Any Word About OOTP14 Features?

[The Wolf]

Originally Posted by Rizon

Couple things I'll throw out there:

H2H

The Link

For those of you with no context, these were much-anticipated OOTP developments that never actually appeared. Rizon is subtly raising a point of disbelief in the process.

[The Wolf]

Originally Posted by silvam14

Can't make an omelette without breaking some eggs.

Wow, pretty callous for someone who has known some of them for a long time.

But it's good to know just where us statheads rate with you, though.

[Le Grande Orange]

Originally Posted by David Watts

Oh no......Please tell me your not suggesting Markus create GM graphics too

I don't care about graphics (other than as it pertains to logos and items of that nature). But I recognize that the game ultimately goes where Markus wants it to go. The most I can do is throw in my two cents, and hopefully make my case sufficiently compelling that he picks up those two cents.

I've got mixed results on that score.

Originally Posted by PSUColonel

I would argue in essence, this IS the game

I would too. But I acknowledge that folks may play the game in a different way than I might, and thus they might find other areas worthy of greater emphasis.

[Eugene Church]

I would think that Markus will give the player the option to use or not use graphics whenever he put them in the game.

I would love to have graphics, but only if they are well done. I hope Markus keeps his word and only put excellent graphics in, not the terrible graphics that have been in the game since the 2006 SI version of the game.

I just hope all of us will continue to support Markus by purchasing each new version. We need to keep him in business so he can perfect the greatest baseball game ever created.

OOTPB is the greatest bargain I have ever gotten. For 10 cents a day, I get a fantastic baseball game and wonderful entertainment.

I have bought versions that I never used just to support Markus.
I didn't use OOTP10, 11 or 13... nothing wrong with them, I just have a long running dynasty league that was difficult to convert... but I bought them anyway to keep him in business - and I will continue to support him with each new version.

I would even donate to a Fund for OOTPB so Markus could increase his development team and create the game he would like to have.

OOTPB is a fantastic dream come true for me. Back in the 50s I played APBA and fantasized about a game that would just keep track of basic individuals stats and league standings. I had to do everything by hand. Back then it would take 20-30 minutes to play a game... OOTPB will sim a game and do all the stats in a few seconds... Wow! We've come a long way in 60 years!

And one day OOTPB will have graphics and I will be able to see all of the great players in the Islandian Pro Alliance... get busy, Markus... I will soon be 73 years young.

[Cryomaniac]

Originally Posted by silvam14

Can't make an omelette without breaking some eggs.

I can't be bothered to find the Jose Mourhino (soccer manager) press conference this reminds me of but feel free to look it up.

[Markus Heinsohn]

Originally Posted by Bluenoser

Bottom line for me - go ahead, spend time on graphics and other eye candy. I'll move on from OOTP and find something else to play. The loss of one customer isn't going to bother Markus in the least. Adding graphics he should be able to get 1000's of new customers according to you, so no loss at all.

Of course, even when we add graphics, they will be optional and the text play-by-play mode will still remain in the game and will continue to be improved. I personally do not have much of a clue about graphics/animation, so the time I will spend on it will be minimal, allowing me to focus on other areas of OOTP. After all, we'll hire someone who will do the graphics.

Bottom line: It's not a matter of having to decide between text or animation. The game will have both. So people who do not like animations, simply shut them off. I absolutely see no problem here at all

[Harry Chiti]

What would be cool (animations aside for a moment) would be to have about 500 'stock' poses that interact with the facegen; (so their arm colour match their faces, left and right handedness, etc.)so when baseball cards are made, they look different - some action, some poses, etc.

I wouldn't have thought that would be too hard to implement; sure its needless fluff, but hey, so is facegen and baseball cards.

An in-game stadium designer would be very cool too! (if the dimensions had an effect on gameplay and weren't just eye-candy)

[David Watts]

Originally Posted by Le Grande Orange

I don't care about graphics (other than as it pertains to logos and items of that nature). But I recognize that the game ultimately goes where Markus wants it to go. The most I can do is throw in my two cents, and hopefully make my case sufficiently compelling that he picks up those two cents.

I've got mixed results on that score.


I would too. But I acknowledge that folks may play the game in a different way than I might, and thus they might find other areas worthy of greater emphasis.

I was going for humor and once again whiffed big time. You were discussing off field duties and I was thinking how strange it would be to have a little animated GM that sits behind a desk making decisions.

[silvam14]

Originally Posted by The Wolf

Wow, pretty callous for someone who has known some of them for a long time.

But it's good to know just where us statheads rate with you, though.

Hehe, callous. Would it help If I had said I would miss those who make the decision to jump ship?

I never felt (and markus just confirmed) that the stats engine would take a back seat when graphics finally do make their anticipated appearance, see.

So with that in mind, it is callous of me to want to press forward even if a minority of people are compelled to move on from OOTP. Got it.

[The Wolf]

Originally Posted by silvam14

Hehe, callous. Would it help If I had said I would miss those who make the decision to jump ship?

Yes, it would have.

I'd even miss the ones that I didn't like. Everybody here contributes in some way.

[The Wolf]

Originally Posted by Markus Heinsohn

Of course, even when we add graphics, they will be optional and the text play-by-play mode will still remain in the game and will continue to be improved. I personally do not have much of a clue about graphics/animation, so the time I will spend on it will be minimal, allowing me to focus on other areas of OOTP. After all, we'll hire someone who will do the graphics.

