MLB 14 The Show News Post

MLB 14 The Show Blog - Online Franchise

12:11 PM - March 5, 2014 by Steve_OS

Franchise Mode has been an MLB The Show staple for quite some time now, and this year, we’re excited to introduce its long-awaited online version. We took the team-building aspects of Franchise, such as scouting and offseason contract negotiations, and merged them with the customizable schedules and divisional alignments of Online Leagues. We also continued to refine the game logic that governs trade values, lineups, player generation, and more. Let’s go over some of the main features in more detail.

FRANCHISE HOME

When you create an Online Franchise, you automatically become the league’s Commissioner. You’ll get to choose the divisional alignment, schedule type, Designated Hitter preference and whether or not to upload a custom roster, among other things. Once you’re happy with your settings, you’ll need to invite other players to the league, and also determine what teams will be controlled by the CPU (if any at all).

CREATE FRANCHISE

Building a successful team in Online Franchise is as much about what happens on the field, as about what happens off the field. One of the most important things you can do to remain competitive is to draft amateur players effectively, in order to keep replenishing your major league roster with top-tier talent. To do this, you’ll need to scout players throughout the regular season so that you don’t go into your live online draft unprepared. Without proper scouting reports, you’ll have a much tougher time trying to distinguish between future superstars and draft-day busts.

AMATEUR DRAFT

The vast majority of your drafted players will need some seasoning in the minors before they’re ready for The Show, so we’ve given you access to full minor league rosters. You’ll be able to move players up and down from Class-A all the way to the Majors, set training assignments, and also pull-off trades with other teams. Our trade logic has been greatly improved as well, so forget about lopsided trades involving three top prospects for an average major league middle reliever.

MANAGE ROSTER

This brings us to the offseason, which we divided into two parts. In Part 1, you will handle all of your contract renewable players, arbitration cases and draft pick signings. Our player contract logic has received a much needed overhaul, as we made MLB service time more of a factor when determining player interest and ideal salary. One example where this is really noticeable is when trying to offer contract extensions to your young players. In the past, you were able to sign young superstar players to extremely cheap long-term contracts, which is unrealistic in today’s MLB. Now, you’ll still be able to lock these players up early in their careers, but you’ll have to pay something much closer to their market value. This type of contract is becoming much more common in real-life lately, with teams like the Rays and Braves leading the way, and it was important for us to incorporate this new dynamic into the game.

CONTRACT RENEWALS

Free agent signings happen in Part 2 of the offseason, which is divided into an adjustable number of rounds, or advancement periods. Every team gets a chance to make their best offer, and then the commissioner advances to the next round.

FA ROUNDS

Players will either sign with a team, or they will remain on the market for the next round. The bidding wars that occur in this part of the offseason can become pretty intense, coupled with the fact that you’re competing against other human opponents makes the bidding all the more entertaining.

FREE AGENT CONTRACTS

Rounding out the whole package is our expanded record keeping, as we now store draft classes, retired players, and additional career stats and awards on the Player Card. In addition, League Events and Notifications will keep you up to date on what’s happening around the league, and what tasks you need to perform to manage your team properly.

RETIREMENT

We’re all extremely happy with the way Online Franchise turned out, and we hope you enjoy playing it just as much as we enjoyed putting it together. See you online!

Bleacher Report has posted an interview with MLB 14 The Show developers, Luis Martinez and Lance Leahy, providing even more information.

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Member Comments

# 241 MrOldboy @ 03/11/14 09:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dave724


	I refer to my post of March 5 on page 5 of this thread. If the answer is, 'Online Franchises' will not carry over to the next versions of the game..., then this whole thread should get a lot lighter and very much irrelevant to those who like to carry long-term franchises, especially when the 'offline franchise version has such functionality.... like the olden days when games weren't made new (same) games every year you could run a franchise for years...

The thing is until you can import players into a franchise already started the save carry-over isn't as big of a feature as you are implying, at least on here. A lot of the more diehard The Show fans use OSFM and like to have updated base rosters as well each year. I am a person who will likely never use the save import feature because I need to have the most updated rosters as soon as I can get them. That's one reason to start a new franchise each year.

