Why can't this happen?

Go Tribe · 06-11-2002, 05:20 AM

Instead of having these awesome third party developers figure out different ways to parse html files and csv files to create their products - can't Markus give them the DAT format and have them sign a NDA along with an agreement that any utilities have to be approved by .400 studios ahead of time?

Ordinarily this kind of process can stifle creativity but everyone knows that Markus is not an ordinary developer - he cares dearly about us and shares our passion for the game. I think he'd have no problem working with dedicated developers to help improve the ootp experience.

Scott Vibert · 06-11-2002, 05:36 AM

I believe Markus has made the formats of the .dat files available to utility makers when they've asked...

This information would have been needed by Pierre to create his utilities, and I believe it was Pierre (or Markus) who helped Dave with the schedule.dat formats for the schedule generator...

Not sure, I could be mistaken... but a few boards ago, I seem to remember reading that.

[ 06-11-2002, 11:37 AM: Message edited by: ScottVib ]

Go Tribe · 06-11-2002, 05:41 AM

I had assumed that Pierre cracked the DAT in the same manner that DangerZ cracked the hh ones.

I guess I'm trying to spur something on here as I'm under the assumption the the DAT files contain EVERYTHING that the csv's and html files contain.

sox9418 · 06-11-2002, 05:51 AM

I believe that Pierre is the only one who was given permission to use the DAT format. I wasn't able to get it for a reporting tool.

It would make things easier, but I can see both sides. Thanks for all the creative people out there, though!

Draft Dodger · 06-11-2002, 06:14 AM

<blockquote>quote:<hr />Originally posted by Go Tribe:
I had assumed that Pierre cracked the DAT in the same manner that DangerZ cracked the hh ones.

<hr /></blockquote>there were rumors, of course, that DangerZ had some inside help in cracking the HH format...

Go Tribe · 06-11-2002, 06:17 AM

yeah but twins34 isn't around to help this time

blmeanie · 06-11-2002, 06:38 AM

How about go one step further, why not (if some are allowed access to the file structure) have the best of the best utilities brought in house and made part of the game going forward? These are all "outside" the engine that runs the game and would be less involved to update than something that touches the gameplay portion of the game.

Great companies use outside resources when appropriate. I believe OOTP is a great game run by a great company.

Draft Dodger · 06-11-2002, 07:05 AM

also, The LINK would be a good example of why not to give out file information to just anyone...

Henry · 06-11-2002, 07:39 AM

What could be done, however, is to have an option in the game to simply "export" the database structure into a csv table ?? That way the question should be moot...

Steve G · 06-11-2002, 07:44 AM

<blockquote>quote:<hr />Originally posted by blmeanie:
How about go one step further, why not (if some are allowed access to the file structure) have the best of the best utilities brought in house and made part of the game going forward? These are all "outside" the engine that runs the game and would be less involved to update than something that touches the gameplay portion of the game.

Great companies use outside resources when appropriate. I believe OOTP is a great game run by a great company.<hr /></blockquote>That depends on which utilites you are referring to. Remember that if OOTP includes anything with real player names, you run into license issues in the MLBPA.

06-11-2002, 05:20 AM	#1
Go Tribe All Star Starter Join Date: Dec 2001 Posts: 1,534 Infractions: 1/0 (0)	Why can't this happen? Instead of having these awesome third party developers figure out different ways to parse html files and csv files to create their products - can't Markus give them the DAT format and have them sign a NDA along with an agreement that any utilities have to be approved by .400 studios ahead of time? Ordinarily this kind of process can stifle creativity but everyone knows that Markus is not an ordinary developer - he cares dearly about us and shares our passion for the game. I think he'd have no problem working with dedicated developers to help improve the ootp experience.

