ESPN 2K5: Hello Game Killer
Well folks, unless a workaround is found or T2 decides to issue an online patch then ESPN Baseball 2K5 (or MLB 2K5 whatever-the-hell it calls itself now) is a total bust. The gameplay is spotty at times, but with the massive number of sliders available I think you can find a setting that you can enjoy. The problem is wild pitches/pased balls. They PLAGUE this game. I see 3 or 4 per game and always with runners on base. It is absolutely re-friggin-diculous.
Any ESPN fans out there have a solution that fixes this problem? If not, I don't see how anyone can enjoy this thing in its current state. The passed balls come in bunches. I may not see one for 7 innings but in the 8th I'll see 4 and they almost always result in a run or two scored. Did any review mention this? Did any Beta Tester see it? How does something like this find its way into the final gold release code of a big budget game?
Come on folks, help me out. How do you fix this? (Play MVP being the most obvious of answers..)

February 26th, 2005 - 17:53
No way to fix it that I’ve found Bill. I bought this and MVP and the passed balls kill this game.
Prime example. I’m playing a game today with runners on 1st and 2nd, 2 outs. 3 STRAIGHT passed balls and I score 2 runs without even having to put the bat on the ball. That’s unnaceptable and I have no clue how that gets past QA. It’s not like it’s a hit and miss thing either. It’s happened in every game I’ve played.
I’ve tried putting the CPU Error slider to 0, but that does nothing (aside from eliminate IF/OF errors). So looks like this game is going back for store credit.
February 26th, 2005 - 18:00
EXCLUSIVE contract, huh? Nice going.
February 26th, 2005 - 20:07
Bill – I posted this over on Digitalsportspage:
played my first game in franchise mode. As the Braves against the Marlins. In the 5th, Hudson hit his second batter and got tossed. He was pitching a great game so this sucked because the pen gave up 3 runs and the Braves lost 3-2.
The bad part was that when I looked at the box score at the end of the game I noticed that Tim Hudson was credited with a save for the Marlins. Additionally, for some reason John Smoltz was listed in the Marlins lineup as though he had played the field but had not ABs.
Concerned, I exited the game and went and looked at the season pitching stats, and sure enough, Tim Hudson of the Braves has 1 Save.
So my starting pitcher had a 5 inning no decision and got credit for a Save for the opposition. Yeah, Kush is the perfect company to work with the High Heat code. They have 3DO QA down to a science.
February 26th, 2005 - 20:08
And they have 37 people listed in the QA credits in the manual. Great job.
February 26th, 2005 - 20:17
Sigh. Thanks for the notes, guys. I’m speechless.