OOTP Developments Forums - View Single Post - OOTP10 Suggestions: Game/League Setup Options

Le Grande Orange · 11-18-2008, 02:49 PM

SUGGESTION

Better logic for the creation of fictional leagues whereby the city teams chosen for the league reflect the typical real-world distribution of cities for a given level of league, and where cities are aligned into geographically sensible divisions.

REASON

Right now in OOTP there is not much rational to what cities get selected for a given level of league. That is, you can have a major league level league have expected big cities like Chicago or New York represented, but then much smaller places (below the real-world major league lower limit) such as Tulsa, Syracuse, or Savannah are also part of the league. This is not particular realistic. On top of that, the divisional alignments make no sense. Too often, cities on opposite coasts such as Boston and Los Angeles are placed into the same division. This is quite unrealistic.

A better system, one which constructs fictional leagues which better reflect the real-world characteristics of major and minor leagues, is much needed.

Such a system is possible. I've been working on a way to achieve this in a relatively simple way. It basically involves reworking the cities.txt file (or using a new file expressly for the purpose), and then following some simple steps based on the size of the league and number of minor league levels. I can present a detailed proposal if requested. This proposed system would result in much better and much more realistic looking major and minor league creation.

PRIORITY

High.

Why a high priority? Because the current system is inadequate and does not present a good impression upon new users of OOTP. Someone new to the game will see leagues created with odd selections of cities and teams seemingly randomly assigned to divisions, and they will wonder why such a simple thing as correct cities in correct divisions wasn't done. To them, it will likely appear sloppy.

Good fictional league creation falls into the "get the little details right" philosophy I've often mentioned. Folks expect a game to get the big details right (if a game can't get the big details right, then there's probably not much point in playing it); it's getting the little details right where a game excels. Getting those little details right is what shows the player that much attention and care was put into crafting the game. It's getting the little details right which makes a game feel truly polished.

Proper, realistic creation of fictional major and minor leagues is one of those important little details to get right. It can be done relatively simply. So there's no reason not to improve this part of the game.

11-18-2008, 02:49 PM	#41 (permalink)
Le Grande Orange Hall Of Famer Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Scheduleslovakia Posts: 10,231 Thanks: 4 Thanked 1,177x in 700 posts	SUGGESTION Better logic for the creation of fictional leagues whereby the city teams chosen for the league reflect the typical real-world distribution of cities for a given level of league, and where cities are aligned into geographically sensible divisions. REASON Right now in OOTP there is not much rational to what cities get selected for a given level of league. That is, you can have a major league level league have expected big cities like Chicago or New York represented, but then much smaller places (below the real-world major league lower limit) such as Tulsa, Syracuse, or Savannah are also part of the league. This is not particular realistic. On top of that, the divisional alignments make no sense. Too often, cities on opposite coasts such as Boston and Los Angeles are placed into the same division. This is quite unrealistic. A better system, one which constructs fictional leagues which better reflect the real-world characteristics of major and minor leagues, is much needed. Such a system is possible. I've been working on a way to achieve this in a relatively simple way. It basically involves reworking the cities.txt file (or using a new file expressly for the purpose), and then following some simple steps based on the size of the league and number of minor league levels. I can present a detailed proposal if requested. This proposed system would result in much better and much more realistic looking major and minor league creation. PRIORITY High. Why a high priority? Because the current system is inadequate and does not present a good impression upon new users of OOTP. Someone new to the game will see leagues created with odd selections of cities and teams seemingly randomly assigned to divisions, and they will wonder why such a simple thing as correct cities in correct divisions wasn't done. To them, it will likely appear sloppy. Good fictional league creation falls into the "get the little details right" philosophy I've often mentioned. Folks expect a game to get the big details right (if a game can't get the big details right, then there's probably not much point in playing it); it's getting the little details right where a game excels. Getting those little details right is what shows the player that much attention and care was put into crafting the game. It's getting the little details right which makes a game feel truly polished. Proper, realistic creation of fictional major and minor leagues is one of those important little details to get right. It can be done relatively simply. So there's no reason not to improve this part of the game. __________________ . "We choose to go to the moon in this decade and do the other things not because they are easy, but because they are hard. Because that goal will serve to organize and measure the best of our abilities and skills, because that challenge is one we are willing to accept, one we are unwilling to postpone, and one which we intend to win." . Last edited by Le Grande Orange; 11-18-2008 at 02:52 PM.