<< Previous Article
Transaction of the Day... (02/17)

<< Previous Column
BP Unfiltered: Four Su... (02/17)

Next Column >>
BP Unfiltered: Top Min... (02/20)

Next Article >>

Prospectus Preview: NL... (02/18)

February 18, 2011

BP Unfiltered

Pre-order OOTP, win a second-gen iPad

by Marc Normandin

Printer-friendly

If you're familiar with baseball games, then there is a good chance you're also aware of the existence of Out of the Park Baseball. Last year we reviewed OOTP 11 (with a grade of A-; that's an elite, must-have kind of score), and I came away impressed:

The core game here is very strong, and there is a reason that OOTP has managed to get this many iterations in over the years. If you're a fan of the series, snag the latest version, and if you're new to the world of baseball sims, you can't go wrong picking up OOTP to fill that void.

For those of you that already know you're going to buy the new OOTP, the developers are running a second pre-order contest. The first involved a free iPod touch, but they have upped the ante this time: pre-order OOTP 12 by February 28 (a Monday), and enter to win a second-gen iPad. That product is so new that it hasn't even been released yet--OOTP is promising you a gift from the future. Sure, it's not a flying car or a robot with a positronic brain, but it does have a touch screen. If you already pre-ordered previously, you are entered into this contest, so don't feel like you got stiffed by committing early.

More details are available at OOTP's site. If you're hesitant to put your money down on the latest iteration of the long-running series, you can wait for our review of OOTP 12 to drop later this spring.

12 comments have been left for this article.

BP Comment Quick Links

code of conduct

jtanker33

(47067)

Already ordered! Been playing OOTP since 2002 or 2003 and it gets better every year.

Feb 18, 2011 10:47 AM

link

rating: 0

Ehren Bendler

(35213)

I tried to play OOTP 2010 (after liking 2008) and found it to be too dense for me.

I'd like something more than what MLB The Show provides but OOTP seems to go a bit far in the other direction.

Feb 18, 2011 11:02 AM

link

rating: 0

Richard Bergstrom

(36532)

OOTP rocks. I've played it since OOTP5 or so.. I also hope they remake ITP.

Feb 18, 2011 11:53 AM

link

rating: 0

TADontAsk

(2173)

I'm a little intrigued. Can someone tell me how the OOTP series compares to Strat-O-Matic? Always been a big SoM fan, but this seems to have a lot more options.

Feb 18, 2011 12:01 PM

link

rating: 0

awayish

(20768)

very interested thanks for the heads up

Feb 18, 2011 12:48 PM

link

rating: 0

atlbrave1

(8640)

As far comparison to Strat or DMB, OOTP allows you to do what those do plus the ability to be a GM. Trades, FA signings, callups, demotions, waivers. While not quite the replay engine of either Strat or DMB (although that is supposedly being updated this year, e.g. real life transcations), if you are looking to do more than play out games then I highly recommend it (you can obviously also play out games and it is very good). Great bang for the buck for text sim / baseball fans. I will agree that it can be a bit overwhelming at first, but its depth and cutomization are its strengths, not its weaknesses.

Feb 18, 2011 12:51 PM

link

rating: 0

Richard Bergstrom

(36532)

My favorite part is balancing the minor league rosters and giving people small tastes of the majors to see if they're ready without burning them out.

Generally for my style of play, I'll autoplay a month at a time (though I set it so it'll stop autoplay if someone is out for more than two weeks). I'll play the playoffs by hand. Each month I tweak the major and minor league rosters and lineups/rotation/bullpen as I see fit.

The AI is still a bit easy to abuse with trades, but it's much better than it used to be.

Feb 18, 2011 15:37 PM

link

rating: 0

brianwilliams42

(29213)

I've been playing OOTP in online leagues for maybe 7 years, since OOTP 4. Before that I was playing in Front Page Sports 98 leagues.

Very fun, you have to find the right style of league for your taste, but I've got a good group of completely random people from around the world that make for an enjoyable experience.

It's been moving closer to a sabermetric view of players and stats, now using BABIP and scoring players with VORP.

Now I just need PECOTA for my OOTP league and I'll be set!

