MLB 2K9 News Post

Major League Baseball 2K9 Hands-On Preview (Gamespy)

01:20 AM - January 28, 2009 by Steve_OS

Gamespy has posted their hands-on preview of Major League Baseball 2K9.

Quote:


	"There were a couple more pitching modifications. First, pulling the right trigger will lock the location of your pitch on the screen but still allow you to move your target anywhere in or out of the zone, meaning your opponent won't be able to lock into a specific location. Another change we liked revolved around the men in blue, the ones who usually sport a pot belly and a quick temper. Nobody goes to a baseball game to watch the umpires, and MLB 2K9 looks to feature a more uniform strike zone than before. This should be a nice change, as it's rather frustrating to throw a pitch that looks like a strike and have it called a ball simply because a particular umpire has his own unique strike zone to memorize."

Game: Major League Baseball 2K9Reader Score: 6/10 - Vote Now
Platform: PS3 / Xbox 360Votes for game: 38 - View All

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Member Comments

# 21 Qb @ 01/28/09 11:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SimBaller


	Just so you guys know, optimization is at the tail end of the to-do list. It only makes sense to get everything into the game and THEN do FPS optimization. Showing the game to IGN, Gamespot, et al was a formality of showing off our focus and direction with the game this year. In no way does it represent the final product. When you pick this game up off the shelves, it will be running 60. Wait a month and you'll see for yourselves.

Thanks for speaking up, SimBaller. A solid 60 FPS would do wonders for the gameplay, especially online. I had some great games over Live with my brother-in-law in 2K7, but we couldn't even play 2K8 online (we did get a few decent ones in the old-fashioned way). Hopefully the team can get things running smoothly in the final build and release an improved game. Gotta have my baseball fix...

# 22 JBH3 @ 01/28/09 11:39 AM

What does "Wait a month and we'll see for ourselves" mean?

Does that mean 2K will have videos out of the gameplay, rid of any framerate issues?

Or does that mean buy it, and once you've bought it and played it you'll see the framerate isn't an issue?

In this economy I hope that the latter isn't the idea.

Can someone please elaborate?

# 23 tmac55 @ 01/28/09 12:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SimBaller


	Just so you guys know, optimization is at the tail end of the to-do list. It only makes sense to get everything into the game and THEN do FPS optimization. Showing the game to IGN, Gamespot, et al was a formality of showing off our focus and direction with the game this year. In no way does it represent the final product. When you pick this game up off the shelves, it will be running 60. Wait a month and you'll see for yourselves.

Excellent news. I was never doubting VC or their abilities and I mean if FPS problem is gone, then I see a nice game shaping up here compared to mlb 2k8. Here's to hoping it all pans out.

# 24 tyler289 @ 01/28/09 01:28 PM

Why would they get rid of different umpire personalities? Not all umpires have the same exact strike zone. A huge part of pitching - especially for softer throwers - is getting those close calls on the black (or not getting them) on any given day. Making every single strike zone, for every umpire, the same exact thing is pretty stupid, in my opinion.

It just sounds like people get frustrated when an umpire doesn't call their pitch a strike. Oh well, it happens in real life, too, a lot. I don't see why that needed to be changed.

Hopefully the framerate issue is fixed.

# 25 JBH3 @ 01/28/09 01:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tyler289


	Why would they get rid of different umpire personalities? Not all umpires have the same exact strike zone. A huge part of pitching - especially for softer throwers - is getting those close calls on the black (or not getting them) on any given day. Making every single strike zone, for every umpire, the same exact thing is pretty stupid, in my opinion. It just sounds like people get frustrated when an umpire doesn't call their pitch a strike. Oh well, it happens in real life, too, a lot. I don't see why that needed to be changed. Hopefully the framerate issue is fixed.

Where was this reported?

From my work CPU I can't access the gaming sites that posted previews.

That upsets me too because having dynamic umpires is a definite PLUS - for any baseball game.

# 26 Damanjinx @ 01/28/09 01:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tyler289


	Why would they get rid of different umpire personalities? Not all umpires have the same exact strike zone. A huge part of pitching - especially for softer throwers - is getting those close calls on the black (or not getting them) on any given day. Making every single strike zone, for every umpire, the same exact thing is pretty stupid, in my opinion. It just sounds like people get frustrated when an umpire doesn't call their pitch a strike. Oh well, it happens in real life, too, a lot. I don't see why that needed to be changed. Hopefully the framerate issue is fixed.

I agree making the smaller stikezone and variable per umpire is fantastic, to get rid of that is completely idiotic. I dont care if IGN, Gamespy or anybudy says if they dont like it TUFF, that real baseball, i swear its like these company's and there employees have never watched a baseball game in there life. 2k dont take that out.

# 27 Damanjinx @ 01/28/09 01:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JBH3


	Where was this reported? From my work CPU I can't access the gaming sites that posted previews. That upsets me too because having dynamic umpires is a definite PLUS - for any baseball game.

"Nobody goes to a baseball game to watch the umpires, and MLB 2K9 looks to feature a more uniform strike zone than before. This should be a nice change, as it's rather frustrating to throw a pitch that looks like a strike and have it called a ball simply because a particular umpire has his own unique strike zone to memorize."

That is the quote from gamespy obviously who wrote that is a moron and knows nothing about baseball, i swear to god 2k better not get rid of that.

