Want to be Billy Beane?

[bryanman8]

Now you can.

http://www.2ksports.com/games/mlbmanager

[YaBoyTopher]

I was just about to post about this. I plan to pick this game up this week sometime, When I play baseball games by far my favorite thing is Franchise mode and this game is supposed to take that to a whole new level. I dont think this game will be for everyone but I am excited about it as I have always dreamed of being a ML GM, I will post a little review when I pick it up probably Wednesday.

[allstar1579]

Yeah I posted something about this a couple months back when I heard about it, but there weren't too many details out yet. It's looking pretty good, and with a $39 price tag, it's a pretty good value too!

[fdmstng99]

Now you can.

http://www.2ksports.com/games/mlbmanager


May pick this one up as well. Usually in sport games I end up playing franchise mode and simulating all the regular season games just to see how my team does. I don't think I've played a game in Madden in years. I just mess around in franchise mode to resign players and go to the draft.

[Dr. FLK]

This looks pretty slick. I just pre-ordered a copy.

[sbauer]

I heard about some issues related to no trade clauses being ignored. I'm going to wait on user impressions before getting this.

[ccbird]

This is getting some pretty bad early reviews. I wouldn't expect IGN or Gamespot to be much better. You're better off sticking to OOTP or Baseball Mogul unless you're really desperate to play a Baseball sim on a console.

[sbauer]

This is getting some pretty bad early reviews. I wouldn't expect IGN or Gamespot to be much better. You're better off sticking to OOTP or Baseball Mogul unless you're really desperate to play a Baseball sim on a console.

Yeah, they were pretty bad. I'm still waiting on fan reviews, though. A lot of these reviewers have no interest in baseball at all.

[YaBoyTopher]

Yea, I dont put much clout into those reviews, this game is for hardcore baseball fans only. And about the NT clause you can actually trade a player who has one if they agree to it. I am not saying the game will be good but I want to see for myself.

I am hoping to have my hands on the game in the next two hours, the guy at gamestop is holding it for me. I wont be able to play it too much until late tonight, but I will post my impressions tomorrow.

[sbauer]

Couple of people are posting their impressions online. One guy posted a few trades he has seen.

Here are two.

Jacoby Ellsbury for Kenji Johijma and Miguel Batista
Troy Tulowitzki for Bob Howry and Reed Johnson

Eh.

[OrangeJerseys]

May pick this one up as well. Usually in sport games I end up playing franchise mode and simulating all the regular season games just to see how my team does. I don't think I've played a game in Madden in years. I just mess around in franchise mode to resign players and go to the draft.

I ordered it from Amazon today. I think it ships on Thursday. I always play franchise mode and sim the regular season as well. I can't wait.

[YaBoyTopher]

I just picked the game up I will hopefully be able to play a little bit in like a hour... I cant wait.

[sbauer]

I just picked the game up I will hopefully be able to play a little bit in like a hour... I cant wait.

Have fun. Let us know how you like it. I may pick it up.

[Tank]

How is it? I was looking forward to this, but the 2 reviews I've read have been pretty brutal. 3/10 and 5/10

But the reader reviews were at 8.5/10, so I'm not sure.

I'm a huge fan of OOTP. I don't expect it to touch that level yet, but I hope these early reviews are off point.

[orioles119]

Those reviews are probably based on gamers who are used to playing the actual baseball game and have no idea what OOTP is or understand the appeal of such GM surrounded games have.

[YaBoyTopher]

Ok I just played career mode for about a half hour, Here are my first impressions, I will post more detailed impressions later when I have time to really delve deeper into the game. This review may be all over the place because I am rushing as I have to leave, So sorry in advance. If you guys have any specific questions post them and I will answer when I get home tonight, keep in mind I am 2 hours behind you so I may not answer until 2 AM eastern.

I obviously chose to be the O's GM. The game starts after the World Series, so none of the real life Free Agent moves have been made, this gives you the chance to change history.

In my game, Tex Resigned with LAA, Manny Resigned with LAD and AJ Resigned with Tor. All with fairly realistic contracts I think Tex got 22/7, AJ got 15 mil for like 4 years I think, Manny signed a 25 Mil contract for 5 years, The Years are out of whack for Manny but that is only one I couldnt see happening.

