wsu_gb23
Tuesday, September 29, 2009
NHL 2K9
Zero Marketing; even for it's powerhouse NBA 2K.
MLB 2K9
MLB 2K8
Ben Brinkman left
Mike Wang left
NBA 2K9.5
It is clear to me that 2K Sports has been on a downward-spiral for the last 2-3 years. There seems to be little effort put into their games lately, and this includes NBA 2K10. I have purchased every NBA 2K game since its inception in 1999 but this year I cancelled my 2K10 pre-order and went with LIVE. I really believe that 2K is hurting for money and the games they have put out recently have shown this. I really think that 2K Sports will be out of the gaming market in 2 years time if they do not step up their product.
Thursday, July 16, 2009
1. New Player Models: Right now, the player models are too short and stubby. I notice at the end of the game when players are shaking hands, everyone looks to be the same height. Everybody has been stating this for years now. 2010 is the time to get this fixed.
2. Player Faces: There are still faces that are off. This is especially noticeable with Alfonso Soriano.
3. Dome Stadiums: Roofs should open and close, or have the option to play with the roof opened or closed.
4. Shadows: Daytime shadow progression seems more important that going from dusk to night. It would be great to have them both. **there should also be self-shadowing during night games**. As it stands now, players don't look as sharp with the nightime lighting.
5. Catcher Animations: I would like to see more variety with catcher animations. I hate how the catcher stabs at the ball when it is pitched. This needs to be a more natural movement. Also, the catcher throws back to the pitcher need to look more realistic. **the pitcher should not just be standing there with his glove up waiting for the return throw and have the ball warp right into it**. This needs to look more natural.
6. Pitching Deliveries: Pitching animations need to be more fluid. There are still herky-jerky animations. Some pitchers like Webb and Halladay don't look natural. There needs to be more momentum in their delivery to get a realistic look. I think the stubby arms might have something to do with this.
7. Throwing Animations: I would like to see more variety with infield throws. More sidearm, 3/4 or lob throws. Everything is a bullet throw in 09. Outfielders need to get more into their throws when trying to throw out a runner. In 09 they have a very unrealistic crow-hop and short-arm throw. New player models may fix this as well. **Check out MVP 05 to see some variety of throwing and fielding animations**
8. Hitting: Make it easier to read and judge pitches when batting. MVP did this very well.
9. More Camera Angles: I would like to be able to adjust the camera in any direction. This is something that 2K does very well.
10. Player Physics: Players need more "weight" to them. In 09 it is way too easy to run in any direction with the fielder and turn on a dime. The players need to feel heavier.
These ideas do not seem unrealistic to me. I am only asking to keep improving the gameplay. I am not looking for over-the-top features, I just want a great playing baseball game.
11. Swings: Batters need more variety especially with swing and misses. I would also like to see better swing follow throughs when making contact. **check out Pro Yakkyu for reference**
Friday, July 10, 2009
The producers of NHL 10 seem to "get it." They don't over-hype the game every year, they listen to our gameplay complaints and pet peeves and they fix them. EA's NHL series doesn't add gimmicky features like "Team Builder," or build hype like "Pro-Tak" and use gimmicky slogans ("Fight for every yard.")
From watching and reading all of the inside blogs I can tell how genuine the producers of NHL 10 are. They know what hockey should look like and they respond to complaints about the game and fix things. I believe that the NHL 10 producers may be the best in the business, even surpassing the team at SCEA.
EA's NHL series is about making a solid product that portrays the sport of Hockey in every way. I look forward to playing the game as I do every year. EA's NHL series has earned my respect, now it's time for the rest of EA to do likewise.
Monday, March 2, 2009
As the new-generation of gaming consoles hit the market, I and other gamers alike, could only imagine what 2K could do with the new technology found in the XBOX 360 and Playstation 3. Unforunately, NFL 2K6 never came to be after the NFL and EA Sports announced an exclusive deal for football videogames. But, getting beyond that, 2K Sports still had the ability to produce NBA and MLB games.
