A first look at patch 2! [new video on page 29]

[adikal]

You are assuming situational awareness is vastly improved - I hope you are right

Me too. I realize we are drawing conclusions from one game after all. We will only be able to tell after playing a series of games and seeing how well the AI adjusts to different situations -- e.g., does it always start like that even when the target is say 100 (in a 50 over match) or when the pitch conditions/weather are conducive to bowling etc.

Having said all this, I'm still encouraged by the simple fact that not once in any of the T20s or ODIs that I played against the AI (when bowling on Legend difficulty), did the AI once cross 100 in a run chase.

 

[The_Pharoah]

Watching the video now. The fielders keep hitting the stumps on direct throws esp from midoff...surely that should have been fixed. IRL, fielders throw it all over the place, esp as they tire. The throws back from mid off/on are almost 100% hitting the stumps - atleast the outerfield throws are wide now and bounce over the stumps.

Plus I see the bowler is still fielding off their own bowling, esp for fast bowlers. This will again cut off the ability to score shots straight down the pitch (for fear of being C&B).

 

[Frostyvegi]

those "oh why did I just move third slip out" moments are so unique to cricket

On patch 1 I currently average about 1 out of every 3 matches in career mode (note I'm only in there from 20-40 deliveries at the moment) I edge through a vacant slip position.. I always struggle to run as I'm usually in the foetal position assuming I've been caught. Best feeling in the game when it happens though.

 

[The_Pharoah]

Best feeling in the game when it happens though.

besides scoring a century or scoring the winning run(s), my other fav feeling is knicking it to the wicket keeper....and NOT being given out hey, you take the good with the bad.

 

[Gamer Pradosh]

Watching the vid now, So far so good i guess, 1 thing i still don't like is the batsmen turning shaking his head before being given out for LBW's. Takes away a little waiting for the decision. Also for LBW's doesn't it show the hawkeye in the replays once given out after no review? going to get annoying after a while keep going through the menus.

Shake of the head doesn't mean out always...I have had situations where the ball pitched outside and was not out but even then the batsman shook his head..Its more like frustration playing the wrong shot I suppose..

 

[Aditya]

The realism of AI has to be mentioned here. In a chase of 300+, one can understand if the opponent is aggressive from ball 1 and that's definitely the case with this game's AI, which in comparison to earlier released games is a HUGE step forward.

The commentary is a bit repetitive but I wouldn't worry on that as long as the gameplay is satisfactory and to go with the video, it does look pretty good.

The fielding is top-notch! Seeing a fielder taking a dive in a cricket game was beyond my imagination but this game changes that perception - realistic dives from the fielders, unlike the ones that we saw in earlier games.

Overall, patch 2 has hugely impressed me. Gameplay is the heart of this game and I don't even care what comes along with it - the game has surely stood on the expectations of it's fans.

To @MattW cheers for taking out the time and putting forward this video for all of us.

 

[Orangzeb]

Watching the video now. The fielders keep hitting the stumps on direct throws esp from midoff...surely that should have been fixed. IRL, fielders throw it all over the place, esp as they tire. The throws back from mid off/on are almost 100% hitting the stumps - atleast the outerfield throws are wide now and bounce over the stumps.

Plus I see the bowler is still fielding off their own bowling, esp for fast bowlers. This will again cut off the ability to score shots straight down the pitch (for fear of being C&B).

They need something to be fixed in patch 3

 

[Gamer Pradosh]

Is there side crease no-ball in the game?? Because in the video 13.4over ball was so...

 

[Gentoras]

Ya noh true,,,it should be a no ball indeed, and also there should be a mankad also

 

[Gamer Pradosh]

Things I noticed from the video:

1.)AI aggressive approach when chasing high total.

2.)Fielders jogging after the ball reaches the boundary..Nice touch..

3.)Looks like fast bowlers hardly catch the bowl when there's caught and bowled chance but the case should have been the bowler trying to stop it with legs[which is not possible in this version] or watching it go past him as most of those shots were hit off the middle of the bat..

4.)AI scoring all over the ground..

5.)Grounded shots to Mid on and Mid off..

6.)I think side crease no ball should also be added..

7.)Most of the wickets were taken of a good ball..

8.)Big Wheel boundary line tweaked to the way they should...

9.)Match winning commentary was nice rather than a very silent finish to a match...

10.)Fielders jogging to the ball when they know there's only a single available...Realistic...

To conclude would say Ross' comment of "The game would feel NEW" does feel right...Great Job Ross and Team...

 

[MattW]

and also there should be a mankad also

Considering the game moves you out of the crease as a non-striker without any ability to control the player, clearly that won't happen.

 

[whiteninness]

Things I noticed from the video:

1.)AI aggressive approach when chasing high total.

2.)Fielders jogging after the ball reaches the boundary..Nice touch..

3.)Looks like fast bowlers hardly catch the bowl when there's caught and bowled chance but the case should have been the bowler trying to stop it with legs[which is not possible in this version] or watching it go past him as most of those shots were hit off the middle of the bat..

4.)AI scoring all over the ground..

5.)Grounded shots to Mid on and Mid off..

6.)I think side crease no ball should also be added..

7.)Most of the wickets were taken of a good ball..

Regarding point 6, I think that would add unnecessary complexity and frustration to a bowling mechanic which already isn't easy. Side crease no balls rarely happen in real life and I think that should be reflected in the game, where we round down "rarely" to "never".

If the bowler's foot is moving outside the crease then I think it should just be seen as an insignificant animation issue, like those we see when the ball passes through a limb or there is a catch taken through the ground. These are tiny things that are only noticed on the slow motion replays.

If it's a constant thing, I think BA should look to change the animations a bit so it doesn't happen, but I'd really not be bothered either way.

 

[Gentoras]

Considering the game moves you out of the crease as a non-striker without any ability to control the player, clearly that won't happen.

it would be a cool feature, stump him after 2 or 3 warnings

I get you @MattW

 

[cooks1st100]

Cheers for uploading the video Matt, was an enjoyable watch and the AI batting appears much improved.

How does the AI approach a smaller total, say 170 for example? Are they less aggressive from the off.

Negatively though the ball doesn't beat the outside edge anywhere near enough especially while it is new, while swing appears to be non-existent. Is this to do with the pitch/ conditions or just the game generally, as from all the videos I have watched the ball seems to swing far less compared to the amount of drift the spinners generate.

There doesn't seem to be any feeling of "Wow that was a good ball" and even with the new intuitive system are you going to find yourself just going through the motions or even worse generating, once you have got used to the bowling controls?

I hope I don't sound too negative as there is so much about the game that looks fantastic but I feel the bowling side of it could be much improved. This is only from and observers point of view.

Would love to see a video of the first session of a test match on a hard pitch ( hint, hint Matt ) to a: See if the points I have made are linked to conditions and b: See how differently the AI approach test cricket.

 

[MattW]

I imagine swing might be better if I shined the ball occasionally - it's just I can't be bothered waiting for the animation.

I might have time tomorrow to do a video of a smaller chase - but hopefully you all get the patch on Friday and it won't really matter.