Is OOTP Baseball 23 worth it?

[BarneyRubble]

The OP asked a simple question. He obviously has OOTP 22 and plays fictional. His question was a rather simple question.

If he didn't own OOTP 22, it's a simple answer. I think we can all agree with that. However, he does own OOTP 22. Saying he should buy it because it's only $40 isn't a valid answer to his question.

[HRBaker]

Originally Posted by BarneyRubble

The OP asked a simple question. He obviously has OOTP 22 and plays fictional. His question was a rather simple question.

If he didn't own OOTP 22, it's a simple answer. I think we can all agree with that. However, he does own OOTP 22. Saying he should buy it because it's only $40 isn't a valid answer to his question.

And since we don't know what features he values in the game, there is no way to give him a definitive answer. All we can do is express what we think in terms of value and hope that he uses that as a guide.

[silvam14]

Originally Posted by BarneyRubble

The OP asked a simple question. He obviously has OOTP 22 and plays fictional. His question was a rather simple question.

If he didn't own OOTP 22, it's a simple answer. I think we can all agree with that. However, he does own OOTP 22. Saying he should buy it because it's only $40 isn't a valid answer to his question.

A simple question with no correct answer. Unless you know of the correct answer that is devoid of opinion?

[David Watts]

For me, the addition of the separate settings for long and short injuries makes 23 100% worth it. Such a great addition, especially for those of us that play historical.

[Pelican]

Originally Posted by md40022

It all depends on your real life situation. Obviously. If you're a working adult with an adequate paycheck rolling in - yeah, it's worth it. There are some nice new features as someone listed in a previous post. Visually the game looks sharper this year IMO.

But if you're paycheck to paycheck and money is tight, if you're happy with 22 and needing updated rosters isn't big for you than you'd be a fool to buy 23.

None of us know your situation in life, so it's a tough question to answer. If it will cause you to be late on your rent and the kids are gonna miss a meal over it, don't buy the game. You already said you like 22. If life is decent for you right now, then yeah for $40 it's a real good value given the amount of time you can invest in it.

Sobering thought. I can well remember when $4 bucks ($40 in today’s dollars) was a lot to spend on fun. Happily retired (mostly) now; but you don’t forget living paycheck to paycheck. True that for some, $40 is too much for a steak, cocktails, or OOTP.

[renderfred]

Holy cow man. I didn't mean to set off any tempers, lol. I am so sorry for that. Hugs to everyone here.

For me, I was really hoping for updates to the stadium creator because when I'm doing fictional leagues I love creating a custom stadium for each team in the majors. It's a great thing to be able to do but currently it feels a little limiting to me is all. Just want to make my self very clear that I love the OOTP Baseball series and I have been a huge fan since the first game. I realize that for most stadium creator is not that big of a deal, I just love customization type options in any game. I'm actually considering buying the game just because I read that there are more options for team uniform creation. Can anyone elaborate on that? Is it possible now to customize the color of the uniform pants?

Thank you everyone.

[Syd Thrift]

Pants are now customizeable, yes. There’s only one skin you can use and it’s for long pants with no stirrup showing but you can customize the color, stripe color, or pinstripe color in game and photoshop it if you want something fancier.

Tops are a work in progress still but as long as you play after, like, 1920 or so most of the ones that have been created for the game look fine (they redid them but have an algorithm to make the old units work, a process that looks fine most of the time).

I don’t think they touched the park creator this version at all, unfortunately.

[sprague]

At this point I would say no.
The game engine is way out of whack with any previous version. they changed the entire engine, though so far no one has explained why the old engine needed to be changed or how the new engine works.


What I am seeing is singular mass stat seasons in all areas. A home run leader with 77 or 79 home runs, the next player at 49. A wins leader at 29 when the next is 20, a stolen base leader of 90 when teh next is 44, a batting average champ of .352 when his under the hood value is .291.
So something is happening very odd with how the game handles stat output, as if it targets several random players a year and gives them a massive boost for 8 months.

And maybe that is the new engine now but it would be good to let us know because in the last version I never say outliner seasons like this except in rare occasions, not every year as is showing up in my tests.

[renderfred]

That's cool that the uniforms can be customized more. Still wish there was more that could be done with the pants.

Big time bummer about the game engine being changed. Have they said if there is a plan to fix it or not?

[Lukas Berger]

Originally Posted by sprague

At this point I would say no.
The game engine is way out of whack with any previous version. they changed the entire engine, though so far no one has explained why the old engine needed to be changed or how the new engine works.


