OOTP about to get some big competition

[kq76]

Have you seen Casino Royale? Remember the scene with the chair? I ain't kiddin' Bub.

*goes off looking for his chair with removable seat*

[chanman]

Originally Posted by 1998 Yankees

You missed the point of my post, dsvitak. I complimented them on their tolerance for allowing the discussion of competition. Presumptuous as it may be, I am trying to give them some business advice.

My point is that these forums need a shot in the arm and nothing does that better than a post from one of them, I have noticed. In my opinion, they need to do it more consistently to ensure that they stay in contact with the community and hold onto public interest, particularly the noobs.

Up until now, I have cared about OOTP to the extent where I have made extra efforts to take up what I perceive to be the slack. I have bookmarked the Wolverine Studios page, however.

Now, my defection and absence due to faltering interest in OOTP would hardly be noticed. But the team has to wonder how many others there are out here that may be feeling the same way as me and who don't take the time to talk about the possibility of leaving like I have done.

I agree completely on communicating with your customer base. That is one thing Wolverine does an excellent job with. Frankly due to that I plan on buying anything they put out. The customer service over here is less than stellar and for that reason I have not bought some recent editions.
I know everyone likes to say they have more important things to do with their time but coming on for 30 minutes won't delay the release and will likely really help the product by actually interacting.

[dsvitak]

Originally Posted by chanman

I agree completely on communicating with your customer base. That is one thing Wolverine does an excellent job with. Frankly due to that I plan on buying anything they put out. The customer service over here is less than stellar and for that reason I have not bought some recent editions.
I know everyone likes to say they have more important things to do with their time but coming on for 30 minutes won't delay the release and will likely really help the product by actually interacting.

I had some severe issues with Duffy and his crew, as I was treated with a decided lack of respect there.

Frankly, I wasn't keen on OOTP becoming Championship Manager. The game's relative simplicity was in its favor.

My OOTP6 is starting to show its age, and I will likely purchase the new version after the first patch to it.

Wolverine studios looks to have quite a few pretty decent products, and is a modestly sized operation. Is there any consideration to a merger?

[Marc Duffy]

Hey, what did I do dsvitak ?

[RchW]

Originally Posted by dsvitak

I had some severe issues with Duffy and his crew, as I was treated with a decided lack of respect there.

Frankly, I wasn't keen on OOTP becoming Championship Manager. The game's relative simplicity was in its favor.

My OOTP6 is starting to show its age, and I will likely purchase the new version after the first patch to it.

Wolverine studios looks to have quite a few pretty decent products, and is a modestly sized operation. Is there any consideration to a merger?

Please explain. I have had no issue with SI. I really don't understand the antipathy to them. IMO they may have allowed Markus and OOTPD to survive as a live entity.

[dsvitak]

Originally Posted by RchW

Please explain. I have had no issue with SI. I really don't understand the antipathy to them. IMO they may have allowed Markus and OOTPD to survive as a live entity.

On a professional level, I understand that the temporary partnership was a good thing for OOTP, and on that level, that's awesome.

My antipathy towards Marc Duffy and the company he works for has nothing to do with OOTP Developments, and the excellent games they produce, and in fact, predates the partnership.

[RchW]

Originally Posted by dsvitak

On a professional level, I understand that the temporary partnership was a good thing for OOTP, and on that level, that's awesome.

My antipathy towards Marc Duffy and the company he works for has nothing to do with OOTP Developments, and the excellent games they produce, and in fact, predates the partnership.

That's not an explanation. You brought it up so finish the job.

[dsvitak]

Originally Posted by Marc Duffy

Hey, what did I do dsvitak ?

Awhile back, I got banned from the SI forum boards for having a yahoo e-mail address. That's it.

That's all I have to say.

[kq76]

Originally Posted by dsvitak

Is there any consideration to a merger?

It's funny to think back that many of the primary guys from Wolverine, Grey Dog and OOTP were at one time all a part of the ill-fated .400 Software Studios. Like a lot of industries it seems companies in this industry like to find reasons to go through cycles of merging and splitting.

That said, I'd be shocked to see OOTP join or start another group any time soon. I get the sense they like their current size.

[HolyCow98]

I love both companies and both lineup of games (I own em all accept ITP Baseball and and TPG 2). I think the more games and options available the better it is for the gamers who love sports sims. Can't wait for OOTP 9 and Shaun's first release under the Wolverine branding.

[HolyCow98]

Originally Posted by kq76

It's funny to think back that many of the primary guys from Wolverine, Grey Dog and OOTP were at one time all a part of the ill-fated .400 Software Studios. Like a lot of industries it seems companies in this industry like to find reasons to go through cycles of merging and splitting.

That said, I'd be shocked to see OOTP join or start another group any time soon. I get the sense they like their current size.

I remember those days too....I had never heard of Gary until then. Bought TPB 2003 and have been a fan ever since.

I agree as well...they probably like their current size...at least for the next version or two.

[DWK]

If Wolverine's Football and Baseball is anything like their Golf and two Basketball games they will be terrific. And competition is a good thing

[Treches]

Originally Posted by kq76

I'd much rather have them spend their valuable time working on the game that answering our questions.

