The Perfect Game

[Incognitobear]

I have been playing different types of sports simulation games for the past 20 years. I have played hockey, soccer, football, basketball and baseball games. The sport that I love the most is baseball, so of course that is what I have played mostly. I play OOTPB for several hours a week and it gives me great pleasure. But what I miss a bit is the feel to really "play" the game. OOTPB has depth. It is, in my mind, almost a complete sports simulator. But I also play MLB 2K11. Why do I do that? Not to get the realism of baseball management. But because it's fun! As much as I love the realism and depth of OOTPB, I also want to have fun and play some games for myself. However, as you all know. It is impossible to combine the OOTPB with a game like MLB 2K11. I bet most of you hardcore simmers don't really care about that. It would be like drinking some fine wine while watching the World Series on the telly, and then suddenly swap to drink water bottled from the Hudson River, while the telly shows beginners wrestling division 4 from northern Iceland. BUT: I still like playing MLB 2K11 now and then, and I care, and this is my post.

I first started playing baseball games with Front Page Sports Baseball 94. It was great. I loved it. Of course, today it would look really bad. OOTPB is so much better. I remember that the “depth” of FPS was a minor league system that contained the 40 man roster and then 10 “lower minors”. Back in those days, there was also a hockey simulator that I played a lot as well: Hockey League Simulator 2. In that game, you where the GM of a NHL team, but unlike Front Page Sports Baseball, you could not play out the games in person (like MLB 2K11 or other "action" games). However, the customer had the choice of purchasing another game (an action game) called Wayne Gretzky Hockey 3. The user could then export his league from the simulator and export it into the other game - play out the game - and then import it back to the simulator game. I thought that was great. And that got me thinking. After all, this is 2011, not 1994. Wouldn't it be great to have the opportunity to combine the greatness of OOTPB with all its depth and all its realism, with an "action game" where players like me (that loves the realistic GM-style of OOTPB, but also the fun to play it yourself style of MLB2K11) could have the opportunity to do both?

I really live with my simulations. I go deep. I write my own recaps, I gather history. I’m from Sweden, but have travelled to the states just to watch baseball at its highest level (wife thought it was for shopping, well for her it was). I have several shelf meters of simulated baseball history. I have articles from 1994 written by myself (then 14 years old) in bad ugly English (for the realism). I read it sometimes and I look back at great times. I read how Fred McGriff played every 162 games for my Atlanta Braves in 1994. He gave a long talking to my fictional Atlanta Tribune after that year. But it was Greg Maddux, of course, who got the “Atlanta Tribune Bravo of the year award”. I look at the special edition of that same fictional newspaper when the Fulton County was brought to the ground and the Bravos for the first time ever played at the Ted. Of course, I also read about all the post season dreams and dramas. I read about how John Smoltz came back from injury in 1995 to win his final five games, helping the team to the post season. But how David Justice ended my quest too early in the NLCS striking out at a breaking ball away. All those memories are from the Front Page era: An era that I took part in, as a player.

I came across OOTPB when the 6.5 version was about to be released. I have played every edition since. But OOTPB is another form of simulation. It is the best by far in every aspect but one. I want to play my games myself. I want to be there, at the field, in the batters box or at the mound. These days, I play 90% OOTPB and 10% MLB 2K11. The mlb 2k11 part is just because it's fun. Since it doesn't get even close to OOTPB in terms of realism and depth, I don’t write recaps for those games. I don't store it on the shelf like I used to. But I want to. I want the challenge competing against the computer in OOTPB: trading, drafting, overlooking the farm system, follow the rookies from the GCL to the HOF. But then I want to take that franchise and put it on the field for me to play. I know that it would be too easy for a lot of you guys. But I am not into easy or hard. I'm into fun. And that would be not only fun - it would be perfect!

So could it be real? Of course it could. But I don't think that it's possible in the world that we live in today. Not until the makers of OOTBP produces an "action game" too, to play out the games in. Why? Because I don't think that for example 2K sports would be interested in an option where you could import a franchise from OOTPB, and then export it back after playing. That would kill their product (that sucks in everything but "fun playing"). People that like realism over pure fun, would turn to OOTPB instead. So, why am I writing all this? Because I want to share my dream of the perfect game! The perfect game where OOTPB is the core, and where "something else" is an extra feat for us that want both worlds. I would love it. I would have to mount more shelves.

