List Of Ideas For Next Years Release

[kcroyalty29]

Markus, Matt and Company,

THIS GAME IS INCREDIBLE. I'm addicted. I will be buying it every year forever and telling everyone I know about it. THANK YOU.

I have a few things I'd really like to see added that I feel could be done pretty easily. Of course I have no background with computers or IT stuff, so I could be way off, but I feel like these could be fairly easily implemented and AWESOME additions.

1. Love the Team History portion where you can go back and look at records, attendance, etc etc.

Could we next year get an "All-Time Roster" option?

As in, if you look in any real life MLB team media guide, it will have "All-Time Roster" in there. Might say something like, "975 players have appeared in at least one game for the KC Royals" and then list them in alphabetical order with the position they played and years they were there. Would be cool to be able to look back player by player from all these seasons I'm playing of guys who made it up to the parent club and then you could click on a link from each player to see their stats.

2. When watching the PBP live, it always gives batting average, HR's, RBI's... Could we make it so you could customize which stats you see in the settings?

For example, I'd LOVE to see WAR and OPS for hitters - Fip for pitchers - when its giving you the play by play via text. Could we choose 3-4 stats we want to have show up out of a list of possibilities?

3. I would like to see "HOMETOWN DISCOUNT" somehow incorporated with negotiations of guys currently on your roster before FA or as they hit it. Maybe some way to ask for a hometown discount or have some guys offer it if they've been with you awhile, you've been winning, etc. Since maybe 25% of guys in real life will give their long time/original franchise hometown discounts.

Would also be cool to be able to go back and forth a bit more.

4. This one might be way more difficult, but as others have mentioned, would be INCREDIBLE to be able to have conversations with your owner or at least being able to choose 3 or 4 options to "ask him" (ask for more money - ask his opinion on something to butter him up - etc. They could even be only a few things you're allowed to ask from a pull down menu maybe only a few times a year)

5. On expansion drafts, it would be cool if like in real life, you could pull back an additional 3 players each time one of your players is selected. I'm pretty certain it's the same in Rule V where you can pull back 2 guys once someone is taken but that never happens in the game so no big deal.

6. WAYYYYYYYYY too many times - the computer attempts to steal 3rd with a left handed hitter up and 2 outs. This would never happen in real life but it happens I bet every third game I watch live. Small thing.

7. Would there be an option to get "fan mail" as the GM or Manager? Maybe seeing what fans think of your performance, asking for things, etc? Could be a really cool thing to incorporate.

8. Finally, what about adding a "beat writer" that you have to conduct interviews with from pre selected options or give info to, etc. Could help with fan interest and getting info out and add a fun layer. Especially in the older days.

I get most of these aren't priorities, some aren't doable and maybe some are just lame, but thought I would offer some suggestions, because I bet you'll get a HUUUUGE amount of people who buy this next year who like me, were first time purchasers, and might really hook them further for the longterm.

Matt, Markus, any feedback on any of these? like? Hate? Already thought of them all?

THANK YOU for this game.

[Syd Thrift]

I don’t have the game in front of me right now but I’m almost positive that number 1 is in there already. Go to your league history, select a team at the top, and you should have a batter and pitcher register.

[too_on_too_out]

These are all great ideas. Have you checked out the 3D?

[mgom27]

All-Time Rosters would be good and Like for Nationals they would still have Harper,Rendon,Matt Adams,Lopez,Dane Dunning,retired guys like Carter,Randy Johnson and so on.

[Woodman19]

Owner mode, I would love to be able to control things like relocation, stadium upgrades/building, financing a team purchase/upgrades/high payroll and having the ability to do a hands off and letting the organization run itself (if need be) and dictate budgets etc without having to go to commissioner mode and edit things myself (which always feels like cheating).

[dnwman]

Originally Posted by Woodman19

Owner mode, I would love to be able to control things like relocation, stadium upgrades/building, financing a team purchase/upgrades/high payroll and having the ability to do a hands off and letting the organization run itself (if need be) and dictate budgets etc without having to go to commissioner mode and edit things myself (which always feels like cheating).

X2. Even playing as a GM, it would be more immersive to factor in other financial aspects. What influence can we have on that "merchandising revenue"? With the new stadium building option, attaching financial or fan interest/attendance considerations to various options would make it far more meaningful.