The NBA 2K series is still the number-one seller for basketball videogames and MLB 2K still sells games thanks to an exclusive third-party licensing. But, as of late, it seems as though 2K Sports is resting on their laurels and not producing top-notch games as they are capable of. If you look at the NBA 2K series, the gameplay is still superb, but I feel as though they have not added anything in terms of graphics and presentation in the last 4 years.
The same can be said with the MLB 2K franchise. They made a great effort in terms of stunning graphics with MLB 2K7, but could not improve upon that effort in the last two years. MLB 2K9 has improved presentation-wise, but after playing the PS3 demo, it still plays the same tired game of baseball I am used to from 2K.
2K Sports had so much potential, but seems as though they have cut back on their efforts and not pushed forward into becoming a serious competitor to EA Sports. I have been a 2K fan since their inception, but have lost all hope and faith in them as a sports-game developer. It is my hope that 2K Sports steps it up immensely with their next round of sports-games (2K10) or is bought out by a serious developer that is eager to capitilize on the 2K Sports name and bring it back to the glory days from the turn of the new-millenium.
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
1. Catcher Animations: I hate how after a pitch the catcher stabs at the ball and quickly brings his glove and throwing arm up as if to ready a throw. Also, on a throw out of the zone, the catcher will be set up inside and the throw goes to the outside zone, the catcher just quickly slides his glove to the outside and takes a stab at the ball.
Another pet-peeve with catchers is their unwillingness to hustle after a ball that is bunted or hit weakly just in front of them.
Idea to Improve: Slow down the catcher's glove reaction time and have the catcher moves his feet to get into posistion on a throw out of the zone. Have the catcher hold the ball for a split-second to frame the pitch...
With lack of hustle; the catcher should throw his mask off (if time) and react quicker to the ball with a sense of urgency...
Reference: Check out MLB 2K9's catcher animations; very life-like.
2. Throwing Animations(Infield): I have noticed many instances when a ball is hit deep in the hole at short and the player dives, gets up, plants both feet, then makes a frozen-rope throw to first for the out. The first problem is that the fielder would not have enough time to stop and gather his feet for a strong throw. The second problem is the throw itself is way too strong and accurate.
Idea to Improve: Have the fielder make a desperation off-balance throw to first that one or 2-hops to the firstbaseman.
The fielder could do a throw ala Derek Jeter and hop into the air and make a desperation throw...
The fielder coud also decide that there is no way to make the throw and just hold onto the ball.
Reference: Check out some of the best players at their posistion and see their success rate and what they do with the ball. (Jeter, Hardy, Reyes)
3. Throwing Animations (Outfield): I have a seen a good variety of outfield throwing animations. The ones that bother me are when the outfielder is getting ready to make a strong throw in a tag-up situation. What happens in The Show is the outfielder takes an awkward looking crop-hop and short-arms a throw to the base. There looks to be no momentum in the arm and body to make a strong throw, yet the ball is delivered with the same velocity for each throw.
Idea to Improve: Have the outfielder's momentum mean something. If they get a running start behind the ball, their momentum should produce a stronger throw.
Reference: Vladimir Guerrero, Ichiro, Joes Guillen
4. Outfield Animations (General): Another problem with outfielders is the canned slo-mo animation when approaching a fly-ball. This happens when the outfielder is guaranteed to catch the ball. For some reason everything slows down and doesn't happen in real-time.
Another small gripe is sometimes the outfielder nonchelantly catches the ball to the side istead of getting under it. It doesn't look natural.
Idea to Improve: Just get rid of the canned slo-mo animation. Do more motion capture with fielding.
5. Miscellaneous: Sometimes the infielder doesn't tag the runner quickly. This happens when the base-runner is out by a good margin, but the fielder waits way too long to tag. The runner is still called out, but the play is way closer than it should be.
There's a throwing animation where the fielder (usually during around the horn) flips the ball to the shortstop and it comes out like a rocket. It's just a flick of the wrist, the ball should have a lot of lob underneath it. Also, sometimes the fielder will be 5 feet away (or closer) from the other fielder and rifle it at him.
