This is the greatest video game ever made

omg_pwnasaurus · 12-04-2021, 06:18 PM

Hyperbole? Perhaps. Do I have some nitpick stuff come up like my players getting injured breaking up double plays all the time which isn't a thing anymore? Sure. But I still think this is the greatest video game ever made.

When I was playing Front Page Sports Baseball '96 in my dorm room years ago, spending months editing stuff just so that I could update the rosters, never would I have imagined that years later, I'd be able to pick any year in baseball history and start an entire sim from that point on without having to do any manipulation to make it work.

I've put hundreds of hours (as I'm sure many of you have as well) into this game now, especially during the pandemic when I've retreated at many times to my couch looking to keep my mind sharp and engage in something that could be a welcome distraction from the world and this game has served that purpose and more.

Just a quick example of one of the many awesome, edge of the seat moments I've experienced. I started a sim from 1984 and in 1993 I decided to take over the Rockies, McGwire was exposed in the expansion draft and I figured it'd be awesome to see him in Coors. He didn't disappoint, hitting 58 HR in 1995, but in 1997 which is the season I just completed, he was at 61 HR going into the final game of the season.

He went 0 for but got an at bat in extra innings down by 1 at Coors with a man on 1st and 2 outs, the final at bat of the season with a chance to win the final game of the year while breaking the all-time HR record. He hit a deep shot to CF but it was caught on the track, just an extremely cool moment captured in the game and there are a bunch of these I've experienced throughout the many seasons I've played through.

I just wanted to take a moment to thank each and every person that had a hand in creating such a wonderful piece of software that has really given me hours upon hours of enjoyment, especially during a time when I've had to try and find a way to distract myself from everyday life a bit now and then.

Happy holidays to all of you and stay well

Eugene Church · 12-07-2021, 11:59 AM

Since version 3, I have been blessed with a truly wonderful baseball game.

Each and every year since, OOTP has filled my life with many wonderful hours of enjoyment.

The animation improvements make me think I have died and gone to Heaven.

My right fielders in my game are so overjoyed with it they run through walls for me.

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to all y'all.

Bobbyraz49 · 12-07-2021, 12:23 PM

Front Page Sports Baseball !!! Great reference. I loved that game. You are spot on regarding this game.
One of the best things regarding OOTP are these forums. The players and developers are OUTSTANDING ! Love the updates they provide.

Happy Holidays from Bob in Buffalo.

RchW · 12-07-2021, 12:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Eugene Church

My right fielders in my game are so overjoyed with it they run through walls for me.

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to all y'all.

very funny! Do you have a screenshot?

neugey · 12-07-2021, 05:40 PM

It's funny you mentioned Front Page Sports ... FPS Football Pro '96 - with the customization, play editor and support for online leagues - is in my holy trinity of sim football gaming - FBS FBPRO 96, NCAA 04, NFL 2K5.

I also get a ton of enjoyment out of the game - actually more than the MLB itself. Though I do seem to cycle between Perfect Team and the actual game, and when I get tired of one I pick the other up

Kobeck · 12-08-2021, 12:31 AM

3 words....

Earl Weaver Baseball

I owned FPS baseball & football... but they did not compare to EWB

OOTP was a better baseball simulator at version 1 than anything other than house ruled paper and pencil games

Favorite dice/paper/pencil game was Extra Innings

Ty Cobb · 12-08-2021, 01:23 AM

Earl Weaver? The IIgs I played that on still boots.

Bobbyraz49 · 12-08-2021, 11:07 AM

How about Tony Larussa baseball ???
One of my favorites....Wayne Gretzky hockey.

omg_pwnasaurus · 12-08-2021, 11:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kobeck

Favorite dice/paper/pencil game was Extra Innings

Mine was Pursue the Pennant. I remember my older brother bought it when it first came out at some card show we were at in Asbury Park, NJ in the mid 80's and we fell in love with it. So good.

Germaniac · 12-08-2021, 12:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by omg_pwnasaurus

Mine was Pursue the Pennant. I remember my older brother bought it when it first came out at some card show we were at in Asbury Park, NJ in the mid 80's and we fell in love with it. So good.

A great game.
I sent them dollar bills and they sent me the game to Germany.

I played it for years and really really enjoyed it

Eugene Church · 12-08-2021, 12:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RchW

[/B]

very funny! Do you have a screenshot?

Nope, but I will try to get one the next time it happens.

Syd Thrift · 12-08-2021, 02:05 PM

I played Strat o Matic, even the computer version, before discovering OOTP and there’s been no turning back. For football, I really like FPS, to the point that every few years I do the work of setting up a VM with Windows 98 so I can set up leagues, etc. There’s still not really anything that quite scratches that itch, although I think Pro Strategy Football might come close and eventually be that game. I personally find the coaching aspect of American football to be much more interesting than the GMing aspect and so the in game engine has got to be there for me.

PSUColonel · 12-08-2021, 10:10 PM

I enjoyed Tony LaRussa 3 & THE FPS Baseball and Football series.

