Feature Deep Dive: Gameplay - 2/11/25
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not too bad on the new features. small but nothing ground breaking.
-Ambush Hitting seems like a new name for Guess Pitch.
-GOAT Difficulty looks good.
-The new throwing blue bar, on one of the plays in the vid, I think it was Tatis, he threw the guy out at home with his momentum going backwards. Not sure about that one. -
@LuvMyXBOX_XBL that was my first reaction too...NO Way he makes that throw lol.
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@LuvMyXBOX_XBL Agreed about ambush - seems to be guess pitch with a visual. That one’s a stretch to call a new feature.
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@Red_Ted_is_back_PSN said in Feature Deep Dive: Gameplay - 2/11/25:
@LuvMyXBOX_XBL Agreed about ambush - seems to be guess pitch with a visual. That one’s a stretch to call a new feature.
A brand new-ish car!
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I really like the video and all the elements in there because it deepens the game more.
Best thing for me: The more attributes matter (e.g. reaction for IF), the better. Too many bad players (especially 1B) are making too many plays in the field.
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@YOSHI24_XBL said in Feature Deep Dive: Gameplay - 2/11/25:
I really like the video and all the elements in there because it deepens the game more.
Best thing for me: The more attributes matter (e.g. reaction for IF), the better. Too many bad players (especially 1B) are making too many plays in the field.
Agreed. Totally understand that different people want different tweaks to the gameplay, but one of the biggest things I would want to see is a bigger emphasis on defense. There should be a HUGE difference between an Ozzie Smith and your more average shortstop. Give players a reason to value defense.
On that same note, the pitching engine needs an overhaul to allow finesse pitchers to be more effective. It's such a shame that usability still comes down to either having outlier or the sinker/cutter meta.
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@SakAttack87_PSN said in Feature Deep Dive: Gameplay - 2/11/25:
... but one of the biggest things I would want to see is a bigger emphasis on defense. There should be a HUGE difference between an Ozzie Smith and your more average shortstop. Give players a reason to value defense.
On that same note, the pitching engine needs an overhaul to allow finesse pitchers to be more effective. It's such a shame that usability still comes down to either having outlier or the sinker/cutter meta.
Hear! Hear!
Absolutely this... I don't expect these changes or this year's game to fully embrace this, but would love to see a step in this direction. I love playing defense, but the ease with which just about anyone can drive a ball 450ft makes pitching to contact with success nearly impossible. Crazy that guys like Maddux are unusable...
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@SakAttack87_PSN love this take. I always thought that secondary positions should have a bigger penalty for fielding.
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I have to admit that nothing in this first Feature Deep Dive got me excited.
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@Dookie-Possum_XBL said in Feature Deep Dive: Gameplay - 2/11/25:
@SakAttack87_PSN love this take. I always thought that secondary positions should have a bigger penalty for fielding.
I feel like there has almost been an overcorrection when it comes to fielding over the last few years. For a while, making a diving play was like seeing a unicorn, but now you see multiple highlight reel plays every single game. The issue is, these plays aren't just coming from elite fielders. They need to really dumb down the defense when the shield switches from diamond to gold and even more so when you drop to the silver/bronze territory. Or maybe there just needs to be a more selective process when it comes to dishing out diamond badges. Make it more rare so it means something.
That will be an issue because they have gotten the player base accustomed to cards having 125 across the board. There have been too many 99s and the oversaturation makes every "upgrade" feel like a lateral move as opposed to actually improving your team. Abolishing the "Sets & Seasons" format in exchange for a more traditional power creep should help rectify some of that, but I just think they have been juicing cards too much over the last 3-4 installments.
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@SakAttack87_PSN said in Feature Deep Dive: Gameplay - 2/11/25:
I feel like there has almost been an overcorrection when it comes to fielding over the last few years. For a while, making a diving play was like seeing a unicorn, but now you see multiple highlight reel plays every single game. The issue is, these plays aren't just coming from elite fielders. They need to really dumb down the defense when the shield switches from diamond to gold and even more so when you drop to the silver/bronze territory. Or maybe there just needs to be a more selective process when it comes to dishing out diamond badges. Make it more rare so it means something.
I completely agree about the diving (though I have to admit I somewhat guiltily appreciate the abundance of opportunity and enjoy it very much), and I also think it should be toned down, particularly for average and below average fielders. I do think it's almost an overcorrection out of necessity, though, and that it's at least in part driven by the effects of crazy batted-ball velocities; without the ability to superman dive, very few fielders would ever touch a ball once it hit the ground after good contact. I'd love to see the batted-ball slow down a touch so fielding could become a larger part of the experience.
And I think you're right about the juiced cards... that fuels all of this.
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I’m guilty of turning a lot of these off for gameplay. I think this year I’m going to learn and “master” these to make the game more interesting. Hoping in doing so I construct my team differently and have a better overall experience.
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@The_Joneser_PSN said in Feature Deep Dive: Gameplay - 2/11/25:
@SakAttack87_PSN said in Feature Deep Dive: Gameplay - 2/11/25:
... but one of the biggest things I would want to see is a bigger emphasis on defense. There should be a HUGE difference between an Ozzie Smith and your more average shortstop. Give players a reason to value defense.
On that same note, the pitching engine needs an overhaul to allow finesse pitchers to be more effective. It's such a shame that usability still comes down to either having outlier or the sinker/cutter meta.
Hear! Hear!
Absolutely this... I don't expect these changes or this year's game to fully embrace this, but would love to see a step in this direction. I love playing defense, but the ease with which just about anyone can drive a ball 450ft makes pitching to contact with success nearly impossible. Crazy that guys like Maddux are unusable...
Maddux is absolutely usable, You just have to use him correctly. He’s my ace, LOVE pitching with him…Dot after Dot.
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@IrishFist412_MLBTS, well, you're probably better than me, and perhaps you use him on HOF or above? I don't know that I've ever faced him when I join the 700s for my brief stints.
I just know that the few times I've tried to use him I've been lit up, and, at least on Allstar, seeing him on the mound for my opponent has always meant a very good day at the plate for me.
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@The_Joneser_PSN said in Feature Deep Dive: Gameplay - 2/11/25:
@IrishFist412_MLBTS, well, you're probably better than me, and perhaps you use him on HOF or above? I don't know that I've ever faced him when I join the 700s for my brief stints.
I just know that the few times I've tried to use him I've been lit up, and, at least on Allstar, seeing him on the mound for my opponent has always meant a very good day at the plate for me.
It’s all about mixing your pitches up and not being repetitive. Here would be how I would approach a batter…Sinker low outside, Sinker low inside - These are both aimed at hitting the very edge but to get a strike call. Then I throw an inside cutter that’s not in the strikezone. Then I will throw a fastball high & slightly outside….This is a setup pitch to raise their eye level. Then I throw a cicle change low & inside but a strike. Then I just mix it up and change the order & try to never use the same sequence of pitches more than once every 3 innings. Give this a shot, Hope it works for you. And I use him effectively on all difficulties.
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@Sarge1387_PSN I’m curious, Chris mentioned in the post feature premiere live part that Ambush was different to guess pitch because you don’t get the feedback about whether you were right or not before the ball gets to you. I’m still not convinced. Guess pitch had a no feedback option, essentially making it the same.
The problem was though, it didn’t work in the last three or four years of the game. It still gave feedback when you got it right.
Maybe that wasn’t a bug after all, perhaps it was all part of the plan.
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@SakAttack87_PSN Lets hope it actually matters in game. For years now they've claimed to make OF attributes matter and as we all know, nothing falls in the gaps.
We shall see!! Promising future for the game since it can't get worse than last year TBH
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