WOW!

[Hooligan]

I know this has been said before, but I am truly amazed at the depth ASB04 has in its franchise. I played OOTP last year a bit, but I do really like actually playing the games. Anyway, the fact that ASB has things like Arbitration, the Rule 5 draft, an amateur draft, spring training, it really feels like you are running your own baseball franchise.
On a side note, I'm currently getting my MBA, and I have always loved the "business" side of sports. ASB has the deepest, most complete franchise for a console I have ever seen, and because of that, it will get HUGE playing time from me.
It just seems like Acclaim thought of almost everything. Rotating All-Star games, the futures game, minor leagues, everything is in there. The ONLY thing I don't care for is that you play the same scedule, but honestly that doesn't bother me at all because everything else is so dead on.
Great game Acclaim!

[sox73b3]

Re: WOW!

Sounds good! Can you give some more specific info on the financial model? How do the Contracts negotiations work? How do the Free Agent negotiations work? Can you set Budgets and a Salary Cap? Are there full Minor Leagues? What are some of the similarities to OOTP?

[sox73b3]

Re: WOW!

Sounds good! Can you give some more specific info on the financial model? How do the Contracts negotiations work? How do the Free Agent negotiations work? Can you set Budgets and a Salary Cap? Are there full Minor Leagues? What are some of the similarities to OOTP?

[Hooligan]

Re: WOW!

You know, it's been a while since I've played OOTP, and ASB is pretty complex, so as of now I don't have exact specifics. I know you can set budgets, the minors are dvided into AAA and A, there are waivers, long-term contract negoitations. OOTP is still stronger with contract negotiations, as you are given what the player wants and you can either match it or try to set it lower and hope he goes for it. If not, you can always go into arbitration and sometimes they will find in favor of you, and other times they won't, sending the player to the free agent pool. Major/minor league movements look good too. CPU controlled teams do not shy from messing around with their roster, which is nice.
As for the minors, they don't keep stats for them, but you can see all of their attributes, and they will develop at the end of the year (not sure about during).
And there are also "winter meetings" where much of this takes place. Just a good overall job with everything.
I mean it still isn't OOTP, but it's the closest a console has, and you can play the games, which is sweet (and they look and play well too).

P.S. I'm still a rookie when it comes to a lot of the intricasies of the finances of baseball, but in franchise mode there is an ASB rulebook that goes through how EVERYTHING works. Great reading, and essential if you want to run your franchise. Sort of like the TD waterhouse commercials, "You have to learn before you can earn"

[Hooligan]

Re: WOW!

You know, it's been a while since I've played OOTP, and ASB is pretty complex, so as of now I don't have exact specifics. I know you can set budgets, the minors are dvided into AAA and A, there are waivers, long-term contract negoitations. OOTP is still stronger with contract negotiations, as you are given what the player wants and you can either match it or try to set it lower and hope he goes for it. If not, you can always go into arbitration and sometimes they will find in favor of you, and other times they won't, sending the player to the free agent pool. Major/minor league movements look good too. CPU controlled teams do not shy from messing around with their roster, which is nice.
As for the minors, they don't keep stats for them, but you can see all of their attributes, and they will develop at the end of the year (not sure about during).
And there are also "winter meetings" where much of this takes place. Just a good overall job with everything.
I mean it still isn't OOTP, but it's the closest a console has, and you can play the games, which is sweet (and they look and play well too).

P.S. I'm still a rookie when it comes to a lot of the intricasies of the finances of baseball, but in franchise mode there is an ASB rulebook that goes through how EVERYTHING works. Great reading, and essential if you want to run your franchise. Sort of like the TD waterhouse commercials, "You have to learn before you can earn"