season disks

[vamac53]

I am a 55 yr old who has played sim games since 10 yrs old (strat, Larussa, micro,full count, and now dmb for the past 5 yrs.) My question is: I just downloaded and played with ootp9 ver 9.2.2 for the past 3 days, does a new version come out every year? If so, I would wait to purchase the next years version which would include season stats from just completed 2008. When does it come out??? DMB comes out early, way before spring training.

2) if you bought the game 3 yrs ago and played with Anaheim Angels and say, Ervin Santana "developed" over the 3 yr span to be an average major league pitcher, BUT the new version is purchased with 2008 stats on players, does ootp make him better in say the new version, compared to with how his original ratings have progressed over the past 3 yrs with older version of ootp???

thx
Mike

[golander40]

Great questions,I,m also very interested in the answers to these questions.
Hope someone will answer---When starting a "Historical League",I wonder what year to start,the answer to these questions would/will help me decide,in my favorite use of the game "What If " ?
Thanks
Gil

[1998 Yankees]

Originally Posted by vamac53

I am a 55 yr old who has played sim games since 10 yrs old (strat, Larussa, micro,full count, and now dmb for the past 5 yrs.) My question is: I just downloaded and played with ootp9 ver 9.2.2 for the past 3 days, does a new version come out every year? If so, I would wait to purchase the next years version which would include season stats from just completed 2008. When does it come out??? DMB comes out early, way before spring training.

2) if you bought the game 3 yrs ago and played with Anaheim Angels and say, Ervin Santana "developed" over the 3 yr span to be an average major league pitcher, BUT the new version is purchased with 2008 stats on players, does ootp make him better in say the new version, compared to with how his original ratings have progressed over the past 3 yrs with older version of ootp???

thx
Mike

OOTP is a small operation, really just three people and a slew of volunteers. So, there is no guarantee that there will be a new version of OOTPB every year. However, in recent years that has been the case. However again, bear in mind this: Usually, it's released around May, and it takes until September, October, or November to debug and patch to its final manifestation. That includes the quickstart game that represents MLB of the previous season; that also needed patching this past year.

I find this version, patched to 9.2.2, to be the best OOTPB yet; stable, smooth, feature-rich. Rather than waiting a year, I would purchase it now if I were you.

Now, yes, it will include MLB rosters (and updated ratings) as of the beginning of 2008, so you will be missing that if you are looking for everything to be current through this season. However, when Lahman's database is released for the season just ended, OOTPB is designed to easily incorporate that data and adjust itself through recalced ratings reflecting actual historical performances every season.

I don't think you will be disappointed by going ahead now. Some of the members here themselves wait until this time of year to start new leagues, if not to purchase the game itself.

[vamac53]

thx Yankee,

If you're playing a season from the past, in a league, say, 1973 League, and I have the Angels of that year, how do I get the future Angels like Tim Salmon, Chuck Finley etc., on my team? Is there a way of importing future players? or purchase each additional version??

Still, If I bought the game say in 2007 version, which probably had stats from 2006 season, and some of the rookies like Alexie Ramirez wasn't rated very high, then he wouldnt progress to much of a player in 3 years, like he is now. But if I purchased next year's version ootp10, it would probably have better ratings for him?? or Not??? Do they stay the same? for example: lets say as a minor league in 2006 he was rated only "4" for power, got 2 or 3 yrs older, and progressed to a 6 in power in the for the projected 2008 season. But then you buy ootp10, and obviously his power ratings for Ramirez would be much higher then his old projection numbers of previous version?

I probably didn't explain my question well, but hopefully you know what I mean.

thx


Mike

[phillosopherp]

Well I think I understand what you are asking, and don't think of OOTP like DMB cause it is much different. The database that is included with the game includes all the stats for all the pro players all the way up to 2007. When the new Database comes out they will probably get it up a going for us too. So you don't have to buy season discs at all. There are also folks that make their own databases around here, so they could get on stuff pretty quick too.

So basically there are no season discs with OOTP. It works a lot differently. I don't know if that is the answer you are looking for but it seemed to be the one to me.

[vamac53]

Thx, In a way yes, in a way no. I understand "database". but isn't that what a season disk is, a database??? So if someone makes a new database, and we install it into are existing game, wont the new database ratingsconflict with the existing ratings, assuming the new ratings will be different then the ones that it overwriting? I understand a new database would probably include new players that were not on the old ootp9, but how about the existing players??

thx

Mike

[1998 Yankees]

As an ex-Strat-O-Matic player, I understand your confusion about "season disks." This game does not work that way. OOTP does not make money by separately selling historical season databases.

