The OOTP 16 announcement thread

[Trebro]

Originally Posted by Westheim

Hello, my name is February, and I am your month for the next four weeks. Please tell me, how may I help you, and make the next 28 days as excruciatingly lengthy as I can?

Turn the teams everyone manages into the Portland Raccoons, of course.

[BradC]

I see them talking about it the way they talk about the PECOTA projections and things like that: They could show a couple screenshots about the game, but it would mostly be them talking about the simulation's results.

Since MLB Network has an audience that's more interested in stats, I think it could work.

Originally Posted by gamefan1978

I don't know how well that would translate to tv. With Madden you see the action in OOTP its all text. Markus would really have to sell that to MLB Network.

[BradC]

I've been on Mike Ferrin's SiriusXM show before. He's an OOTP fan. I've contacted him and his producer a couple times about the OOTP 16 announcement, but no response. I'll give it another shot.

Originally Posted by Habsfan18

Brad, what about SiriusXM's MLB Network Radio? Maybe you should look into even getting a 5 minute interview on one of their radio shows. That could get word out to a whole crapload of people.

[GalvestonBaseballGeek]

I have a question...Will you guys ever build a website to host online games? I don't want to pay for a site just to play an online league with my friends, and the file exchange option seems tedious.

[rjl518]

Originally Posted by Westheim

Hello, my name is February, and I am your month for the next four weeks. Please tell me, how may I help you, and make the next 28 days as excruciatingly lengthy as I can?

Hello February, I'm March, and i just want to say enjoy your 28 days as much as you can, because everyone right now hates you, and when I arrive, everyone will love ME!

So..you want to torture all the OOTP players? Bring it on! Because when YOU leave, I ARRIVE!!! I am MARCH!!

And all the OOTP players are just waiting for you to end!!!
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!

Dont worry, OOTP players!
I am March!
Behold! I am coming soon!!!

[canadian content]

Originally Posted by GalvestonBaseballGeek

I have a question...Will you guys ever build a website to host online games? I don't want to pay for a site just to play an online league with my friends, and the file exchange option seems tedious.

I've been beating this drum for some time now.

I can't believe a game of this stature doesn't offer the option to play in server run online leagues. As I stated on the 'Online League Survey' thread, it's time this game offered server run online leagues that run on their own. The online site could offer line scores and standings and allow you to make lineup changes; if you want to go more in depth, you could then have the option of downloading the league file to get a better look at your league. You could even still have commissioners that can make rule changes and run forums. People would have to buy the game and then pay a reasonable fee to play in the leagues. OOTP could keep it modest and have just a few leagues to start out with and ask the community what features or rules they would like to see in leagues that they form (stats only, fast sim etc.). For those that aren't interested but still enjoy online play, they could continue to operate leagues outside of this format.

I'm not even talking about head to head play here, just leagues that run like clockwork. You wouldn't have to be concerned with 3 league officials you really don't know all that well and have never met before in your entire life that are running a league that you hope is on the up and up.

There are games out there that already do this. I played two of those games and they did not have the sheen and look or quality of OOTP. I've never played in the CSFBL, but it is actually free. Keep in mind, you want to attract new customers and players and they will expect this game's online capability to run in this manner.

[gamefan1978]

Originally Posted by BradC

I see them talking about it the way they talk about the PECOTA projections and things like that: They could show a couple screenshots about the game, but it would mostly be them talking about the simulation's results.

Since MLB Network has an audience that's more interested in stats, I think it could work.

I hope it works it would be great for the game to have more eyes on it.

[jpeters1734]

Originally Posted by canadian content

I've been beating this drum for some time now.

I can't believe a game of this stature doesn't offer the option to play in server run online leagues. As I stated on the 'Online League Survey' thread, it's time this game offered server run online leagues that run on their own. The online site could offer line scores and standings and allow you to make lineup changes; if you want to go more in depth, you could then have the option of downloading the league file to get a better look at your league. You could even still have commissioners that can make rule changes and run forums. People would have to buy the game and then pay a reasonable fee to play in the leagues. OOTP could keep it modest and have just a few leagues to start out with and ask the community what features or rules they would like to see in leagues that they form (stats only, fast sim etc.). For those that aren't interested but still enjoy online play, they could continue to operate leagues outside of this format.

I'm not even talking about head to head play here, just leagues that run like clockwork. You wouldn't have to be concerned with 3 league officials you really don't know all that well and have never met before in your entire life that are running a league that you hope is on the up and up.

There are games out there that already do this. I played two of those games and they did not have the sheen and look or quality of OOTP. I've never played in the CSFBL, but it is actually free. Keep in mind, you want to attract new customers and players and they will expect this game's online capability to run in this manner.

yeah i agree completely. I read in the comments that ootpd is missing out on a revenue stream. I hope they work on this.

[Habsfan18]

It's been way too quiet around here lately!

We need a Road To Release!

Or at least an update on how the beta testing is going.

[BradC]

Beta testing is going well.

Development is on track.

The Road to Release series is in its planning stages and will get rolling ASAP.

