Love the Game, But. . .

[Johnny Case]

Hello, all.

A work of art, again. The best in the series.

But I really don't understand the continuing weakness of OOTP's animation. I do not expect -- or want -- something like you'd see in Playstation. I also don't care at all about the 3D nonsense. But why can't we have something as basic as the 2D animation of Action! PC Baseball or even PureSim Baseball? Nothing special there. Just a pitch thrown and a ball hit in a believable way to the location stated in the play-by-play.

If those games can do it, Markus & Co. surely can.

Thanks again for a great product!

jc

[Qixter]

I don't care much about the graphics at all, only the user interface is really important to me. What I would like more focus on is improving the text to speech quality in the playback. If OOTP can venture to radio quality play by play just with the text already in game that would be amazing.

[Ruthian23]

Originally Posted by Qixter

I don't care much about the graphics at all, only the user interface is really important to me. What I would like more focus on is improving the text to speech quality in the playback. If OOTP can venture to radio quality play by play just with the text already in game that would be amazing.

I think that's a lot more difficult of an ask than the animations. There are manager games that do a nice job with the animation aspect of things, and I hope OOTP gets to a higher level in that area soon. Based on things Markus has said, they're hoping to have made some really cool improvements in that area within a few versions.

However, when it comes to audio/announcing/natural broadcasts, etc, even AAA releases with huge budgets and enormous resources and professional announcers on payroll can't even come close to doing anything decent. Maybe my experience isn't the same as others, but I've pretty much never played a sports game where the broadcasters didn't annoy the hell out of me. What you're saying would indeed be amazing in theory, but I'm skeptical that it could be implemented in any reasonable fashion.

[Hockey13Playa]

I would love some animations. Nothing over the top by something a little more then what they currently have. It would help indulge me into the game more. That and the ability to create our own 3D stadiums somehow. What they got going on now certainly works but I wouldn't be against.

However I am against the "MLB the Show" type graphics that I've seen others want. I like to distinguish the two games, and this is a sim game not a visual graphics game.

To hit on my first point it would be cool to have better and more accurate ball flight animations as well as say little representations of players moving about the field with there facegen moving along with them. So in a sense what we have now but enhanced and made a little more pretty - especially the stadiums. Huge advancement this year though!

[Harry_BallSack]

Originally Posted by Johnny Case

Hello, all.

A work of art, again. The best in the series.

But I really don't understand the continuing weakness of OOTP's animation. I do not expect -- or want -- something like you'd see in Playstation. I also don't care at all about the 3D nonsense. But why can't we have something as basic as the 2D animation of Action! PC Baseball or even PureSim Baseball? Nothing special there. Just a pitch thrown and a ball hit in a believable way to the location stated in the play-by-play.

If those games can do it, Markus & Co. surely can.

Thanks again for a great product!

jc

Wow someone calling out Puresim, now theres a blast from the past!

[Ruthian23]

Originally Posted by Hockey13Playa

I would love some animations. Nothing over the top by something a little more then what they currently have. It would help indulge me into the game more. That and the ability to create our own 3D stadiums somehow. What they got going on now certainly works but I wouldn't be against.

However I am against the "MLB the Show" type graphics that I've seen others want. I like to distinguish the two games, and this is a sim game not a visual graphics game.

To hit on my first point it would be cool to have better and more accurate ball flight animations as well as say little representations of players moving about the field with there facegen moving along with them. So in a sense what we have now but enhanced and made a little more pretty - especially the stadiums. Huge advancement this year though!

I don't foresee the game ever having AAA graphics, either. I mean, if the simulation could remain as is and the graphical representation was as beautiful as The Show, sure, but I don't think that's realistic, especially for a small development team. I'd like to see them some day get to the point where Football Manager's 2D graphics and animation are. I prefer the 2D animation in FM to the 3D graphics, because the latter are just too crude for me, while I think the 2D graphics flow beautifully and represent what's happening on the field extremely well.

If OOTP (and BTS and FHM and any other future products Markus might release under his banner) were to reach the current level or close to the level of FM's current 2D graphics (while, of course, continuing to improve the simulation aspects of the game that are its heart), I would be a very happy camper. I find that kind of animation to be huge for in game in game (as in playing an individual game in OOTP or another sports simulation) immersion for me.

[Randystu]

I agree, this is something I would like too. Sports Mogul does a nice job with simple animations. Makes the game more fun to play.

[smiller]

I'm pretty busy just following the text which sometimes unfolds like a mystery (will he or won't he be thrown out at third). However, I do think there can be improvements in this area, especially with regards to recognizing a player's accomplishments or previous history.

[Assos]

Been here a long time, never thought I would see something as complex as what we have now. I want what is best for the under the hood engine. I do not care what kind of dress you put on her, it is what is underneath that I am after!

[Ruthian23]

Originally Posted by Assos

Been here a long time, never thought I would see something as complex as what we have now. I want what is best for the under the hood engine. I do not care what kind of dress you put on her, it is what is underneath that I am after!

Absolutely, and I think pretty much everyone who would like a more graphical presentation when it comes to the in game stuff would agree that if it's one or the other, the simulation always comes first. I don't see any reason we can't have our cake and eat it too in this case, though, based on what you see in some other sim games. I don't think there's any reason to think the simulation would get worse if the graphical representation of what the simulation engine is spitting out was prettier.

[Cards>Cubs]

Originally Posted by Assos

I do not care what kind of dress you put on her, it is what is underneath that I am after!