Bottom line: It's not a matter of having to decide between text or animation. The game will have both. So people who do not like animations, simply shut them off. I absolutely see no problem here at all

The fact that graphics caused or contributed to the demise of the Earl Weaver series, the Front Page Sports Baseball series and the High Heat series doesn't bother you? You are a brave man.

[silvam14]

Originally Posted by The Wolf

Yes, it would have.

I'd even miss the ones that I didn't like. Everybody here contributes in some way.

Can't say there is anyone here I "Don't like" but I will say that for as sad as it is when people you have known in here for a long time leave, it is nice to see some new people who join become valuable members of this community too

[Markus Heinsohn]

Originally Posted by The Wolf

The fact that graphics caused or contributed to the demise of the Earl Weaver series, the Front Page Sports Baseball series and the High Heat series doesn't bother you? You are a brave man.

Uhm. They all started out with graphics, didn't they? What lead to their demise was publishers pushing the development studios to make bad decisions on features / support etc. That is something we do not have to worry about

[struggles_mightily]

No, no, no. Little animated baseball players actually snuck out of the games' packaging in stores / warehouses and annihilated all of the game CDs with their little animated baseball bats. The Wolf was working at a Gamestop back then -- the sounds of shattering plastic still keep him up at night, and he won't have the same thing happen to OOTP, dargbloomit!!

Incidentally, isn't OOTP14 being announced today?

[Cryomaniac]

Originally Posted by The Wolf

The fact that graphics caused or contributed to the demise of the Earl Weaver series, the Front Page Sports Baseball series and the High Heat series doesn't bother you? You are a brave man.

That's certainly an interesting theory. Do you have any evidence for it?

[raginhood]

Why can't Markus use that HEAD START program that everyones been raving about and get the money to do GRAPHICS NOW?! I mean it's worth a try isn't it? Then we can get it greenlighted on STEAM and off he will go into $$$ heaven.

[raginhood]

Bluenoser said:

Is that so hard for you to understand? Is it that difficult to grasp that not everybody wants the same as you?

And is it so hard for YOU to understand the same? The MAJORITY want graphics so the MAJORITY rules.

[D-BacksJosh]

Originally Posted by Bluenoser

Bottom line for me - go ahead, spend time on graphics and other eye candy. I'll move on from OOTP and find something else to play. The loss of one customer isn't going to bother Markus in the least. Adding graphics he should be able to get 1000's of new customers according to you, so no loss at all.

Is that so hard for you to understand? Is it that difficult to grasp that not everybody wants the same as you?

I don't know any other way to explain it. I was sure this was plain, simple English language when I said "I moved to OOTP because it didn't have graphics, because it was what I was looking for in a game." Maybe it's me, maybe I'm just unable to make myself clear. It has NOTHING to do with protesting the game, or threatening anything. It's just a simple and plain fact. When this game doesn't meet what I'm looking for in a game, I won't buy it anymore. Sorry, can't make it any plain or clearer than that.


And lastly, I can absolutely guarantee you that it won't be a loss to me. I lived without OOTP before it came along and I'll do just fine afterwards. I can continue to play pre-graphic versions as well. OOTP is not, nor will it ever be, the be all to end all in gaming. Sorry to burst your bubble. There are plenty of choices out there.

So I am venturing to say that this comment is a knee-jerk overreaction?

[Sweed]

Originally Posted by Markus Heinsohn

Uhm. They all started out with graphics, didn't they? What lead to their demise was publishers pushing the development studios to make bad decisions on features / support etc. That is something we do not have to worry about

Markus being in charge and not having to bow to "suits" is a great thing and something that we should all value.

PS4-xbox 720 (or whatever they decide to call them) will be coming soon. With much larger RAM and other capabilities the console becomes more capable of running a deep simulation game like OOTP with great graphics. My fear is a smart company like Sony whould jump at getting Markus to do the franchise\engine part of the game for The Show.

In theory this could be great if released for both pc and console. OOTP with The Show graphics. In reality we would have to think how bad it would be.
Markus no longer making all of the decisions but some "bean counter" doing it instead.

I love this game. I'm in my 50's and plan on playing til the day I die. I never tire of it and Markus has yet to let me down on any version he has released. Yes, that includes the first SI version (OOTP 2006) that had so many growing pains. It was certainly rough around the edges but one only had to look at it objectively and one could see the immense possibilities the rewrite of the code was going to provide. Markus took a hell of a beating in many posts over OOTP 2006. He stuck to his guns and told us it was necessary and the end result would be worth the growing pains. Look at OOTP today, he was right.

I trust Markus' vision of what he wants OOTP to become. I am ever grateful that HE makes the decisions and not some business school grad. I hope that never changes.

[gohorns98]

When I think of graphics for OOTP, I think of something like this: CBSSports.com GameTracker - Baseball

OOTP's market is similar to FM's market. People who want an in depth experience more then they want button mashing. OOTP is not about hand eye coordination it is about brain power. That is why with the limited graphics that FM has, it has been able to compete (and stay alive) against FIFA and PES. That is what OOTP needs to do. Be the indepth alternative to The Show.