Zaun Retired and Izturis Resigned so getting them was out of the question.

Something weird I noticed is a vast majority of the O's MLB roster is free agents so you have to go through and Re-sign a bunch of guys that in real life have contracts, its a bit bizarre. Not to big of an issue but weird nonetheless.

Minor Leagues are pretty deep AAA, AA, A+, A , SS, R are all there. One sad thing is if a minor leaguer has not had a ML AB or IP then they are not in the game, That means no Wieters, Tillman, Arrieta, Matusz etc. You can edit rosters before you start your career so you can create them yourself if you want, still a bit of a bummer.

Another weird thing is Roberts has a No Trade Clause, I couldnt believe it but he does, so he will be a Oriole in 09 in my career.

I made the Ramon for Freel Trade, Turner and Waring obviously are not in the game but I picked to fake players with equal value to them and the Reds accepted.

The menus are a bit tedious, they definitely could be streamlined and I am sure they will if 2Ksports plans to turn this into a series, Nothing game breakingly bad like some reviews said but annoying.

Free Agency was fairly realistic, Sabathia ended up signing with TORONTO, Yes Toronto. He got a similar contract to what he got in real life however so I cant make a big issue out of it.

The only free agent that seemed oddly included was Chipper Jones, I dont know how he ended up there but he was asking for a outrageous 27/7 contract. Other then Chipper I did not notice too many outrageous requests which is very good, compared to many other Baseball games I played this seemed most realistic.

I invested in scouting, the cost to scout varies depending on location, all are very similar except for Japan, its costs 30m to invest in Japan! compared to 1-10m for anywhere else, so it is a serious investment just to scout in Japan much less actually paying posting fees. I have not played a full year yet so I do not know how in-depth scouting really is just yet.

Trades have seemed fairly realistic, only 1 really bizarre offer, TB offered me Crawford, Zobrist and Floyd for Huff. I LOLd, but I did not accept because I would like to keep my game as realistic as possible. With that one big exception the trade AI seems better then in any other baseball game I have played.

I stopped playing at the beginning of Spring Training so I do not know how managing a game is yet.

So far I like the game, but I need to play more to give a final verdict. Ok guys thats it for now, Sorry about how unorganized and rambled on that is but I am in a rush, if you have any questions just let me know and I will do my best to answer them when I get home.

[allstar1579]

How is it? I was looking forward to this, but the 2 reviews I've read have been pretty brutal. 3/10 and 5/10

But the reader reviews were at 8.5/10, so I'm not sure.

I'm a huge fan of OOTP. I don't expect it to touch that level yet, but I hope these early reviews are off point.

Yeah but those reviews are based on how much money the company paid the mag, and how much of a fanboy that particular reviewer is. Just another example is a couple months ago when Dead Space came out, it got a 5/10 and some other bad reviews in a few mags, but if you played it, it was really well done.

I usually do my pre-assessments based on the publisher, the developer and the game engine. 2K sports has a good history, up until the last year or two at least. Even then, they werent that bad. And game engine really doesn't apply in a sim game. Mine is on the way from gamefly, hopefully it will be here before the weekend :)

[allstar1579]

Thanks for the rundown Topher. Sounds like more of the same from their usual games (I usually just buy it, and sim the FO stuff anyway). Do they have the preferences of the players for different teams and managers? You used to be able to fire and hire managers in the offseason in order to get BIG discounts on the players you wanted.

Mine is on the way, I'll prolly just buy it from Gamefly for $25.

[PrivateO]

It's kind of depressing that it seems like every one of your players goes to free agency the first year you start.

This is now the 2nd time I've heard Chipper Jones ask for a lucrative contract (someone on another board said the same thing).

I've never done one of these games, but it does sound interesting. The last baseball videogame I played was All-Star Baseball 2004, which I loved.

[mweb]

The IGN review was not favorable, and obviously came from a baseball fan that prefers doing franchise mode's over playing the games.

[Waryn]

I stopped listening to "Professional Reviews" when the entire Kane & Lynch debacle started and the integrity of the reviewer could just be bought with a few extra chunks of cash.

