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Let's face it: The drafting experience is one of the most popular aspects of any sports game. How often do we think to ourselves, "I could build a better team if I were in charge!" Fantasy drafts allow you to put your money where your mouth is and show the world what kind of talent evaluator you really are. OOTP 11 expands on the industry's most realistic draft experience with a host of new features that will take realism to the next level. In this RTR, we're going to highlight some of the most exciting of these new features.
Bonus Demands
When the draft pool gets published, you're going to notice a change right away. A new column has been added: "Demand". That's right; just as in real life, players are now going to request a signing bonus. No longer can you draft a top player and be assured that he's yours. First you're going to have to meet with him face to face at the negotiating table!
Enabling bonus demands is entirely optional, but for those who are up to the challenge, you're in for a new realm of strategic considerations. In previous versions, talent and team need were the primary factors in determining who to draft. Adding bonuses into the mix changes things drastically. Now you may find yourself in a position to select the best player in the draft if his outrageous demands scare off the teams drafting ahead of you. If you've properly managed your finances and set enough money aside for your draft budget, you may just be able to snag a top talent without a top pick!
Advanced Negotiations
Of course, this strategy doesn't come without risk. Once you've completed your draft, you are presented with the new Draft Pick Negotiation screen. Here, you'll be able to view the demands of each player that you drafted within the first five rounds, along with their predicted ease of signability.
Clicking the "Negotiate" button opens a dialogue with the selected player. You receive a more detailed report on his demands along with the recommended "slot bonus" for where the player was selected. Many players will accept slot money, but some may be willing to sign for less, while others may hold out for more . . . perhaps considerably more! You'll also find a report listing your remaining budget room for bonus offers.
Your shrewdness in negotiating will go a long way toward determining your draft success. Can you talk a player down from his high demands? If so, you're giving yourself a leg up on the competition. Be careful how hard you push, though; some players may be stubborn when it comes to their bonus demands. You may even have to resort to offering a big league contract to that draftee with a high opinion of himself!
Watch Out: Players have Negotiating Leverage!
Stubbornness isn't your only concern when contemplating a lowball offer. Come in too low and you run the risk of insulting your draftee. You may get a message warning you that his patience is running low. Consider your next move carefully! If you continue to low-ball him, your draftee might just decide to break off negotiations altogether! And they have the leverage to do so. College draftees can now choose to re-enter next year's draft pool rather than settle for your paltry bonus offer.
Even more exciting, a brand new feature allows unsigned high school draftees to graduate to college. Teenage studs are no longer at the mercy of the team that drafts them. If you won't pony up to meet their demands, they can take their game to the college circuit for a few years in hopes of boosting their future draft stock. And while you may be disappointed to lose out on a top pick, you'll enjoy watching players experience a realistic development path before they ever turn pro!
You're on the Clock
Setting the backdrop for this drama is the ticking clock of the signing deadline. Once the draft ends, you have but two months to get all your draftees to sign on the dotted line. Hey, no sweat; it's not like there's any pressure. We're only talking about the future of your franchise here!
At least you have a new safety net at your disposal. OOTP 11 mirrors MLB rules by awarding draft compensation to teams that fail to sign top draftees. If your team fails to sign a 1st or 2nd rounder, you will receive a pick in next year's draft at the same position plus one. That eases the pressure somewhat, but don't get too comfortable. A horde of draft picks means a whole lot of bonus demands.
Real Schools, Real Baseball
Those not using feeder leagues won't be at a disadvantage when it comes to scouting the draft pool. Players generated for the draft will come complete with a full college and high school statistical history, allowing GMs to make informed scouting decisions based on ratings AND performance. Each player will have attended one of 1,700+ real colleges or 17,000+ real high schools, taking realism to another level.
If you're feeling nostalgic, jump over to your favorite player's history page. There you'll find new notes, including which school a player was drafted out of and how much he signed for, or maybe that he never signed at all! Never forget where that diamond in the rough came from.
If you'd like to discuss this, come join us on our message boards!
Don't Miss the Deadline; Preorder OOTP 11 Today!
Take over your favorite major league team and stage your own virtual version of the MLB amateur draft, featuring the actual draft class of 2010. Rewrite history as you conduct drafts from years gone by. Try your hand at the ultimate challenge: a fictional league draft, where your skills as an evaluator will be tested to the max. Can you combine your keen eye for talent with the business savvy needed to stay within budget? It's time to show what you've got!
If you choose OOTP 11 as your "draft pick" now, you'll still get him to "sign" at the bargain rate of $29.99. Wait a few more weeks, and his demands will go up!
Preorder now for Windows/Mac or for Linux!
Previous Road to Release Articles
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