OOTP Developments Forums - View Single Post

Critical Mass · 04-21-2011, 05:23 PM

I've just read all 10 pages in this thread. Here's my two cents in the matter:

I started playing simmed baseball back on my Commodore 64 with MicroLeague Baseball, and moved on to Earl Weaver Baseball, Hardball, MLB, etc. While OOTP 11 was my first introduction to this franchise, I must agree that it is the best, most in-depth baseball sim I've ever played.

With all that said, I also must agree with ManCandy, even though I'm not as upset as he is.

I think the biggest question, which nobody seems to have addressed is, "What is an acceptable amount of time to pre-sell a product?" In my opinion, the minute I paid my money for the pre-order I became a customer, and as a customer, I do feel that since we don't have the product in our hands, we should at least have SOMETHING to hang our hats on. Screenshots, features, more exact release date... SOMETHING. I know some of you "old timers" are saying, "Yes, we agree, that would be nice, but just be patient and play OOTP11," but in my mind, that is an unacceptable answer. Yes, OOTP11 is a great game, but if we ALL just sat back and played OOTP11 forever, there would be no need to purchase a new version, would there?

I understand, also, that this is a small business, and there's not a team of hundreds of people working to get this game out. However, like Mancandy said, the minute someone decides to solicit money for a service, it becomes a BUSINESS, not a hobby, and when you run a business, your customers demand to be treated with a certain amount of respect. IN MY OPINION (as a manager with over 10+ years of experience), there is definitely something lacking in this case, and that becomes especially true with the customers voicing their frustration are having their accounts deleted.

"He has a life" is not an acceptable excuse. Neither is: "Well it's always been this way" or "He's busy working on another project". If you made reservations at a restaurant, but when you showed up you were told there was a three-hour delay because the chef was at the zoo with his family, or the chef was still at his other job, or even worse, "Don't worry about it, we're always running behind!" you would simply stop giving your business to that restaurant, I'm sure.

The way I see it, I couldn't care less about whether it was released in March, April, May, June, 2013, or whatever... AS LONG AS I HAVEN'T PAID FOR IT YET. My feeling changes when I willingly paid for something a full two months ago, and the only update I have is that "I was busy working on another project". That bothers me a little bit.

I really hope that OOTP12 knocks my socks off, because if it's just a souped-up version of OOTP11 I will be very disappointed, and won't be purchasing any more in the future.

04-21-2011, 05:23 PM	#202
Critical Mass Minors (Triple A) Join Date: Apr 2010 Posts: 273	I've just read all 10 pages in this thread. Here's my two cents in the matter: I started playing simmed baseball back on my Commodore 64 with MicroLeague Baseball, and moved on to Earl Weaver Baseball, Hardball, MLB, etc. While OOTP 11 was my first introduction to this franchise, I must agree that it is the best, most in-depth baseball sim I've ever played. With all that said, I also must agree with ManCandy, even though I'm not as upset as he is. I think the biggest question, which nobody seems to have addressed is, "What is an acceptable amount of time to pre-sell a product?" In my opinion, the minute I paid my money for the pre-order I became a customer, and as a customer, I do feel that since we don't have the product in our hands, we should at least have SOMETHING to hang our hats on. Screenshots, features, more exact release date... SOMETHING. I know some of you "old timers" are saying, "Yes, we agree, that would be nice, but just be patient and play OOTP11," but in my mind, that is an unacceptable answer. Yes, OOTP11 is a great game, but if we ALL just sat back and played OOTP11 forever, there would be no need to purchase a new version, would there? I understand, also, that this is a small business, and there's not a team of hundreds of people working to get this game out. However, like Mancandy said, the minute someone decides to solicit money for a service, it becomes a BUSINESS, not a hobby, and when you run a business, your customers demand to be treated with a certain amount of respect. IN MY OPINION (as a manager with over 10+ years of experience), there is definitely something lacking in this case, and that becomes especially true with the customers voicing their frustration are having their accounts deleted. "He has a life" is not an acceptable excuse. Neither is: "Well it's always been this way" or "He's busy working on another project". If you made reservations at a restaurant, but when you showed up you were told there was a three-hour delay because the chef was at the zoo with his family, or the chef was still at his other job, or even worse, "Don't worry about it, we're always running behind!" you would simply stop giving your business to that restaurant, I'm sure. The way I see it, I couldn't care less about whether it was released in March, April, May, June, 2013, or whatever... AS LONG AS I HAVEN'T PAID FOR IT YET. My feeling changes when I willingly paid for something a full two months ago, and the only update I have is that "I was busy working on another project". That bothers me a little bit. I really hope that OOTP12 knocks my socks off, because if it's just a souped-up version of OOTP11 I will be very disappointed, and won't be purchasing any more in the future.