BREAKING... (The official RBI '14 Thread)

[RBI Empire]

Thanks! I can try to help. What are you having the most trouble with? Are you giving up runs or struggling to get hits?

[Shooty]

Oh yea and for those living the dream of the past, well the light has been shined for all to enjoy.  If change is difficult for you I suggest you read this book which I read a long time ago and helped me tremendously and has enriched my brain to be a continuous sponge of lifes ever changing waters of flavor instead of a slab of concrete where the water is forced to run off.  ONE highly recommends all to read since we are discussing change LMAO

http://www.amazon.com/Who-Moved-My-Cheese-Amazing/dp/0399144463

The first 3 reviews are all ONE star. 

Get it?  ONE!

[Mike D.]

I really need more ONE/swinger vs Turd drama in this thread.  What a loon...

[Turd]

Nah I'm out. Gantry yelled at me.

Plus that conversation goes nowhere.

[BeefMaster]

Thanks! I can try to help. What are you having the most trouble with? Are you giving up runs or struggling to get hits?

I'm sitting 2-2 in season mode so far (haven't played 1-player in a few days), but I'm also having a lot more trouble with the CPU than you are.  My hitting has been tolerable, but the CPU seems to be crushing EVERYTHING - in my two losses, I've given up a combined 32 runs.  I'm mostly throwing normal pitches (again, old RBI habits, although given that all three starters are available, maybe I should adjust this), but still, seems like I'm getting hammered pretty ridiculously in my losses.

I'm wondering if the pitcher actually has a hand in how hard the batter hits the ball - the Twins' pitchers are awful, so maybe the game just gives guys a power boost because Phil Hughes is pitching.

[Turd]

I have only lost one game, I've found the CPU challenging, but nowhere near impossible to beat.

[BeefMaster]

I'll be interested in seeing what Empire has to say about the fielding.  That's been, by FAR, my biggest complaint about the game so far, and the biggest departure from the original.  The batter-pitcher matchup is pretty consistent, other than that the computer isn't as easy to strike out (they don't consistently chase those curves just off the outside corner like they use to).

The thing about the matchup against the CPU is that I'm not finding an avenue to get an advantage.  One thing I liked about old-school sports games is that once you got good at them, you could beat the computer nearly every time even with an inferior team - there was always something that could give you an advantage, and it was really a test of skill rather than a simulation of your team matchups.  The CPU appears to field, hit, and run the bases pretty optimally, so I haven't found a place for human advantage yet (other than that you can still take advantage of the first-and-third situation - the problem there is that balls reach the outfielders so quickly that it's hard to get first-to-third on a single in the first place).

[RBI Empire]

Funny the computer appears to be dominating on both sides, I did notice related to hitting that the pitcher will  become tougher in certain run scoring situations, have you noticed this as well?   

Pitching I have been trying to conserve my 1st starter without using the 2nd starter since that is the way we normally play, so I have been in quite a few close games but have not beat the cpu yet lol.  Are you using all your pitchers? 

I have also played most of my games with the training wheels off,  I've switched back to putting the training wheels on and it seems like the CPU is a bit easier on me hitting and pitching but cannot confirm if this is true yet.  Do you play with the assisted features/training wheels on?  Do you think having them on or off change the level of difficulty of the cpu besides just assisting you with fielding?   

Also are you playing a majority on the xbox or the iOS or both?    If so do you notice a difference in the level of difficulty on either?

Ive mostly been playing on the iOS using the Reflector to display on my macbook just out of pure convenience instead of firing up the xbox but if there is a difference it will most likely motivate me to play on the xbox more.

I play mostly on PS3. That's where the 24-3 record I referred to in the article came from. I'm guessing the xbox would be about the same. I just like the d-pad on PS3  a lot so I got it for that system. As far as the settings go I've only played with standard fielding. I haven't used any assisted fielding on either version so I have no idea if it would affect the difficulty. My record on ipad isn't near what it is on PS3. I think I'm 2-3 or 2-4 on ipad. I only play that version if I'm in bed. I might play a game before I fall asleep. The controls are definitely harder to master on the touch screen and I think that makes it a little bit harder. The biggest difficulty for me on ipad is pitching. Getting the pitch to do what I want with the touch screen is incredibly tough. Fielding isn't so bad since you have a little time to get to a spot when the ball is hit.