06-11-2002, 05:36 AM	#2
Scott Vibert Hall Of Famer Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: My Computer Posts: 8,266	I believe Markus has made the formats of the .dat files available to utility makers when they've asked... This information would have been needed by Pierre to create his utilities, and I believe it was Pierre (or Markus) who helped Dave with the schedule.dat formats for the schedule generator... Not sure, I could be mistaken... but a few boards ago, I seem to remember reading that. <small>[ 06-11-2002, 11:37 AM: Message edited by: ScottVib ]</small>

06-11-2002, 06:14 AM	#5
Draft Dodger Hall Of Famer Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: formerly of the OTBL Posts: 4,113	</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial">Originally posted by Go Tribe: <strong>I had assumed that Pierre cracked the DAT in the same manner that DangerZ cracked the hh ones. </strong></font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial">there were rumors, of course, that DangerZ had some inside help in cracking the HH format... __________________ Draft Dodger (Anarchy: Anything goes. The Draft Dodger viewpoint.) Sophmoric[sic] Member of the OOTP Boards (It's not OOTP; it's your computer) 15 GB Webhosting for $6.95 a month IMO we are best off abandoning that sinking ship that is Off Topic to the rats infesting it and just starting a whole new Baseball Forum from scratch.

06-11-2002, 06:38 AM	#7
blmeanie All Star Starter Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Atlanta Posts: 1,044	How about go one step further, why not (if some are allowed access to the file structure) have the best of the best utilities brought in house and made part of the game going forward? These are all "outside" the engine that runs the game and would be less involved to update than something that touches the gameplay portion of the game. Great companies use outside resources when appropriate. I believe OOTP is a great game run by a great company. __________________ blmeanie email me at blmeanie Above link works for some email client programs but not all, email me at blmeanie33@earthlink.net

06-11-2002, 07:05 AM	#8
Draft Dodger Hall Of Famer Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: formerly of the OTBL Posts: 4,113	also, The LINK would be a good example of why not to give out file information to just anyone... __________________ Draft Dodger (Anarchy: Anything goes. The Draft Dodger viewpoint.) Sophmoric[sic] Member of the OOTP Boards (It's not OOTP; it's your computer) 15 GB Webhosting for $6.95 a month IMO we are best off abandoning that sinking ship that is Off Topic to the rats infesting it and just starting a whole new Baseball Forum from scratch.

06-11-2002, 05:41 AM	#3
Go Tribe All Star Starter Join Date: Dec 2001 Posts: 1,534 Infractions: 1/0 (0)	I had assumed that Pierre cracked the DAT in the same manner that DangerZ cracked the hh ones. I guess I'm trying to spur something on here as I'm under the assumption the the DAT files contain EVERYTHING that the csv's and html files contain.

06-11-2002, 05:51 AM	#4
sox9418 Major Leagues Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Boston, MA Posts: 323	I believe that Pierre is the only one who was given permission to use the DAT format. I wasn't able to get it for a reporting tool. It would make things easier, but I can see both sides. Thanks for all the creative people out there, though!

06-11-2002, 06:17 AM	#6
Go Tribe All Star Starter Join Date: Dec 2001 Posts: 1,534 Infractions: 1/0 (0)	yeah but twins34 isn't around to help this time

06-11-2002, 07:39 AM	#9
Henry Hall of Fame Join Date: Dec 2001 Posts: 6,498	What could be done, however, is to have an option in the game to simply "export" the database structure into a csv table ?? That way the question should be moot...

06-11-2002, 07:44 AM	#10
Steve G Minors (Double A) Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Columbus, Ohio Posts: 157	</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial">Originally posted by blmeanie: <strong>How about go one step further, why not (if some are allowed access to the file structure) have the best of the best utilities brought in house and made part of the game going forward? These are all "outside" the engine that runs the game and would be less involved to update than something that touches the gameplay portion of the game. Great companies use outside resources when appropriate. I believe OOTP is a great game run by a great company.</strong></font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial">That depends on which utilites you are referring to. Remember that if OOTP includes anything with real player names, you run into license issues in the MLBPA.