Perfect Team update + feedback needed

[Markus Heinsohn]

Hey everyone,

as we are nearing the beta stage of Perfect Team, I'd like your feedback on a certain topic. First off though, let me give you a quick update on Perfect Team. Unfortunately, the messy OOTP 19 patch release two weeks ago and some technical issues have pushed our plans back. Right now we are aiming for the closed beta to start at the end of September, and the public beta at the end of October. Then the official launch will be once the open beta is concluded and all launch features have been tested and work fine. Until then, we will release more in-depth info (including a video and screenshots) about Perfect Team in about two weeks, we are currently preparing that material and once it goes through MLB/MLBPA approval, we'll post it through the usual channels (inclduing the forum, of course). So, we are making good progress, but not quite as fast as we have hoped, but that is often the case with new technology (server-based gameplay is new to us, and we are learning every single day). In any event, we will make sure the Perfect Team mode is as stable and fun as possible for the launch of the public beta.

If you are not familiar about Perfect Team yet, please have a look at this thread: http://www.ootpdevelopments.com/boar...d.php?t=290863

Okay, now to the question / poll: As you know, in Perfect Team simulation leagues teams are made out of player cards, of which about 70% will be 2018 MLB players and 30% will be historical players (we have various different card categories, for example, Historical All-Stars, Rookie Sensation, One-Hit Wonder, Record Breaker, etc.). So, which year should the PT leagues mimic in terms of stats output?

The most logical would be 2018, but we are currently in a pretty extreme era, with a low batting AVG (.249), tons of strikeouts (.246 K/AB), a lot of home runs (.034 HR / AB)... runs / game are at 4.46. I am not sure this would be a good era for a mix of modern and historical players.

I personally like 2010, with 257 AVG, .207 K/AB, .028 HR/AB, 4.38 R/G.

We could also use numbers that are similar to the average for MLB history, for example.265 AVG, .150 K/ AB, .025 HR/AB, 4.5 R/G (this would match 1977).

Or something else entirely... what do you think?

Cheers,
Markus

[Vermin360]

Initial suggestion would be to use 2018 performance stats. If I start a new Perfect Team with each following year of OOTP (as EA does with Madden Ultimate Team, etc.) then the extremes of a season would be represented as performance relative to the current year (if we should end up in a dead ball era again, the simulation engine would reflect that, no?). It might make for interesting scenarios where your strategy may need to changed based on the way baseball is currently being played in real life.

[Airdrop01]

I accidentally hit 2018. I’d say 2010 is proper as what I meant to hit.

[rasnell]

Most players are going to assume stat performance of today, so I vote for 2018.

[David Watts]

Isn't 1977 kind of extreme as well. Expansion year where home runs jumped to 3644, from 2235 in 1976 and fell back to 2966 in 1978.

My vote would go to 1980, 1982-1986. Great years Pitchers are still throwing complete games, but the role of the bullpen is evolving and the role of the closer is growing in importance. Stolen bases are big, so you would get to see how a Cobb,a Brock or a Billy Hamilton would do playing in Ricky/Vince/Tim days.

One thing I will say based on my random debut experiences, the pre-1900 pitchers don't play nice with others. They tend to be superheroes. Just my opinion, but I would be kind of careful when it comes to introducing them to the fold.

[Westheim]

2010; modern, but without the insanity. Honestly, why are teams putting up defenses at all anymore...

[Mike Lowe]

I would start with 2018 and just clean it up every-so-slightly. I agree with those who are going to expect 2018ish numbers, but also realize most players don't know how truly ugly they are.

I guess technically, at the very least, the initial setup should resemble at least 70% of 2018 to reflect the player pool.

Another option: Could you give *SLIGHT* modernization bumps to historic players?

[el_gringo]

Very interesting question...

I personally don't like the current trend and would be happier with either 2010 or 1977, but current 2018 standards seem the most intuitive and expected for the majority of the user base.

A couple of clarifying questions:

Will the stats environment evolve over time or be static? Will PT leagues (or whatever) run for many seasons? If so, could you start with 2018 stats and code it to revert to/shift around the MLB mean over time perhaps? If it's static... well, it seems like it should probably be 2018, I suppose. That's the most realistic for present day. Each year, change the static environment to be as up-to-date as possible.

Ultimately, it probably all depends on who the primary PT audience will mostly be: new, younger players with their expectation set, or the longtime OOTP crowd with a greater preference for the arc of baseball history.