I also tried to like APBA Ernie Harwell Baseball Broadcast Blast...but I just couldn't get into it with all of the season disks you had to purchase.

Curve Ball Dave · 12-09-2021, 11:43 AM

I devoted a good part of my life to playing the FPS games. For their time they were as good as they got. With the play editor in the Football game you could make the game whatever you wanted to be. To me, the best games allow the user to be in charge of what the game will be. OOTP and FHM (to a lessor extent) do this. I wish I could say the same for other sims out there right now.

Leo_The_Lip · 12-09-2021, 12:04 PM

OOTP is not a video game despite the title of this thread.

It is a spreadsheet game at its core.

And my 7-year old grandson would agree that Minecraft Dungeons is the greatest game of all--except when I let him open packs in OOTP and fireworks ensue.

Pelican · 12-10-2021, 12:13 PM

Agreed that the proper label is "computer strategy" rather than "video game". A long road for me from dice and paper Strat-O-Matic and then APBA cards starting with the 1966 Season (in 1967) and years later the DOS (!) and Windows versions of the APBA computer baseball game, yes with the annual season disk purchases. Honestly I downloaded OOTP 21 because there was an Apple version, and I have not looked back. The most important thing may be that it is not a "perfect" sim, as if there could ever be such a thing; but a work in progress where the whole community seems to be working with the developers to make it better and more fun and more challenge with each patch and each year. I really appreciate that effort and openness to criticism and suggestions. I look forward to each small refinement along the way.

ProStrategyFootball · 12-10-2021, 02:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Syd Thrift

I played Strat o Matic, even the computer version, before discovering OOTP and there’s been no turning back. For football, I really like FPS, to the point that every few years I do the work of setting up a VM with Windows 98 so I can set up leagues, etc. There’s still not really anything that quite scratches that itch, although I think Pro Strategy Football might come close and eventually be that game. I personally find the coaching aspect of American football to be much more interesting than the GMing aspect and so the in game engine has got to be there for me.

Thanks, Syd! I'm starting to work on requirements and design for the 2023 version of PSF, so please feel free to send me suggestions that will improve the game. You can message me, email me, or even post over on the steam forums. Thanks again for the kind words.

Cryomaniac · 12-10-2021, 04:13 PM

My favourite sports video game will always be NFL 2k5, and I will curse EA forever for the NFL exclusive license deal.

But OOTP is very special too.

Bobbyraz49 · 12-11-2021, 12:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ProStrategyFootball

Thanks, Syd! I'm starting to work on requirements and design for the 2023 version of PSF, so please feel free to send me suggestions that will improve the game. You can message me, email me, or even post over on the steam forums. Thanks again for the kind words.

Do you have a Youtube video that show how this is played? Diehard Buffalo Bills fan here. I haven't found anything for the PC worth playing since Madden on the PC.
Thanks !

RubeBaker · 12-11-2021, 08:32 PM

Agree 100%. To add to your kudos, I saw a play today that made me smile and laugh out loud. Billy Hamilton made a diving catch in center field that looked like he might have trapped it, but he held up his glove to show he had caught the ball. I know, it's not earth-shattering information, but that little detail made me so happy.

12-04-2021, 06:18 PM	#1
omg_pwnasaurus Major Leagues Join Date: Jul 2020 Posts: 353	This is the greatest video game ever made Hyperbole? Perhaps. Do I have some nitpick stuff come up like my players getting injured breaking up double plays all the time which isn't a thing anymore? Sure. But I still think this is the greatest video game ever made. When I was playing Front Page Sports Baseball '96 in my dorm room years ago, spending months editing stuff just so that I could update the rosters, never would I have imagined that years later, I'd be able to pick any year in baseball history and start an entire sim from that point on without having to do any manipulation to make it work. I've put hundreds of hours (as I'm sure many of you have as well) into this game now, especially during the pandemic when I've retreated at many times to my couch looking to keep my mind sharp and engage in something that could be a welcome distraction from the world and this game has served that purpose and more. Just a quick example of one of the many awesome, edge of the seat moments I've experienced. I started a sim from 1984 and in 1993 I decided to take over the Rockies, McGwire was exposed in the expansion draft and I figured it'd be awesome to see him in Coors. He didn't disappoint, hitting 58 HR in 1995, but in 1997 which is the season I just completed, he was at 61 HR going into the final game of the season. He went 0 for but got an at bat in extra innings down by 1 at Coors with a man on 1st and 2 outs, the final at bat of the season with a chance to win the final game of the year while breaking the all-time HR record. He hit a deep shot to CF but it was caught on the track, just an extremely cool moment captured in the game and there are a bunch of these I've experienced throughout the many seasons I've played through. I just wanted to take a moment to thank each and every person that had a hand in creating such a wonderful piece of software that has really given me hours upon hours of enjoyment, especially during a time when I've had to try and find a way to distract myself from everyday life a bit now and then. Happy holidays to all of you and stay well

12-07-2021, 11:59 AM	#2
Eugene Church Hall Of Famer Join Date: Aug 2002 Posts: 36,034	Since version 3, I have been blessed with a truly wonderful baseball game. Each and every year since, OOTP has filled my life with many wonderful hours of enjoyment. The animation improvements make me think I have died and gone to Heaven. My right fielders in my game are so overjoyed with it they run through walls for me. Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to all y'all. Last edited by Eugene Church; 12-21-2021 at 06:58 PM.

