A Baseball novice's view of the demo.

[Jimbokav1971]

I have been a regular player of SI's football games, (CM/FM) for years and recently downloanded the demo just to have a look.

1. The first thing that struck we was the sheer enormity of the game <!--graemlin::thup:-->. Really impressive.

2. The next was that my limited knowleadge of baseball would affect my enjoyment and ability to play this game. Luckily enough there is enough help guides/manuals/info packs available to allow me to cram.

3. I was dissappointed at the general layout of the game, (when compared to FM). It's possible that this is due to the sheer size of the game, and my limited knowleadge of the game.

4 My biggest gripe, (although only a small one) is that when you put the cursor over an abbreviation for a stat (eg RBI), it doesn't tell you the full title of the stat column. In FM this happens as a matter of course. It would have made life much easier for a novice like myself.

5. Despite the above, I am absolutely hooked. I think the game is excellent in it's current format, and reminds me of the less polished way that CM used to look like in the old days. Stats, stats and more stats.The only problem is that I do not have a credit card. I am absolutely gobsmacked that it is not possible to buy this game in a shop.

I hope the savings that you make in not having to produce and distribute discs on a grand scale are worth it. You are missing out not only on my business but much much more. What about impulse buying in shops when you are just having a look to see what's available. What about people who don't have the i/net at home. What about people who don't have a credit card. What about people who have a credit card but prefer not to use it on the web.

Is this really poor situation here to stay or is it going to be changed in the future?

Just as importantly... why did you create this situation in the first place. Is it a cost saving exercise? Is it to defeat piracy issues? Is it something that I haven't considered?

A disgruntled non-customer <!--graemlin:-->.

[endgame]

Originally Posted by Jimbokav1971

4 My biggest gripe, (although only a small one) is that when you put the cursor over an abbreviation for a stat (eg RBI), it doesn't tell you the full title of the stat column. In FM this happens as a matter of course. It would have made life much easier for a novice like myself.

Thanks for the comments J, appreciate hearing the new view. I'm certain SI (Marc) will be able to articulate a response to your concerns, but I am glad to hear the majority of your comments were favorable based on your gaming experience. I like your idea quoted above so much I'm reposting it over in the Suggestion Forums in the hopes this becomes a part of 2007.

[Raderick]

The OOTP series has never been available in-stores under the OOTP name. A few years ago, Infogrames published Season Ticket Baseball, which was the in-store name of OOTP. They discontinued this in 2002.

A lot more games are being sold via internet only. Sooner or later, all of your favorite games will only be available via the Internet.

[Jimbokav1971]

Originally Posted by Raderick

The OOTP series has never been available in-stores under the OOTP name. A few years ago, Infogrames published Season Ticket Baseball, which was the in-store name of OOTP. They discontinued this in 2002.

A lot more games are being sold via internet only. Sooner or later, all of your favorite games will only be available via the Internet.

Just because the OOTP series has never been available in-stores is not a reason for this ridiculous situation to continue.

I have no information as to how many games are being sold via the internet either in the past or currently, but I can confirm that a game sold exclusively on the internet has NEVER appeared in the top selling PC games in this country at any time.

Surely the idea when creating a game is to make as much money as possible. Otherwise the game would be free.

It just doesn't make any sense to me.

Having games available as downloads is a brilliant idea, much as it is with music downloads, but NOT exclusively.

[btheflash]

Originally Posted by Jimbokav1971

The only problem is that I do not have a credit card. I am absolutely gobsmacked that it is not possible to buy this game in a shop.

I hope the savings that you make in not having to produce and distribute discs on a grand scale are worth it. You are missing out not only on my business but much much more. What about impulse buying in shops when you are just having a look to see what's available. What about people who don't have the i/net at home. What about people who don't have a credit card. What about people who have a credit card but prefer not to use it on the web.

Just as importantly... why did you create this situation in the first place. Is it a cost saving exercise? Is it to defeat piracy issues? Is it something that I haven't considered?

A disgruntled non-customer

Lucky for you, you don't need a credit card!
Pay by Telephone or Check:

http://www.ootpbaseball2006.com/buy.php

I should get a commission for that.

But, really, it costs a lot of money to put a game in stores. Releasing a game internet only is alot less risky.