OOTP 11 "Back of the Box" Feature Ideas

[Bobbuttons]

Revamping the injury system. There are no set career ending injuries. It's very rare that a major injury occurs where a player doesn't do all he can to come back, even if it's a year and a half or two in the future. I'd like to see rehabbing done following injuries, with information from the trainer on how the player reacts (such as how after a shoulder injury, how the shoulder holds up in simulated starts), finally culminating with rehab assignments in the minor leagues. It would be nice, though certainly it would suck on a number of occassions, to have a situation like the Indians had with Jake Westbrook. He rehabbed and was set to come back mid season, but during a rehab start he had soreness, so they shut him down for a week or so. Then he had soreness in another rehab start, so they shut him down.

I think a revamped injury system like that would add a lot more realism to the game, and actually allow for the possibility of realistic "comebacks" by players.

[Stu]

There's absolutely zero chance the game ever goes back to a 6.5 interface. That interface would never support the current iteration of OOTP.

Not to say interface improvements can't be made, but they're not a "back of the box" feature.

[Corsairs]

Whoops, looks like I posted my "back of the box" concept a little too soon! Rather than reprint the whole mess, I'll just include a link to my proposal. Let me say that I greatly appreciate the support it's received in the first "Feedback" thread; thanks guys!

[StyxNCa]

Originally Posted by Raidergoo

That's counterproductive.

Is it now. I didn't mean literally on the "back of the box". I was just stating again that those things should be fixed and I mention it every chance I get and will keep mentioning it until it's a done deal because I have nothing better to do in my life.

[Goody]

Originally Posted by Stu

There's absolutely zero chance the game ever goes back to a 6.5 interface. That interface would never support the current iteration of OOTP.

Not to say interface improvements can't be made, but they're not a "back of the box" feature.

Of course I didn't mean exactly like 6.5. But the look and feel can be made similar. Its basically art...how an interface looks. Humans aren't computers, we interpret things aesthetically. If we were robots we could play the game in code and not even need a UI. Programmers have a special talent to be able to see things differently than most people...but they need to have their final product be amiable to use.

And if it was put on "the back of the box" that the UI was changed to be more like it was before, in a way that works now...I bet there would be a huge group of old players that return.

Look, the game looks like Football Manager now. It had more appeal before that happened.

[TribeFanInNC]

Head to Head play

Revamped Fielding with zone ratings

[silvam14]

Originally Posted by 9lives

Of course I didn't mean exactly like 6.5. But the look and feel can be made similar. Its basically art...how an interface looks. Humans aren't computers, we interpret things aesthetically. If we were robots we could play the game in code and not even need a UI. Programmers have a special talent to be able to see things differently than most people...but they need to have their final product be amiable to use.

And if it was put on "the back of the box" that the UI was changed to be more like it was before, in a way that works now...I bet there would be a huge group of old players that return.

Look, the game looks like Football Manager now. It had more appeal before that happened.

While I respect your opinion, I couldn't disagree more. The UI 6.5 discussion went on ad nauseum when 2006 came out. I think its safe to say that most people have adjusted to the new interface. Of course there are some who still haven't.

I'm not saying the UI doesn't need some tweaking, it does. Just not an overhaul.

[Sweed]

Originally Posted by 9lives

Look, the game looks like Football Manager now. It had more appeal before that happened.

Really, you think so? Do you play FM? I'm not trying to argue but this really goes to show how different people see things differently. I play a lot of FM and I can't say the OOTP gui reminds me of FM except maybe title bars across the top of the screen.

FM has used the side menu ever since I've played it, starting in 2006. This year, at least from the screenies I've seen, it will be going to tabs along the top like OOTP. I like this design a lot as it gives a wider screen to use to show more stats and ratings columns, same reason I love the current OOTP gui. With the current OOTP gui and a widescreen monitor I have ~20 columns of stats\ratings showing at one time on lineup\pitching staff screens. 6.5 I'd be lucky to get 10.

Sorry, don't want to get off topic here but the "looks like FM" has always baffled me.

[Goody]

Originally Posted by Sweed

Really, you think so? Do you play FM?

No, I tried it once shortly after OOTP 2006 came out...and I said to myself "oooohhh. That makes sense."

I'm an OOTP fan though.

[damientheomen3]

Originally Posted by 9lives

Of course I didn't mean exactly like 6.5. But the look and feel can be made similar. Its basically art...how an interface looks. Humans aren't computers, we interpret things aesthetically. If we were robots we could play the game in code and not even need a UI. Programmers have a special talent to be able to see things differently than most people...but they need to have their final product be amiable to use.

