Major League Baseball 2K10 First Look (Gamespot)

[Steve_OS]

Gamespot has posted their first look at Major League Baseball 2K10.

Quote:

"As to how this applies to gameplay mechanics, it takes a few different forms in batting and pitching. For batters, all of this data factors into a feature called Batter's Eye, which (depending on the skill of the batter) gives a split-second glimpse of what the pitch is and where it's going by quickly flashing that information onscreen. "Batter's Eye is definitely one of my favorite features because it finally makes me feel like I can lay off a pitch. I have a little bit of a heads-up on what's coming," says Bishop. But the Eye won't show up for just any hitter. "[For more-skilled batters], it doesn't show up sooner, but more often. Still, you're not going to get it on every pitch," he adds. "If you have one of your better hitters up there, you'll probably get it one or two times at bat, whereas with one of your weaker batters, you're probably not going to see it at all." Ultimately, things like the Batter's Eye are in the game to help you work the count a little more than you might in other baseball games, particularly if you just swing for the fences on every pitch because you can't tell what's coming. But another batting feature that plays up this idea is simple. When you're at the plate, you can make contact with the ball in different ways--push down and then up on the right analog stick for a power swing, push up for a contact swing, or press left or right for the new defensive swing. If you're down in the count, a defensive swing becomes invaluable because it can help you protect the plate and foul one off to keep your chances alive and to wait for a decent pitch."

[Blzer]

I don't like how they refined the swing stick mechanic, so I think if I ever get my hands on the retail copy I am either only going to use cursor hitting (if that's still an option) or create sliders designated for the "power" swing. I think what they did with that sounds messy.

I really like the pitcher-batter statistical analysis they went through, though. In the amount of time I have played baseball, I know for a fact that "ownage" exists in the real world, and I like how they've incorporated it in the game.

More to read, but so far I'm not too much of a fan of any sort of batter's eye (never was), but it sounds like it's implemented as best as possible behind the scenes. Now let's see if it's visually appealing as well.

Unfortunately, a lot of the information sounds like things that were put back in from 2K6, 2K7, and 2K8. It's not a bad thing, but to know they first scrapped it all just to put it back in seems like a waste of energy. This is why we want to stick with one development team always.


Oh, and uh...

Quote:

"If you're a first baseman and you go to the Cardinals, you're going to be blocked by Puhols," says Bishop.

[ShowTyme15]

Thanks. i just read the preview. Ahhh I am lukewarm on this game at the moment. But I did like some of the things I heard especially the franchise mode with the compensation picks.

[Blzer]

It sounds like there are still single-A ball clubs and there are September call-ups. I can't tell if Spring Training is really in this game or not, or if they're just calling the 40-man roster that.

[ShowTyme15]

Quote: Originally Posted by Blzer

It sounds like there are still single-A ball clubs and there are September call-ups. I can't tell if Spring Training is really in this game or not, or if they're just calling the 40-man roster that.

Haha that is the million dollar question my friend.

[brendanrfoley]

I just finished reading... so much better than the IGN write-up.

I like the swing mechanic, in theory. Up for normal swing, left/right for defensive... and down/up for power swing. The only swing a user has to conciously decide to use before a pitch is thrown is power. I'm okay with that.

[HK-47]

Didn't the other preview confirm Spring Training? He said that's where you start your season, and you eventually have to cut a 40 man roster down to 25.

[HK-47]

Quote: Originally Posted by brendanrfoley

I like the swing mechanic, in theory. Up for normal swing, left/right for defensive... and down/up for power swing.

You don't have to step for a contact swing? That would suck. They should have just tied in the contact and power swing together.

[Trevytrev11]

Quote: Originally Posted by brendanrfoley

I just finished reading... so much better than the IGN write-up. I like the swing mechanic, in theory. Up for normal swing, left/right for defensive... and down/up for power swing. The only swing a user has to conciously decide to use before a pitch is thrown is power. I'm okay with that.

Here is what I don't like about a "power swing." the majority of the time a hitter is trying to hit the ball as hard as he can..so if this is how this swing was intentioned, I'm fine with that, but just call it a "regular swing". But if it is swing you use when only trying to jack one that is going to result in a high % of HR's, I'm against it. You almost always hear hitters say that a HR was just the result of them making solid contact.

And also, I think you can still take defenisive swings while trying to hit the ball hard. You see guys all the time fight off a tough pitch on the plate and then come unglued on the next pitch and drive it out of the yard...seems hard to do when you can only execute the weaker swing.

So they went back to up for contact and down and up for power?

Lame. The whole reason they went to down and up for all swings was to simulate and actual baseball swing (the step then the swing)... now they've completely gone away from that again.

I don't know... wait and see I guess at this point.