How Many Seasons Can You Play Before Burning Out?

[Peterk]

Just taking a little poll of sorts.

This is geared more towards the people who play out their games: how many seasons can you get through before the need to take a little breather sets in?

I picked up OOTP11 earlier this summer after not playing since version 6 and have had a great time with it. I just finished my 6th season, playing out all of the games and am going to take a little break before my next burst.

After my 3rd season and every season since I always said I was going to take a break but always kept getting pulled forward to the next due to the game always putting a little carrot in front of your nose:
o I'll sign my free agents and then stop
o Let's see how these guys do in spring training and then I'll stop
o Not bad. Let's play the home opener just for kicks before stopping
o Hmm...let's play the first series out completely and then pause

...and next thing you know, you're off on your next 162 game journey.

[David Watts]

Originally Posted by Peterk

Just taking a little poll of sorts.

This is geared more towards the people who play out their games: how many seasons can you get through before the need to take a little breather sets in?

I picked up OOTP11 earlier this summer after not playing since version 6 and have had a great time with it. I just finished my 6th season, playing out all of the games and am going to take a little break before my next burst.

After my 3rd season and every season since I always said I was going to take a break but always kept getting pulled forward to the next due to the game always putting a little carrot in front of your nose:
o I'll sign my free agents and then stop
o Let's see how these guys do in spring training and then I'll stop
o Not bad. Let's play the home opener just for kicks before stopping
o Hmm...let's play the first series out completely and then pause

...and next thing you know, you're off on your next 162 game journey.

Oh God, don't take that break I actually started a thread a week or so ago, talking about being in a OOTP slump. Just haven't been able to stick with a league. If you got it working for you, keep going.

Back in 9, I played 30+ seasons using Skydogs NABA quickstart. Had a long running league with 11 also.

[robc]

I used to play out all of my games. I don't think I got through much more then a season. Now I play out the first game of each series until I clinch or am out of it. I also play out any playoff games. I've gotten through 2 seasons this way.

I can usually play OOTP pretty heavily for 2-6 weeks before I need to go to something else. Then I may not touch it again for several months. It is kind of a 'solitaire' game for me. One that doesn't require too much brain power, but interesting enough so it isn't boring. Then I like to break out something more complex liek one of the Paradox titles, Civilization or some other strategy game. Throw in the occaisional first person shooter or role playing game and I am good to go. I bought Football Manager 2010 and 2011 andreally haven't touched either one yet. Since I know nothing about football they are a little intimidating to me.

[DCG12]

Have been playing since OOTP 4 and had a league that went thirty-some years until it got borked by some changes that I made (long story) during the SI years, OOTP 2007 I believe. I then messed around with various leagues until OOTP 9 when I started the league I have going now. Fictional, started with 8 teams now up to 14 and about to go to 16 which is where I will stay. I started in 1940 and am currently playing the 1967 season. Yes I play them all. I play year round although the past two years I have lost some playing time to beta testing in the spring. Never want to use a going league to beta test until the beta is absolutely stable.

[OutS|der]

i've put in a 12 hour binge before, though i smoked myself out rather then played.

i tried to play out every game but can never stick to it if it's a blow out or something i always end up simulating a few innings at least just to get it over with. Plus can never stick with it past a few seasons just get bored with my team.

I've bought Football manger the last few years to but hardly play them as i know little about soccer, and it's soccer here, but the pretty graphics can keep me interested for awhile and i wish OOTP would bring them in as it's alot better then just watching text on a screen.

[Chicagofan76]

I play multiple leagues, so when I get burned out in 1 league I switch to another league which gets me right back into things. Plus I am in 3 online leagues. I love OOTP and need to go to OOTP Anonymous for my addiction.

[Peterk]

A few people have mentioned having but not playing Football Manager in here.

Go for it. I got it back in 2007 and didn't know anything about soccer when I started playing...wasn't able to watch a full match without getting bored. After a couple of FM seasons, I became quite knowledgeable about the real sport (use Wikipedia to check up league rules when you're stumped), could discuss it intelligently, and absolutely love it now. It makes you realize that European soccer is just in a different league altogether from what we have in North America. Multiple tournaments and regular seasons all taking place together at the same time. It's quite dynamic.
England alone has over 520 pro soccer teams and in theory any two of those can meet for the English championship (FA Cup) in a given year.

I think the need for a break in OOTP becomes necessary simply because the regular season is so long. I'm actually physically tired after an OOTP season where I'm not with other games or other sports sims. I've been playing my seasons in about 3-4 weeks....40-50 games a week at 15 mins each...about 10-12 hours playing time.

[Cinnamon J. Scudworth]

I really don't find the actual managing in-game in OOTP to be very compelling, so even getting through Spring Training is kind of a chore for me. I couldn't imagine playing out every game.

[OutS|der]

Originally Posted by Peterk

A few people have mentioned having but not playing Football Manager in here.

Go for it. I got it back in 2007 and didn't know anything about soccer when I started playing...wasn't able to watch a full match without getting bored. After a couple of FM seasons, I became quite knowledgeable about the real sport (use Wikipedia to check up league rules when you're stumped), could discuss it intelligently, and absolutely love it now. It makes you realize that European soccer is just in a different league altogether from what we have in North America. Multiple tournaments and regular seasons all taking place together at the same time. It's quite dynamic.
England alone has over 520 pro soccer teams and in theory any two of those can meet for the English championship (FA Cup) in a given year.

