Major League Baseball 2K11 Hands-On Preview

[ckarlic]

Great read...I think i might rent this game and see how it plays. I did notice that the Release Date says "OUT NOW" but at the end of the review it mentions March 8th

[DickDalewood]

Quote: Originally Posted by Jayhawker

Yep, I really enjoyed MLB 2K10's presentation. But I recently started playing NBA 2K11, and I am just floored.

Yah, if we've got some solid gameplay here, and the presentation is NBA 2K quality, then I will own both ball games this year, without a doubt.

[ChaseB]

Quote: Originally Posted by johnnyg713

^^^ chase can you comment wether fielding was as automatic in the IF as it was in 2k10?

In the outfield you have to start moving immediately. In the infield, I guess the AI pushes you in the right direction at the start like other baseball games. But automated how? There are errors now so it's not like you can just push towards the base and have no fears.

[tmac55]

Thanks for the good read Chase !! Excited for this demo to drop tomorrow

[tistethebeast]

awesome preview chase. how did mccutchen look?

[johnnyg713]

Quote: Originally Posted by ChaseB

In the outfield you have to start moving immediately. In the infield, I guess the AI pushes you in the right direction at the start like other baseball games. But automated how? There are errors now so it's not like you can just push towards the base and have no fears.

That was what I was referring to. I remember 2k giving the explanation that they made the ball speed coming off the bat more realistic so it would be almost impossible for the player to react to the ball in time for the infield to make the play so they put in the "assist". I loved in 2k8 you can take the infield assist off and make the play yourself (mainly because the ball speed was much slower and you had time to react).

In 2k10 I felt playing the infield was mostly; YOU make the pitch, WATCH the ball get hit as your fielder makes the play and then YOU make the throw to first.

[munky1307]

Everything written about this game is sounding more and more positive. Thanks for a good write up Chase. The examples you use really help give a sense of a good game with the small details.

Have you seen a real time injury or error in the game yet that surprised you?

[johnnyg713]

Chase I also want to point out what was said about fielding last year in the OS Review on MLB 2k10.

Quote:

No Field of Dreams If there is an area of gameplay that is the weakest, it is the fielding. First, it seems like the infielders get to just about everything. Balls up the middle are about the only kind of grounder that gets through for a hit. Even when playing as the Phillies, my beloved "rock" Ryan Howard over at first base was making graceful and spectacular plays. There does not seem to be enough variety when it comes to fielding ratings/skill. Even lowly relief pitchers catch or field just about every come-backer with lighting-quick reflexes. I know this has been addressed this year. And, because the action in the infield happens so quickly, the computer assistance seems to handle the largest part of fielding. In most cases, you take control of the infielder just as the ball is getting to him -- just in time to throw and that is about it. The outfield is not quite as "automated" as the infield, which makes sense since you have a longer amount of time to make the play. This is what I was referring to earlier. On top of the super-human infielders, there is also the rocket arms of the outfielders. I think part of the arm issue might be field size -- the fields feel a little small (or the players a little too big). Regardless, while I have thrown a few batters out at first on what should have been singles, the AI has not yet rung me up in that way. I also have been able to score from second on a single so the outfielders do not always gun you down when going for an extra base. I do think some of the complaints by the masses may be a bit overstated, but outfielders' arms certainly are a issue that cannot be ignored. Hoping this is addressed this year as well This perception that arms and gloves are overpowered is also supported by the statistics. There simply are not enough errors in this game, an issue that is made more apparent by defensively inferior players making spectacular plays in the field. We know this has been addressed as well

Not too sure if your writing the review on 2k11 but I hope you guys can refer back to these major concerns many of us had with 2k10s fielding.

[BigBlue]

Chase,

With respects to hitting, did you notice if check swings are in the game? :-)

I think the fact that there is no talk of a release day patch is very encouraging!

BigBlue

[DJ]

This game sounds promising; I really hope it lives up to all the positive previews it has received. I'm looking forward to trying out the Demo tomorrow, that's for sure.