Is 21 worth it if I have 20?

TylerWaffles · 05-19-2020, 07:40 AM

I may get biased replies on this forum but I'm looking for some opinions on how OOTP 21 is compared to OOTP 20. I am a big fan and bought 18, 19, and 20 (started playing 18), but 20 and 19 were a lot alike to me and I was on the edge of buying it and only did it for the rosters. Now I'm in the same situation and I would like to get back into the game but I am not sure if it's worth paying $40 again for another roster update.

Is the game worth it enough for me to buy 21, when I could just continue playing 20?

jimmysthebestcop · 05-19-2020, 08:05 AM

I disliked 20 it felt exactly the same to me as 18/19. I ended up playing 1 season in normal mode and then 150+ hours in Perfect Team in XX after never playing PT before. Now in 21 I haven't played 1 second in PT and I have about 200 hours in 21 and around 5 or 6 seasons. Part of that is probably from taking a year off of normal mode.

To me the biggest jump is the quality of life improvements to the UI. Nothing major but just a lot of tiny improvements that I could never play a version before 21 again. Column moving. Better custom windows under player profile and their stat pages. Better filters and better view creation process. Easier to find development coaches.

Overall in my opinion 18 to 21 play basically 85% exactly the same in terms of video game playing. Even with the new scouting feature in 21. The games just play too similar from a video game perspective.

There is less clicks and more customization in 21 UI at least and since I took a year off of normal play 21 got my money.

If you are looking for something groundbreaking or earth shattering or something that feels levels above 18/19/20 then 21 certainly isn't it. A lot has to do with how you play modern, fictional, historical etc. If you play mostly GM or if you play out every baseball game. A lot of those options will effect opinions.

Myself I am after the GM experience and it basically the same since at least 18. It is very barebones and simplistic and borderline broken in areas. A major disappointment. I am also unsure of the vision and scope of future games. If GM experience is even important or if its more about playing 3D games as a manager.

I like sometimes watching the games in 3D but managing them does absolutely nothing for me in terms of video game experience. Sometimes its necessary because the AI can really mess up your bullpen if there are days off. But I don't take any enjoyment, fun or entertainment from it.

The overall grand strategy element that exists by acting as a GM that is what draws me to OOTPb but that is its weakest area that leads to feelings of frustration and sadness. OOTPb plays baseball well, crunches numbers wells, full customization well. If you want to run 20 seasons 100 different boom OOTPb shines. If you want to make up some crazy fictional league boom OOTPb shines well. If you want a management, gm simulation, grand strategy game OOTPb kind of fails. Just in comparison to say Motorsport Manager and Football Manager. Maybe unfair comparisons but those games do the top level management sim so much better.

I can't tell you if it's worth it or not. But hopefully I've given you a lot of info to help you decide.

Eugene Church · 05-19-2020, 09:31 AM

I play a simple game... no financials... fictional leagues... no minors... just use reserve roster for new players.

If you liked OOTP19, you will like OOTP21 better... I just watch games play out... the improved animation is worth every penny... starting with a behind the plate view and then switching to the entire field view for the play results makes it seem like I'm sitting behind home plate at the ballpark.

The animation is not flawless, still has some silly, unrealistic play results, but it is much improved over OOTP19... and it will get better as each patch is released.

I bought OOTP20, but didn't play it... I usually wait until the final patch of the game before converting my long-running Islandian Pro Alliance to it.

I changed this year because of the animation improvements.

The game interface is really improved... I really like being able to change teams' home pages, being able to change the column and rows and using items I prefer in the place that I would like them.

I'm not into the business of baseball... no management... pretty much just let the game play out and I watch... OOTP21 is worth ever penny of the $40... I get wonderful entertainment and immense pleasure for just 10 cents a day.... that is a huge bargain, my friend.

wallewalls · 05-19-2020, 09:57 AM

This is the OOTP game I've played the least if I'm honest. I actually haven't touched either of my main saves in over a month. I only care about the GM experience and it feels like I'm playing the same game I've been playing for years. Follow the same formula I always do and I turned the Orioles into a powerhouse by 2022. The challenge is just completely gone because I know how the game works and what works well in simulations. I was on the fence about getting 21 but they suckered me in with the new scouting features. I thought it would be something new and a breath of fresh air, but it hasn't been, in my opinion.

