When...

[Scott Vibert]

I know that my thoughts are that they are working on it and they'll let us know when there is something meaningful to say. As mentioned previously, there is quite a bit of time before release to still give all the prospective customers the information they seek to hype the game. Would you rather they spent the time of the three guys developing the game to type up nice little summaries of what they have done, or spent the time working on the game to get it out on time? (Its not like they have the publicity department to be working on the game... so each bit of time they spend to give you the previews, comes right out of the development time)

Instead of getting all uptight about them "lying" to us, why don't we wait and see what happens. If they get it out in the Fall, then they were telling the truth the whole time and your rant was unwarrented.

If they don't get it out until 2003, then you can go on your rant about being lied too... and/or show them how much its upset you by not spending your money. But until the calendar says "Winter Begins" then its just speculation. Until then it might just be more prudent to just wait and see what happens.

I'm not saying your right or wrong, just that you are jumping the gun a bit. This isn't EA Sports, its 400 Studios and labeling them liars before we have any real history with the company, is rather premature in my opinion. I can understand your frustration with certain companies, but why don't we sit back and see what happens with this companies releases, before labeling them based on the failures of others.

It should also be noted that the companies only released game to date OOTP4, was released a full month early and the first screen shots didn't come out until 2 months before the game was released, so its not as if they have a track record of releasing products late to base these claims on.

[Scott Vibert]

Originally posted by Dokken
I,not once,called .400 Software Studios liars. I said IF they don't come out with in Fall 2002 they will become just as bad as EA Sports.

Here are some quotes: While you may not say. .400 Software Studios are liars, you are grouping them with other companies who you do say lie to fans. All I'm trying to say is at this time this is unfair.

Thats would be fine if they wouldn't set a release date. Im sorry but when you say a game will be out in "Fall 2002"...you better honor your word or don't even set a release date. I think that shows a lack of character and integrity. If they would have said..."To Be Annoucned"..then that would have been fine...they could have plenty of time to develop the game,etc...without worrying about releasing it....but now they have stated it will be out in "Fall 2002" so it better damn well be.

If it isn't...then this great company will fall as low as the rest of the companies out there now days.

I agree....as of right now.....but if they don't release this game in Fall 2002...they are no better than EA Sports...because they would be lying to the fans just like EA Sports does.

I have just seen countless games being made and they have a release date set maybe for a few months away and they have showed very little info on the game. They end up delaying it until the next year or whatever. MOST of the time...this is the way it unfolds.

I'm just saying that companies these days just "guess" a release date. They don't care if they honor their word.

All of these quotes can be construed as labeling the company as liars.

If you aren't calling the company a group of liars then what is the point of this "off topic" rant about the way other game companies produce their games? You asked for more information and were given it. At that point you got upset with one of the developers for not giving you more information. As posted before they are acting in occordance with how they've always acted prior to the release of the other product. Not much of anything along the screen shots/ feature list/ preview lines, yet still managing to release the game on time.

I can understand your frustration and wanting to know more about the game. I can understand your skepticism as far as the release date, but I just don't understand what the point of this entire rant is, if you aren't attempting to label the company a bunch of liars... in almost every post you make there is at least one remark that says: "Whenever I see companies acting like this then end up missing the release date, at least companies who don't give a release date don't lie to me". These types of phrases sound an awful lot like you attempting to lump the company in with the group of companies you have outright labeled as liars.

I can understand the frustrations, but I just think you are jumping the gun a bit with your criticism. Your skepticism is noted... let it go, if you are right you can come back later and tell us all "I told you so", drag up this post to prove it and whatever you want. But you have posted you hope you are wrong.. so why not take the more positive attitude? You've been reassured by 2/3's of the development team that the game is on schedule and they are actively working to make the current deadline... why all the continued negativity?

Once again, I can understand your skepticism, and understand your desire for more information about the game, or "proof" that it will be out ontime. I can understand what seems to be a "once bit, twice shy", type of mentality towards game companies. However things are proceeding with this game similar to how they proceeded with the release of the companies only other product, a product that was released a month early. We haven't been "bitten" by this company yet, so IMO your criticisms are still a bit pre-mature. If we don't here much more about it by the end of September or Early October (I guess fall doesn't techinically end until mid-late December), then I'd start to get concerned (remembering the 2 month window they've used in the past)... but right now, its probably a bit early to get this worked up about the lack of screenshots or information.

[Joe Stallings]

Moving right along...


1) start as a high school or college player?

I *think* so. We are discussing this a way to provide a different level of challenge. Coming from high school, you are typically more raw but have more room for growth. As a college draftee, your skills are typically more refined, but the variability of your potential is lower.

2) do you "wait" to be drafted by a computer AI team, or can you assign yourself to a team?

You will be signed or drafted.

3) is it possible to make the jump directly to majors, ala Pete Incaviglia?

