Online League Suggestion/Question

[majesty95]

Would it be possible for OOTP to have its own online leagues server? A buddy and I have been wanting to play in a league together but I tried for two days to set it up and finally gave up. Also, I think having to download and upload league files every day would have become an issue too. So would it be possible for the game to host these leagues and make them easier to create/join/play?

I, personally, would be willing to pay $5 more or so for this functionality. I know it costs money for the servers and it creates a new set of potential issues. However, with the success of online leagues in Madden, NCAA and FIFA as well as large online PC games like Call of Duty and Battlefield I think it is just the natural progression for the series.

Thoughts?

[GMLoophole]

I was always mildly surprised this wasn't an available service. I've only been in one league, but it seemed from reading threads there (and about other online leagues) a lot of people have had problems finding hosting.

It's funny that you mention Madden because that's the first game I thought of while reading your message... and my recollection was of the many angry and frustrated buyers who couldn't get the feature to work. In fairness, I haven't bought or played Madden in over a decade, so it probably works much better these days.

[majesty95]

There are always issues with every game and always those whose sole purpose seems to be to find them. However, Madden and NCAA did a very good job with their online franchises/dynasties. Its so much easier to just click "create league" and then to choose your league settings as opposed to what needs to be done with these games. In fact, having to find your own hosting to use a feature built into the game is kind of off putting.

[majesty95]

Nobody else would like to see the game hose online leagues?

[TGH-Adfabre]

I am so accustomed to hosting it really is not an issue to me.

OOTP is the only game I play online. Are there any competitor games that host for 30+ seasons? How do those games handle importing from one version to a new version?

[byzeil]

Originally Posted by majesty95

Nobody else would like to see the game hose online leagues?

OOTPD is a small software development company. Running file servers to host leagues is a business in itself. They would need multiple file servers to host the leagues along with backups. The infrastructure for such a setup is not something you just throw together. In addition they would require a staff of people to manage the infrastructure, I want Markus and company focused on developing software and not managing file servers. I highly doubt charging an extra $5 per copy of the game would generate enough income to start up this file hosting business.

Your example of companies that do host online games are large companies compared to OOTPD.

[canadian content]

Originally Posted by byzeil

Your example of companies that do host online games are large companies compared to OOTPD.

.....BUT there are several GM baseball games, some from smaller companies, some that are run by bigger companies, that are run on servers.

I am in the 'I would love to see it' camp but I am not holding my breath. I have played some of those games but they aren't as good as OOTP......at least not yet.