One last hurrah
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I've played The Show since 2006. I'm on season 20 into a RTTS career that I've carried over each year since MLB The Show 15. I have some thoughts I've had back through the last couple years of this game. But playing lately has really been making me want to say something. While the RTTS career is partly why I haven't played a lot online, the other reason is the hitting is atrocious. The fielding was recently fixed, although outfielders are still able to make magical over-the-shoulder catches every single time.
As a passionate baseball and MLB The Show fan, I just can't hold back anymore.
Same [censored] different day. Even playing offline, "good" contact results in 70-80 mph exit velo. "Early" or "late" contact results in ~90 mph ex velo. Perfect-perfect gets you a line drive to the CF, who takes a step to his left or right for the chest-high catch. Even while offline, "contact" is made even when the ball is a foot away from the bat. Sometimes it feels like the player is swinging a cinder block. An obviously late swing results in a pull-side liner down the line. Again I rarely play online—I can't imagine the frustration with hitting there.
I wouldn't mind all that so much if this was something SDS actually cared to fix. I could sit here and say I just need to keep grinding and hit em where they ain't. But when they release a billion new player cards/packs for Diamond Dynasty, I see where the priorities are. I get it, OK, you'll tell me they're a business trying to make money. I've seen these arguments on these forums before. I get that SDS is trying to make money. But it goes both ways. SDS has an obligation to satisfy its player base because make no mistake, no company is squat without its customers. We made them who they are.
When players pay for packs—not knowing what they're about to get—that is gambling to a T. (I do know items can also be bought individually on the marketplace. A big element of DD is the packs.) I'm not opposed to gambling, that's not the takeaway here, but it's the time suck for SDS. The balance of focus has clearly shifted from making a good baseball game to making good player packs. While they can rely on player packs and cards to make money, the focus moves away from improving areas like core gameplay mechanics, franchise or RTTS (the same since 2015, except now you can see your player lift weights and sit on his a s s in a bus, plane or clubhouse). Instead of getting deeper RTTS/franchise modes, we get a billion more ways to earn cards and packs. Instead of an actually improved hitting system, this year we have face of the future cards. So even though you can play with new legends and other newer players in DD this year, you're still getting screwed with the flawed hitting and opponents magically rallying after 4 innings. We're a few years into this and the pure obsession for player packs just makes MLB The Show feel like baseball-themed gambling. It just makes it worse when some of the players online get so salty about losing when they spend so much money to get good players to win. Let's face it, it's just not about baseball anymore.
Does SDS really have to squeeze every last dollar from its player base? Do players have to spend extra money on cards they could earn anyway just by playing longer? Just because you can, does it always mean you should? Spending money is like voting, so remember that when you buy something. Your money is seen by the business as support for what you're purchasing. Maybe don't buy Stubs. Maybe don't buy MLB The Show 21, because it'll be this year's game, just with more colorful player packs. It's so frustrating to see the same core gameplay problems year after year while more player and card packs are thrown at us from every direction. It's an embarrassment.
What happened to the days of getting the game and just playing f-ing baseball?
For those of you who like DD, that's great, and again I have no problem with it on its own. It's a cool feature for sure. The problem is that DD has completely consumed the life of SDS and MLB The Show and that's what I'm addressing. Look at Madden, the biggest meme for a sports game touting annual improvement, but showing none except for more player pack features. Some football fans are turning to Maximum Football to get a more authentic football feel than the scripted Madden animations. That tells you that no matter how big a game is, if it's hollowed out with superficial elements while core gameplay remains unaddressed, players will leave.
What's the fix? I truly believe it's SDS leaving DD alone for a year. Seriously. We don't need all 19,690 players to ever play in the MLB to show up in DD. It's beyond time to focus on aspects that get players excited to play the baseball side of the game, and not the aspects that keep players in the menus. The core mechanics of gameplay desperately need attention, and maybe that's why DD is such a window dressing. Other game features starve for innovation. I don't know how else SDS fixes these issues that remain year after year without getting away from its main distraction. Otherwise let's just say f-k it and call it Diamond Dynasty Baseball 2021.
Or, a couple fixes:
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Hitting/fielding fixes. Calibrate timing with contact/power more realistically. Late swings should never result in a pull-side liner for a double. The fielding this year is improved from past years, I'll say that. The OF first step after contact is a nice touch. However, it's unrealistic that every outfielder will make a running over-the-shoulder catch on every fly ball. It's unrealistic that even the best fielders take nearly perfect routes to every single fly ball. Infielders seem to be bobbling grounders too frequently. Fly balls do get lost in the sun. Players who haven't played together long get crossed up on calling for a pop fly. If SDS is truly striving for authenticity...
