Screenshots: 6.5 vs. 2007 and Explanations

[Jestor]

Exhibit #7. Draft
2K7 does a lot better job overall here, but there's a couple things I like about 6.5. Minor things, really, but I'll bring them up anyway.

6.5


2K7


6.5 Advantages

Bigger, Brighter Logo
I'll be honest, I don't know why the drag and drop to select box is there. To me, it takes up real estate that could better be served by either the team name and logo, or even a draft order for the round, preventing a click over to that tab to take a look.

It especially doesn't make sense to me to have the drag + drop to select when you can right-click in 2K7 to draft the player as well.

Seeing the Draft Order On Same Screen as Drafting Screen
Again, a small thing, but still a benefit. Though to be honest, for me personally, it's not that big a deal.

Scroll vs. Page Click to View Other Draftees
When they don't all fit in one section, I'd honestly prefer a scroll to having to click for the next page.

Here's why: With, a scroll, you have a continuous chain of player information. With a page click, say you want to look at three or four, or even two players that are close to each other, but on different pages, you have to click back and forth between the pages to look at them. With a scroll, you can directly compare all the players at once.

2K7 Advantages

Edit Views
Like in the other screens, editing views is a really nice touch.

Team Info on Same Screen as Drafting
This is a major benefit, especially for dispersal drafts. Lets you know what you need as far as position numbers go.

Last Selection
A small addition, but one that's kind of nice to have.

Much Better Draft Log With Easier Access
Probably my single-most favorite thing about the 2K7 draft screen. It was a pain to have to deal with a pop-up window for 6.5 drafts and the text was a lot more cramped in 6.5

[Jestor]

Originally Posted by Elendil

In 2007 you can toggle between statistics and ratings for each level in the Transactions screen.

Good to know, thanks

[Jestor]

Originally Posted by silvam14

I should say that as someone who plays out all of my league's games (majors only) I don't check the standings on a regular enough basis to care about if the leaders are there or not. But I am starting to understand how someone who sims might find that mighty useful

And I'm starting to understand more of the benefits on 2K7's interface. If nothing else, this thread has been a good instruction for tricks on manipulating it that I and a lot of other people didn't realize before.

[Jestor]

Sorry for the minor post spam here, but I just wanted to comment that because of the way free agency works in 2K7, i.e. non-linear as opposed to 6.5's linear, straightforward, 30-stage free agency, a comparison of screens would be the apples/oranges type scenario

[sporr]

Originally Posted by Jestor

Exhibit #7. Draft

Scroll vs. Page Click to View Other Draftees
When they don't all fit in one section, I'd honestly prefer a scroll to having to click for the next page.

Wanted to mention that you can change this preference in the OOTP2007/8 options. I have mine set up to scroll instead of page.

[Jestor]

Originally Posted by sporr

Wanted to mention that you can change this preference in the OOTP2007/8 options. I have mine set up to scroll instead of page.

Another good thing to know, thanks

[JoseRijo]

Ive greatly enjoyed this thread!

I also like the clarity of some of the 6.5 pages, but man, at high resolution 2007 is pretty awesome! I run 1900x1200 (on a 24 inch dell widescreen LCD!) and the number of columns on a given report is insane, plus I get 9 sections on the transactions page instead of 4 at low res. The scaling of 2007 to super high resolutions is very well done, and is one of , if not THE, reason I prefer 2007 to 6.5.

I do hope that the dev team checks this thread out, because there are many things they can learn from your comments.

The single thing I miss the most from 6.5 world is the "bars" on the player scouting report. I visually like the effect and I would love to see that come back.

[wlight1]

I much, much prefer the drafting screen in 2k7/OOTP8. The drag & drop box serves the function of showing you a brief snapshot view of the player you're about to draft. It's nice as a confirmation, I think. I don't care all that much about draft order, so I don't need that on the screen.

Overall, there were some nice touches to the interface in earlier versions that I do miss, but in general the customizability and added data of 2k7/8 trumps a little bit of ease of use (to my mind). As others have noted, it's easy to have a clean interface with everything on one screen when the data that's on that screen is all you get. As others have also noted, the previous standings/leaders/simming screen is a notable exception. I do miss that.

I know Jestor has said this too, but to me the great thing coming out of this thread, even if no one at OOTP ever actually reads any of it, is that I'm learning things about the interface that I wasn't aware of. There's so much more there that it's wonderful to be able to see; of course it takes a little more time to learn how to get around. The endless menus, sub-menus, tabs, sub-tabs, dropdowns etc. get me down sometimes, but I know that once I've spent more time playing, the gui will become like second nature. And once that point comes, I'll never look back.

edited to add: I'm also on a laptop that doesn't seem to support anything better than 1280 x 800, which drives me absolutely nuts (in general usage as well as OOTP specifically). Much of my time in OOTP is spent navigating/scrolling/displaying a very small amount of information on the screen at once, but the added time is worth it.

[Qrusher14242]

I do enjoy the new interface, but miss the Standings, Roster and Pitching screens. Seems much cleaner and more simple.

[zekester91]

Originally Posted by Jestor

Exhibit #1. The Standings Screen

6.5's Advantages Over 2K7

A one-screen look at the top 3 statistical leaders in each league that updates on the fly
As someone who quick-sims a lot and prefers a very broad overview, this is very critical to letting me know at a glance who some of the best players in the league are.

Plus, if I'm tracking a certain milestone, such as .400 BA or 60 HR or a sub-2.00 ERA for the season, the fast-update of this screen allows me to see that in real-time without having to pause the game, go look at the league leaderboards, then start simming again, etc. It creates a real sense of excitement when you're watching the sim fly by and eyeing that hitter or pitcher.

