(the new) player development budget

[statfreak]

Originally Posted by Markus Heinsohn

In the meantime I have added some new stuff that you might like:
- New player development screen, here you set (the new) player development budget, see the standings of all your minor league teams, a list of your prospects and a graphical representation of your organizational depth chart.

Markus

Ugh, please, please, please tell me the player development budget is optional and I don't have to assign a budget to player development.

This is such a huge step backwards in my opinion. If I wanted micromanagement of financials and/or this kind of option, I'd play a game like Baseball Mogul that is more fluff than serious simulation.

First time I've seen an OOTP 12 feature and been hugely disappointed in the direction of the game. This has really killed any anticipation for the new version. Please assuage my fears and tell me this feature is optional and can be turned off.

I realize Markus is trying to appeal to the widest fan base possible, but this type of thing just frustrates me to no end. There are so many AI areas to concentrate and focus on to make the game better, but instead we move from a baseball sim to a financial / budget simulation.

[Markus Heinsohn]

Where is the problem? Leave it alone (at an average setting) and it has no influence compared to OOTP 11.

The effect of a higher budget in this area is very small of course, but it is a good way to spend excessive cash/budget room. This is part of real baseball as well, so I see no reason for some sort of outburst.

Also, if you do not like finnancials, why don't you switch them off entirely?

[Matt Arnold]

Originally Posted by statfreak

Ugh, please, please, please tell me the player development budget is optional and I don't have to assign a budget to player development.

This is such a huge step backwards in my opinion. If I wanted micromanagement of financials and/or this kind of option, I'd play a game like Baseball Mogul that is more fluff than serious simulation.

First time I've seen an OOTP 12 feature and been hugely disappointed in the direction of the game. This has really killed any anticipation for the new version. Please assuage my fears and tell me this feature is optional and can be turned off.

I realize Markus is trying to appeal to the widest fan base possible, but this type of thing just frustrates me to no end. There are so many AI areas to concentrate and focus on to make the game better, but instead we move from a baseball sim to a financial / budget simulation.

Depends how it works. Presumably, it'd be another screen like the scouting screen, and would be budgeting like that.

Likely, I don't think I'll like it too much, but I'd have to see how it works. It will be fine as long as it doesn't go overboard. So if the league average is 2M, and I put in 20M, I shouldn't be turning scrubs into all-stars. Personally, I'd rather have player development dictated by the quality of your coaching staff at the level the player is at.

I like having the depth charts and prospects list in one place - that's a much needed screen.

[Markus Heinsohn]

Originally Posted by UWHabs

Personally, I'd rather have player development dictated by the quality of your coaching staff at the level the player is at.

The coaches have influence on development as well, of course. The development budget has of course a maximum and even at the maximal setting will not result in unrealistic player development.

[spleen1015]

Originally Posted by statfreak

I realize Markus is trying to appeal to the widest fan base possible, but this type of thing just frustrates me to no end. There are so many AI areas to concentrate and focus on to make the game better, but instead we move from a baseball sim to a financial / budget simulation.

This is the case every year. We get new features when old ones could use a lot of tweaking/improvement.

Having said that, I still enjoy the game and I disable the ones I don't like, ie scouts and coaches.

This new development budget feature falls into the same boat. I don't think I am going to like it. This time I won't be able to turn it off though without turning off financials which I don't want to do.

[statfreak]

Originally Posted by Markus Heinsohn

Where is the problem? Leave it alone (at an average setting) and it has no influence compared to OOTP 11.

The effect of a higher budget in this area is very small of course, but it is a good way to spend excessive cash/budget room. This is part of real baseball as well, so I see no reason for some sort of outburst.

Also, if you do not like finnancials, why don't you switch them off entirely?

I appreciate the response.

Obviously I'll have to see how it plays, but I generally only play in online leagues now. So either I'll be forced to deal with this new budget or be at a disadvantage in leagues with other players that will work the system to consistently get higher development.

In my opinion it is not a good way to spend excessive cash/budget room and will artificially leave poor teams and/or mismanaged teams at an even greater disadvantage. Not only can they not sign the top free agents, but now their prospects won't develop as well as big market/cash rich teams.

I could just be running around proclaiming the sky is falling, but on the face of it, this is not a feature I am excited about.

[statfreak]

Originally Posted by Markus Heinsohn

The coaches have influence on development as well, of course. The development budget has of course a maximum and even at the maximal setting will not result in unrealistic player development.

Perception is reality though. What is the incentive for GMs of bad teams in online leagues to stick with the league if they know more successful teams have the ability to max the development budget and whether due to that or not the successful teams have some good development luck while the struggling team with average or worst development budget does not see its prospects develop.

Whether or not the dev budget has any bearing on those successes or failures, people will assume it does and there could be a rash of GMs quitting leagues since they have no hope in turning the franchise around. This happens now and I think it will only get worse.

[Markus Heinsohn]

Originally Posted by statfreak

I could just be running around proclaiming the sky is falling, but on the face of it, this is not a feature I am excited about.

Well, simply set the average development budget in the setup to zero and you have that feature disabled.

[statfreak]

Originally Posted by spleen1015

This new development budget feature falls into the same boat. I don't think I am going to like it. This time I won't be able to turn it off though without turning on financials which I don't want to do.

