MLB 15 The Show OS Community Impressions

[Russell_SCEA]

Quote: Originally Posted by DGuinta1

Nope the same.

All the improvements and additions to Commentary are listed below. It's not the same.

Play-by-Play, Commentary, and PA Improvements
(PS3 & PS4 Only)
Improved strike zone accuracy with new pitch locations for on-the-black calls and borderline balls & strikes
Improved hit call accuracy through new field zone locations and deeper parameter logic
Improved runner rounding base and runner scoring content for more exciting big-play calls
Improved deep fly ball logic that allows more diverse calls on potential home runs, and prevents the user from hearing calls that give away the play result before it occurs
Improved foul ball logic to allow for open-ended play-by-play on playable or nearly playable balls, prevents user from hearing calls that give away the result
New batter introductions and pitch result content for the new skip batter walkup system (speeds up gameplay, tightens play-by-play)
New system for handling safe result calls that includes proper acknowledgement of the runner’s slide type
New conversations with color commentary that remember and discuss the team’s recent record
New conversations with color commentary that highlight the impact of important double plays
New PA batter introductions and content for the new Home Run Derby format
New batter introductions that call out the three part stat line for Average, Home Runs, and RBI’s on the year
New create-a-player first and last names
New play by play and color commentary content for the manager challenge system
Over 1,700 new lines of play-by-play content
Over 1,400 new lines of color commentary

[tabarnes19_SDS]

No rewards with digital copy.

[DGuinta1]

Quote: Originally Posted by Russell_SCEA

All the improvements and additions to Commentary are listed below. It's not the same. Play-by-Play, Commentary, and PA Improvements (PS3 & PS4 Only) Improved strike zone accuracy with new pitch locations for on-the-black calls and borderline balls & strikes Improved hit call accuracy through new field zone locations and deeper parameter logic Improved runner rounding base and runner scoring content for more exciting big-play calls Improved deep fly ball logic that allows more diverse calls on potential home runs, and prevents the user from hearing calls that give away the play result before it occurs Improved foul ball logic to allow for open-ended play-by-play on playable or nearly playable balls, prevents user from hearing calls that give away the result New batter introductions and pitch result content for the new skip batter walkup system (speeds up gameplay, tightens play-by-play) New system for handling safe result calls that includes proper acknowledgement of the runner’s slide type New conversations with color commentary that remember and discuss the team’s recent record New conversations with color commentary that highlight the impact of important double plays New PA batter introductions and content for the new Home Run Derby format New batter introductions that call out the three part stat line for Average, Home Runs, and RBI’s on the year New create-a-player first and last names New play by play and color commentary content for the manager challenge system Over 1,700 new lines of play-by-play content Over 1,400 new lines of color commentary

Thank you Russel for setting me straight. Great job to you and your crew. Kudos. I hope the changes are noticeable enough, being I play sooo much. (Add Tanaka for the Yanks please, announcer wise ) Question, is the improved commentary across the board, no matter what mode you play?

[Flaxseed Oil]

Anyone else with the digital version having problem coming back from rest mode? I was able to do it this morning (the first time I tried it) but now every time i put my PS4 into rest mode, I can't restart it - and have to do a hard reset by pulling the plug.

[TripleCrown9]

Quote: Originally Posted by Factzzz

Also, i feel like most of the new pitching deliveries were done lazily, basically all of them have the same finish, they look almost robotic. Also doesn't look like a lot of attention was given to some of the signature things some pitchers do when in the stretch. The last couple years, the pitching deliveries were really starting to look good, fluid, realistic motions, but this year they took a step back IMO.

Quote: Originally Posted by The Kid 24

Just have to say... SCEA bravo on the pitching motions... Very well done!!!

Well now, you can't both be correct lol.

[bobloblah1980]

took a bit to get a hang of the hitting timing, but it is slowly coming together now.. I love the new ball movement on pitches especially the 2 seamers coming back to the outside and the nasty sinkers.. Love it

Maybe its just me ,but i am seeing a lot of balls at/near the pitcher again but that is no game breaker by any means.