The CPU will definitely bring the change of speed with runners on. I'm pretty sure they did that on purpose. That's when most of my strike outs happen. I've been able to string together a few innings where I put up 4 or 5 runs on base hits but they don't happen that often. I've also noticed that it's pretty hard to score in the first 2 innings without hitting a home run. A full-stamina starter pitches pretty good for the CPU.

I try to throw as deep as possible into the game with my starting pitcher. I usually get at least 5 out of him before I pinch hit. I've gone as deep as 7 2/3 with a starter but he was throwing really slow at that point and I had to pull him cuz he gave up 2 hits in a row. I usually only use 3 pitchers. Sometimes all 4 but mostly just 3. I rarely throw a fast ball unless it's with my closer. I only throw 'knuckle' balls with a 2 strike count if I need a strike out. The rest are just regular pitches so he doesn't get tired as fast.

[RBI Empire]

Playing a human is a lot different. I play my 11 year old son and he stays with me for the most part through the first few innings. He usually loses it about the 4th inning when his pitcher starts to tire. He hasn't quite figured out how to pitch with a tiring pitcher.

As far as rankings go I think I'm around 15th in wins on PS3. I'm pretty sure it only counts season wins toward that because I've also played a few exhibition games against my son and the CPU and those wins don't seem to be counted, which is fine and makes sense. I think in stolen bases I've been as high as 9th. Win % I think I'm somewhere around 30th. I don't hit a ton of home runs or strike out a lot of batters. I only average about 3 strikeouts a game vs. the CPU. There are some really good players. One of the guys on there was 17-0 to start. I'm not sure what he is now but that's pretty damn good.

As soon as I finish my first season I'll post a picture with all of my box scores. I take a pic of the post-game screen after each game. That way you can see how I do and I can track my season stats.

Here were my stats after my first 10 games with the Braves.

RECORD   Through 10   8-2                        
         AB   HITS   2B   3B   HR   SO   BB   SB   AVG
   ATL   372   139   28   2   18   30   0   24   .373
   OPP   369   109   19   1   13   30   0   6   .295

[RBI Empire]

I hope they start to track stats. With my next blog entry I'm going to touch on fielding and some improvements and stat tracking is definitely one of them. I've always been a big stats guy dating back to when I was a kid I would create my own schedule and score the game while I played in an official score book just so I could have player stats. It took forever to get through full seasons though.

Got the next ten games done real quick

RECORD   Through 20   17-3                        
      AB   HITS   2B   3B   HR   SO   BB   SB   AVG
   ATL   771   310   60   4   27   56   0   60   .402
   OPP   718   204   39   1   22   63   0   7   .284

You can see I got a little better at both hitting and pitching. There are some strategies I use for both that I'll share later.

[RBI Empire]

Yeah, I use excel, but haven't written in the formulas to make it automated. I don't have enough experience with it. That's why I do 10 games at a time. Makes it a little less of a burden. Your site has essentially the same stats that I have and even breaks it down to a per game number. That's pretty cool. I'll decide at the end of the season how in depth I really want to get with my stats. I think I'll end up putting my stats on the RBI Empire site and might even flirt with letting others put theirs on there too. But I have to do some research before I go about doing that since I don't have a forum on there.

[RBI Empire]

Thanks! I can try to help. What are you having the most trouble with? Are you giving up runs or struggling to get hits?

I'm sitting 2-2 in season mode so far (haven't played 1-player in a few days), but I'm also having a lot more trouble with the CPU than you are.  My hitting has been tolerable, but the CPU seems to be crushing EVERYTHING - in my two losses, I've given up a combined 32 runs.  I'm mostly throwing normal pitches (again, old RBI habits, although given that all three starters are available, maybe I should adjust this), but still, seems like I'm getting hammered pretty ridiculously in my losses.

I'm wondering if the pitcher actually has a hand in how hard the batter hits the ball - the Twins' pitchers are awful, so maybe the game just gives guys a power boost because Phil Hughes is pitching.

Sorry Beef, I missed this post earlier!

When I pitch I try to pay close attention to where the CPU stands as he moves after every pitch.

For all of these examples lets assume it's a righty on righty match-up and I always throw a regular pitch. Never a fast ball or drop pitch.

When the batter is off the plate (far left of the box):
-If he's up in the box (toward the pitcher) then I move to where I can barely see the left side of the rubber on the release and throw a curve outside.
-If he's even with the plate or deep in the box (close to the catcher) I move all the way left on the rubber and throw a curve outside.
-Keep in mind the varying curve ability of each pitcher too. You may have to adjust your starting point accordingly.

