OOTP and Sega part company! - Page 7

Muppetus Galacticus · 09-22-2007, 02:48 PM

I got it, I guess that means I don't suck

redsox45 · 09-22-2007, 04:39 PM

Never had any problem with SI.

But SEGA could have done more to promote the game on their own website.

Even so, I'm glad to see the game coming "home". It had some truly great years under its own flag, and will have some great years again.

The point is, Markus didn't sell out his customers for a deal. He kept the code, kept the "idea", kept everything that made the game successful in the first place.

I agree with Syd Thrift about bringing someone on to handle the PR side of things. Battists is great and all, but he has a real life, and can't be expected to do EVERYTHING.

Best of luck to Marc and the SI folks. I enjoy your FM game and look forward to FM '08 whenever that comes out.

Will

Tony M · 09-22-2007, 05:36 PM

I think the problem lied with Sega as well. But then I'm British and Sports Interactive has been a part of computer gaming folklore for us for over a decade - I remember owning Championship Manager 1 on my Amiga with the immense security of having the league attendances printed on the inside of the box and being asked to key one in when starting the game.

I don't know how I found out about OOTP, must have been looking for baseball games when I got back from America in 2001. I think the two companies had a lot in common when they first got together in that they both were best known for a simulator of one particular sport - no offence to the developers of TBCB and EHM.

Both started off as small, IIRC SI was just Paul and Oliver Collyer when they started the CM series and they relied on a team of volunteers to do a lot of the research, and that is another similarity with OOTP.

If SI hadn't been bought out by Sega then I don't know what route the game would have taken, possibly not much different to what it is now as the hands of Sega don't really seem to have infused down very far into the organisation - maybe a sticker on the FM2007 box.

I presume the terms of the 'merger' and split will still allow discussions between OOTP and SI as Sega don't AFAIK produce baseball, boxing or hockey simulators as they do both have a lot to bring to the table.

battists · 09-22-2007, 08:46 PM

Just FYI:

http://www.ootpdevelopments.com/boar....php?p=2315323

mgom27 · 09-22-2007, 08:57 PM

If it's going to be sold in Stores then we get Live Play by Play and get to see the Home Run Derby Live probley.
An outside Editor like NHL Eastside Hockey Manager has.
With Licensing you can't have full Customazation but if you could with Licensing that would be good.
Some of the Features we want might be in the Patch.

Syd Thrift · 09-23-2007, 03:19 AM

Every post made by mgom is manufactured from a unique diamond. That is all I have to say.

timlowery · 09-23-2007, 10:20 AM

I think this is ultimately good news. Generally, a good sports sim is bought by one of the big boys, is made virtually unplayable, and then dropped. I'm glad SI/Sega did allow the heart and soul of OOTP to continue.

Now, if someone can resurrect EHM.....

YankeePride · 09-23-2007, 10:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DougWyatt

Yeah, I was just foolin' about. Kinda pokin' a little fun at the 30 or so people that said the same thing

.

I still didn't get mine.

I think there's a problem with battists. I don't think he sent them out yet.

JB1983 · 09-23-2007, 02:13 PM

I think this is going to be an interesting development for the game.

Bonedwarf · 09-24-2007, 01:41 AM

This is great news. Very happy to read this. 2006 was a bit of a debacle, and 2007 was released with it known that Facegen was broken on certain graphics chips.

Good riddance SI.

Marc Duffy · 09-24-2007, 08:10 AM

Been busy so not had a time to reply to this thread.

I'm actually pretty sad about this announcement, I was really excited about OOTP and keen to continue working on the game. The net result though is that I do believe this is for the better for Markus and his team.

The licensing issues were a big draw when we all hooked up, but pretty soon that rug was taken from under our feet.

Working back on their own I'm pretty confident, in fact I'm going to bet my house that the next version will ship with rosters. Ideally I would have loved to do that but with a very good and cautious legal team it would never happen.

I'm a bit upset reading some of the comments about SI. At no time did we force Markus and the game down a certain path in terms of gameplay or the design. Markus was and will continue to be the driving force behind the game and the visionary. Hopefully my involvment took some of the less glam jobs away from him so he and Andreas could concentrate on making great games.