I thought without real MLB I'd be playing more OOTP than ever. Turns out it's the complete opposite.

rudel.dietrich · 05-19-2020, 10:10 AM

Wait for a sale is my advice

Matt Arnold · 05-19-2020, 10:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rudel.dietrich

Wait for a sale is my advice

Short wait. It's on sale now

fredbeene · 05-19-2020, 12:02 PM

I am not sure what is happening because i am getting promos for something called RBI from OOTPB.
So i don't know if historical simulations have reached its peak in dev...
sad if it did.

swoboda · 05-19-2020, 01:33 PM

Worth it before the sale
Worth it after the sale

outrider64 · 05-19-2020, 03:05 PM

This game is worth buying every year. Whether it’s full price or on sale. You will get your moneys worth out of it. That’s just my opinion.

Eugene Church · 05-19-2020, 04:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by outrider64

This game is worth buying every year. Whether it’s full price or on sale. You will get your moneys worth out of it. That’s just my opinion.

Buy it at the full price... that way Markus has more money to improve the game.

james17 · 05-19-2020, 05:00 PM

Everybody is certainly entitled to their own opinion. FWIW I found OOTP20 to be only a tad better and different than OOTP19. I think I'll pass this year. What I"m really waiting for is OOTP's Front Office Football.

Saving my money for that one.

jimmysthebestcop · 05-19-2020, 07:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by outrider64

This game is worth buying every year. Whether it’s full price or on sale. You will get your moneys worth out of it. That’s just my opinion.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Eugene Church

Buy it at the full price... that way Markus has more money to improve the game.

Can you guys pass around the Kool Aid to some of us?

ablobj · 05-19-2020, 08:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TylerWaffles

I may get biased replies on this forum but I'm looking for some opinions on how OOTP 21 is compared to OOTP 20. I am a big fan and bought 18, 19, and 20 (started playing 18), but 20 and 19 were a lot alike to me and I was on the edge of buying it and only did it for the rosters. Now I'm in the same situation and I would like to get back into the game but I am not sure if it's worth paying $40 again for another roster update.

Is the game worth it enough for me to buy 21, when I could just continue playing 20?

It all depends on how you play the game and how much you value $40. For me, it was worth it.

pgjocki · 05-19-2020, 10:02 PM

I'm just curious what other form if entertainment you can find that has the same ROI as buying the latest version of OOTP. I usually put in a couple hundred hours, or so says Steam, on each version.

I spend time looking at my organization, watching a guy make his way from A ball to the majors, seeing how long I can hold onto that catcher whose a fan favorite, etc that I can't for the life of me come up with anything else that gives back what I pay.

I drink a lot of coffee but every year give it up for Lent. Every penny that isn't spent on OOTP goes to charity and I still give a pretty penny away.

It's not koolaid as someone else implied; it's supporting a small business that provides a product I enjoy.

Sent from my SM-G950U using Tapatalk

jimmysthebestcop · 05-20-2020, 12:30 AM

Any game I purchase I spend hundreds of hours in. At least 1 to 2 dozen a year. Ootpb isn't just competing with sports or baseball games but all games at least for me.

Almost no yearly game that has ever existed has been an automatic buy every year. Maybe some of the big multiplayer competitive games might have be a rare exception.

Yes 21 is better then 18. But it offers almost an identical play experience. I play many Indy to AAA games and sorry but the jump from 18 to 21 isn't nearly as big as it should be for being 4 years later in the development cycle.

I'm not trying to knock ootpb or the devs. But we have to admit it fills a very niche game market and sports market. That's why the player base is so diverse. You get hundreds of players this is there only game. Or people that are more of baseball fans then gaming fans.

Ootpb suffers from an Identity crisis. Is it trying to be a modern mlb numbers simulator, perfect team daily bet/fantasy competitor, historical game, fantasy builder, or a baseball organizational management/simulation. Can it do all? Maybe but it's hard to excel at so many different categories.

Right now it doesn't do the gm management/simulation part well at all. I would rate it as well below average. Its been exactly the same since at least 18. Its boring, flat, and lifeless. Every person in the game is a paper cut with no personality.

