To the Twins example:
I still don't think that last year's events would have any effect on market size. But, it could be used to show the flaws of the "fan loyalty" rating. The description of the fickle Minnesota fans suggest that their overall loyalty is low (not to suggest there are no loyal Minnesota fans). It does highlight the weakness of OOTP model, where loyalty only changes at a season's end. What happened in Minnesota last year suggests that perhaps in the OOTP model things like fan attendance and revenue should react to a winning record. (This has been suggested before, as well as attendance spikes with popular players, etc.).
But, I contend, fan loyalty should not change so radically so quickly. Rather, perhaps attendance and revenue could be impacted by a winning record, but if the loyalty is low, the second the team starts losing, the revenue goes away. I imagine that those rabid fans on the Northside of Chicago and in Boston go no matter what the record. That is loyalty. The stadium fills and the merchandise sells irregardless of the record. In Minnesota that is clearly not the case.
So, perhaps a modification to the model is in order. The markets size acts as a hard cap that is the ultimate limit on revenue and attendance; it also changes the slowest, if at all. Fan loyalty is a middling factor, changing occasionally, but only in response to on the field play. Much like it operates now in the OOTP simulation.
Underneath this could be another factor, something that responds to the day-to-day happenings of the team and is directly tied to the baseball simulation. Popular visiting players could spike attendance but not merchandising revenue. A winning record for a team with disloyal fans could spark attendance, but that success would be short term if the success is not sustained because the loyalty factor would not change.
Again, these are all just suggestions to the financial model, not the baseball simulation. I'm not sure what the new model is in OOTP4, but it is being reworked. I do find it interesting, though, in light of recent events, that people are interested in trying to recapture this financial system, when in reality the system is in such disarray.
FYI: in my leagues, I have the financial system off. It is too inconsistent and illogical. Also, my computer is a little slow so I try to fine-tune the program best I can.
[ December 17, 2001: Message edited by: Squall ]</p>
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