MLB 2K9 Post-Patch Impressions (360 & PS3 merged)

[arseniotall]

picking your spot is next to impossible now so yo will like that. It just seems like 2k just made it so the first pitch goes by more, but after that the batters start hacking away again.

[ballin095]

Quote: Originally Posted by CarryTheWeight

A quick question to those still finding the AI hitting too aggressive post-patch: Are you finding that every batter in the lineup still swings wildly or just certain batters in the lineup? I remember a post a few pages back saying that the Inside Edge hitting tendencies have been fixed, so either they're fundamentally broken despite the patch or the posters still finding overaggression are simply facing aggressive batters rating-wise.

it truly depends on both ratings and your pitching. I actually like the fact that you can't just throw continuous strikes and not expect the CPU to swing and pick up some of your tendencies. As for the ratings itself, it definitely makes a difference.

Note: Adding to what I said, if you want to be successful, you really have to mix up your pitches and pitch locations. With that being said, you may have to throw first pitches as balls.

[fpe]

I think the game plays a pretty good game of baseball if you mess with some sliders.
I have been getting all kind of different games from low scoring to high scoring. The only thing that is absolutely killing it for me is the outfielder dropping balls as stated by other guys on this forum.

Here is a good example..

Playing as the White Sox against the twins with the sox leading 2-1 in the ninth after Danks pitched an almost perfect game. He gave up a couple hits with 2 outs so I brought in Jenks to close it out with guys on first and second.

Got Joe Mauer to fly out to Quentin in left field, and I had him positioned perfectly for a high fly ball for the final out and my outfielder totally misses the catch and the ball goes rolling to the wall scoring two runs.

This is very fustrating after playing a whole game almost flawlessly. I really feel like I would play this game alot but things like this (which happen way too frequently) are just not right.

Other than that problem (which I feel is a biggie!) I really have not seen any other problems. I have had no issues with AI agressiveness of first base glitch.

I just wish I did not have to hold my breath (and say a prayer) everytime the ball is hit to the outfield.

[42]

Overall, are we getting a thumbs up for this recent patch of improvements?

[BigL]

Quote: Originally Posted by fpe

I think the game plays a pretty good game of baseball if you mess with some sliders. I have been getting all kind of different games from low scoring to high scoring. The only thing that is absolutely killing it for me is the outfielder dropping balls as stated by other guys on this forum. Here is a good example.. Playing as the White Sox against the twins with the sox leading 2-1 in the ninth after Danks pitched an almost perfect game. He gave up a couple hits with 2 outs so I brought in Jenks to close it out with guys on first and second. .

THE OUtfield issue is my only main gripe too. It is just wrecking my games. Like you I was in a low scoring 1-0 game then to start the 7th the AI hit a routine fly ball that I should have caught, My outfield whiffs and it starts a big inning for the AI and I lose

This problem has not been addressed. i only hope 2K can release another patch for it.

[kcxiv]

Quote: Originally Posted by arseniotall

im seeing this too. WEIRD. I have to aim at the batters head to get a curveball as a strike.

Not pitching correctly. You have to do it exactly how it says, if your off a 5-10 degree's, then the pitch will be off. Took me a while to figure that out. lol

They made pitching tougher. Its not easy to pick your spots anymore. Curveballs for me are the hardest to get right. Circle change as well.

[Village Idiot]

Pre-patch: routine throws in the infield actually took some patience and skill; instead of accepting this and adjusting, gamers complained non-stop about the "glitches" with fielding (all of which are still there, proving it was never a "glitch" to being with; what has been done is that fielding is just easier now).

Post-patch: With almost all suspense removed, defense is downright boring. What, am I playing The Show?

Pre-patch: I thought pitching was perfect. To me, there was nothing like aiming a 2-seamer for the top-right corner and have it dart out of the zone at the last moment, or aiming a slider at someone's knee and have it break into the zone; but gamers complained it was too easy to hit your spots.

Post-patch: you can still throw a strike any time you want, so I'm not sure what was accomplished by making it so pitches tend to float 6-8 inches away from where you aimed them. I guess it's more "realistic" or something, but, from where I'm standing, now there's REALLY no reason to ever throw a ball. Why should I aim for the black (let alone someone's knee) if I really have no idea where the pitch is going to go? So, instead of trying to pinpoint my pitch where I want it to go, I'm trying to pinpoint my pitch having "corrected" for the new "realistic" inaccuracy. Huh? What? In other words, nothing's really any different except where I aim: i.e., I'm not walking more batters, I'm not throwing more balls, I'm not having any more or less success - so what just happened? Instead of aiming a pitch where I want, and taking my chances with that pitch, I'm aiming "somewhere else." Awesome!

Pre-patch: I never had any problems with AI batters being "too aggressive." They tended to swing at strikes and take balls; they also tended to take "good" strikes and swing at "good" balls. But apparently I'm an idiot, or have a special copy of the game, or something.

Post-patch: I don't see much difference here, truth be told, except for the fact that I have in my mind every time I think about throwing a ball, "the AI will take more balls" from the patch notes. So, there again, no reason to throw a ball.

Pre-patch: Something about too many home runs.
Post-patch: Well my team is last in the league in HRs, as well as first in the league in HR allowed, so ... here's to staying in both places.

And there's my impressions.

I'm half-kidding with some of this, as some of it just involves tweaking sliders. Overall, though, I definitely could have done without this patch, especially since it didn't do dick with any of my problems with Franchise mode.

[Guffers]

Ok yesterday I was very, very annoyed that the AI still seemed super aggressive post patch but I think it ties in with the pitching being a little more sensitive. I discovered at 2am last night that I was messing up the release timing constantly and the AI was swinging at those pitches EVERYTIME. I can only assume that if your mess up the on the sticks then it registers in the game as a bad/easy to hit pitch, regardless of where the pitch lands. I think thats why some people, including me were seeing the AI score hits on pitches WAY off the plate. It doesn't make much sense in a real world situation but makes perfect video game sense as it gives you an incentive to really perfect your command of the sticks.

I promptly sat down in practise mode for a good half hour today and my last game before was much more realistic as I managed 7 strike outs, still none looking though. So whilst I think the AI is still slightly too aggressive I think my problems were exacerbated by my bad pitch command. I'm way too used to the Show

Is there actually any way to lower AI aggression other than doing massive Inside Edge edits? This game has improved greatly for me but I really hope 2K learns that taking away sliders is a very annoying thing for the consumer. Just ask anyone that bought Madden last year.