Now perfect team has been great. It crunches realistic numbers great. Customization of full worlds great real or fictional. It even does managing of games great. Even if the 3D still doesn't have the correct flow, sync, and timing.

But doing anything like any management/simulation video game does? No. You could pick a car factory to a mars colonization simulation game that does sim better.

Honestly it's like some forum members haven't played any other games to compare ootpb too. Then you would realize how much it's lacking in the gm department

torpidbeaver · 05-20-2020, 01:54 AM

I wouldn’t say I’m disappointed in this year’s version, but after preordering or buying on day one every version since 11, I’ll probably take a break next year.

Look at the feature list in the marketing promos, and if you don’t see features listed that you get excited about, you’re probably fine with last year’s version.

On the other hand, it’s still a good game, and it sims a mean game of baseball, even if the features I most want aren’t getting the attention I think they deserve.

bosunmate · 05-20-2020, 08:58 AM

I think you will find some great improvements, so go for it....I'm sure glad i have this game to get through the pandemic, great way to while away the hours. And for those of you out there working let me say THANK YOU for
being there.

jimmysthebestcop · 05-20-2020, 09:38 AM

With the sale price I probably say go for it too. You can always try to play it a completely different way then you normal do. Just to change things up. That's why I played Perfect Team all last year.

Perfect Team is a really good game mode and a lot of people sleep on it since its not necessarily the "Base game". But it's quality and it did entertain me. I didn't spend any actual money just the in game points and it was a load of fun.

Eugene Church · 05-20-2020, 11:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bosunmate

I think you will find some great improvements, so go for it....I'm sure glad i have this game to get through the pandemic, great way to while away the hours. And for those of you out there working let me say THANK YOU for
being there.

Forgive me for getting off topic...

bosunmate, thank you for thinking of all the folks that are taking care of us that stay at home for whatever reason.

They are the REAL SUPERHEROES.

We have a bunch of heroes in our country... and sadly most of them don't receive a decent wage... we need to take care of those folks...they are the backbone of our country.

Sizeman21 · 05-20-2020, 11:05 AM

While I have played every version since V16, I do feel like simulation games like this hit a limit to what they can add to a game. All that aside, I focus more on overall leagues I can create and sim years into the future. I love OOTP and always need my baseball fix, so I buy every year. Always worth the money for me atleast.

05-19-2020, 07:40 AM	#1
TylerWaffles Bat Boy Join Date: Dec 2018 Posts: 3	Is 21 worth it if I have 20? I may get biased replies on this forum but I'm looking for some opinions on how OOTP 21 is compared to OOTP 20. I am a big fan and bought 18, 19, and 20 (started playing 18), but 20 and 19 were a lot alike to me and I was on the edge of buying it and only did it for the rosters. Now I'm in the same situation and I would like to get back into the game but I am not sure if it's worth paying $40 again for another roster update. Is the game worth it enough for me to buy 21, when I could just continue playing 20?

05-19-2020, 09:57 AM	#4
wallewalls All Star Reserve Join Date: Apr 2016 Posts: 774 Infractions: 0/1 (1)	This is the OOTP game I've played the least if I'm honest. I actually haven't touched either of my main saves in over a month. I only care about the GM experience and it feels like I'm playing the same game I've been playing for years. Follow the same formula I always do and I turned the Orioles into a powerhouse by 2022. The challenge is just completely gone because I know how the game works and what works well in simulations. I was on the fence about getting 21 but they suckered me in with the new scouting features. I thought it would be something new and a breath of fresh air, but it hasn't been, in my opinion. I thought without real MLB I'd be playing more OOTP than ever. Turns out it's the complete opposite. Last edited by wallewalls; 05-19-2020 at 10:01 AM.

