OOTP 6.51 VS The Newer Verisons

[RJB7777777]

Guy's is there any way you could up-date OOTP6.51 to be OOTP9 and have two verisons of the Game?? I really think if you could up-date 6.51 to today maybe with an extra Minor League Team, Box Scores for the Minors, and a Minor League Play-Off it would outsell the new version of the game. Then we could all choose between the two which one we want to buy.

That would really be great if you could do that for us. I know there is a lot of Guy's out there that love 6.51 that would buy the new verison of it. I know I'd buy two of them right now to put on my four computers.

Thanks, Rick

[jazzrack]

i think those of us that prefer 6.5 are just going to have to accept that ootp is no longer the same game we love. they have made the decision to move to a far more complicated game than I (and others like me) are in the market for. and thats ok, its a business decision. we will just have to make a personal decision to find another product or stick with the old one. to keep hoping that things will go back to the way we like is folly.

[RJB7777777]

I think if they wanted to and if there were enough of us that asked for it they'd make the two versions of it.

I also sent them an e-mail about this.

I've never done anything like that before, but to me if they already have most of it done it shouldn't be to hard to up-date it.

Rick

[silvam14]

Originally Posted by RJB7777777

I think if they wanted to and if there were enough of us that asked for it they'd make the two versions of it.

Rick

Sure, with the abundance of resources that Markus has, no problem!

BTW, Can you do me a favor and tell Bill Gates to take all of the great features from windows 95, 98, XP, and Vista, and put it into Windows 3.1? Could ya do that for me?

K thx!

[jazzrack]

Originally Posted by silvam14

Sure, with the abundance of resources that Markus has, no problem!

BTW, Can you do me a favor and tell Bill Gates to take all of the great features from windows 95, 98, XP, and Vista, and put it into Windows 3.1? Could ya do that for me?

K thx!

he doesn't like the new game, no reason to ge bent out of shape over it.

[silvam14]

Originally Posted by jazzrack

he doesn't like the new game, no reason to ge bent out of shape over it.

Not getting bent out of shape, I just can't take a post like that seriously when he is basically stating the ridiculous talking about creating two versions of the game. Do you think that is remotely feasible? I don't. Its hard enough for him to work his butt off on one game.

This guy either has his head in the clouds, or is just pulling our chains. I think the latter.

[endgame]

Originally Posted by silvam14

Not getting bent out of shape, I just can't take a post like that seriously when he is basically stating the ridiculous talking about creating two versions of the game. Do you think that is remotely feasible? I don't. Its hard enough for him to work his butt off on one game.

This guy either has his head in the clouds, or is just pulling our chains. I think the latter.

silvam, a rather uncharacteristically vehement response there, buddy. I do understand, however. The issue should be considered moot by now, but it isn't.

I've always loved the game overall, regardless of its format, but all the other versions have now been uninstalled and erased from the hard drive. It is difficult for me to understand the appeal of 6.51 and prior for a variety of reasons, primarily the fact that everything was mod-dependent and time-prohibitive. If you wanted it, you or someone else had to do it. So much of the current iteration is of an automated nature, its complexity is offset by virtue of its time-saving contributions. I can't believe how long I used to sit waiting for Cato to complete seasonal league processing (God forbid an error occured and I had to do it again -- or again -- or again); how each year I'd use ctorg's unique ID method to clean up my player ID's so no one had identical numbers; the annual origin updates with Originator (with the help of SandMan's original origins); face updates for new players and the constant exchange of duplicate photos (mitigated somewhat by Anderson's utilities); fighting the sign-and-release battle; ltrans adjustments; and many more I won't continue to delineate.

There was a simplicity I clung to, but it was only because the basic framework allowed customization in a variety of forms via the community. That much hasn't changed. Even in its current form, if you want interesting logos or uniforms, you still have to put them in or have them designed. It does, however, contain game-created logos that were not a part of the past; nor were uniforms or unusual faces included unless you wanted several uniforms represented throughout your team....etc..

Ah well, it's just me. I have an occasional nostalgia for some interface elements, but in the final analysis, the evolution has been one that - I think - has been built largely around encompassing what its audience has requested. How great is it to have that relationship with a developer?

Forums are still in place to discuss issues with older versions and there are enough people, old and new, still affixed to them to continue to offer the community spirit and information even now. That, in itself, speaks to both the enduring quality of the game and the often generous nature of its game-owners. But we've reached the top of a new hill, if only to see the next one to climb. There's no going back.

[silvam14]

Originally Posted by endgame

silvam, a rather uncharacteristically vehement response there, buddy. I do understand, however. The issue should be considered moot by now, but it isn't.

After re-reading, I apologize if I sounded snippy. I respect the fact that there are some people who won't let 6.5 go, and while it was a great game in its time, I have moved on and I think most others have too.

With that said, I get a little pit in my stomach when I think of all the greatness the new version have brought and all of the hard work put into them by Markus and the community, and then people suggesting that we should regress everything because they can't get past the complexity or interface.

In now way will I be able to put my views as eloquently as you can EG, but I feel the same way.

Sorry if I offended anyone

[satchel]

The newest versions of the game were a step too far in one direction. Future versions of the game will compensate, and the style of the game will revert to a more manageable presentation, without losing any of the detail and customizability. The extremes will dovetail into a cool compromise. Patience is key. OOTP 9 might surprise, and please, a big majority.

