Out of the Park Baseball expand with live services

Rayzor · 11-04-2017, 08:35 AM

Found this article this morning will on my break at work.

https://venturebeat.com/2017/11/03/h...live-services/

Mike D · 11-05-2017, 01:13 PM

Yes, they posted the article on FB as well. Not sure how I feel about it until it's more fleshed out. Games as a service is where the industry is trending as of now

NoOne · 11-05-2017, 01:56 PM

dangerous trend.

even though they say they aren't doing it to squeeze more money. the whole article was bout increasing revenues... so... that doesn't add up! LoL

people will spend more frivilously, if it's piecemealed out slowly. e.g. freemium games. attention spans are too short and people are too unsophisticated to notice - on average.

p.s. tell mca and ad-rock i said hello.

Sweed · 11-05-2017, 03:49 PM

Quote:

“The No. 1 thing we have to do is make sure our core fans, who have been with us for close to 20 years, remain with us,” said Grisham. “That’s absolutely the most important thing.”

That means those fans can likely expect Out of the Park Baseball 19

Been playing OOTP since 2002 and figured I would play it for the rest of my life. Right now it is the only game I play. I'm willing to see how it all develops but to me "likely" getting a v19 doesn't sound good. Especially when the first part says the most important thing is keeping guys that have been playing for close to 20 years.

Likely, really?

And what about v20?

Izz · 11-05-2017, 03:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sweed

Been playing OOTP since 2002 and figured I would play it for the rest of my life. Right now it is the only game I play. I'm willing to see how it all develops but to me "likely" getting a v19 doesn't sound good. Especially when the first part says the most important thing is keeping guys that have been playing for close to 20 years.

Likely, really?

And what about v20?

Hopefully just the article writer's words, not OOTP's. Hopefully.

monkeyman576 · 11-05-2017, 04:00 PM

Sounds like whatifsports dynasty leagues...

https://www.whatifsports.com/hbd/

Sweed · 11-05-2017, 04:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Izz

Hopefully just the article writer's words, not OOTP's. Hopefully.

As I reread it you may be right, hope so.

NoOne · 11-06-2017, 12:06 PM

that's "likely expectations" of features we'll see not likely see an ootp '19, the game itself.

the thing with online component (poorly worded, but as article mentions) is they can charge for the 'extras'. take a look at tiger woods golf game (does it still exist? LoL -- whatever is out there on a console, now)

they start skimping on included courses (in past used to be a selling point to include 'more' than the competitor's game) and selling "course packs" or individually etc... then, if you don't buy you can't play those courses online, which limits opportunities as few play the 'older' courses as time goes by.

just like a "freemium" game people speend a dollar here, $5 there... $0.50? not limited to freemium games, obviously, but they are most frequently guilty of this type of thing.

as of now, it sounds like they(ootp) just want to grow the sales, not neccessarily squeeze every dime out of you like the golf games do. seems like a reasonable expectation in the short-term, but time will tell. beside a change of mind, neccessary or not, new ownership could occur too.

can always add that stuff without stripping the meat and potatoes of the game... that's all we need to hope for.

Mr. Marlin · 11-06-2017, 12:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NoOne

as of now, it sounds like they(ootp) just want to grow the sales, not neccessarily squeeze every dime out of you like the golf games do. seems like a reasonable expectation in the short-term, but time will tell. beside a change of mind, neccessary or not, new ownership could occur too.

can always add that stuff without stripping the meat and potatoes of the game... that's all we need to hope for.

My thoughts exactly. OOTP still has a lot of room to grow as a text based sim, and still many tweaks and improvements to be made. But the truth is they are pretty close to the summit of what a text sim can be without making the jump to a 3D sim in the order of Football Manager. If expanding into online gaming brings in the revenue to make the jump then that's great. Heck even if it just buys Markus a bigger house that's great. As long as they don't forget what got them here: the core game that a lot of people have been loyally supporting and helping grow.

As I posted on the other thread I have less than no interest in any kind of online play and would prefer to see the core game continue to grow. But those two things don't have to be mutually exclusive. The worrisome thing is I can think of a few other games as examples where it was.

Déjà Bru · 11-06-2017, 04:01 PM

Like I said in another thread, each version of OOTPB is carefully preserved like a precious artifact in my vault. Only when the latest version has been proven worthy do I shift my priority and focus onto it and consider relinquishing its predecessor. Even so, I still do have 16 and 17.

