Let's get this out in the open: Out of the Park Baseball needs head-to-head. Every year, the popular game has added and enhanced new and existing features. Yet, even while it brought back detailed scouting reports, improved its stat-simulation by relying on DIPS, and included pitch-by-pitch mode over the years, the one big omission has been head-to-head.

It's true that the feature isn't the most popular or most demanded at both FOFC or OOTP's own message board. And the title is specifically designed for solo-play; and you'll find that most OOTP players enjoy developing their own dynasties. In fact, setting up a simple exhibition match was removed a few versions ago and is just now making a return. So there's no doubt that the fan base doesn't feel there is a huge importance for head-to-head.

I'm definitely not here to argue that head-to-head is the most important feature that OOTP needs to add. First and foremost, Markus Heinsohn, creator of the Out of the Park Baseball series, needs to and will continue to develop the career mode aspects of the game. He has even made strides to appease the historical crowd longing to simulate baseball's history as accurately as possible -- still mixing in a bit of fantasy where possible. So instead, I believe that head-to-head would simply be a great addition and that OOTP needs it to continue to grow.

But yes, I realize that right now it's likely that a majority of the people will prefer other features over head-to-head. I believe those reasons fall in line with the same people that didn't see how huge online gaming would become. When it comes to sports gaming there is one true goal that every gamer is trying to reach: satisfaction. At what point will the OOTP fans realize that opening the game up for head-to-head action will enhance the satisfaction we get from playing Out of the Park Baseball?

If you want to play against another human there is a way. You can join the many online leagues that exist in the OOTP Community. Sign onto ootpdevelopments.com's message-board and you'll find online league postings in its dedicated forum. Many fans join online leagues after having grown tired of dominating solo play. After a few years of finding ways to beat the A.I., developing your young talent, and signing dominant free agents, long-time gamers prefer to try their skills against other peers possessing those seemingly amazing GM skills.

Unfortunately, online leagues do not allow you to coach your team. If you enjoy being just a GM, simming seasons, and watching your team grow, then an online league is a deeper challenge than solo play and you'll be satisfied. But what about those gamers that enjoy playing pitch-by-pitch, day-by-day, and still want to experience the challenge of facing another human gamer online? There is no true solution.

The opinion on head-to-head varies. Even long-time fans of OOTP, gamers since version one, split on how much OOTP needs head-to-head. For some, it'd just be a nice little feature. For others, like me, it can attract a new audience to the text-sim crowd.

Features can define the quality of a title. It's a simple strategy: add a new dynamic feature and the predecessor no longer stands the test of time post-new release. Plus OOTP is already the most realistic baseball text-sim on the market. It may even be the most realistic baseball sports game, consoles included. Improving its stat engine, its development and aging algorithms are important, very much appreciated features, but they do not pull in everyone. A new interface, a graphical upgrade, perhaps even 2D ball markers on the field (all of which have either already made an appearance or will in version nine) will draw in a new crowd. And OOTP is likely bigger, stronger, and more attractive to sports gamers than it was three years ago.

Head-to-head is that big, new feature that can push new sales. It's a feature that gamers can sink their teeth into immediately. There is no wait or confusion. There is no questioning how effective a new feature might be since every career is so different. Instead, you get a feature that can be used by everyone once the game is purchased and installed on his or her hard drives. Features like this have been huge reasons why a title like Madden, unfortunately a perennial door mat to the sim crowd, continues to draw in gamers and sell a great number of copies.

No doubt, gameplay is the most important aspect. Madden '09, for example, looks like a much deeper and improved game based on its gameplay improvements alone. But, even with that, all producers know that features sell titles. That is no different for text-sim games, especially since the major difference between the number of copies OOTP sells compared to The Show -- outside of the Console vs. PC War -- is the battle between "casual" gamers and sim gamers. Sim gamers along with "casual" gamers will purchase a console title. It's unlikely that "casual" gamers will be interested in purchasing a text-sim.

Now, I'm not implying that head-to-head will allow OOTP to match The Show copy-for-copy in sales. Again, the war is greater than the battle. But, text-sims do need to make moves to attract a new crowd and develop its fan base. I'm not suggesting something drastic like 3D modeled players. I'm only suggesting a feature that doesn't take away from the game's strengths. Head-to-head will enhance the title without taking away what makes it appealing to "hardcore" sim fans.

-Carlos Hernandez is a staff writer for Operation Sports.