Has OOTP and The Show helped baseball?

ForeverRoyalKC · 04-16-2021, 03:26 PM

Do you think OOTP and The Show has helped baseball? Made it more popular with adults as well as kids?
Would baseball doing as well if there were no OOTP or Show?
How much of an asset has these two games been to the game?

Déjà Bru · 04-16-2021, 11:59 PM

This is an interesting question. I don't know anything about The Show, so I confine my thinking and comments to OOTPB, which I know well.

The trouble is, I have no stats to access and ponder, so all I can do is indulge in conjecture.

My conjecture, then, is that OOTPB has not progressed to the level of popularity to have made a significant difference to MLB (which is what I assume you mean by "baseball"), but it is getting there.

In just a few years, OOTPB has gone from an insignificant nothing in relation to MLB, totally dependent on it for certain privileges, to being a noticed and respected business partner.

This is what leads me to speculate that MLB at least now suspects OOTPB is good for baseball.

The fly in the ointment, though, could be this new connection with Com2uS. How much will MLB appreciate their business model?

Reed · 04-17-2021, 06:54 AM

Deleted,.duplicated

Reed · 04-17-2021, 06:54 AM

Yes
When I played another computer baseball game I was in an online league. I would watch games and read the box scores that involved my players since there performance would have a direct bearing on how my team would do next year. I would also pay a lot of attention to rookies since we would draft them in the off season for next year. Just about everyone in our league did the same.

ForeverRoyalKC · 04-17-2021, 11:31 AM

I really dont have first hand knowledge of this question myself. I wondered if anyone knew or that it was a good discussion thread. With the attention both have gotten plus the immersion of OOTP and the way people blow up when they get their favorite cards on the Show, I questioned whether the excitement of both translated to real life.
One tip off seems to be that the baseball card hobby is like a volcano erupting right now.

Calvert98 · 04-18-2021, 04:18 AM

I think so.

Well, at least for me. In terms of growing or recapturing interest in the sport.

I know for me, it helped re-ignite my interest in MLB and baseball. I guess the interest was always there, but when I wanted a sports baseball game, and found OOTP about 12+ years ago, I started watching games as often as I could, buying some hats, t-shirts, books, going to more games, etc... and the radio broadcast.

In-fact, if I were alone, or in the car, or even playing OOTP and knew there was a game going-on, I would always turn on the radio. And listen to the post and pre-game shows!

I am in a different time-zone now, but still follow it.

Anyway, yea for me it did.

-Cal

Brad K · 04-19-2021, 03:50 PM

It didn't change my current interest at all, which is low. I used to start 1969 and play to perhaps 1990. I now start 1951 and play until Barry Bonds retires.

I play no DH, no wild cards, max 4 divisions, no interleague, stop expansion at 28 (a couple of times I've gone from 28 to 32) and equal opponents for teams within a division including equal home an away with each opponent. From that list it can be seen I don't like modern baseball.

Eric · 04-20-2021, 05:58 PM

What do you mean "Good for baseball"? Are you talking about their bottom line where people are spending more item on MLB licensed merchandise and going to games?

If so, I doubt it. Folks that spend money on MLB items will already have spent money on MLB items. For those whose appetite has been whetted by OOTP, will they go see a baseball game, buy jerseys of their favorite player, or subscribe to the MLB streaming channel?

Some folks may have the game playing on the radio in the background while simming but I don't know how that helps MLB's bottom line.

Calvert98 · 04-22-2021, 10:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Eric

What do you mean "Good for baseball"? Are you talking about their bottom line where people are spending more item on MLB licensed merchandise and going to games?

If so, I doubt it. Folks that spend money on MLB items will already have spent money on MLB items. For those whose appetite has been whetted by OOTP, will they go see a baseball game, buy jerseys of their favorite player, or subscribe to the MLB streaming channel?

Some folks may have the game playing on the radio in the background while simming but I don't know how that helps MLB's bottom line.

Don't disagree with any of the above, and I guess that is part of the question: Interest, may mean more engagement with Baseball

For me at least, it did; but I have no idea how many folks out there are like myself, and this is still a niche hobby - a sports management sim.