[ablobj]

Originally Posted by Woodman19

Owner mode, I would love to be able to control things like relocation, stadium upgrades/building, financing a team purchase/upgrades/high payroll and having the ability to do a hands off and letting the organization run itself (if need be) and dictate budgets etc without having to go to commissioner mode and edit things myself (which always feels like cheating).

I would like to take ownership of the Pirates and actually spend some money on good players!

[kcroyalty29]

Thanks for the replies. I’m glad you don’t think my ideas suck!

[sdw1000]

I love how noone ever asks for better 3-D animations. lol I don't care about any of those things you listed.

[Woodman19]

Originally Posted by dnwman

X2. Even playing as a GM, it would be more immersive to factor in other financial aspects. What influence can we have on that "merchandising revenue"? With the new stadium building option, attaching financial or fan interest/attendance considerations to various options would make it far more meaningful.

I would love to be the guy setting a budget, make crazy demands on the GM and even allow another set of long term strategy for maybe expanding the market through long term projects and negotiating local media deals or hurting them.

[jimmysthebestcop]

The entire GM part of the game is its biggest weakness. It is completely flat, static, boring and lifeless. It has been exactly the same for at least 5 versions.

Coaching, Stories, Chemistry, personality/traits, owner goals, finances, fans all of these have been implemented at its most basic form that its either stale or borderline broken. The complete lack of any sort of mechanic to interact with the league structure. Yes you can do any customizing you want with commish mode or god mode but there are no actual game mechanics to get anything done. Again this leads to a lifeless league.

Player personalities are completely static. As pointed out by other forum members in threads. Once a player was labeled as such and such they have stayed that way ever single version. I could use the Byrce Harper example he is the complete opposite of every trait he has in OOTP since becoming a Philly.

But everything in the GM world is static. The human player has no real impact on anything. Take Motosport Manager the human can influence traits of its characters and even have a basic league voting mechanics to enable change on the league level. And all personnel have their own traits/personality so they feel unique. And there are maybe 1 or 2 dozen total traits. OOTP the traits/personality are extremely limited. They need more flavor. All of them don't even need to make a significant impact to player performance. But it does make the characters stand out.

Someone mentioned stadiums above me. Again this made no sense to me. Modders have been making stadiums fine for years. Now there is a tool for all players. Ok that is cool. But there are no game mechanics behind it. It doesn't effect budget, fans, or the organization. I much rather have had mechanics built into the game first than a 3D creating tool. It didn't stop the modders not having a tool. Game mechanics are everything but they are repeatedly overlooked.

Don't get me wrong I love the game or wouldn't be here. But from year to year it often ends in frustration and disappointing. Because as good as ootp is as managing playing out games and crunching numbers to be either realistic or fictional, it is still completely void of any life or dynamics in the GM part of the game.

My long term goal would be for a human to be able to start opening day and play x number of years. And even if they were to restart with the same exact team back on the original opening day the game would play out completely unique, each play through would be unique. Because the world would be dynamic. Of course there be an options to uncheck all of this for people that just enjoy crunching of the numbers.

From ootp 18 to 21 the game plays out almost identical when you are the gm. Maybe player names, ratings and stat lines change. But the overall game experience is 100% the same. Some quality of life has gotten better. But the essence has remained unchanged.

Dynamics like this is whats sets a good sports game label a part from a good game overall label. OOTP for sure top baseball games and even a top 5 sports game. But if I put it in the general video game category I am not even sure if it cracks my top 100. And I still put at least 200 hours into it each year.

And to make matters worst. We know nothing of the direction for the series. We won't here about OOTP 22 until next year. We don't know the vision or scope of future games.

Is ootp just concerned with baseball and number crunching? Do they care about the gm experience? Do they care about the video game experience or just being the most realistic baseball number cruncher? Do they want their universe alive, dynamic and entertaining? Or is the most important item the realistic data simulation of season to season play?

Cause right now it's mix signals. There are video game elements in ootp like the aforementioned stories, traits, chemistry etc. But nothing has been refreshed in years. If there is no interest in leading the game that way at least tell the fanbase. Then I could just move on from ootp at least. I would know its not the game for me.

But as long as these elements exist then I have to hope for their betterment and keep bringing up where ootp lacks in these areas. At least until I just get so disappointed that I leave the series.

[DHangelfan]

I want more exciting in game options.

