To those of you who are unfamiliar with my history with playing baseball video games (Koji is aware of this issue), there is one thing I have yet to experience with satisfying results: defense.
If you're unfamiliar with this whole genre, High Heat Baseball for the PC is the best baseball video game so far. I'm talking here of versions 2001, 2002, and the apex of the series, 2003. The series is over and will not release another game, leaving EA Sports' MVP Baseball as the reigning champ - a game I have not played.
Anyway, High Heat 2003 was a great game. The pitcher-batter interface is spectacular, coming as close as you can get to the real thing without any unnecessary clutter. This has been one of the series' staples since the very first High Heat game.
But defense, in every game I've ever played, has been neglected.
High Heat did add momentum (in the 2002 version, I think), which helped a lot, but it's still not enough. You can put any Joe Schmoe out there and he'll make the same diving catch as Torii Hunter will.
This has to be addressed. There has to be a defense rating that will actually impact gameplay. My suggestion? Have players be able to make plays that others simply cannot. If they have a higher defense rating (the cutoff here is tricky), then have them capable of turning a play another guy simply cannot. Make them able to turn those tough plays more often then a bad defensive player.
The whole idea is to make defense matter. Make it a statistic that you care about as you consider trading for a guy. It matters in the Big Leagues. There are guys who are in the starting lineup based mostly on their defense. Make it count. Make me, as a player, feel the difference in having a great defensive player. Make me want to acquire a great defensive player. Make it valuable.
All this talk has got me yearning for a High Heat season, something I've dropped like a Heroin habit (just ask Koji) and am now being tempted to resume.
Luckily I left the game in Guatemala.
Damn I love baseball.
Posted by portocac
at 11:03 AM CDT
