Effect of Difficulty Level

magicmike · 03-08-2003, 09:54 PM

Can someone give a clear explanation of what aspects of the game change as one ramps the difficulty level up or down? Does the a.i. "cheat" at high difficulty levels? I want to play with a "real" roster set like GForce's set (when he's done) and am trying to decide which difficulty level would present the most objectively realistic experience, relatively speaking, of course?

magicmike · 03-09-2003, 07:16 PM

Is this question just so dumb that no one cares to respond, or does no one know?

If the former, please tell me; it won't hurt my feelings.

If the latter, can someone from the development team comment?

I'd mainly like to know if difficulty level selection has any effect on skewing player stats in any way. For example, everything else being equal, will my rightfielder be less likely to hit .300 if I'm playing on HOF difficulty rather than the easiest setting? I want to avoid choosing a difficulty level that will skew player stats too far from "realistic".

So I guess the question really is: does difficulty level affect my team's players' performances relative to the computer teams' players' performances or does the variation in "challenge" come as the result of changes in other factors? If I go with HOF difficulty will I win fewer games my first year because my players aren't going to perform as well, or because of other reasons?

Thanks

Eckstein 4 Prez · 03-09-2003, 07:25 PM

Your question certainly isn't dumb.... I'd like to know the answers myself. What exactly is more difficult at higher difficulty levels?

Bears5122 · 03-09-2003, 07:50 PM

I was going to ask the same question but hadn't gotten around to it yet. If the higher difficulty just boosts the computers ratings I think it's dumb.

Rowleyball · 03-09-2003, 07:51 PM

I might be wrong, but I think I saw someone post that the difficulty has to do with the owners' expectations.

For example, if your owner expects you to make it into the postseason and you don't, he will be more lenient on the easier difficulties.

TwinsFan · 03-09-2003, 08:26 PM

I would also like some "official" word on this

clarnzz · 03-09-2003, 08:29 PM

Im almost sure Steve posted somewhere that the only thing it effects is how easily you are fired.

magicmike · 03-09-2003, 10:21 PM

Thanks for the replies guys. Can we get confirmation on this from Steve? I'd be surprised if that's in fact the only difference. I remember reading a thread earlier on (can't find it now-can't recall the actual topic of the thread) where someone mentioned he tried HOF difficulty with what should have been a decent team and only won 34 or so games that year.

magicmike · 03-10-2003, 02:01 AM

bump . . .

KCRoyalsFan · 03-10-2003, 02:43 AM

maybe he was a really bad manager...heh heh

clarnzz · 03-10-2003, 02:44 AM

http://www.400softwarestudios.com/bo...ght=difficulty

http://www.400softwarestudios.com/bo...ght=difficulty

Capital · 03-10-2003, 03:32 PM

It's also supposed to make it harder to sign FA and make trades. I don't know about the trades but playing on the hardest level is much more difficult to sign FA than the hard level. That I can definitely confirm from playing both levels.

magicmike · 03-10-2003, 10:11 PM

Thanks clarnzz. I see Scott's answer there. It seems Capital's experience, though, is different.

03-08-2003, 09:54 PM	#1 (permalink)
magicmike Major Leagues Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Hawaii Posts: 365	Effect of Difficulty Level Can someone give a clear explanation of what aspects of the game change as one ramps the difficulty level up or down? Does the a.i. "cheat" at high difficulty levels? I want to play with a "real" roster set like GForce's set (when he's done) and am trying to decide which difficulty level would present the most objectively realistic experience, relatively speaking, of course? __________________ aloha and mahalo HCBL Kansas City Royals 2003 AL Central Champs SMLB Houston Astros VLB Anaheim Angels UBL Pittsburgh Pirates "Barry Bonds? I'll tell you what, if he hit a home run off (Bob) Gibson or (Don) Drysdale and stood and admired it, they'd knock that earring out of his ear the next time up." - National League Umpire Doug Harvey

03-09-2003, 07:16 PM	#2 (permalink)
magicmike Major Leagues Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Hawaii Posts: 365	Is this question just so dumb that no one cares to respond, or does no one know? If the former, please tell me; it won't hurt my feelings. If the latter, can someone from the development team comment? I'd mainly like to know if difficulty level selection has any effect on skewing player stats in any way. For example, everything else being equal, will my rightfielder be less likely to hit .300 if I'm playing on HOF difficulty rather than the easiest setting? I want to avoid choosing a difficulty level that will skew player stats too far from "realistic". So I guess the question really is: does difficulty level affect my team's players' performances relative to the computer teams' players' performances or does the variation in "challenge" come as the result of changes in other factors? If I go with HOF difficulty will I win fewer games my first year because my players aren't going to perform as well, or because of other reasons? Thanks __________________ aloha and mahalo HCBL Kansas City Royals 2003 AL Central Champs SMLB Houston Astros VLB Anaheim Angels UBL Pittsburgh Pirates "Barry Bonds? I'll tell you what, if he hit a home run off (Bob) Gibson or (Don) Drysdale and stood and admired it, they'd knock that earring out of his ear the next time up." - National League Umpire Doug Harvey