For those who prefer a more leisurely pace, simply having that information on all one screen is still a very nice basic reference for who the top players in the league are and make a great starting point.

2K7's Advantages Over 6.5

A cleaner, easier to read font
In my opinion, this is the sole advantage of 2K7 over 6.5 on this screen. Admittedly, the games played and magic # could appeal to some, but since the magic # appears late-season in 6.5 anyway, the only information benefit would be games played, and I don't know how many people see that as a vital statistic to know.

If your just simmimg games, when you quick sim a more than a day at a time the old 6.5 screen with the top 3 leaders and news stories come up. This is the only time you can see a quick updating leaders screen.

I see games played as a vital stat. It's good to know in leagues that have real schedules if the teams around you have played more or less games than you. For leagues that play OOTP created schedules, this isn't a vital information.

[Bobble]

I want to say one word to you. Just one word: Plastics ... I mean, Skins.

OOTP is capable of supporting different skins. I would think with different skins, you could tailor OOTP more to your liking. So, why aren't there more guys working on skins?

[ctorg]

Originally Posted by Bobble

I want to say one word to you. Just one word: Plastics ... I mean, Skins.

OOTP is capable of supporting different skins. I would think with different skins, you could tailor OOTP more to your liking. So, why aren't there more guys working on skins?

I think the things that people are talking about go a little deeper than the skin. Or can more be done with skins than I am realizing?

[pstrickert]

Originally Posted by Bobble

I want to say one word to you. Just one word: Plastics ... I mean, Skins.

OOTP is capable of supporting different skins. I would think with different skins, you could tailor OOTP more to your liking. So, why aren't there more guys working on skins?

Is there a tutorial for creating skins? If not, would you be able to write one?

[The Wolf]

Originally Posted by Bobble

So, why aren't there more guys working on skins?

Why aren't there more guys working on rosters? IMO because people are pretty happy with what they have available to them. Ditto skins.

[1998 Yankees]

Let me share something with you about this thread topic. Last night I sat down and thought out of the box about how I play OOTP 8.

Instead of the league home page, I made my manager page the first stop. I had been neglecting that and it was refreshing to realize again how much is at "fingertips" on that screen. Next, I set up nine bookmarks to take full advantage of the F2-F10 keys for moving around quickly. Then I went through some favorite screens to rearrange things and, very importantly, to save them as views and filters; this saves much mouse-clicking.

Big difference. I'm enjoying this eleventh season of my league more than I have in "years." So, I guess the lesson, for me at least, was to be aware of the customizability of this game that was intended to take the place of the coziness, but rigidity, of the OOTP 6.5 interface.

[Bobble]

Originally Posted by ctorg

I think the things that people are talking about go a little deeper than the skin. Or can more be done with skins than I am realizing?

I think at least some of the things can be done with skins. Perhaps not which screen shows when you're simming but certainly many of the layout issues. Not to mention freshening the look of the game.

Originally Posted by pstrickert

Is there a tutorial for creating skins? If not, would you be able to write one?

There's no tutorial as far as I know. I wish there was. I've asked for help but to no avail.

I did some skins for OOTP 2006 and I've tried to work on skins for this version but it's all trial and error. To be honest, it's too much work to do that when you know there's someone out there who could just tell you what you need to know without the pain and anguish.

Originally Posted by The Wolf

Why aren't there more guys working on rosters? IMO because people are pretty happy with what they have available to them. Ditto skins.

IMO, it isn't as much as their happy with the look of OOTP as it is that it's too hard to make a skin when you're just shooting in the dark.

[endgame]

Originally Posted by 1998 Yankees

Let me share something with you about this thread topic. Last night I sat down and thought out of the box about how I play OOTP 8.

Instead of the league home page, I made my manager page the first stop. I had been neglecting that and it was refreshing to realize again how much is at "fingertips" on that screen. Next, I set up nine bookmarks to take full advantage of the F2-F10 keys for moving around quickly. Then I went through some favorite screens to rearrange things and, very importantly, to save them as views and filters; this saves much mouse-clicking.

Big difference. I'm enjoying this eleventh season of my league more than I have in "years." So, I guess the lesson, for me at least, was to be aware of the customizability of this game that was intended to take the place of the coziness, but rigidity, of the OOTP 6.5 interface.

Almost exactly as I mine is set up, with the exception of saved filters and views. For some reason, probably fear of screwing something up, I've only used those on a temporary basis. I'll have to explore further how better to take advantage of them.

Out of curiosity, what do you bookmark? I know Player Shortlist is the first thing I added because it takes me forever to remember where it is otherwise.

[jm47048]

I have read most of this thread and I see points on both sides about the interface. But, I would much prefer the customization and power that the game has over things regarding its interface.

This is my take... OOTP had a following for so long and had such a similar interaface for so long it is hard for players to get used to what is new about the game. I admit too that when switching from 6.X to 07 (I did not play 06) it was like buying a whole new game that I had never seen before.

But, that doesn't make anyone's comments bad. I develop UI's for a living and I know how important that is. My personal preference, however, is that I would much rather have the power then a UI that is perfect.

I am suprised that Marcus has not piped up about this. He usually is interested in things like this.

[satchel]

Originally Posted by Bobble

...with different skins, you could tailor OOTP more to your liking.

That's my next goal, personally: to design a skin which will make the OOTP 8 data easier to read.

[ctorg]

I didn't realize skins could do anything more than they did in 6.5 and before (which was basically change graphics and colors). I'll have to check into that.

The main thing I'd like, which I've said along with many others since OOTP2006 was out, is to be able to see the screen that comes up when simming even when I'm not simming. That would absolutely be my main screen. Esepcially if hyperlinks could be added to it.