05-19-2020, 01:33 PM	#8
swoboda All Star Starter Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Guarding The Line Posts: 1,220	Worth it before the sale Worth it after the sale __________________ "...If you want to look ahead to the bottom of the ninth, the Mets will be sending up Buddy Harrelson, Jerry Buchek , and Don Bosch, we'll be right back after this word from Rheingold Beer" The late great Lindsey Nelson

05-19-2020, 10:02 PM	#14
pgjocki All Star Starter Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: Maryland - just outside DC Posts: 1,585	I'm just curious what other form if entertainment you can find that has the same ROI as buying the latest version of OOTP. I usually put in a couple hundred hours, or so says Steam, on each version. I spend time looking at my organization, watching a guy make his way from A ball to the majors, seeing how long I can hold onto that catcher whose a fan favorite, etc that I can't for the life of me come up with anything else that gives back what I pay. I drink a lot of coffee but every year give it up for Lent. Every penny that isn't spent on OOTP goes to charity and I still give a pretty penny away. It's not koolaid as someone else implied; it's supporting a small business that provides a product I enjoy. Sent from my SM-G950U using Tapatalk __________________ - - - World Series championships: 1926, 1931, 1934, 1942, 1944, 1946, 1964, 1967, 1982, 2006, 2011

05-20-2020, 11:05 AM	#20
Sizeman21 Major Leagues Join Date: Feb 2016 Location: The bleachers of Sportsman's Park Posts: 435	While I have played every version since V16, I do feel like simulation games like this hit a limit to what they can add to a game. All that aside, I focus more on overall leagues I can create and sim years into the future. I love OOTP and always need my baseball fix, so I buy every year. Always worth the money for me atleast. __________________

05-19-2020, 08:05 AM	#2
jimmysthebestcop Banned Join Date: Jun 2018 Posts: 1,728 Infractions: 0/2 (5)	I disliked 20 it felt exactly the same to me as 18/19. I ended up playing 1 season in normal mode and then 150+ hours in Perfect Team in XX after never playing PT before. Now in 21 I haven't played 1 second in PT and I have about 200 hours in 21 and around 5 or 6 seasons. Part of that is probably from taking a year off of normal mode. To me the biggest jump is the quality of life improvements to the UI. Nothing major but just a lot of tiny improvements that I could never play a version before 21 again. Column moving. Better custom windows under player profile and their stat pages. Better filters and better view creation process. Easier to find development coaches. Overall in my opinion 18 to 21 play basically 85% exactly the same in terms of video game playing. Even with the new scouting feature in 21. The games just play too similar from a video game perspective. There is less clicks and more customization in 21 UI at least and since I took a year off of normal play 21 got my money. If you are looking for something groundbreaking or earth shattering or something that feels levels above 18/19/20 then 21 certainly isn't it. A lot has to do with how you play modern, fictional, historical etc. If you play mostly GM or if you play out every baseball game. A lot of those options will effect opinions. Myself I am after the GM experience and it basically the same since at least 18. It is very barebones and simplistic and borderline broken in areas. A major disappointment. I am also unsure of the vision and scope of future games. If GM experience is even important or if its more about playing 3D games as a manager. I like sometimes watching the games in 3D but managing them does absolutely nothing for me in terms of video game experience. Sometimes its necessary because the AI can really mess up your bullpen if there are days off. But I don't take any enjoyment, fun or entertainment from it. The overall grand strategy element that exists by acting as a GM that is what draws me to OOTPb but that is its weakest area that leads to feelings of frustration and sadness. OOTPb plays baseball well, crunches numbers wells, full customization well. If you want to run 20 seasons 100 different boom OOTPb shines. If you want to make up some crazy fictional league boom OOTPb shines well. If you want a management, gm simulation, grand strategy game OOTPb kind of fails. Just in comparison to say Motorsport Manager and Football Manager. Maybe unfair comparisons but those games do the top level management sim so much better. I can't tell you if it's worth it or not. But hopefully I've given you a lot of info to help you decide.

05-19-2020, 09:31 AM	#3
Eugene Church Hall Of Famer Join Date: Aug 2002 Posts: 35,895	I play a simple game... no financials... fictional leagues... no minors... just use reserve roster for new players. If you liked OOTP19, you will like OOTP21 better... I just watch games play out... the improved animation is worth every penny... starting with a behind the plate view and then switching to the entire field view for the play results makes it seem like I'm sitting behind home plate at the ballpark. The animation is not flawless, still has some silly, unrealistic play results, but it is much improved over OOTP19... and it will get better as each patch is released. I bought OOTP20, but didn't play it... I usually wait until the final patch of the game before converting my long-running Islandian Pro Alliance to it. I changed this year because of the animation improvements. The game interface is really improved... I really like being able to change teams' home pages, being able to change the column and rows and using items I prefer in the place that I would like them. I'm not into the business of baseball... no management... pretty much just let the game play out and I watch... OOTP21 is worth ever penny of the $40... I get wonderful entertainment and immense pleasure for just 10 cents a day.... that is a huge bargain, my friend.

