Time to Talk About Game Logic, and What SDS Can Do
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Well, boys, time to talk about a big issue not just in MLB The Show but in all sports games: game logic. Developers never seem to get this right so let's discuss.
Stolen Bases and Pickoffs
This is probably the most RNG feature in gameplay. Stealing bases just doesn't make sense at all, and it's not just in one aspect, but in all. For instance, Freddie Freeman could steal second base on JT Realmuto, yet Elly De La Cruz would somehow get thrown out by Agustin Ramirez and get a horrendous jump. It just doesn't make sense and there really is no consistency. Although the "steal" attribute exists and there are quirks involved with this, too, it just doesn't play a key factor at all. Obviously the easy solution here would be to make the "steal" attribute matter more or nix that attribute completely and make reaction time the sole attribute for stealing bases (aside from speed ofc). This applies to pickoffs too. It's just completely random. The best base stealers somehow get picked off by taking one extra step. Two extra steps GUARANTEES a pickoff. Like I said, reaction should be the attribute that is a deciding factor here.
Certain Aspects of Defense Do Not Make Sense
From pitchers fielding nearly every ball that comes their way to outfielders tracking down balls that they physically couldn't in real life, defense this year is very odd. Unless you are Greg Maddux or Zack Greinke, pitchers should not be making nearly every play. Most of the time, pitchers avoid touching the ball and dodge it so the fielders BEHIND them can make the play. Also, this ties into hitting, but with plenty of outfielders unrealistically activating turbo boosters and speeding to a ball they normally shouldn't catch, it makes playing, especially online, a bit more annoying. Another minor issue is that when robbing home runs, it's very unrealistic that we get the same animation over and over again. No two fielders attack a ball the same way, just like no two hitters have the same stance or swing. There should be a variety - I've always thought that it would be cool if the timing mechanism changed color based on if you needed to perform a wall climb or a wall jump to try and bring one back.
Hitting is Random
This issue is MUCH more prevalent in this year's game than in years past. I could be as perfect on a pitch as you can without getting a perfect-perfect and somehow I'll hit it with a wet noodle with somebody like Kyle Schwarber. Or I could completely miss a pitch with my PCI and it'll somehow find a way to leave the yard. Or, I could go 0-5 on swings over 100 MPH and my opponent could go 4-5 on swings under 85 MPH. I get it, that's baseball, but it's not as extreme as it is in the game. The game code might need a little tweaking, but of course there isn't much feedback I can give here.
Some Minor Changes that Should Be Made
For one thing, rainouts and doubleheaders should be a thing in franchise, RTTS, and MTO because quite frankly it is a real and common occurrence in baseball. Why it's not in the game Idk. Another thing is the opportunity to challenge a call should not be exclusively initiated on a close play at first base because again, teams can challenge many different plays. Again, why this isn't in the game doesn't make sense to me because it is literally in the rulebook and this is the only baseball sim on console.
Anyway that's all my feedback. Let me hear your thoughts! -
@TheBigPapa55_PSN
Stolen bases:
I don’t necessarily hate the randomness involved because that happens irl, but there should be some sort of skill involved to steal the base, rather than just pressing a button.
Defense:
I agree that pitchers fielding should be nerfed, but I think outfield defense is fine.
Hitting:
I think overall the 24 hitting engine is better, but hitting hasn’t been that bad, just bring back the 24 engine next year.
Minor Changes: I don’t play rtts or franchise much, but rainouts and stuff like that should definitely be added -
@Talkingben9558_XBL
Solid opinions. The outfield situation isn't really that big of a deal, but some plays are a little iffy. -
If you think this game should be a decent sim of real baseball, the "wet noodle" effect has to happen. The problem is that too many people are just too good at video games...so you'd have to really nerf them if you don't want this to be an arcade game.
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@rubicante23_PSN
True. -
I think the steal rating works quite well honestly, at least with CPU.
A two step lead should always be a pickoff chance, even with 99 steal. But 99 steal guys almost never get picked off with a one step lead. But a 50 steal guy? Thats high risk.
And you absolutely notice the steal if you use the one tap approach (signaling steal before the pitch).
Its also one of the two areas where the CPU defense isnt gold glove (the other is infield dives), its actually comical how bad the CPU catchers are...until they decide to throw a perfect release out of nowhere
I feel the pitcher wall is somewhat lessened this year, but its still absurd. It happens in real life (https://www.mlb.com/mets/video/julio-rodriguez-grounds-into-a-double-play-pitcher-nolan-mclean-to-second
) but not to the extent it happens in The Show
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We don’t need quirks to solve baserunning, just give us the players a system for stealing and pickoffs that gets easier or harder based on attributes.