Feb 18, 2011 15:14 PM

link

rating: 0

shankr

(24800)

Can OOTP 12 be played on the iPad and iPad 2, and are you able to make managerial decisions as the game is unfolding with OOTP 12 (i.e. as in DMB)?

Feb 19, 2011 07:09 AM

link

rating: 0

atlbrave1

(8640)

No, OOTP12 cannot be played on the iPad, however they are working on iOOTP, which is supposed to be ready around the same time. There isn't as much known about it at this time, but I believe it is going to be similar to OOTP, just a bit less information (e.g. no splits for how a better does against LHP in Night games). As far as managerial decisions, you can do everything you can do on DMB in OOTP. As a long time DMBer (back when Tippet was running it as PTP), I still think the gameplay of DMB is slightly better than OOTP, but the ability to do everything else in OOTP has put DMB on the shelf for me for over 5 years. DMB is still the best for one season simulation, but OOTP has the ability to drag you in for multiple seasons, career arcs, etc. in a way that DMB cannot.

Feb 19, 2011 08:02 AM

link

rating: 0

bowerpower

(47105)

Has anyone tried using a remote desktop controller to play OOTP? It's not a reflex game so you'd think it'd work rather well, except for shuffling lineups.

Actually, that's the one thing I wish OOTP had -- the ability to save a lineup order and use it later. They have a version of it, but it's more like copy a right hand lineup to a left hand lineup. It's cumbersome to have to re-order your lineup each time one of your integral players is out for 3 weeks.

Feb 19, 2011 11:14 AM

link

rating: 0

akw4572

(33540)

For those of you wanting to know the differences between OOTP and DMB, the biggest advantage OOTP gives you is the ability to start in any year in history, and move forward, season to season, without having to pay money for each season disk. It's a bargain.

Feb 21, 2011 11:57 AM

link

rating: 0

You must be a Premium subscriber or have a Fantasy subscription to post a comment.
Not a subscriber? Sign up today!

<< Previous Article
Transaction of the Day... (02/17)

<< Previous Column
BP Unfiltered: Four Su... (02/17)

Next Column >>
BP Unfiltered: Top Min... (02/20)

Next Article >>

Prospectus Preview: NL... (02/18)

RECENTLY AT BASEBALL PROSPECTUS Playoff Prospectus: Come Undone BP En Espanol: Previa de la NLCS: Cubs vs. D... Playoff Prospectus: How Did This Team Get Ma... Playoff Prospectus: Too Slow, Too Late Playoff Prospectus: PECOTA Odds and ALCS Gam... Playoff Prospectus: PECOTA Odds and NLCS Gam... Playoff Prospectus: NLCS Preview: Cubs vs. D...	MORE FROM FEBRUARY 18, 2011 Fantasy Focus: Third Base Rankings Expanded Horizons: Journey to the Center of ... Prospectus Hit and Run: Never a Dull Moment ... Prospectus Preview: NL Central 2011 Preseaso... Fantasy Beat: Scoresheet - A-Rod or Stephen ... Fantasy Beat: Value Picks in the Rotation Manufactured Runs: Projecting Pujols
MORE BY MARC NORMANDIN 2011-02-21 - Fantasy Focus: Catcher Rankings 2011-02-18 - Fantasy Focus: Shortstop Rankings 2011-02-18 - Fantasy Focus: Third Base Rankings 2011-02-18 - BP Unfiltered: Pre-order OOTP, win a second-... 2011-02-17 - Fantasy Focus: Second Base Rankings 2011-02-17 - Fantasy Focus: First Base Rankings 2011-02-15 - Fantasy Focus: AL Rookie Hurlers to Watch More...	MORE BP UNFILTERED 2011-02-22 - BP Unfiltered: To Keep or Cut Castillo 2011-02-21 - BP Unfiltered: Depth Charts and PFM Open 2011-02-20 - BP Unfiltered: Top Minor League Prospects Co... 2011-02-18 - BP Unfiltered: Pre-order OOTP, win a second-... 2011-02-17 - BP Unfiltered: Four Suggestions: Cincinnati ... 2011-02-16 - BP Unfiltered: Albert Pujols and the Big Not... 2011-02-16 - BP Unfiltered: Weeks Re-Ups in Milwaukee More...