MVP baseball 2004
ONLINE FAQ
Created by: Dbacker37
E-Mail:
[email protected]
Assistant Writer: Polar Kraken
E-Mail: stormdemon2k4(at)yahoo.com
Created: 4/9/04
Version 1.0
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Version Info
1.0 4/9/04 General info, online community, advice and FAQ section
complete.
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Table of Contents
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I. Introduction
1.1 General Information
1.2 Disclaimer
1.3 Legal Notice
II. The Online Community
2.1 Ranking system
2.2 Chatrooms/finding a game
2.3 selecting a team
III. Advice
IV. FAQ's
V. Conclusion
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I. Introduction
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1.1 General Information
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First, I would like to say "Thank you" for reading my FAQ because this
FAQ contains a lot of useful information for playing online and
hopefully will strengthen the MVP online community. This FAQ contains
general advice for playing online. All strategies, tips and advice are
simple that-advice. My FAQ is based off of what I have seen playing
over 100 online games since this game has come out(March 8th). I have
played against different skill levels, different game types and with
different options. This is my first FAQ so please give me feedback, I
would love to have your opinions as well, email them and I will add
them and give you credit.
Please note that the actual info seen in this guide was written by
Dbacker37. Polar Kraken did the work on the margins and some
grammar/spelling touch-ups.
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1.2 Disclaimer
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This FAQ does contain some factual information however, this advice is
simply my opinion and just recommendations based on my style of
gameplay.
I don't mind if you share my information as long as I am giving credit
where credit is due. Copyright 2004 Shawn Edwards
WARNING: THIS ADVICE MAY NOT WORK FOR YOU!
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Legal Notice
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This guide was written by Dbacker37. The touching-up job was done by
Polar Kraken. You may use this guide at your leisure, but if you want
to put it on a website, please contact Dbacker37 first.
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II. The Online Community
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2.1 Ranking system
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The ranking system is basically based on total # of wins NOT win
percentage. So, if someone has 300 wins and 500 losses he will be on
top of the player that has 250 wins and 2 losses generally speaking.
Disconnects and how many inning games you play I believe are factored
in as well. Ea has a list ranking EVERY online player which is really
cool.
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2.2 Chatrooms/Finding a game
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When you enter the lobby you will notice many different Chatrooms. They
are composed of 4 channels - Rookie, Pro, All-Star and MVP. Each
contains a room for each demographic location(i.e. east, west). The
most common room you will find is the 1 inning room usually named 1in
or 1inn. This is the most popular room and you will usually find
players of all different skill levels there.
Warning: From what I have seen this is also where I find the most
cheesers or quitters.
Some people play this just to get easy wins, while some just don't have
the time to play a 9-inning game. 1-inn games are definitely the most
risky gametype because there are players of all different skill levels
in there and usually it's because no other rooms are open so everyone
will chat in the 1-inn room. Also, just because you are in a 1 inning
room does not mean you cannot challenge/be challenged for 9 inning
games. Make sure you read challenges. Over 50% of the challenges I get
are not for 1-inn games!!! (Which I find very amusing.) The channel I
usually occupy is PRO-cable because I usually find the better players
or quicker games there. Finding a game can be difficult. Challenge
players that have a similar record to yours if not better. Some players
will only challenge people with horrible records and their opponent
will never accept. Challenging players with a better record than you
doesn't mean they are better than you just they have more experience.
This is the easiest way to find a game and then it's on to selecting
your team.
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2.3 Selecting your team
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This may sound easy but it can be frustrating. Most players do play
with the Yankees and you have to deal with it. I always choose my
favorite team(the D-Backs) no matter what team they select. Play the
team that you are most comfortable with and stick to them. Never pick
the all-star teams because that's unfair. I have had several opponents
pick them and I still won. Some opponents will even be sneaky about it
and try to wait for you to select a team then once you do they select
the all-star team or they will select the tigers and wait for you to
select a team and then choose the all-star teams. If someone selects a
good team against you don't adapt to them and choose a different team.
