Hitting is not fun
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As with most things about this game SDS has a tricky task to try and make the game fun for the largest number of people. Of course those people have various ideas of what fun is (realism vs arcade), and differing skill levels, and different amounts of free time to devote to the game.
I am definitely not as into the game this year as I have been in previous years but I am not 100% sure of the cause. I think it is a variety of things. I do think pitchers are able to live on the edges of the strike zone way to often and my hit results are not great (skill issue or power creep issue?). Some of the stat grinds for the weekly programs seem high (and yes I know that you can skip a few of those) and will take lesser skilled players a lot of time.
They definitely heard complaints the last few years about sets and seasons and corrected that course but I think they have over corrected and moved the target too far in favor of skilled players with lots of time to play.
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@Dolenz_PSN said in [Hitting is not fun]
They definitely heard complaints the last few years about sets and seasons and corrected that course but I think they have over corrected and moved the target too far in favor of skilled players with lots of time to play.
IMO, it’s only a matter of time before SDS offers us a way to buy progress along the main XP program path for those of us less skilled and less time to play. It’s what Madden UT does and it’s extremely enticing to “catch up”.
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@capardo_MLBTS said in Hitting is not fun:
Other titles (FIFA, Madden,NHL) get “rookie mode” right. I’ve played those games. Eventually, you score so many goals, TDs, etc. that you WANT to try a higher difficulty
I hear what you're saying, but someone else pretty much hit that nail on the head; people have abused that in the past and ruined it for everyone else.
The developers do not seem to want players capable of success at higher levels switching down to Rookie and Veteran to pad their stats and move through programs at preternatural speed, gobbling up the rewards too quickly, or selling them at inflated prices to those who don't have the time or inclination to do that. But, people being people, they try to game the system and that either means that the devs throw the desired reward-path pace out the window, or make it so Rookie and Veteran aren't abused as the easy path to rewards.
While I wouldn't say it's backwards thinking, they could, perhaps, severely tamp down the level of XP and PXP you earn from those levels, instead, and turn it into batting practice again. It would definitely slow progress for those who can't find success on AS, but that's probably the only way they can truly be "easy" again.
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You're not kidding. Ranked could be so much fun, but here again I just played a full game with a lineup full of contact hitters where I got 3 hits and so did my opponent and I won 2-1, all scoring done on homeruns. This with both of us attacking the strike zone. Lazy fly ball after lazy fly ball and an occasional dribbler and perfect/perfect right at somebody. That's all online is right now. It is not fun.
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Just played a game against the Cubs in conquest on rookie, Ryan Braiser 18 pitches, 12 of them for balls (most were not even close to the plate), this is ridiculous.
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@The_Joneser_PSN said in Hitting is not fun:
@Orcin_MLBTS, the thread is called "Hitting is not fun," not "Rookie and Veteran are not fun." The OP speaks more to the balance between realism and an easier, arcade style... it specifically mentions All Star, and the second post refers to Rookie/Veteran/All-Star, the latter being the mode that most play in DD.
Your posts are solely about Rookie and Veteran. Many others are more generalized.
My post was about difficulty and how hitting is suffering making it harder to want to play. Yes I mentioned all-star. I also mentioned legend and rookie. As someone that finds playing all-star more and more difficult--which I used to be able to play without any problems--Making every thing more difficult takes the fun out of the game that put it on for a nice relaxing time after a long day. When new people, like triple H's son, have too hard of a time learning the game, they leave and alienate a large part of their consumers. Namely new players and lower tier players.
No my post isn't specifically about rookie to goat difficulty, but that encompasses a part of the problem.
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@The_Joneser_PSN said in Hitting is not fun:
@capardo_MLBTS said in Hitting is not fun:
Other titles (FIFA, Madden,NHL) get “rookie mode” right. I’ve played those games. Eventually, you score so many goals, TDs, etc. that you WANT to try a higher difficulty
I hear what you're saying, but someone else pretty much hit that nail on the head; people have abused that in the past and ruined it for everyone else.
The developers do not seem to want players capable of success at higher levels switching down to Rookie and Veteran to pad their stats and move through programs at preternatural speed, gobbling up the rewards too quickly, or selling them at inflated prices to those who don't have the time or inclination to do that. But, people being people, they try to game the system and that either means that the devs throw the desired reward-path pace out the window, or make it so Rookie and Veteran aren't abused as the easy path to rewards.
While I wouldn't say it's backwards thinking, they could, perhaps, severely tamp down the level of XP and PXP you earn from those levels, instead, and turn it into batting practice again. It would definitely slow progress for those who can't find success on AS, but that's probably the only way they can truly be "easy" again.
I understand the "gobbling up the rewards too quickly" argument, but the easy way to proceed is "fine." Once you're done, you're done. They can, and will, wait until next week or play online like they probably want to do anyway. Isn't ranked a form of dynamic difficulty? Make that harder, and while you're at it make the other online modes dynamic as well. That might even help with bad matchmaking. Heck, I might even play ranked if the dynamic started with rookie.
