Japanese and 1800s name files

[devaneyfan]

Here are two new OOTP name files: www.nol-baseball.com/Japan1800.zip The zip file contains two folders, one for an improved Japanese name generator and the other for authentic 1800s names.

Japanese Files

Short story - I think these provide more accurate Japanese names for OOTP

Long story - The Japanese names in both OOTP dat files seem to represent "first" names and not Japanese family names. For instance, this link suggests that the afnames.dat names are Japanese first names, and this link (which is an exact match of the ANames.dat files) also suggests they are first names not family names.

I think the names in the ANames file are more accurate modern-day Japanese first names. So I simply changed that file to afnames.dat. I then used this link as the source of family names and I weighted them generally from another source.

With these Japanese name files, it is now possible to get someone named Matsui and you can no longer get someone named Masahiko Masahiko.

[b] 1800s Names [b]

I used the Lahman database and selected all the players that debuted prior to 1900. I then weighted the first and last names based on their actual prevalence in the major leagues before 1900. If you want to have players named Buttercup, Icicle, Happy, or Cannonball then this is the name file for you. It's also nice because the files represent the actual ethnic composition of ballplayers of the time.
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I can do the same thing for other baseball eras if someone has an interest. If I create a complete set of these, fictional-historical leagues can use names derived from actual ballplayers of each era for an added dose of realism.

[Long_Long_Name]

Really great ideas, I like them a lot! Great addition

I know someone was working on a deadball-era name file a while ago but I've never seen it anywhere.

[devaneyfan]

Glad you like them!

I could easily make a name generator for players that debuted 1876-1920 if someone wanted names from the entire deadball period.

I think the Japanese name files are a real improvement since it's not even possible to have a Suzuki, Tanaka, or Yamamoto with the defaults. That's almost like having an American name generator without Jones, Smith and Wilson.

[Long_Long_Name]

The first/last name change is very interesting. I'm sure you'll teach a few all-americans something there

[MannyTrillo]

Is there a way to use your file so that only a certain % of the names that the game generates come from the file? If so, can you explain how? Thanks!

[JAttractive]

Wow I love the 1800s names file. I actually just created a solo historical-fictional league and had to hand edit the names to make them more suitable to the period. I want to redo the league anyway so this is a lifesaver!

[JAttractive]

Is there a simple explanation somewhere on how to use these without messing anything up?

[devaneyfan]

Originally posted by MannyTrillo
Is there a way to use your file so that only a certain % of the names that the game generates come from the file? If so, can you explain how? Thanks!

Not sure which name files you mean, but the answer is yes for both. If you just replace the default afnames and ANames dat files with the new Japanese files, it will still only create a very small % of Asian players in a modern league.

There are a couple ways to make the 1800's names have a lower %. There are three sets of two name files.

Asian - afnames.dat/ANames.dat
Latin - lfnames.dat/LNames.dat
Western - FNames.dat/Names.dat

OOTP sets things up so that Asian names are the least common (maybe 5%), Latin names are next common (maybe 30%) and Western are the most common names in modern leagues. You could just change the names of my 1800's name files to replace the latin or asian names provided in the game depending on if you want ethnic diversity and how often you want to see the 1800s names.

Or you could combine the actual name dat files to add the 1800s names with the default "American" names. Just open the name files (my 1800s and the defaults) up in notepad/wordpad and copy the contents of one into the other making sure you only have one # at the end. That would basically incorporate the 1800's names into those OOTP already provides and would give you a smaller % than just using the 1800s alone.

Originally posted by JAttractive
Is there a simple explanation somewhere on how to use these without messing anything up?

There has to be a better set of instructions somewhere on the board. But basically:

1- Backup your original OOTP name files (the 6 listed above).
2- I create separate folders within the OOTP directory to store my various name files. So in "default" I backup the original. In "Japanese", I store the asian name files. In "1800", I store the 1800's. Then I just move them back and forth into the OOTP directory as I want to use them.
3- If you want to replace the Japanese files, just copy them over the original asian name files and leave the other name files intact.
4- If you want to occasionally use the 1800s names. Just use them instead of the default Names and FNAmes dat files.

Bottom line - Be sure you backup and never copy over the original name files!

[spleen1015]

Awesome devaneyfan. This is really cool.

[Matt Uk]

Devaneyfan, that's great timing! I am currently working on a Japanese roster and this will be ideal for the future players to have accurate Japanese names.

[JAttractive]

Great work and thanks for the explanation!

[Long_Long_Name]

I don't think there's a way to edit the percentages though.