Ootp9

[boomboom]

Welcome to the second OOTP 9 newsletter!
The pre-ordering period is not over, so use the opportunity and save $15 by pre-ordering OOTP 9 right now for a price of $24.99, which is a substantial saving compared to the release price of $39.99! The game will be released in June 2008.

More info about OOTP 9 and links to the web stores

In this newsletter we are focusing on the historical modes in OOTP 9.
OOTP 9 New Historical Improvements

Hello, OOTP historical simmers. We have made several new improvements this year that have dramatically improved the realism of historical simulations.


Real Ballpark Factors - We have included real park factors from 1901-2007 for every ballpark every season. Each season OOTP will automatically update the team's ballpark and park factors. Also included are the park's real dimensions and capacity and all change to these, as best as we could tell, through the park's history. The park factors were created using the park data from the focus season and the two years before an after the focus season, with the stats from the focus season being given half the weight in the calculation. This is the same method that Bill James prescribed in Win Shares. From 1957-2007 we had complete data for Hits/2B/3B/HR for all parks all seasons, so for these seasons we have discrete component factors calculated for all four categories. From 1901-1956, however, we only had the park's Run data to work with, so from there we had to use the quadratic equation and the league's stats to create a factor for Hits and HRs, then left the doubles and triples factors at 1.000. This method for 1901-1956 still recreates the same run scoring environment of the park, and even though the doubles and triples factors are set to 1.000, the rate of doubles and triples are still affected by the park's Hits factor. So we now have legitimate park factors from 1901-2007 based on real data.
Park Neutralized Stats - If you have real ballparks, then you need players with park-neutralized stats (and therefore park-neutral ratings) to play in these parks. So we again employed the quadratic equation using Bill James 750-run methodology as described in his Historical Abstract in the Willie Davis section. Baseball-reference.com also has links on every player page that allows you to see their stats in a 750-run park-neutral environment. Each player page in OOTP will now allow you to see both their real-life stats from Lahman, and their neutralized stats. You can choose to base player ratings on their real-life stats or the neutralized stats when you create your league. We also went the extra mile of neutralizing the player fielding statistics based on the team's pitching staff and defensive record, again this was done based on some articles found in Bill James' book Win Shares. We also made some other minor adjustments and fixes with the neutralized stats that will improve game play results.
Pitching Improvements
Improved calculation of pitcher Endurance Rating for both SP's ad RP's.
Realistic pitcher Groundball% added to the neutralized player stats.
New Automatic League Totals Modifier for Starting Pitcher Endurance. We compiled the data for 1871-2007 for IP per Game Started for each season in history. This automatic modifier now gives us the correct distribution of innings pitched between the rotation and the bullpen each season in history.
New Automatic League Totals Modifier for Groundball Percentage. Using a formula and historical defensive stats, we were able to find the Groundball Percentage for each season 1871-2007. This modifier now keeps the league's GB% on track with history each season.
New Automatic League Totals Modifiers for Wild Pitches, Passed Balls, and Balks. Again we compiled the data for all seasons in history and OOTP now automatically keeps these statistical rates on track each season you simulate.
Hitting Improvements
Improved Automatic League Totals Modifier formula for Hits.
Improved Automatic League Totals Modifier formula or Doubles and Triples.
New Automatic League Totals Modifier for SAC Bunts and Sacrifice Flies. These two statistics now track to the historical rates each season in history.
Stolen Base Improvements
Improved Speed and Stealing Ability ratings for players.
New Automatic League Totals Modifier for Stolen Base Attempt Frequency. We compiled the historical data and OOTP now keeps your stolen base attempts on track each season in history.
New Automatic League Totals Modifier for Stolen Base Success Rate, or SB%. Again we compiled the data for each season and now OOTP keeps your league's SB% on track with the historical rate each season.
Fielding Improvements - New Automatic League Totals Modifier for Doubles Plays. We now have historically accurate double play rates in each season.
Players Retire According To History - You now have the option to have OOTP automatically retire a player at the same time that he did in real life. This greatly improves the statistical realism for all the players in the league.
Pre-1901 support for leagues. Yes, that's right! You can now start a league as far back as 1871. We had to modify a few things with the league structure of this period to make it work, but you can now simulate all of baseball history 1871-2007.
OOTP now automatically keeps league stats on track with history in all of the following categories:
Batting Average
BABIP
Doubles per non-HR hit
Triples per non-HR hit
HR per AB
BB per AB
HBP per AB
K per AB
Sac Bunts per AB
Sac Fly rate
FLD%
Double Play rate
Innings Pitched per Game Started
Groundball Out Percentage
Wild Pitch rate
Balks rate
Passed Ball rate
Stolen Base Attempt rate
Stolen Base Success rate

Of course, all of these improvement are optional, so you can still, for example, import 1901 and let the game simulate the entire history using its own player development algorithm, resulting in some surprises and less predictable league stats.

