I've Had It

[Dactyl]

I've been buying OOTP Baseball for a long time now. I believe that my first one was OOTP8. Well, whatever it was, I won't be buying it anymore, and I'm uninstalling the current version. The reason is that the game is no longer fun. I play as my long-time favorite team, the Atlanta Braves, but no matter how I try, I can't build a team that wins consistently, never mind goes to the playoffs. If a game is to be fun, it should be possible to come up with a strategy that will allow you to be successful. I have not found that to be possible with the last two iterations of OOTP, so playing the game is simply an exercise in frustration.

[GoPedro99]

Originally Posted by Dactyl

I've been buying OOTP Baseball for a long time now. I believe that my first one was OOTP8. Well, whatever it was, I won't be buying it anymore, and I'm uninstalling the current version. The reason is that the game is no longer fun. I play as my long-time favorite team, the Atlanta Braves, but no matter how I try, I can't build a team that wins consistently, never mind goes to the playoffs. If a game is to be fun, it should be possible to come up with a strategy that will allow you to be successful. I have not found that to be possible with the last two iterations of OOTP, so playing the game is simply an exercise in frustration.

That would be a problem with the user. Not the game. It actually is not that tough to build a perennial contender. If anything. It's too easy

[endgame]

Originally Posted by Dactyl

I am finding it impossible to be successful with this game. My team just keeps getting worse and worse with each season. That's ridiculous. Is there some kind of strategy guide available?

Maybe this is just not your niche. A review of your posts shows you've never been satisfied except in the one version that allowed you to win four straight titles, but then complained because your pitching the following year was in last place, or something to that effect. Every other year you want people to read you the basic changes in the manual and go looking for strategies to make your team a winner.

Sorry it hasn't worked out, but experience is often a good teacher. In your case, my experience tells me offering you any consolation or advice will be of no avail. Good luck to you.

[koohead]

I'll say this. I can agree with the OP from the perspective that a game should be fun and you should enjoy spending time on it. Reason I stopped playing WoW was it stopped being a game and stopped being fun and became work. I felt like I had to login and run dailies. had to get my raids ran each week, and by god had to get my farming done!

It really is what do you find enjoyable. some people enjoy (relish??) the challenge of accomplishing the impossible. It's painful and frustrating because you fail far more often than you succeed. And maybe you start thinking you'll never succeed. But maybe next season is the one? or the one after that? Who knows...it may be 5-10-50 seasons from now before you have a winning record.

But seriously...life is too short to do something you no longer enjoy. For whatever reason. Hopefully you got some enjoyment from OOTP in the past 7+ years and hopefully you'll find a sports sim that will peak your interest. Nice thing about games such as this is it'll be here when you are ready to come back and give it another whirl. We'll all probably be here too...

[Greenbay]

Originally Posted by Dactyl

I've been buying OOTP Baseball for a long time now. I believe that my first one was OOTP8. Well, whatever it was, I won't be buying it anymore, and I'm uninstalling the current version. The reason is that the game is no longer fun. I play as my long-time favorite team, the Atlanta Braves, but no matter how I try, I can't build a team that wins consistently, never mind goes to the playoffs. If a game is to be fun, it should be possible to come up with a strategy that will allow you to be successful. I have not found that to be possible with the last two iterations of OOTP, so playing the game is simply an exercise in frustration.

Isn't baseball an exercise in frustration? You're trying to hit a round ball with a round bat, squarely. If you fail 2 out of every 3 attempts you're consider great.

[Déjà Bru]

Dactyl, I hope you will reconsider but I can understand your frustration.

You CAN build a winner but, as in real life, it may not be a straight line to success and it could be a very long line to success.

Houston Astros: 55 seasons, one World Series appearance and swept in four games.

I take the frustration of OOTPB along with the exultation of when I do win.

[Padreman]

Because you suck you blame the game?

[NoOne]

Originally Posted by koohead

I'll say this. I can agree with the OP from the perspective that a game should be fun and you should enjoy spending time on it. Reason I stopped playing WoW was it stopped being a game and stopped being fun and became work. I felt like I had to login and run dailies. had to get my raids ran each week, and by god had to get my farming done!

It really is what do you find enjoyable. some people enjoy (relish??) the challenge of accomplishing the impossible. It's painful and frustrating because you fail far more often than you succeed. And maybe you start thinking you'll never succeed. But maybe next season is the one? or the one after that? Who knows...it may be 5-10-50 seasons from now before you have a winning record.