Idea to Improve: Add more throwing animations, re-work infield arm strength.
These pet-peeves are from the demo, but all or most of them have been in the game for many years now. I am very excited about the direction this franchise is headed, and only compiled this list to help improve on an already stellar franchise. I will add more pet-peeves from the demo as I deem necessary. Otherwise, I will have my full wish-list after I dig into the retail version of MLB 09: The Show.
Thursday, January 22, 2009
When 2K first was given the exclusive third-party license to make baseball games, I was not sure what to think. All I knew then was that 2K made the best football and basketball games around so they must know what they are doing. With hindsight being 20/20, I now know what a falacy this has turned out to be. 2K owns the exclusive rights to produce third-party baseball titles until 2012, but what if MLB says enough is enough and decides to terminate the agreement? This may be very wishful thinking, but one must still wonder, what if?
It's 2009, we check the forums for the latest news on all of our favorite baseball titles, including; MLB 09: The Show, MLB 2K9, and MVP 2009. Things are looking good for videogame-baseball.
Each company must match eachother's moves step for step or risk falling behind in the consumer market. All three companies must implement various strategies to gain the attention of the consumer. They must decide which cover-guy is going to attract the most attention. They need to stay ahead of one another in franchise options, graphics, lighting, and gameplay. We, the consumer are so thankful. No development team is permitted to rest on their laurels, not this year....
This however is not reality 2009 as we know it. We have two options for a baseball game, with some of us only having one! This is not how it should work. How did this all come to be? One could blame this whole mess on EA, but it can't end there. How many other markets deal with exclusive agreements? Everywhere else in our daily lives we are offered choices. McDonald's, Burger King, or Hardees? Chevrolet, Ford, Dodge? Nike, Reebok, Adidas? I could go on and on. We as a consumer should be outraged with the videogame industry. Something needs to be done to give us our choices back.
Where do we start? Do we just keep quiet until 2012? Thankfully I have the choice between 360 and PS3, as I will now be able to play the best baseball game to date come March 3, but I really wasn't given another option....
Thursday, January 15, 2009
1. Presentation: show players walking out of the tunnel onto the court in their warm-up gear. Stretching, passing the ball around, layup drills. Starting lineups, more close-up shots in real-time (2K9 did show improvement with this)
2. New announcers: Same old commentary. Clark Kellogg isn't an NBA guy! How about a guy like Brent Musberger, Mike Tirico, or Mike Patrick? I only play with announcers off. Keep adding team-specific lines to the arena announcer.
3. Realistic FG %: 2K9's FG % was a little high on default.
4. Better defense: Shouldn't be too easy to get past defender (don't make it impossible though) better help-d would stop easy layups and freethrows.
5. More turnover variety: Loose balls, dribble off of your own foot, bad passes, dropped balls, balls off of finger-tips, bad lead passes on fast-breaks that go too far ahead of the player.
6. Realistic fouls: I don't want to have to tweak every slider to get the CPU to foul. More loose-ball fouls. Over the back, offensive foul on a screen, etc...
7. Better fastbreaks: Not every player should be able to catch a guy on a fast break. A quick or fast player should be able to get way out in front of the D if he has a slower guy trailing.
8. Pull-up jumpers: I want to be able to dribble the ball up with the likes of T-Mac or Kobe and catch the defender napping and pull up for a 3 or a jumper without the D reacting so quickly.
9. Fewer blocked shots: Jump shots should not get blocked very often. Hardly ever. The D shouldn't be able to react quicker than the shooter all the time.
10. Fewer Off-hand shots and layups: I see too many right-handed players going for left-handed layups or dunks when they should use their dominate hand. Only use off-hand when completely necessary to avoid the D.
11. Better 2-handed dunks: It seems like sometimes it takes a dunk too long to develop. These guys should be able to get a step on the defender and throw down emphatically without hesitation.
