SEGA acquire Sports Interactive

[battists]

Yeah, if something awful happened, and Markus lost OOTP or stopped making it, we might all have to get lives...



On second thought, naaaaaaah.

[D Love]

Based on their reactions, I take it that Marc and Markus had at least perhaps a small equity stake in SI that has just zoomed in value?

[Zitofan75]

And, as mentioned in another thread, SEGA probably has bigger, more dangerous lawyers that can tear apart that troll who put out the false press releases ... too bad there won't be a video feed.

[QuestGAV]

Originally Posted by D Love

Based on their reactions, I take it that Marc and Markus had at least perhaps a small equity stake in SI that has just zoomed in value?

"

SEGA gets future profits, they get paid for past performance. Not a bad deal on a personal level when you can walk away.

[DaveHorn]

Originally Posted by bababui

a faster 2 dimensional graphical engine in 07 and 3d in 2010!!

Originally Posted by redsox45

if we can get the OOTP game engine with PS2 or 3 graphics someday, why not

* Small Hijack alert but tiny tie included *
Graphics!?! Graphics!?! OOTP is a baseball simulator, NOT a baseball game!

I may be wrong but the average OOTP diehard couldn't care less about graphics in this game. What makes this game great is its attention to detail and accurate representation of real life rules, stats, and game play.

I hope to gawd, OOTP never worries one iota about gameplay graphics (i.e. interface is important, gameplay graphics are not). If they do, that would be the day OOTP jumps the shark. As great as this game is the quest to be perfect in mirroring real life game mechanics should never end. I want the AI to steal, bunt, hit & run, go for extra bases, use relievers, etc, etc when its 100% appropriate. I want to read through 100 game logs and not by dumbfounded by a single move made by the AI. (Yes, I may disagree by a move like we all do with any game in real life, but how many times to we see a game log and say, "that's just dumb".)

This game is the best, it is great, but it isn't perfect. Perfect gameplay is our holy grail, better graphics isn't even on the list.

If you want better graphics, I suggest the latest baseball incarnation on your favorite console. (Here comes the topic tie in ) My only fear about a SEGA purchase would be if any pressure came to try to introduce better gameplay graphics to our wonderful game.

[bp_]

Originally Posted by Malleus Dei

Everyone who sells out says that because they're told to say that. (Sadly, some of them have been foolish enough to believe it: "No, really, you can deal with the Devil and keep your soul. Honestly! Would I lie to you?")

Everyone who sells out to the devil and thinks they can still keep their soul is inevitably mistaken.

What we have always, always, always seen in gaming is this:

1. Major company acquires studio which makes awesome niche products.
2. Major company guts studio which makes awesome niche products.
3. Awesome niche products are no longer produced.

We've been here before, Marc. It always ends in tears, because big corporations don't understand niche products, don't understand or approve of operating in small markets, view people (and entire studios) who make small-market products as costs which can be cut at the first opportunity, and are all run by blighted soulless dehumanized zombies who have only one goal: maximizing stockholder value (I walked away from the corporate world many years ago because of that last fact).

No offense, but you sound like every other PR guy for every other firm which sold out doing exactly what every other PR guy for every other firm which sold out was told to do: reassure the customers.

Been here before. Not buying it.

I tend to agree with this. Great news for Marcus and all but I can't say I have a lot of faith long-term because of the scenario outlined above. Rarely does it go in another direction.

Guess I should have read page 2 - I see Marcus still owns the rights to the game. Regardless, that doesn't alleviate all concerns, just some.

[bababui]

Originally Posted by DaveHorn

* Small Hijack alert but tiny tie included *
Graphics!?! Graphics!?! OOTP is a baseball simulator, NOT a baseball game!

I may be wrong but the average OOTP diehard couldn't care less about graphics in this game. What makes this game great is its attention to detail and accurate representation of real life rules, stats, and game play.

I hope to gawd, OOTP never worries one iota about gameplay graphics (i.e. interface is important, gameplay graphics are not). If they do, that would be the day OOTP jumps the shark. As great as this game is the quest to be perfect in mirroring real life game mechanics should never end. I want the AI to steal, bunt, hit & run, go for extra bases, use relievers, etc, etc when its 100% appropriate. I want to read through 100 game logs and not by dumbfounded by a single move made by the AI. (Yes, I may disagree by a move like we all do with any game in real life, but how many times to we see a game log and say, "that's just dumb".)

This game is the best, it is great, but it isn't perfect. Perfect gameplay is our holy grail, better graphics isn't even on the list.

If you want better graphics, I suggest the latest baseball incarnation on your favorite console. (Here comes the topic tie in ) My only fear about a SEGA purchase would be if any pressure came to try to introduce better gameplay graphics to our wonderful game.

I have two words for you: Football Manager or World Soccer Manager over here.

FM combines all the brilliance of a simulator with the ability to see and influence your teams games which makes it an almost perfect sports sim.


I totally agree with all your points about the AI..take all that and have a visual representation I am in heaven, Given how Markus makes his games this will probably be optional if you dont want to use it but it would vastly improve in-game play.

[Mr.Opinion]

Originally Posted by bababui

I have two words for you: Football Manager or World Soccer Manager over here.

FM combines all the brilliance of a simulator with the ability to see and influence your teams games which makes it an almost perfect sports sim.


I totally agree with all your points about the AI..take all that and have a visual representation I am in heaven, Given how Markus makes his games this will probably be optional if you dont want to use it but it would vastly improve in-game play.

I have no problem whatsoever with a 2D simulation, but I don't want console graphics at all for this game. Not at all...

[bababui]

Originally Posted by Malleus Dei
Everyone who sells out says that because they're told to say that. (Sadly, some of them have been foolish enough to believe it: "No, really, you can deal with the Devil and keep your soul. Honestly! Would I lie to you?")

