MLB 09 The Show: Improved AI
by 
The weekly series of postings for MLB 09 The Show on the Playstation Blog continues, this time focusing on AI improvements. The blog goes over some areas in specific detail and was accompanied by a video that talks more about it. You can read it in full here.
Today we’re going to show you some of our new and improved A.I. for MLB 09 The Show. Realism is THE most important thing to use here on the MLB 09 The Show team. Year in and year out, with a development team that has a wealth of baseball knowledge, not only as fans of the game but development members that have actually played the game at very high levels, we dedicate ourselves to making the most realistic baseball experience possible.
You have to love that SCEA goes to these lengths to display improvements to AI like they have done here. Many other games choose to focus on marketing what is flashy and deem aspects such as the AI as boring. For the hardcore baseball fans though this is the type of info they want to hear about.
Continue on to view the video and leave your thoughts in the comments.
January 20, 2009 at 11:53 pm
Incredible stuff. Now I wait for 2K's response, #2 in the series of Tim Lincecums lame ads.
January 21, 2009 at 12:29 am
The only game that is an automatic buy year in and year out.
January 21, 2009 at 12:29 am
I CAN NOT WAIT FOR MLB 09 THE SHOW….WOW
January 21, 2009 at 12:31 am
Great great stuff. One thing I hope they worked on is "throw urgency" — It was pretty frustrating when a ball was hit to an infielder and you wanted to get rid of it quickly, but the infielder goes in to some long, strung out throwing animation. This should should be adjusted depending on the situation (men on base) and how hard/fast you press the corresponding throw button.
January 21, 2009 at 12:31 am
i see that cc's pitching is new and there is also eye black. the fielding looks great
January 21, 2009 at 12:45 am
I jus hope they have put in the ability to break-up double plays…other than that this looks GREAT…
January 21, 2009 at 1:02 am
I'm actually purchasing a PS3 possibly by the 1st of March, mainly for this game.
I'm very excited for this game. And I hope it's as good, if not better than 07 The Show for PS2.
And I can only imagine it would be.
January 21, 2009 at 1:10 am
Eye black and sunglasses are in too GREAT
January 21, 2009 at 1:32 am
I wish I had a PS3.
January 21, 2009 at 1:37 am
Crown it now.
January 21, 2009 at 2:31 am
I bought a PS3 last year just for MLB The Show 08 (and the Blu Ray player) and it was well worth it. The Show 08 has it's flaws and took a little while to adapt to after playing the 2K for the last several years but was heads and tails better than any other baseball game I've ever played. The Show 09 is shaping up to be about 10 times better than the 08 version. Amazing stuff and it has the potential to be the most realistic sports game ever. Can't wait til March when the game is released.
January 21, 2009 at 2:41 am
Seems to me this game is shaping up to be what a current gen game is suppose to be about. FINALLY. 2k looks improved some so xbox users wont have a totally worthless game this year, i may buy both and see which is better.
January 21, 2009 at 3:28 am
This game is SICK!!!!! This franchise alone makes the PS3 worthwhile. I'm so glad to be a fan of this game with a development team that actually communicates with their fanbase, unlike 2k. Can't wait till March!!
January 21, 2009 at 3:46 am
"Great great stuff. One thing I hope they worked on is "throw urgency" — It was pretty frustrating when a ball was hit to an infielder and you wanted to get rid of it quickly, but the infielder goes in to some long, strung out throwing animation. This should should be adjusted depending on the situation (men on base) and how hard/fast you press the corresponding throw button."
I agree the NEED to fix this.
January 21, 2009 at 5:50 am
I love seeing videos like this detailing AI changes. I don't see how anyone could deem these boring – hardcore fans of a franchise love seeing videos like this. (Heck, I'd bet many casually interested fans enjoy them too.) Thanks for posting this, pasta.
January 21, 2009 at 1:02 pm
should i get this for PS2 instead of getting MLB 2K9 for 360
January 21, 2009 at 3:30 pm
Trade in your 360 for a PS3 and purchase THE SHOW!!
January 21, 2009 at 3:31 pm
maybe buy a ps3
January 21, 2009 at 4:43 pm
While there is NO DOUBT that the show will dominate the baseball landscape, there is still just one glaring problem that has plagued this game and I think we can all agree that the ONLINE PLAY has got to be improved.
This is such a remarkable game and to have it diminished by severe lag in the pitcher/batter interface is a crying shame. If they get rid of the lag then this game will truly be king of the video game diamond.
January 21, 2009 at 6:49 pm
Online was good on my end. Sorry the others couldnt enjoy that experience
January 21, 2009 at 6:56 pm
why should i trade a 360 when their games are better most people i know have a 360 and why should i bu a ps3 just for the show. Should i get the $hi*ty MLB 2K9 or PS2 MLB 09 THE SHOW. GRAPHICS I DO NOT CARE ABOUT BECAUSE 2K'S BASEBALL GRAPHICS SUCK.
January 21, 2009 at 8:11 pm
If you want a baseball game that plays and looks great, The Show is the ticket. I purchased a PS3 because of The Show.
The Show is the best console baseball game made, including MVP (which I enjoyed). The Show isn't perfect (if they incorporated MVP's throwing meter for fielders it would be near perfect) but it offers many things that other games don't (i.e Road To The Show mode)…
January 21, 2009 at 9:48 pm
Were looking at a legendary game coming up here. An already great game, being nothing but improved upon. This will be good.
January 23, 2009 at 3:05 am
Looks great. Best game on the market for baseball. I personally bought a PS3 mainly for this game and other playstaion exclusives. Now, if we can get rid of the glitch in franchise mode where the computer edits your lineups I will be extremely happy.
February 2, 2009 at 4:15 am
Again, Sony is putting 2K to shame by releasing more information about its product. Sony gets it.
Pasta, you EA lover, how dare you post a sports game by another company….Yeah, that is sarcasm….
March 3, 2009 at 1:47 am
i think the show is beater than 2k becuse the show always makes impvorments and 2k is always the same shit over again the all the way this game is going to destroy 2k9 and it comes out march 3 2009 and i am buying it last year i bought 2k8 and the show 08 .2k was a rip off wack players always hit ahome run in clucth spots. when ur pither alows 3 hit in 2k they keep hitting the ball all of u should by tha game and dont by that gay game 2k9