OOTP 15 Feature List

[Markus Heinsohn]

Hey folks,

here is the current feature list for OOTP 15. During beta test I usually add a few more small features, and if that is the case, I'll update this thread accordingly.

OOTP 15 Feature List

General
- More default leagues with real players, forming a big baseball universe (Japan, Korea, Italy, Netherlands, Taiwan etc.)
- Optional new ratings system, relative to league average, where on a 20-80 scale 10 points equal one standard deviation from the mean.
- Improved league news articles

Interface
- Redesigned Interface, optimized for widescreen resolutions
- The application window can be resized to any size by dragging the corners / borders
- Redesigned manager home screen with widgets
- Added new info screens which cover the entire game world (news, scores, schedule, history)
- Replaced the scouting dropdown menu with a button which allows the user to toggle between the head scout and OSA ratings easily
- The player lists in the team transaction screens are now sortable
- Added a team screen which shows the coaching staff of the entire organization
- Improved league free agent screen

Team Control
- Added a new manager setting which gives the AI control of transactions for the coaching staff / scouts
- Added the possibility to offer a job to a coach without having to fire the one who currently occupies the position

Feeder Leagues & Draft
- Added option to add full default feeder league system to a league, which calculates the number of feeder leagues / teams needed to function properly
- Added new option to define when players in feeder leagues are draft-eligible (relative to maximum age)
- Added new option to base AI lineup / pitching staff decisions either on potential or current ability, which is useful for feeder leagues
- Recoded the AI which handles bonus / contract demands of drafted players

In-Game related features
- Customizable 3D ballpark support, with a new optional in-game view which features 3D ballflight
- Added the option to remove the DH and let the pitcher bat in games which started with a DH
- Inside the park home runs have been tweaked so that ballpark dimensions have a much bigger effect
- Added new stats: WPA (win probability added), BB%, SO%, IR, IRS, IRS% (inherited runners), BABIP for batters
- Improved in-game AI
- Improved play-by-play
- Groundball % rating for pitchers is now more variable and no longer displayed numerically
- Added weather conditions to pre-game screen

History
- Added the ability to set the minimum and maximum year of players in the historical random debut feature
- Added retired numbers for teams. AI-controlled teams retire numbers on their own for HoF-calibre players who spent the majority of their career playing for a single team
- Player history tracks salary year-by-year and notable game performances
- Player history tracks 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place finishes in major awards
- Added editable accomplishment and milestone limits

League Options & Settings
- Added customizable spring training length (1-6 weeks)
- Added the option to set a roster size for Spring Training. Together with the option to sign players to minor league contracts which include a major league option, this results in the possibility to invite free agents to Spring Training.
- Added the option to allow teams to 'post' players who are not yet FA-eligible for foreign leagues, including an editable maximum posting fee
- Added the option to assign a repuation level to a league, which is used in player contract AI
- Added the option to set service time limit and age limit rules for minor leagues
- Added the option to limit contract length and prohibit contract extensions
- Added the option to have a non-editable ticket price
- Added a setting that prevents leagues with a disabled amateur draft to auto-generate fictional free agents
- Added the option to set a fee for which teams from other leagues may purchase contracts of players. This is useful if you have independent leagues in your game.
- The trading AI frequency no longer is a global setting, but can be set for each major league individually

AI-related Features
- Improved player evaluation AI (defense has more value)
- Recoded the minor league roster AI to prevent unrealistic amounts of roster moves in the minor leagues
- Recoded the AI which determines player releases

Facegen
- Improved FaceGen rendering
- Added new facial hair (Bobble mod)

Misc & Tweaks
- HoF players are now highlighted in the retired player list
- Improved simulation speed
- Added the option to assign future (next 10 years) extra expenses to a team's finances. This is used when signing a player who had a posting fee attached, which will be paid in parts of 20% over the following 5 years.
- Player height & weight is now more realistic in fictional historical leagues
- When releasing a player, the remaining value of his contract (and extension) will no longer be added to the player expenses all at once, but rather over the original duration of the contract (utilizing the new editable "Misc. Player Expenses" fields)

Edit 03/13: Added BABIP tracked for batters.
Edit 03/21: Added the option to assign future (next 10 years) extra expenses to a team's finances. This is used when signing a player who had a posting fee attached, which will be paid in parts of 20% over the following 5 years.
Edit 03/24: Player height & weight is now more realistic in fictional historical leagues.
Edit 04/11: Added - When releasing a player, the remaining value of his contract (and extension) will no longer be added to the player expenses all at once, but rather over the original duration of the contract (utilizing the new editable "Misc. Player Expenses" fields)
and: - The trading AI frequency no longer is a global setting, but can be set for each major league individually

[tejdog1]

Markus, can we invite players within our own organization who are not on the 40 man roster to major league spring training?