Don't think so. You might be able to go the Andruw Jones route (I think he went from low minors to AAA to the Braves in his first pro season).

4) Can you hold out and even sit out a year and be drafted by another team, ala J.D. Drew?

This depends on how we handle the drafting routines.

5) Is it possible to create your own logos and put your picture in the game?

Yes, most definitely.

6) can you continue as a coach or manager after your playing days are over?

We haven't got that far yet.

7) do you control your destiny as far as being able to approve or deny trades to another team?

It depends on your contract.

8) is the ability to import/export from OOTP still going to be included?

I think you will be able to import your character into OOTP like you would import a single play from the Lahman database. However, OOTP and ITP will not "sync" i.e., your career path will diverge if you play the two games concurrently.

A quick dev update:

One of the really cool things we've been working on in recent days is inventory manager. If you've played any traditional RPG like Baldur's Gate, NWN, Diablo, etc. you are probably familiar with the inventory "grid" and how different items occupy different slot sizes. This is something I think we've modelled pretty ingeniously. You will have access to dozens of different inventory items in the game, from different bats and other gear to special items which infer bonuses on your character (i.e., you can spend some of your hard earned AA money on The Art of Hitting book, which gives your character +1 to his contact hitting rating).

Markus is working on providing the dev team with an item editor (fun fun!) and we are building some additional items this week. Now, if everyone behaves, maybe I can talk Markus into releasing the item editor with the game.

Joe

[Scott Vibert]

What my little 2 second synopsis of the thread would be..

.400 Studios says the game will be out in Fall 2002.
-Joe Stallings comments that the game is on schedule
-Steve Kuffrey comments on the work he's been doing for his part of the development
-Joe Stallings then answers a bunch of feature questions (Thanks Joe)

Dokken says the game won't be out on time (During Fall 2002)
-If this occurs then the company is as low as EA Sports and other dishonest companies
-This belief is based on the lack of previews/screenshots/feature lists that have been released to date

I personally would tend to believe the development team. They have no reason to lie, it would be much easier to come out now and delay the game then wait until later to delay it. So right now the target is Fall 2002, and I believe it. Additionally the lack of information isn't out of character for what the company has done in the past, when they have managed to meet or even beat their deadline.

[Dokken]

All of these quotes can be construed as labeling the company as liars.

Thats Bullsh*t. I never called .400 liars....thats the bottom line. Don't try and twist my words around to make it look like I did call them liars...because not once did I do that.

You've been reassured by 2/3's of the development team that the game is on schedule and they are actively working to make the current deadline... why all the continued negativity?

O only continued to respond to defend my viewpoint....I was attacked a couple of different time by a few different members so I wanted to make sure I got my point across to them.

Joe...Thanks...That is extremely nice to hear and I hope the game is going along great...I for one am anxiously awaiting it.

[statfreak]

Mr. Stallings, thank you for the info.

I'll be one of the first to download and purchase this game.

Please keep us updated as time permits and without "spilling the beans" about certain features that may or may not end up in the final released version.

Thanks again.

[Nirvana91]

Originally posted by Dokken


Did you even read my posts? I don't think you did. My God at least understand my points before you respond.

I'll tell you what i am sick of...people getting on this messageboard and sucking up to the developers. My God it runs rampant here. THAT makes me sick.

Thats what I have been saying this whole time....READ.

I was merely agreeing with most of your points (bad wording I guess, calm down), except for the term "lying." Lying is a very strong word to use. I'm sure if they say "fall 2002" for their projected release date, they intend to get the game done by then. Crap happens, and things usually don't turn out the way they expected. Complaining about it isn't going to help at all.

And I wasn't sucking up, but having a little programming experience in my pocket, I know that these things take time. Complaining about passed release date deadlines is doing nothing except forcing people like Steve to respond and waste his time.

[Draft Dodger]

I can't tell you how sorry I am to have stumbled across this thread.

[atomheart]

[Dokken]

I can't tell you how sorry I am to have stumbled across this thread.

Thank you for posting that useless comment and not adding anything to the conversation.

[Draft Dodger]

Originally posted by Dokken



Thank you for posting that useless comment and not adding anything to the conversation.

be thankful - I held back from totally shredding you.
glad to have you back and posting insightful conspiracy theories with no factual basis.

[Dokken]

be thankful - I held back from totally shredding you.

oooooooooooo....shredding me on a messageboard....tough guy..... :rolleyes

glad to have you back and posting insightful conspiracy theories with no factual basis.

This is why I don't like to post.....because I know morons like you will respond with things like you did. Just stay out if you don't like it...it isn't that difficult.

[Malignant]

Oh i forgot why i was even reading this thread. I just want to know how the interface/graphics will be handled. Will the game be similar to ootp4 with the text-based/background image while playing the games? I would just like a description of how you will handle the graphics. Thanks