03-09-2003, 07:25 PM	#3 (permalink)
Eckstein 4 Prez Hall Of Famer Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: The OC Posts: 5,514 Thanked 42x in 30 posts	Your question certainly isn't dumb.... I'd like to know the answers myself. What exactly is more difficult at higher difficulty levels? __________________ Looking for an insomnia cure? Check out The Olde Tyme Base Ball Simulator!

03-09-2003, 07:51 PM	#5 (permalink)
Rowleyball Minors (Triple A) Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Winter Park, FL Posts: 265	I might be wrong, but I think I saw someone post that the difficulty has to do with the owners' expectations. For example, if your owner expects you to make it into the postseason and you don't, he will be more lenient on the easier difficulties. Last edited by Rowleyball; 03-09-2003 at 07:53 PM.

03-09-2003, 10:21 PM	#8 (permalink)
magicmike Major Leagues Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Hawaii Posts: 365	Thanks for the replies guys. Can we get confirmation on this from Steve? I'd be surprised if that's in fact the only difference. I remember reading a thread earlier on (can't find it now-can't recall the actual topic of the thread) where someone mentioned he tried HOF difficulty with what should have been a decent team and only won 34 or so games that year. __________________ aloha and mahalo HCBL Kansas City Royals 2003 AL Central Champs SMLB Houston Astros VLB Anaheim Angels UBL Pittsburgh Pirates "Barry Bonds? I'll tell you what, if he hit a home run off (Bob) Gibson or (Don) Drysdale and stood and admired it, they'd knock that earring out of his ear the next time up." - National League Umpire Doug Harvey

03-09-2003, 07:50 PM	#4 (permalink)
Bears5122 All Star Reserve Join Date: Mar 2003 Posts: 721	I was going to ask the same question but hadn't gotten around to it yet. If the higher difficulty just boosts the computers ratings I think it's dumb.

03-09-2003, 08:26 PM	#6 (permalink)
TwinsFan Minors (Double A) Join Date: Apr 2002 Posts: 144	I would also like some "official" word on this

03-09-2003, 08:29 PM	#7 (permalink)
clarnzz All Star Starter Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Following everyone off a cliff. Posts: 1,522	Im almost sure Steve posted somewhere that the only thing it effects is how easily you are fired.

03-10-2003, 02:01 AM	#9 (permalink)
magicmike Major Leagues Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Hawaii Posts: 365	bump . . . __________________ aloha and mahalo HCBL Kansas City Royals 2003 AL Central Champs SMLB Houston Astros VLB Anaheim Angels UBL Pittsburgh Pirates "Barry Bonds? I'll tell you what, if he hit a home run off (Bob) Gibson or (Don) Drysdale and stood and admired it, they'd knock that earring out of his ear the next time up." - National League Umpire Doug Harvey

03-10-2003, 02:43 AM	#10 (permalink)
KCRoyalsFan All Star Reserve Join Date: Mar 2003 Posts: 599	maybe he was a really bad manager...heh heh

03-10-2003, 02:44 AM	#11 (permalink)
clarnzz All Star Starter Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Following everyone off a cliff. Posts: 1,522	http://www.400softwarestudios.com/bo...ght=difficulty http://www.400softwarestudios.com/bo...ght=difficulty

03-10-2003, 03:32 PM	#12 (permalink)
Capital Minors (Single A) Join Date: Feb 2002 Posts: 81	It's also supposed to make it harder to sign FA and make trades. I don't know about the trades but playing on the hardest level is much more difficult to sign FA than the hard level. That I can definitely confirm from playing both levels.

03-10-2003, 10:11 PM	#13 (permalink)
magicmike Major Leagues Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Hawaii Posts: 365	Thanks clarnzz. I see Scott's answer there. It seems Capital's experience, though, is different. __________________ aloha and mahalo HCBL Kansas City Royals 2003 AL Central Champs SMLB Houston Astros VLB Anaheim Angels UBL Pittsburgh Pirates "Barry Bonds? I'll tell you what, if he hit a home run off (Bob) Gibson or (Don) Drysdale and stood and admired it, they'd knock that earring out of his ear the next time up." - National League Umpire Doug Harvey

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode