foul balls ruining games

Tom the Fish · 10-17-2003, 05:28 PM

I sent this directly to ootp's E-mail, but was told

"Comments of this nature are better voiced on the message board."

So...

Hello,

I've been playing OOTP since I found OOTP2 several years ago, and have derived more pleasure from it than any game I've played since MicroLeague Baseball was my only choice.

However, the foul ball situation have completely turned me off the game. I haven't played OOTP5 since June when the foul balls first drove me away, but when the playoffs got me excited about baseball and had me chomping at the bit, I saw there was a patch and I hoped that maybe things had calmed down or maybe there was an option to turn off the foul balls, but after playing about 2 dozen games, I've once again given up in frustration. Instead of being excited when I see 2 strikes on a batter and hoping for a strikeout, I instead sigh and ready myself for a long haul of foul balls, which I find boring and time-wasting in what is supposed to be a one-batter one-pitch game.

I am hoping that the next patch or at least OOTP6 will give me the option of turning off the foul balls, if not eliminating them in the play-by-play altogether, because I really miss having a solid baseball sim to play.

As a note, I've tried to go back to using OOTP3, but it just seems lacking to the updates you added on in 4. Not to mention there's no backwards compatibility to my 2015 Expos, who I've been playing since OOTP3.

Thanks for you time,
Tom

Kelric · 10-17-2003, 05:36 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Tom the Fish

I am hoping that the next patch or at least OOTP6 will give me the option of turning off the foul balls, if not eliminating them in the play-by-play altogether, because I really miss having a solid baseball sim to play.

Rather than eliminating them from play-by-play altogether, I'd like to see it go somewhat like this...

'Gload digs in after having fouled off six consecutive pitches....
He takes a swing...
Line drive over the second baseman, base hit!'

That way you know the guy is making contact, you understand why the pitcher's pitch count just jumped up seven pitches (the six fouls and current pitch), and you can still get frustrated all at once.

LivnLegend · 10-17-2003, 05:39 PM

This topic has come up a number of times and the prevailing opinion always seems to be to keep the foul balls in as part of the game as they stand. I could see having the “option” to keep the foul balls “on” as a nice alternative to dumping them altogether.

cshigh · 10-18-2003, 08:45 AM

Foul balls are a part of baseball. Why eliminate such an important part of the game? The pitch count is effected, and it makes for some interesting at-bats late in the game. How long does it take to hit the button before a play occurs? 10 or 20 seconds?

Steve Kuffrey · 10-18-2003, 09:09 AM

I have an excessive number of foul balls in an atbat by a player maybe 1 game out of 10 or 15, hardly a high number IMO.

Sweed · 10-18-2003, 09:39 AM

I used to like foul balls but being a Cub fan I'm not so sure anymore

Keep 'em in the game just don't add a fan in the stands to the pbp to get in the way.

statfreak · 10-18-2003, 10:58 AM

As I've said numerous times, the problem with foul balls is not that they are in the game, but that they are not merely a part of the play by play. Why we need to select our strategies 6 - 10 times in one at bat is frustrating and mind-numbing.

Please, please, please make foul balls a part of the PBP and not something requiring us to reselect the same strategies multiple times.

Thank you.

Tom the Fish · 10-18-2003, 11:56 AM

This is exactly why I contacted the makers directly and not the boards. The fact that this aggrivates me to the point I can't enjoy OOTP isn't being taken seriously by anyone. I really, really love this baseball sim, but this ruins the game for me.

I've got to say that I'm extremely dissapointed that the staff dismissed my thoughts on the game so quickly, when the boards usually point that the opposite happens in other cases.

Tom

Steve Kuffrey · 10-18-2003, 12:32 PM

Why do you say that we "dismissed" this? Because we haven't agreed and changed it?

TC Dale · 10-18-2003, 02:10 PM

The problem is you arent giving us all the facts.......you say a string of foul balls, but you don't state how many. You mention only a general statement, and we have no FACTUAL evidence to try and test and compare to.

If you would have given more to work with, folks could help you, but as it is, you are just complaining for reasons that don't match up.

How about some screenshots? Or some numbers to look at over a period of time? That would be nice to see as well.

We can't help you if you don't give us more to work with.

Henry · 10-18-2003, 02:33 PM

Agree with TC. As much as I've read about foul balls on this board, I have never seen a number of them to the extent they interfer with my enjoyment of a game. In addition, we all agree they have to at least be in the background to validate pitch counts, and there are situations they can actually add suspense. I also feel the number of folks here who want them gone are, in fact, a minority... related to Steve's comment that your assuming indifference becasue we don't immediately agree to change it.

gmo · 10-18-2003, 05:44 PM

With the play-by-play text at blazing fast, I don't mind going through the occasional many foul ball at-bats. It seems to me like the number of two-strike foul balls is fairly realistic, and it doesn't slow down the game an annoying amount for me.

Thus I don't think I would like to see it changed - at least it isn't a priority to me. But, if it was to be changed...

Quote:

Originally posted by sttfrk
As I've said numerous times, the problem with foul balls is not that they are in the game, but that they are not merely a part of the play by play. Why we need to select our strategies 6 - 10 times in one at bat is frustrating and mind-numbing.

Please, please, please make foul balls a part of the PBP and not something requiring us to reselect the same strategies multiple times.

I would much prefer the game just automatically in the PBP go through each foul ball. I would not like, as I have seen suggested, having the PBP say something like "after 5 foul balls" then go on.

joncarlos · 10-18-2003, 05:52 PM

I do find the multiple foul balls to be annoying sometimes. I would like to see an option to turn them off, or leave them on, if the programming isn't that hard.

If you want to turn them off and keep the strategy, maybe just have the PBP start out 'X has now fouled off 4 pitches and the count is 2-2' so that you can still choose your strategy before the pitch

Eugene Church · 10-19-2003, 09:53 AM

I agree with Tom the Fish and can somewhat understand his frustration...but not to the point of not playing the game. It's too good of a game for me to do that.

I don't have any firm research...but will do as Henry and TC Dale suggest...will keep exact data for the next 10 games I play out and see what happens. If this is not a large enough sample, let me know, and I'll increase it.

I wish there was an option to disable the foul balls.

I would prefer it to just be in the text for pitch count purposes

It "seems" to me that there are too many stretches when it "seems" to go on for 5-6 pitches...sometimes it "seems" like more.

It does take away some of my enjoyment of the game, but I still love the game and accept that this is the way it is. The game is not perfect yet...but it is getting better with every version.

When enough people make their points with facts and research, OOTPB listens.

They even listen when we are frustrated and mad...and give polite replies...when some of us might not deserve such courtesy.

Skipaway · 10-19-2003, 10:48 AM

I wish there was a "continue until someone got on base" button. All the groundouts, strikeouts, flyouts bored me to death, but that's just me.

cshigh · 10-19-2003, 11:00 AM

Lets go ahead and do away with homeruns, singles, doubles, triples, double plays, ground outs, fly outs, strike outs, walks, wild pitches, passed balls, ground rule doubles, inside the park homeruns, pinch hitters, relief pitchers, catcher's interference, and stolen bases while we are at it.

Tiger Fan · 10-19-2003, 11:13 AM

I don't play out many of my games, prefering to act as either GM or commissioner rather than manager but I do watch all the playoff games in my solo leagues. To eliminate the foul balls would take away much of the excitement of a close game. There have been many occassions where a long fly ball that could have won or tied a game drifted just foul. Seeing that played out before you adds enough excitement to more than make up for the minor inconvience of having to click a couple of buttons after each foul ball throughout the rest of the game.

akw4572 · 10-19-2003, 05:03 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by cshigh
Lets go ahead and do away with homeruns, singles, doubles, triples, double plays, ground outs, fly outs, strike outs, walks, wild pitches, passed balls, ground rule doubles, inside the park homeruns, pinch hitters, relief pitchers, catcher's interference, and stolen bases while we are at it.

what about balks?

jaxmagicman · 10-19-2003, 05:21 PM

I was turned off at first, but as I got to understand the game more, I started to like the foul balls.

Dargone · 10-19-2003, 05:44 PM

Quote:

I don't play out many of my games, prefering to act as either GM or commissioner rather than manager but I do watch all the playoff games in my solo leagues. To eliminate the foul balls would take away much of the excitement of a close game. There have been many occassions where a long fly ball that could have won or tied a game drifted just foul. Seeing that played out before you adds enough excitement to more than make up for the minor inconvience of having to click a couple of buttons after each foul ball throughout the rest of the game.

I agree 100%...

