SoxFan01605

Couple more things... Game is still a user HR fest on default (I'm assuming this is default. I've now gone back-to-back-to-back on two separate occassions. 4 games-11 HRs....thant's almost a HR per inning played. I really have to hope the zone hitting is the answer. While the hitting feels pretty good actually, it's just too easy IMO. It also feels to easy to strike guys out. The CPU is downright terrible at the plate. Maybe Dusty Baker stole the Iside Edge info and just put "No Walkie...must swing...lol." Very Aggressive CPU early in the count. They actually seem more patient late in the count, oddly enough. I like what I've seen with the errors. Had Pena drop a ball that hit him right in the mit, had a hot shot that I bobbled and dropped (looked great too...realistic fumbling). I also have seen a few (one by me) were I bobbled the ball and actually kicked it away. The best part was it seemed user controlled as it "kicked" with my controller movements. If this is the case, then color me impressed on that. The fielding is one aspect I prefer about 2K baseball...more user control. Oh, and for Dorismary....no paperback at this time (still gauging the market...lol)

As far as you saying that its easy to strike out hitters, well the starting pitchers are cole hamels and scott kazmir who both have wicked stuff and are notorius strikeout pitchers; as for the HRs, ur gonna hafto teach me how to hit cuz i only had 1 in 3 games lol (i probably suck at hitting with the swing stick as i prefer classic hitting)