The complete package results in the best historical career baseball simulation on the market, nobody comes even close. So, if you like historical baseball, you owe it to yourself to pre-order OOTP 9! You will not be disappointed.

We hope you enjoyed this newsletter. Stay tuned for more in the very near future!

Best Regards,

The OOTP Developments Team

[Arctic Blast]

I believe I read that the release is June 15th.

[boomboom]

I couldn't fine an online link :(

[KidCavalier23]

I got the email, June 18th. You may pre-order until June 17th at 11:59 PM Eastern Time.

[daves]

I got the email, June 18th. You may pre-order until June 17th at 11:59 PM Eastern Time.

I received the same e-mail.

[boomboom]

I already pre-ordered. I hope this game rocks :)

[Arctic Blast]

So did I...I clearly meant the 18th, by the way, I was simply testing to make sure you guys knew. Yeah.

Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm off to find some more original excuses...

[Jeff Olsen]

The complete package results in the best historical career baseball simulation on the market, nobody comes even close.Sorry, guys, but your contract negotiation guessing game is not a complete package. Pass.

[nuzzy62]

I've never played OOTP. How does it compare to Mogul?

[daves]

I've never played OOTP. How does it compare to Mogul?

There is a lot of discussion in past forums on this. If you have $25 it's worth a try, but don't wait! If you wait it will go up to $39.

OOTP has a lot more options, but it not as easy to use as BM.

[nuzzy62]

But is it as fun?

[DanielW4444]

It depends, also it takes alot more computer resources, so you need a good PC to run it

[Arctic Blast]

I've never really played it full on, besides trying OOTP 8 on a testing basis. I simply couldn't say no at the price it's at right now. It has a lot more to deal with than BM, though a lot of it is optional, so you can turn it off and not have to deal with it.

[metsguy234]

I've got a sad feeling that OOTP is working towards a monopoly in the baseball text simulator genre.

We've got to upgrade big time or face the consequences. I hate to say it, but it's sadly true.

[boomboom]

ummm....Baseball Mogul will always have its following, Clay make enough money to make this game go, all he needs is a publisher.

[daves]

I've got a sad feeling that OOTP is working towards a monopoly in the baseball text simulator genre.

We've got to upgrade big time or face the consequences. I hate to say it, but it's sadly true.

I doubt it. Both OOTP and BM have their plus and minuses. By no means is OOTP replacing BM or vica versa.

[daves]

Today is the day!!

[daves]

Maybe another day to download maybe necessary. The downlaod is very slow and i have a cable modem. :(

[daves]

this is the coolest feature i ever saw! Customizable playoffs! :cool:

[Arctic Blast]

Sweet! I'm downloading as I type...I know, I know, it's scandalous, mixing BM forums with OOTP...I expect my computer to explode at any moment.

[boomboom]

I'm Downloading :)

Guys I wasn't checking, but man this was insanly slow...1kb a sec..holy cow,

Went to the forum...saw this thread, this might help you :)

http://www.ootpdevelopments.com/board/ootp-9-general-discussions/166891-download-link-thread.html

[boomboom]

Holy cow, this game is pretty nice... lots better than OOTP8

[daves]

Holy cow, this game is pretty nice... lots better than OOTP8

I agree, but I barely got in it. Love the playoff feature a lot and the setup seemed much quicker!!! BTW, I downloaded quicker throught the OOTP form.

[FRENCHREDSOX]

Holy cow, this game is pretty nice... lots better than OOTP8

Agreed the game is WAY better than OOTP8 & IN my humble opinion BETTER than BM09 :(

It is faster than before,enormous in detail - the only problem is that it is still slower than BM & OOTP doesnt have a BMO :D

[FRENCHREDSOX]

Nice Review (http://www.hardballtimes.com/main/article/review-out-of-the-park-baseball-9/)

[Arctic Blast]

I think the thing that I'm already appreciating the most about OOTP is the sheer level of customization that's available. If you want total control over every decision at the major league level, and in 7 different minor league affiliates, AND you want to manage every game, you can. And if you want to strip away a lot of the decision making processes and just concentrate on the 'big picture', you can do that, too. I think this is the route EVERY sports sim should follow, and as BM (hopefully) adds features, I'd like to see it do things the same way, and let the player decide what he/she wants.

[daves]

Nice Review (http://www.hardballtimes.com/main/article/review-out-of-the-park-baseball-9/)

That guy didn't report much wrong, except for no graphs? Wow!

I'm glad pre-ordered. Now if there was a better way to get OOTP online?

[EVEN11323]

I was on the fence for a while about buying it and seeing the reviews now, I wish I would have preordered. But, 15 extra bucks isn't bad for what looks like a great game.

[FRENCHREDSOX]

I was on the fence for a while about buying it and seeing the reviews now, I wish I would have preordered. But, 15 extra bucks isn't bad for what looks like a great game.

the game is worth 40 or even 50 bucks.......sadly it is making BM look "dated" both in the sheer quantity & quality of the "options" available - the only real bemol is the speed & the QUALITY of computer needed for it to run correctly.

Being a "fan" of rosters I find it amazing that they have 16700+ players in their & their draft/waiver/40 man system is excellent.

The only qualms so far is AI & its one dimensionality BUT hey that's 1 qualm !

[FRENCHREDSOX]

Now if there was a better way to get OOTP online?

OOTP online (like BMO) would be incredibly slow & costly UNLESS they simplified it by removing excess like limited scouts /only 20 odd stats per player etc etc

Luckily for CLAY they are NOT interested as YET in that direction ;)

[stlcardsfan44]

I first bought baseball mogul this year. I liked it, but it missing some stuff. But I still enjoyed it. The one thing I hated was, I couldnt ever get the box scores to come up using Vista, and there just wasn't enough stats being show durning the games! So I decided to give out of the park 9 a shot. This game has it all. It has that WOW factor. So many stats, the box scores work great, you can do pretty much what you want! The biggest thing that blew me away, was the option to write you own sports column or headline after the game. That feature is way to cool! So from a guy thats played both and really like both games, IMO OOTP 9 is miles and miles ahead of BM!

[stlcardsfan44]

Oh, and I love how that guy doing the review of the game said "This is literally a game you can fire up at the end of a long day at work and then 10 hours later you realize you haven’t eaten since you got home and you’re due back at the office in another couple of hours." This totaly happened to me! That doesn't happen very often!

[rockiesfan4ever]

Does it still run very slowly?

[boomboom]

not as slow as before, it really depends on how old or what componets your computer has....

On my computer it is a lot faster than previous verisons.

[YEAH DAAAAWG]

I'm running Vista and I can get the boxscores just fine....

I'd like to give OOTP9 a try and see what its like, but I don't have the money to was-, er spend, on it.

[defense]

I will never play OOTP due to the slowness of the game

[ohms_law]

It's actually pretty fast now. Acceptable.

[RedsoxRockies]

I am getting '09 right now, and will post comments on it tommorow morning. My computer is an average computer I would say, so it could answer q's about the games speed. Overall, this series could be the next big thing. It makes you wonder what Clay could do with more resources and money...

[ohms_law]

Out of the Park Developments is, basically, the same size company as Sports Mogul.

[YEAH DAAAAWG]

Don't they have a bigger development team though? I always thought they were quite a bit bigger than Sports Mogul, not huge by any stretch, but I always thought they had a decent sized team for a small company.

[YEAH DAAAAWG]

Just wondering, in regards to BBM and OOTP, has merging and/or working together on a baseball sim ever been considered? I could see that being a really good game....

[ohms_law]

As far as I know, OOTP is just 3 people. Markus, Andreus, and Battis (I think I've got the names correct...).
They were a part of Sega for a while there, and Mark Duffy was the marketing guy, but that went away late last year. I guess that Sega never really did that much for OOTP (They didn't give them like a billion dollars or anything).

[boomboom]

just the interface they currently use, and there are more people behind this besides Makrus, Andreus and Battis, there is also Steve...and a few others :)

[ohms_law]

Not any more... I don't think.

[Arctic Blast]

I'm pretty sure it's the 3 full time guys ohms mentioned.

[boomboom]

They also have a Mac Developer as well :)

[daves]

They also have a Mac Developer as well :)

What's that?

I also saw a German address?

[RedsoxRockies]

Ok I downloaded it, and it does seem a bit faster, and if it was possible, more detailed. Still a little slow, but very good!

[ohms_law]

They also have a Mac Developer as well :)

Yea, it's called Microsoft Visual Studio Professional.
;)

[RedsoxRockies]

Ohms backwards is smho

[boomboom]

Yea, it's called Microsoft Visual Studio Professional.
;)
lol :)

[CatKnight]

They've solved the speed issue.

If you start a league WITHOUT minors, it's in-season speed is about the same as BM's. Offseason is slightly slower because they have more going on.

If you have minors on, speed drops proportionally since they play all their games out.

Functionally it looks similar to OOTP8, though I think the skin is a major improvement. I suspect players may get hurt too often, forcing me to constantly screw around with my DLs, active and reserve/minor rosters. That, and having the players annoy you with their own messages are still the big bugbears for me.

I have to say though, I'm very impressed. BM really needs to step up its game.

[Arctic Blast]

They've solved the speed issue.

If you start a league WITHOUT minors, it's in-season speed is about the same as BM's. Offseason is slightly slower because they have more going on.

If you have minors on, speed drops proportionally since they play all their games out.

Functionally it looks similar to OOTP8, though I think the skin is a major improvement. I suspect players may get hurt too often, forcing me to constantly screw around with my DLs, active and reserve/minor rosters. That, and having the players annoy you with their own messages are still the big bugbears for me.

I have to say though, I'm very impressed. BM really needs to step up its game.

Yeah, that's one of the few issues I have with the game, too...I had to seriously restrict the types of messages I would receive in the Inbox, because it was just too **** much.

[RedsoxRockies]

I know, the messages get annoying. I have taken to lowering the amount of injuries as well, as They do happen a lot. But the game is highly customizable and detailed. If you dont want to handle injuries or minor league transactions, the AI will. Also, it even has ffights, suspensions, and steriods!

[YEAH DAAAAWG]

I know, the messages get annoying. I have taken to lowering the amount of injuries as well, as They do happen a lot. But the game is highly customizable and detailed. If you dont want to handle injuries or minor league transactions, the AI will. Also, it even has ffights, suspensions, and steriods!

Just what I want in my baseball simulation, steroids!

In all seriousness, I want to buy OOTP9 once I get a job and get some money in my bank account (assuming they accept paypal, if not then I don't know what I'm doing). I haven't played OOTP except for OOTP5 since that one is free and I'd like to see whats new/different between the versions.

[Arctic Blast]

I think you might be SOL...pretty sure it's only via credit card.

[FRENCHREDSOX]

They've solved the speed issue.

If you start a league WITHOUT minors, it's in-season speed is about the same as BM's. Offseason is slightly slower because they have more going on.

If you have minors on, speed drops proportionally since they play all their games out.

Functionally it looks similar to OOTP8, though I think the skin is a major improvement. I suspect players may get hurt too often, forcing me to constantly screw around with my DLs, active and reserve/minor rosters. That, and having the players annoy you with their own messages are still the big bugbears for me.

I have to say though, I'm very impressed. BM really needs to step up its game.

Agreed on all points - still find that the minors HAVE too many players for my personal liking but hey I am a roster maker & so I should really shut up no ? Only real glitch IMO is sim speed & excess info (players' requests/silly details eg steroids/fights etc which dont really help the game IMHO) & getting irritating by the 10 hour of playing - like music in some RPG games...

[RedsoxRockies]

Agreed on all points - still find that the minors HAVE too many players for my personal liking but hey I am a roster maker & so I should really shut up no ? Only real glitch IMO is sim speed & excess info (players' requests/silly details eg steroids/fights etc which dont really help the game IMHO) & getting irritating by the 10 hour of playing - like music in some RPG games...


I agree about the minors. You get almost too many players to handle, and it takes a bit to clear some out.

[CatKnight]

Competitive Balance isn't even a contest (unfortunately.)

On left are some results from my 120 year "Ballfield Blitz" run. In that game the sim did amazingly well until the expansions in 1969, then fell apart.

On the right is a 1968-1987 run I did with OOTP9.

++: 114 or more wins. Should happen once every 20 years or so IRL.
+: 100-113 wins. Might be one or two in a season, but not always IRL.
-: 49-62 wins. Again, might be one or two in a season, but not always IRL.
--: 48 or less wins. Should happen once every 20 years or so IRL.




BM 11.10 OOTP9
+/ / /- +/ / /-
Year +/+/-/- +/+/-/-
1968 0/1/2/0 0/0/1/0
1969 0/3/0/1 0/2/2/0 - 4 teams join
1970 0/3/2/1 0/1/1/0
1971 0/1/3/1 0/2/2/0
1972 0/3/2/1 0/1/0/0
1973 0/3/2/1 0/2/0/0
1974 1/1/0/1 0/2/1/0
1975 1/5/3/2 0/1/2/0
1976 0/5/4/2 0/2/1/0
1977 0/5/5/0 0/0/2/0 - 2 teams join
1978 1/5/5/1 0/0/1/0
1979 0/3/0/3 0/0/0/0
1980 1/5/1/0 0/1/1/0
1981 0/6/5/1 0/1/0/0
1982 2/2/3/2 0/0/0/0
1983 1/2/5/0 0/0/1/0
1984 1/5/5/0 0/0/0/0
1985 1/3/0/1 0/0/0/0
1986 1/4/4/1 0/2/0/0
1987 1/3/3/2 0/1/2/0


I purposefully picked the worst period, competition wise, in history to stress test OOTP. OOTP didn't fall as far, and recovered much, much faster. In fact, through 2020 NONE of the BM expansion teams (including the 61-62 class) ever won the pennant.

The OOTP Mariners won the 1982 World Series. Unrealistic? I dunno. Ask the Marlins and Diamondbacks.

In BM, the team with the most wins in that time period was the 1980 A's with 125. (120 was broken 3 times.) Three teams tied for the worst performance with 38 wins.

In OOTP, the most wins went to the '76 Phillies (112). The least went to the '75 Angels and '76 Mets with 55.

I think this highlights BM's AI problems with helping 'weak' teams recover. In this 'run' the Mets and Astros won pennants, and the Royals won their division in addition to the Mariners' victory. Further, OOTP's financial model...we can argue whether it's realistic or not...keeps the league more or less balanced. By 1987 each of the '69/'77 expansions won 90 games at least once except Montreal (88).

[ohms_law]

we can argue whether it's realistic or not...
This is what's killing me, because it's blatantly not.

Set up OOTP with the same data as Mogul. Real population figures (for the US, at least), and turn off the Luxury tax and revenue sharing. Otherwise, it's hardly an apples to apples comparison.
Now, I do agree that part of the reason for increased balance is because those features exist in OOTP, but the main premise is that: "I think this highlights BM's AI problems with helping 'weak' teams recover." Well, it doesn't really, because the finance model isn't AI. As I've been saying here when discussing the problems, those finance mechanisms do nothing but hide the issues.

[RedsoxRockies]

How come all you guys post at 4 in the morning lol!

[RedsoxRockies]

Even in different time zones, unless you guys are foriegn(which I know a lot of you aren't) you are posting at crazy times

[FRENCHREDSOX]

Competitive Balance isn't even a contest (unfortunately.)

On left are some results from my 120 year "Ballfield Blitz" run. In that game the sim did amazingly well until the expansions in 1969, then fell apart.

On the right is a 1968-1987 run I did with OOTP9.

++: 114 or more wins. Should happen once every 20 years or so IRL.
+: 100-113 wins. Might be one or two in a season, but not always IRL.
-: 49-62 wins. Again, might be one or two in a season, but not always IRL.
--: 48 or less wins. Should happen once every 20 years or so IRL.




BM 11.10 OOTP9
+/ / /- +/ / /-
Year +/+/-/- +/+/-/-
1968 0/1/2/0 0/0/1/0
1969 0/3/0/1 0/2/2/0 - 4 teams join
1970 0/3/2/1 0/1/1/0
1971 0/1/3/1 0/2/2/0
1972 0/3/2/1 0/1/0/0
1973 0/3/2/1 0/2/0/0
1974 1/1/0/1 0/2/1/0
1975 1/5/3/2 0/1/2/0
1976 0/5/4/2 0/2/1/0
1977 0/5/5/0 0/0/2/0 - 2 teams join
1978 1/5/5/1 0/0/1/0
1979 0/3/0/3 0/0/0/0
1980 1/5/1/0 0/1/1/0
1981 0/6/5/1 0/1/0/0
1982 2/2/3/2 0/0/0/0
1983 1/2/5/0 0/0/1/0
1984 1/5/5/0 0/0/0/0
1985 1/3/0/1 0/0/0/0
1986 1/4/4/1 0/2/0/0
1987 1/3/3/2 0/1/2/0


I purposefully picked the worst period, competition wise, in history to stress test OOTP. OOTP didn't fall as far, and recovered much, much faster. In fact, through 2020 NONE of the BM expansion teams (including the 61-62 class) ever won the pennant.

The OOTP Mariners won the 1982 World Series. Unrealistic? I dunno. Ask the Marlins and Diamondbacks.

In BM, the team with the most wins in that time period was the 1980 A's with 125. (120 was broken 3 times.) Three teams tied for the worst performance with 38 wins.

In OOTP, the most wins went to the '76 Phillies (112). The least went to the '75 Angels and '76 Mets with 55.

