The Big OOTP 14 Manual Update Project - Veterans needed!

AstaSyneri · 05-09-2013, 05:12 PM

Hi guys!

Recently I was complaining about the less than stellar manual. In fact, if it were a ship, it had sunk already, that's how full of holes it is.

It was suggested to me, that instead of bitching, I should write the manual as it is largely done by the community. A fact that eludes you, if are relatively new to the game.

Which I am (new to the game), so it's a bit out of the question to write about the stuff that I have no clue about in the first place.

BUT, I am very willing to organize such an effort, find out WHAT we need written, and massage the parts coming in from more knowledgeable writers into a legible whole (despite not being a native speaker/writer).

In order to do, though, I would need at least FIVE veteran volunteers, who can describe the tasks attributed to them in detail, make screen shots and are available for discussions.

The question is: Can we find five veterans who would commit to such a project (which at this point is not cleared with OOTPD in any way yet)?

If you think you are such a veteran, sign up here:

1.___________________

2.___________________

3.___________________

4.___________________

5.___________________

ezpkns34 · 05-09-2013, 05:15 PM

Gotta love the middle management mindset

I was told to write it myself, so I'm spearheading the campaign by tasking 5 others to write it

AstaSyneri · 05-09-2013, 06:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ezpkns34

Gotta love the middle management mindset

I was told to write it myself, so I'm spearheading the campaign by tasking 5 others to write it

If that gets the job done. And I will write - at this point I simply lack the knowledge to do it. And I am being told that this community is very helpful, so I am doing what I CAN to improve the manual.

Will you?

BigMac · 05-09-2013, 06:24 PM

why would someone work for free for a company that changes us to play their product? makes no sense. gotta pass.

Bluenoser · 05-09-2013, 06:51 PM

If you're serious about updating this, you may also want to consider this:

http://www.ootpdevelopments.com/boar...pwiki-com.html

It was started some time ago but never really got off the ground. I also haven't seen the originator around the forums for a while.

I don't have all the answers, heck I don't have many, but maybe it's time to move away from a "manual" and more toward a WIKI type thing that can be updated by users annually? It's a lot of work to get it up and running, perhaps what's still good in the manual can be taken as a starting point and build upon that.

It would still require veteran users as you requested, but a lot of it could be filled in by not so veteran as well. Anyone who has at least two versions under their belt will have enough experience to be able to contribute. Of course, that's the big issue as is evidenced by the initial attempt at the WIKI, Lot's of interest at first but it waned pretty quickly.

Honorable_Pawn · 05-09-2013, 06:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BigMac

why would someone work for free for a company that changes us to play their product? makes no sense. gotta pass.

Do you use MLB logos? Do you use the MLB rosters or uniforms? Do you use facial hair mods? Do you use any work created by the community...for free?

The point is that there are so many people that love this game and that love this community and many really put a lot of effort in sharing our creations whether they be logos, uni's, face-gen, schedules, manuals, dynasty reporting, rosters, stadium images, etc. Much of this is done by the community.

So, if you think about it, it kinda does make sense. You may not want to contribute (and that's ok, too) but it most definitely makes sense.

The Wolf · 05-09-2013, 07:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ezpkns34

Gotta love the middle management mindset

I was told to write it myself, so I'm spearheading the campaign by tasking 5 others to write it

That's EXACTLY what I was thinking.

Honorable_Pawn · 05-09-2013, 07:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Wolf

That's EXACTLY what I was thinking.

No, that's what I was thinking

Fyrestorm3 · 05-09-2013, 07:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bluenoser

If you're serious about updating this, you may also want to consider this:

http://www.ootpdevelopments.com/boar...pwiki-com.html

It was started some time ago but never really got off the ground. I also haven't seen the originator around the forums for a while.

I don't have all the answers, heck I don't have many, but maybe it's time to move away from a "manual" and more toward a WIKI type thing that can be updated by users annually? It's a lot of work to get it up and running, perhaps what's still good in the manual can be taken as a starting point and build upon that.

It would still require veteran users as you requested, but a lot of it could be filled in by not so veteran as well. Anyone who has at least two versions under their belt will have enough experience to be able to contribute. Of course, that's the big issue as is evidenced by the initial attempt at the WIKI, Lot's of interest at first but it waned pretty quickly.

I'm going to have to agree here. A Wiki would be infinitely more useful than a manual, as long as you get a couple users committed to running it.

RchW · 05-09-2013, 07:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Honorable_Pawn

No, that's what I was thinking

I LOL'd

The Wolf · 05-09-2013, 07:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Honorable_Pawn

No, that's what I was thinking

A bunch of us saw that post and thought the same thing.

The Wolf · 05-09-2013, 07:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BigMac

why would someone work for free for a company that changes us to play their product? makes no sense. gotta pass.

Now there's a man with a logical argument!

The Wolf · 05-09-2013, 07:40 PM

"No man but a blockhead ever wrote except for money." - Samuel Johnson

Honorable_Pawn · 05-09-2013, 07:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DangerZone

I was thinking it first

I say let's settle this like men...

Now we can agree that I was thinking it first...

Gil Thorp · 05-09-2013, 08:19 PM

Maybe I'm way off here, but the OOTP series has progressed way beyond the part time endeavor that many sports sims are, and it isn't too much to ask that the developers provide a thorough, in depth manual.

AirmenSmith · 05-09-2013, 08:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BigMac

why would someone work for free for a company that changes us to play their product? makes no sense. gotta pass.