Ignoratio elenchi. He's not asking for Markus to answer questions or waste valuable time by living in the forums, but for the team of three to be more active (or just plain active) on their own boards, something that could even help coding stuff and save developing time. Presumably, they don't code 24-7 and may watch a soccer or baseball game here and there and even take a nap when they aren't posting here. A simple weekly post stating that they are alive and well would do wonders. It's pretty basic, and the much-maligned Duffy did so perfectly last year: keep the customers interested. Public relations have never been one of OOTP's strenghts, but at least when Duffy was around you didn't have to go to FOF forums to get to know the latest news on this product.

Dunno what will come up from WS's baseball game, but at this time OOTP has no competition of note whatsoever. For good or bad.

[kq76]

Sure, a post every once in awhile would be good. I just wouldn't want them to turn into another sim developer, whose name I won't mention, who seemed more interested in chatting, and causing trouble, in various forums than improving his own game. Some of Markus's posts in the past have made me fear he might go down the same path.

And you definitely have a point about the FOF updates. There I was, a loyal OOTP boarder, and if I wanted to make sure I always had the latest OOTP news, I had to check the boards of another game community that I had zero interest in otherwise. How stupid was that. A lot (most?) of those guys hate on OOTP anyway, so why bother.

Wasn't battists job to take over for Duffy? Yeah, he's made a few posts, but nothing like Duffy. I'm sure Markus must have him doing something else he figures is important so I'm not ripping battists, but it's apparently less than a couple months before the release. When are they going to start the hype machine? I don't really care. I'm content with OOTP8. It's just that if they want to sell a lot of this new game, they better start thinking about getting everyone excited about it. Is Kuffrey still around?

[1998 Yankees]

Originally Posted by Treches

Ignoratio elenchi. He's not asking for Markus to answer questions or waste valuable time by living in the forums, but for the team of three to be more active (or just plain active) on their own boards, something that could even help coding stuff and save developing time. Presumably, they don't code 24-7 and may watch a soccer or baseball game here and there and even take a nap when they aren't posting here. A simple weekly post stating that they are alive and well would do wonders. It's pretty basic, and the much-maligned Duffy did so perfectly last year: keep the customers interested. Public relations have never been one of OOTP's strenghts, but at least when Duffy was around you didn't have to go to FOF forums to get to know the latest news on this product.

That's only part of what I am saying. It's bad enough to go two months between "OOTP Update" threads. There should be more news like that, sure. But I'm talking about interacting with the community, or not, for long periods of time.

Originally Posted by HolyCow98

I love both companies and both lineup of games (I own em all accept ITP Baseball and and TPG 2). I think the more games and options available the better it is for the gamers who love sports sims. Can't wait for OOTP 9 and Shaun's first release under the Wolverine branding.

I know some guys can absorb, immerse, and love two versions of a type of game. I'm not like that. I spend too much damned time getting into the guts of a game to do two or more of the same genre.

Right now, I'm having a hell of a time getting into TOAW (III, re-released by Matrix Games). Talk about learning curves, but their forums are frequented by the experts and much can be asked and answered with authority over there. I also have bought and briefly played Advanced Tactics but, after a final review of both games, only one will survive in that genre. Based on time invested so far, I'd say TOAW III is out in front.

Once I love a game, I want to be loyal to it, if only to justify the time that I put into it. I have to say, it's going to take a crowbar to get me away from OOTP but it's far from impossible. Frankly, the forums will be a big factor in this decision. I want to see excitement, involvement, passion about and for this game, all around but especially from the big cheeses.

[HolyCow98]

I'm like that if the games are fairly similar to each other. For example....I like OOTP 6.5 but I also like OOTP 2007. While they are worlds apart...they are also very similar to each other in a lot of ways (to me at least). I couldn't dedicate time to both. I'm not that way with Pure Sim and OOTP. They feel different enough for me. I spend a lot more time with OOTP then I do any other baseball game but I like what Shaun has done with Pure Sim over the years.

I think my biggest conflict, in terms of gaming, is between sports sims and other style of games. I'm always finding myself wanting to play games like Sins of a Solar Empire or games like the Total War series....I love games like that (big epic strategy games)....but most of the time I have a hard time peeling myself away from whatever sport sim I'm playing at the time which of late is DDSCB as well as setting up my new OOTP league which is always a ton of fun (and quite time consuming because there is so much you can do ).

More times then not, in terms of sports sims, I like putting a lot of time into my games in setting it up....and delving as deep into as I can. But sometimes I'm in the mood for a particular sport...but maybe don't have as much time to put into it. Puresim or the older OOTP versions are pretty good for during those times.

[silvam14]

I miss Mr. Duffy

[Syd Thrift]

I miss anorexia.

[Base Stealer]

Originally Posted by kq76

When are they going to start the hype machine? I don't really care. I'm content with OOTP8. It's just that if they want to sell a lot of this new game, they better start thinking about getting everyone excited about it.

My thought....exactly. Only a few lines from Markus and Battists about the upcoming game made the 2008 board come alive....

[Raidergoo]

Originally Posted by Treches

Presumably, they don't code 24-7

You'd be surprised.