I think this highlights BM's AI problems with helping 'weak' teams recover. In this 'run' the Mets and Astros won pennants, and the Royals won their division in addition to the Mariners' victory. Further, OOTP's financial model...we can argue whether it's realistic or not...keeps the league more or less balanced. By 1987 each of the '69/'77 expansions won 90 games at least once except Montreal (88).




This is what's killing me, because it's blatantly not.

Set up OOTP with the same data as Mogul. Real population figures (for the US, at least), and turn off the Luxury tax and revenue sharing. Otherwise, it's hardly an apples to apples comparison.
Now, I do agree that part of the reason for increased balance is because those features exist in OOTP, but the main premise is that: "I think this highlights BM's AI problems with helping 'weak' teams recover." Well, it doesn't really, because the finance model isn't AI. As I've been saying here when discussing the problems, those finance mechanisms do nothing but hide the issues.

The same can be said for BM because of its finances model LOL - just look at Cat's run during expansion years or even the Y4 issue (for future simming)

Either ARE examples of the failures of BM & also it being "realistic or not... " also YOU yourself have said elsewhere that Y4 occurs because of use of realistic payroll numbers when AI finances don't use then in any sim with a roster.csv - seems to you are holding a double argument/standard here....just my 2 cents ...btw OOTP seems to be excellent in historical simming (from what I have played) the only real problem for me is that 2 types of players "created" will always be successful in OOTP whereas (for whatever reasons) a control pitcher can & does succeed in BM.

[daves]

Competitive Balance isn't even a contest (unfortunately.)

On left are some results from my 120 year "Ballfield Blitz" run. In that game the sim did amazingly well until the expansions in 1969, then fell apart.

On the right is a 1968-1987 run I did with OOTP9.

++: 114 or more wins. Should happen once every 20 years or so IRL.
+: 100-113 wins. Might be one or two in a season, but not always IRL.
-: 49-62 wins. Again, might be one or two in a season, but not always IRL.
--: 48 or less wins. Should happen once every 20 years or so IRL.




BM 11.10 OOTP9
+/ / /- +/ / /-
Year +/+/-/- +/+/-/-
1968 0/1/2/0 0/0/1/0
1969 0/3/0/1 0/2/2/0 - 4 teams join
1970 0/3/2/1 0/1/1/0
1971 0/1/3/1 0/2/2/0
1972 0/3/2/1 0/1/0/0
1973 0/3/2/1 0/2/0/0
1974 1/1/0/1 0/2/1/0
1975 1/5/3/2 0/1/2/0
1976 0/5/4/2 0/2/1/0
1977 0/5/5/0 0/0/2/0 - 2 teams join
1978 1/5/5/1 0/0/1/0
1979 0/3/0/3 0/0/0/0
1980 1/5/1/0 0/1/1/0
1981 0/6/5/1 0/1/0/0
1982 2/2/3/2 0/0/0/0
1983 1/2/5/0 0/0/1/0
1984 1/5/5/0 0/0/0/0
1985 1/3/0/1 0/0/0/0
1986 1/4/4/1 0/2/0/0
1987 1/3/3/2 0/1/2/0


I purposefully picked the worst period, competition wise, in history to stress test OOTP. OOTP didn't fall as far, and recovered much, much faster. In fact, through 2020 NONE of the BM expansion teams (including the 61-62 class) ever won the pennant.

The OOTP Mariners won the 1982 World Series. Unrealistic? I dunno. Ask the Marlins and Diamondbacks.

In BM, the team with the most wins in that time period was the 1980 A's with 125. (120 was broken 3 times.) Three teams tied for the worst performance with 38 wins.

In OOTP, the most wins went to the '76 Phillies (112). The least went to the '75 Angels and '76 Mets with 55.

I think this highlights BM's AI problems with helping 'weak' teams recover. In this 'run' the Mets and Astros won pennants, and the Royals won their division in addition to the Mariners' victory. Further, OOTP's financial model...we can argue whether it's realistic or not...keeps the league more or less balanced. By 1987 each of the '69/'77 expansions won 90 games at least once except Montreal (88).

great analysis. Thanks!

[kingdomk]

OOTP 9 really blows BM out of the water, in every aspect. I haven't touched BM 09 once since getting into OOTP 9, and that is a pretty big statement considering I didn't like the series too much before and played BM quite a bit.