# 28 Qb @ 01/28/09 01:49 PM

On the variable umps/strike zones: It's a great idea in theory, but it wasn't well implemented in 2K8. The main issue was that the strike zone was too big too often, at least in my experience. I tried to be a very patient hitter -- I would usually draw a few walks a game with the right settings -- but when pitches that should never be called strikes (way high & outside was the most common for me), it really hurt the gameplay.

Don't get me wrong, I'd like to see variable umps as well, but I think I'd rather have a consistent strike zone that replicates what we see called in real MLB games...

# 29 Blazzen @ 01/28/09 01:51 PM

I agree, do not take out the variable umpires. At least make it an option we can toggle on or off. The goal of SIM baseball should be to make the most realistic experience as possible (hence SIM) and this added to it I think.

# 30 tyler289 @ 01/28/09 02:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Qb


	On the variable umps/strike zones: It's a great idea in theory, but it wasn't well implemented in 2K8. The main issue was that the strike zone was too big too often, at least in my experience. I tried to be a very patient hitter -- I would usually draw a few walks a game with the right settings -- but when pitches that should never be called strikes (way high & outside was the most common for me), it really hurt the gameplay. Don't get me wrong, I'd like to see variable umps as well, but I think I'd rather have a consistent strike zone that replicates what we see called in real MLB games...

I agree, it wasn't implemented well at all. The strike zone was HUGE. I was hoping they'd tweak it a little to make it more realistic, but decided to just take it out instead of fixing it. Oh well.

# 31 idesign2 @ 01/28/09 02:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dickdalewood


	After last year, you'd think that would have been the FIRST thing they fixed. Just about every sports game has figured out how to achieve 60 fps, yet two years in 2K still can't seem to... Hell, last year they removed half the crowd and couldn't do it, how do they expect to do it with this "living world" idea??? Bad, 2K, bad!!

If I remember correctly, the framerate issues in 2K8 were blamed on the game constantly saving information to the user profile. Also, cut scenes were affected by framerate issues the most.

MAYBE the "living world" concept will eliminate the choppiness between cut scenes, as instead of loading what were essentially saved replays we'll see live action.

I'm willing to give this game a shot, but if the framerate exits EVEN A LITTLE then I'm going with The Show.

# 32 Blzer @ 01/28/09 02:07 PM

I like how "real time" turned into "living world."

# 33 jeffy777 @ 01/28/09 02:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tyler289


	I agree, it wasn't implemented well at all. The strike zone was HUGE. I was hoping they'd tweak it a little to make it more realistic, but decided to just take it out instead of fixing it. Oh well.

As long as the strike zone is smaller, I'll be happy.

# 34 JBH3 @ 01/28/09 02:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Damanjinx


	"Nobody goes to a baseball game to watch the umpires, and MLB 2K9 looks to feature a more uniform strike zone than before. This should be a nice change, as it's rather frustrating to throw a pitch that looks like a strike and have it called a ball simply because a particular umpire has his own unique strike zone to memorize." That is the quote from gamespy obviously who wrote that is a moron and knows nothing about baseball, i swear to god 2k better not get rid of that.

I could choke dude out for that...WTF?

He just needs to play "The Bigs", and be done w/ it.

# 35 SoxFan01605 @ 01/28/09 03:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by baa7


	I like it. And they should offer other living world theme upgrades, like Dino world, Wild West world, and/or combinations thereof. Imagine a stoppage in play, and the camera switching to a scene of a T-Rex biting the head off of General Custer. Cool.

As long as it's not Elmo's world...lol

I'm sick of that high-voiced, red bastard

# 36 Frek21 @ 01/28/09 06:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Damanjinx


	"Nobody goes to a baseball game to watch the umpires, and MLB 2K9 looks to feature a more uniform strike zone than before. This should be a nice change, as it's rather frustrating to throw a pitch that looks like a strike and have it called a ball simply because a particular umpire has his own unique strike zone to memorize." That is the quote from gamespy obviously who wrote that is a moron and knows nothing about baseball, i swear to god 2k better not get rid of that.

I didn't like the sound of that either because anyone who has played or watched baseball knows that every umpire has a different strike zone and will make a bad call every now and then. Also did alot of people have a problem with the umpires having slightly different strike zones?

# 37 SoxFan01605 @ 01/28/09 06:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Frek21


	I didn't like the sound of that either because anyone who has played or watched baseball knows that every umpire has a different strike zone and will make a bad call every now and then. Also did alot of people have a problem with the umpires having slightly different strike zones?

I think, as others stated, it wasn't an issue with concept, but with execution.

The strike zone never felt tight...only wide as all hell or normal.

I would have preferred correcting the issue rather than removing the feature all together, but oh well.

# 38 Frek21 @ 01/28/09 07:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SoxFan01605


	I think, as others stated, it wasn't an issue with concept, but with execution. The strike zone never felt tight...only wide as all hell or normal. I would have preferred correcting the issue rather than removing the feature all together, but oh well.

Ok. Yea I agree with that they needed to have smaller zones too.

# 39 Blzer @ 01/28/09 08:28 PM

There's a difference among a static strike zone, a varying strike zone, varying umpires, and varying umpires with varying strike zones. I would ultimately prefer the last choice, but if we're going to have one consistent umpire, I would like for the borders to be a "gray" area where it can go either way (refer to the later ASB games). That way it's not a distinct border that you can hit and perfect.

Of course, it would be better if there were some standard deviations involved.

# 40 lnin0 @ 01/28/09 11:40 PM

Everyone online freaks out if you throw a ball anyway so why not just make one huge strike zone.

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