[Cooleyvol]

There's nothing wrong about asking for a game with the simplicity that 6.5 gave us.

[Recte44]

There is already such a game available: OOTP 6.5. And if you own it already, it doesn't cost anything???

OOTP has gone in a more in-depth direction. It might not be what everyone likes, but that's reality. Like 6.5? Continue to play it!

Heck, I know people who still won't give up FPS Baseball Pro '98! That's their prerogative, it's not going to make Sierra Sports come back to live and make a new Baseball Pro.

[Cooleyvol]

Originally Posted by Recte44

There is already such a game available: OOTP 6.5. And if you own it already, it doesn't cost anything???

OOTP has gone in a more in-depth direction. It might not be what everyone likes, but that's reality. Like 6.5? Continue to play it!

Heck, I know people who still won't give up FPS Baseball Pro '98! That's their prerogative, it's not going to make Sierra Sports come back to live and make a new Baseball Pro.

The smilie doesnt mask the smartass content to your post.

whatever...........

[Cooleyvol]

One last point: During the 5/6 days, there were constantly between 150 and 200 members on this board................just checked. There's 50 on here and most of those are in OT.

TSW can come close to that a lot of the time and its just a league forum.

So, in closing, was this 'in depth' move in the best interest of the game and its community? I'm sure the jury's still out, but it ain't looking so hot if you gauge its merit by the activity on these boards.

[satchel]

Originally Posted by Cooleyvol

...was this 'in depth' move in the best interest of the game and its community? I'm sure the jury's still out, but it ain't looking so hot if you gauge its merit by the activity on these boards.

The motivations of the OOTP Developments team must include a desire for more sales, plus a desire for greater community loyalty and activity (which would also mean more sales). The OOTP Dev team is aware of their sales figures, and aware of community activity. So surely they're reacting to the current state of their market's reactions to the newer versions of the game (OOTP 2006 and 2007) and moving in a direction to lpease both themselves and their customers.

Surely their overall plan is to create, develop, and maintain a game product which will both satisfy themselves artistically and meet the needs of the market, for many years to come.

I have faith that they will move OOTP in the best direction.

[Cooleyvol]

I agree Satch. If this were my game/community, I'd give great weight to the state of the forums now and would move the game back in the direction of the past a bit, even if its a togglable game interface/features.

The overall 'look' of the game, IMO, isn't the problem. Its the overall difficulty in doing things as compared to 6.5 and prior versions.

I don't know about sales, but I do know about the community and its basically gone as of now. This is my stop for OT only (rarely to boot) and I'm not alone.

[satchel]

The merger with SI and the influence of Championship Manager was motion in a certain direction, and that motion has now ended, I'm sure. The SI influence was strong, but it has run its course. Markus will shed the bad aspects of the CM interface and design, and keep its good features. New versions of OOTP will be the best yet.

[silvam14]

Originally Posted by Cooleyvol

I agree Satch. If this were my game/community, I'd give great weight to the state of the forums now and would move the game back in the direction of the past a bit, even if its a togglable game interface/features.

It's January, for most baseball games, this is the dead season. I'm sure you've been around to see that once announcements are made by Markus et al, activity will surely pick up.

Also, moving a game into the direction of the past would be counterproductive, especially since you would be doing it for a minority of those who can't handle the present iterations.

With Markus now independent again and free of SI, he also has less resources. If he were to spend time trying to make a togglable interface that looked like 6.5, I'd venture to say most people here would be upset about it.

[Cooleyvol]

I've also been around long enough to know that this is a dead season. However, this trend didn't just start and YOU'VE been around long enough to know that.

[endgame]

Originally Posted by Cooleyvol

I've also been around long enough to know that this is a dead season. However, this trend didn't just start and YOU'VE been around long enough to know that.

I didn't research your previous post history, Cool, but I've known you and of you for a long time. I recall you having a bitter taste, like many of us, with the v2006 and then a recant of that position with v2007 in which I thought you'd become just short of an advocate.

You don't have to do it here if you think it's stirring the pot, but can you recap your experience for me to date with the transition? IIRC, you are a primarily historical player, but word has it you have a few online league involvements. Is that still the case? Is online play very problematic?

I guess where you are now, seemingly in limbo, lurking, and falling just shy of general disenchantment (I get there occasionally, so it at least looks a little familiar to me) seems a bit of surprise to me. Can you bring me up to date on the personal experiences that brought you to your present state of opinion and, if you're willing, expand on just what that state entails?

Always curious.

[JoeRockEHF]

I'm one of those who are still attached to 6.5. I don't know what it is about it but I really love the complex but simple nature of it. After being away for awhile for personal reasons I came back and found out about 2006. I bought it instantly and although I love a lot about the game...I just didn't get that "feel" to it.

I know it sounds stupid but I've tried over and over to like that game but to no avail, I always came back to 6.5. Because of SI's involvement and my distaste of 2006 I never did buy 2007 (I've been with OOTP since v3). I was away once again for an extended period of time and have seen the merger end and 2007 is now v8. I thought about buying it and giving it a whirl as most people see it as a step in the right direction, plus I want to help out Markus as much as I can.

I do know asking for an updated 6.5 is out of the question and we have to move on. I have good hopes for the future and am going to get v9 no doubt. Whether I stick with it or go back to 6.5 once again is to be determined. If v9 has anything close to that "feel" of complex but simple though, it will have me sold.