Instead, they employ the free Lahman Database, which currently comes with the game with statistics from the beginning of baseball (back to 1871, I believe) through 2007. Every player who has ever played professionally. Read more about this at: Home - baseball1.com.

I provide three more links below where you can learn how the game uses this database in recreating historical play. Look for the discussion on how you can set player ratings to recalc after importing each successive season (or not, if you want the game to take over after the initial one).

OOTP Baseball Manual - OOTP League Types
OOTP Baseball Manual - Adding Historical Leagues
OOTP Baseball Manual - Historical Wizard

In addition, OOTP 8 and 9 have included an MLB quickstart that had current rosters as of the beginnings of 2007 and 2008. The latest one did a good job of historical data, but was not totally comprehensive.

Also, members will provide their own roster mods for downloading but these tend to be weak on history. Some are excellent, some not so.

Both the quickstart and the mods contain judgments on player ratings and will be static (or subject to the game's alterations if you set that option) as to them changing over time.

I'm not much of an OOTP historical player, so I will leave my comments at that.

[RchW]

Originally Posted by vamac53

thx Yankee,

If you're playing a season from the past, in a league, say, 1973 League, and I have the Angels of that year, how do I get the future Angels like Tim Salmon, Chuck Finley etc., on my team? Is there a way of importing future players? or purchase each additional version??

Still, If I bought the game say in 2007 version, which probably had stats from 2006 season, and some of the rookies like Alexie Ramirez wasn't rated very high, then he wouldnt progress to much of a player in 3 years, like he is now. But if I purchased next year's version ootp10, it would probably have better ratings for him?? or Not??? Do they stay the same? for example: lets say as a minor league in 2006 he was rated only "4" for power, got 2 or 3 yrs older, and progressed to a 6 in power in the for the projected 2008 season. But then you buy ootp10, and obviously his power ratings for Ramirez would be much higher then his old projection numbers of previous version?

I probably didn't explain my question well, but hopefully you know what I mean.

thx

Mike

1998 Yankees gave his usual good answer. I'll focus specifically on the bold part above.

This is what I understand, however I may not use all the correct terminology.

OOTP utilizes a game engine and AI that provides random but controlled player development based on some algorithm/logic worked out by Markus. Without going into the minutiae, each player follows a development curve related to his talent at the time of player creation. Some players may reach their talent level, some may exceed it and many do not.

At its core OOTP is not a replay game. Historical leagues can be made into a "pseudo replay" game by using recalc, a function that uses historical player stats to influence results towards "reality" ie. the reality of that season or group of seasons. Historical Era stats (league totals) and Strategic Tendencies (player usage) work concurrently to provide in many cases very realistic results. The above would be the closest analogy to a "season disk" that OOTP has.

A modern league with real players, which is what you are playing, will have somewhat accurate ratings for players with some history (career stats) in MLB. Young players will be less accurate and subject to much more fluctuation in both ratings (current ability) and talent (not really potential).

The key point is that once past the influence of the last year of the database used, the league becomes fictional despite the use of real names. Player development follows the path I mentioned earlier. The result, some players will be better, worse or similar to, their real life namesakes. Players with higher talent ratings will be more likely to perform better, but it is not guaranteed.

Buying a new version of the game may, I stress, may change, some player attributes, but not in any way related to buying a season disk for DMB. Instead there may be internal changes in how the software assigns ratings. I don't remember this being an issue of any significance.

Using a later version of the Lahman database, or using a Roster set prepared by someone will have an effect but that has nothing to do with OOTP directly.

Long winded but I hope it helps. One caveat, my explanation of the historical league working may be simplistic. I'd welcome any corrections.

[vamac53]

Rich,

Thx.. Very good explanation.. I understand completely now, on that subject. I guess the big diff between dmb and ootp is the dmb, you must get season disks, but if I turn OFF "recalc", the ootp brain will increase/decrease players future by many factors...
Rich, while I have you, I made a historic game using 2002 Angels, but their minor leagues weren't called PCL, and the names of the teams werent real. Like instead of Salt Lake Bees (Angels AAA) in that year, it was Arlington something. Though it DID look like it had real players in Arlington AAA like Lackey etc... Is there anyway to get real AAA teams and financials with this? I think I saw it somewhere, maybe it was in "new 2008 mlb game", not sure.
but thanks...
I think this game has alot to do, hands on GMing, and I have/will have a ton of questions. Bare with me.