12-07-2021, 05:40 PM	#5
neugey All Star Reserve Join Date: Apr 2011 Posts: 805	It's funny you mentioned Front Page Sports ... FPS Football Pro '96 - with the customization, play editor and support for online leagues - is in my holy trinity of sim football gaming - FBS FBPRO 96, NCAA 04, NFL 2K5. I also get a ton of enjoyment out of the game - actually more than the MLB itself. Though I do seem to cycle between Perfect Team and the actual game, and when I get tired of one I pick the other up __________________ Online OOTP League Play: PBA - Cincinnati Reds MLM - Baltimore Orioles

12-08-2021, 01:23 AM	#7
Ty Cobb Hall Of Famer Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: Grayling, MI Posts: 4,586	Earl Weaver? The IIgs I played that on still boots. __________________ "You could not live with your own failure. Where did that bring you? Back to me." Thanos

12-09-2021, 11:43 AM	#14
Curve Ball Dave Hall Of Famer Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Chicago Posts: 2,362	I devoted a good part of my life to playing the FPS games. For their time they were as good as they got. With the play editor in the Football game you could make the game whatever you wanted to be. To me, the best games allow the user to be in charge of what the game will be. OOTP and FHM (to a lessor extent) do this. I wish I could say the same for other sims out there right now. __________________ "Hitting is timing. Pitching is upsetting timing"-Warren Spahn.

12-07-2021, 12:23 PM	#3
Bobbyraz49 All Star Reserve Join Date: Apr 2020 Posts: 933	Front Page Sports Baseball !!! Great reference. I loved that game. You are spot on regarding this game. One of the best things regarding OOTP are these forums. The players and developers are OUTSTANDING ! Love the updates they provide. Happy Holidays from Bob in Buffalo.

12-08-2021, 12:31 AM	#6
Kobeck Major Leagues Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 491	3 words.... Earl Weaver Baseball I owned FPS baseball & football... but they did not compare to EWB OOTP was a better baseball simulator at version 1 than anything other than house ruled paper and pencil games Favorite dice/paper/pencil game was Extra Innings

12-08-2021, 11:07 AM	#8
Bobbyraz49 All Star Reserve Join Date: Apr 2020 Posts: 933	How about Tony Larussa baseball ??? One of my favorites....Wayne Gretzky hockey.

12-08-2021, 10:10 PM	#13
PSUColonel Hall Of Famer Join Date: Feb 2002 Posts: 13,106	I enjoyed Tony LaRussa 3 & THE FPS Baseball and Football series. I also tried to like APBA Ernie Harwell Baseball Broadcast Blast...but I just couldn't get into it with all of the season disks you had to purchase.

12-09-2021, 12:04 PM	#15
Leo_The_Lip All Star Starter Join Date: Nov 2009 Posts: 1,801	OOTP is not a video game despite the title of this thread. It is a spreadsheet game at its core. And my 7-year old grandson would agree that Minecraft Dungeons is the greatest game of all--except when I let him open packs in OOTP and fireworks ensue. __________________ "My name will live forever" - Anonymous Last edited by Lukas Berger; 12-10-2021 at 05:11 PM. Reason: Removed quoted spam link

12-10-2021, 12:13 PM	#16
Pelican Hall Of Famer Join Date: Mar 2021 Location: Wilmington, Delaware Posts: 2,999	Agreed that the proper label is "computer strategy" rather than "video game". A long road for me from dice and paper Strat-O-Matic and then APBA cards starting with the 1966 Season (in 1967) and years later the DOS (!) and Windows versions of the APBA computer baseball game, yes with the annual season disk purchases. Honestly I downloaded OOTP 21 because there was an Apple version, and I have not looked back. The most important thing may be that it is not a "perfect" sim, as if there could ever be such a thing; but a work in progress where the whole community seems to be working with the developers to make it better and more fun and more challenge with each patch and each year. I really appreciate that effort and openness to criticism and suggestions. I look forward to each small refinement along the way.

12-10-2021, 04:13 PM	#18
Cryomaniac Hall Of Famer Join Date: May 2007 Location: Hucknall, Notts, UK Posts: 4,902	My favourite sports video game will always be NFL 2k5, and I will curse EA forever for the NFL exclusive license deal. But OOTP is very special too. __________________

12-11-2021, 08:32 PM	#20
RubeBaker All Star Reserve Join Date: Mar 2015 Location: USA Posts: 642	Agree 100%. To add to your kudos, I saw a play today that made me smile and laugh out loud. Billy Hamilton made a diving catch in center field that looked like he might have trapped it, but he held up his glove to show he had caught the ball. I know, it's not earth-shattering information, but that little detail made me so happy.