What I am seeing is singular mass stat seasons in all areas. A home run leader with 77 or 79 home runs, the next player at 49. A wins leader at 29 when the next is 20, a stolen base leader of 90 when teh next is 44, a batting average champ of .352 when his under the hood value is .291.
So something is happening very odd with how the game handles stat output, as if it targets several random players a year and gives them a massive boost for 8 months.

And maybe that is the new engine now but it would be good to let us know because in the last version I never say outliner seasons like this except in rare occasions, not every year as is showing up in my tests.

Originally Posted by renderfred

Big time bummer about the game engine being changed. Have they said if there is a plan to fix it or not?

We're always open to evidence showing things are off and in that case more than happy to fix things, but as of now, this all seems to be working more or less as intended.

Outliers are a part of baseball. Babe Ruth hit 54 HR's when the next best hitter in the league hit 19. Ted Williams hit .406 when the next best hitter in the league hit .359. Denny McLain won 31 games when the next best pitcher won 22. Rickey Henderson stole 130 bases when the next best base stealer stole 54.

If anything, in previous years we might've tended to suppress outlier seasons a little too much, so if they are organically happening a little more often in OOTP23, that's probably not an entirely bad thing.

Still the devil is in the details for this sort of thing and the big question is how much they do tend to happen. Sprague, if you have some tests where seasons like the above are happening more than occasionally, please do share the league files so we can take a closer look and see if in fact there's anything off or not.

[sprague]

Originally Posted by Lukas Berger

We're always open to evidence showing things are off and in that case more than happy to fix things, but as of now, this all seems to be working more or less as intended.

Outliers are a part of baseball. Babe Ruth hit 54 HR's when the next best hitter in the league hit 19. Ted Williams hit .406 when the next best hitter in the league hit .359. Denny McLain won 31 games when the next best pitcher won 22. Rickey Henderson stole 130 bases when the next best base stealer stole 54.

If anything, in previous years we might've tended to suppress outlier seasons a little too much, so if they are organically happening a little more often in OOTP23, that's probably not an entirely bad thing.

Still the devil is in the details for this sort of thing and the big question is how much they do tend to happen. Sprague, if you have some tests where seasons like the above are happening more than occasionally, please do share the league files so we can take a closer look and see if in fact there's anything off or not.

I hope my post did not come off as overly negative. I think the game will get there in a few months but I have just noticed areas of the game that are real vast to other versions. Player development is another.
But again it might be working exactly as the new system is meant to be. So far I have seen nothing to explain what changed and why with the engine so I only have previous versions to compare with.
I can post over some screenshots of league leaderboards for various tests so you can see the discrepancies if that helps.
There is a lot of little things I like that have been added but I think the new game engine needs a bit more work before its running smooth

[Goody]

Originally Posted by HRBaker

For Heaven's sake, do we have to argue where I eat for $40??? The point is OOTP IS NOT EXPENSIVE and provides MONTHS of enjoyment for 40 bucks.


If I somehow insulted someone for not being totally accurate and should have said $100 it was unintentional and meant to express a POINT - not be a line item on my Income Tax return.

The steak house he goes to is like "Goddarnit... now this guy is realizing how much he has been paying this whole time because of this thread!"

[Bluenoser]

To add to the above regarding uniforms - Can also use alternate uniforms now and assign them to certain days/events for when they are worn.

Just my opinion, as someone who's played the game since ver 1 back in 99, this years game has had some excellent improvements. I'm not going to list them all, far too many, but a few of my favourites

Sortable Team Stats
Alt Uni's
New shop player options/trade window
Double Elimination playoffs
etc etc

I haven't seen any issues with the new engine, in fact I think it's improved. Keep in mind I don't play with real players, just fictional.

Definitely worth it imo.

[HRBaker]

Originally Posted by Lukas Berger

Outliers are a part of baseball. Babe Ruth hit 54 HR's when the next best hitter in the league hit 19. Ted Williams hit .406 when the next best hitter in the league hit .359. Denny McLain won 31 games when the next best pitcher won 22. Rickey Henderson stole 130 bases when the next best base stealer stole 54.

If anything, in previous years we might've tended to suppress outlier seasons a little too much, so if they are organically happening a little more often in OOTP23, that's probably not an entirely bad thing.

I've been wishing for this for YEARS. The old method far too suppressed the guys that pulled off amazing seasons - then sometimes dropped off the radar completely. The current results, in my opinion, are much more realistic.