RE us offering a server for online leagues: It would be great to make OOTP more user-friendly when it comes to setting up online leagues, including us providing the hosting (or paying a 3rd party). I don't know if or when that will happen, but the guys are aware of it.

Unfortunately, while OOTP may have a certain stature, we're still a very tiny company, so we don't have the resources that an EA or a Blizzard can put into online gaming. But hopefully one day we will get there.

[TwinsGuy11]

Originally Posted by BradC

Beta testing is going well.

Development is on track.

The Road to Release series is in its planning stages and will get rolling ASAP.

RE us offering a server for online leagues: It would be great to make OOTP more user-friendly when it comes to setting up online leagues, including us providing the hosting (or paying a 3rd party). I don't know if or when that will happen, but the guys are aware of it.

Unfortunately, while OOTP may have a certain stature, we're still a very tiny company, so we don't have the resources that an EA or a Blizzard can put into online gaming. But hopefully one day we will get there.

Great to hear!

This is purely out of curiosity, but this is my first year getting OOTP.

I noticed last year the game came out in mid-late April and this year it's scheduled for March.

I was just curious why it's coming out so much earlier? Again, just purely my stupid curiosity.

[Bigrod]

Originally Posted by TwinsGuy11

Great to hear!

This is purely out of curiosity, but this is my first year getting OOTP.

I noticed last year the game came out in mid-late April and this year it's scheduled for March.

I was just curious why it's coming out so much earlier? Again, just purely my stupid curiosity.

No question is stupid if you don't know the answer.
One of the biggest reasons is that we hired another programmer which sped up our process. We've always wanted an earlier/longer beta testing period and earlier release date and this yr. we accomplished that.

[TwinsGuy11]

Originally Posted by Bigrod

No question is stupid if you don't know the answer.
One of the biggest reasons is that we hired another programmer which sped up our process. We've always wanted an earlier/longer beta testing period and earlier release date and this yr. we accomplished that.

Okay that makes sense! Man I can't wait. I've been watching play-throughs of OOTP 15 on YouTube.

[Bigrod]

Originally Posted by TwinsGuy11

Okay that makes sense! Man I can't wait. I've been watching play-throughs of OOTP 15 on YouTube.

Those are just the cake...16 adds the frosting and the ice cream

[Markus Heinsohn]

Originally Posted by canadian content

I've been beating this drum for some time now.

I can't believe a game of this stature doesn't offer the option to play in server run online leagues. As I stated on the 'Online League Survey' thread, it's time this game offered server run online leagues that run on their own. The online site could offer line scores and standings and allow you to make lineup changes; if you want to go more in depth, you could then have the option of downloading the league file to get a better look at your league. You could even still have commissioners that can make rule changes and run forums. People would have to buy the game and then pay a reasonable fee to play in the leagues. OOTP could keep it modest and have just a few leagues to start out with and ask the community what features or rules they would like to see in leagues that they form (stats only, fast sim etc.). For those that aren't interested but still enjoy online play, they could continue to operate leagues outside of this format.

I'm not even talking about head to head play here, just leagues that run like clockwork. You wouldn't have to be concerned with 3 league officials you really don't know all that well and have never met before in your entire life that are running a league that you hope is on the up and up.

There are games out there that already do this. I played two of those games and they did not have the sheen and look or quality of OOTP. I've never played in the CSFBL, but it is actually free. Keep in mind, you want to attract new customers and players and they will expect this game's online capability to run in this manner.

This whole topic is incredibly complex with a game like OOTP. Trust me, we have looked into all this for 10+ years, and started development on "true" online gaming more than once. But, it is simply way to much work for our small staff. So, tell all your friends about OOTP and get them to buy it. The more money we earn the more we can invest into the game and hire more developers

[Amakiir]

Originally Posted by Markus Heinsohn

This whole topic is incredibly complex with a game like OOTP. Trust me, we have looked into all this for 10+ years, and started development on "true" online gaming more than once. But, it is simply way to much work for our small staff. So, tell all your friends about OOTP and get them to buy it. The more money we earn the more we can invest into the game and hire more developers

Welp, I can't help you with programming, but if you ever need an intern I'd be glad to help you out. I don't need money or recognition, I just think you have a cool project going on.

[rnf1968]

SO EXCITED for the MLB license! Congrats guys! Can we assume that iOOTP will also be licensed? Probably a stupid question. Lol!

[Donevyn]

One of my few addictions (I still don't get it tho' that treats me sooo good *Chuckle*

[Steve509]

I wake up every morning hoping it's March so I can play OOTP 16. I haven't been this excited over a computer game in the longest time(probably in 10 years or so). I'm just wondering if I can beat the 1226 hours logged on OOTP 15 this time around. My only regret so far is not finding about this series before OOTP 13.

[BradC]

Yes, this is pretty much how we're able to release the game earlier than in the past. Also, since other baseball games ship in March too, we wanted to be in the mix when competing for fans' attention.

Originally Posted by Bigrod

No question is stupid if you don't know the answer.
One of the biggest reasons is that we hired another programmer which sped up our process. We've always wanted an earlier/longer beta testing period and earlier release date and this yr. we accomplished that.