12. Miscellaneous: Try to get the player's hands to grab the rim. Looks very awkward in a replay when the rim bends without anyone touching it.
13. Pet-Peeve: Too many fadeaways in the lane. Players need to go up strong inside. Better put-back attempts on offensive rebounds. No more falling away with a half-assed hookshot. It just doesn't look right.
I will keep adding to this list if/when I think of more ideas.
When Madden bought out the exclusive license for the NFL it left me very unsettled.
With the power of the "current-gen" systems (360, PS3) Madden has had many opportunities to get this game to a high-level. Every year it seems like we are getting the same Madden game. Robotic QB animations, bare presentation, zero atmosphere, etc.
With Madden 2010 comes much optimism (from me). I just get this "gut" feeling that Ian and Phil and the guys understand what kind of experience we want out of Madden Football and are working harder than ever to make it happen for us.
Madden Football is not that far from being a great game. The following fixes will make this game very playable to me:
1. Better Presentation: Sidelines, coaches, chain-gangs, referees, cheerleaders, pre-game warm-up, coin toss with captains and referee. Focus on playoff presentation. Announcers should mention how big of a game it is and how each team got their throughout the season. Make the playoffs and Superbowl a big deal! etc... I want everything in the game to be like I see it on TV!
2. Smoother Animations: Improved running animations, quarterback throwing motions and the way they hold the ball. Improving the way the QB moves when they break the huddle and approach the line of scrimmage.
3. Gameplay: Receivers keeping their momentum in-bounds on swing-passes and out patterns. Receivers not running 10 yards in the wrong direction when making a catch.
4. Better ball physics: The ball should continue to roll when their is an incompletion. In Madden '09 the ball seems to not have enough weight to it. Example: when the ball is set down by the ball-carrier, sometimes it lands on end and stays that way for awhile instead of falling and bouncing on the ground.
5. Improve fumble-recoveries. A lot of times there should be everyone diving on the ground for the ball, or not being able to pick it up. Usually fumbles end with a big pile where the REFS need to break everyone up to see who came away with the ball.
6. Improve atmosphere: The crowd should get freaky loud when the other team has the ball. Especially in a big game or a big moment. The playoffs should be even louder and more intense!
7. If It's in the Game, It's in the Game!: Remember your slogan when you develop Madden 2010 and beyond. Watch a few games, take notes and try to incorporate what you see!
I know this blog kind of turned into my own personal wish-list, but I just think EA and the Madden producers have too much talent to not get Madden 2010 to play a superb game of NFL football! There's no "I" in team, but there is an E and an A! Keep up the great work guys!
Tuesday, January 13, 2009
MLB 2K7 was the game that gave me hope that this series was on the right track with Ben Brinkman at the helm. It had the best graphics I have ever seen in a sports game and the overall presentation was pretty well done. But, with the game running at 30 fps I knew there was room for improvement with MLB 2K8.
When the time for MLB 2K8 news was fast approaching, my anticipation grew stronger. I remember reading an interview with Ben Brinkman (in December!) on ign.com. The interview basically stated how the bluray disc was going to be used as a huge advantage for the PS3 and that the PS3 was first when attempting to get the game to run at 60 fps. At this point, I was totally stoked for 2K8. I could not wait for the screens and videos to be released.
I remeber with MLB 2K7 there were plenty of screens and videos released in early to mid January. Well, with 2K8, January came and went; no real good information had surfaced. We were promised a demo in early February, none surfaced. I know 2K doesn't market their games well, but this was different. I just knew they were hiding MLB 2K8 for a reason. I found out that reason first-hand when I purchased it on release day for the PS3! I must have only played the game for about 10 minutes before I knew this one was hitting the EBAY auction block.
