OOTP VS. STRAT-O-MATIC computer game

Lake Camelot · 12-01-2010, 05:04 PM

Some one suggested I post this on here instead of the newbie forum. I got a couple good responses already, but here it is-

I am looking to get my ten year old son one of these computer games for Christmas. He is into stats, but also messes around with the way his teams uniforms look on games. He seems more into creating players and drafting to see what kind of team he can build. Less interested in actual game play on video games (xbox/wii) Anyone have any input on the advantages to either game ?

Thanks for the answer if you have one.

KowboyKoop · 12-01-2010, 05:09 PM

I don't want to talk anyone out of buying this game..because it is a genuinely great game..the best on the market without a doubt..but it can be awfully in-depth and complicated as well. Doesn't mean a 10 year old can't handle it...but be sure to take that into consideration..it is a LOT more intensive than the other baseball video games out there.

If you think he can handle the amount of detail, however..than OOTP is clearly the way to go. It is very deep and you can make it into almost anything you want it to be.

Lake Camelot · 12-01-2010, 05:11 PM

Thanks, in the summer when he has time I think he would be OK. But during school he has very little free time. Can it be played at all without spending many hours on it at the beginning?

udbacker58 · 12-01-2010, 05:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lake Camelot

Thanks, in the summer when he has time I think he would be OK. But during school he has very little free time. Can it be played at all without spending many hours on it at the beginning?

If you want to use a standard MLB set-up, yes. All you would have to do is click the MLB Quickstart and start rolling.

I do agree that it may be a little too in depth, but you can always let him try the demo and if he likes it, pay for the full license.

JWay · 12-01-2010, 05:32 PM

OOTP11 is only has hard as you want it to be. Firing up a quick start and moving along is plenty easy. Modifications are fairly easy as well....once you get the hang of it.

I'd say a 10 year old with a niche for this type of entertainment would hang on just fine.

Nutlaw · 12-01-2010, 05:37 PM

OOTP 11 is the best game out there for drafting and building a team. I agree with the suggestion to try out the demo.

ryanivr · 12-01-2010, 07:11 PM

The hardest part is understanding all of the little nuances of baseball's roster rules, like waivers, rule 5 draft, designated for assignment, etc.

All of these can be turned off though, so you make the game fairly simple to play if you wanted to.

markprior22 · 12-01-2010, 08:12 PM

My son started when he was about 6 or 7 back on version 3. I guess the game was "simpler" then but, as someone said above, the current version can be tweaked to make it pretty straight forward. I looked at it as a little something we could share. He would tell me about his leagues, etc and enjoyed it. In summary, I think he could handle it but go through some of the demo with him and see if he seems to like it.

MLHFFYP · 12-02-2010, 02:19 PM

I have played thousands of individual games for Strat and OOTP so I think I have an idea of the strengths and weaknesses of both so I will give you three advantages and disadvantages for each. Of course, this is my opinion only so everyone out there please keep that in mind.

Strat

Advantages

1. Excellent statistical accuracy. I have played many, many seasons and have always been struck by how accurate the stats turn out to be. For pure statistical realism I prefer Strat over all other games.

2. Ease of Setup and Play - Very simple to get into and begin play. Icons are easily recognizable and options quite easy to configure. Lots of options to make the in game experience suit your taste.

3. AI for managerial in game decisions, draft logic, and trading is very good. I would say that the trade logic is the worst of the three but I have not had anything near the ease of taking advantage of the AI that I have had with OOTP.

Disadvantages

1. Cost - Expensive to buy and maintain. You must buy season disks and other addons to build a library of seasons. This is a big factor, I believe, especially in these tough economic times.

2. Lack of flexibility in game play - What I mean is that you do not get to see a team or player develop over the years. If you have the 1927 Pirates that is it. You cannot "go forward" to 1928 with that same team and see it improve/decline with age. If you buy past season disks you can do some things like creating super leagues and such but cost could be prohibitive.

3. Lack of modability - Strat is not a game where you can have a half dozen user created mods that can be used in the game itself. This is something that can be annoying, especially after seeing the quality of the logos, cards, etc. that you find available for OOTP.

OOTP

Advantages

1. Customizing - Excellent options for making a baseball universe that fits your every need. I have make several leagues in different configurations and always have been happy with the play in each.

2. Customer Community - OOTP users are creative and make some excellent mods. This is huge if you want to delve deeper into a league and have an experience that can almost be role playing in nature.

3. Visual Representation - Layout of the game, including stats reports and such, is really good and gives a feeling that you actually in a league. News stories are diverse and pinpoint highlights that you would expect in a paper or on a website. Very well done.

