Today's MLB The Show 18 developer livestream focused on improvements coming to Road to the Show.
The mode will now feature player archetypes when creating your player that include rating limits (or caps) on specific attributes to help make players more realistic instead of being God-like across the board.
Continue on to see the RTTS teaser video, the RTTS developer blog, RTTS gameplay videos, and the MLB The Show 18 dev livestream complete with the world-famous TGT Recap.
Road to the Show Developer Blog
Spoiler: show
Recap:
- Hosted by Nick Livingston and Steve Merka
- Show agenda: Create-a-Player Expanded, Archetypes, Gameplay Changes, Focus Training, Age Regression, Belle’s Ratings
Create-a-Player Expanded (14:08)
- Gil Garcia joins the stream. Gil is the Lead Character Artist for MLB The Show. They try to make all 1,500 players in-game look as accurate as possible and also makes the in-game assets players use for Create-a-Player.
- Character Creation shown. Improvements mentioned include new hairstyles (some replaced) and improved textures, new face types, batting stance creator.
- The Wheel of Misfortune is shown. Jody Kelsey joins the couch for his spin of the wheel and then departs.
- Bowman Scout Day returns but story is new this year. While retaining documentary-style feel from MLB The Show 17, you are not beginning as a top prospect. Your player must work to gather the attention of scouts to become a late-round draft pick.
Player Archetypes (28:50)
- Kyle Blake (aka Kyle 2.0) joins the stream to talk about player archetypes.
- Each archetype will have strengths and weaknesses (starting point and cap for each attribute). For example, a great defensive outfielder may come in with high speed, while his power may be lacking. A strong, power hitting outfielder may have low speed (and a low cap on the attribute) while starting with high arm strength and power.
- Equipping equipment can get attribute above the cap.
- Archetypes are independent of position, though positions will be suggested for each.
- If the player’s position changes, they will have ability to change or retain player archetype.
- Outfielder, infielder, & pitcher archetypes shown during this segment.
Expand to see screens of player archetypes:
Spoiler: show
- No more training points. Every action affects attributes. Results will be accumulated and shown in the post-game under Gains, Breakdown, and My Attributes screens. Based on performance these can go up or down and also to three varying extents.
- If you import MLB 16 player who is over an attribute cap, rating will stay at existing level but you will not be able to increase it though they can regress. (At that point player is only trying to maintain the rating.)
- Can get base gains by simming, but will be much lower than playing games.
- Kyle 2.0 leaves the show.
- Merka shows off the revamped UI and menu system.
Gameplay Changes (56:00)
- Chris Gill joins the couch.
- Gameplay improvements shown via video clips.
- Camera improvements and bug fixes shown. In camera behind third base, slight slowdown on contact to allow fielder time to make initial move. A graphic on the field will show you which way to move to catch or get the ball. There will be option to turn this feature off. (It is independent of the Showtime feature.)
- Via controller speaker, teammates will yell where to throw the ball on plays such as deep flies.
- Chris Gill leaves the brand new, soft couch.
- Chris Muriel joins to talk about outfield gameplay changes. They begin with a video showing changes.
- Camera pulled out behind outfielders to show more of field. Camera cuts reduced to help with fielding as well. Cone and ball will get smaller as OF approaches ball and/or proper fielding location.
Focus Training (1:09:35)
- These occur on days off and are basically extra training sessions. User will see player briefly do drill and then final Attribute result. User will not actually play these drills.
- Users can advance attribute ratings to their current cap.
Age Regression (1:19:25)
- Post-season scene showing player in discussion with agent concerning player’s age. User can then decide what part of their game they want to focus on to “preserve”: Skills, Strength, or Athleticism.
- Regression begins at age 34 and attribute decrease values increase as player ages. For example, at age 40 attribute decreases may be in the double digits.
- Some attribute increasing equipment shown, namely Rituals.
- Question from chat: You can indicate to agent if you desire to go to another team.
Belle’s Ratings (1:26:10)
- Ratings revealed for Albert Belle including 116 Power vs R and 96 Contact vs R.
Next week will focus on Franchise Mode.
Check out our previous MLB The Show 18 developer livestream archive & TGT Recaps:
- Stream #1: Gameplay & AI
- Stream #2: Custom Batting Stance & The Little Things
- Stream #3: Presentation & Commentary
- Stream #4: Diamond Dynasty
- Stream #5: Road to the Show
- Stream #6: Franchise
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