Has anyone actually completed a season or multiple seasons in 2004?

[guitarclassic55]

Hi, this is my first post. I was a big fan of HH2002 but didn't get 2003 because I read in several places that it was essentially an update with new rosters. I was interested in 2004 but I could never find it here in maritime Canada and then 3DO went under and I could only read about it. Well, I recently bought a new boxed copy off of eBay for $14 and I really really like it. Having read all the bad stuff about it already, my expectations weren't all that high... But nice graphics, smooth animations, and a "baseball" feel to it that I haven't been able to get with other games.

I have also experienced some of the frustration that others have had with the game... I've started several franchises, two with Pudge's 07 arcade rosters and three with the default rosters. I have simmed up to the middle of June in several of them then tried to start playing a game a day... but many times I've tried to start a game only to get kicked out onto the desktop. My conclusion was that something was screwed up in franchise mode. Today however I was able to recreate the same thing in exhibition mode, which I was actually very happy about. So perhaps my problem is technical and not related to the franchise mode... I did change some settings in my nVidia control panel and played the same exhibition matchup without a problem.

Sorry to be so long-winded... I'm just wondering if there are still folks out there playing HH04 who've made it successfully through a season or more. Any feedback would be greatly appreciated. I personally think this is a great game marred by a few nagging problems. As long as there are work-arounds I'll be a happy camper.

Guitarclassic55

[guitarclassic55]

No responses? Should I take that as a no?

[emath]

Take that as a 'very few people really liked this game, and stayed with 2k3, and 2k2'. 2k4 was on the verge of being a great game. They just didn't have the recources to do everything needed in one year. Had 3DO made it just one more year, I think 2k5 would have been the bet game yet, and maybe even saved 3DO. The graphics were plenty good enough, and they could have added in all the things they didn't have time to finish for 2k4...

The only reason I don't still play 2k4 over 2k3, is the user interface. Losing the mouse was a huge thing for me, and the menus sucked...

[guitarclassic55]

Take that as a 'very few people really liked this game, and stayed with 2k3, and 2k2'. 2k4 was on the verge of being a great game. They just didn't have the recources to do everything needed in one year. Had 3DO made it just one more year, I think 2k5 would have been the bet game yet, and maybe even saved 3DO. The graphics were plenty good enough, and they could have added in all the things they didn't have time to finish for 2k4...

I think your take on the game is very fair...

The only reason I don't still play 2k4 over 2k3, is the user interface. Losing the mouse was a huge thing for me, and the menus sucked...

I probably would have felt the same way had I not let a lot of time lapse between 2K2 and trying this one. The interface is pretty hard to get used to even as is... I occasionally find a bunch of stats that I never knew existed before, like individual player stuff that I can never find unless I make some sort of wrong turn with the unusually important "del, end, page down, page up"" etc. keys. So I can completely understand how off-putting it was (and is) for hardcore 2K2 and 2K3 fans.

[emath]

I actually dug it out a few weeks ago, and have the box sitting about 18 inches away from me right now. It keeps calling out to me to give it another try, but for some reason, I never do...

[guitarclassic55]

I actually dug it out a few weeks ago, and have the box sitting about 18 inches away from me right now. It keeps calling out to me to give it another try, but for some reason, I never do...

I honestly think that if the game had been released under a different name then it would have fared better. It plays very well on the field in my estimation, yet it is a definite step backwards in some areas when compared with 2K2/2K3... Hence the frustration that most HHers experienced with the game... so tantalizingly nice on the field yet "broken" when judged by the standards of previous editions.

Go ahead, give it another go... you might be surprised now that the dust has settled.

[guitarclassic55]

It has been very interesting reading some of the old threads about HH04... great anticipation followed by a mix of excitement and rage. I think I'm going through the same process that everyone else did 4 years ago.

My franchise mode season is progressing pretty well. It's great action on the field, and seems pretty realistic. I'm using Keirik's realism tune file with my own camera angles and a few tweaks. I've got some of the stadium mods and have made a few of my own. The game looks great and plays really smoothly. Off the field... well, I'm glad I have DangerZ's editor. I also get frequent kicks out to the desktop when I start to play a game... usually I can get back in, sim a different game, then try to play the one I wanted to and it starts this time. Strange.

Not really sure why I'm even posting this, it's probably so dead for most people. I tried MVP 2005 earlier and it has its merits. Also have Baseball Mogul 2008. I like the speed and the simplicity, miss the action on the field. I think my idea of a perfect baseball game would be OLDTIME BASEBALL using the HH04 engine for played games.

[GiantsFanatic]

Funny thing is, I JUST bought a copy today of 2004. Can't wait to play, but I wanted to get all the mods and patches first if possible...lol

Problem is, I'm not sure where to find all this, though here seems to be a good start!

[emath]

We didn't have nearly as many mods for 2004 here as we did for versions past, but I am not sure where else to still find them other than here...

[thegipper]

Get this Stadium patch. It's awesome!

http://www.edfick.com/hh2004/StadiumsHDSetup.exe