From the people who have played it, it's pretty realistic with the signings and expectations and trade offers except for the one or two wacky ones that get out there.

Recently IGN and other news sites reviewed the famous Football Manager game and gave it a 2.9 when everybody who was a fan of the game said it was better than the previous year and loved it, so much they actually got IGN to review it in the right "Spirits" for a "better score"

These are people that run a business and that business is to sell their product and games like these don't really push that towards that business model.

However, I have friends who worked on the game and I can share any other information if you want but from what I've played and done it's pretty fun.

[J.D.]

The IGN review was not favorable, and obviously came from a baseball fan that prefers doing franchise mode's over playing the games.

He's not far off.

I ran and got this today and while the concept is FANTASTIC, the game suffers from poor planning. The menus are annoying. There are some things in the game that are difficult to find (I waited till the last minute to sign my drafted prospects because I couldn't find them). The actual game manager part of the game has graphics that might be from their 2005 engine (similar problem that NFL Head Coach has). The lack of minor league prospects is really discouraging. The game has really odd AI, and the opposing GMs never really stick to a plan. There's no way I should be able to get Homer Bailey for Brian Bass, Danys Baez, and Lance Cormier... but I did. And that was after he was acquired by the Cubs for two even worse prospects. Also, the ratings system tends to be deceptive. There's a ton of pitchers that rate out to 55, but you either get an ERA in the mid 3.00-4.00 range, or you get Claudio Vargas. No, really.

That said, I managed to cobble a nice rotation of Ervin Santana, Jeremy Guthrie, Homer Bailey, Boof Bonser, and Shawn Hill (the latter two scooped up off of waivers). I have a very mismashed bullpen. My line-up is pretty fierce (Tampa helped out by offering me Crawford, Floyd, and Zobrist for Huff). I also traded for Teagarden, Votto, Alexi Ramirez (necessary because Roberts wanted $18.4 million a year and wouldn't budge), and I signed Ryan Zimmerman. While Cesar Izturis re-signed with St. Louis... Macier Izturis did not. He's now my SS (and somehow hit .334 in 2009).

The game has it's flaws, but it doesn't make the game un-playable. There's a lot of enjoyment to get out of it if you don't obsess over the menus or the opposing GMs being idiots. I'd give it 6.5/10. And I hope they improve it next year.

[allstar1579]

He's not far off.

I ran and got this today and while the concept is FANTASTIC, the game suffers from poor planning. The menus are annoying. There are some things in the game that are difficult to find (I waited till the last minute to sign my drafted prospects because I couldn't find them). The actual game manager part of the game has graphics that might be from their 2005 engine (similar problem that NFL Head Coach has). The lack of minor league prospects is really discouraging. The game has really odd AI, and the opposing GMs never really stick to a plan. There's no way I should be able to get Homer Bailey for Brian Bass, Danys Baez, and Lance Cormier... but I did. And that was after he was acquired by the Cubs for two even worse prospects. Also, the ratings system tends to be deceptive. There's a ton of pitchers that rate out to 55, but you either get an ERA in the mid 3.00-4.00 range, or you get Claudio Vargas. No, really.

That said, I managed to cobble a nice rotation of Ervin Santana, Jeremy Guthrie, Homer Bailey, Boof Bonser, and Shawn Hill (the latter two scooped up off of waivers). I have a very mismashed bullpen. My line-up is pretty fierce (Tampa helped out by offering me Crawford, Floyd, and Zobrist for Huff). I also traded for Teagarden, Votto, Alexi Ramirez (necessary because Roberts wanted $18.4 million a year and wouldn't budge), and I signed Ryan Zimmerman. While Cesar Izturis re-signed with St. Louis... Macier Izturis did not. He's now my SS (and somehow hit .334 in 2009).

The game has it's flaws, but it doesn't make the game un-playable. There's a lot of enjoyment to get out of it if you don't obsess over the menus or the opposing GMs being idiots. I'd give it 6.5/10. And I hope they improve it next year.