Best,
Martin

[kingdomk]

OOTP online (like BMO) would be incredibly slow & costly UNLESS they simplified it by removing excess like limited scouts /only 20 odd stats per player etc etc

Luckily for CLAY they are NOT interested as YET in that direction ;)

OOTP Online is already being developed as far as I know... I have no clue what it will be in the end, but I read somewhere that they will have a free client software that will look & feel like OOTP 9 does. If it's true, then all other online baseball simulations will be obsolete in my humble opinion.

Best,
Martin

[boomboom]

I agree, I think that BMO will need to go into that direction as well. Could you imagine BMO but using BM as the interface. That would rock :)

[EVEN11323]

Just wanted to let those unaware know that OOTP 9 is on sale for $30 through this Sunday.

[robinhoodnik]

OOTP Online is already being developed as far as I know... I have no clue what it will be in the end, but I read somewhere that they will have a free client software that will look & feel like OOTP 9 does. If it's true, then all other online baseball simulations will be obsolete in my humble opinion.

Best,
Martin

I sure hope they include the clumsy interface and steep learning curve that I came to know and love with my own OOTP experiences.
Do you still have to get OOTP's permission to install your copy of OOTP on your new machine? I loved that feature.

Prolst,
Danny

[rockiesfan4ever]

If it was BBM price I would get it

& If I had the money :D

[robinhoodnik]

Just wanted to let those unaware know that OOTP 9 is on sale for $30 through this Sunday.

I found this equally useful stuff on e-bay for $30. :)

[RedsoxRockies]

Ooh I want a Smurfette shirt... :)

[daves]

I sure hope they include the clumsy interface and steep learning curve that I came to know and love with my own OOTP experiences.
Do you still have to get OOTP's permission to install your copy of OOTP on your new machine? I loved that feature.

Prolst,
Danny

You can only install on two computers. The clumsy interface is better, but still not as easy as BM. My first season with most features ON in OOTP did not go well. I got tired of the e-mail messages so I turned it off in Manager options. At the end of the season, I wanted to resign key player only to find out I could not. They all told me that they want to test the free agent waters. I lost a lot of my team. OOTP has a lot, and I do recommend people to get it if they can. But do expect quite a learning curve with all those options and don't expect to play it on your 1st day of ownership. It is not as easy as Mogul.

[rockiesfan4ever]

Can anyone loan me 25 bucks?

[RedsoxRockies]

BOOM bOOM WHY DIDNT U POST THE LINK FOR FREE B4 I BOUGHT THE GAME

[boomboom]

Why would I want to do that, that is called piracy.

[john99]

The last version of OOTP I played was 6.5. I picked up OOTP9 and maybe it's just me but I don't have that much trouble finding what I want, I don't think the interface is all that bad.

I also don't understand those people who say it takes hours to set up a league. I set up the MLB as of 1980 using real players on their real teams, 3 levels of minors, a changed a few options off/on. Then set the league modifiers to equal Skydog's suggested settings. It took me less than 15 minutes, most of that time was typing in Skydog's suggested settings.

[boomboom]

I agree, OOTP9 is a great game. I have played it less lately but still probably the best BB sim on my computer.

[jcbarr]

I have been seriously considering trying this game out. Just haven't had the time to sit down and download it to see what it is all about.

Have they changed the player contracts thing? Or is it still just a guessing game?

[ohms_law]

Have they changed the player contracts thing? Or is it still just a guessing game?
It's still the same.


I don't think the interface is all the bad.
You're used to it, obviously.


I also don't understand those people who say it takes hours to set up a league.
It depends on what you want... since OOTP can include HS and College feeder leagues, and leagues from all over the world, most people (probably especially those coming from another sim, like Mogul) want more than what OOTP quick starts offer, which takes a TON of time. The league editor is a bit clumsy and slow as well, which certainly doesn't help (I'd probably still be playing if there was a way to edit a template outside fo the game...).

[john99]

It's still the same.


You're used to it, obviously.


It depends on what you want... since OOTP can include HS and College feeder leagues, and leagues from all over the world, most people (probably especially those coming from another sim, like Mogul) want more than what OOTP quick starts offer, which takes a TON of time. The league editor is a bit clumsy and slow as well, which certainly doesn't help (I'd probably still be playing if there was a way to edit a template outside fo the game...).

No, I'm not used to the interface. Like I said 6.5 was the last version I touched, which was before the big interface change. I just don't find it that hard to find what I am looking for.

Yes, if you really want to customize a league you could spend a lot of time doing it. But if you want a MLB league, with some minor leagues it isn't some monumental task.

[john99]

I have been seriously considering trying this game out. Just haven't had the time to sit down and download it to see what it is all about.

