A New Guy's Questions

[new_to_baseball]

Not really new if you look at my registration date, but I've just completely forgot about the game and this forum (forgive me), so I guess you could call me new anyway. Baseball is not really that new to me any longer though. But back on topic, I have a few questions about OOTP.

Firstly, if I buy the game, does it include updated Major League rosters? I tried the demo a few years ago, but found out the game only carried fictional rosters (I prefer to play with real rosters). I'm as far off a wiz on a computer as you can come, so transporting rosters, logos etc from mod packages here might be a little tricky for me. Secondly, how long do I have to wait for patches? I don't really like to start playing until most major patches are out. Are they hard to install? (I'm a moron, I know. )

[new_to_baseball]

Also, what's up with the name of the awards? Why are they called Glove Wizard Award, Outstanding Pitcher Award etc? Don't this game have license to those brand names?

[kq76]

Originally Posted by new_to_baseball

Firstly, if I buy the game, does it include updated Major League rosters? I tried the demo a few years ago, but found out the game only carried fictional rosters (I prefer to play with real rosters). I'm as far off a wiz on a computer as you can come, so transporting rosters, logos etc from mod packages here might be a little tricky for me.

Others have made better replies to this question on this board so you should check those replies out, but essentially, no, not really. It will come with the lahman database which is up to date to the end of the last season, but if you want up to now rosters then you'll have to download 3rd party rosters made by people on the boards here.

Although I've never tried it, there's something known as Add-ons Central in the game which apparently makes installing this stuff easier.

Originally Posted by new_to_baseball

Secondly, how long do I have to wait for patches? I don't really like to start playing until most major patches are out. Are they hard to install? (I'm a moron, I know. )

Some patches come out in a matter of days, some weeks or months after. I don't remember exactly, but my best guestimate is that the last patch is usually out after a few (3?) months after the initial release.

Patches are extremely easy to install. There's even a menu item in the game that will tell you if there's an update and it will point you to the page to get it.

Originally Posted by new_to_baseball

Also, what's up with the name of the awards? Why are they called Glove Wizard Award, Outstanding Pitcher Award etc? Don't this game have license to those brand names?

Someone just picked the names; you can easily change them yourself.

OOTP doesn't use licenses as they are too expensive. It's not that difficult for someone to change pretty much anything in the game so when it comes down to spending an extra maybe 10 bucks (I'm picking a figure out of the air, I have no idea) and getting proper names for everything or saving that money and not then most would chose the latter probably. Besides, keeping the price low has got to help anybody on the fence.

[new_to_baseball]

Originally Posted by kq76

Others have made better replies to this question on this board so you should check those replies out, but essentially, no, not really. It will come with the lahman database which is up to date to the end of the last season, but if you want up to now rosters then you'll have to download 3rd party rosters made by people on the boards here.

Although I've never tried it, there's something known as Add-ons Central in the game which apparently makes installing this stuff easier.



Some patches come out in a matter of days, some weeks or months after. I don't remember exactly, but my best guestimate is that the last patch is usually out after a few (3?) months after the initial release.

Patches are extremely easy to install. There's even a menu item in the game that will tell you if there's an update and it will point you to the page to get it.



Someone just picked the names; you can easily change them yourself.

OOTP doesn't use licenses as they are too expensive. It's not that difficult for someone to change pretty much anything in the game so when it comes down to spending an extra maybe 10 bucks (I'm picking a figure out of the air, I have no idea) and getting proper names for everything or saving that money and not then most would chose the latter probably. Besides, keeping the price low has got to help anybody on the fence.

Thanks for the info!

[new_to_baseball]

One question though, in the OOTP 10 announcement it says the game operates with 2009 Major League rosters. How come if they don't have the license? In case they don't have them, are the 'real roster'-packages here any good (worth playing with)?

[Kelric]

You don't need a license for MLB rosters anymore. You need a license for registered trademarks like Cy Young Award and Most Valuable Player.

[kq76]

Originally Posted by new_to_baseball

One question though, in the OOTP 10 announcement it says the game operates with 2009 Major League rosters. How come if they don't have the license? In case they don't have them, are the 'real roster'-packages here any good (worth playing with)?

It wasn't until fairly recently (before v9?) that the game didn't even come with the lahman database (it contains all the players and their stats throughout history). Then there was a high profile court case between MLB and some, IIRC, fantasy league baseball company and in the end the small company won. Since then other companies, like OOTP, have been more willing to use this data. Before then it was too much of a risk because defending one's self in a court case against MLB would bankrupt a small company. OOTP still made it easy for us to download and import the lahman database and 3rd party rosters, but they didn't include it in the game like they do now.

However, there's still the question of how far can you go. Stats and player names are apparently okay for the time being, but I believe there's still a question over logos and other things. I don't know specifically about award names, but, IMO at least, they're such a trivial thing that I don't think they really matter to most so why risk it. There's also the point that we don't all play with real rosters (my guess is most of the more vocal people on the boards here don't, but maybe most OOTP customers do).

I can't personally vouch for the rosters myself because I never play with them (I've nothing against real rosters, I just prefer the unknown and unexpected that comes with fictional rosters), but plenty of people here who do seem quite happy with them. Sure, you'll get the odd post that goes something like, "the Mets (it always seems to be the Mets) prospect X is so much better than what he's rated at, how can you possibly rate his power at that?", but overall most seem to be happy with the work of 3rd party roster makers. Besides, it's most likely a lot better than any company like EA might throw together on its own. With 3rd party roster makers it's often their passion and they want to get everything as close to accurate as possible. Game companies who make rosters probably just throw it all together just to get it out the door.