But seriously...life is too short to do something you no longer enjoy. For whatever reason. Hopefully you got some enjoyment from OOTP in the past 7+ years and hopefully you'll find a sports sim that will peak your interest. Nice thing about games such as this is it'll be here when you are ready to come back and give it another whirl. We'll all probably be here too...

totally digressing...

you never farm in those games.. .that's work for peons.

you take advantage of a laissez-faire free market. you prove why deregulation is dangerous.. create monopolies and also take advantage of the 'nice' people that sell things cheap and reselt for 2x the profit or preferably more. always the long patient sell, not the fast and cheap like the other shaved monkeys.

point is, you can make gold hand over fist wiht virtually zero effort... the mundane stuff becomes easily purchased with out a concern.

kind of a parallel, if oyu step back...

there are many ways to play video games, some more successful than others... but fun does come into play... e.g. maybe you liked farming.. i can't udnerstand why, but i heard it's a 'thing'

in that case, it wasn't as important to overall success of WoW compred to the problems the op is having with it.

if you were adjusting how you played in a rational, logical manner, you should be able to come up with some strategy that works in this game eventually. just guessing from what little info is htere, i'd wager your player evaluation is off... it's less your strategies of running a game and more what you value in a player...

once you know what players to look for, the only thing that holds you back are things out of your control -- injuries, scouting inaccuracy and your budget, et al.

heck, just turning draft pick trading on can get you 140+ wins a year.

if having problems... take a breath... and remember, video games are easy... if it's not easy now, you will eventually learn how to absolutely destroy it, if you wish.

[maximus33]

A baseball game is simply a nervous breakdown divided into nine innings - Earl Wilson

[Reggie]

Play in commish mode and alter things to make it easier.. you could probably alter things enough that you win 53 titles in a row. The game gives you options.

[Tashtego]

It breaks your heart. It is designed to break your heart. - A.Bartlett Giamatti

Obviously, in the case of the OP, the game is working as intended.

[ohiodevil]

Clearly the OP needs to read up on the history of Cleveland sports from 1964 - 2016......or if you want to focus on baseball look at the Cubs through last season.

[Phatman]

Actually reading this thread made me motivated to get my team to the playoffs which hasn't been done in 6 (in game) seasons. I've been playing them for 10 seasons only been to the playoffs 3 times. I've been playing this baseball world since OOTP12 (approx. 25 seasons completed) and only won 1 championship by blind luck. We all know the heart break, I wouldn't quit. If the game was too easy you would stop playing out of boredom.

Look at the history of sports, some teams know how to put it together and get to the playoffs consistently others have never been seen a championship game in their franchise history. Either way your call but I really like the game.

[MizzouRah]

Took me 14 years to take the Indians to a World Series in v17 but it was that much more satisfying. I'm glad the game is harder!

[Bunktown Ballers]

OP, you got to keep on keeping on for that Championship. I came very close with my White Sox this year with the version 18. I only finished 25 games out of 1st & believe me it was with pure luck I got that close. One of the most enjoyable seasons I played because I know what we got in our FARM SYSTEM. I didn't call anyone of my prospects up, but this year will be different, well maybe not winning division yet, but I'm sure my team will battle their butts off. Look winning is not everything, IT'S THE ONLY THING that matters. Keep on trying!!!

[cheo25]

Originally Posted by Déjà Bru

Houston Astros: 55 seasons, one World Series appearance and swept in four games.

Thanks for reminding me of my pain.

[BaseballMan]

Are you talking about the 90's Braves?
Just because the Braves were good doesnt mean we will do the same job as Bobby Cox. Plus even the Braves only won 1 championship with all those playoff appearances in the 90s.

Maybe its not as much fun because your focusing to much on just winning.
Not saying dont try to win but try enjoying the unique history of your league and the player's careers.
If you won a 100 times in a 100 years of simming what fun is that?
I understand you dont want to finish last every year either.
but I would advise that you find a balance in your league rules and customize the game so that it is a enjoyable challenge to you.

[oki96]

Look at my fav team, the Seattle Mariners.
40 seasons and have never gone beyond ALCS.

This is one of the few games that closely resembles real life.
And unfortunately, realism does not mean winning every season.

If you want to have fun by winning all the time, create a star or force trades with other teams. The game does give you that option.

[ForeverRoyalKC]

Hey, that's just the way it goes. Cubs, Indians, Astros, Mariners! Looooooooooooong stretches of nothing or "oh, so close."

[Jerry Helper]

I actually think it can get boring in historical sims because it's too easy to win