[Pelican]

I’m not sure I understand the criticism of OOTP due to its complexity, depth, and flexibility. What that means is that you can play the simulation almost any way you want. Like the gorgeous 3D stadiums, live play, logos, uniforms? Go for it. Fictional universe? Your imagination is the limit. Replay a season from a century ago, but with no color line? Or Ted Williams not serving in Korea? Lou Gehrig not suffering from ALS? You got it. Manage and act as GM of your favorite current team, with all the roster and financial constraints, proving once and for all you could do better? Have at it.

Many of the other games mentioned have some aspects of OOTP; but without the depth or options or, honestly, the difficulty and challenge. I played the APBA computer game for years, and the dice game before that. OOTP is a far more comprehensive sim. Player development. Managing a full minor league system. Contracts and free agency. Arbitration. Amateur draft. Rule V draft. And, OOTP is an incredible bargain, compared to the others. The price is tiny, when I think of the hours I spend working through a season. Sure it is daunting to the first-time player. (So is MS Word or Excel or PowerPoint, to the new user.). It takes time to work through the endless variables and find your preferred setup. I could not have made it, without the sage advice on these message boards. All worth the effort and study, though.