10-17-2003, 05:28 PM	#1
Tom the Fish All Star Reserve Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Jingu Stadium Posts: 510	foul balls ruining games I sent this directly to ootp's E-mail, but was told "Comments of this nature are better voiced on the message board." So... Hello, I've been playing OOTP since I found OOTP2 several years ago, and have derived more pleasure from it than any game I've played since MicroLeague Baseball was my only choice. However, the foul ball situation have completely turned me off the game. I haven't played OOTP5 since June when the foul balls first drove me away, but when the playoffs got me excited about baseball and had me chomping at the bit, I saw there was a patch and I hoped that maybe things had calmed down or maybe there was an option to turn off the foul balls, but after playing about 2 dozen games, I've once again given up in frustration. Instead of being excited when I see 2 strikes on a batter and hoping for a strikeout, I instead sigh and ready myself for a long haul of foul balls, which I find boring and time-wasting in what is supposed to be a one-batter one-pitch game. I am hoping that the next patch or at least OOTP6 will give me the option of turning off the foul balls, if not eliminating them in the play-by-play altogether, because I really miss having a solid baseball sim to play. As a note, I've tried to go back to using OOTP3, but it just seems lacking to the updates you added on in 4. Not to mention there's no backwards compatibility to my 2015 Expos, who I've been playing since OOTP3. Thanks for you time, Tom

10-17-2003, 05:39 PM	#3
LivnLegend Hall Of Famer Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: 100% pure adrenaline! Posts: 5,624	This topic has come up a number of times and the prevailing opinion always seems to be to keep the foul balls in as part of the game as they stand. I could see having the “option” to keep the foul balls “on” as a nice alternative to dumping them altogether. __________________ Excess ain't rebellion. You're drinking what they're selling.

10-18-2003, 09:09 AM	#5
Steve Kuffrey Administrator Join Date: Jul 1999 Location: S.E. TN - Georgia born and raised Posts: 17,036	I have an excessive number of foul balls in an atbat by a player maybe 1 game out of 10 or 15, hardly a high number IMO. __________________ Steve Kuffrey DABS Atlanta Braves - 2008 Eastern Division Champ *DBLC Atlanta Braves - 2011, 2014 East Division Champ, 2012, 2013 NL Wildcard Baseball Maelstrom-Montreal Expos-2013 Tourney winner, 2014 WC Team Sparky's League - Tampa Bay D'Rays Epicenter Baseball League - Astros 2014 The CBL Rewind - Phillies '95

10-18-2003, 10:58 AM	#7
statfreak Hall Of Famer Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Milwaukee, WI Posts: 2,434	As I've said numerous times, the problem with foul balls is not that they are in the game, but that they are not merely a part of the play by play. Why we need to select our strategies 6 - 10 times in one at bat is frustrating and mind-numbing. Please, please, please make foul balls a part of the PBP and not something requiring us to reselect the same strategies multiple times. Thank you. __________________ Roll out the barrel!

10-18-2003, 11:56 AM	#8
Tom the Fish All Star Reserve Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Jingu Stadium Posts: 510	This is exactly why I contacted the makers directly and not the boards. The fact that this aggrivates me to the point I can't enjoy OOTP isn't being taken seriously by anyone. I really, really love this baseball sim, but this ruins the game for me. I've got to say that I'm extremely dissapointed that the staff dismissed my thoughts on the game so quickly, when the boards usually point that the opposite happens in other cases. Tom __________________ "Any talk of rebelliousness has to begin with one's profound appreciation and understanding of tradition." - Lu Shoukun

10-18-2003, 08:45 AM	#4
cshigh All Star Reserve Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Ludlow, KY Posts: 508	Foul balls are a part of baseball. Why eliminate such an important part of the game? The pitch count is effected, and it makes for some interesting at-bats late in the game. How long does it take to hit the button before a play occurs? 10 or 20 seconds?

10-18-2003, 12:32 PM	#9
Steve Kuffrey Administrator Join Date: Jul 1999 Location: S.E. TN - Georgia born and raised Posts: 17,036	Why do you say that we "dismissed" this? Because we haven't agreed and changed it? __________________ Steve Kuffrey DABS Atlanta Braves - 2008 Eastern Division Champ *DBLC Atlanta Braves - 2011, 2014 East Division Champ, 2012, 2013 NL Wildcard Baseball Maelstrom-Montreal Expos-2013 Tourney winner, 2014 WC Team Sparky's League - Tampa Bay D'Rays Epicenter Baseball League - Astros 2014 The CBL Rewind - Phillies '95

10-18-2003, 02:10 PM	#10
TC Dale Global Moderator Join Date: May 2002 Posts: 4,982	The problem is you arent giving us all the facts.......you say a string of foul balls, but you don't state how many. You mention only a general statement, and we have no FACTUAL evidence to try and test and compare to. If you would have given more to work with, folks could help you, but as it is, you are just complaining for reasons that don't match up. How about some screenshots? Or some numbers to look at over a period of time? That would be nice to see as well. We can't help you if you don't give us more to work with. __________________ ----------------------------------

10-18-2003, 02:33 PM	#11
Henry Hall of Fame Join Date: Dec 2001 Posts: 6,498	Agree with TC. As much as I've read about foul balls on this board, I have never seen a number of them to the extent they interfer with my enjoyment of a game. In addition, we all agree they have to at least be in the background to validate pitch counts, and there are situations they can actually add suspense. I also feel the number of folks here who want them gone are, in fact, a minority... related to Steve's comment that your assuming indifference becasue we don't immediately agree to change it.