A lot of ppl do when it comes to video games, in a beta you are basically working for the company to test for bugs and such

RchW · 05-09-2013, 08:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gil Thorp

Maybe I'm way off here, but the OOTP series has progressed way beyond the part time endeavor that many sports sims are, and it isn't too much to ask that the developers provide a thorough, in depth manual.

Perhaps not too much to ask but IMO one must consider the cost/benefit of the work. As a long time customer of OOTPD I'm completely OK with the manual being a lower (lowest) priority vs patches and other in game work. I'd certainly like to see what a bigger sample of customer opinion is though.

To give you some perspective I work for a billion++ corporation and some of our user manuals are not up to date. What we do instead is issue bulletins. Far less work but it covers critical information quickly.

boshk · 05-09-2013, 08:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bluenoser

If you're serious about updating this, you may also want to consider this:

http://www.ootpdevelopments.com/boar...pwiki-com.html

It was started some time ago but never really got off the ground. I also haven't seen the originator around the forums for a while.

I don't have all the answers, heck I don't have many, but maybe it's time to move away from a "manual" and more toward a WIKI type thing that can be updated by users annually? It's a lot of work to get it up and running, perhaps what's still good in the manual can be taken as a starting point and build upon that.

It would still require veteran users as you requested, but a lot of it could be filled in by not so veteran as well. Anyone who has at least two versions under their belt will have enough experience to be able to contribute. Of course, that's the big issue as is evidenced by the initial attempt at the WIKI, Lot's of interest at first but it waned pretty quickly.

and on the front page in big bold letters, type "yes, you can install the patch in an existing game"

seriously though, i agree. an ootpwiki would be the best approach. it works very well when they are well organized for the games i use the gamewiki's for

AstaSyneri · 05-10-2013, 06:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bluenoser

If you're serious about updating this, you may also want to consider this:

http://www.ootpdevelopments.com/boar...pwiki-com.html

Ah, the community is divided. Into two conferences maybe? Now we only need a few more divisions of opinion, and we can make a league out of it ;-).

More seriously: What I really want is a manual where I can find the information I need (mostly about the customization options, in my case).

Yes, a well-filled Wiki would be great - but it's out of the scope of what I can hope to achieve (even with the help of the five veterans I am looking for).

Looks like I am between a rock and a hard place ;-).

When I clamor that the manual isn't up date, I am being bashed that the manual is more or less done by the community.

When I ask the community to help write the missing manual parts, I get bashed for trying to involve others, or that the company producing the game should be doing the manual in the first place.

Duh.

Where lies the solution?

mikezone13 · 05-10-2013, 06:19 AM

I believe the developers "should" be responsible for the manual, this doesn't mean however that a community developed wiki wouldn't be great as well.

05-09-2013, 05:12 PM	#1
AstaSyneri Minors (Double A) Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Münster, Germany Posts: 182	The Big OOTP 14 Manual Update Project - Veterans needed! Hi guys! Recently I was complaining about the less than stellar manual. In fact, if it were a ship, it had sunk already, that's how full of holes it is. It was suggested to me, that instead of bitching, I should write the manual as it is largely done by the community. A fact that eludes you, if are relatively new to the game. Which I am (new to the game), so it's a bit out of the question to write about the stuff that I have no clue about in the first place. BUT, I am very willing to organize such an effort, find out WHAT we need written, and massage the parts coming in from more knowledgeable writers into a legible whole (despite not being a native speaker/writer). In order to do, though, I would need at least FIVE veteran volunteers, who can describe the tasks attributed to them in detail, make screen shots and are available for discussions. The question is: Can we find five veterans who would commit to such a project (which at this point is not cleared with OOTPD in any way yet)? If you think you are such a veteran, sign up here: 1.___________________ 2.___________________ 3.___________________ 4.___________________ 5.___________________ __________________ The European League of Champions Dynasty Report

05-09-2013, 05:15 PM	#2
ezpkns34 All Star Reserve Join Date: Apr 2010 Posts: 693	Gotta love the middle management mindset I was told to write it myself, so I'm spearheading the campaign by tasking 5 others to write it

05-09-2013, 06:24 PM	#4
BigMac Banned Join Date: May 2013 Posts: 20 Infractions: 0/1 (4)	why would someone work for free for a company that changes us to play their product? makes no sense. gotta pass.

05-09-2013, 06:51 PM	#5
Bluenoser Hall Of Famer Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: In The Moment Posts: 13,680	If you're serious about updating this, you may also want to consider this: http://www.ootpdevelopments.com/boar...pwiki-com.html It was started some time ago but never really got off the ground. I also haven't seen the originator around the forums for a while. I don't have all the answers, heck I don't have many, but maybe it's time to move away from a "manual" and more toward a WIKI type thing that can be updated by users annually? It's a lot of work to get it up and running, perhaps what's still good in the manual can be taken as a starting point and build upon that. It would still require veteran users as you requested, but a lot of it could be filled in by not so veteran as well. Anyone who has at least two versions under their belt will have enough experience to be able to contribute. Of course, that's the big issue as is evidenced by the initial attempt at the WIKI, Lot's of interest at first but it waned pretty quickly.

05-09-2013, 08:19 PM	#15
Gil Thorp Major Leagues Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Milford Posts: 349	Maybe I'm way off here, but the OOTP series has progressed way beyond the part time endeavor that many sports sims are, and it isn't too much to ask that the developers provide a thorough, in depth manual.

05-10-2013, 06:19 AM	#20
mikezone13 All Star Reserve Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 533	I believe the developers "should" be responsible for the manual, this doesn't mean however that a community developed wiki wouldn't be great as well.