Stick to the team you are good at.
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III. Advice
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Work the count!!! This is the best advice for playing online. I try not
to swing at the first 2 pitches unless they are up and in(money spots).
Chances are your opponent won't throw you 2 strikes and if they do,
they are usually just dusting the corners and you wont get a good swing
on them anyway. Most online players throw 2/3 or more balls than
strikes.
Be patient and pick a zone and swing. Low outside corner is a great
zone hitting spot, time it late and it's almost always a base hit. This
is the favorite strike that online player throw. Some players will only
pitch in this location and I have seen some try to do this and change
the defensive alignment to slap. Take what the pitcher will give you if
he only pitches low and away you better take advantage and hit them the
other way. If an opponent throws casually inside pitches be ready and
wait for those HR pitches.
Use hot/cold zones. Ok, some good players will turn them off in options
but if they are on use them. Blue = RED. Basically lots of online
players will sometimes only pitch your cold zones! I have got so many
hits from the cold zones its not funny. Online opponents will barely
pitch hot zones so I will never expect a pitch in my hot zone. Cold
zones = your friend. It doesn't really affect you hitting that much; I
have hit several HR's from guessing cold zones.
L3 button is the pitch history feature. It allows you to check pitch
history and most good players use this. Use this feature to look for
trends. Most online players will only throw first pitch breaking balls
or only outside or only low. I use this usually the 2nd pitch of every
at bat. You can only use it once per batter though so be careful.
Mix it up! When pitching you have to mix it up just like in real life.
Use all your pitches and don't be afraid to throw inside. Yes,
sometimes you will give up HR's, but all good pitchers in the MLB know
how to work the inside. If you do pitch inside try and pitch low and
inside and try and hit the corners or even balls near the hot zones
work! Don't be afraid to walk a good batter. Good pitches include high
fastballs, low curveballs or pin point fastballs right on the corners.
I almost forgot to mention the knuckleball, most online players I have
played CANNOT hit this, and if they do, it rarely gets out of the
infield. If you have a Knuckleballer use him for relief or your closer,
try it and see if your opponent can hit them. With K-Ballers I will
usually just pitch right down the middle. When I throw inside, high
strikes or a hot zone I try and do it on the first pitch or when they
are expecting a ball(0-2, 1-2, 2-2).
Take advantage of mistakes. When a pitcher gets tired or there is some
lag pitchers will throw some mistake pitches. Whether these pitchers
are high, low, outside, if they are strikes(white) hold up and swing,
chances are you will get a HR or gapper. Take advantage of this
especially when your opponent leaves his starter in and he gets around
60% stamina, that's when the freebies start popping up.
STEALS. Read your opponent! Does he take big leads? How likely is he to
steal bases? This is a very important part of MVP online. You have to
do it at the right time and with the right runner. I usually take the
first pitch and run on the 2nd pitch. If your runner has a 75 or lower
in speed I don't recommend taking a 2-step lead. He will get picked off
easily.
Feel your opponent out; test him! Some players you can steal with every
attempt, some players online its better to just sit at the base. It
doesn't really matter who you try to steal with! I have stolen bases
with Randy Johnson, it just matters how aware your opponent is. When
defending the steal, use the pitchout option and pickoff attempt.
WARNING: Some players will try and steal home often or a squeeze play.
To prevent this use your defense alignments/pickoff/pitchout.
Steal with fast runners!!! It may sound obvious, but if you have a
player with a 90 speed rating or higher, STEAL bases! It is very hard
to throw them out even when they do not take a lead and you pitchout.
This is one problem I have encountered online I cannot throw out super
fast runners, they steal 2nd then 3rd and even with constant pitchouts
and pickoffs they still get the base.
You should not attempt to steal with runners under a 70 rating. It all
depends on your opponent. If he isn't paying attention and lets you
have a 2-step lead, then take the base or if it is late in the game and
you need to advance the runner. I really suggest using a pinch runner
because most teams will have a speedy guy on the bench; however this
will usually tip off your opponent that you are going to steal. In this
situation I recommend not going on the first pitch but try and work the
count and go on a 2-2 count or a 3-1 count when the opponent has to
throw a strike. Sometimes when your opponent is so worried about the
runner that he will do several pitchouts and fastballs out of the zone
so try and be patient.