Everyone who sells out to the devil and thinks they can still keep their soul is inevitably mistaken.

What we have always, always, always seen in gaming is this:

1. Major company acquires studio which makes awesome niche products.
2. Major company guts studio which makes awesome niche products.
3. Awesome niche products are no longer produced.

We've been here before, Marc. It always ends in tears, because big corporations don't understand niche products, don't understand or approve of operating in small markets, view people (and entire studios) who make small-market products as costs which can be cut at the first opportunity, and are all run by blighted soulless dehumanized zombies who have only one goal: maximizing stockholder value (I walked away from the corporate world many years ago because of that last fact).

No offense, but you sound like every other PR guy for every other firm which sold out doing exactly what every other PR guy for every other firm which sold out was told to do: reassure the customers.

Been here before. Not buying it.

For all those not familiar with the history of Championship Managers morph into Football Manager I ask you to Google the history. That will help relieve some of the anxiety building up here. SI and Sega only market the game.

[bababui]

Originally Posted by Mr.Opinion

I have no problem whatsoever with a 2D simulation, but I don't want console graphics at all for this game. Not at all...

I agree, but if it was added as an option and didnt remove anything else from the game Id be cool with it

[Crapshoot]

Originally Posted by Malleus Dei

Everyone who sells out says that because they're told to say that. (Sadly, some of them have been foolish enough to believe it: "No, really, you can deal with the Devil and keep your soul. Honestly! Would I lie to you?")

Everyone who sells out to the devil and thinks they can still keep their soul is inevitably mistaken.

What we have always, always, always seen in gaming is this:

1. Major company acquires studio which makes awesome niche products.
2. Major company guts studio which makes awesome niche products.
3. Awesome niche products are no longer produced.

We've been here before, Marc. It always ends in tears, because big corporations don't understand niche products, don't understand or approve of operating in small markets, view people (and entire studios) who make small-market products as costs which can be cut at the first opportunity, and are all run by blighted soulless dehumanized zombies who have only one goal: maximizing stockholder value (I walked away from the corporate world many years ago because of that last fact).

No offense, but you sound like every other PR guy for every other firm which sold out doing exactly what every other PR guy for every other firm which sold out was told to do: reassure the customers.

Been here before. Not buying it.

Yes Malleus - 12 years of developing the best text-sim in the market, a one year trial period that left all parties satisfied in the arrrangement, and a promise from every developer/coder on the team that SEGA's support is top-notch - but damnit, you know their business better than they do. Tis is a shame your pearls of wisdom were discarded by the neophytes.

[Zitofan75]

Originally Posted by bababui

I agree, but if it was added as an option and didnt remove anything else from the game Id be cool with it

Right, companies either put their energies into 3D models or into stats and develop a text sim ... if one day there was a game that did both excellently well sure ... of course you'd need a helluva system to run it

[Twelvefield]

DaveHorn, I completely and absolutely disagree with you on your topic. I believe that OOTPB needs a graphic, animated representation of baseball the way real baseball needs kids in the stands, peanuts and hotdogs for sale from the vendors, and endless summer days. I guess I'm not just your average die-hard OOTPB user for seeing that.

[Jason]

Originally Posted by Crapshoot

Yes Malleus - 12 years of developing the best text-sim in the market, a one year trial period that left all parties satisfied in the arrrangement, and a promise from every developer/coder on the team that SEGA's support is top-notch - but damnit, you know their business better than they do. Tis is a shame your pearls of wisdom were discarded by the neophytes.

I think the man's allowed to have his opinion. A few years from now we'll know who is right. And MD could end up being right.

He does have a valid point...Marc is a PR person. It's a PR person's job to make any situation seem the best scenario for everyone involved. That doesn't mean Marc's lying (I have no reason to think he would) but it's not unreasonable for a person to think a PR person is trying to have people see through rose colored glasses.

[D Love]

Unfortunately, the smart bet is with MD. Put aside his overly matter-of-fact tone, and he's not exactly making stuff up. On the other hand, given our lack of standing to affect the outcome of the matter, we'd might as well be optimistic and see what happens.

Originally Posted by Dale And Eli's Dad

I think the man's allowed to have his opinion. A few years from now we'll know who is right. And MD could end up being right.

He does have a valid point...Marc is a PR person. It's a PR person's job to make any situation seem the best scenario for everyone involved. That doesn't mean Marc's lying (I have no reason to think he would) but it's not unreasonable for a person to think a PR person is trying to have people see through rose colored glasses.

[Bishop]

Originally Posted by D Love

Unfortunately, the smart bet is with MD. Put aside his overly matter-of-fact tone, and he's not exactly making stuff up. On the other hand, given our lack of standing to affect the outcome of the matter, we'd might as well be optimistic and see what happens.

While I was initially concerned as well, with Markus still owning the game, there really isn't much to worry about. Things look fine (to me)

[PSUColonel]

Originally Posted by Bishop

While I was initially concerned as well, with Markus still owning the game, there really isn't much to worry about. Things look fine (to me)

what about the code though? Much of it was given to Markus by SI...and that code, is what will enable OOTP to reach new levels of greatness.

[PSUColonel]

Is it possible Sega could consider yearly releases without the abiity to import leagues more profitable, like large corporations do in most franchises?

[jm47048]

Originally Posted by PSUColonel

what about the code though? Much of it was given to Markus by SI...and that code, is what will enable OOTP to reach new levels of greatness.

Correct me if I am wrong, but, I believe it works like this:

If I use someone's code base, then I have to pay a license for it. But the product is mine. Now if he gets bought out, but still owns the OOTP franchise, he can go back to 6.5 and add on to that. That is his code from scratch and he owns it.

[jm47048]

Is that correct Markus?