Online franchise will have plenty of appeal to a lot of people because

A) it has logic updates that are a BIG deal to many if they are considered improvements by the community (they could be terrible, its possible)
B) Is the only way to play franchise with other players

The mode might get irrelevant to those who like to carry long-term franchises, but don't expect a mass exodus.

# 242 dave724 @ 03/11/14 09:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MrOldboy


	The thing is until you can import players into a franchise already started the save carry-over isn't as big of a feature as you are implying, at least on here. A lot of the more diehard The Show fans use OSFM and like to have updated base rosters as well each year. I am a person who will likely never use the save import feature because I need to have the most updated rosters as soon as I can get them. That's one reason to start a new franchise each year. Online franchise will have plenty of appeal to a lot of people because A) it has logic updates that are a BIG deal to many if they are considered improvements by the community (they could be terrible, its possible) B) Is the only way to play franchise with other players The mode might get irrelevant to those who like to carry long-term franchises, but don't expect a mass exodus.

Well, your method using new/updated roster every year is more 'season mode' then franchise, the purpose of a franchise is to go multiple years, carrying historical data. In reference to your points

A) We will really have to wait and see on this.
B) Perhaps, although what is the point if you can only go a one or two seasons and the next year you have to start all over again.

My point is if you are going to introduce carry over as feature, you have to enable it for the most basic online franchise to make sense. I can see how you can find carry-over irrelevant if you play in such a fashion.

# 243 Knight165 @ 03/11/14 09:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dave724


	Well, your method using new/updated roster every year is more 'season mode' then franchise, the purpose of a franchise is to go multiple years, carrying historical data. In reference to your points A) We will really have to wait and see on this. B) Perhaps, although what is the point if you can only go a one or two seasons and the next year you have to start all over again. My point is if you are going to introduce carry over as feature, you have to enable it for the most basic online franchise to make sense. I can see how you can find carry-over irrelevant if you play in such a fashion.

No...he means being able to import new players into an EXISTING franchise.....not starting over with new rosters each year.

M.K.
Knight165

# 244 dave724 @ 03/11/14 10:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Knight165


	No...he means being able to import new players into an EXISTING franchise.....not starting over with new rosters each year. M.K. Knight165

ok.., so how many players are we talking here?..., I mean how many players would you be adding this year 2014 for instance if we had carry-over, what Tanaka, who else? Couldn't you just edit some nobodies or create them yourself, adjust ratings? If you don't have carry-over for 'online franchise' it seems like a much bigger deal, no? Am I way off here..., I don't understand why my question gets the response as if I am asking about adding sunflower seeds to the dugout.

# 245 MrOldboy @ 03/11/14 10:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dave724


	Well, your method using new/updated roster every year is more 'season mode' then franchise, the purpose of a franchise is to go multiple years, carrying historical data. In reference to your points A) We will really have to wait and see on this. B) Perhaps, although what is the point if you can only go a one or two seasons and the next year you have to start all over again. My point is if you are going to introduce carry over as feature, you have to enable it for the most basic online franchise to make sense. I can see how you can find carry-over irrelevant if you play in such a fashion.

Not everyone plays franchise the way you do. You might make it one or two seasons in, but I and others make it much further. And each year we rely on updated rosters to make the mode worthwhile. Carry over saves are a nice feature, but in no way is it mandatory for everyone to care about them. Your perception of how people play franchise is incorrect. Some play that way, but not everyone.

# 246 Knight165 @ 03/11/14 10:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dave724


	ok.., so how many players are we talking here?..., I mean how many players would you be adding this year 2014 for instance if we had carry-over, what Tanaka, who else? Couldn't you just edit some nobodies or create them yourself, adjust ratings? If you don't have carry-over for 'online franchise' it seems like a much bigger deal, no? Am I way off here..., I don't understand why my question gets the response as if I am asking about adding sunflower seeds to the dugout.

Technically...yes you could, but not a lot of guys are either willing to or "good enough" at editing to do this proficiently or to their satisfaction.
Being able to get players from the Vaults and import them into an existing franchise is the true way to maximize the year to year save IMO.