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For anyone like me who loves an in-depth career mode, how about this: let RTTS players/franchise GMs negotiate career player/GM contracts for multiple years and Stubs salary. Just like career mode in NBA 2k, your player/GM salary is in-game currency. I want greater control on what my player's skills and successes can afford. This would make it feel like there's more of a takeaway from the grind of playing through a season, for multiple seasons. Including performance bonuses for player/GM would be great also. Imagine being a player winning the MVP and collecting an extra 2000 stubs or whatever, or a GM reaching the World Series and collecting X-amount of Stubs. Bonuses for playoff appearances, home runs and various statistical thresholds.
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RTTS player can become team owner/GM after retiring. Connecting these modes would really just mean a transition between menu setups, while keeping the player's world connected, from playing to managing a franchise. It'd be cool to see a player transition into the next baseball career after playing, maybe even reaching the Hall of Fame. I don't think there's a lot of gameplay value for being a team owner. Essentially you'd be a GM that also owns the team. A true baller. Collecting profits converted to Stubs (for example $10 million profits = X Stubs) would be enough incentive to own a team, right?
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With all the branded equipment in the game, why can't a RTTS player get brand sponsorship?
The franchise relocation is meh, but it's a start. It's hard to consider your team rebranded if it's in an MLB stadium with the actual team's signage everywhere. Also hard to think of it as a rebranding if you put the team in a minor league stadium. Except for the Marlins, who would be close to 100% attendance. However, if you're rebranding teams with their throwback logos/uniforms and put them in a classic stadium, it brings a cool old school touch.
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Customizable stadiums...? It's a feature that's been requested since babies were born in mangers. You want 230 feet to RF with a 50-foot fence? A retractable roof stadium with a ferris wheel behind a 500-foot centerfield? Who cares, it's just a videogame!
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If not customizable stadiums, how about more classic stadiums? Tiger Stadium, Ebbets Field, or going back to baseball's early days, Exposition Park.
There's so much more cool stuff overall that could be done that is simply being neglected because of the studio's obsession with player packs and DD. I'm tired of being disappointed by the same broken mechanics and feeling like this game under-delivers in favor of its superficial elements.
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I’ve neither heard of nor seen this “late timing hit to pull side for a double” phenomenon happen. I believe you are speaking in hyperboles. I believe that you are frustrated (and possibly rightfully so) but I call malarkey.
Video or it didn’t happen -
I agree with everything you said. The idiot Giants fan didn’t. Lol If he would learn to read, and comprehend what he is reading, then he might have understood what you’re saying. Lol, but highly doubt it!!! This game has gotten to the point of tricking you into buying stubs. I’m guilty, but learning my lesson. It’s not about realistic baseball anymore. It’s all about DD, and what SDS can make off of it. The exact reason I don’t play Madden like I use too. Seriously and completely unrealistic. I will NOT be purchasing another MLB The Show Franchise again. This game could be a lot better!!! I doubt that will trump stub sales. Glad you wrote this thread and hopefully they’ll read it. Best of luck to you...
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They’re gonna hit the ball over the fence. You’re gonna hit the ball into their glove. They made it this way.
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@DangerousSkilz said in One last hurrah:
I agree with everything you said. The idiot Giants fan didn’t. Lol If he would learn to read, and comprehend what he is reading, then he might have understood what you’re saying. Lol, but highly doubt it!!! This game has gotten to the point of tricking you into buying stubs. I’m guilty, but learning my lesson. It’s not about realistic baseball anymore. It’s all about DD, and what SDS can make off of it. The exact reason I don’t play Madden like I use too. Seriously and completely unrealistic. I will NOT be purchasing another MLB The Show Franchise again. This game could be a lot better!!! I doubt that will trump stub sales. Glad you wrote this thread and hopefully they’ll read it. Best of luck to you...
I understand you’re probably still salty about the World Series sweep your Rangers took at the hand of the Giants, but if you read his post correctly, then my post correctly, you would see that I was only commenting on his “late timing hit to pull side” point. It is literally impossible and has never happened in any game I’ve ever seen (and I’ve seen quite a few).
Also, there is no need to purchase stubs to improve your team, especially if you have “DangerousSkilz”. I’m also not sure how they are “tricking” anyone into buying stubs and purchasing packs. I agree that Madden is hot garbage and most sports games seem to be using that and FIFA as a basis for making more money off the DD mode. You can’t give into that if you really want to force a change. If you play this game for what it’s meant for (enjoyment purposes, escaping reality, etc) than all that other junk doesn’t matter. If you take it too seriously or if it is your livelihood (content streamer/creator etc) than you are more than likely going to make yourself more frustrated and stressed than you need to be.
All in all, not quite sure why you dug up a post from over a month ago just to insult someone and co-sign something that has been rehashed and blabbered on about numerous times a day.
But...best of luck to you...
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I get late feedback on pulled balls. I also get good feedback on oppo swings when I’m clearly late. I can make a video at some point if necessary.
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@ComebackLogic said in One last hurrah:
I get late feedback on pulled balls. I also get good feedback on oppo swings when I’m clearly late. I can make a video at some point if necessary.
If you can do the late feedback on pulled hits, I’d watch it.
