Your thoughts so far?

[Kuttner]

I just imported my fictional league that's in its 17th year. (I play out all the games.) So far, I don't have a lot to report... I'm having too much fun enjoying the scroll support for Mac! I'm just going up and down and up and down. Thanks for fixing this and thanks to the forum Mac users who were vocal about this issue. Very appreciated.

(I'll report back when I actually start playing.)

[Cornelius McGillicuddy]

One of my favorite things is playing out games. I just played one yesterday to see. Right now my time is limited. Really like the improvements. But, as I wrote about the ball flight when it was discussed months ago, you can't have your eyes in two places at the same time. So it's either read the pbp or watch the ball. I choose the former. Much improved especially with the new font. For me, ball flight will be turned off. Everything else is super. I'll be setting up a small universe with top favorite teams just to play exhibition games. Been waiting for this.

[G-Ballz]

(Again, I was an OOTP 5 user who didn't like OOTP 2006)

- Absolutely loving the copy and paste lineups and depth charts feature. I don't think this was in OOTP 2006, and it definitely wasn't in OOTP 5. Woo!

- In general the game seems to move slowly between screens ... I'm a little concerned about how it will operate 30 seasons into a franchise. But it's not annoying me so far.

- Whoever made these roster ratings must not like the Cubs very much ... some of the ratings on the best Cubs players are absolutely brutal. But I know this has nothing to do with the game itself, so I don't really care. I edit the ratings anyway.

- All of the Game Setup options are just wonderful and mind-blowing. Baseball heaven.

If I can tear myself away later before other obligations take me over, I'll post more thoughts.

[rem]

Markus, it looks like switching skins isn't working.

[OldFatGuy]

Originally Posted by remangiii

Markus, it looks like switching skins isn't working.

It takes a while. Is that what you're asking?? It is VERY slow when you switch skins, I know that. And I've got a brand new laptop.

And, BTW, could someone else please confirm the difference in the mouse pointer so I at least know its not just issue with my computer?? It's not a major issue, but I want to make sure its not just mine. I find it "weird" using the pointer without the little hand icon when you scroll over a name.

[Neags23]

Originally Posted by OldFatGuy

And, BTW, could someone else please confirm the difference in the mouse pointer so I at least know its not just issue with my computer?? It's not a major issue, but I want to make sure its not just mine. I find it "weird" using the pointer without the little hand icon when you scroll over a name.

You're right. The hand is gone. I don't mind it either way, personally, though. I've gotten so used to the pointer I just had to double-check if the hand was really gone.

[jtsly2000]

Really enjoying the game Markus. This is my favorite version since V6. It's good to see you working as an independent software developer again. Feels like the old days of OOTP are back.

JT

[OldFatGuy]

Originally Posted by Neags23

You're right. The hand is gone. I don't mind it either way, personally, though. I've gotten so used to the pointer I just had to double-check if the hand was really gone.

Thanks. Feel better. As a noob, I've been playing OOTP several hours a week intensely over the last month and a half. And I found the change a little disconcerting. I kept feeling "mouse challenged" cause it felt "off" a little when I was over a player, or something. Hard to explain. I'm weird. But at least now I know it's not just mine. Thanks.

[Comedian2004]

Name one other game where someone will be happy that the AI outsmarted you?

Oh, wait, you are a Red Sox fan, that explains that!

Originally Posted by redsoxford

I was leading a game 1-0, 2 outs in the bottom of the 9th and their big power hitter was up so I walked him, and the AI went and put a Pinch Runner in who stole 2nd, then stole 3rd and scored on a single.

In v8 I could have guaranteed leaving power bloke at first as he had no speed.

Curse Markus for fixing the PR bug

[G-Ballz]

- Love the "Shop Player" feature.

- Contract extensions are a little cumbersome to put together, especially when you have to wait a few days for a response.

- I really don't like how there's no easy way to view your starting lineup with their main stats (like OOTP 5). I want to see 1 through 8, with AVG, HR, RBI, and SB. Simple screen, big type. There's no option for that, though.

- All the stats screens are hard to read. There's not enough background color differentiation between lines, so it's hard to look at a player's name all the way on the left, then follow it to the stat you want to see. It makes me not want to look at too many stats, and unfortunately that is most of the fun for me in this game.

- All the news and miscellaneous stuff is great. Very creative.

- Not sure if there is an option to have the computer manage the minors, but not the major league team. Not sure if that is happening already. I did prevent any AI roster moves because I want stuff to say the way I set it. But I'm not sure if my minors teams are being managed (promotions/demotions) or not. Only two months into my first season.

Overall I'm happy so far.

[jabrown6940]

Like what I see so far in the limited time I've had. Just wondering about "Foul Ball, location: UNKNOWN -1" in the game log. Where did these balls go? I know the fans can get inattentive at times but surely with more than 33,000 attending, someone must have seen where these balls went.

[Raidergoo]

Originally Posted by remangiii

Markus, it looks like switching skins isn't working.

