Dear SCEA, You've Made The Best Baseball Game Ever, But...

[Artful Dodger]

Seriously, this game is fabulous and beautiful and a joy to play. There are flaws to be sure, but they're the flaws those of us who love this game notice and nitpick over.

However, there is one thing that is driving me crazy in RTTS. And that is that STATS mean nothing. I am getting about as many points as I can and hitting all the achievement goals, but the end result is ridiculous.

As starting shortstop for the last-place Orioles in my 5th season of play, I batted cleanup and hit .320 with 38 HRs, 118 RBIs and finished 3rd in the MVP voting. Every one of my notes after an Achievement Goal was followed with what a great career I was going to have.

So what happens at the end of this season? The Orioles offer me a AAA contract at less money than I was making the year before. I accept arbitration and win 10 million dollars/year. They put me on waivers and I am claimed by the last-place Giants.

I'm sorry, but this is patently absurd and it happens at the end of every season. Results seemingly mean nothing in RTTS and this should be addressed. My numbers are in the low 60s for power and contact, 50s for speed, and 40s for Fielding. Either results should garner more points so that people ratings will be higher and lead to better options from teams or they need to be a lesser part of the equation.

It's ridiculous that after an MVP season for a last-place team, the only team that will have me is another last place team after being put on waivers. So now I'm batting 7th/8th for a terrible team after putting at numbers that should have me in the middle of the order on any team in baseball.

Please address this for the greatest baseball video game ever made for next year.

[Mr. Franchise]

IN BEFORE THE LOCK!

[Whitesox]

Stats do mean something. They factor into the amount of points you get, which factors into how well you complete your goals, which is a major factor in how quick you progress to the majors.

While I do agree with you that it is a little silly you were offered a minor league contract, perhaps the team you are on has a better rated player at that position? Also, what age were you?

Anyway, I think it is better this way, because if your progression was based on stats alone you would make it to the majors too quickly. I just think it would get a little boring going straight to the majors. Also, you might want to try moving up the difficulty level

[Whitesox]

Quote: Originally Posted by M00T

IN BEFORE THE LOCK!

When people jump into these topics saying stuff like that, what do you think is gonna happen? If you can't contribute, then don't post.

[Kolbe]

Quote: Originally Posted by Artful Dodger

Seriously, this game is fabulous and beautiful and a joy to play. There are flaws to be sure, but they're the flaws those of us who love this game notice and nitpick over. However, there is one thing that is driving me crazy in RTTS. And that is that STATS mean nothing. I am getting about as many points as I can and hitting all the achievement goals, but the end result is ridiculous. As starting shortstop for the last-place Orioles in my 5th season of play, I batted cleanup and hit .320 with 38 HRs, 118 RBIs and finished 3rd in the MVP voting. Every one of my notes after an Achievement Goal was followed with what a great career I was going to have. So what happens at the end of this season? The Orioles offer me a AAA contract at less money than I was making the year before. I accept arbitration and win 10 million dollars/year. They put me on waivers and I am claimed by the last-place Giants. I'm sorry, but this is patently absurd and it happens at the end of every season. Results seemingly mean nothing in RTTS and this should be addressed. My numbers are in the low 60s for power and contact, 50s for speed, and 40s for Fielding. Either results should garner more points so that people ratings will be higher and lead to better options from teams or they need to be a lesser part of the equation. It's ridiculous that after an MVP season for a last-place team, the only team that will have me is another last place team after being put on waivers. So now I'm batting 7th/8th for a terrible team after putting at numbers that should have me in the middle of the order on any team in baseball. Please address this for the greatest baseball video game ever made for next year.

Thanks for your feedback. I know the formula we use to calculate salary and contract length is not "ideal" - and it's something we will continually upgrade. There are many issues and reasons for this but when it comes right down to it, it's hard to make human decisions, meaning; its hard to look ahead, to project how someone good someone will be, and how much a player is worth based on stats.

You (meaning everyone who thinks any artificial decision making logic is easy) take for granted what the human brain is capable of. Making AI that can interpret multiple streams of data, extrapolate the useful information, then use that data to make a "human" decision is extremely difficult. Sure we could special case dozens and dozens of possibilities, but in the end the result would always produce similar if not more obscene loopholes. Then the really big issue is the user (you) who takes a player with attributes worth one price and turns them into stats worth another. The "value" can go both ways, if you were a player who slogged it out to a 90+ rating but were putting up 75 attribute stats, the game would not know what to do with you. The time and effort put into seemingly simple equations like this one, pushe me beyond my sanity levels each and every year.

Hopefully you can take a tiny bit of comfort in the fact that we are going to further address contracts for next year's release

-Kolbe

[Whitesox]

Quote: Originally Posted by KolbeSCEA

Hopefully you can take a tiny bit of comfort in the fact that we are going to further address contracts for next year's release

I take much comfort knowing the designers actually listen to what we have to say. It means a lot to me (and I'm sure others) that the devs read this stuff. I totally agree with you on the AI though, I'd rather have these small issues than large ones.

[SoxFan01605]

Quote: Originally Posted by KolbeSCEA

The time and effort put into seemingly simple equations like this one, pushe me beyond my sanity levels each and every year. Hopefully you can take a tiny bit of comfort in the fact that we are going to further address contracts for next year's release -Kolbe

lol...Kolbe,

To imply you possess any level of sanity (other than ZERO) is really pushing it.

Jokes aside, it's good that you're still looking at this. I'm sure it's difficult, but it is indeed frustrating to perform at a high level only to end up back to scrub status.

Hopefully some kind of balance can be figured. Maybe have stats be more of a factor simply for being able to stay called up or get an MLB contract more than just flat out being driven by stats. In other words, stats could continue to place a smaller role in actual contract value, but be more of a driving factor for opportunity.

Obvious disclaimer: I know nothing of programming or the difficulty of attaining such ideas...just spit balling what might be an acceptable balance if possible.

Also, like the OP alluded to, maybe providing some more rewards (in terms of training points or attribute boosts) for sustained performance would help. If I am consistently in the top ten in HR's for example, a small hike in my power ratings would be the reward.

Maybe some bonus points for leading the team (or league, for more points) in various statistical categories (with additional boosts for multiple/combination categories). This would help more quickly bridge the gap between statistical performance and rating...essentially killing two birds with one stone to a degree. It would also somewhat simulate guys who just fit right in when called up.

[eyeamg0dly]

you are so lucky though imo, you actually got out of the O's organization. they were holding onto my RTTS pitcher with a death grip. im sure going to the giants wasnt much of an improvement but at least you get some new scenery before you become a free agent.