[Markus Heinsohn]

Originally Posted by tejdog1

Markus, can we invite players within our own organization who are not on the 40 man roster to major league spring training?

Yes.

[eriqjaffe]

Looks like a great set. But a couple of questions:

Originally Posted by Markus Heinsohn

- Redesigned Interface, optimized for widescreen resolutions

Will this also be optimized for the high-DPI displays that are becoming more common?

Originally Posted by Markus Heinsohn

- Added the option to set a fee for which teams from other leagues may purchase contracts of players. This is useful if you have independent leagues in your game

Is this a fixed amount? Or will it vary depending on the talent of the player being purchased?

[Markus Heinsohn]

Will this also be optimized for the high-DPI displays that are becoming more common?

No. These will be properly supported when they are more common, i.e. in 2 years I suppose.

Is this a fixed amount? Or will it vary depending on the talent of the player being purchased?

Fixed amount.

[drksd4848]

Never Mind... question answered.

[Recte44]

Nothing for online leagues?

[Lukas Berger]

Originally Posted by drksd4848

Could we have cash trades only between Major Leagues and unaffiliated minor leagues? Pretty please?

That's what this is:

Originally Posted by Markus Heinsohn

- Added the option to set a fee for which teams from other leagues may purchase contracts of players. This is useful if you have independent leagues in your game.

There's also this which will really help with indy leagues as well (since I know you're into them):

Originally Posted by Markus Heinsohn

- Added a setting that prevents leagues with a disabled amateur draft to auto-generate fictional free agents

[Markus Heinsohn]

Originally Posted by Recte44

Nothing for online leagues?

Half the feature list applies to online leagues as well.

Anyway, once Andreas is done with coding 3D he may add a feature or two that makes life of online league players easier.

[rpriske]

Any chance the double-header problem is being fixed?

[Markus Heinsohn]

Originally Posted by rpriske

Any chance the double-header problem is being fixed?

Which one exactly?

[drksd4848]

Originally Posted by lukasberger

That's what this is:



There's also this which will really help with indy leagues as well (since I know you're into them):

Yeah, I saw that just after I posted my question. I think it posted while I was writing it.

[tejdog1]

Originally Posted by Markus Heinsohn

Yes.

You, my good sir, are amazing.

Thank you for putting out such an amazing game year after year.

[BigCity]

That's one Hell of a list Boss!

[BKL]

Customizable post-season seeding?

[Saul Goodman]

Feature list looks great, really looking forward to the release!

Always one of the few games I really look forward to seeing released every year, and I'm not even a hardcore baseball fan, if anything OOTP got me interested in baseball in the first place

Particularly looking forward to more international leagues, love to track players over their careers, so seeing them go to other leagues to try and kickstart a failing career, or prolong a career when they perhaps are no longer good enough for MLB etc will be cool to see. Rather then just sit as a MLB FA.

[David Watts]

I have a question about the 3D stadiums. Will we still be able to use the stadium pictures we are using now? Someone else asked this in another thread, but I don't think a definite answer was posted.

[ChiefWahoo]

This is super impressive, Markus! Just confirming that FaceGen is indeed locked at retirement, as I didn't see that on the list. Probably on oversight on my behalf.

[Markus Heinsohn]

Originally Posted by David Watts

I have a question about the 3D stadiums. Will we still be able to use the stadium pictures we are using now? Someone else asked this in another thread, but I don't think a definite answer was posted.

Yes, the 3D stuff is completely optional.

[Markus Heinsohn]

Originally Posted by ChiefWahoo

This is super impressive, Markus! Just confirming that FaceGen is indeed locked at retirement, as I didn't see that on the list. Probably on oversight on my behalf.

That's one of several minor tweaks that have been implemented and I forgot to write down.