Even something like more descriptive outcomes.

If anybody played WhatIfSports Sim-leagues, that's what I'm talking about.

That and changing the box score to something far easier on the eyes.

[OzeBones]

I like your original ideas a lot, especially the "beat writer".
Two I would really want in addition:
1) More hooplah when achieving something, like breaking an MLB record. I broke the MLB single season steals record with Adalberto Mondesi and....nothing, no countdown to it, no mention anywhere, not even in the post game article. If that would have happend in RL, you better believe Sportscenter and MLB today would have done daily recordwatch shows once Berto hit the 110 in early August. I know it is all in vain,still, isn´t that one of the reasons we play this game? To show we would have won more than below average managers like Ned Yost?
2) more interactions with your owner based on his (and hers in the future?) personality (from hands on/I know best Mr. employee to I don´t care what you do, as long as you make me money to I am a superrich super fan, how much money do you need to win?)

[Mr. Marlin]

#3 already happens too. It's based on the player's personality rating

[Mannyw]

I think the 3D simulation is progressing wonderfully. Great work.

Here are a few ideas:

-Adding infield high hoppers.

-Having elite fielders make exception plays, e.g. RF cannon arms throwing out,
runner at first on hard basehit, 2B throwing out advancing runner at second to third advancement, catcher base pick-offs.

[ThePride87]

Originally Posted by jimmysthebestcop

The entire GM part of the game is its biggest weakness. It is completely flat, static, boring and lifeless. It has been exactly the same for at least 5 versions.

Coaching, Stories, Chemistry, personality/traits, owner goals, finances, fans all of these have been implemented at its most basic form that its either stale or borderline broken. The complete lack of any sort of mechanic to interact with the league structure. Yes you can do any customizing you want with commish mode or god mode but there are no actual game mechanics to get anything done. Again this leads to a lifeless league.

Player personalities are completely static. As pointed out by other forum members in threads. Once a player was labeled as such and such they have stayed that way ever single version. I could use the Byrce Harper example he is the complete opposite of every trait he has in OOTP since becoming a Philly.

But everything in the GM world is static. The human player has no real impact on anything. Take Motosport Manager the human can influence traits of its characters and even have a basic league voting mechanics to enable change on the league level. And all personnel have their own traits/personality so they feel unique. And there are maybe 1 or 2 dozen total traits. OOTP the traits/personality are extremely limited. They need more flavor. All of them don't even need to make a significant impact to player performance. But it does make the characters stand out.

Someone mentioned stadiums above me. Again this made no sense to me. Modders have been making stadiums fine for years. Now there is a tool for all players. Ok that is cool. But there are no game mechanics behind it. It doesn't effect budget, fans, or the organization. I much rather have had mechanics built into the game first than a 3D creating tool. It didn't stop the modders not having a tool. Game mechanics are everything but they are repeatedly overlooked.

Don't get me wrong I love the game or wouldn't be here. But from year to year it often ends in frustration and disappointing. Because as good as ootp is as managing playing out games and crunching numbers to be either realistic or fictional, it is still completely void of any life or dynamics in the GM part of the game.

My long term goal would be for a human to be able to start opening day and play x number of years. And even if they were to restart with the same exact team back on the original opening day the game would play out completely unique, each play through would be unique. Because the world would be dynamic. Of course there be an options to uncheck all of this for people that just enjoy crunching of the numbers.

From ootp 18 to 21 the game plays out almost identical when you are the gm. Maybe player names, ratings and stat lines change. But the overall game experience is 100% the same. Some quality of life has gotten better. But the essence has remained unchanged.

Dynamics like this is whats sets a good sports game label a part from a good game overall label. OOTP for sure top baseball games and even a top 5 sports game. But if I put it in the general video game category I am not even sure if it cracks my top 100. And I still put at least 200 hours into it each year.

And to make matters worst. We know nothing of the direction for the series. We won't here about OOTP 22 until next year. We don't know the vision or scope of future games.

Is ootp just concerned with baseball and number crunching? Do they care about the gm experience? Do they care about the video game experience or just being the most realistic baseball number cruncher? Do they want their universe alive, dynamic and entertaining? Or is the most important item the realistic data simulation of season to season play?

Cause right now it's mix signals. There are video game elements in ootp like the aforementioned stories, traits, chemistry etc. But nothing has been refreshed in years. If there is no interest in leading the game that way at least tell the fanbase. Then I could just move on from ootp at least. I would know its not the game for me.