And if it was put on "the back of the box" that the UI was changed to be more like it was before, in a way that works now...I bet there would be a huge group of old players that return.

Look, the game looks like Football Manager now. It had more appeal before that happened.

stop thanking your posts with your other account

[Goody]

Originally Posted by damientheomen3

stop thanking your posts with your other account

Haha. I was getting some weirdness on this account so I was wondering if Andreas was switching my usernames around (cause I PM'd him to ask). So I logged onto my other account to check.

So I figured, why not? A lot of my friends here who used to play left because of the new UI. I was thanking on their behalf.

[Goody]

To get back on topic...


A world editor program included with the game and the ability to switch between world template configurations without having to back up all your database files (and copy/paste among your game folders) manually.

[Vinny P.]

9Lives:

I already mentioned this in the OT section, but I think you, and people like you, would be better served with asking for customizable widgets on certain screens. Like on the manager's home page, the financial page, the transactions page, and the lineups page.

I would love to see customizable widgets. Seems to me that is the direction Markus wants to take the game. The widgets page during PBP was a pleasant surprise to me. Although, I haven;t used it very extensively at all. I am still pretty paranoid of getting a CTD while playing out a game using the widgets page. (That was happeneing previously, during the first couple of OOTPX builds. lol.)

So, Imma say:

New customizable widgets [add pages in which they are available here]

[Muzamba]

I think these are the type of features that might have more mass-market appeal, although I imagine many OOTP purists may see them as frivolous and not addressing the nuts and bolts of the game. Still, I believe these would generally be welcome additions in the eyes of most current OOTPers.

(I know. This is basically just a re-hash of what I already posted in the other thread, but who knows? Maybe imagining these points on the "back of the box" will stimulate more enthusiasm for the ideas! Couldn't hurt, right? )

OOTP11

MORE PERSONALITY!

• Players now have their own unique personalities that affect team chemistry, contract demands, and both on-field and off-field behavior!
• New Text-to-Speech feature allows you to create play-by-play and public address announcers that actually call the games and introduce players!
• Improved FaceGen feature allows manual tweaking of photos and even the ability to upload your own photos for FaceGen conversion!
• Now includes umpires, player agents, and team owners, each with individual quallities that affect game-play!

MORE REALISM!

• Real-world college configuration and complete US/Canadian high school database that feed the amateur draft!
• Revised injury/suspension system!
• Revamped front office features, allowing more control over team finances!
• Advanced playoff configurations!
• Ability to designate players for international (World Cup/WBC) tournaments and developmental/instructional leagues!

A MORE IMMERSIVE GAME-PLAY EXPERIENCE!

• More in-game widgets and dynamically changing backgrounds!
• More realistic weather that results in rain-outs and doubleheaders!
• New All-Star Game options, including the ability to hold a home run derby!
• Rivalries that result in more excitement when certain teams play one another!
• More news stories!

[Goody]

Originally Posted by Muzamba

• Rivalries that result in more excitement when certain teams play one another!

Now that's good. Allow them to be set ahead of time by the user in solo...or by the commissioner in online play.

[OldFatGuy]

A new, improved, and expanded AI that rivals a professional manager in game and a professional GM in building rosters.

[Vinny P.]

In addition to my widgets idea, I think it would be cool to eventually evolve those widgets into customizeable "toolbars," must like in Adobe Illustrator, or Photoshop, or any of hte 3d modeling programs, such as 3Ds Max.

[BBallfreaKman21]

Originally Posted by OldFatGuy

A new, improved, and expanded AI that rivals a professional manager in game and a professional GM in building rosters.

With an expanded AI that rivals a pro manager and a pro gm, the price would also be greatly expanded. I see nothing wrong with making small improvements over time, but the fact is asking for something that radical in less than a year's time from now is too much. I think improving the player development would absolutely be a key selling point as addressed here from previous posts. Place more emphasis on the college and high school feeders with regards to realism and I think one day OOTP could have implications of being used as a real world tool to project future player performance.

[darkcloud4579]

I just want what we were promised like 4 versions ago. The ability to make teams inactive and then to reactivate them again.

[Vinny P.]

Ya know, there is a rule I would love to see implemented in OOTP, and one that I think should be implemented in the real MLB, which the NFL uses:

Players right out of high school have to wait 4 years before they can go pro. This encourages students to go to college instead, and gain an education, widening their options IRL.

However, before OOTP could ever implement such a rule as an option, they would have to have the whole highschool feeding into college thing.

If any new feature were to be added, I think that is one of the more important ones. high school feeding to college. And eventually they would be able to work the four year exclusive rule into the game as an added option for the pros.