PocketsAintFull · 05-10-2021, 12:33 PM

I was thinking about this recently - while OOTP &The Show (and mobile games) increase my involvement and engagement with baseball, they do inevitably mean I watch less live baseball. So, go figure lol

04-16-2021, 03:26 PM	#1
ForeverRoyalKC All Star Starter Join Date: May 2015 Location: Hop, skip and a jump from Pomme De Terre Lake, MO. Posts: 1,225	Has OOTP and The Show helped baseball? Do you think OOTP and The Show has helped baseball? Made it more popular with adults as well as kids? Would baseball doing as well if there were no OOTP or Show? How much of an asset has these two games been to the game?

04-16-2021, 11:59 PM	#2
Déjà Bru Hall Of Famer Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Long Island Posts: 11,741	This is an interesting question. I don't know anything about The Show, so I confine my thinking and comments to OOTPB, which I know well. The trouble is, I have no stats to access and ponder, so all I can do is indulge in conjecture. My conjecture, then, is that OOTPB has not progressed to the level of popularity to have made a significant difference to MLB (which is what I assume you mean by "baseball"), but it is getting there. In just a few years, OOTPB has gone from an insignificant nothing in relation to MLB, totally dependent on it for certain privileges, to being a noticed and respected business partner. This is what leads me to speculate that MLB at least now suspects OOTPB is good for baseball. The fly in the ointment, though, could be this new connection with Com2uS. How much will MLB appreciate their business model? __________________ - Bru

04-17-2021, 06:54 AM	#3
Reed Hall Of Famer Join Date: Oct 2013 Posts: 2,691	Deleted,.duplicated Last edited by Reed; 04-18-2021 at 03:02 PM.

04-18-2021, 04:18 AM	#6
Calvert98 All Star Reserve Join Date: Apr 2010 Posts: 579	I think so. Well, at least for me. In terms of growing or recapturing interest in the sport. I know for me, it helped re-ignite my interest in MLB and baseball. I guess the interest was always there, but when I wanted a sports baseball game, and found OOTP about 12+ years ago, I started watching games as often as I could, buying some hats, t-shirts, books, going to more games, etc... and the radio broadcast. In-fact, if I were alone, or in the car, or even playing OOTP and knew there was a game going-on, I would always turn on the radio. And listen to the post and pre-game shows! I am in a different time-zone now, but still follow it. Anyway, yea for me it did. -Cal Last edited by Calvert98; 04-18-2021 at 04:20 AM.

05-10-2021, 12:33 PM	#10
PocketsAintFull All Star Starter Join Date: Nov 2018 Location: Birmingham, UK Posts: 1,917	I was thinking about this recently - while OOTP &The Show (and mobile games) increase my involvement and engagement with baseball, they do inevitably mean I watch less live baseball. So, go figure lol __________________ ---------------- Bob Uecker, RIP

04-17-2021, 11:31 AM	#5
ForeverRoyalKC All Star Starter Join Date: May 2015 Location: Hop, skip and a jump from Pomme De Terre Lake, MO. Posts: 1,225	I really dont have first hand knowledge of this question myself. I wondered if anyone knew or that it was a good discussion thread. With the attention both have gotten plus the immersion of OOTP and the way people blow up when they get their favorite cards on the Show, I questioned whether the excitement of both translated to real life. One tip off seems to be that the baseball card hobby is like a volcano erupting right now.

04-19-2021, 03:50 PM	#7
Brad K Banned Join Date: May 2016 Location: St Petersburg Florida USA Posts: 6,693 Infractions: 0/2 (4)	It didn't change my current interest at all, which is low. I used to start 1969 and play to perhaps 1990. I now start 1951 and play until Barry Bonds retires. I play no DH, no wild cards, max 4 divisions, no interleague, stop expansion at 28 (a couple of times I've gone from 28 to 32) and equal opponents for teams within a division including equal home an away with each opponent. From that list it can be seen I don't like modern baseball.

04-20-2021, 05:58 PM	#8
Eric All Star Starter Join Date: May 2002 Location: Folsom, CA Posts: 1,234	What do you mean "Good for baseball"? Are you talking about their bottom line where people are spending more item on MLB licensed merchandise and going to games? If so, I doubt it. Folks that spend money on MLB items will already have spent money on MLB items. For those whose appetite has been whetted by OOTP, will they go see a baseball game, buy jerseys of their favorite player, or subscribe to the MLB streaming channel? Some folks may have the game playing on the radio in the background while simming but I don't know how that helps MLB's bottom line.