Have they changed the player contracts thing? Or is it still just a guessing game?

I always felt FA in BM was much worse than OOTP. I've always thought BM was the guessing game, just hit the magic number and the player is yours. And of course you can do all the FA bidding before the computer.

I prefer in OOTP, you make an offer, you get an email with some feedback from the player. Maybe he signs right away maybe he waits for more offers from others, maybe a bidding war breaks out, maybe no one else give him and offer and he settles on you. I guess you call it a guessing game because you don't get some kind of idea what the computer teams are offering the player?

[etothep]

my basic question on ootp is: is it still very detailed w/ a lot of micro-managing? or does it at least have a better/more user-friendly interface than the older versions?

[boomboom]

my basic question on ootp is: is it still very detailed w/ a lot of micro-managing?
Yes and no.... it has changed a lot. It is getting simplier.

[ohms_law]

It has? It's still the same basic interface as 8's...

I don't know, I guess I just don't like OOTP that much. It's all the micro-management I think. Yes, I know you can "turn off" just about everything but... that just leaves a bad taste in my mouth. The real key is, I just don't have fun playing it.

[boomboom]

Yes and no.... it has changed a lot. It is getting simplier.


It has? It's still the same basic interface as 8's...

I don't know, I guess I just don't like OOTP that much. It's all the micro-management I think. Yes, I know you can "turn off" just about everything but... that just leaves a bad taste in my mouth. The real key is, I just don't have fun playing it.

It has gotten a lot easier than verison 7. Version 9 because I have already used a headache to find things...

Thou I am finding myself playing BM 99% of the time since July.

[ohms_law]

I can at least say that I honestly gave it a fair shot. I wanted (and still want) OOTP to be a game that I like... I just don't. I like the feature set, and I like the possibilities of the game, I just don't like the actual game.
*shrug*

[robinhoodnik]

Look at the stuff I found on Craigslist for 30 bucks!
A couple of pieces of laminate furniture, a rug hooking kit,a cage for small animals, and a leather office chair conveniently pre-loaded with both beer and lima bean farts.
Every bit as good a deal as OOTP.

[robinhoodnik]

Why would I want to do that, that is called piracy.

Arrggghhhhh matey! ;)

[jcbarr]

My real problem with offering contracts in OOTP was that you didn't even control how much you offered them. You could change the years and the money value changed as well. I will agree that BM could use some tweaking, but at least when you offer the money they counter or come back and say that it isn't nearly enough or that it is close. In OOTP I just remember getting messages saying that John Doe had rejected my offer and was going to wait for some more. I never really could get a hold of that part of the game.

[boomboom]

It has gotten a lot easier than verison 7. Version 9 because I have already used a headache to find things...

Thou I am finding myself playing BM 99% of the time since July.

lol, I said that backwards, I am playing OOTP exclusively since July :)

[daves]

lol, I said that backwards, I am playing OOTP exclusively since July :)

It is a decent game. I am trying to stay with BM, but that customized playoff feature is amazing. Among other features that BM does not have.

[metsguy234]

I bought OOTP this year and didn't like it at all. It barely works on my computer, and when it doesn't crash, it takes an hour do to anything in the game.

[RedsoxRockies]

I like it, but idk, Mogul is better

[rockiesfan4ever]

I bought OOTP, but I really wish I hadn't

[RedsoxRockies]

II have not played it in a while, but I liked it. I just wish it was faster and pBp was better

[daves]

I bought OOTP this year and didn't like it at all. It barely works on my computer, and when it doesn't crash, it takes an hour do to anything in the game.

You need to update it to the latest patch. The difference is amazing!

[EVEN11323]

I bought it and I shouldn't have. I just don't like the interface of it at all. Too many options and junk to get through, too many menus. Haven't played it since July!

[RedsoxRockies]

I always got too many messages, and I could never go a day without getting bombed

[Arctic Blast]

I didn't mind it, actually. My issue is this...I am a baseball fan, but not a total baseball NUT, and OOTP is the game for the baseball nut. There's just too much there that I flat out don't care about. When it comes to football games, I want that level of depth, I want EVERYTHING, because that's my 'main' sport. Baseball, not so much.

Good game, just not my cup of tea.

[boomboom]

I bought OOTP this year and didn't like it at all. It barely works on my computer, and when it doesn't crash, it takes an hour do to anything in the game.

It isn't the game, it is your computer ;)

[boomboom]

I always got too many messages, and I could never go a day without getting bombed
There aren't too many and you can change it so that it doesn't interrupt your simming. Best part about OOTP, everything is customizable.