1 of my buds mentioned the band scorebaord thing by center field at Seattle and losing the ball in it? I haven't played there yet tho

[SoxFan01605]

Quote: Originally Posted by tril

no one has mentioned the improved commentary and play by play. is it vastly improved?

Quote: Originally Posted by DGuinta1

Nope the same.

I mentioned it in my impressions (which apparently were in the thread that got locked right after). I'll add my overall impressions in spoilers (for length), but basically I wouldn't say "vastly improved" by any stretch, but I also wouldn't say it's the same either. I think it will feel pretty much the same to many people because of it being the same team and plenty of the same lines from over the years, and that's definitely fair, but the change in accuracy and approach is noticeably better IMO.

To explain, I noticed the improvements in how commentary is stitched/spliced right away, but the main thing holding it back is that, while there is now more back and forth and some more situational accuracy (both in call and emotion), it's still lacking in flow from one play to the next if the plays aren't easily related.

For example, in NBA 2K, if a conversation gets cut off due to action on the court, they'll eventually say something like "and getting back to..." or " and as you were saying earlier..." and resume, branch off of, or close out the discussion (sometimes even incorporating the interrupting action into the prior conversation!). In The Show, they cut it off properly now, but that's it. It's never picked back up or properly closed out, but left hanging, which makes the back and forth still seem disconnected.

This year seems like a good foundational step towards that, but it remains to be seen if a) it will come together and b) people will simply not care if it does because they're simply tired of Matt and co. Personally I think it's promising, but there's little that will wow you on the surface this year (though that is based off of early play. I would imagine some of the current changes also will shine best once one is deeper in franchise/RTTS, making it hard to judge accurately so early in the release).

Hope that explains it well!


Overall Impressions so far:

Spoiler

Some early thoughts:

-Played two games, one in Fenway against the Cubs (night game in September) and one in Wrigley during a July day (still as the Red Sox). Both stadiums looked beautiful and I actually saw a a nice deep blue sky with black clouds in Fenway...something that wasn't possible before (used to transition from yellowish brown to black, basically).

-Graphics have been beat to death, so I'll just say that it is indeed a gorgeous game. Grass seems to keep the 3D look from further out camera shots than previously as well.

-2nd inning of the first game and I got a replay challenge. successfully overturned the blown call as well. I actually got another challenge in that same game and one more in the next game. I dig it...and I assume that the frequency is more coincidence than the norm given other impressions I've read.

-Fielding animations and movement is better, but fielding still has too many head-scratching moments IMO. Still saw plenty of playable balls get the "ole" treatment. First base animations in-particular looked WAY better though, as there was more variety and realism to both routine and offline catches.

-I know commentary is something people love to hate in this series, but I think the improvements are noticeable. What they need to work on next (IMO) is rounding back to or better closing out conversation that's been cutoff due to action on the field.

-One frustrating thing is that it seems the game has found a compromise between those who prefer a full presentational feel and those who like to just keep it moving. There are way less cutaways to player reactions or between inning events, foul balls are rarely shown (really hate that), no tossing around the horn, etc. I understand not everyone plays the same, but you can X through the stuff if you don't want it and there have been different presentational modes in the past. I don't think we should have to compromise our experience for those who don't appreciate such things. Anyway, I'm off my soapbox now

-I tried out directional hitting (typically a Zone guy) and actually really enjoyed it. I love the subtle camera movement when you select a direction and some of the contact feels better in this mode IMO (dead pulls and hard oppo shots are particularly satisfying).

-I enjoy the new pitching marker interface, though I've yet to notice any change in accuracy with analog. I also like how the hot zone preview works properly without having the strike zone on now.

- Both the crowd and announcers seem to have better situational awareness (actually, the AI too, for that matter). Greater urgency in late-innings, close plays, etc. Audio as a whole is really well done IMO.

[Splitter77]

got the game after lunch.
didnt get it last yeat for ps4.
graphics are amazing.
lighting and the baseball sounds are just much improved.

but my fav new little thing is seeing the ball after contact

i hit from broadcast view and im so happy they added for you to see the ball trajectory after contact. finally!
russell. if you are reading this is there anyway in a patch we can have this for pitching too??
i know it may be a timing issue with fielding. but how about enabling it for auto fielding or just have it as its own camera???