OOTP 10 - Graphics/animation

[texasmame]

Originally Posted by BruceM

I'm sure that's the majority of OOTP users too.

Well, if the people here are the "hard core" OOTP folks, it would stand to reason that the casual fan would be more drawn to the product due to animation of some sort.

So, when you expand beyond this "core" set of users, I'm guessing the demand for animation of some sort would be even greater and likely even add to the game's mass appeal.

[Cryomaniac]

I have no problem with animation, as long as the sim engine stays the same or gets better, that seems to be the major problem with graphics heavy games (madden and mlb 28 come to mind)

[professor ape]

Originally Posted by Cryomaniac

I have no problem with animation, as long as the sim engine stays the same or gets better, that seems to be the major problem with graphics heavy games (madden and mlb 28 come to mind)

The general consensus is that any animation/graphics would be there to visualize the results that the engine has already determined. For the most part, those of us looking for graphics are not asking for a graphic/physics driven model. That would be a horrible move for OOTP.

[Ambermonk]

Originally Posted by professor ape

No, but check out Markus' post in the 2 surprise features in OOTP 9! thread. It is post #147 on page 8.

He slipped in a nice little nugget for us.

Thanks for the info. Seems like people are crying for it.

[tysok]

Originally Posted by texasmame

Seems like the vast majority want some animation. And, seems like Marcus is (rightly) listening to the majority of his customer base.

I tell my customer base what they can go do with themselves..........

I think that may explain why I don't have a customer base though.


I like the winning option in the poll... "ball flight and little guys" Does that mean hobbits?

[Cryomaniac]

Originally Posted by professor ape

The general consensus is that any animation/graphics would be there to visualize the results that the engine has already determined. For the most part, those of us looking for graphics are not asking for a graphic/physics driven model. That would be a horrible move for OOTP.

That's fine then =)

There should be an option to turn it off though, since some people don't have brilliant computers, or they have odd video cards (GeForce 4MX series springs to mind...)

[The Wolf]

You didn't leave an option for "Monkey Rodeo."

[Syd Thrift]

I do think that the eventual direction of this game is towards something more physics-driven. This is, after all, the way sabermetrics are moving. The Hardball Times Annual has included stuff like a player's percentage of balls put in play that are line drives vs flies and grounders for a couple years now, and it's really begun to be picked up in earnest by others lately, including Bill James.

That doesn't mean we need a game with complex Playstation 3 style graphics. But old-timers might take note.

[westendcards]

I have no interest in graphics or even sound for that matter. I would like a game that performs exactly like real baseball. The real rosters (Including all minor leagues) are important to me. I like to play every game out and prefer just text / stats.

[Ambermonk]

Originally Posted by Syd Thrift

I do think that the eventual direction of this game is towards something more physics-driven.

I agree. What I hope will happen eventually is that, however the results are determined, the results will drive both the PBP & whatever graphics package evolves.

For example, on a pick-off play, the PBP might say that the runner was nearly picked off. I think this is just a random description that is selected (say, a 20% chance) to match the end result. In the future I hope this kind of comment would be selected by some kind of evaluation algorithm that would determine that the result really was close. I'd like to see something like this...

1. The physics engine (batter, hit location, fielder, arm, etc.) determines the play result.
2. An evaluation algorithm determines the details & the degree of success or failure.
3. An appropriate graphic displays the result, and
4. The PBP utilizes the play evaluation to appropriately describe the result.

In short, the physics engine & evaluation algorithm should drive an accurate graphic & PBP description of the play - not just throw out randomly generated descriptions that fit just the final result (regardless of how close).

[biaaarr]

My preference would be to have FPS '98 graphics, ( which are already 10 years old). A physics engine to me is not important. Let the graphics just show the play which the computer determined just as the text describes it in words.

[Cryomaniac]

Originally Posted by Syd Thrift

I do think that the eventual direction of this game is towards something more physics-driven. This is, after all, the way sabermetrics are moving. The Hardball Times Annual has included stuff like a player's percentage of balls put in play that are line drives vs flies and grounders for a couple years now, and it's really begun to be picked up in earnest by others lately, including Bill James.

That doesn't mean we need a game with complex Playstation 3 style graphics. But old-timers might take note.

The eventual "end point" for me would be a game with ootp's sim engine and customization options, with MLB 2k's graphics and presentation. How close to being possible that is is a debatable. It could probably be done now, but it wouldn't be feasible for most people to run.

[DaddyO]

Originally Posted by Markus Heinsohn

What we'd do is a view very similar to FM. 2D with circles in the colors of the team + the jersey number. Then a ballpark background image that is generated using the wall distance & heigh information, or a customized image.

That is definitely something for the future, but if we're all lucky then it's for OOTP 10

Markus,

Are you thinking of the circles concept in addition to the current bars-with-player-names-and-ratings? If so, won't this make the field rather cluttered and clashing (when, say, a circle moves in front of or behind a bar? If not, and you end up with just circles and jersey numbers, you lose the player name and ratings from the visual.

[DaddyO]

One other concern of mine with adding obtrusive graphics to a text is the splitting of my attention. Is my eye drawn to the unfolding text description of the play, or to the graphics? Well, both AT THE SAME TIME. I'm not sure if I'm recalling MicroLeague correctly, but I think it was graphics only, without a text presentation. That was good for its time, and my attention wasn't split. Of course, I have no problem with adding the feature if others want it. Just count me as one who would likely toggle it off.

[Markus Heinsohn]

Originally Posted by Ambermonk

I agree. What I hope will happen eventually is that, however the results are determined, the results will drive both the PBP & whatever graphics package evolves.

Exactly

[Cryomaniac]

Originally Posted by DaddyO

One other concern of mine with adding obtrusive graphics to a text is the splitting of my attention. Is my eye drawn to the unfolding text description of the play, or to the graphics? Well, both AT THE SAME TIME. I'm not sure if I'm recalling MicroLeague correctly, but I think it was graphics only, without a text presentation. That was good for its time, and my attention wasn't split. Of course, I have no problem with adding the feature if others want it. Just count me as one who would likely toggle it off.

Well look at Football Manager for an example of text pbp and a 2d graphics engine on the same screen.

[Ambermonk]

Originally Posted by Ambermonk

I agree. What I hope will happen eventually is that, however the results are determined, the results will drive both the PBP & whatever graphics package evolves.

Originally Posted by Markus Heinsohn

Exactly

Good to hear. I think you're headed in the right direction. It will mean a huge recoding though - replacing randomly selected descriptions with actual descriptions of the results. A lot of work, but very very cool. OOTP will move away from being just a game, and move closer to being an actual simulation. When this happens it will be very very exciting!