With all of this being said, it had been easy for me to lose faith in 2K Sports-baseball. But with Kush Games gone and Visual Concepts at the helm, I have re-opened my mind for MLB 2K9. The worst that can happen is that it will be the same as last year and I will only have one good game to play (yes, I own a PS3) But, the other side of me is thinking this game could be great. The reason I say this is, look at how Triple Play Baseball went from a poor product year in and year out. EA scrapped the game and started fresh with MVP Baseball. Right away the difference was noticeable. And that series went on to become the best baseball series going for the 3 short years it exsisted.
I hope 2K Sports and Visual Concepts share the same vision as I do with MLB 2K9. Maybe they could use 2K7 as a blueprint. They do not need to add fancy (gimmicky) features or get too crazy with online (in my opinion.) 2K Baseball already has the best signature animations, player models, and stadiums, they just need to focus on getting 60 fps and tightening up the gameplay and physics.
Both Baseball titles with be released in early March. And as we all know, with March comes March Madness. Who knows, maybe there will be a true cinderella this year!
Friday, December 19, 2008
Another thing is difficulty levels. If I'm playing a baseball game, why should I get to choose between rookie, pro, all-star, hall-of-fame? So if I play on rookie and face CC Sabathia, suddenly he forgets how to throw hard and put movement on his pitches? But if I adjust it to hall-of-fame, he suddenly gets every pitch past me? Nonsense. If I have a good pitcher, he should pitch as he does in real-life, the same with a hitter.
Or if I am playing Madden and I am the Lions vs. the Steelers, on rookie level, suddenly the Steelers forget how to throw, run, and tackle....rediculous.
End the constant need for sliders (still allow sliders just in case.)End difficulty levels. I want realism....I shouldn't have to choose if realism is found on Pro, All-Star or Hall-of-Fame!
One thing that really bugs me about online-play is the phrase "cheesing." Where the hell did that term ever come from?! It is the most annoying term ever. "Oh, you're a cheeser because you blitzed me when I wasn't paying attention." "You cheesed me because you keep giving it to Shaq for the dunk." Are you kidding me, it's a game. Anyone, anytime can play how they want to play the game. As Herm Edwards once said, "You play to win the game!" Exactly, if you don't like the way someone plays online, then stop them from scoring on you or adjust to the defense. Or don't go online at all. There's no right or wrong way to play a "game."
I choose to play against the CPU for my challenge. Online is not that reliable with Lag and players quitting during the middle of the game. I think game-developers should stay focused on offline-gameplay rather than put emphasis on the online aspects....
As McGwire got closer to the record of 61 hrs, he seemed to thrive off the pressure. I had just started my freshman year of college at Winona State (MN) and remember watching Cards. Vs. Cubs at Wrigley in late August. McGwire had fallen a homerun or 2 short of Sosa in the chase, so McGwire quickly takes care of that with a couple swings of the bat. Every day I would watch ESPN and check the bottom-line and see: "chasing history" mcgwire hits homerun number 50 and so one. As McGwire got closer to the record, (@ marlins) one night it said: "chasing history" McGwire hits hrs. 56 and 57, and then the very next night it read: McGwire hits hrs. 58 and 59! Wow, he new what he was doing, and that was setting himself up for the record-breaking homeruns at St. Louis. Finally, against the Cubs' Steve Trachsel, McGwire hits number 62.
I was a little disappointed when McGwire came to Milwaukee. I say this because I had left-field bleacher seats and McGwire goes 0-4 in front of 56,000 fans at County Stadium. The atmosphere was awesome, never seen so many fans in Milwaukee. (stadium held 53,000) The night before McGwire hit number 64, and the day after I went to the game McGwire hit number 65, and should have had number 66.
Finally, the last 2 games at home that year, McGwire promptly hits 2 more homeruns in each of the last 2 games to round out his homerun total to 70.
2 years later I went to a game (cards at brewers) and caught a McGwire batting-practice homerun in my glove. It was pretty awesome, and it stung a little too!
The baseball season that was 1998 brought so much excitement to me and baseball fans across the country. I don't care what McGwire was doing to get as big as he was, he still hit the ball when everyone wanted him to, and he and Sosa single-handedly brought baseball back as America's Favorite Pastime.
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