Sounds like all the same problems from the typical 2k baseball game. The last couple years have all had the same problem. Another tough one that popped up last year is they don't like to negotiate, they want what they ask for or they won't sign. Well done though, sounds like the same kinda gameplan I would shoot for in the first season.

Hold out hope for DLC in the form of minor league prospects down the line. I know talking to some 2k developers I met they had mentioned that they wanted to get the major league rosters right, then try to get more in depth after launch and update AAA, AA and A after ST.

[J.D.]

Sounds like all the same problems from the typical 2k baseball game. The last couple years have all had the same problem. Another tough one that popped up last year is they don't like to negotiate, they want what they ask for or they won't sign. Well done though, sounds like the same kinda gameplan I would shoot for in the first season.

Hold out hope for DLC in the form of minor league prospects down the line. I know talking to some 2k developers I met they had mentioned that they wanted to get the major league rosters right, then try to get more in depth after launch and update AAA, AA and A after ST.

Yeah, I was thinking that a roster-update DLC right before spring training would serve them really, really well. Gotta think there are New York fans that are irritated that they can't get Mark Teixeira and CC Sabathia for next season, even though this game came out in late January.

I've actually noticed a BIT of flexibility on negotiating. By a bit, I mean if a guy wants $5 million, I can usually talk him down to 3.8-4, in that range. Roberts ended up signing somewhere for $17.4, even though he wanted $18.4. So they will negotiate a bit. Changing the length of the contract, upping their performance options, giving a ntc, or giving option years generally helps them budge a bit. The AI of the other general managers is something that's plagued the previous 2KSports baseball games in the past. Hasn't improved much. That being said, it's something that's plagued every sports game, honestly. It's not a distraction in Madden. It's a huge distraction in a game where the entire point is to be the GM, and where the sole game play stems from that.

[ccbird]

Yeah, I was thinking that a roster-update DLC right before spring training would serve them really, really well. Gotta think there are New York fans that are irritated that they can't get Mark Teixeira and CC Sabathia for next season, even though this game came out in late January.

I've actually noticed a BIT of flexibility on negotiating. By a bit, I mean if a guy wants $5 million, I can usually talk him down to 3.8-4, in that range. Roberts ended up signing somewhere for $17.4, even though he wanted $18.4. So they will negotiate a bit. Changing the length of the contract, upping their performance options, giving a ntc, or giving option years generally helps them budge a bit. The AI of the other general managers is something that's plagued the previous 2KSports baseball games in the past. Hasn't improved much. That being said, it's something that's plagued every sports game, honestly. It's not a distraction in Madden. It's a huge distraction in a game where the entire point is to be the GM, and where the sole game play stems from that.


I've never seen a game that has smart, realistic trading AI. Even OOTP which does a pretty good job with their AI has a tendency to overvalue mid to late 30's expensive superstars and are willing to trade them for multiple can't miss prospects. I consistently trade guys after they hit 33 or so and get rid of their huge contracts while they are still productive for top 20 prospects. Not only that but there just seems to be too much trading in general in these games. You never get the feeling the computer AI has a gameplan as they often make trades that on the surface are of equal value but really wasn't filling a need for their team.


I know we tried a few years ago but I would still love to get a Hangout based SIm league together. Personally, I don't know enough about making webpages and running the online components of OOTP to be a commish but maybe now someone here has the capability to do that.

[J.D.]

I've never seen a game that has smart, realistic trading AI. Even OOTP which does a pretty good job with their AI has a tendency to overvalue mid to late 30's expensive superstars and are willing to trade them for multiple can't miss prospects. I consistently trade guys after they hit 33 or so and get rid of their huge contracts while they are still productive for top 20 prospects. Not only that but there just seems to be too much trading in general in these games. You never get the feeling the computer AI has a gameplan as they often make trades that on the surface are of equal value but really wasn't filling a need for their team.


I know we tried a few years ago but I would still love to get a Hangout based SIm league together. Personally, I don't know enough about making webpages and running the online components of OOTP to be a commish but maybe now someone here has the capability to do that.

I have the capability to do it, but honestly every time I start doing one something happens and I have to stop it. It never really gets started again after that. It's a good idea, and it could definitely be hosted here on OH.