You dirty dog...

[Honorable_Pawn]

Originally Posted by Assos

Been here a long time, never thought I would see something as complex as what we have now. I want what is best for the under the hood engine. I do not care what kind of dress you put on her, it is what is underneath that I am after!

[Caporegime]

Originally Posted by Ruthian23

I don't foresee the game ever having AAA graphics, either. I mean, if the simulation could remain as is and the graphical representation was as beautiful as The Show, sure, but I don't think that's realistic, especially for a small development team. I'd like to see them some day get to the point where Football Manager's 2D graphics and animation are. I prefer the 2D animation in FM to the 3D graphics, because the latter are just too crude for me, while I think the 2D graphics flow beautifully and represent what's happening on the field extremely well.

If OOTP (and BTS and FHM and any other future products Markus might release under his banner) were to reach the current level or close to the level of FM's current 2D graphics (while, of course, continuing to improve the simulation aspects of the game that are its heart), I would be a very happy camper. I find that kind of animation to be huge for in game in game (as in playing an individual game in OOTP or another sports simulation) immersion for me.

Pretty much this. In addition, from my own experiences thus far with 16, 3D is a small hindrance on the game in terms of performance. I enjoyed 3D for the first day until I starting simming. The game sims faster with 3D disabled. However, doing this will now also disable FaceGen as well. Unfortunately, you can't have one without the other now.

As you note, a 2D presentation similar to FM would be absolutely ideal, but I fear we're too far down the road with 3D to turn back now. Remember, there were a lot of people who requested that some kind of 3D presentation be incorporated in the game. Markus was simply doing what he does best - listening to his customer base.

[Solonor]

I'd much rather have radio-quality play-by-play than animation.

[Assos]

I play in total silence in Broadcast mode. Nothing fancy, just like how I use to play in 5, 6 et al.

[Ruthian23]

Originally Posted by Caporegime

As you note, a 2D presentation similar to FM would be absolutely ideal, but I fear we're too far down the road with 3D to turn back now. Remember, there were a lot of people who requested that some kind of 3D presentation be incorporated in the game. Markus was simply doing what he does best - listening to his customer base.

To be clear, even the 2D presentation in FM has 3D elements (like ballflight.) I think being able to see the flight of the ball is important. I don't know the ultimate plan, obviously, but I would be happy with that as the ultimate goal for animation (2D players fluidly running around and a 3D ball.)

[Bunktown Ballers]

Been playing this game for so long I can't remember. I don't say much here, but every once in a while I do.
For people looking for Video Game Action.....Get a video game system.
For full immersion into a sports game....Can't get any better than any version of OOTP. Sure it has it's lil flaws but name me one that don't or won't. I get so tied up into this game lil things lil storyline errors and all the nick picking stuff on anything is nothing....It's hands down the BEST GAME ever ...any kind...IMHO....but I am a Baseball junkie...THANKS to everyone at OOTP for everything yall do and will continuing doing...KUDOS to all involved...

[Ruthian23]

Originally Posted by Bunktown Ballers

Been playing this game for so long I can't remember. I don't say much here, but every once in a while I do.
For people looking for Video Game Action.....Get a video game system.
For full immersion into a sports game....Can't get any better than any version of OOTP. Sure it has it's lil flaws but name me one that don't or won't. I get so tied up into this game lil things lil storyline errors and all the nick picking stuff on anything is nothing....It's hands down the BEST GAME ever ...any kind...IMHO....but I am a Baseball junkie...THANKS to everyone at OOTP for everything yall do and will continuing doing...KUDOS to all involved...

I think there seems to be a common misconception that those who would like a more graphical in game presentation don't care about the simulation or something. If we wanted video game action, we'd get a video game system as you suggest, but the thing is that we don't want that kind of action (or at least we don't want that kind of action from our OOTP.)

I assume anyone who has been playing OOTP for a long time (or at all, really) hasn't been playing it because of the graphics. We play it because we love the depth and the simulation engine. That being said, though, some of us feel we'd be even further immersed by the actual games if there was really strong simple animation. Not to speak for everyone who wants more animation, and there certainly might be some folks out there who would compromise gameplay for graphics, but I get kind of tired of the posts that seem to indicate a belief that those of us who would like a little more on the in game graphics side don't care about the simulation or would be happier with a PS4 game.

[Hockey13Playa]

Originally Posted by Ruthian23

I think there seems to be a common misconception that those who would like a more graphical in game presentation don't care about the simulation or something. If we wanted video game action, we'd get a video game system as you suggest, but the thing is that we don't want that kind of action (or at least we don't want that kind of action from our OOTP.)

I assume anyone who has been playing OOTP for a long time (or at all, really) hasn't been playing it because of the graphics. We play it because we love the depth and the simulation engine. That being said, though, some of us feel we'd be even further immersed by the actual games if there was really strong simple animation. Not to speak for everyone who wants more animation, and there certainly might be some folks out there who would compromise gameplay for graphics, but I get kind of tired of the posts that seem to indicate a belief that those of us who would like a little more on the in game graphics side don't care about the simulation or would be happier with a PS4 game.

Well said!

[darkcloud4579]

Meh. I'd prefer the game do stuff right than worryabout graphics. I never, ever play that way and it's unrealistic to expect a one-man company with a few developers helping to do something like that. The game for what it is is outstanding and there are so many other areas where the game what it is now could be better...