Why I love OOTP

[abefrohman]

I started playing OOTP last year. Prior to that, I played Sports Mogul and I enjoyed it overall, but it never had the realism or accuracy that I always wanted. With OOTP, I get that and I really feel for the first time what it must be like in the seat of a GM. Yes, I know that it's just a game and it's virtually impossible to make a sports simulation that is perfect. There's always going to be computer bugs and some anomalies that stand in the way of perfection, but I am amazed at how close to real baseball this game is.

You can tell that a lot of time and effort went into the making of this game. It's no surprise to me that real-life major leaguers are fans of it and play it like we do. Many of us have fantasized what it would be like to be owner or GM of a MLB franchise. This game is the next best thing.

The worst thing that I can say about OOTP is that it is very addicting to play. There are times when I get so caught up in a simulation that I completely lose track of time. I've never had that happen with another simulation whether on the computer or a board game. It goes beyond Baseball Mogul or any other simulation. You're really in charge of a franchise here and not just the big-league team, but the minor-league teams as well. Or you can be the manager of a short-season, class A team and work your way up the chain to make it to the show. I can almost smell the fumes of the buses leaving as we take the team to the next minor-league location. And, to tell you the truth, I briefly played as a manager for a minor-league team in Vermont for the Oakland A's organization. I loved it. My first game I had a pitcher who had a no-hitter going into the 8th inning. It got broken up, but he went on to pitch a 1-hit shutout. It might not have been ideal for most people and we weren't flying first-class into cities, but I loved managing in the minors. I loved every damn second of it. And if I ever got the chance to do it again, I'd do it in a New York second.

That's what I love about OOTP. So many things.

[MizzouRah]

I spent hours scouting my NLCS opponent this season and I'm still afraid to actually start the first game.

[raginhood]

I hate it because it took me 12 years to win a World Series. I fielded the best team every year and out of those 12 years the lowest wild card team won the World Series 7 times that's just too much non-realism for me. I'm going back to knitting..... Knit 1 pearl 2....knit 1 pearl 2. lol

[Mr. Marlin]

Originally Posted by abefrohman

I started playing OOTP last year. Prior to that, I played Sports Mogul and I enjoyed it overall, but it never had the realism or accuracy that I always wanted. With OOTP, I get that and I really feel for the first time what it must be like in the seat of a GM. Yes, I know that it's just a game and it's virtually impossible to make a sports simulation that is perfect. There's always going to be computer bugs and some anomalies that stand in the way of perfection, but I am amazed at how close to real baseball this game is.

You can tell that a lot of time and effort went into the making of this game. It's no surprise to me that real-life major leaguers are fans of it and play it like we do. Many of us have fantasized what it would be like to be owner or GM of a MLB franchise. This game is the next best thing.

The worst thing that I can say about OOTP is that it is very addicting to play. There are times when I get so caught up in a simulation that I completely lose track of time. I've never had that happen with another simulation whether on the computer or a board game. It goes beyond Baseball Mogul or any other simulation. You're really in charge of a franchise here and not just the big-league team, but the minor-league teams as well. Or you can be the manager of a short-season, class A team and work your way up the chain to make it to the show. I can almost smell the fumes of the buses leaving as we take the team to the next minor-league location. And, to tell you the truth, I briefly played as a manager for a minor-league team in Vermont for the Oakland A's organization. I loved it. My first game I had a pitcher who had a no-hitter going into the 8th inning. It got broken up, but he went on to pitch a 1-hit shutout. It might not have been ideal for most people and we weren't flying first-class into cities, but I loved managing in the minors. I loved every damn second of it. And if I ever got the chance to do it again, I'd do it in a New York second.

That's what I love about OOTP. So many things.

Great post!

[Honorable_Pawn]

Originally Posted by abefrohman

I can almost smell the fumes of the buses leaving as we take the team to the next minor-league location.

Ugggghhhh....please not another New York/Boston fan around here!

Whatever happened to the smell of hotdogs, burgers, and beer?

[Déjà Bru]

Originally Posted by Mr. Marlin

Great post!

Yes indeed. In my years here, I've seen plenty of refugees from Baseball Mogul and other simulations who come here and say pretty much the same thing but usually not as eloquently.

I also have seen some who threaten to leave and go back to those other games for one reason or another. Strangely, or perhaps not so strangely, they come and go so quickly that it's hard to take them seriously.

Usually, though, pilgrims who land on these shores stay for good.

[raginhood]

Originally Posted by Déjà Bru

Yes indeed. In my years here, I've seen plenty of refugees from Baseball Mogul and other simulations who come here and say pretty much the same thing but usually not as eloquently.

