endgame, I waited until I had the time to give your posting the attention that it deserves, without distractions or interruptions. In other words, until I came back to work this morning.
I read your post again and skimmed through the linked threads. Of course I would vote "yes" for pursuing the idea further, because it is hardly "a waste of time" nor would I say that I "could care less." This is a rigged, bogus poll!
Seriously, your proposal merits consideration. Again, I would like to echo your statement about "the game does not feel like it used to [and I] can’t quite pinpoint the cause." For me, "like it used to" refers only to OOTPB 6.12/6.5, but the feeling is the same. Please don't get me wrong; I love this game. I've been playing OOTPB 2006 for months, holding my attention and taking up more of my leisure time than any other baseball simulation game that I have ever played, including 6.12/6.5. Yet, at the same time I feel less immersed than previously, despite all the new features. Sounds strange, eh?
As I said before, it may be just a matter of designing a better layout and game flow/routine and of making things like the almanac more accessible and user-friendly. I am looking forward to improvements in 2007 along these lines.
Also, reading through those linked threads that you provided, I found a number of suggestions that I think are important for improving game playing satisfaction:
- Keep it simple. Cut back from a "universe" to a smaller game in which you can get to "know" the players and teams and follow their fortunes easier. I have reduced my game from the entire unwieldy universe that comes with the game to just MLB and I am thinking of trimming the minor leagues down to just four affiliates instead of six for this reason.
- Slow down, sim less, watch and play more games. Unless you are just into producing statistics, simming months or years at a time while maintaining a lofty vantage point causes one to miss some of the satisfactions that the game has to offer.
- Keep team and player notes. Print reports and examine them. Do an analysis of the league, team by team, at season end. Note the progress of teams up and down the standings and determine what is happening and why.
- Spice up the game with modifications available: logos, stadiums, face packs. As one person said, "People do such excellent work (and are so nice about sharing it) that I began stealing various art work for my league. I was surprised by how much it’s made my league come to life." What he said.
endgame, as far as your specific proposal, I don't think scripted in-game routines designed to enhance game play would work because people develop their own styles of play and routines as they become familiar with the game, based on how much they want to get into it and get out of it.
That's not to say that the game could not be improved by the inclusion of tutorials and wizards. I think it would, but I would rather SI devote limited time and resources to other desperately wanted and needed improvements, at least for 2007.
I hate to give battists more work to do, but I believe his lawn cutting days are over for a while so maybe he would have the time now. So, I would like to propose that your idea of "a basic primer of scheduled activities for basic playing styles" be included instead in a future version of the OOTPB Game Guide.