They really need to sit down and work on the trade AI. Especially when the entire point of the game is to be a GM. There's not any other game play issues to work through.

Also, they could update the graphics engine when you're doing the manage mode. I get that the graphics aren't the focus, but Camden Yards doesn't even have the updates that were done to it. It looks like 2006 Camden Yards. Not 2008 Camden Yards.

NFL Head Coach did a similar cop out where they used the Madden 07 engine in their 09 game.

[bryanman8]

Just ordered a copy on Amazon for $37 with free shipping.

So the consensus is that it's good, but has its flaws?

I doubt I'll notice them considering I don't play video games, but had to make an exception for this one.

[BaltimoreTerp]

I've never seen a game that has smart, realistic trading AI. Even OOTP which does a pretty good job with their AI has a tendency to overvalue mid to late 30's expensive superstars and are willing to trade them for multiple can't miss prospects. I consistently trade guys after they hit 33 or so and get rid of their huge contracts while they are still productive for top 20 prospects. Not only that but there just seems to be too much trading in general in these games. You never get the feeling the computer AI has a gameplan as they often make trades that on the surface are of equal value but really wasn't filling a need for their team.

I haven't really tested it, but I know OOTP allows you to adjust the rules for both amount of trades and the preference for the AI (prospect vs. veteran).

[ThisIsOurHouse]

I wonder if there is a downloadable roster where they fix the rosters, like having Tex on the Yanks, and having the names of the minor league players. I'm a little tenitive on purchasing this game. I too usually sim the season and do the whole gm thing. I'm not sure if I want to buy this game, having a game that's pure gm and having the bad trades leaves a bad taste in my mouth :puke:. Making realistic trades was one thing I was looking foward to.

[J.D.]

Just ordered a copy on Amazon for $37 with free shipping.

So the consensus is that it's good, but has its flaws?

I doubt I'll notice them considering I don't play video games, but had to make an exception for this one.

The consensus is that it's a great idea, but the execution's leaving a bit to be desired. It's more the user interface and the AI than anything else. You'll still enjoy the hell out of it. You'll just mock the opposing GMs mercilessly because they make some god-awful moves.

Also, you'll laugh that Brian Roberts thinks he should get $18.4 million a year over 4 years.

[Saintbird]

So, I play Baseball Mogul 09 and love it. Which do you give the upper hand?

[sbauer]

So, I play Baseball Mogul 09 and love it. Which do you give the upper hand?

The engine for Baseball Mogul is more mature. I'm sure Front Office Manager's engine has a few issues considering this is its first year. However, Front Office Manager adds much better visuals. If there's a demo available, you should give it a try.

I've played Baseball Mogul, but haven't played FOM.

[Saintbird]

The engine for Baseball Mogul is more mature. I'm sure Front Office Manager's engine has a few issues considering this is its first year. However, Front Office Manager adds much better visuals. If there's a demo available, you should give it a try.

I've played Baseball Mogul, but haven't played FOM.

Ok thanks man I will.

[sbauer]

Ok thanks man I will.

No problem. I know it's not the best answer in the world, but I think the demo is important. I've heard good things and bad things. If the visuals are really important to you, then you may like it. If you would rather have a great sim engine with a ton of features, you probably will like Baseball Mogul better. It just depends on the person.

[obannon35]

When I change the rosters prior to starting a Franchise, as soon as I load them it reverts back to default rosters. Can anyone help me with this?? Thanks!!

[Tank]

I just started playing OOTP 9 again after reading this thread. Can't wait for 10. Its supposed to come out around Opening Day.

[Saintbird]

I'm probably going to get the game tomorrow for Windows and I'm going to create a OH league so I'll make a thread and whoever wants to can join.

[allstar1579]

When I change the rosters prior to starting a Franchise, as soon as I load them it reverts back to default rosters. Can anyone help me with this?? Thanks!!

That's just how the 2k games work, you gotta start the franchise before you make moves cause they won't transfer over.

[allstar1579]

Anyone else still playing this? It has become quite an obsession for me, once I got through those first 4 years of scavenging the waiver wire and rule 5 drafting I have won 6 straight WS.