Disadvantages

1. AI for Trading is poor - I know this can be a hot button issue with many people but I have found that this is the case for me. Singling out one issue is very specific but trading should be challenging and fun but I have found too many times where it is really easy to get what you want for little cost. I have house rules now but I wish I did not have to go that route.

2. Documentation/Guides lacking - As I mentioned, OOTP users are great at modding but they also are super at answering questions. However, it would be good to have in depth documentation/guides to get the player started. This is a very deep game, which is a plus, but it requires extensive documentation that is updated and takes into account each years improvements. Granted, there are some posted but I have found that there is a lot to find out on your own.

3. Support - I have had occasion to ask Strat questions regarding their game and have always had someone answer who was intimately involved with the development of the game. Bob Winberry was very helpful in particular. Now I know that Markus and Andreas are present but there have been many questions/issues that, I believe, need their views and/or opinions. I could be wrong but I get the feeling that once the game is out it is up to the users to help each other out and get answers to questions.

This is my two cents. If I were buying I would pick Strat for single season replays but OOTP for a more immersive career feel. I now play OOTP almost exclusively so you can see where I stand but Strat does have some strong points to it as well.

Hope this helps.

actionjackson · 12-02-2010, 03:28 PM

Very thorough breakdown MLHFFYP. I don't think Lake Camelot can ask for much more than you gave him there. Nicely done.

The only thing I might quibble with (and this is not meant to be a criticism or a "fanboy" comment) is that there is a huuuge help folder that battists put together for this year's game. Though it may be a bit unwieldy due to its size, it is there in addition to the in game help thingy. There's probably a tradeoff to be made somewhere between the vast amount of options available to the OOTPer and the size of the help folder. To wit: you want all those options? Fine, here's your Magnum Opus of a help folder. He also has a stickied thread towards the top of this very sub-forum that may or may not have some corrections in it. I wouldn't know...I haven't checked.

Strangely enough I found the exact opposite wrt customer support over at Strat, which led me to keep looking for a game until I found this one. It would be nice if OOTP had better customer service, but for the size of the company, I think they do OK.

Other than that, Lake Camelot should be thrilled to have received such a comprehensive, thoughtful, balanced response from you. Cheers.

falkonisback · 12-02-2010, 03:53 PM

OOTP just won 'Sports Text Sim of the Decade'. Check it out.

http://www.ootpdevelopments.com/boar...im-decade.html

Who Killed Kenny? · 12-02-2010, 06:06 PM

When I was 10 I would have loved this game.

Nutlaw · 12-03-2010, 09:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Who Killed Kenny?

When I was 10 I would have loved this game.

Me too. Actually, from about the age of six on, I was waiting to play this game. It just hadn't been made yet. Others fell short.

Matt Arnold · 12-03-2010, 10:29 AM

I've played both. They're very different games, to me.

OOTP to me is a management game. It's all about trades, signing free agents, building your team. Sure, you can set your lineups, and play games and decide which pitcher comes in, when to hit and run or bunt, but that's really not it's strength. Don't get me wrong, it's a lot of fun and works very well, but it's a fairly big black box in-game.

SOM is more of a replay game. I've only played in draft leagues. It's the game you play if you already are a big fan of the real MLB, since you can see the real player stats translate into the cards. If you want to dedicate a year to a season, this is the one for you. It's best if you can play it as a draft league with friends, or if you want to do a season replay. It's the perfect game for doing those "what-if" moments. If you want to play the 1994 World Series Expos vs Yankees that never was, or run a tournament of the best teams of all-time, there's no better game.

So, which is better is really hard to say. I think you need a lot more patience for SOM than OOTP - it takes a year to play a season of SOM, but I can chug through a season in my OOTP game over a weekend.

JTSMOOTH · 12-03-2010, 01:57 PM

I don't think the age should matter much either. I've been playing sim baseball games for as long as I can remember and as others have already stated, I would of absolutely loved this game at 10 and even younger.

Just depends on the kid. If he loves baseball, chances are he will love the game.

rocknfire7 · 12-05-2010, 02:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by udbacker58

If you want to use a standard MLB set-up, yes. All you would have to do is click the MLB Quickstart and start rolling.

Anyone else catch that? ^^^

Based on what Lake said I'd go with OOTP unless you have the money to buy consecutive season authorization codes.

Pete Grassi · 12-05-2010, 09:55 AM

Cost is what has always kept me from really diving head first into Strat. For realism, Strat can't be beat. But cost is a big factor to me. I own Strat along with the HOF 2000 set and Negro League set for the computer. I own OOTP for everything else....

