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-   -   OOTP: Walk Down Memory Lane (https://forums.ootpdevelopments.com//showthread.php?t=143163)

sporr 03-25-2007 12:59 PM

OOTP: Walk Down Memory Lane
 
I can’t believe that the 8th version of OOTP is almost out. It seems like not that long ago when I first stumbled upon the game. Everyone has their story about how they discovered the game that we’ve all grown to love. Most of us have something in common; we’ve always strived to find that perfect baseball simulation. I knew from the first time that I saw the game that this would be the franchise for me, and the High Heats, Baseball Moguls and Diamond Minds were all left on the shelf after that.

What amazes me the most is how far this series has come since that first version came out back in 1999. Only a few of us around these boards can remember, so I thought I’d take us all on a trip down memory lane…

Out of the Park Baseball
Many of you might not realize it, but the first version of OOTP was a DOS program. The introduction from the 28-page manual makes me wonder if Markus ever realized how big this would become:

Welcome to Out Of The Park Baseball (OOTP), a new baseball simulation which offers everything you expect from a professional simulation and more ...
My name is Markus Heinsohn and I'm the developer of OOTP. I've been working on this piece of software for more than a year, and I'm sure the work paid off as OOTP really has grown into a statistical accurate simulation of baseball which doesn’t just give you realistic results but also is very easy to use and a lot of fun to play.


OOTP was the first text-based game to feature career mode, and that’s what really sucked me in. The hardware requirements were laughable, needing a PC 286 and 16 MB of recommended RAM. I wasn’t able to get the game running in XP, but trust me when I say that the game was very basic.

http://www.baseballmaelstrom.com/ootp1.jpg

Here is a recap of the versions since then:

OOTP2
The first Windows version
Financial model
Full minor leagues make an appearance
Game created HTML for online leagues
Real rookies automatically enter historical leagues every season
Split stats

http://www.baseballmaelstrom.com/ootp2.jpg

OOTP3
Coaches and scouts
News system
Park and era editor
Big group of beta testers

http://www.baseballmaelstrom.com/ootp3.jpg

OOTP4 / Season Ticket Baseball
30-day free agency period
Set lineups/staff for minors
Player history on player card
Weather
FTP support for online leagues
Fatigue

http://www.baseballmaelstrom.com/ootp4.jpg

OOTP5
Full minors with standings
Almanac
Player tendencies
CSV export/import
Team/manager strategy settings

http://www.baseballmaelstrom.com/ootp5.jpg

OOTP6
New sim engine (Stuff, Control, Movement)
The DFA box
Rule 5 draft
Service time tracked by day

OOTP6.5
Player popularity
7-day lineups
Projected stats listing
Off-season/ Spring injuries

http://www.baseballmaelstrom.com/ootp6.jpg

OOTP Baseball 2006
First SI version – Completely redesigned database
Brand new GUI
Pitch-by-pitch
Complete situational strategy
Complete Baseball universe with minor leagues and independents
Expanded defensive ratings
Complete team scouting/coaching staff

http://www.baseballmaelstrom.com/ootp2006.jpg

That brings us up to the version. The game has grown tremendously over the years and continues to make leaps and bounds into new territory, truly setting the bar for text-based baseball. I can’t even imagine what the game will look like a few years from now, but I’m sure I’ll still be playing it.

dcpcarmona 03-25-2007 01:07 PM

nice synopsis.

dcc

Giants44 03-25-2007 01:27 PM

nice

great screenshots - bring backs a lot of memories and really shows us how far we have come.

would love to see a screen shot of ver1 - does anyone have one????

JWay 03-25-2007 01:33 PM

OOTP3 brought back memories... just that screen shot...

spleen1015 03-25-2007 01:36 PM

Found OOTP in Jan of 2000. It's been a long time.

redsox45 03-25-2007 01:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by spleen1015 (Post 2120791)
Found OOTP in Jan of 2000. It's been a long time.

Same here.

We've seen some great times.

OOTP has come a long way since those days. I wonder how many of those original 100 or so forum members still drop by here on a regular basis?

Will

spleen1015 03-25-2007 01:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by redsox45 (Post 2120798)
Same here.

We've seen some great times.

OOTP has come a long way since those days. I wonder how many of those original 100 or so forum members still drop by here on a regular basis?

Will

MD, sporr, you, Cooleyvol, and myself are the only ones I remember. I'm sure there are some folks that I left out.

fhomess 03-25-2007 02:00 PM

Danny Fanning - not such a great name for a hitter.

1998 Yankees 03-25-2007 02:13 PM

sporr, interesting post, thanks. I differ from you in one respect: All of my High Heats, Triple Plays, MVP Baseballs, and other games that I had tried before OOTP currently reside in the town landfill, where they belong. Only SOM is still on the shelf where it has been for over two years now, gathering dust.

Cooleyvol 03-25-2007 02:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by spleen1015 (Post 2120808)
MD, sporr, you, Cooleyvol, and myself are the only ones I remember. I'm sure there are some folks that I left out.

Tris? :)

Cooleyvol 03-25-2007 02:32 PM

If you oldtimes really want to walk down an old road, check out this link:

http://www.sportplanet.com/sbb/

I remember when Stat Based Baseball housed just about everything OOTP. Lots of the league links on the left are still active!

darkcloud4579 03-25-2007 03:46 PM

I started playing with OOTP5. Those were some great times. But wow, where we are now. Never could've imagined.

spleen1015 03-25-2007 04:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cooleyvol (Post 2120881)
Tris? :)

I meant to say the ones that were active back then, that are still active now.

tcblcommish 03-25-2007 05:03 PM

This brings back numerous memories of teams and leagues past. Online and solo. Great post.

ravinhood 03-25-2007 05:08 PM

I started with 4th and skipped 5th and bought 6th and downloaded 6.5a update, skipped 2006 and just recently got 2007. It would appear that every two years gets the mostest for the leastest lol. I don't play online leagues so one game can easily last me a couple of years playing against the AI. I mostly buy hoping the AI is improved more than anything else.

redsox45 03-25-2007 05:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cooleyvol (Post 2120886)
If you oldtimes really want to walk down an old road, check out this link:

http://www.sportplanet.com/sbb/

I remember when Stat Based Baseball housed just about everything OOTP. Lots of the league links on the left are still active!

That was a great site back in the day...

I wonder if Dave still plays OOTP....?

Will

CMH 03-25-2007 07:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JWay (Post 2120785)
OOTP3 brought back memories... just that screen shot...

Same here, though I never played OOTP3. I discovered the game three months before OOTP4 was set to be released, so I decided to wait.

The little envelope on the left bottom corner of the screen in OOTP4 brought back memories of the day I downloaded it. Great day.

akw4572 03-25-2007 08:10 PM

First found v4 on a clearance shelf at a store I can't remember. Had every version since. Can't decide what my favorite is, though I think it's going to end up being v2007. I was a dmb'er and was glad to not have to buy expensive season disks anymore.

statman 03-25-2007 08:10 PM

OOTP2
The first Windows version
Financial model
Full minor leagues make an appearance
Game created HTML for online leagues
Real rookies automatically enter historical leagues every season
Split stats

http://www.baseballmaelstrom.com/ootp2.jpg

Wow, very nice, reminds me of my first ever OOTP2 online league. Being a baseball board game fan, then computer fan (started with C64), I thought OOTP was the greatest ever, but much thanks for the improvements over the years.

Cooleyvol 03-25-2007 08:20 PM

There's still something to be said for the simplicity of that game. I loved the deuce! Still got it on CD.


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