[Sweed]

Originally Posted by sprague

At this point I would say no.
The game engine is way out of whack with any previous version. they changed the entire engine, though so far no one has explained why the old engine needed to be changed or how the new engine works.


What I am seeing is singular mass stat seasons in all areas. A home run leader with 77 or 79 home runs, the next player at 49. A wins leader at 29 when the next is 20, a stolen base leader of 90 when teh next is 44, a batting average champ of .352 when his under the hood value is .291.
So something is happening very odd with how the game handles stat output, as if it targets several random players a year and gives them a massive boost for 8 months.

And maybe that is the new engine now but it would be good to let us know because in the last version I never say outliner seasons like this except in rare occasions, not every year as is showing up in my tests.

Originally Posted by renderfred

That's cool that the uniforms can be customized more. Still wish there was more that could be done with the pants.

Big time bummer about the game engine being changed. Have they said if there is a plan to fix it or not?

Why is it when one poster says something about any changes in the game do users take it as the gospel? There are so many variables in OOTP that one player might see something another does not. Then there are the differing expectations we all have of what reality is. IE Sprague notes large differences between the league leader and the number two guy. Lukas replies with real life instances of those things happening. It's an issue that certainly merits discussion sure just, not yet to the level of saying things are broke, IMHO.

Play yourself and see what you think before asking for fixes?

Playing out a game, to me, feels so much more realistic. That may be placebo so don't take it as the gospel. There are definitely more plays and play outcomes than in previous versions.

Originally Posted by HRBaker

I've been wishing for this for YEARS. The old method far too suppressed the guys that pulled off amazing seasons - then sometimes dropped off the radar completely. The current results, in my opinion, are much more realistic.

This is how I feel about the new engine too. Stolen bases anyone? Stolen bases alone almost makes upgrading worth the price. My 8\8 speed\steal CF now looks like a Lou Brock, Tim Raines and not "Joe IhopeIgetajump"

[ashantewarrier]

I have OOTP23, but am holding off playing this version until the Mac facegen issues are resolved.

However, from what I hear, the revised game engine, enhanced AI, and expanded shop player trade function is worth the upgrade. Just be advised that there are facegen issues for Mac users. I'll just keep playing OOTP22 until then.

[Reed]

MacBook Pro 14 inch. I bought 23 but went back to 22. Some Mac users are complaining about face gen and not being able to transfer games from 22 to 23. I was experiencing 3 issues.

1. The ball cap visor was constantly going back to a grey color after playing a couple games or turning off the game and turning back on.
2. With the same set up, the stadium view and players look crisper in 22 and slightly out of focus in 23, especially the outfield signs.
3. And the main issue for me. I set up identical Random Debut leagues in version 22 and 23 using 1979 as base statistical year. Fast sim 100 years in each version. In real life the BA for 1979 was .265. The 22 version BA ranged from .258 to .270 and averaged very close to .265. The 23 version ranged from .246 to .267 and average about 8 points below .265.

I did try a regular historical year and the results were very good.
I really like the new features in in 23 but for now, I am back in 22. Hopefully you all get better results.

[PSUColonel]

Yep I’m a Mac owner and my facegens now look like they belong in FM

[Syd Thrift]

Originally Posted by Sweed

Why is it when one poster says something about any changes in the game do users take it as the gospel? There are so many variables in OOTP that one player might see something another does not. Then there are the differing expectations we all have of what reality is. IE Sprague notes large differences between the league leader and the number two guy. Lukas replies with real life instances of those things happening. It's an issue that certainly merits discussion sure just, not yet to the level of saying things are broke, IMHO.

Play yourself and see what you think before asking for fixes?

Playing out a game, to me, feels so much more realistic. That may be placebo so don't take it as the gospel. There are definitely more plays and play outcomes than in previous versions.

I mean, dude hasn't purchased yet. Still, yeah, that comment was kind of the exact opposite of what I've experienced.

This is how I feel about the new engine too. Stolen bases anyone? Stolen bases alone almost makes upgrading worth the price. My 8\8 speed\steal CF now looks like a Lou Brock, Tim Raines and not "Joe IhopeIgetajump"

Yeah, I'm doing a fictional league and basically overnight with the new version there is one guy in particular who went from "good player with a lot of tools" to "extremely annoying and pesky leadoff hitter who will steal second any time he can, and he seems to be in that opportunity a lot". It's pretty awesome and feels a lot more like real baseball.

[NoOne]

Originally Posted by Syd Thrift

They also rebuilt the day to day sim engine from the ground up and completely reworked how stealing works.

omg... does the 'take a pitch' exploit no longer work? LOL