Out of the Park Baseball 18 Releases on March 24 with New Features & Improvements

[Steve_OS]

Out of the Park Developments has just announced Out of the Park Baseball 18, scheduled to release on March 24 with plenty of new features and improvements. Read the full press release below and the announcement trailer here.

Out of the Park Baseball 18 Releases Worldwide on March 24, 2017

Follow-up to Metacritic’s 2016 PC Game of the Year features a new Challenge Mode, Online Profiles and Leaderboards, real 2017 major and minor league rosters, historic Negro League teams, improved 3D mode, new tournaments, and much more

OOTP 18 Available For Pre-Order Now With 20% Discount & Gold Master Access

Out of the Park Developments, an official licensee of MLB.com, the MLBPA, and MiLB.com, today announced that Out of the Park Baseball 18 will be released on March 24, 2017. The follow-up to the acclaimed Metacritic 2016 PC Game of the Year includes several exciting new features and a treasure trove of deep improvements to its award-winning gameplay.

For the first time, Out of the Park Baseball 18 introduces an all-new Challenge Mode. This will allow series newcomers to enjoy a powerful way to learn the intricacies of this deep strategy title, while driving community engagement for all users via the creation of online profiles to share accomplishments on new leaderboards. The Challenge Mode is just the beginning of an all-new, long-term expansion of OOTP’s online platform -- more will be unveiled during the course of the 2017 baseball season.

Out of the Park Baseball 18 will also include:

• 2017 roster sets with all Opening Day MLB rosters, as well as the complete minor league system from Triple-A to rookie leagues as well as the Arizona Fall League. All major league (and over a thousand minor league) player ratings will be based on the popular ZiPS player projection system. The 8 international leagues, as well as independent minor leagues in the US, also return this year with accurate rosters.
• Historical Negro League clubs, thanks to a partnership with OOTP’s acclaimed historical database experts and Seamheads.com. This feature will allow baseball fans to explore the league’s rich history, create compelling what-if scenarios, pit major league clubs against their Negro League counterparts, and much more.
• Improvements to 3D mode, including: Even more ballpark detail; better on-field player models and enhanced on-field decisions; and the ability to save all 3D highlights and watch a highlight reel, whether the game was played out or simulated.
• Custom and real world tournaments for all the teams included in the game. National and international tournaments are a breeze to create, as is the ability to import historical teams.
• Extensive AI improvements, including roster management, trades, and in-game decision-making.
• A redesigned injury system that features detailed injury histories for all players, little nagging and long-term injuries, and more.
• Many more improvements, including:
  • A beautiful new interface
  • Improved game recaps
  • An upgraded player morale/team chemistry system
  • Enhanced play-by-play text and league news
  • A sophisticated system for team relegation and promotion between leagues
  • The ability to retain player salaries in trades
  • The incorporation of many 2017 rule changes
  • Faster import speeds of historical minor league seasons
  • And more to be announced prior to release

Through January 27, customers may pre-order OOTP 18 for $31.99, a 20% discount off its full retail price. From January 28 to March 23, customers may pre-order OOTP 18 for $34.99, a 10% discount off its full retail price. All pre-order purchases include access to the Gold Master version on March 20, four days ahead of the official launch on March 24.

OOTP 18 can be pre-ordered through this link.

OOTP 18 runs on PC/Mac/Linux and, like last year, it features the American League and National League logos, the World Series trophy, official logos and jerseys for all 30 MLB teams, over 150 Minor League Baseball league and team logos, and historical MLB logos.

“Our recent success has been an overwhelmingly positive experience,” said lead developer, lifelong baseball fan, and Out of the Park Developments CEO Markus Heinsohn. “As always, our passionate community has driven us to continue improving every aspect of our game. We’re confident they will love this year’s title. The huge infusion of new fans last year has also fueled us to think bigger for the future, and we’re incredibly excited about what we’re building to dramatically expand our community and delight a new generation of Out of the Park Baseball players.”

“Out of the Park Baseball is the gold standard of sports strategy games, and last season’s awards proved that yet again,” said Out of the Park Developments CMO Richard Grisham. “That has inspired the team even more to expand the reach and relevance of this great game to put it in the hands of every kind of baseball fan. With so many modes to play, Out of the Park Baseball 18 can be enjoyed by everyone in their own way.”

[rovert22044]

Never played OOTP, but this might be my first year. Looks like a lot of fun! Since I typically run the FO type of stuff in The Show and not really play the games often, this game might be geared more towards my style.


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[HustlinOwl]

Quote:

Challenge Mode is just the beginning of an all-new, long-term expansion of OOTP’s online platform

[garyjr33]

I have never played this game but have always been interested in this and FHM as well. Is it just like an all-inclusive owner mode without playing games? It seems elaborate and interesting.

[Gosens6]

I cannot wait! I made the beta team so it's going to be a fun year of OOTP.

International tournaments have me GIDDY

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[GlennN]

I actually haven't bought a new version since 12, but I think I'm ready. I have no interest in online stuff, but looks like the game has gotten a lot better over the past several years (and it was pretty darn good with 12).

[tarek]

How good is the 3D engine getting? Is it getting on par with what football manager does with it's 3D engine? If so then this becomes a must have. I think a 3D engine on a fully fledged sports management sim is one of the best features to build immersion.

[Gosens6]

Quote: Originally Posted by tarek

How good is the 3D engine getting? Is it getting on par with what football manager does with it's 3D engine? If so then this becomes a must have. I think a 3D engine on a fully fledged sports management sim is one of the best features to build immersion.

They're working towards it, and there will be some noticeable improvements this year for sure, but I wouldn't expect to see FM levels of 3D just yet.

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