Use the hit and run. I haven't been too successful with it, but my
opponents have executed them well, do them with fast runners on base
and if you miss they will usually get the steal anyway.
To steal, press L1. The steal all signal gives you the best jump so use
this button ONLY when you have 1 runner on base or else it will tell
all your runners to steal.
Squeeze plays/double steals: Many players use this and it is actually
effective online. If you have a quick runner on 3rd base and another
runner on 1st base, less than 2 outs, I recommend the double steal. In
order to execute this properly, first take a small lead with your 3rd
base runner, then switch to man on first and give him a lead, then try
and ONLY steal 2nd base. When the opponent throws to 2nd, switch over
to your man on 3rd and head for home, make sure you slide!
SLIDING is also very important. You have to slide properly depending on
where the ball is coming from.
For example: When the catcher throws to 2nd trying to get out a
stealing runner you need to slide to the outside of the bag, this way
its harder to tag you. So whenever stealing 2nd press the R3 up and
right this way you slide to the right side of the bag. Pressing down
while sliding will do the feet first slide which I don't recommend
unless its a close double play and you want to break up the DP. I
usually always execute up + right slides. But if the throw is coming
from the outfielders you usually want to use the up + left. These are
important on close plays. I have been thrown out because doing a feet
first slide or just up does an all out dive slide. Also, I always slide
into home and never feet first this is because I have had several times
when you don't slide its possible that your runner can miss the base.
Just like real life he has to go back and try and tag the base again.
Running over the catcher is almost impossible. Over 100 games and I
have yet to do it!! I believe you have to be a bigger player than the
catcher in general and it has to be a semi-close play, then press the
R3 UP.
From: Kaban
about the whole running catcher over thingy. It didn't work for me
until I tried something. Went into scenario editor, put someone on 3rd
base and went to steal home after a pitch. He has the ball and moves
right in front of the plate. I just held up on the right analog stick
and my guy nailed the catcher, and best of all he dropped the ball! I
was able to pull it off in a game against my friend and as long as the
catcher is STANDING not moving, or getting into position when you are
running up to him, hold up on the right stick and watch the hit.
Don't change the options. This just makes the game more frustrated and
not fun. If you would like to change a few options such as pitching
cursor or strike zone just ask your opponent first before the game
starts send him a message. He will usually agree if not maybe you can
compromise. If not you will be changing the options back and forth all
game long, which is not fun at all. If you want to get better online
get used to practicing playing online games with the strike zone off,
cursor off or just everything off because it WILL happen to you when
you don't expect it, so its good to know in advance how to play with
all the different options, even fielding aid/vector line off, WHICH I
PERSONALLY HATE!!! Most good players play with different options. If
you play with the strike zone off or other options off it will make you
a better player when they are on.
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IV. FAQ'S
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What is unfair behavior?
Alot of people ask this... Here's the answer:
Basically it means you were disconnected from the server, not
necessarily that you cheated, just you were lagging or for some strange
reason, no one knows why you lost your connection to your opponent. Its
as simple as that.
Another way you or your opponent can get awarded with a loss. they get
2 warnings for delaying the game after about 2 min of just sitting
there 3rd time they get kicked!!!
WARNING
you can Hold L2 or R2 button as long as you want and EA wont kick you.
I had an opponent hold it for about 10minutes then when he thought i
was gone he would pitch then he would do it again, I just eat some food
do whatever, eventually he quit.
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V. Conclusion
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MVP 2004 online is a fun game, but take it for that – a game. Don't
take it too seriously and just have fun with it. If you have any
questions about the guide or MVP itself, feel free to contact either
one of us. We will attempt to keep this guide update, just be patient.
If anything that you submit gets into the guide, you will be given
proper credit.
Good day, and many RBI's to you.
