MLB '09: The Show (PS3, PS2, PSP) - March 3rd

[NiCK Crush]

Originally Posted by Goat3001

I got really pumped today because I remembered that there were only 28 days in February which means this game is only 11 days away.

[nickdawgy]

Between this, Star Ocean, and RE5, March is going to be busy.

[DJ_Longfellow]

Yep, the PS3 will get a work finally....Killzone 2 and MLB 09 pre-ordered. This game looks killer...once again.

[musick]

MLB 09 The Show Online Season Leagues and Improvements

Posted by Jason Villa // Producer, MLB 09 THE SHOW
Hey there, Jason here again, this time to relay some information on new features and improvements to the Online/SportsConnect area of MLB 09 The Show. Along with improving the league system and layout, this year we focused on two major components of the Online League System…A) Draft System; B) Flex Schedules (with new Schedule screen). We truly believe that the additions of these two components are what the Online Leagues needed. The goal is to allow users to customize as much as possible and to ensure that these league games get played!

Online League Draft System:
While online leagues are fun, there’s nothing like hand picking the team of your team. And taking it one step further than Fantasy Sports, you can actually take your team on the field and play with them yourself.
The draft system rivals that of any fantasy sports system. It allows from 6-30 players to hold a FULL LIVE Draft, with the ability to set your draft day/time, pick timer/length, chat (and harass), view the Player Card/stats of available players, view the Player Card stats of other users in your league drafting. Another integral part of the draft system is the ability to set you draft queue. No matter how much planning you do, there’s always a chance you can’t physically be at your draft, or you may not be able to stay for the entire draft. That’s when the Draft Queue becomes essential. Simply queue up all the players you’d like to be on your team, place them in order of preference, turn off your PS3 system and walk away. The server will handle the rest. Not only will it put priority on the picks you have queued, but it will make certain you have a logical team…25 players, equally balanced between starters, relievers, infielders and outfielders.
Once the draft is over, set your lineup, have the commissioner activate the league and start playing your league games!

Online League Flex Schedule:
Finding opponents and playing games should be much easier this year. We’ve incorporated a Flex Schedule for all leagues (Draft or non-Draft leagues). No longer do you only get one series and opponent to play when you log into your league. Depending on the size and length of your league you can play ahead in the schedule. The Flex schedule is never smaller than 3 series/opponents, or never larger than 15 series/opponents (that’s right, 15!).
Not only are we offering the Flex Schedule, but we’re also offering a far easier Schedule Screen. The new online Season League Schedule screen has the same look and feel of the offline season schedule screen. We’ve added a Series countdown in schedule screen. This lets the league know when the current series expires and how much time they have before the Commissioner can resolve games. Get those games played!

We’ve also added a true League Lobby. Upon entering the League Office, you will automatically be given a seat in the League Lobby of that particular league. It’s called a persistent Lobby, and we’re very excited about it. Now you can hold a seat in a lobby, but navigate around the lobby. You’ll see a new Lobby Icon in the hot bar this year. It’s the text bubble with three dots. Once you see that blink, you know that chat is taking place in the lobby/game room you have a seat in.


There is also now the Draft Day and Time in My Leagues and League Office, which helps ensure league members won’t miss the draft.
Online Improvements:
Along with the major changes to The Show League system, we’ve made a number of general online improvements. Each year we listen to community feedback and do our best to address every issue. Since most of these are relatively self-explanatory, I figured the best thing to do would be to create a bullet point list:

• SportsCast Live now with Live Play-by-play audio while viewing a game (fka View Game Status)
• Set Lineups in Online Season Leagues (vs. RHP, LHP)
• Ping indicator in Team Select screen, before entering an online game
• New Legend skill level, requiring a user to reach 4500 points
• 4 options for Guess Pitch settings (Default, Classic 1/4, Classic 1/6, No Feedback)
• Addition of 30 sec for each extra inning
• Square to forfeit opponent instead of X (not allowing accidental forfeit)
• Ability to select a jersey in an online game
• Ability to mound visit
• Access to Quick menu (up on D-pad)
• Online steals addressed
• Quick pitch exploit addressed with a delay
• Allow both players to view the replay when one player enters replay mode via pause menu
• No pausing when ball is hit in play
• Persistent Chat - ability to maintain a seat and interaction in a game room, even after leaving. This is perfect for League Chat rooms
• Online Player Options in far more areas in the SportConnect Lobby. This is the pop-up that allows for a Challenge, Send IM, Invite to Buddy, SportCast Live, etc.