When the batter is in the middle of the box (from left to right):
-If he's up in the box I will try to throw a curve at him and break it close to the inside corner. You have to be careful with this because the CPU can step back and crush this pitch.
-The other two options here are to move to the middle of the rubber and try to curve it outside and get him to chase or start the pitch over the plate and curve it back into the hitter. You have to give it a touch of right on the d-pad then bring it back left. The latter of these two can get the hitter moving toward the plate and swing at a pitch too far inside. Often times the CPU swings really early on this pitch.

When the batter is crowding the plate:
-If he's up in the box or middle of the box I start just inside the left side of the rubber and start it over the middle of the plate and curve it back into the batter.
-If he's deep in the box I start far left and throw a curve outside. Most of the time the ball is too far outside for him to hit. It's either going to be a ball or a swing and miss.

With a righty pitcher vs. a lefty hitter it gets a little harder for me but I use the same concepts. It feels almost like they did that on purpose giving the hitter a slight advantage. Which makes sense since that's how baseball is.

With a batter hugging the plate I try to get it inside but I move my pitcher all the way to the right, start it over the plate and curve it over the inside corner.

If he's off the plate I start it in the right handed batter's box and try to curve it over the outside corner. This is another one of those pitches where if you catch too much of the plate it'll get crushed. If that doesn't work start just inside the left edge of the rubber and start the pitch over the plate and curve it outside. This seems to be the more effective pitch of the two.

The main thing is to keep the ball off the middle of the plate. Also set your pitcher up to give yourself the best angle of attack. My ERA isn't ranked really high but it's below 4.00 and it keeps me in most games.

[RBI Empire]

Yes very cool I am open to collaborate with you if you are interested and as I move forward with upgrading my site maybe we can share some ideas.  I really like your passion with RBI 2014, it is the most positive thing Ive seen on this forum in ONE very long time   ONE applauds RBI Empire 

Thanks Swinger! I think it's because I've been waiting for a game like this for a very long time. As a 33 year-old I grew up with the old stuff on NES. Most baseball games since SNES have tried to be way too real. I can't get into it. So, for a game like RBI to be rehashed and released similar to the original I've jumped on it and had a great time with it so far. Everything is different, but still familiar to what I grew up with. I know the game isn't perfect, but it's a good start and if MLBAM pays attention I think they can turn this version into an excellent arcade baseball series.

[Turd]

I hope it keeps getting updates and getting better.  Either way, it's a great supplement to MLB: The Show.  I get the best of both worlds...

[RBI Empire]

I found a glitch today over my lunch hour.

Attempt to steal a base then hit L1 (on PS3) to do a quick sub just before the pitcher releases. Sub in a pinch hitter and the pitching animation resets but the base runner keeps going. He will be at the next base before or just as the pitcher throws the pitch. It's an automatic stolen base.

I stumbled on it by complete accident with my pitcher up to bat. It doesn't work if you don't put in the pinch hitter. So there is a price to pay and a user can't just glitch their way around the bases.

[RBI Empire]

Part 3 is up. It's all about defense. Some good, some bad. But in the end it's, in the words of our beloved Justin Beiber, a'ight.

http://rbiempire.tumblr.com/post/82942427107/rbi-baseball-14-the-good-the-bad-the-how-can-we-make

[BeefMaster]

Played another game last night - gave up 9 runs to the Blue Jays and lost 9-3.  I also got burned again by the "pull the 2B off the bag" problem/glitch, which of course was immediately followed by a 3-run bomb from Bautista.

Might try starting a new season with a less-terrible team, just to get an idea whether the problem here is me or the Twins.

[Turd]

I've had that double play glitch happen a number of times.  TBH, I've even had it happen in the original game, but not as often as I see it here.

[BeefMaster]

Part 3 is up. It's all about defense. Some good, some bad. But in the end it's, in the words of our beloved Justin Beiber, a'ight.

http://rbiempire.tumblr.com/post/82942427107/rbi-baseball-14-the-good-the-bad-the-how-can-we-make

Just gave this a read.  FYI, the original Griffey on the SNES had fielders with correct handedness and skin tone, but not positive whether it was very common otherwise.

I just noticed the pre-fielding-screen pitcher movement for the first time last night but was not aware of the middle infielders doing that same thing.  That will be a huge help - as you said, their choice of 3B/SS and 1B/2B is AWFUL.

[Turd]

I still can't get over that they included 3 SPs.  I'm annoyed by this.