I've been resisting the temptation to start adding elements of my wishlist to this thread, as I'm trusting Markus/Steve to make good on the pledge to open up the discussion once the final patch for X is finished. (And I'm hoping this will entail more than just a new "Suggestions for the Next Version of OOTP" thread.
)
However, I'd like to at least get a few quick thoughts out there for now...
1. Definitely count me as being on board the "fix what still hasn't been fixed" bandwagon.
2. Unlike many, I'd actually prefer there to be
less of an emphasis on tweaking the AI. I feel like OOTP is getting close to a point of diminishing returns in this area. Obviously, it's never gonna be perfect to everyone, so perhaps it's time to set it aside for now in favor of putting more effort into other areas of the game. Not to trivialize the opinions of those who still have issues with aspects of the AI, but it seems like there's always someone complaining that the AI made some ridiculous move or another. And maybe it did, but why keep tinkering with an aspect of the game that will never be perfect when there are so many other areas that need attention?
3. Please try to incorporate as many real-world (MLB) rules into OOTP as possible. I recognize that some would be difficult or even impossible to implement and may adversely affect the playability of the game, but there are still several common and important rules that aren't included in OOTP. Personally, I'd rather there at least be some attempt to work these into the game--even if they're overly simplified--than to ignore them completely.
4. I know I'm going against many "purists" on this one, but maybe consider focusing a little more on the peripheral aspects of the game. That is, add a little more--or at least allow us to have more control over the customization of--the outside world in OOTP. It's totally understandable that this facet of the game doesn't merit as much attention, as it doesn't
directly involve the simulating or playing of games, but for some (maybe even many?) of us, it adds to the realism in our OOTP universe even more than a perfectly accurate game engine or other areas that seem to get the lion's share of attention during development.
5. PLEASE--no matter what--try to make as many aspects of OOTP
EDITABLE and/or
CUSTOMIZABLE as possible. And please try to streamline the process of editing and customizing, maybe by creating a uniform database structure that exclusively uses csv files that can be easily exported
and re-imported into the game. It's so frustrating to spend countless hours setting up our fictional universes, only to find out certain things can't be edited, while others can't be imported or don't import correctly.
These are just my opinions, of course, and I have many other more detailed ideas and suggestions, but I'll save those for the appropriate time. Just please, PLEASE take the 5 points I mentioned above to heart. Regardless of what specific features and fixes ultimately make it into the next version, I will be happy if at least these general concepts are addressed.