They already tamp down the XP for lower difficulties and PXP is %50 greater in online play. I feel those are fine. What I don't get, is who cares how quickly someone finishes a program? Make a finite amount of rewards capable of being earned. For the most part, they already do.
Good conversation, thank you.
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@The_Joneser_PSN so edgy bro keep it up
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Hitting is just inconsistent on rookie in offline modes. Getting the same contact on the same pitches using the same cards should more or less get the same or similar result not end up with a close game or a blowout. Hitting is not fun when it feels like RNG in a game full of RNG
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These people always have excuses for how poorly the game plays. Truthfully the poor gameplay has to either be by design to make it harder or it’s broken beyond repair so SDS keeps putting on glue and duct tape hoping it holds on.
This years game looks great and the presentation is amazing. The gameplay is the worst I’ve experienced in 5 years.
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There is a feedback survey out now, I just took it and tore into SDS over the pitching and hitting.
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This thread is very good for my lucidity.
I am new to the game and the franchise. I started playing one week ago. I am in the Diamond Dynasty mode, alterning between programs and three innings games in a mini-season. I play at veteran difficulty.
I have no comparative, but my team seems to be quite good on paper. I think it is graded 85 (don't laugh old timers who have seen the Flood).
Even then, hitting is a nightmare. I am already really good at pitching. Last night, I throw seven hitless innings (in mini-season). But, as you may guess, I lose the game 1-0, because I got only two hits - and I am very very bad at making my guys run for more than one base at a time...
I tried different camera angles. I tried all three hitting modes. I spent a lot of time in practice mode. Even though, I just can't hit the ball with power and regularity. And when I do, the CPU just seems to find a way to catch it. In the meantime, every ball hit in the outfield against me turn into an adventure...
After reading every words of what you all have to say, I realized I might not be a lost cause! This game seems to be hard for everyone! There is no need for me to give it up or throw my controler at the wall!
Thanks for that, guys!
Now I need to find a way to hit better so I can get more packs. I am really addict to packs (even though I know that a big majority of them are disappointing). I just can't get enough of that unwrapping sound!!
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@pacadie09_MLBTS try rookie conquest on timing setting for batting with strike zone batting view. Wait for first couple of pitches could be out of zone then they will throw meatballs or could first pitch as well. My avg has gone up and HRs increased it seems slower pitches now. You might score 5 to 9 runs one game and 1-0 next but my scoring has gone up. Can tell increase pitching speed each difficulty. Play all three difficulties on Conquest and like getting packs too!
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@MrNintendo_MLBTS oh yeah try batting without moving stick and just let the game take over. Like playing RBI baseball old school. Lol. Then as get confidence can try moving stick around like other players.
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@The_Joneser_PSN what you’re saying is making ratings matter more than skill, and you can’t have that in DD because it would make no sense to have a top 100 player lose to a scrub like me if I have Award Clemens and he’s using Gold Cal Raleigh. You can make the PCI the size of a pea, if he can put it on my pitch with 100% accuracy he should be rewarded for it.
Otherwise it would be a simulation that takes the results out of our hands and lets the game play itself. You’ll never be able to get realistic results when humans are involved.
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@capardo_MLBTS said in Hitting is not fun:
About the only thing I’d add is that on rookie, we should score so many runs that we are encouraged to try a higher difficulty.
As the game stands now (in all modes), I’m not encouraged at all to get off Rookie (unless forced to)
BINGO.
A couple years ago, Rookie would mean not just slower pitch speeds but -- here's the kicker --> PITCHES DOWN THE MIDDLE.
Last year Rookie was a walk fest, then they acknowledged that and supposedly "fixed" it. But not really.
People who play on Rookie want to relax, grind programs, and hit bombs, without it being a total given. SDS has taken that away. There are lots of people who have no interest in the "git gud" life when playing a video game.
I have little motivation to play DD now because I don't want to work counts on Rookie. Period.
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@samguenther1987_PSN said in Hitting is not fun:
Just played a game against the Cubs in conquest on rookie, Ryan Braiser 18 pitches, 12 of them for balls (most were not even close to the plate), this is ridiculous.
Bingo, again. This is [censored]. Pitchers on Rookie should groove pitches about half the time.
SDS is driving people away from the game who are not "git gud" gamers.
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I just scored 3 runs in Conquest rookie versus Pirates on lightning map. The Babe and Mantle went deep again! Coming for HR lead Judge!
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@MrNintendo_MLBTS next game 3 runs on 6 hits and Babe and Mantle go deep again! Just don’t see what all the fuss is about? And it was brewers not pirates.
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What I feel is really odd is that I score more runs on veteran and all-star. That should not be the case. Harder levels of video games (any video game) should not be easier.