Because if OOTPB ever goes the way of cloud/iPhone only and *especially* if it goes to a monthly subscription arrangement à la Adobe (think about how that mounts up over the years, about how you are paying hundreds of dollars over time for a program that used to cost $40), I will be retiring to the vault for my baseball simulating.

ihatenames · 11-06-2017, 05:21 PM

I’m not into the whole micro transaction thing. The day I have to unlock things I play with now for more money is the last day I purchase ootp. I’d rather pay another 10 dollars upfront to prevent that if money is an issue.

itsmb8 · 11-06-2017, 06:17 PM

Im okay with micro-transactions if it meant more leagues than there are now. $40 for the game plus, maybe $10-20 extra for a full college and high school baseball add-on that is fully functional and can realistically feed into our pro leagues? Count me in!

redmarkYankees · 11-07-2017, 05:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NoOne

dangerous trend.

even though they say they aren't doing it to squeeze more money. the whole article was bout increasing revenues... so... that doesn't add up! LoL

Not quite; it isn't about squeezing more money out of existing customers. How do you increase revenue without increasing prices for existing customers? New customers.

The obvious solution would be a lightweight mobile/services based version with some online/head-to-head/'live' league play capabilities, and the desktop version continuing as is. If mindful of the data structures, you might even keep saved games compatible between the two - and make cloud-based data storage an option (with a subscription cost).

A possible offering would be a desktop version pretty much as is (with ongoing developments), a mobile version with H2H capabilities, and a package combining the two with some meaningful online/league storage/reporting capabilities. For example, something which allows two online league players to schedule a player-managed head-to-head series during a reasonable window of time as part of a league sim 'session'.

NoOne · 11-07-2017, 10:28 AM

yes, i point out that's what they allude to... that they aren't interested in alienating the current base of customers. bottom line is it creates an opportunity that will eventually be grabbed if given enough time. hopefully it takes an ownership change for such a change of behaviour, but not neccessarily the only way it could occur.

i thought phone games were just for when people defecated? going to give your self pink eye!

daves · 11-07-2017, 08:41 PM

Sounds like OOTP will try to do an online gaming similar to Baseball Mogul online did years ago.

swampdragon · 11-12-2017, 12:11 AM

I have exactly zero interest in a subscription model.

gamefan1978 · 11-13-2017, 05:52 AM

I'm not interested in any online subscription model because I believe in only paying for something once and I don't play in any OOTP leagues. As long as they continue to sell the game as they have for the last 18 years I'm happy to keep giving them money for the great product they create.

NotMuchTime · 11-13-2017, 11:32 AM

I'm not shocked. Greed has a historical habit of screwing things up.

burning_phoneix · 11-13-2017, 11:45 AM

I'm incredibly wary of all this new "games as a service" model and I would absolutely loath if OOTP went this way. So I'm glad they clarified they aren't going the route of squeezing out us traditional players with these methods.

That being said, rival management games like Football Manager retail for 50$ in comparison to OOTPs 40$. I definitely would not mind paying an additional 10$ to help OOTP grow to being a better game.

NoOne · 11-13-2017, 03:12 PM

Gah! don't say that! don't you know how capitalism works? fb manager is a much larger player base too, eh? bit more demand for a bigger brand.

they'll charge us as much as we are wiling to pay.

<cough> i'm willing to pay $1

unfortunately they way it "should" work isn't feasible. the people that help during initial few patches are the ones that deserve a reduced price, and those that buy later should pay more... but that's impossible to implement.

(i am not one of the more helpful debuggers but do get the game early - full disclosure, so i wouldn't qualify for a price reduction in perfect world. not cheerleading for my benefit at all)

11-04-2017, 08:35 AM	#1
Rayzor All Star Starter Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: Kingston ON CA Posts: 1,648	Out of the Park Baseball expand with live services Found this article this morning will on my break at work. https://venturebeat.com/2017/11/03/h...live-services/

11-05-2017, 01:13 PM	#2
Mike D Hall Of Famer Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: In a van, down by the river Posts: 2,802	Yes, they posted the article on FB as well. Not sure how I feel about it until it's more fleshed out. Games as a service is where the industry is trending as of now __________________ Sometimes the best laid plans will never get you laid the way you plan.

11-05-2017, 01:56 PM	#3
NoOne Banned Join Date: Apr 2015 Posts: 7,273 Infractions: 0/1 (3)	dangerous trend. even though they say they aren't doing it to squeeze more money. the whole article was bout increasing revenues... so... that doesn't add up! LoL people will spend more frivilously, if it's piecemealed out slowly. e.g. freemium games. attention spans are too short and people are too unsophisticated to notice - on average. p.s. tell mca and ad-rock i said hello. Last edited by NoOne; 11-05-2017 at 01:58 PM.

11-06-2017, 12:06 PM	#8
NoOne Banned Join Date: Apr 2015 Posts: 7,273 Infractions: 0/1 (3)	that's "likely expectations" of features we'll see not likely see an ootp '19, the game itself. the thing with online component (poorly worded, but as article mentions) is they can charge for the 'extras'. take a look at tiger woods golf game (does it still exist? LoL -- whatever is out there on a console, now) they start skimping on included courses (in past used to be a selling point to include 'more' than the competitor's game) and selling "course packs" or individually etc... then, if you don't buy you can't play those courses online, which limits opportunities as few play the 'older' courses as time goes by. just like a "freemium" game people speend a dollar here, $5 there... $0.50? not limited to freemium games, obviously, but they are most frequently guilty of this type of thing. as of now, it sounds like they(ootp) just want to grow the sales, not neccessarily squeeze every dime out of you like the golf games do. seems like a reasonable expectation in the short-term, but time will tell. beside a change of mind, neccessary or not, new ownership could occur too. can always add that stuff without stripping the meat and potatoes of the game... that's all we need to hope for. Last edited by NoOne; 11-06-2017 at 12:12 PM.