I know with Steve B on board he'll be able to do much if not all of what I used to do and he's been one of the biggest plus points during the past 3 years (even though he's only been involved properly for a little over a year).

I'm still going to hang around when I can and I'll be watching with interest the reaction to some of the forthcoming announcements.

Best of luck, it's now in your hands!

deadringer · 09-24-2007, 08:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Marc Duffy

Been busy so not had a time to reply to this thread.

I'm actually pretty sad about this announcement, I was really excited about OOTP and keen to continue working on the game. The net result though is that I do believe this is for the better for Markus and his team.

The licensing issues were a big draw when we all hooked up, but pretty soon that rug was taken from under our feet.

Working back on their own I'm pretty confident, in fact I'm going to bet my house that the next version will ship with rosters. Ideally I would have loved to do that but with a very good and cautious legal team it would never happen.

I'm a bit upset reading some of the comments about SI. At no time did we force Markus and the game down a certain path in terms of gameplay or the design. Markus was and will continue to be the driving force behind the game and the visionary. Hopefully my involvment took some of the less glam jobs away from him so he and Andreas could concentrate on making great games.

I know with Steve B on board he'll be able to do much if not all of what I used to do and he's been one of the biggest plus points during the past 3 years (even though he's only been involved properly for a little over a year).

I'm still going to hang around when I can and I'll be watching with interest the reaction to some of the forthcoming announcements.

Best of luck, it's now in your hands!

Marc, best of luck to you and SI in your future.

HH20xx convert · 09-24-2007, 09:42 AM

Reading between the lines, it seems like the break-up is the best way to deal with the community's biggest current complaint---rosters. As a buyer of OOTP 3, 5, 6, 6.5, and 2007, I'm amazed at the improvements made to the program.

Now we get to keep the improvements from the merger, while eliminating the single biggest problem in OOTP 2007. Thanks for listening to the community and finding a solution to the single biggest problem. Sign me up for OOTP 9!

Marc Duffy · 09-24-2007, 10:58 AM

Let's hope I don't lose my house

YankeePride · 09-24-2007, 11:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Marc Duffy

Let's hope I don't lose my house

You should have talked to your very good and cautious legal team before making that statement.

Good luck Marc and SI.

ctorg · 09-24-2007, 11:10 AM

I have nothing bad to say about SI. Like many, I didn't know what to think when the merger first happened. Like many, I wasn't happy with the first product that came out. And like many, I now consider the product of the merger - OOTP2007 - to be the best OOTP yet. I think the merger had everything to do with taking OOTP to the next level, and I always got the sense that SI was quite helpful.

That said, it is very nice to see that Markus is willing to part ways rather than take a game in a direction he would rather not. I won't speculate about what direction that might have been, but I've built up my trust in Markus's abilities over 7 or 8 years now, and I feel very confident that he knows what he's doing and will continue to improve OOTP.

darkcloud4579 · 09-24-2007, 11:20 AM

SI moved this game WAY forward. I mean, just as a contrast, I was playing the updated version of a different text sim I play yesterday after an update came out (not a baseball game) and after playing WWSM a bunch last year, I was just marveling at how much OOTP grew leaps and bounds in the past two years. I mean, stuff we used to imagine is now old hat in the game. I don't believe that would've been possible for Markus and co. without the time with SI.

I was happy with the merger, happy with last year's version in terms of what promised it offered and extremely happy with this year's as they've made good on their promises I believe.

So I think next year will be even better now that he has that knowledgebase and the experience, plus the foundation for what OOTP already is.

kagnew35 · 09-24-2007, 11:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Marc Duffy

Let's hope I don't lose my house

Marc , you can always drop into the Tavern. i even cleared your tab, as a farewell present.

Come by on ocassion.

Marc Duffy · 09-24-2007, 11:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ctorg

That said, it is very nice to see that Markus is willing to part ways rather than take a game in a direction he would rather not.

I just want to reiterate that at no time did I or SI or SEGA try to dictate the way the game should go. Markus is the visionary and long may this continue.

Marc Duffy · 09-24-2007, 11:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kagnew35

Marc , you can always drop into the Tavern. i even cleared your tab, as a farewell present.

Come by on ocassion.

I never did like your watered down beer

09-22-2007, 04:39 PM	#122 (permalink)
redsox45 Hall Of Famer Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Machias, Maine Posts: 4,563	Never had any problem with SI. But SEGA could have done more to promote the game on their own website. Even so, I'm glad to see the game coming "home". It had some truly great years under its own flag, and will have some great years again. The point is, Markus didn't sell out his customers for a deal. He kept the code, kept the "idea", kept everything that made the game successful in the first place. I agree with Syd Thrift about bringing someone on to handle the PR side of things. Battists is great and all, but he has a real life, and can't be expected to do EVERYTHING. Best of luck to Marc and the SI folks. I enjoy your FM game and look forward to FM '08 whenever that comes out. Will __________________ Top Five Books I Ever Read: 1. Murder of Roger Ackroyd -- Agatha Christie 2. Birds of Prey -- Wilbur Smith 3. King Solomon's Mines - H. Rider Haggard 4. Comstock Lode -- Louis L'Amour 5. Andersonville -- McKinley Kantor

09-22-2007, 05:36 PM	#123 (permalink)
Tony M Moderator* Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Buckingham, England Posts: 3,138	I think the problem lied with Sega as well. But then I'm British and Sports Interactive has been a part of computer gaming folklore for us for over a decade - I remember owning Championship Manager 1 on my Amiga with the immense security of having the league attendances printed on the inside of the box and being asked to key one in when starting the game. I don't know how I found out about OOTP, must have been looking for baseball games when I got back from America in 2001. I think the two companies had a lot in common when they first got together in that they both were best known for a simulator of one particular sport - no offence to the developers of TBCB and EHM. Both started off as small, IIRC SI was just Paul and Oliver Collyer when they started the CM series and they relied on a team of volunteers to do a lot of the research, and that is another similarity with OOTP. If SI hadn't been bought out by Sega then I don't know what route the game would have taken, possibly not much different to what it is now as the hands of Sega don't really seem to have infused down very far into the organisation - maybe a sticker on the FM2007 box. I presume the terms of the 'merger' and split will still allow discussions between OOTP and SI as Sega don't AFAIK produce baseball, boxing or hockey simulators as they do both have a lot to bring to the table. __________________ Tony M Technical Support Moderator

09-22-2007, 08:57 PM	#125 (permalink)
mgom27 All Star Reserve Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 860	If it's going to be sold in Stores then we get Live Play by Play and get to see the Home Run Derby Live probley. An outside Editor like NHL Eastside Hockey Manager has. With Licensing you can't have full Customazation but if you could with Licensing that would be good. Some of the Features we want might be in the Patch. __________________ Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr!!!!

09-23-2007, 03:19 AM	#126 (permalink)
Syd Thrift Hall Of Famer Join Date: May 2004 Posts: 2,956 Warnings: 1	Every post made by mgom is manufactured from a unique diamond. That is all I have to say. __________________ League of Nations: An Exercise In Baseball Unity http://www.ootpdevelopments.com/boar...ml#post2508413 Hey, somebody insult me publicly so I can replace ForemanFan's missive! "You're a guileless, witless puke. I'd like to say that that makes us even, but, alas, nothing ever will. Thank Heavens!" - An anonymous fan!

09-23-2007, 10:20 AM	#127 (permalink)
timlowery Minors (Triple A) Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Quinton, VA Posts: 222	I think this is ultimately good news. Generally, a good sports sim is bought by one of the big boys, is made virtually unplayable, and then dropped. I'm glad SI/Sega did allow the heart and soul of OOTP to continue. Now, if someone can resurrect EHM..... __________________ Timothy Lowery Proud Detroit Tigers fan since 1979!!! It's not one thing after another, it's the same thing all the time....

09-22-2007, 08:46 PM	#124 (permalink)
battists Administrator Join Date: Jul 2004 Posts: 14,210	Just FYI: http://www.ootpdevelopments.com/boar....php?p=2315323

09-23-2007, 02:13 PM	#129 (permalink)
JB1983 Bat Boy Join Date: Sep 2007 Posts: 12	I think this is going to be an interesting development for the game.

09-24-2007, 01:41 AM	#130 (permalink)
Bonedwarf All Star Starter Join Date: Jan 2004 Posts: 1,336	This is great news. Very happy to read this. 2006 was a bit of a debacle, and 2007 was released with it known that Facegen was broken on certain graphics chips. Good riddance SI.

09-24-2007, 08:10 AM	#131 (permalink)
Marc Duffy SI Marketing Wizard Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Islington, London Posts: 4,743	Been busy so not had a time to reply to this thread. I'm actually pretty sad about this announcement, I was really excited about OOTP and keen to continue working on the game. The net result though is that I do believe this is for the better for Markus and his team. The licensing issues were a big draw when we all hooked up, but pretty soon that rug was taken from under our feet. Working back on their own I'm pretty confident, in fact I'm going to bet my house that the next version will ship with rosters. Ideally I would have loved to do that but with a very good and cautious legal team it would never happen. I'm a bit upset reading some of the comments about SI. At no time did we force Markus and the game down a certain path in terms of gameplay or the design. Markus was and will continue to be the driving force behind the game and the visionary. Hopefully my involvment took some of the less glam jobs away from him so he and Andreas could concentrate on making great games. I know with Steve B on board he'll be able to do much if not all of what I used to do and he's been one of the biggest plus points during the past 3 years (even though he's only been involved properly for a little over a year). I'm still going to hang around when I can and I'll be watching with interest the reaction to some of the forthcoming announcements. Best of luck, it's now in your hands!

09-24-2007, 09:42 AM	#133 (permalink)
HH20xx convert Minors (Single A) Join Date: May 2003 Posts: 86	Reading between the lines, it seems like the break-up is the best way to deal with the community's biggest current complaint---rosters. As a buyer of OOTP 3, 5, 6, 6.5, and 2007, I'm amazed at the improvements made to the program. Now we get to keep the improvements from the merger, while eliminating the single biggest problem in OOTP 2007. Thanks for listening to the community and finding a solution to the single biggest problem. Sign me up for OOTP 9!

09-24-2007, 10:58 AM	#134 (permalink)
Marc Duffy SI Marketing Wizard Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Islington, London Posts: 4,743	Let's hope I don't lose my house

09-24-2007, 11:10 AM	#136 (permalink)
ctorg Moderator* Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Brooklyn, NY Posts: 9,290	I have nothing bad to say about SI. Like many, I didn't know what to think when the merger first happened. Like many, I wasn't happy with the first product that came out. And like many, I now consider the product of the merger - OOTP2007 - to be the best OOTP yet. I think the merger had everything to do with taking OOTP to the next level, and I always got the sense that SI was quite helpful. That said, it is very nice to see that Markus is willing to part ways rather than take a game in a direction he would rather not. I won't speculate about what direction that might have been, but I've built up my trust in Markus's abilities over 7 or 8 years now, and I feel very confident that he knows what he's doing and will continue to improve OOTP. __________________ THE VERY US ARTISTS - A project for musicians and visual artists My music Currently reading: Thirteen by Richard Morgan "When the trees blow back and forth, that's what makes the wind." - Steven Wright Fjord emena pancreas thorax fornicate marmalade morpheme proteolysis smaxa cabana offal srue vitriol grope hallelujah lentils

09-24-2007, 11:20 AM	#137 (permalink)
darkcloud4579 Hall Of Famer Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: All over the place.. Posts: 4,649	SI moved this game WAY forward. I mean, just as a contrast, I was playing the updated version of a different text sim I play yesterday after an update came out (not a baseball game) and after playing WWSM a bunch last year, I was just marveling at how much OOTP grew leaps and bounds in the past two years. I mean, stuff we used to imagine is now old hat in the game. I don't believe that would've been possible for Markus and co. without the time with SI. I was happy with the merger, happy with last year's version in terms of what promised it offered and extremely happy with this year's as they've made good on their promises I believe. So I think next year will be even better now that he has that knowledgebase and the experience, plus the foundation for what OOTP already is. __________________ Immersinik CEO, Front Office Offseason League (OOTP) Quad City Thunderstorms(1970-present) Compton Brothers (1966-1969) 1969 RL Champions St. Louis Terriers (1961-1965) 1963, 1964 FOOL Classic Champions 1961, 1962, 1963, 1964, 1965 RL Champions FOBL: Bantam Originals (2028-present)

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