Mine says shipping soon. In 4+ years of ordering through Amazon, they have been late on shipping just one time. They made up for that with a shipping refund and $10 gift card.

That's right, I remember I ordered Madden 09 for release date shipping and they didn't send the ship notice until late the night before.

Thanks for the advice on MLB 09 vs 2k9 everyone.I did like the demo for 2k9 but i think i will go with The Show for my PS2.Doesnt hurt that its half the price

Mine shipped, and is on schedule for arrival tomorrow. In fact, it's about an hour away from me in Ontario. Too bad UPS doesn't get here until 4pm.

anyone up for a custom-draft DVDtalk league? I wasn't planning on picking this up, but the screen shots of the fantasy portion sold me.

This is why I dont order.

That's why I didn't order (well that and I get taxed by Amazon anyway) - my UPS guy doesn't get here until 5 or 6 at night. I'm too impatient!! I went to Best Buy and picked it up this morning. Early impressions:

-hitting (in terms of timing and making contact) seems to be more like last year than the demo showed. I whiffed a TON in the demo because I was used to '08, not so much here.

- love how they've toned down the ridiculous range of the infielders. I actually got a bloop hit over the 2nd baseman's head! Also, there was a ball hit between 3rd and short that my third baseman would have easily grabbed in '08, but here he missed and the SS made the play instead. But it cost me a chance at a double play - my SS had to make a sweet jumping throw to even get the batter in time at first. A much welcomed change.

- not sure why, but as others have said, seems easier to recognize balls vs. strikes. I walked twice in the first three innings, a record for me

- my first game I played the Tigers at the Yankees so I could check out the new stadium. Unfortunately this meant facing Sabathia, my nemesis from '08. It appears he still owns me! Damn sliders.

- I hope the umpire tendencies stay true throughout the season - that it's not just a thrown in feature that doesn't really work. So if I see so-and-so is behind the plate, I'll know "hey, that's the guy with the generous strike zone" and have it reflected in the game.

Anyway, just a few quick thought, anxious to see what other people think/discover. back to playing!

^ Very jealous.

It's funny that I'm on pins and needles waiting for the UPS guy after waiting for so long for this. I don't know if I want to dive into RTTS or drafting my franchise first.

^^ Does it install to the hard drive? Are the load times any better?

Well, it saves me a trip for one. Also, no tax or shipping charges with Amazon. I waited this long, a few extra hours won't hurt. It's not like I am waiting by the door for the UPS guy.



Ok it is.

I heard on another board (CAG maybe?) that it's a mandatory 5 gig install.

yes, about 6-7 minutes of installing before you start the first time. Also, I feel the load times were a little longer than last year's, but it could have been my impatience.

My copy was just delivered. Problem is, I have to go straight to a 4 hour class tonight after work!

I'll probably fire it up when I get home just to get everything installed, get my RTTS player created and import some tunes.

for some reason I cannot edit my RTTS starting pitcher to throw left handed

I don't remember that being an issue last year

EDIT: nevermind figured it out
don't know why it wouldn't let me select left handed first time ... guess I have to create a new player and start over
for some reason you cannot be a left handed starting pitcher and have an infield position as your secondary position... I thought last year I had 2nd base as my secondary position, oh well

well I just got done with spring training and was hammered in my 6 starts
the AI was pretty unforgiving, much more so than I remember last year
hopefully my minor league debut goes better

one thing I find to be a big annoyance is when the game ends how it goes to the copywrite screen before getting to the line score
there is that moment where you don't even know if your team won or lost the game without listening to hear if the crowd is cheering or booing

Yep, it's a 5GB install.

I ordered mine from Familyvideo.com on Saturday and had it on my doorsteps today my noon -- saved $5 too.

I haven't even played a game yet because I've been having so much damn fun in the batting practice mode.

I played through Spring Training in RTTS. I decided to change it up, and not choose the Angels, and entered the draft.

The Giants chose me

I had a decent spring, but got offered a contract with their AA team.

I love the training sessions. I had three or four during the spring.

The load times are ridiculous at first, but they get better. Also, the audio clips from the games (like last year) are nice, but I had already started hearing repeats before the spring was over.

I love the game, though.

I don't know where to start! I want to do a RTTS, but I feel like I should start my franchise up with the Tribe now too. Decisions decisions.

Do both!

One disappointment so far is that if you choose to have a fantasy draft for your franchise, there are no budget implications. In my draft I think the Rays ended up with a payroll of $203m, while my youth-oriented team payroll was about $52m. I wish there was a system like Madden uses the salary cap with adjusted budgets per team.

Other than that, my advice would be DON'T DRAFT HIDEKI OKAJIMA. Dude gets lit up like nuclear Christmas every time I throw him out there.

Got mine yesterday. Gave Franchise mode a go. As far as a detailed oriented franchise mode this is spectacular. Arbitration, 40 man rosters, waivers... it's incredible how deep this goes.

Picked up the roster update, unfortunately there were some big things missing. Pettitte wasn't on the Yankees. Abreu hadn't signed yet etc. It looks like Manny will sign with the Dodgers today. Hopefully the next roster update will reflect this. It just sucks that I started my franchise already and it looks like a few big name players aren't signed anywhere.

As far as in game.. no big changes to last years edition it seems (if it ain't broke, don't fix it). My timing is a little off at the plate but my pitching is right there. I'll learn it as I go along.

I look forward to starting a RTTS soon.

Already have an idea for next year's edition. Something that only works in franchise/RTTS/season modes... rain delays and rained out games. I think it would be great if you're playing in the rain and it has to be called after the 5th inning or has to be put on hold after the 3rd. It'll add another level of strategy. The guy who started begins to cool as he's waiting out the rain delay so you have to either choose to trot him back out there or send in a relief pitcher. Also, have the game rained out and schedule a double header, making it so that you have to start a spot starter in one of the games. Might be too much for the average fan but I think it's something baseball fans would enjoy.

There are some players that just aren't good video game pitchers. Their pitching set is realistic but for some reason they just get hammered. Okajima is one of those guys and so is Chien Ming Wang. He's a sinkerballer and it feels that everytime I try to throw the sinker for a strike it gets hammered.

On the flip side, there are pitchers that are just great video game pitchers but aren't so good in real life. Mostly pitchers that are good but are too often injured. Mark Prior comes to mind.

I have owned every version of The Show, and never played franchise. It was always RTTS. Which is more fun?

Got mine. I'll have to wait until 6pm to play after work.

= J

I prefer Franchise. Gives me the ability to play the whole game through. I'll play about a 20-30 games in a season and simulate the rest. I have the most fun in Franchise mode when you get to retool your team during the offseason with signings, drafts and trades. Then going down 10 or 15 years later and seeing well known players retire and having a bunch of new talent coming up.

I play with the Yankees and they have a CF prospect that will be major league ready in a few years that the Yankees have hopes for. The game has (or should have) a CF in the Yankee minor league system that is a stud CF prospect. His name may or may not be his real name (Austin Jackson), it depends on the players association I guess. So in the game, it'll be cool in 2 seasons when I'll be able to call him up to the majors and then see him get better through the years.

Nothing against RTTS though, haven't tried it yet this year but I've always had a great time with that too.