Worth buying 24 now or wait for 25?

[BURNS81]

I’m really late to the party this year and I’m wondering is 24 worth buying this late into the cycle or should I just wait for 25? Thanks.

[Bluenoser]

We're at mid cycle currently.

24 has been out for 6 months.

25 will be out in about 6 months.


Opinions will vary as much as the weather. 24 is a very solid game.

Just my opinion.

[David Watts]

A lot probably depends on if you're a person that plays a baseball sim year round. If so, I would say it's worth it.

[koohead]

In full transparency I buy the new version when it is available and poke around it for most of the year until the final patch comes out (there usually is an announcement of some sort that states the intention of a particular patch being final). That's when I transfer my long running save to the 'current' version and retire last years version. I play that until same time next year when next years version is on it's final patch. So yeah...definitely worth it if you ask me

[Brad K]

Originally Posted by koohead

In full transparency I buy the new version when it is available and poke around it for most of the year until the final patch comes out (there usually is an announcement of some sort that states the intention of a particular patch being final). That's when I transfer my long running save to the 'current' version and retire last years version. I play that until same time next year when next years version is on it's final patch. So yeah...definitely worth it if you ask me

Good idea.

[RubeBaker]

Full disclosure: I just bought OOTP24 a week ago. NGL, I was disappointed when certain leagues were removed from the game which I understand why they were, but it this was a personal choice on my part. That, and I've had lots of other stuff going on in my life, plus the fact that I really have been enjoying OOTP23.

I FINALLY played OOTP24 and if I had to give it a report card I'd give it a B.

Overall, I think the game is very good and the graphics are a step up from 23. And, as many others have stated, it's so nice to see the return of the OOTP Classic Skin Background.

Crowd animation and the gameplay is better although sometimes I think the gameplay is a bit too fast, but that can always be slowed down. As for the sound effects, all good, but it would be nice to get newer sounds. The airplane in the background used to be fun to listen to, but after awhile I start playing the game on mute.

I took the New York Yankees as GM/Manager using Live Start Mode and essentially cleaned house. Played a full season and finished 94-68 good enough for the wild-card finishing 6 games behind the Tampa Bay Rays. I also made a trade sending Gleyber Torres and Randy Vasquez and to the Miami Marlins for Sandy Alcantara and Luis Arraez. The trade benefitted both teams as both teams made the playoffs and Torres and Arraez had very good years with their respective teams.

Last but not least, I will say that the statistics are more realistic in this version than before and the trading mechanism is very good. All in all, a very good game, but I still prefer 23.

[omg_pwnasaurus]

I absolutely LOVE the trading deadline feature they added in '24, the timer mechanism is so great and really gives that whole day a sense of urgency and creating a new fun event within the game that used to be just another day.

I'm not sure what else along those same lines they can add but I really enjoy the "event" days within the season and offseason so anything else they can think to add to create more of those would be very welcome lol.

I also like the new trading AI/system where you can opt to not get the immediate "make it work" thing.

[Pelican]

Agree with the above observations on 24. I prefer it to 23, now that I have adjusted to the changes, and can fully appreciate the subtle improvements that only come out over time as you encounter new situations.

I found the new “hard trading” option to be useless, and toggled it off. Too much delay, and it might as well be called “impossible trading”. Took all the fun out of wheeling and dealing, IMHO. Agree that the trading algorhythm has improved overall (which is another reason to avoid the new option).

There is supposed to be a “super stats replay” option added to gameplay. I still haven’t found it anywhere on my screen. Sounds cool but remains a mystery to me.

[omg_pwnasaurus]

You can find it in the upper right drop down during gameplay. I use it to see all the stats on a homerun and to watch the ball flight. It's how I saw someone finally hit on/over the roof of old Comiskey in 1978, (Jimmy Wynn).

[Bluenoser]

Originally Posted by Pelican

Agree with the above observations on 24. I prefer it to 23, now that I have adjusted to the changes, and can fully appreciate the subtle improvements that only come out over time as you encounter new situations.

I found the new “hard trading” option to be useless, and toggled it off. Too much delay, and it might as well be called “impossible trading”. Took all the fun out of wheeling and dealing, IMHO. Agree that the trading algorhythm has improved overall (which is another reason to avoid the new option).

There is supposed to be a “super stats replay” option added to gameplay. I still haven’t found it anywhere on my screen. Sounds cool but remains a mystery to me.

In the pregame screen, ctr column about halfway down there are 3 options for replays.

Draw Ball Flight Arc
Flying Camera on Replays
Extra Statistical Widget

Select which you would like to see during replays. I have all 3 selected. Extra statistical widget is the one that shows "super stats"

During the game, after a play is completed, press f10 (on a PC). The last play will be replayed and you'll see the info/display for the choices you made during pre game.

If you're on a Mac, I cannot help with the shortcut (f10) as I am unfamiliar with Macs.

[Sweed]

Originally Posted by Pelican

Agree with the above observations on 24. I prefer it to 23, now that I have adjusted to the changes, and can fully appreciate the subtle improvements that only come out over time as you encounter new situations.

