MLB The Show: 10 Things Fans Want In The Game, According To Reddit

MLB: The Show has consistently been one of the most celebrated sports simulation games year after year, and each new installment adds layers to the gameplay. With a terrific mixture of online and offline modes for players to enjoy, there are endless hours of baseball simulation available.

Though recent editions of the game have addressed long-standing issues that players have had, fans still have a laundry list of ideas for what they still want to see in the game. Thus, gamers on Reddit have offered some advice on how San Diego Studios could improve their product.

10 Offline Diamond Dynasty

MLB: The Show‘s Diamond Dynasty mode is one of the most popular with fans. It allows players to compete in a variety of online game modes using a plethora of unique cards. However, Reddit user Stevebobatwork had another idea when they wrote, “Add a diamond dynasty team to franchise mode or have a separate season mode. … This should be able to be offline so if there are server issues you can still play and earn rewards”.

One of the biggest rubs about Diamond Dynasty is its online requirement which is beholden to an inconsistent server. The ability to use Diamond Dynasty cards in other modes would make the game more accessible to offline players or for players who don’t have as much time to play the game.

9 Celebrating Pitchers

As the game of baseball progresses, the personality of the game has changed in a more exciting direction. Some of the best players in MLB: The Show are known for their exhilarating celebrations, and “no-doubt” home run celebrations are a big part of the game. Redditor mrbigman111 took things a step further when requesting “unlockable pitcher celebrations … similar to the no doubt system”.

While hitters are given a multitude of different home run celebration animations in the game, historically, the pitchers have been limited. With Major League pitchers having some of the most dynamic personalities in the game, it only makes sense to allow users to customize their pitcher’s reactions.

8 No Fans In The Stands

While MLB: The Show has pushed to make the game more realistic to the actual MLB experience, certain aspects of the game have suffered for the realism. Reddit user BGonnn provided a specific example when they suggested, “The ability to have no crowd in the stands. I feel like this is why a majority of stadiums suffer from FPS drops”.

When playing online, an ability to trim some of the features back would perhaps fix many of the issues that the game has in terms of smoothness. With a game like baseball which requires split second reactions, lag can destroy the gameplay experience.

7 User Friendly Card Market

Though the newest edition of MLB: The Show got a lot of things right, there are always things that were neglected. The Diamond Dynasty card market requires a learning curve, but certain aspects are frustrating for no reason. Redditor sneauxman had a suggestion for a fix when writing, “Let me filter on quantity owned to identify duplicates”.

When collecting player cards in Diamond Dynasty, users can quickly find that they have a glut of extras which can be sold for stubs. However, the process of finding and selling duplicates is tedious and time consuming. By allowing users to sort by the amount owned would quickly solve that problem.

6 Women’s History

The MLB is committed to its past and often features historical games and tributes to legendary players in their broadcasts. MLB: The Show also features a wealth of historical players in their Diamond Dynasty mode. However, Reddit user ngc_gamer wants more. The commented, “I think it would be cool if we had some of the women that played during the wars”.

While A League of Their Own is considered one of the best sports films of all time, the history of women’s leagues has been neglected in the video games. With NBA 2k adding the WNBA to its games, and the NHL also delving into women’s leagues, is only natural that MLB: The Show could follow suit.

5 Arguing Calls

One of the most beautifully frustrating things about baseball is that the umpires aren’t perfect, and the League is reticent to make every aspect of the game reviewable. Therefore, a big part of the game is players and managers expressing their displeasure with bad calls. Reddit user TyCrane90 said, “I would really like in RTTS we could argue calls. This would also effect our chemistry with the team and manager”.

While previous versions of the game had play reviews at first base, other aspects of arguing calls has been neglected. Though some users wouldn’t want the game slowed down for something so frivolous, users who are more interested in the true simulation aspects of the game would love to see the realism.

4 Pitcher/Batter Combo

Though it is extremely rare, occasionally an excellent pitcher is also a skilled batter. MLB: The Show has historically struggled to accommodate those once-in-a-lifetime players and Redditor capo_deicapi noted that “players like Babe Ruth can both pitch and play their position. If he can do it in single player mode why not online in DD”.

It seems as if the structure of Diamond Dynasty isn’t set up to allow a player to exist as both a pitcher and batter. Because of the rarity of a player being good at both, it hasn’t been an issue, but with the rise of modern players like Shohei Ohtani, it has become necessary.

3 Include The PC Gamers

For many of the best versions of MLB: The Show, the game was only available on PlayStation consoles. However, with the addition of Xbox and Nintendo Switch users, many fans have found a glaring omission in the game’s ports. Reddit user fully200 stated what they wanted in the game succinctly: “Released on PC”.

Many players were shocked to find that the newest edition of the game wouldn’t be on PC, however it is doubtful that it will be for long. Since the exclusivity of the game has been snapped from PlayStation, it is only a matter of time before it lands on the PC.

2 Better Simulation In Conquest

MLB: The Show‘s Conquest mode is one of the most interesting additions to the game, and offers a tabletop gaming element. Though fun, Conquest can also be incredibly time consuming because of its long game boards. Reddit user giantswillbeback hoped to improve the game by suggesting “auto sim towards certain areas of the map for conquest”.

Many users expressed their displeasure with the sim speeds within the Conquest game mode. Though there are a plethora of NPC moves, many feel that the game is unnecessarily slow. By allowing players to simulate through the inconsequential parts of the map, the overall experience would be improved.

1 Road To The Show Storylines

In the “Road to the Show” mode, users are able to create a player which then starts their career in the minor leagues, aiming to work up to a big league club and have a Hall of Fame career. Though the mode is one of the most enjoyable, it can also become very repetitive. Redditor Galantisrunaway offered a solution when writing, “In game storylines, after a season it gets old”.

While franchises like Madden and NBA 2k have fully integrated a cinematic storyline into their career modes, MLB: The Show has stayed away from such theatrics. Though it would certainly add spice to the mode, it would also slow it down considerably and take away from many of the simulation aspects of the game. Perhaps if the story mode was optional, that would keep all types of players happy.

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