Big question..I just joined an online league, do I have to make a new game, and download league files.... what game do I import league file into?

thx

Mike

[RchW]

Originally Posted by vamac53

Rich,

Thx.. Very good explanation.. I understand completely now, on that subject. I guess the big diff between dmb and ootp is the dmb, you must get season disks, but if I turn OFF "recalc", the ootp brain will increase/decrease players future by many factors...
Rich, while I have you, I made a historic game using 2002 Angels, but their minor leagues weren't called PCL, and the names of the teams werent real. Like instead of Salt Lake Bees (Angels AAA) in that year, it was Arlington something. Though it DID look like it had real players in Arlington AAA like Lackey etc... Is there anyway to get real AAA teams and financials with this? I think I saw it somewhere, maybe it was in "new 2008 mlb game", not sure.
but thanks...
I think this game has alot to do, hands on GMing, and I have/will have a ton of questions. Bare with me.

Big question..I just joined an online league, do I have to make a new game, and download league files.... what game do I import league file into?

thx

Mike

Glad to help.

If you want closer to real life stats from known players then leave recalc on. After 2007 it won't matter. One thing I don't know is the effect of leaving recalc on when there are no stats left. I assume that would be bad.

You will have to do the Minor League team names yourself when creating historicals from scratch. Look for a historical template out there that may have accurate minors already done.

Remember you can assign historical players to their original team so there should be no issue about finding them, even if the minor league team is not right.

Download the league file (zipped) extract and place into the saved_games folder. Start the game and load the file (league). Once that's up you may need to set your password.

Edit. The extracted zip file should come out as a folder titled "league name.lg". That's what you put into the saved_games folder. Check with your commish.

[BaseballMan]

Originally Posted by vamac53

thx Yankee,

If you're playing a season from the past, in a league, say, 1973 League, and I have the Angels of that year, how do I get the future Angels like Tim Salmon, Chuck Finley etc., on my team? Is there a way of importing future players? or purchase each additional version??

Still, If I bought the game say in 2007 version, which probably had stats from 2006 season, and some of the rookies like Alexie Ramirez wasn't rated very high, then he wouldnt progress to much of a player in 3 years, like he is now. But if I purchased next year's version ootp10, it would probably have better ratings for him?? or Not??? Do they stay the same? for example: lets say as a minor league in 2006 he was rated only "4" for power, got 2 or 3 yrs older, and progressed to a 6 in power in the for the projected 2008 season. But then you buy ootp10, and obviously his power ratings for Ramirez would be much higher then his old projection numbers of previous version?

I probably didn't explain my question well, but hopefully you know what I mean.

thx


Mike

Just make sure automatic import rookies is checked and the amateur draft is unchecked. players should go to their original teams. But for players the angels didnt draft but played for the Angels like Nolan Ryan, you will have to manually make those trades or edit the database to have them debut with the Angels.
If you want close too historical results, i would look into retire according to history option, and the recalculate option. I think Ootp has come along way
for historical players. Put it this way...When your simulated Ty Cobb bats .367 over a simulated career from 1905-1928, i would say thats pretty good results. I would have been satisfied with .358 or .360.

[Raidergoo]

Originally Posted by vamac53

Big question..I just joined an online league, do I have to make a new game, and download league files.... what game do I import league file into?

thx

Mike

Mike,

You will probably be given a link to to a zip file that contains an .lg file. An .lg file is a "league file". It's a self contained universe of everything you need for that online league. It will have pictures, logos, box scores, game replay files, data files, and more. You would place the .lg file in your saved game directory.

EXAMPLE:
C:\Documents and Settings\jwevans\My Documents\Out of the Park Developments\OOTP Baseball 9\saved_games\emlb.lg

This would be everything for my eMLB on-line league.

Each time there is a sim run by the commish, you will click "LOAD ONLINE LEAGUE FILE" (or something similar, as I cannot remember the exact phrase) and the game will automatically locate the file on the commissioner's FTP site, download it, extract 5000-6000 files, and place them in the correct places. eMLB takes me 10-15 minutes to update twice a week.

Playing the game online is a fantastic way to play if you want a GM simulation. There is no AI that can beat 20-30 thinking, scheming, human beings. The downside is that you are the GM, and the tactical in-game manager decisions (when to bunt, steal, pinch hit) are made by your AI manager.