Edit: Any chance different statistical 'realities' could be created, functioning as different 'leagues' of PT? Might help draw a wider audience, if it's possible to create multiple instances with different stats. Being able to choose between playing your Deadball PT team or your modern PT team would be interesting.

[Airdrop01]

Currently, last time I looked, the league had basically identical amounts of Ks and hits. It is crazy.

These guys make Rob Deer look like Willie Keeler... well not quite but the league is full of Rob Deers at every position.

[The Game]

Originally Posted by David Watts

Isn't 1977 kind of extreme as well. Expansion year where home runs jumped to 3644, from 2235 in 1976 and fell back to 2966 in 1978.

My vote would go to 1980, 1982-1986. Great years Pitchers are still throwing complete games, but the role of the bullpen is evolving and the role of the closer is growing in importance. Stolen bases are big, so you would get to see how a Cobb,a Brock or a Billy Hamilton would do playing in Ricky/Vince/Tim days.

One thing I will say based on my random debut experiences, the pre-1900 pitchers don't play nice with others. They tend to be superheroes. Just my opinion, but I would be kind of careful when it comes to introducing them to the fold.

I would have suggested 1985 as well. Maybe even as high as 1992. That range you still had good power #'s with decent ERA's with a good use of Closers.

[zappa1]

Last year, for the first time in history, 34% of all AB's didn't even need the defense. Either walks, strikeouts, or homeruns. Don't know how this year is going to be. Maybe even worse than last year. I hope not. That leaves a lot of fielders just standing around. Boring.

[ThatSeventiesGuy]

Wouldn't mind seeing maybe 1984 or '85. Less of the 'roids, more of the stolen bases.

[teachermike]

I selected 1977, but I would be happy with 2010. It looks like at the moment 2018 has the lead, but almost 2/3 of users selected something else. Can I suggest that if one choice doesn't get a majority, you do a runoff of some sort? Personally, I know including historic greats but basing the statistical engine on 2018 would be a bummer, and there may be others like me who have an "anything but Year X" mindset.

[Arobbins]

I chose '77 because it's closest to the avg throughout history. If you're going to have historical cards it only makes sense

[Orcin]

Really, the poll should have been current day or historical. By breaking historical into pieces, the results were biased from the outset.

[sprague]

Marcus I think I may have the solution.
Take the 2018 and 2010 and simply divide the two.
batting average would be around .2535
hr would be 1.08 per game
k would be around 7.60
interestingly walks would stay around the same 3.23

ect


Thus it would be hard for anyone to really tell it is not fully 2018 numbers which they may expect.
Keeping the 2010 base values though to things like stolen bases, sacrifices, sflys etc would mean the SB totals could rise if anyone wants to run that would be in the game


So my suggestion is dont PICK a year per sey...but sort of massage numbers around what you might think would be a good overall set of values to have, while keeping the basic parameters of the modern (ie semi boring version) of baseball we have now

[stevem810]

The responses might be a bit age specific, I'm guessing. It you were present in the 1970 era, your associations would be much stronger than someone born at a later date. Stats are stats. Memories are a bit stronger.

Having seen all the era's , I'd enjoy the balance of 1970 a bit more.

[Yarideki]

My idea is probably too much of a pain but why not rotate the stats environment every perfect-team season? That way, player values on the market can change depending on what era it is.

[Josquin]

2018 makes the most sense. It's easier to parachute in a 30% minority of historical players and see how they perform in a modern environment than it is to flood a historical environment with a 70% majority of modern players. It would end up feeling like an arcade game.

[Markus Heinsohn]

Thanks for the feedback so far guys! Really a split decision here, interesting.

Will the stats environment evolve over time or be static? Will PT leagues (or whatever) run for many seasons? If so, could you start with 2018 stats and code it to revert to/shift around the MLB mean over time perhaps? If it's static... well, it seems like it should probably be 2018, I suppose. That's the most realistic for present day. Each year, change the static environment to be as up-to-date as possible.

PT leagues will indeed run for many seasons (sim time), and we will have promotion / demotion between different (5) levels. And they will continue to run for more than one (real) year, so I expect people to still be able to play their OOTP 19 Perfect Team leagues even when OOTP 21 is already out. PT leagues / teams do not carry over from version to version, each year we will start fresh so new users have a better chance to compete.