[hfield007]

playing real baseball > ootp > mlb the show > watching real baseball > watching soap operas with gram > 2k11

[TigerGDK]

Originally Posted by hfield007

playing real baseball > ootp > mlb the show > watching real baseball > watching soap operas with gram > 2k11

[The Wolf]

Originally Posted by hfield007

playing real baseball > ootp > mlb the show > watching real baseball > watching soap operas with gram > 2k11

Is there a smiley for "thunderous applause"?

[Dark Horse]

i share your sentiment.

Someone created this picture about four years ago. IIRC, it was created by someone as a response to Markus asking what would look good on the back of a the box for OOTP 9. i always use it as my desktop this time of the year.

[MizzouRah]

Wow that would be amazing!

Love that picture!!!

[falkonisback]

That would be pretty awesome!

[The Wolf]

Give Markus five or ten years.

[The_Knuckler]

Originally Posted by Dark Horse

i share your sentiment.

Someone created this picture about four years ago. IIRC, it was created by someone as a response to Markus asking what would look good on the back of a the box for OOTP 9. i always use it as my desktop this time of the year.

Oh man, this would be so cool! Even if the animations were much simpler, I'd still be down for it.

[Gern44]

I've seen it posted elsewhere, but I used to have Microleague Baseball for the Commodore 64 back in the mid-late 80s. The players ran the bases, the fielders made catches.. and the ball flew out of the yard.

[RandyMyers]

I also have played sports simulations for a very long time... I started with Strat-O-Matic board games in the late 1960's.... I also played Front Page Baseball. I thought it was great but was very disappointed when the company went under/sold out... the purchaser let the game die if I recall, but I also recall some fans trying to modify and keep it going.

I found and played SOM computer games for a few years but became dis-illusioned with how poor their custoemr service was/is and how the company nickle and dimes their customers.

I found Action! PC (first Football and then Baseball) and continue to play it to this day. I found OOTP with version 11. I purchased the game and have pre-ordereed version 12 so I have the right as a paying customer to critique it.

In depth of game and especially in finacial management, minors, etc. (ficticious play) it has no rivals. However in pure season replay and H2H play Action! definaltey is better. Action! also has the video chalkboard which is as close of rendition of watching the game unfold as any sports simulation game on the market. Also, real player photos and total game screen customization (including dual monitor) is wonderful.

I am anxious to play with version 12. I find that I rarely play version 11 since there are a lot of issues for me. I cannot play part of a game.... there is no in game save option. Version 12 is adding this. This is huge because I might get a few innings in here and there, lunch etc.

Another huge issue for me is that backing up a league and restoring it on another computer. It only works if you have the exact same directory structure. What I mean is that I have many drives in my desktop (I am a bit of a computer nut and a professional software developer), while my laptop has one. I have a dedicated SSD in my desktop for games, but I will be forced to install the game to the C: drive so that I can move back and forth between desktop and laptop. This would not be an issue accept the C: drive in my desktop is a 32 GB SSD designed and used specifically as a OS boot drive. As I am trying to describe, Action! is a hell of a lot more of a "computer savvy" program. Very easy to copy files and folders as you see fit. And no copy guard (Dave trusts his customers), so I have no issues moving back and forth between my computers.

As I stated I have pre-orderred version 12. Primarily for a couple reasons. I see incredible depth of play and potential and if I decided to explore this other game play style, OOTP will shine. Also, Marcus is on par with Dave Koch for customer service and standing behind his products (both far superior to any other companies I have ever dealt with). If I do not play 1 game with OOTP v12 this alone warrants my $. Also, OOTP is a tremendous value.

I look forward to playing around with v12.... I do however, feel that he is loosing a lot of potential sales being so late at getting the new version out. Action! has had Baseball 2011 out since December and has two releases of the projection season already out. The first was a spring training verison and the second was released with updated opening day rosters, on opening day.

Therefore, I will play around OOTP v12 and I also highly recommend Action! PC Baseball to those who want to try another game along with their OOTP. (Many of us enthusiast play multiple games).

I welcome intelligent dialoge and questions. I refuse to listen to and will ignore any flames.

[Curtis]

Originally Posted by RandyMyers

And no copy guard (Dave trusts his customers)

Markus was working for/with Sega at the time Eastside Hockey ceased to exist because the copy protection was broken. He doesn't want the same thing to happen to OotPB.

Hope you don't consider that a flame.

[Bluenoser]

Originally Posted by RandyMyers

Another huge issue for me is that backing up a league and restoring it on another computer. It only works if you have the exact same directory structure.

I've moved leagues between computers where I have the game installed on different drives with a different structure and never had a problem. Copy the entire "lg" folder to the other computer, putting it in your saved games folder and had no issues what-so-ever.