11-06-2017, 04:01 PM	#10
Déjà Bru Hall Of Famer Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Long Island Posts: 11,738	Like I said in another thread, each version of OOTPB is carefully preserved like a precious artifact in my vault. Only when the latest version has been proven worthy do I shift my priority and focus onto it and consider relinquishing its predecessor. Even so, I still do have 16 and 17. Because if OOTPB ever goes the way of cloud/iPhone only and especially if it goes to a monthly subscription arrangement à la Adobe (think about how that mounts up over the years, about how you are paying hundreds of dollars over time for a program that used to cost $40), I will be retiring to the vault for my baseball simulating. __________________ - Bru

11-05-2017, 04:00 PM	#6
monkeyman576 Hall Of Famer Join Date: Jun 2010 Posts: 3,611	Sounds like whatifsports dynasty leagues... https://www.whatifsports.com/hbd/

11-06-2017, 05:21 PM	#11
ihatenames Hall Of Famer Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Rockford Posts: 2,534	I’m not into the whole micro transaction thing. The day I have to unlock things I play with now for more money is the last day I purchase ootp. I’d rather pay another 10 dollars upfront to prevent that if money is an issue. __________________ New Album coming soon!

11-06-2017, 06:17 PM	#12
itsmb8 All Star Starter Join Date: Jan 2013 Posts: 1,340	Im okay with micro-transactions if it meant more leagues than there are now. $40 for the game plus, maybe $10-20 extra for a full college and high school baseball add-on that is fully functional and can realistically feed into our pro leagues? Count me in!

11-07-2017, 10:28 AM	#14
NoOne Banned Join Date: Apr 2015 Posts: 7,273 Infractions: 0/1 (3)	yes, i point out that's what they allude to... that they aren't interested in alienating the current base of customers. bottom line is it creates an opportunity that will eventually be grabbed if given enough time. hopefully it takes an ownership change for such a change of behaviour, but not neccessarily the only way it could occur. i thought phone games were just for when people defecated? going to give your self pink eye!

11-07-2017, 08:41 PM	#15
daves Hall Of Famer Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 3,849	Sounds like OOTP will try to do an online gaming similar to Baseball Mogul online did years ago. __________________

11-12-2017, 12:11 AM	#16
swampdragon Hall Of Famer Join Date: May 2002 Location: The Lonely Mountain Posts: 2,509	I have exactly zero interest in a subscription model. __________________ “Of all tyrannies, a tyranny sincerely exercised for the good of its victims may be the most oppressive. It would be better to live under robber barons than under omnipotent moral busybodies." -- C.S. Lewis

11-13-2017, 05:52 AM	#17
gamefan1978 Minors (Double A) Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Iowa Posts: 101	I'm not interested in any online subscription model because I believe in only paying for something once and I don't play in any OOTP leagues. As long as they continue to sell the game as they have for the last 18 years I'm happy to keep giving them money for the great product they create.

11-13-2017, 11:32 AM	#18
NotMuchTime Minors (Double A) Join Date: Mar 2016 Posts: 150	I'm not shocked. Greed has a historical habit of screwing things up.

11-13-2017, 11:45 AM	#19
burning_phoneix Bat Boy Join Date: Nov 2017 Location: Saudi Arabia Posts: 15	I'm incredibly wary of all this new "games as a service" model and I would absolutely loath if OOTP went this way. So I'm glad they clarified they aren't going the route of squeezing out us traditional players with these methods. That being said, rival management games like Football Manager retail for 50$ in comparison to OOTPs 40$. I definitely would not mind paying an additional 10$ to help OOTP grow to being a better game.

11-13-2017, 03:12 PM	#20
NoOne Banned Join Date: Apr 2015 Posts: 7,273 Infractions: 0/1 (3)	Gah! don't say that! don't you know how capitalism works? fb manager is a much larger player base too, eh? bit more demand for a bigger brand. they'll charge us as much as we are wiling to pay. <cough> i'm willing to pay $1 unfortunately they way it "should" work isn't feasible. the people that help during initial few patches are the ones that deserve a reduced price, and those that buy later should pay more... but that's impossible to implement. (i am not one of the more helpful debuggers but do get the game early - full disclosure, so i wouldn't qualify for a price reduction in perfect world. not cheerleading for my benefit at all) Last edited by NoOne; 11-13-2017 at 03:14 PM.