12-01-2010, 05:04 PM	#1
Lake Camelot Bat Boy Join Date: Nov 2010 Posts: 6	OOTP VS. STRAT-O-MATIC computer game Some one suggested I post this on here instead of the newbie forum. I got a couple good responses already, but here it is- I am looking to get my ten year old son one of these computer games for Christmas. He is into stats, but also messes around with the way his teams uniforms look on games. He seems more into creating players and drafting to see what kind of team he can build. Less interested in actual game play on video games (xbox/wii) Anyone have any input on the advantages to either game ? Thanks for the answer if you have one.

12-02-2010, 02:19 PM	#9
MLHFFYP Minors (Double A) Join Date: Feb 2010 Posts: 148	Strat vs. OOTP I have played thousands of individual games for Strat and OOTP so I think I have an idea of the strengths and weaknesses of both so I will give you three advantages and disadvantages for each. Of course, this is my opinion only so everyone out there please keep that in mind. Strat Advantages 1. Excellent statistical accuracy. I have played many, many seasons and have always been struck by how accurate the stats turn out to be. For pure statistical realism I prefer Strat over all other games. 2. Ease of Setup and Play - Very simple to get into and begin play. Icons are easily recognizable and options quite easy to configure. Lots of options to make the in game experience suit your taste. 3. AI for managerial in game decisions, draft logic, and trading is very good. I would say that the trade logic is the worst of the three but I have not had anything near the ease of taking advantage of the AI that I have had with OOTP. Disadvantages 1. Cost - Expensive to buy and maintain. You must buy season disks and other addons to build a library of seasons. This is a big factor, I believe, especially in these tough economic times. 2. Lack of flexibility in game play - What I mean is that you do not get to see a team or player develop over the years. If you have the 1927 Pirates that is it. You cannot "go forward" to 1928 with that same team and see it improve/decline with age. If you buy past season disks you can do some things like creating super leagues and such but cost could be prohibitive. 3. Lack of modability - Strat is not a game where you can have a half dozen user created mods that can be used in the game itself. This is something that can be annoying, especially after seeing the quality of the logos, cards, etc. that you find available for OOTP. OOTP Advantages 1. Customizing - Excellent options for making a baseball universe that fits your every need. I have make several leagues in different configurations and always have been happy with the play in each. 2. Customer Community - OOTP users are creative and make some excellent mods. This is huge if you want to delve deeper into a league and have an experience that can almost be role playing in nature. 3. Visual Representation - Layout of the game, including stats reports and such, is really good and gives a feeling that you actually in a league. News stories are diverse and pinpoint highlights that you would expect in a paper or on a website. Very well done. Disadvantages 1. AI for Trading is poor - I know this can be a hot button issue with many people but I have found that this is the case for me. Singling out one issue is very specific but trading should be challenging and fun but I have found too many times where it is really easy to get what you want for little cost. I have house rules now but I wish I did not have to go that route. 2. Documentation/Guides lacking - As I mentioned, OOTP users are great at modding but they also are super at answering questions. However, it would be good to have in depth documentation/guides to get the player started. This is a very deep game, which is a plus, but it requires extensive documentation that is updated and takes into account each years improvements. Granted, there are some posted but I have found that there is a lot to find out on your own. 3. Support - I have had occasion to ask Strat questions regarding their game and have always had someone answer who was intimately involved with the development of the game. Bob Winberry was very helpful in particular. Now I know that Markus and Andreas are present but there have been many questions/issues that, I believe, need their views and/or opinions. I could be wrong but I get the feeling that once the game is out it is up to the users to help each other out and get answers to questions. This is my two cents. If I were buying I would pick Strat for single season replays but OOTP for a more immersive career feel. I now play OOTP almost exclusively so you can see where I stand but Strat does have some strong points to it as well. Hope this helps.

12-02-2010, 03:28 PM	#10
actionjackson Hall Of Famer Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Toronto, ON Posts: 6,179	Very thorough breakdown MLHFFYP. I don't think Lake Camelot can ask for much more than you gave him there. Nicely done. The only thing I might quibble with (and this is not meant to be a criticism or a "fanboy" comment) is that there is a huuuge help folder that battists put together for this year's game. Though it may be a bit unwieldy due to its size, it is there in addition to the in game help thingy. There's probably a tradeoff to be made somewhere between the vast amount of options available to the OOTPer and the size of the help folder. To wit: you want all those options? Fine, here's your Magnum Opus of a help folder. He also has a stickied thread towards the top of this very sub-forum that may or may not have some corrections in it. I wouldn't know...I haven't checked. Strangely enough I found the exact opposite wrt customer support over at Strat, which led me to keep looking for a game until I found this one. It would be nice if OOTP had better customer service, but for the size of the company, I think they do OK. Other than that, Lake Camelot should be thrilled to have received such a comprehensive, thoughtful, balanced response from you. Cheers. Last edited by actionjackson; 12-02-2010 at 03:32 PM.