[RandyMyers]

I have done that and it always complains that it can't find a file and the directory it is looking in is in the dictory where the original game was installed.... c:/.... for example.... I am kind of a computer nerd and really really underestand file and data structure (I have taught classes on this subject).

And no, I would not take that as a flame... and I am not knocking Marcus on having a copy guard system because he seems reasonable and cares for/assists his customers..... unlike some others (can you say SOM)...

As I said, the main reason I am trying to get into OOTP is because of Marcus and because of the tremendous value that OOTP is. I may try to find a way of enjoying this other type of game play style since OOTP is obviously the finest in this regards....

I still personally believe he would do better for himself getting the new verison out earlier (and again I am not knocking OOTP on this point, I have far too many things to keep me busy at this point). My point is this, Baseball is here and now... people's enthusiasm is at it's highest point now... the fans that want a new Baseball game are looking now (or have already made their choice).... by not having his new version available now (or even prior to opening day). I personally believe that he has lost many sales.

In my humble he should have had the game available on his site and in best case had boxed copies in stores before opening day, when Baseball fans where in a frenzied state.... (again understanding that he is a small shop)...

[Bluenoser]

Originally Posted by RandyMyers

I have done that and it always complains that it can't find a file and the directory it is looking in is in the dictory where the original game was installed.... c:/.... for example.... I am kind of a computer nerd and really really underestand file and data structure (I have taught classes on this subject).

I'm pretty good with computers too, and I certainly wasn't insinuating that you were doing something wrong or didn't know what you were talking about. I was merely pointing out that I had success with it.

[RandyMyers]

No worries.... If I am doing something wrong than I certainly would love to know what. I have tried using the in game backup (which appears to simply make a backup of the folder) and manual copying the folder. Both situations have resulted in the error. I will await v12 and maybe I will no longer haven this issue. I have rebuilt my computer in the mean time so maybe the issue will have gone away.

[statfreak]

OT: every time I see this thread I think it is about the OOTP-clone the iOOTP programmer (palli) made.

Perfect Game 2009

[RchW]

Originally Posted by RandyMyers

I have done that and it always complains that it can't find a file and the directory it is looking in is in the dictory where the original game was installed.... c:/.... for example.... I am kind of a computer nerd and really really underestand file and data structure (I have taught classes on this subject).

And no, I would not take that as a flame... and I am not knocking Marcus on having a copy guard system because he seems reasonable and cares for/assists his customers..... unlike some others (can you say SOM)...

As I said, the main reason I am trying to get into OOTP is because of Marcus and because of the tremendous value that OOTP is. I may try to find a way of enjoying this other type of game play style since OOTP is obviously the finest in this regards....

I still personally believe he would do better for himself getting the new verison out earlier (and again I am not knocking OOTP on this point, i ahve far too many things to keep me busya t this point). My point is this, Basbeall is here and now... people's enthusiasm is at it's highest point now... the fans that want a new Basbeall game are looking now (or have already made their choice).... by not having his new version available now (or even prior to opening day). I personally believe that he has lost many sales.

In my humble he should have had the game available on his site and in best case had boxed copies in stores before opening day, when Baseball fans where in a frenzied state.... (again understanding that he is a small shop)...

I zip a league file using 7zip to a usb drive and move them back and forth from desk to lap or my sons computer at will. Just unzip to the saved games folder and voila! Never had a problem as I'm telling it where to put the file. One tip, always use a unique name like the exact game date so you don't get confused about multiple versions of the same league.

I also use this system to zip/save my league every Jan 1. I then strip out all the box scores and messages, almanacs and dumps to reduce the *.lg folder size for the subsequent season.

[RchW]

Originally Posted by Curtis

Markus was working for/with Sega at the time Eastside Hockey ceased to exist because the copy protection was broken. He doesn't want the same thing to happen to OotPB.

Hope you don't consider that a flame.

Is the elicense/esellerate system the same as "copy guard". I don't think so but correct me if I'm wrong. It has nothing to do with trust. It is imperative for one to protect their intellectual property. Anything else would be foolish.

[Curtis]

Originally Posted by RchW

Is the elicense/esellerate system the same as "copy guard". I don't think so but correct me if I'm wrong. It has nothing to do with trust. It is imperative for one to protect their intellectual property. Anything else would be foolish.

I think esellerate is just a purchase/licensing protection system, but I could also be wrong.

Some programmers do allow purchasers to mod all or (much more often) part of their game. I agree that it would be foolish for someone in Markus' financial position to do that, but some wargame companies actually encourage it.