How has OOTP changed in the last five years?

[SteveV]

Just to say I haven't played OOTP since version 6 and gave that up because I found the whole experience very 'dry'. What I mean is that there was minimal interaction with players, agents, other teams and it was hard to get any feeling of immersion in an alternative baseball universe where the only news was game scores, injuries and seemingly pointless information regarding other teams moving players around their farm systems. getting attached to players was tough because their player cards were so obviously based on very few templates with the same characteristics described over and over again.

HOWEVER...

Having had a look at the screens and some tutorial stuff regarding OOTPX1 it looks a lot more interesting It looks to me like Markus has er, 'borrowed' some stylistic elements from the mighty soccer management sim Football Manager like the negotiating screens for signing free agents, having a Watch List and letting Coaches handle Player Development. I love the idea that all of the byzantine real world contract options are in there, plus the rule V draft and a bunch of other stuff so am definitely tempted to get OOTP12 when its released.

My number one issue is - how far can you delegate all of the mundane stuff like setting all your minor league rosters/lineups and setting ticket/concession prices to the AI and know that it will be handled sensibly? I played 2K Sports Front Office Manager and while it wasn't as terrible as most people say the worst part by far was fiddling around with 5 levels of a farm system just so you could bring a guy back from the DL on the MLB team. There was an Auto Fix option which was actually Auto Destroy because the AI would just release some of your top prospects to juggle the minor league rosters - if you didn't use Auto Fix though it could take you half an hour to sort things out manually, not my idea of fun.

I've also played Mogul up to the 2010 version but while its quick and easy to get into, some of its shortcomings grate after a while e.g. it can only deal with the problem I mentioned above by ignoring the DL and the concept of Options entirely and allowing you to just shuttle players constantly between the minors and the big club with no repercussions.

I guess its an old gamer's fear of micromanagement (been playing these sorts of games since Hardball 4) and OOTP has a fearsome reputation in this regard, but if the micromanagement can be safely automated i would be a happy camper.

Any replies gratefully acknowledged.

[TribeFanInNC]

I would say the current incarnations are not even the same game as v6.x. The developer recoded the whole game after v6.5 and the game is completely different now. It does have more of the immersive character you are looking for. There are ways to let 'your manager or bench coach' (i.e. the AI) micromange some of the things you do not want to, like the minor league lineups.

It is much more in-depth than what you were used to. There can be a learning curve to playing, but once you break through that it is pretty addicting. My best advice would be to give the current demo a try.

[ukhotstove]

All I can say is for the last 5 years I've purchased OOTP and FM and before I only purchased FM or CM as it used to be called. Anyway I played FM more than OOTP but over the years that's changed, so much so that FM10 I played very rarely and FM11 didn't even bother buying. Have to admit I'll probably pass on OOTP12, reasons I've stated in another thread that I'm passed the boring stage of discussing

In ending though I enjoy OOTP more now than I do FM, the main point being it's easier to customize but I just feel it gives more enjoyment for me personally.

[Bluenoser]

Easy reply - download the demo and play it.

[oman19]

It really sounds as if you want to play the way I currently play.

I leave the minor leagues to the AI...I let them do the FA signings, promotions and demotions and lineups/pitching rotation for all levels of minors.

I handle all that for the Big leagues.

The only thing it doesn't do is handle ticket prices and such which I wish there was an option to let the AI handle that as well. I personally just kind of ignore it.

[damientheomen3]

The reason it looks similar to FM is because after OOTP 6.5 the game became a part of SI's lineup for a couple of years and they gave Markus their designs or something like that. The game has come a long way since 6.5, and is certainly at its peak. Try the OOTP11 demo, and if you like it, buy it (or preorder OOTP 12, which comes out in less than a month!!!!!).

[Biggio509]

Lets see how has the internet changed in the last 10 years? The change and innovation is about as drastic. I with the guy who says download the demo and see. Didn't 6.5 still have that FM style spring training where you allocated points to attributes and if sacrificed some hitting you could learn a position or you might have to sacrifice power to improve contact? Honestly, there have been so many changes I can't even remember what 6.5 was like. I think OOTP 8 is much closer to 11 and that is a completely different game in many ways from 6. I think it was 8 maybe 9 when individual pitches came in to determine stuff and if a pitcher would be a successful starter rather than stamina defining starter vs. bullpen.

That being said there have always been options to have the AI handle the farm. You can even have it handle signings and releases if you just want to be an on field manager. If you want to be just the GM the AI can handle all the on field stuff and day to day lineups. I could be wrong but I think that has always been the case.

Honestly, I think automation is much better than 6. The AI often does things I would do. Sometimes the lineups bug me a little and sometimes I would promote a different guy or 2. Since I like to play GM I handle all promotions and demotions but the AI does a decent job of developing players. I often handling promotion/demotion and let the AI set up lineups. You still find the odd 30 y/o who should be cut moved down to SSA because he hits at that level when the AI handles promotions/demotions but it is not as bad as earlier versions.

As far as agents and player interaction, I can't speak for 12 because the financial model is completely reworked but, in 11 it is not going to be something like FM 2011 or 2010. You get an email if they like your contract offer. They email you if they get a better offer and sometimes like you counter. You will sometimes get emails that they want to start.

You don't have the interaction option that FM has. So you can't go to say an aging player and ask him to try to pull the ball in his ABs or a speedster and ask to him hit grounders or take more pitches like you can teach players moves in the FM series. That part I don't miss they seemed cool at first in FM but they got old and tedious pretty quick when I had do things like go talk to some 17 year old who thought he was ready for the senior squad. Can't my Youth coach do that?

I don't know about 12 but 11 has no agents. The player's greed rating determines if he tries to get every last dime out of a contract or if he just takes a good offer. Loyalty also plays a role in signing extensions. As of yet there are no agents involved. I have not heard about them being added to 12 but I can't say for sure.

The DL and options are present. The option rule is close to real life but you don't have the less than X in the minors is not an option rule nor do you have rehab starts. So you send a guy to the minors and it is an option regardless of the situation.

Coaches do help with development but it is a much simpler system than FM. Your hitting coach deals with hitting, pitching with pitching and managers teach fielding and have an impact on hitting and pitching. I think that is a good thing. A coach has ratings on how they deal with prospects, how they deal with players (not young guys but less than 5 years ML exp IIRC), and how they deal with vets (5+ years IIRC). So your low level coaches obviously only need to be able deal well with young guys while your big league coaches need to be able to deal well with all types of players. Also facilities have no impact on training.

[SteveV]

Thanks for the replies, have downloaded the version 11 demo..head spinning but have decided to keep things simple with a fictional universe based on the classic 2 league 16 team 154 game format - I assume checking the No Playoffs box means that the league winners go straight to the WS, not that there is no post season play at all?

I only have AAA level for the minors so I can get the idea of how affiliates work without being overwhelmed with 5 or 6 farm teams, if I get the hang of it all I will definitely get 12 when its release, although I might wait a month or so til the first 4 patches have been released

[Carplos]

No, you want to turn playoffs on, but only have league/division winners on. No playoffs means... no playoffs. You'll have an AL and NL winner, but no series between them.

[SteveV]

Originally Posted by Carplos

No, you want to turn playoffs on, but only have league/division winners on. No playoffs means... no playoffs. You'll have an AL and NL winner, but no series between them.

Thanks for the heads up on that..