Built-In Databases

[metsguy234]

I am deciding whether or not to buy OOTP. I know that the player database is not built in to the game, but I am wondering if you have any plans to build it into the game next year? Is downloading the database simple and is downloading mods as easy or easier then it is in Baseball Mogul(I had to bring it up)?

Also, why haven't the developers of OOTP taken the time to plug the database in? It seems like they've done a lot of nice work, but just this gripe (and that the game is a bit slower and often buggier) gives BBM the advantage for me.

What are the new features planned for next year?

But most importantly:
What, in your honest opinion, makes OOTP better than BBM?

[Kelric]

I've never played BBM, so I can't help you there. As for planned features, nothing has been announced yet that I know of.

Databases haven't been included with the game for legal reasons, not for lack of work ethic.

Downloading the database and mods is a simple process once you find what you want to use. If you want to create a historical league starting in, say, 1901, all you need to do is download the database you want to use, stick it on your HD somewhere, start OOTP and point it at that DB's location.

For stuff like logos and player photos, just DL and stick them in the news/html/images folder for the saved league you want them to be in. As long as they are properly named to match with whatever team or player you want to use them for, you shouldn't have to do another thing.

[metsguy234]

Originally Posted by Kelric

I've never played BBM, so I can't help you there. As for planned features, nothing has been announced yet that I know of.

-OK.

Databases haven't been included with the game for legal reasons, not for lack of work ethic.

-Not trying to put you guys down, but how is BBM allowed to have the DB in (they use the Lahman DB)

Downloading the database and mods is a simple process once you find what you want to use. If you want to create a historical league starting in, say, 1901, all you need to do is download the database you want to use, stick it on your HD somewhere, start OOTP and point it at that DB's location.

-So can someone who has played BBM tell me if it is as easy as BBM (It sounds like it is just as easy)

For stuff like logos and player photos, just DL and stick them in the news/html/images folder for the saved league you want them to be in. As long as they are properly named to match with whatever team or player you want to use them for, you shouldn't have to do another thing.

-That's just like Mogul.

[Kelric]

Originally Posted by metsguy234

Not trying to put you guys down, but how is BBM allowed to have the DB in (they use the Lahman DB)

I believe they pay a fee, which OOTP does not want to pay. Or some such. I'm not positive. I neither play a lawyer on TV or the internet.

[OldFatGuy]

Originally Posted by metsguy234

-OK.


-Not trying to put you guys down, but how is BBM allowed to have the DB in (they use the Lahman DB)


-So can someone who has played BBM tell me if it is as easy as BBM (It sounds like it is just as easy)

-That's just like Mogul.

Metsguy, you don't have to download anything if you own BM. I too own BM 2008, and when you start a historical league, you just tell the program where to find the lehman database, and voila. Done. Just like BBM.

[OldFatGuy]

Team logos are just as simple to use as BM. Just like in BM you have to put them in the right folder and use the correct name. The naming convention is different. Rather than abbreviations it uses the whole team name. For example, in BM the braves logo is ATL.PNG. In OOTP, the braves logo is ATLANTA_BRAVES.PNG. And now for the really cool info, the same logos I used in BM work in OOTP. Just had to rename them.

Team colors are a different animal altogether. You have to manually edit each team's colors, so it takes a while. I've been working on that one for awhile. Although I read of a program from Comedian that MAY do it automatically. Not sure if they worked that out or not.

EDIT: Should have mentioned too that just setting up your universe is quite a bit more complex too. Of course, said universe is quite a bit bigger and more realistic, so it makes sense I guess that it takes longer to set up.

EDIT: I should also mention that the concept of logo is a bit different in OOTP. The logo's in OOTP appear on the cap, as well as on the team screen. That is, unless I'm missing something where you could have a different logo appear on the team screen from on the cap. I'm thinking the only way to accomplish that would be to have the logo you want to appear on the team screen in the images directory, and then manually go in and edit the ballcaps with the logo you want for the caps. Maybe others will help there, there may be a better way, as we all know the team's official logo isn't what's depicted on their cap in a lot of cases.

[eriqjaffe]

Originally Posted by metsguy234

What, in your honest opinion, makes OOTP better than BBM?

OOTP is far, far, far deeper than Mogul.

Downloading the Lahman database is extremely simple.

http://baseball1.com/statistics/lahman54_csv.zip

Unzip that to a directory of your choosing, such as c:\stats.

Tell OOTP where it is, as shown above.

Done and done.