I think the need for a break in OOTP becomes necessary simply because the regular season is so long. I'm actually physically tired after an OOTP season where I'm not with other games or other sports sims. I've been playing my seasons in about 3-4 weeks....40-50 games a week at 15 mins each...about 10-12 hours playing time.

it comes down to strategy and not being able to get past the low scores were very little happens. It's hard to understand what your players are doing wrong or why you struggle one match from the next.
I'd play allot more if there was graphics cause at least i could sit and watch out the games letting the AI handle it all like i can do in Football manger. It really helped when they added 3d with multiple angles as it was easier to watch

[TribeFanInNC]

I try to create leagues with fewer teams (16 or less) and fewer games (I usually target 100 or so) so I can get through a few seasons before I move on to something else.

I guess I have less trouble with burn out. I just have a desire for the next thing so I tend to move on to a new idea quickly.

[Peterk]

Originally Posted by Cinnamon J. Scudworth

I really don't find the actual managing in-game in OOTP to be very compelling, so even getting through Spring Training is kind of a chore for me. I couldn't imagine playing out every game.

Try simming through Spring Training and managing the actual games. I let my lackeys do spring training for me quick and get to the stuff that matters more.

It's true....in a lot of games you're just running through the line-up. But, while you're doing that you're learning about the players on your team and the opponent, check their stats and history, and that's where part of the emotional connection to the game and league comes from for me.

Even if you're not doing much, if a clutch hit or strike out makes you jump up or pump your fist, then you're connected to the game. OOTP does have that quality for me, as did CM even with the old fashionned pucks in a rink graphics (I haven't actually played a version with the 3D graphics yet).

[Dr. dru]

I'm never get burned out and play through every game. I have got through 13 season in the past 2 months in a fictional league. I ussually play at least 4 hours a day. I don't see how you could get bored with this game.

[Toado]

I get fired a lot, so I end up restarting my game numerous times. That's usually because I always manage a very low-budget team and trade away whatever talent I start out with for top-tier prospects... my problem is that I'm always more interested in future potential than current production.
So the trick - for me - is to win enough games the first couple seasons to avoid being fired - pretty hard in most cases. If I get through the rough early years, I'll play indefinitely (usually until the next OOTP comes out). Having a low budget keeps it more interesting for me because a lower payroll keeps it relatively challenging and forces me to keep a steady stream of incoming / outgoing players.

I think I established a new personal record last year by going over 20 seasons. I guess that might come with an asterisk though - I sim one day at a time and review box scores rather than actually playing out the games.

[mouse001]

I have a small case of non-medical OCD. I can keep going and going and going with the "just this last thing..." ideal but at the same time I feel the need to set things up perfectly for the next time I'll play. I'll finish a series and it'll be the end of the month and *perfect* when I start again it's a whole new month and a new team to play. Then I usually come to the boards and waste time until life gets in the way. Maybe I should just keep playing...

What I always forget is now I can save a game mid progress. I'd always play it safe with my schedule in case you get wrapped in a 28 inning game with a pressing appointment. YOU NEVER KNOW

[Cinnamon J. Scudworth]

Originally Posted by Peterk

Try simming through Spring Training and managing the actual games. I let my lackeys do spring training for me quick and get to the stuff that matters more.

Yeah, I do sim some of the games in Spring Training, and if there is a particularly important series in the regular season I play out a few of those games. In ST, even though the AI manager does an *okay* job of making sure guys are getting playing time, there are always guys that I want to try out in certain situations and there just isn't an elegant way of doing that without playing the games out.

[OldFatGuy]

I know most folks won't beleive this, but I swear it's the truth and would willingly take a polygraph to prove it.

I've now played out almost 50 years of baseball! Every inning of every game.

No burnout yet.

And that's only since about late 2009 or early 2010.

Now I'm on SS and don't work so I have lots of time, and I play each game with the settings on short pbp and very fast time (except the playoffs and world series where I go to full pbp and normal time). EDIT: I should mention that playing with short pbp and very fast means that it takes only about 5-7 minutes per game to play.

48 years, and 64 games into my 49th.

And the last few years I've even started playing out the Spring Training games. Not because I care about winning or losing, I just didn't like the way the AI was handling my starting pitchers in ST so I starting playing them out too.

I suppose I should be fitted for a straight jacket. Which is ok with me as long as I can still use my mouse to keep playing....

It's safe to say that Markus, with OOTP, has provided me with the game that I've played and enjoyed more than any other in my lifetime.

Don't have 12 yet though. Thinking about taking that plunge too once 12.5 gets released.

[J P Falcon the 3rd]

Well I actually play OOTP all out during the spring and summer but I start slowing up about now as I turn towards FM, and if I can find one, a decent NFL sim, and not to forget my war game staples like Panzer Corps or Revolution under Siege among others. For me there just is not enough time in the day to commit to one game for too long, so I never really get "burned out", I just move on.

[Nugget699]

I have two leagues on the go. My Koana Islands sim I sim in real time but don't manage a team. So as of typing this it's the 25th of September, so later today I'll sim/watch a game from the 25th of September 2011 on my save. This is in part to keep me interested and to help my website assume a more realistic vibe.

The other is a small 16 team league where I can sit down and sim 4 or 5 seasons in a sitting. Currently in year 50 already.

[Afino]

My current franchise has run since October 2009.

I'm on Season 43. I play out every game unless the game becomes a blowout (I use discretion here) and then sim a half inning at a time. Oh yeah, I make it easier by only playing 94 games per season.


I'm getting bored with it and have been for a while now. I'm trying to create a Mother of All Worlds template for me to use....forever. But it's so expansive that I put that process down and keep playing this franchise

[JWay]

I have issues getting one started. I miss SkyDog's quick start.