It’s also easy to get “good” contact on an outside pitch and hit it oppo because, as I’m sure you know, you are supposed to “let the ball travel” when it is outside and take it to the oppo field. I’m fine with that reading so no need to make that video.
I’m just having a lot of trouble visualizing a late timed swing having a pull side result.
I no doubt believe you Logic, I know you have logged many more games and hours than I have.
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Adam Stan good stuff .... I love having some legend players, it’s cool, being an M’s fan seeing Griffey and Edgar is a plus, I like using them in franchise offline... But you’re right, diamond dynasty has lowered the quality of gameplay, the focus is making money off packs, and as long as people keep spending, that’s where the focus will be... I’ve never spent a dime on packs, I don’t get the obsession of building a super team to compete online, it’s not fun constantly playing with all star level teams... I walked away from Madden years ago, gameplay is garbage in that game... I’m concerned SDS is leaning down that path, and I hope I’m wrong because I’ve loved the Show over the years, just like I loved Madden back in the PS2 day’s... But I will walk away if they don’t keep the gameplay solid, it should always be number one....
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@BIGHOOV2713 said in One last hurrah:
@ComebackLogic said in One last hurrah:
I get late feedback on pulled balls. I also get good feedback on oppo swings when I’m clearly late. I can make a video at some point if necessary.
If you can do the late feedback on pulled hits, I’d watch it.
It’s also easy to get “good” contact on an outside pitch and hit it oppo because, as I’m sure you know, you are supposed to “let the ball travel” when it is outside and take it to the oppo field. I’m fine with that reading so no need to make that video.
I’m just having a lot of trouble visualizing a late timed swing having a pull side result.
I no doubt believe you Logic, I know you have logged many more games and hours than I have.
Yeah, honestly, I scratched my head in disbelief a few times. However - you make a good point about late being optimal on outside pitches and therefore good, I just don’t have enough faith in SDS or swing feedback at this point to believe the game is compensating for things like that and adjusting timing to good in correlation as opposed to the fact it’s simply broken and incorrect. I’m not playing the game very much at the minute, my next day off is Tuesday, so it maybe a while, but I’ll grab a clip next time something really outrageous happens, like an extreme oppo hit to the foul pole with good feedback.
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@ComebackLogic said in One last hurrah:
@BIGHOOV2713 said in One last hurrah:
@ComebackLogic said in One last hurrah:
I get late feedback on pulled balls. I also get good feedback on oppo swings when I’m clearly late. I can make a video at some point if necessary.
If you can do the late feedback on pulled hits, I’d watch it.
It’s also easy to get “good” contact on an outside pitch and hit it oppo because, as I’m sure you know, you are supposed to “let the ball travel” when it is outside and take it to the oppo field. I’m fine with that reading so no need to make that video.
I’m just having a lot of trouble visualizing a late timed swing having a pull side result.
I no doubt believe you Logic, I know you have logged many more games and hours than I have.
Yeah, honestly, I scratched my head in disbelief a few times. However - you make a good point about late being optimal on outside pitches and therefore good, I just don’t have enough faith in SDS or swing feedback at this point to believe the game is compensating for things like that and adjusting timing to good in correlation as opposed to the fact it’s simply broken and incorrect. I’m not playing the game very much at the minute, my next day off is Tuesday, so it maybe a while, but I’ll grab a clip next time something really outrageous happens, like an extreme oppo hit to the foul pole with good feedback.
No rush, brother. Take your time. No need to rehash old memories that may be detrimental to your mental health. Lol. I can see your point about an accidental correct reading by SDS. I like the guys, and can’t imagine how hard it is to code for everything in the game and make sure it all “counts”. I honestly believe that they have put too many attributes in the game and it has made it next to impossible to perfectly code.
And even if you aren’t playing as much recently, I’m still quite sure you play more than I do. Enjoy your day off as it should bring you happiness and relaxation.
Stay safe, my man.
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@BIGHOOV2713 said in One last hurrah:
@ComebackLogic said in One last hurrah:
I get late feedback on pulled balls. I also get good feedback on oppo swings when I’m clearly late. I can make a video at some point if necessary.
If you can do the late feedback on pulled hits, I’d watch it.
It’s also easy to get “good” contact on an outside pitch and hit it oppo because, as I’m sure you know, you are supposed to “let the ball travel” when it is outside and take it to the oppo field. I’m fine with that reading so no need to make that video.
I’m just having a lot of trouble visualizing a late timed swing having a pull side result.
I no doubt believe you Logic, I know you have logged many more games and hours than I have.
https://twitter.com/sweedy1407/status/1270081622499622915?s=21
This is an example of a pulled ball with good timing. Now, if we want to be generous to SDS, we can say that since Giambi is an extreme pull hitter, that is actually good timing for that card. But SDS haven’t said that, obviously. They’d rather keep it ambiguous and we take whatever inference we choose to from what we see in game.
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This is what happens when you cannot hire a decent programmer.
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