As OFG stated, it is brutally slow rebuilding the skin. This is something you chose, then go do something else, like sleep.

[Le Grande Orange]

Originally Posted by Markus Heinsohn

...also, in exhibition games fatigue does carry over, but injuries do not happen. That was a design decision since exhibition games are added to the schedule, and many people use that for some custom playoff stuff

I did not know that. Excellent news!

Exhibition games during and after the regular season were once a very common thing in MLB. The only remnant left nowadays is the Hall of Fame Game, but in earlier years, exhibition games were played frequently by major league clubs.

I've often thought it would add an interesting element for historical leagues to have the option of recreating those exhibition games. A researcher compiled for Retrosheet a list of some 2,800 in-season exhibition games that were played by MLB teams over the years. And, of course, there were the post-season "city series" which were played between the clubs of two-team cities.

Having those occur in historical leagues (at the user's option of course), especially if linked to proper news stories, would add a new level of depth and historical authenticity. Folks not familiar with this part of baseball history might find it quite fascinating to see that aspect unfolding in their leagues.

Originally Posted by swampdragon

There really should have been 19th century schedule files. The generated schedules are not suitable for 19th century play.

I am all too aware of this.

There just wasn't time to get them completed. Garlon's version of pre-1901 history required a fair amount of juggling in terms of schedules, and my perfectionist side just wouldn't let me throw any old thing together — the schedules had to be reasonably authentic. Unfortunately, this requires a fair amount of editing for some years which is rather painstaking and time consuming. It'd have been a lot easier if the real league sizes and alignments could have been used, but OOTP can't handle that just yet.

To be honest, there was a point where I just got so frustrated with the schedule editing I just had to stop and take a break for a few days.

There are thirty pre-1901 seasons to do. I've got twelve ready to be converted to OOTP's schedule file format; that means there are eighteen left to go. I want to get these finished within the next two weeks (hopefully less).

[DreamTeams]

Well, got a chance to fire it up last night and import my solo Metro Leagues. So far, it's fantastic. I moved through the off-season and checked out a spring training game. There are many things that I like. Here are my favorites from what I've noticed, so far...

Transactions:

Saw some good off-season stuff. One nice thing was how free agents sometimes change unis right before your eyes when they sign with a club. This does not always happen, but it's neat when it does.

Performance of the Day:

This will be quite handy during championship series games as it shows the three top performers in the game. Nice touch.

Sound:

Glad it's back. Love all the baseball sounds. Something noticed missing is cheers when the home player successfully steals a base. I loved that in 6.5. Others have mentioned various sound omissions that should make their way into the game so won't rehash those. I plan to bring some of my old sounds back that I customized in 6.5.

Ball Flight Animation:

This is ok. Adds to the game. But, agree with others about being more excited over the improved pbp.

Ok. Back to the game. Looking forward to checking out the streaks feature.

[Matt Uk]

Originally Posted by jarmenia

Your scouting problem would be caused by one of two things most likely. Either you don't have a scout or you are playing as commissioner. You need to play as a manager and work for that team to get the scouts opinions. Although you're playing in the minors... I'll have to check that out.

Jarmenia, it seems to be that if you are a minor league manager you don't see the overall ratings and potential for your players. I guess this makes sense in a way as all you are in charge of is your minor league team and the day to day games. It would be handy to see though as you can make sure the top prospects are getting decent playing time.

So I'm not sure whether this is deliberate that you can't see them or whether it's an oversight. I added a new manager and took over a major league club and all the overall ratings are shown. I then took over a minor league team with the new manager and the ratings were no longer there, so it does seem to be to do with being a minor league manager. Maybe it's meant to be that way but if so it would be nice to have the option to show them.

Just to confirm I wasn't in commissioner mode and I'm playing with scouts enabled

[jarmenia]

Originally Posted by Matt Uk

Jarmenia, it seems to be that if you are a minor league manager you don't see the overall ratings and potential for your players. I guess this makes sense in a way as all you are in charge of is your minor league team and the day to day games. It would be handy to see though as you can make sure the top prospects are getting decent playing time.

So I'm not sure whether this is deliberate that you can't see them or whether it's an oversight. I added a new manager and took over a major league club and all the overall ratings are shown. I then took over a minor league team with the new manager and the ratings were no longer there, so it does seem to be to do with being a minor league manager. Maybe it's meant to be that way but if so it would be nice to have the option to show them.

Just to confirm I wasn't in commissioner mode and I'm playing with scouts enabled

This sounds like something that needs to be fixed. I've BZed it #1449.

[rem]

What does BZ stand for and what happended to the TT system?

[OldFatGuy]

Bugzilla

[spark240]

I don't care for the fake teams, fake divisions, and fake schedules provided for 19th-century games.

[Chisanga]

I love this:

"Detroit will be minus the services of center fielder Maximo Mendoza for about 2-3 weeks. He hurt himself after being bit by a poisonous snake yesterday and sustained an undisclosed injury"