[bunkaroo]

I don't recall seeing an option in '08, but I don't suppose you can import players created in RTTS '08 to '09? I spent a lot of time on my minor leaguer.

Probably a stupid question.

[nickdawgy]

I doubt you can but it'd be nice.

I wonder if they fixed the online bug. In last years version, you had to disable the connection to the net or else it'd freeze on the loading screen.

[bunkaroo]

Originally Posted by nickdawgy

I doubt you can but it'd be nice.

I wonder if they fixed the online bug. In last years version, you had to disable the connection to the net or else it'd freeze on the loading screen.

Freeze indefinitely? I don't recall having any freezing issues and my net connection was always live.

[Fandango]

It only froze if there was some problem with your internet connecting to PSN. The freezing would go away after a couple of minutes.

[nickdawgy]

It always stayed for me. If I didn't disconnect the PS3 from the net, I wouldn't be playing the game. I let it sit for 10 minutes and no change, just stuck at the loading screen.

[musick]

Originally Posted by nickdawgy

It always stayed for me. If I didn't disconnect the PS3 from the net, I wouldn't be playing the game. I let it sit for 10 minutes and no change, just stuck at the loading screen.

a few pages back I mentioned just discovering this recently
there is a workaround for it

[PopcornTreeCt]

I played the demo of this game and the Rays made Cole Hamels their bitch. It was fun.

[idjit dragon]

Originally Posted by PopcornTreeCt

I played the demo of this game and the Rays made Cole Hamels their bitch. It was fun.

I played the demo too and I just can't hit the ball - my fielding and pitching was OK. Is there batting practice/easier settings in the actual game based on last year's version?

Cheers

Martin

[musick]

http://www.amazon.com/MLB-09-Playsta...5689796&sr=1-1


only $3 off list price but also factor in no tax in most areas and free shipping including release day delivery with Prime
would be better if I was able to get it to appear in my Gold Box items but haven't had that luck

not blazin' hot but I have yet to see anyone have this priced less than list for next week (waiting on Best Buy info)

[nickdawgy]

I love Amazon release day delivery. Doesn't cost any extra which is nice. I already have mine ordered.

[bunkaroo]

Yeah I'm going with Amazon too. I have night class on Tuesday so I'd likely not have time between work and school to pick it up so this is good to make sure I get it. Of course I won't have time to play it until Thursday next week.

[cruzness]

Anyone know if you will be able to communicate to your opponent via headset during online games?

[bunkaroo]

Originally Posted by cruzness

Anyone know if you will be able to communicate to your opponent via headset during online games?

I can see it now...


"Swing batter batter, swing batter....MISS!"

[NiCK Crush]

2 more days fellas!

[astrochimp]

Would it be worth getting on the PS2 or would i be better off with MLB 2K9 for my 360?

[DaveWadding]

Originally Posted by astrochimp

Would it be worth getting on the PS2 or would i be better off with MLB 2K9 for my 360?

PS2.

I havent played the 2k9 demo, but the Show on PS2 is most likely better.

[NiCK Crush]

Originally Posted by astrochimp

would it be worth getting on the ps2 or would i be better off with mlb 2k9 for my 360?

ps2

[nickdawgy]

I haven't played the 2k9 demo but 2k8 was awful. The 2k series used to be good before they got the exclusive, and the MLB series used to be terrible.

[SexualPudding]

2K9 seems to play a lot better than 2K8 did (judging from the demo), but I'd still recommend the Show on ps2 over it. It just plays a much better game of baseball, imo.

[BravesMG]

Has anyone's Amazon release date order shipped yet?

[musick]

^
for reference I didn't get shipping confirmation on Killzone 2 (also with release date delivery) until the day of release and even then it stated the shippment would be delayed due to weather reasons ... yet it arrived on Friday as scheduled