12-01-2010, 05:09 PM	#2
KowboyKoop Minors (Double A) Join Date: Apr 2010 Posts: 141	I don't want to talk anyone out of buying this game..because it is a genuinely great game..the best on the market without a doubt..but it can be awfully in-depth and complicated as well. Doesn't mean a 10 year old can't handle it...but be sure to take that into consideration..it is a LOT more intensive than the other baseball video games out there. If you think he can handle the amount of detail, however..than OOTP is clearly the way to go. It is very deep and you can make it into almost anything you want it to be.

12-01-2010, 05:11 PM	#3
Lake Camelot Bat Boy Join Date: Nov 2010 Posts: 6	Thanks, in the summer when he has time I think he would be OK. But during school he has very little free time. Can it be played at all without spending many hours on it at the beginning?

12-01-2010, 05:32 PM	#5
JWay Hall Of Famer Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Sioux Falls, SD Posts: 5,031	OOTP11 is only has hard as you want it to be. Firing up a quick start and moving along is plenty easy. Modifications are fairly easy as well....once you get the hang of it. I'd say a 10 year old with a niche for this type of entertainment would hang on just fine.

12-01-2010, 05:37 PM	#6
Nutlaw Hall Of Famer Join Date: Apr 2003 Posts: 9,538	OOTP 11 is the best game out there for drafting and building a team. I agree with the suggestion to try out the demo.

12-01-2010, 07:11 PM	#7
ryanivr All Star Reserve Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 907	The hardest part is understanding all of the little nuances of baseball's roster rules, like waivers, rule 5 draft, designated for assignment, etc. All of these can be turned off though, so you make the game fairly simple to play if you wanted to.

12-01-2010, 08:12 PM	#8
markprior22 All Star Starter Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: springfield, illinois Posts: 1,245	My son started when he was about 6 or 7 back on version 3. I guess the game was "simpler" then but, as someone said above, the current version can be tweaked to make it pretty straight forward. I looked at it as a little something we could share. He would tell me about his leagues, etc and enjoyed it. In summary, I think he could handle it but go through some of the demo with him and see if he seems to like it.

12-02-2010, 03:53 PM	#11
falkonisback All Star Reserve Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: New Iberia, Louisiana Posts: 869	OOTP just won 'Sports Text Sim of the Decade'. Check it out. http://www.ootpdevelopments.com/boar...im-decade.html

12-02-2010, 06:06 PM	#12
Who Killed Kenny? Major Leagues Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 410	When I was 10 I would have loved this game.

12-03-2010, 10:29 AM	#14
Matt Arnold OOTP Developer Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Here and there Posts: 16,313	I've played both. They're very different games, to me. OOTP to me is a management game. It's all about trades, signing free agents, building your team. Sure, you can set your lineups, and play games and decide which pitcher comes in, when to hit and run or bunt, but that's really not it's strength. Don't get me wrong, it's a lot of fun and works very well, but it's a fairly big black box in-game. SOM is more of a replay game. I've only played in draft leagues. It's the game you play if you already are a big fan of the real MLB, since you can see the real player stats translate into the cards. If you want to dedicate a year to a season, this is the one for you. It's best if you can play it as a draft league with friends, or if you want to do a season replay. It's the perfect game for doing those "what-if" moments. If you want to play the 1994 World Series Expos vs Yankees that never was, or run a tournament of the best teams of all-time, there's no better game. So, which is better is really hard to say. I think you need a lot more patience for SOM than OOTP - it takes a year to play a season of SOM, but I can chug through a season in my OOTP game over a weekend.

12-03-2010, 01:57 PM	#15
JTSMOOTH Major Leagues Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Arizona Posts: 462	I don't think the age should matter much either. I've been playing sim baseball games for as long as I can remember and as others have already stated, I would of absolutely loved this game at 10 and even younger. Just depends on the kid. If he loves baseball, chances are he will love the game.

12-05-2010, 09:55 AM	#17
Pete Grassi Major Leagues Join Date: Dec 2001 Posts: 386	Cost is what has always kept me from really diving head first into Strat. For realism, Strat can't be beat. But cost is a big factor to me. I own Strat along with the HOF 2000 set and Negro League set for the computer. I own OOTP for everything else....