Also....until this year with the ability to edit the potential rating....matching up players from year to year with straight editing would have been impossible.

M.K.
Knight165

# 247 dave724 @ 03/11/14 11:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Knight165


	Technically...yes you could, but not a lot of guys are either willing to or "good enough" at editing to do this proficiently or to their satisfaction. Being able to get players from the Vaults and import them into an existing franchise is the true way to maximize the year to year save IMO. Also....until this year with the ability to edit the potential rating....matching up players from year to year with straight editing would have been impossible. M.K. Knight165

hmm... ok, I guess I am a minority then in thinking you set a franchise up and go with it for the duration and having a carry-over save keeps it going through the future real years, players progress over time and their ratings change etc... from time to time you add an imported player, and eventually players retire and before you know it you have a league of completely fictional players.

# 248 Knight165 @ 03/11/14 11:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dave724


	hmm... ok, I guess I am a minority then in thinking you set a franchise up and go with it for the duration and having a carry-over save keeps it going through the future real years, players progress over time and their ratings change etc... from time to time you add an imported player, and eventually players retire and before you know it you have a league of completely fictional players.

I wouldn't say the minority.
I let my players progress as they do in game w/o edits once I edit them to start.
That is no difference from what you do with fictional players entering via the draft.
I take those fictional players and simply make them into real prospects and then let the chips fall where they may.
But some guys need a little help in that department....and that's where taking the player someone else created and having the ability to bring him into your franchise would help.
In my line of thinking....it's simply being able to import a draft class(which would be great as well)

M.K.
Knight165

# 249 dave724 @ 03/11/14 11:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Knight165


	I wouldn't say the minority. I let my players progress as they do in game w/o edits once I edit them to start. That is no difference from what you do with fictional players entering via the draft. I take those fictional players and simply make them into real prospects and then let the chips fall where they may. But some guys need a little help in that department....and that's where taking the player someone else created and having the ability to bring him into your franchise would help. In my line of thinking....it's simply being able to import a draft class(which would be great as well) M.K. Knight165

Yea, for sure your all minor rosters are highly useful for any franchise setup, and an import of a draft class would be great for online or offline, couldn't agree more.

# 250 Cavicchi @ 03/12/14 10:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dave724


	I refer to my post of March 5 on page 5 of this thread. If the answer is, 'Online Franchises' will not carry over to the next versions of the game..., then this whole thread should get a lot lighter and very much irrelevant to those who like to carry long-term franchises, especially when the 'offline franchise version has such functionality.... like the olden days when games weren't made new (same) games every year you could run a franchise for years...

The Fact Sheet seems to indicate they will--

•Year-to-Year Saves (All platforms) - For the first time in franchise history, saves can be carried over from MLB 14 to future releases of The Show, meaning that gamers won't have to worry about starting their Franchise or Road to the Show seasons over in years to come.

# 251 aukevin @ 03/12/14 10:27 AM

For me, I plan on using the Year-to-Year Saves with RTTS but not franchise. I like to play a season with my favorite team's real players. Not really interested in going multiple seasons with franchise. RTTS, definitely I want to continue it more years.

# 252 RyanLaFalce @ 03/12/14 12:55 PM

Are we able to import custom sliders into online franchises? Or at least turn pitch speed all the way up?

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

# 253 nemesis04 @ 03/12/14 01:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RyanLaFalce


	Are we able to import custom sliders into online franchises? Or at least turn pitch speed all the way up? Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

You can adjust sliders. I would not get overzealous about turning the pitch speed all the way up online.

# 254 RyanLaFalce @ 03/12/14 01:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nemesis04


	You can adjust sliders. I would not get overzealous about turning the pitch speed all the way up online.

You're right. Gotta compensate for lag, but we should not have a lot on the PS4.

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

# 255 BrianU @ 03/12/14 03:04 PM

While I am still very sour on the fact that offline franchise guys got screwed over a little it is not enough to prevent me from buying the game.