I found the new “hard trading” option to be useless, and toggled it off. Too much delay, and it might as well be called “impossible trading”. Took all the fun out of wheeling and dealing, IMHO. Agree that the trading algorhythm has improved overall (which is another reason to avoid the new option).

There is supposed to be a “super stats replay” option added to gameplay. I still haven’t found it anywhere on my screen. Sounds cool but remains a mystery to me.

I agree, 24 over 23. 3d improvements, the new added play results, and all of the subtle changes as you mentioned.

I do agree the trade algorithm is much improved, but IMHO not a reason to turn off hard trading. For me, hard trading has added fun to the wheeling and dealing. Haven't found trading impossible at all. Most trades do take a couple of sessions to hammer out a deal (adds to the fun and reality IMHO), but I have had one or two where the other team agreed immediately, and not only on the trade deadline day either. In my case I manage every game and play my seasons one day at a time. I could see one that simulates in chunks of time wanting to get instant results. But that's why we have options, so we can all play the game "our way".

Perhaps you're "impossible" comes down to settings? I left mine on default(?), I think. Without looking I believe, from center, 1 click towards prospects and 6 clicks towards "hard". Take it fwiw.

[kidd_05_u2]

I also found the hard trading mode to be impossible, and this is with the difficulty slider just one notch to the right.

Like, last weekend I was looking for an organizational catcher for my A-ball minor league levels due to a rash of injuries. I wasn’t looking for a prospect, just a 20/20 guy who could catch for a month or two before being released. I found three teams with a lot of extra catchers in the minors, so I offered them a set of players and even cash. Each time in like 15 offers sent for 5 different 20/20 catchers, the other teams' email reply was that they wanted one of my top 8 prospects to close the deal.

I turned off hard mode, used make it work now, and could quickly get my organizational filler catcher for $10,000 plus a non-prospect.

[MathBandit]

I think at this point in the cycle your best option is to pick up 24 for very cheap on a sale and then instead decide if you're ready to upgrade to full-price 25 at launch or still happy with 24 until partway through the 25 cycle.

[Sweed]

Originally Posted by kidd_05_u2

I also found the hard trading mode to be impossible, and this is with the difficulty slider just one notch to the right.

Like, last weekend I was looking for an organizational catcher for my A-ball minor league levels due to a rash of injuries. I wasn’t looking for a prospect, just a 20/20 guy who could catch for a month or two before being released. I found three teams with a lot of extra catchers in the minors, so I offered them a set of players and even cash. Each time in like 15 offers sent for 5 different 20/20 catchers, the other teams' email reply was that they wanted one of my top 8 prospects to close the deal.

I turned off hard mode, used make it work now, and could quickly get my organizational filler catcher for $10,000 plus a non-prospect.

20/20 C for a month in the low minors and you can't find a FA to fill in? You're working way too hard.

As the MLB GM that's where I concentrate. I had a MLB team offer me a top 10 AAA SP (ready to step up to MLB) for my A+ top SP prospect (25th rated MLB prospect, and not a problem child). The catch was their guy was a problem child in the clubhouse. After a bit I flipped him to Boston for a 23yr old up and coming SS, one of their top prospects. This was after having made offers to 4 other teams for SS help. Two teams tried to "hold me up" while the other two were reasonable discussions. After a couple of rounds of discussing the offer Boston also got a "bench LF" MLB ready player from my AAA team. Fair value all the way around, and one of the more immersive transactions I've ever had in a sports simulation.

[Bobbyraz49]

To me $40 is nothing. And I am retired. Heck ...a movie for 2 is probably close to same cost.
Hours of baseball simulation EVERY version !!!!!

Hust do it !!! LOL

[Eugene Church]

Originally Posted by koohead

In full transparency I buy the new version when it is available and poke around it for most of the year until the final patch comes out (there usually is an announcement of some sort that states the intention of a particular patch being final). That's when I transfer my long running save to the 'current' version and retire last years version. I play that until same time next year when next years version is on it's final patch. So yeah...definitely worth it if you ask me

Yep, that's what I have always done.

I have OOTP24, but will only convert my leagues to it after the final patch is announced.

This is selfish because I don't help much in finding and reporting bugs in the new version.

[Pelican]

Originally Posted by omg_pwnasaurus

You can find it in the upper right drop down during gameplay. I use it to see all the stats on a homerun and to watch the ball flight. It's how I saw someone finally hit on/over the roof of old Comiskey in 1978, (Jimmy Wynn).

Yeah thanks but I am not seeing superstats on that (or any) dropdown menu.

I did change the pregame settings as suggested. I am on a Mac (mostly) but also have the game loaded on my work computer (don’t tell). So I will try tonight on the PC. Thanks again.

[MathBandit]

Originally Posted by Pelican

Yeah thanks but I am not seeing superstats on that (or any) dropdown menu.

I did change the pregame settings as suggested. I am on a Mac (mostly) but also have the game loaded on my work computer (don’t tell). So I will try tonight on the PC. Thanks again.

I'm no pro at watching games out, but I think this is the button?

[Syd Thrift]

I believe that's it, although you still need to go into the settings now and turn on the individual things (the ball tracker, that weirdo graphic with the percentages laid over the infield) if you want to see them.