I agree with everything you said, but especially this last part I quoted.

Why should I have to turn financials off to get development to be equal for all teams? If I'm playing solo, is there an option to default the dev budget to the same amount for all teams, including AI-controlled teams? Is there an online setting that likewise flatlines the dev budget so no team has an advantage (perceived or not)?

If not, I'd suggest there be a way to accomplish this.

It is all fine and well for Markus to say just leave it an average amount, but unless there is a way to force all teams to use the same dev budget amount, it is really not that simple since other teams will have an advantage in developing prospects simply because they have more money.

I understand the idea, but I just don't see the logic here. Whether intended or not, it is just another way to punish poor teams.

[Dr. dru]

Originally Posted by Markus Heinsohn

Where is the problem? Leave it alone (at an average setting) and it has no influence compared to OOTP 11.

The effect of a higher budget in this area is very small of course, but it is a good way to spend excessive cash/budget room. This is part of real baseball as well, so I see no reason for some sort of outburst.

Also, if you do not like finnancials, why don't you switch them off entirely?

I like this development a lot. Thanks for adding it. It makes it worth the wait. I would actually like to see this make a big difference. So thanks for adding it.

[statfreak]

Originally Posted by Markus Heinsohn

Well, simply set the average development budget in the setup to zero and you have that feature disabled.

Excellent, thank you.

[statfreak]

Originally Posted by kingcharlesxii

I'll be interested in hearing more about the player development budget works, my fear is that it sounds one of those things that pretty much needs to be maxed out or you're hurting yourself.

Originally Posted by Markus Heinsohn

No fear, the effect on player development is very small, but it is a good way to burn cash / budget room. If you leave it at an average setting for your team, it is as if it doesn't exist, compared to OOTP 11.

But that is only for your team. AI teams or other human-controlled teams will still have an option to max the dev budget. Again, perceived or not, that puts you at a disadvantage.

I don't mean to harp on this and if just setting it to $0 in the league setup effectively turns this feature off, then no problem.

I just think there has to be a way for commissioners in online leagues and those in solo leagues that want development to be "even" for all teams to be able to accomplish that. If that's not possible, even when setting the average budget to $0, then I am requesting a way to accomplish that be added.

[95Marinerschangedmylife]

I like it. So many people are trying to find more ways to make the game more difficult and this sounds like an easy way to do it. I dont think its going to affect the game as much as people believe. Give it a shot, then destroy its value after the fact.

[statfreak]

Originally Posted by 95Marinerschangedmylife

I like it. So many people are trying to find more ways to make the game more difficult and this sounds like an easy way to do it. I dont think its going to affect the game as much as people believe. Give it a shot, then destroy its value after the fact.

By then it may be too late to save online leagues or retain customers that don't like the feature.

Perhaps I phrased my comments incorrectly, I was only looking for clarification and if it could be turned off. I think my concerns are legitimate. There is no need to comment on them directly if others think they are not.

Obviously we need to see how it works, but I know if I was running an online league I'd be concerned by the perceived advantage one team could have over another. Some online leagues relish in makings different, others prefer all teams be on an even playing field.

[Bluenoser]

Originally Posted by Markus Heinsohn

Where is the problem? Leave it alone (at an average setting) and it has no influence compared to OOTP 11.

The effect of a higher budget in this area is very small of course, but it is a good way to spend excessive cash/budget room. This is part of real baseball as well, so I see no reason for some sort of outburst.

Also, if you do not like finnancials, why don't you switch them off entirely?

Really? Examples please.

In real baseball prospects play in the minors and develop accordingly. We already have coaches that work with these players, where in the real world is extra money spent above and beyond the regular minors/winter leagues/ etc that already have coaches?

I also hope this is an "optional" thing. As it has been explained thus far it makes no sense is not realistic. It's more fluff when other things that are far more important should be taken care of first.

[Bluenoser]

Originally Posted by Markus Heinsohn

Well, simply set the average development budget in the setup to zero and you have that feature disabled.

So if I set the avg to 0, does that mean every team will use the avg, or will it vary? Most likely it will vary since the "0" is only the avg, so that doesn't allow you to set every team equal.

[Markus Heinsohn]

Originally Posted by Bluenoser

So if I set the avg to 0, does that mean every team will use the avg, or will it vary? Most likely it will vary since the "0" is only the avg, so that doesn't allow you to set every team equal.

A 0 entirely disables this feature.

[spleen1015]

Originally Posted by Markus Heinsohn

A 0 entirely disables this feature.

Is that setting for each team or league-wide?

[Cooleyvol]

Ok, so there'll be no checkbox to disable like other things? Just a 0 setting?

[Cooleyvol]

Originally Posted by Markus Heinsohn

Where is the problem? Leave it alone (at an average setting) and it has no influence compared to OOTP 11.

The effect of a higher budget in this area is very small of course, but it is a good way to spend excessive cash/budget room. This is part of real baseball as well, so I see no reason for some sort of outburst.

Also, if you do not like finnancials, why don't you switch them off entirely?

Different financial aspects appeal to different people. It should never be all or nothing. Thanks for the 'disable' feature on this.