The in-game AI is vastly superior to the GM AI, in my opinion. That is why I think online leagues are so good. I get to chat and match wits against some very bright and competitive people.

I hope you enjoy!

[Raidergoo]

Dola,

I started with Strat in the early 80's. The reason I got my first job (paper route) was to buy Strat cards, football and baseball.

Long live Strat o Matic!

[golander40]

Very intersting "Stuff"--Great "thread"
Thanks Much to all
Gil

[Raidergoo]

Originally Posted by golander40

Great questions,I,m also very interested in the answers to these questions.
Hope someone will answer---When starting a "Historical League",I wonder what year to start,the answer to these questions would/will help me decide,in my favorite use of the game "What If " ?
Thanks
Gil

1871.

It's a hoot to draft and develop Cy Young.

[bigMatt]

This is a good thread - glad I stumbled on it.

Having been weened on SOM and APBA, I had much the same confusion coming into the OOTP world. I've gradually come to understand and appeciate the game on its own merits by playing hours of solitaire.

I'd been contemplating joining a league but not certain how it works. Raidergoo's explanation has gone a considerable way toward alleviating this concern.

Regarding how to start, I've had the most fun picking up an expansion team in 61 and running a quasi-historical sim from there. After tweaking the settings back and forth - the Aging, the Development and especially the Talent Change Randomness factor - I'm very happy with my latest project. As someone said in another thread, the default settings in these areas is lousy. A "best practices" section on this board that discusses settings for all the various replay or fictional scenarios would likely be invaluable.

[vamac53]

Matt,

If the settings in the development arent very good, what should they be set to???? I know I can play around with them to figure it out, but if someone could save some time and fill me in, I'd appreciate it.

Also, Matt, I'm in like 5 leagues in DMB baseball(no I dont work, or have a life , and I know what I'm doing in DMB; I joined 1 ootp9 league called "between the lines". I have know idea what I will be doing there; but I'll muddle through it, and with the help of Commish David Keene and other owners, I'm sure I'll survive, eventually. Tho I took over the '73 California Angels and they finished in last place in btl 1972. So I've got no players, and no ootp experience. It will probably ugly, for a while.

Mike

[bigMatt]

Originally Posted by vamac53

Matt,

If the settings in the development arent very good, what should they be set to???? I know I can play around with them to figure it out, but if someone could save some time and fill me in, I'd appreciate it.

Here is what I am now using:

batter aging speed: 1.5 (if I started over, I migt dial this down to 1.3)

batter development speed: .6

pitcher aging speed: 1.5 (this is probably about right)

pitcher development speed: .7

Talent change randomness: 55 - this is a matter of personal preference. The game default is 100, which gives me zero possibility that anyone will even remotely follow their career arch unless I recalc regularly.

I personally have recalc turned off, because I want my uni to follow a natural, though fictional progression.

So I have a general level of historical parallel - the Hank Aaron and Mickey Mantle-type players are still typically among the league leaders. In the 100 randomness league, Mantle, Robinson, Mays and a number of others were struggling to hit .200 - not what I was looking for.

I have injury frequency set at low, which still yields plenty of injuries.

I have AI trade frequency to be average, and difficulty to be average. I know, many guys like trading to be hard, but I find this to be too frustrating for me. I have spun some ground rules to keep myself from taking advantage of AI owners too much in a trade, but I don't want to always have to give up more than they do to get a trade done, which I found was happening when I had the setting at hard.

I also have a secondary roster, with 45 rather than 40 players. I have 3 levels of minors and a winter league that is AAA level. I have Waivers, a mid season draft with players NOT assigned to their historical teams. This gives me an annual chance to draft, which is one of my favorite aspects of solo play.

I originally had players retire according to their historical retirement, but really didn't like this because cup-o-coffee guys in real life would have a nice season and then just retire. So someone like Bud Zipfel has 20 homers and a .300 BA at age 23 then just retires. I didn't like that so I turned it off.

I'm now in 1964, and this has been the most satisfying of all my solo runs. I picked up the Houston .45's in 1962, drafted for them, and now am running both Houston and Washington. I originally had a no trade arrangement between the two, but I violated that this spring because Washington had so many arms in the minors and Houston had some surplus middle infielders who would help the Senators. I made Houston an AI so as not to "cheat" and worked out a balanced deal for them both.