I also have seen some who threaten to leave and go back to those other games for one reason or another. Strangely, or perhaps not so strangely, they come and go so quickly that it's hard to take them seriously.

Usually, though, pilgrims who land on these shores stay for good.

If this game had Front Page Sports Baseball GRAPHICS nobody would EVAH leave.

[abefrohman]

Originally Posted by Honorable_Pawn

Ugggghhhh....please not another New York/Boston fan around here!

Whatever happened to the smell of hotdogs, burgers, and beer?

Not a fan of either New York or Boston. And, I LOVE the smell of hotdogs, burgers and beer. Not necessarily in that order.

[mm7607]

I am an Astros and Marlins fan even though I have never been to Houston other then drive through once going to California, Marlins fan as I am originally from Florida.

I've been playing board games and video games since the 70s. OOTP is the best game and has kept me playing every version made except 1.

But for me the worst thing for me as I am an avid records keeper is the lack of a decent record book.

[StyxNCa]

Originally Posted by Déjà Bru

Yes indeed. In my years here, I've seen plenty of refugees from Baseball Mogul and other simulations who come here and say pretty much the same thing but usually not as eloquently.

I also have seen some who threaten to leave and go back to those other games for one reason or another. Strangely, or perhaps not so strangely, they come and go so quickly that it's hard to take them seriously.

Usually, though, pilgrims who land on these shores stay for good.

Wouldn't be to sure about that. In a couple forums of a couple other games I use there are many people who list OOTP as one of the games they have tried and didn't like. They are all people who prefer replaying seasons and they all feel the same about OOTP and historical play as I have for a long time.

It just boils down to preference and OOTP is like every other game out there, it's not for everyone.

[Déjà Bru]

Originally Posted by StyxNCa

Wouldn't be to sure about that. In a couple forums of a couple other games I use there are many people who list OOTP as one of the games they have tried and didn't like. They are all people who prefer replaying seasons and they all feel the same about OOTP and historical play as I have for a long time.

It just boils down to preference and OOTP is like every other game out there, it's not for everyone.

True. It is for me, that much is certain.

[D-BacksJosh]

I wouldn't say it is for everyone. I think you definitely have to have an in-depth love for baseball to fully appreciate OOTP. Which is probably why it is a favorite of Major League ballplayers. I have to admit when I first came across OOTP and purchased it I asked for a refund, I think I was too overwhelmed with it, and that was in my controller button pushing console days. I thought 'no way in hell am I ever going to play a text-based game!'. But because I love baseball I always had that desire for realism in a baseball game that was never satisfied on the console. I gave OOTP a second chance and haven't turned back since. As a matter of fact I don't even have a console anymore (well, I do play my daughters WII from time to time!). OOTP is an acquired taste, sort of like fine wine. Once I tasted the The Domaine Romanée-Conti of the baseball sim world, I can never go back to Boone's Farm.

[StyxNCa]

Originally Posted by Déjà Bru

True. It is for me, that much is certain.

Yeah, I've been running my fictional league since version 4. I do love the fictional.

[landru]

Here's my two pennies worth why I love OOTP:

It's June and I'm leading my division even though my talent is not top-notch. Then my ace is injured for the rest of the season. I decide to go for it. I bring up the league's #1 prospect, Ralph 'Hit-man' Hudson, from AAA even though he needs a little bit more development.

His third game he pitches a 1-0 shutout. The one run? Hudson's homerun.

This game has tons of these moments, not just in game play, but in player careers, in strategy, in surprises I'm still discovering, in the tightly wound balance between money, talent and winning...I could go on, but I would rather just play another game waiting until Hudson gets to the mound again.

[raginhood]

I think I love the come from behind games most but it sure plays hell with my starting pitchers Win stats. I'd probably have four 20 game winners if it wasn't for these come from behind in the 8th or 9th innings as it never fails I always fall behind very early in the game (even with great pitchers like Verlander, Strausburg, Greinke, and the list goes on). Oh they get their 18-21 wins but they'd have soooooooooooooooo much more if the engine didn't screw them with such ridiculous 1st inning scores.

[MizzouRah]

I started in 2010 and I'm just finished the 2025 season. Still NO WORLD SERIES RINGS!!!

The game AI has grown leaps and bounds since the beginning.

I've made the playoffs many times, I just can't get that elusive ring.

[RchW]

This is why I love OOTP.

Fifteen innings in the WS and a marginal swingman gives me 5.2 innings of 1 hit 0 walks and 6K of relief to let me win. I rode him 2 inning longer than I thought he could go and he did it. Priceless!