10-18-2003, 05:52 PM	#13
joncarlos All Star Reserve Join Date: May 2003 Location: Pittsburgh PA Posts: 693	I do find the multiple foul balls to be annoying sometimes. I would like to see an option to turn them off, or leave them on, if the programming isn't that hard. If you want to turn them off and keep the strategy, maybe just have the PBP start out 'X has now fouled off 4 pitches and the count is 2-2' so that you can still choose your strategy before the pitch __________________ <a href =http://www.ootpdevelopments.com/board/showthread.php?s=&threadid=35167> 2003 Pirates Regular Season </a> <a href=http://www.ootpdevelopments.com/board/showthread.php?s=&threadid=40941> 2003 Pirates playoffs and off-season </a> <a href=http://www.ootpdevelopments.com/board/showthread.php?s=&threadid=44242> 2004 Pirates Season </a> <a href=http://www.ootpdevelopments.com/board/showthread.php?s=&threadid=47658> 2004 Pirates Playoffs and Off-season </a> <a href=http://www.ootpdevelopments.com/board/showthread.php?s=&threadid=48039>2005 Pirates Regular Season </a>

10-19-2003, 09:53 AM	#14
Eugene Church Hall Of Famer Join Date: Aug 2002 Posts: 36,226	I agree with Tom the Fish and can somewhat understand his frustration...but not to the point of not playing the game. It's too good of a game for me to do that. I don't have any firm research...but will do as Henry and TC Dale suggest...will keep exact data for the next 10 games I play out and see what happens. If this is not a large enough sample, let me know, and I'll increase it. I wish there was an option to disable the foul balls. I would prefer it to just be in the text for pitch count purposes It "seems" to me that there are too many stretches when it "seems" to go on for 5-6 pitches...sometimes it "seems" like more. It does take away some of my enjoyment of the game, but I still love the game and accept that this is the way it is. The game is not perfect yet...but it is getting better with every version. When enough people make their points with facts and research, OOTPB listens. They even listen when we are frustrated and mad...and give polite replies...when some of us might not deserve such courtesy.

10-19-2003, 10:48 AM	#15
Skipaway Hall Of Famer Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Where you live Posts: 11,017	I wish there was a "continue until someone got on base" button. All the groundouts, strikeouts, flyouts bored me to death, but that's just me. __________________ Jonathan Haidt: Moral reasoning is really just a servant masquerading as a high priest.

10-19-2003, 11:00 AM	#16
cshigh All Star Reserve Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Ludlow, KY Posts: 508	Lets go ahead and do away with homeruns, singles, doubles, triples, double plays, ground outs, fly outs, strike outs, walks, wild pitches, passed balls, ground rule doubles, inside the park homeruns, pinch hitters, relief pitchers, catcher's interference, and stolen bases while we are at it.

10-19-2003, 11:13 AM	#17
Tiger Fan Hall Of Famer Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Ontario Canada Posts: 9,873	I don't play out many of my games, prefering to act as either GM or commissioner rather than manager but I do watch all the playoff games in my solo leagues. To eliminate the foul balls would take away much of the excitement of a close game. There have been many occassions where a long fly ball that could have won or tied a game drifted just foul. Seeing that played out before you adds enough excitement to more than make up for the minor inconvience of having to click a couple of buttons after each foul ball throughout the rest of the game. __________________ Cliff Markle HOB1 greatest pitcher 360-160, 9 Welch Awards, 11 WS titles

10-19-2003, 05:21 PM	#19
jaxmagicman Hall Of Famer Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Retired defloration-maker living in Myrtle Beach, SC Posts: 7,801	I was turned off at first, but as I got to understand the game more, I started to like the foul balls. __________________ See ID Major League Baseball trademarks and copyrights are used with permission of MLB Advanced Media, L.P. Minor League Baseball trademarks and copyrights are used with the permission of Minor League Baseball. All rights reserved.