When I say offline franchise guys I mean guys who enjoy 1 Human vs all CPU franchise mode. I will not use Online Franchise because I am 99% positive it is a watered down version of offline franchise and there are some features that we won't be able to use. The biggest is having the ability to have save states so if we screw up or the CPU does a stupid trade we can go back to our last save. Another is setting up profiles for the CPU teams, having total control over all teams, and having manual injuries. These are the biggest two I assume won't be in online franchise just because of the nature of it being designed for User vs User. The ability to play against CPU teams is likely an afterthought whereas in offline franchise it is center.

These devs are the best in the business at what they do and I do not mean to demean their efforts I will still buy it and encourage everyone else to as well. It just makes me question how they didn't realize this would be an issue to some of their most loyal customers. I keep mentioning Madden but they had this very same problem of offline and online franchise given different love and attention every year and solved with with connected careers bringing them together also cutting their dev work in half. I strongly desire for this type of mode to be brought to The Show in the future even if it means taking a portion of potential 'new' features away from the game that year this is implemented.

I know the devs have numbers of how many people use what modes but I wonder honestly how many people actually use Online Franchise? Not just creates a league and fools around but actually completes a franchise, compared to who does that for offline? It makes it sour because, I don't want to say the efforts are pointless, but I don't see why so much dev time and features are being brought to a mode that gets little use. I could very well be wrong, but you also have to factor in all of the time people spend making full minors custom rosters which really is intended for offline franchise as well. We seem like a much bigger market. I do think everyone should be included though this year we are divided so that puts more credence to my idea of having a connected franchise for The Show in the future. Thank you guys and I can't wait to get my hands on the game for another season to baseball!

# 256 chitownwonder @ 03/12/14 03:53 PM

It's amazing how people always say they shouldn't have put much time or more time on on line than off line franchise. There is alot of people that likes to play on line and have been waiting for a long time to have an on line franchise, is it more than off line probably not but this isn't a popularity contest . This is about on line finally getting what offline has had for yrs.

Not downing gamers that just want to play against the Cpu , if that's what you like then good for you, but there is alot of us that want a challenge of actually playing another human half way across the country and have a playful rivalry with.

As far as the lag on line 13 was very gd on line. Quick matches yeah you have to be prepared to deal with any and everything, but if you get in with a gd group of guys with an active commish on line franchises will be the bomb for you.

# 257 jmaj315 @ 03/12/14 04:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HustlinOwl


	Can control all 30 with online franchise, however no word yet on if online franchise files are transferable to MLB15 MLB16 etc

I thought they were?... well i guess they only said "franchise and RTTS" so I imagine the lack of specificity means... yes?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cavicchi


	Not the same, Season mode allows you to play more than one season.

Dude what are you talking about? Last year it was called Leagues, and it was online season mode. You could only play 1 season at a time.

Quote:

Originally Posted by RyanLaFalce


	You're right. Gotta compensate for lag, but we should not have a lot on the PS4.

At night, I pray for there to be no lag.

# 258 tabarnes19_SDS @ 03/12/14 05:23 PM

The online portion needed to move in this direction....next gen seems to be gravitating to a "cloud" type setup for all games. Alot of the features are going to be great and improve the game immensely.

I think alot of the people that play offline will evaluate the mode and gravitate towards it because it will provide what they were accustomed to before with more options. It won't change the way they played the game and only enhance it.

My only question that I have been thinking about, is do you have to be online at the time of playing a game(vs CPU), and then results uploaded later when online is avalable?

Because if not, any network problems would not allow you to play your franchise. That was one of the big complaints that I have had with MYGM mode in NBA2K.

# 259 RyanLaFalce @ 03/12/14 05:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jmaj315


	At night, I pray for there to be no lag.

We are paying for multiplayer now on PS4! There should be absolutely ZERO lag!

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

# 260 Cavicchi @ 03/12/14 06:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jmaj315


	I thought they were?... well i guess they only said "franchise and RTTS" so I imagine the lack of specificity means... yes? Dude what are you talking about? Last year it was called Leagues, and it was online season mode. You could only play 1 season at a time. At night, I pray for there to be no lag.

I am talking about Season mode as it was in 13--OFFLINE. I never said anything to the contrary, never said online. Season mode offline allows you to play more than one season.

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