But as long as these elements exist then I have to hope for their betterment and keep bringing up where ootp lacks in these areas. At least until I just get so disappointed that I leave the series.

I like criticism like this....this is very constructive vs what someone like myself would do. This kind of post can be helpful to a developer who is willing to listen. I agree, being a fan of team-construction and the challenges that come with being a GM, I would like a lot of the things you listed.

[Fronzizzle]

There are some great ideas in this thread. I guess my ideas would be to first and foremost, fix the exiting areas of the game that are broken/confusing/non-sensical.

Make the owner goals realistic. Don't have a 36-year old relief pitcher demand $40M/year. Make the trading more realistic - better offers from the AI, the ability to negotiate 2-for-1 or 3-for-1 deals easier. Stop having teams offer up high priced free agents the day after they sign a massive contract. The coaching system needs some work. Etc.

I agree with the statement above about being the GM, but I feel that if the systems they already have in place were fixed/tweaked, it would greatly improve the experience.

[Tony820]

To sort of echo what jimmysthebestcop said, they need to find ways to bring the gameplay alive. Make me feel like I'm more in control.

Here is just one example. I've got the ace of my staff struggling. 3-4 bad starts in a row. What are things I can do to try and help him get out of his funk? Can I commit my pitching coach to spend more time with him? Are there manager "tasks" I can use to try and get him out of the skid? Maybe it works, maybe it doesn't. Maybe having a better coaching staff will increase the odds it helps him get back on track. That might not even be the best idea, but it would at least give me a little more control of what's going on. If my ace is getting bombed in his last 5 starts, I'm absolutely helpless, and I don't think it should be that way.

[jimmysthebestcop]

Originally Posted by Tony820

To sort of echo what jimmysthebestcop said, they need to find ways to bring the gameplay alive. Make me feel like I'm more in control.

Here is just one example. I've got the ace of my staff struggling. 3-4 bad starts in a row. What are things I can do to try and help him get out of his funk? Can I commit my pitching coach to spend more time with him? Are there manager "tasks" I can use to try and get him out of the skid? Maybe it works, maybe it doesn't. Maybe having a better coaching staff will increase the odds it helps him get back on track. That might not even be the best idea, but it would at least give me a little more control of what's going on. If my ace is getting bombed in his last 5 starts, I'm absolutely helpless, and I don't think it should be that way.

Sir Michael brought up in another thread that OOTPB has an identity crisis. It was a really great post, short and to the point. And he nailed it.

So many people play OOTPB completely different. You have the historical group, the fictional group, the modern guys, Perfect Team players, the guys looking for a gm management game, people after realistic numbers, the data crunchers and any combination in between.

Another way to describe OOTPB might be its the "anti video game" video game. So many players OOTPB is literally their only video game. Especially so many that post on the forums here. Its not a bad thing or a good thing. It's just this group of players expects different mechanics from OOTPB then normal gamers.

And I think all of that is what Sir Michael is talking about when he suggested an Identity Crisis. If the player base is told vision, scope of future games then we won't have expectations. Now our expectations might seem unfair because we have no idea what path OOTPB is set on because OOTP means so many different things to so many different sets of people.

[Karl Pagel Blues]

Originally Posted by jimmysthebestcop

Player personalities are completely static. As pointed out by other forum members in threads. Once a player was labeled as such and such they have stayed that way ever single version. I could use the Byrce Harper example he is the complete opposite of every trait he has in OOTP since becoming a Philly.

But everything in the GM world is static. The human player has no real impact on anything. From ootp 18 to 21 the game plays out almost identical when you are the gm. Maybe player names, ratings and stat lines change. But the overall game experience is 100% the same. Some quality of life has gotten better. But the essence has remained unchanged.

This.

I've been buying the latest version every year since I don't know when, but. This.

Not sure how Markus and Team can address This.

But This has become a problem for me and I can't say with the same certainty as before that I'll order the next OOTP version.

Originally Posted by jimmysthebestcop

Don't get me wrong I love the game or wouldn't be here. But from year to year it often ends in frustration and disappointing. Because as good as ootp is as managing playing out games and crunching numbers to be either realistic or fictional, it is still completely void of any life or dynamics in the GM part of the game.