05-19-2020, 10:10 AM	#5
rudel.dietrich Hall Of Famer Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Zürich, Switzerland Posts: 8,608	Wait for a sale is my advice

05-19-2020, 12:02 PM	#7
fredbeene All Star Starter Join Date: Aug 2016 Posts: 1,613 Infractions: 0/1 (1)	I am not sure what is happening because i am getting promos for something called RBI from OOTPB. So i don't know if historical simulations have reached its peak in dev... sad if it did.

05-19-2020, 03:05 PM	#9
outrider64 Major Leagues Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: In The Bleachers Posts: 420	This game is worth buying every year. Whether it’s full price or on sale. You will get your moneys worth out of it. That’s just my opinion.

05-19-2020, 05:00 PM	#11
james17 All Star Starter Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 1,305	Everybody is certainly entitled to their own opinion. FWIW I found OOTP20 to be only a tad better and different than OOTP19. I think I'll pass this year. What I"m really waiting for is OOTP's Front Office Football. Saving my money for that one.

05-20-2020, 12:30 AM	#15
jimmysthebestcop Banned Join Date: Jun 2018 Posts: 1,728 Infractions: 0/2 (5)	Any game I purchase I spend hundreds of hours in. At least 1 to 2 dozen a year. Ootpb isn't just competing with sports or baseball games but all games at least for me. Almost no yearly game that has ever existed has been an automatic buy every year. Maybe some of the big multiplayer competitive games might have be a rare exception. Yes 21 is better then 18. But it offers almost an identical play experience. I play many Indy to AAA games and sorry but the jump from 18 to 21 isn't nearly as big as it should be for being 4 years later in the development cycle. I'm not trying to knock ootpb or the devs. But we have to admit it fills a very niche game market and sports market. That's why the player base is so diverse. You get hundreds of players this is there only game. Or people that are more of baseball fans then gaming fans. Ootpb suffers from an Identity crisis. Is it trying to be a modern mlb numbers simulator, perfect team daily bet/fantasy competitor, historical game, fantasy builder, or a baseball organizational management/simulation. Can it do all? Maybe but it's hard to excel at so many different categories. Right now it doesn't do the gm management/simulation part well at all. I would rate it as well below average. Its been exactly the same since at least 18. Its boring, flat, and lifeless. Every person in the game is a paper cut with no personality. Now perfect team has been great. It crunches realistic numbers great. Customization of full worlds great real or fictional. It even does managing of games great. Even if the 3D still doesn't have the correct flow, sync, and timing. But doing anything like any management/simulation video game does? No. You could pick a car factory to a mars colonization simulation game that does sim better. Honestly it's like some forum members haven't played any other games to compare ootpb too. Then you would realize how much it's lacking in the gm department

05-20-2020, 01:54 AM	#16
torpidbeaver Major Leagues Join Date: Aug 2011 Posts: 386	I wouldn’t say I’m disappointed in this year’s version, but after preordering or buying on day one every version since 11, I’ll probably take a break next year. Look at the feature list in the marketing promos, and if you don’t see features listed that you get excited about, you’re probably fine with last year’s version. On the other hand, it’s still a good game, and it sims a mean game of baseball, even if the features I most want aren’t getting the attention I think they deserve.

05-20-2020, 08:58 AM	#17
bosunmate All Star Starter Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Canada Posts: 1,705	I think you will find some great improvements, so go for it....I'm sure glad i have this game to get through the pandemic, great way to while away the hours. And for those of you out there working let me say THANK YOU for being there.

05-20-2020, 09:38 AM	#18
jimmysthebestcop Banned Join Date: Jun 2018 Posts: 1,728 Infractions: 0/2 (5)	With the sale price I probably say go for it too. You can always try to play it a completely different way then you normal do. Just to change things up. That's why I played Perfect Team all last year. Perfect Team is a really good game mode and a lot of people sleep on it since its not necessarily the "Base game". But it's quality and it did entertain me. I didn't spend any actual money just the in game points and it was a load of fun.