Markus (and other devs), what options/features do you think are underutilized?

[Imperialism32]

This question is inspired by the thread about the league creation data, and also this post: http://www.ootpdevelopments.com/boar...ml#post3991335

Are there any options or features in the game that, when you look at the data, you're surprised more people aren't using? Or even might not be aware of?

[falcon4e]

Originally Posted by Imperialism32

This question is inspired by the thread about the league creation data, and also this post: http://www.ootpdevelopments.com/boar...ml#post3991335

Are there any options or features in the game that, when you look at the data, you're surprised more people aren't using? Or even might not be aware of?

I imagine associations are underutilized.

[Hammercraft]

Originally Posted by falcon4e

I imagine associations are underutilized.

I've only used an association once and it was a ton of fun. With the improved performance (multithreading) we'll get better support for larger leagues and I expect associations will see more use.

[Le Grande Orange]

Originally Posted by falcon4e

I imagine associations are underutilized.

Associations are trapped in a catch-22, I'm afraid. Because they aren't being utilized much, there's no appetite to improve the feature. But the feature isn't being utilized much because it hasn't been improved.

[Padreman]

I always use associations

[TribeFanInNC]

I've thought that maybe real time sim is underutilized. But maybe it is just underutilized by me.

[dave1927p]

Originally Posted by Le Grande Orange

Associations are trapped in a catch-22, I'm afraid. Because they aren't being utilized much, there's no appetite to improve the feature. But the feature isn't being utilized much because it hasn't been improved.

I remember when they were first announced. I was incredibly excited for that feature and thought it would change the way i played the game. Then i tried it, set up my fictional league with it and discovered I was thinking something much different and never used it again since. No doubt it has potential but I'm with you on the catch22. One day we'll see it get some attention but seems like it's way down on the priority list.

[Honorable_Pawn]

I think player deaths are under-utilized...


oops, wrong thread.

[bwburke94]

You know what feature IS under-utilized? The ability to turn off league evolution.

[falcon4e]

Originally Posted by dave1927p

I remember when they were first announced. I was incredibly excited for that feature and thought it would change the way i played the game. Then i tried it, set up my fictional league with it and discovered I was thinking something much different and never used it again since. No doubt it has potential but I'm with you on the catch22. One day we'll see it get some attention but seems like it's way down on the priority list.

What were you thinking?

[endgame]

Originally Posted by dave1927p

I remember when they were first announced. I was incredibly excited for that feature and thought it would change the way i played the game. Then i tried it, set up my fictional league with it and discovered I was thinking something much different and never used it again since. No doubt it has potential but I'm with you on the catch22. One day we'll see it get some attention but seems like it's way down on the priority list.

Not just for the developers, but much the same could be said for the majority of the audience, IMHO.

[The Wolf]

Endgame is correct. Like promotion/relegation, incredibly expanded and customizable playoffs, and stats-only play, this is a feature that only a small percentage of users will ever care about

[Trebro]

It's funny, because in God-mode, I do enjoy what you can do, even now, with an Association. When I'm a player, however, I find that I really only concentrate on the league I'm playing in. I thought I'd want a larger world, but really, with minors to attend to, I barely have time to look at league leaders in my own league.

I'm actually thinking my next fictional will be a larger, one-league only world, so I can keep better tabs on what's happening.

[endgame]

Originally Posted by The Wolf

Endgame is correct. Like promotion/relegation, incredibly expanded and customizable playoffs, and stats-only play, this is a feature that only a small percentage of users will ever care about

Stats-only has been a slowly growing faction, though, with no small credit to you, Wolf. I do keep an eye on comments from that group, always with the idea that some innovation or need there might translate to global use or feature addition. But now that it seems, at least, fictional users are becoming more coterie than legion, I reserve hopes my meager influence won't dim in kind.

[Le Grande Orange]

Originally Posted by endgame

Not just for the developers, but much the same could be said for the majority of the audience, IMHO.

Again, catch-22. Folks by and large are not going to be interested in a half-developed feature. There's more frustration in that than there is satisfaction.

Originally Posted by The Wolf

Endgame is correct. Like promotion/relegation, incredibly expanded and customizable playoffs, and stats-only play, this is a feature that only a small percentage of users will ever care about

Well, except for the fact that better customizable playoffs will allow for all the real-world leagues included in the game to have their actual, proper playoff formats. This, incidentally, includes historical leagues, which at the moment do not have historically correct post-seasons.

And, again, associations done properly mean better historical leagues that are more true-to-life.

[Matt Uk]

re associations (not something I've ever tried out) if you set up an association play off when does that get played? I'm presuming once all the individual leagues finish their play offs?

[Trebro]

Originally Posted by Matt Uk

re associations (not something I've ever tried out) if you set up an association play off when does that get played? I'm presuming once all the individual leagues finish their play offs?

Yes, which is why you have to be careful. If they don't dovetail properly, then you can get into a game-wrecking loop. I recommend making the league schedules the same for all leagues in the association.

[Bluenoser]

I use the Association feature for a small regional league I run. NSSBL and NBSBL (Nova Scotia and New Brunswick Senior Baseball League).

I'd love to expand it to include all the provincial senior teams and have the Association as the Canadian Senior Championships, which is an annual event up here in Canada. I would definitely do it if the Association feature got some much needed loving.

It has the potential to be a great feature, and perhaps could even be modified a bit to hold things like WBC events.

I get the catch 22 thing, but I remain optimistic - Markus has grown the game a lot the past few years, and it's reflected in the growth of OOTP Developments overall. I like to believe as he continues to grow, the time will arrive when this feature can be given the TLC it deserves.

[Le Grande Orange]

Originally Posted by Trebro

Yes, which is why you have to be careful. If they don't dovetail properly, then you can get into a game-wrecking loop. I recommend making the league schedules the same for all leagues in the association.

A couple of years ago I played around with ideas for revising the schedule files in OOTP to better handle associations. There were a couple of different ways of approaching it; I had my own preference I thought better.

(I also had ideas of how to add All-Star Game variety, e.g.. single-division leagues being able to have such a game, through some additions to the components of schedule files.)

[pgjocki]

Originally Posted by Le Grande Orange

A couple of years ago I played around with ideas for revising the schedule files in OOTP to better handle associations. There were a couple of different ways of approaching it; I had my own preference I thought better.

(I also had ideas of how to add All-Star Game variety, e.g.. single-division leagues being able to have such a game, through some additions to the components of schedule files.)

So is it a financial decision or a limited resources setting priorities matter for getting this resolved? I like to know why sometimes even if I don't have a preference one way or the other.