Chris

Anyone following? Go Canada! Definitely watching the hockey.

Out of the Park Baseball 15 Features Support For 3D Ballparks, Real International Leagues, More OOTP 15's new features include: support for 3D ballparks, as well as 3D in-game ball flight; seven real international leagues, including Japan, Korea, and Taiwan; a new ratings system; a revamped interface; and much more. "Every year we make OOTP even more immersive than before, and OOTP 15 takes a huge leap forward with support for 3D ballparks," said lead developer and lifelong baseball fan Markus Heinsohn. "We can't wait for our great community to come up with plenty of custom 3D ballpark models, so everyone will be able to admire the flight of a Jackie Robinson home run in Ebbets Field, or a ball smashed off Fenway Park's Green Monster for a looooong single by David Ortiz." OOTP 15's full list of new and improved features include: 2014 Opening Day Major League Roster Set OOTP 15's 2014 roster set includes all Opening Day major league team rosters, as well as the complete minor league system down to the rookie leagues. OOTP 15 also features the Venezuelan and Dominican summer leagues for the first time. All major league (and certain minor league) player ratings are based on Baseball Prospectus'... Click here to view the full article on GM Games

http://gmgames.org/2014/01/21/return-logique-eclectic-gm-hockey-legacy-13-14/

Huge news. The engine is something to be admired. Needs a good marketing push and user interface to polish it off.

Which are your favorites??

That appears to be a pretty interesting concept for simulation. Is it all online or is it offline one player too?

We have been quite busy at the moment but will look into this. How active is your league?

Hey, my name is Chris and I generally run most of the website. We will most definitely have a look at your product and simulation engine. Look forward to being in touch. Cheers

I have an HTC One and I've been loving this phone

Welcome Mo! Pleasure to meet you!

Our Review of Out of the Park Baseball 14 It's all-emcompassing and comprehensive. April 17th, 2013 http://gmgames.org/index.php?option=com_k2&view=item&id=85:review-of-ootp-14&Itemid=220 “It’s not too often you hang an 8 on somebody,” said Terry Ryan earlier this week. Ryan was of course referring to the 2-8 scale scouts use to determine a player’s future impact. Well, Mr. Ryan hasn’t yet played OOTP 14. From the beginning it’s easy to see that this is an exhaustive, almost all-inclusive simulation that will appeal to the most hardcore of baseball gamers. I’m not a firm believer in comparing games to each other, whether it’s previous incarnations of the same game or a different game altogether, so don’t expect to see comparisons to OOTP 13 or OOTP 6.5, for what it’s worth. I mention OOTP 6.5 because I’m an old-schooler who is still playing it, and quite frankly it is hard to believe the game has come this far. Right away you’re tasked with choosing unemployment, or from 17 different leagues ranging from Rookie ball to the major leagues. Just input a name, age (no limit, so you can be your own Billy Heywood if you want!), and you’re ready to go. In fact, the menus could be a bit daunting for a newbie, which certainly can make ‘cannot be fired’ mode a preferable option until one finds themselves up-to-speed with the game. From the main screen, click on your name and an utter cavalcade of options come up, as you navigate through your personal email, player and staffing shortlists, and an edit screen where you can -- at this risk of sacrilege -- play God and act as a manager of any other team (as long as you’re in commissioner mode). Stop me if you’ve heard this before, but it’s all-encompassing and comprehensive. Roll over to opening day, and the rosters are almost perfect. The Twins, for instance, come preloaded with injuries to Tim Wood, Scott Diamond, and Anthony Swarzak. All three players started the season on the DL. In fact, if it weren't for Eric Farris, Anthony Slama and Chris Herrmann, OOTP would have nailed the Twins opening day 25-man roster. And honestly, it’s pretty difficult to expect perfection in this regard. Another incredible similarity is a game-listed payroll of $81,650,000. The Twins opening day payroll, via Baseball Prospectus, was $82,010,000. That is downright amazing. So too is the finances page, which lists the owner’s name, age, patience, and fiscal personality. For instance, Twins owner Jim Pohlad is listed as patient, and a penny-pincher. That seems to fit what the public feels about him. All of this is customizable, too. If you prefer a less realistic experience, you can change the budget with which you’re afforded, your owners name, and even your home ballpark (complete with park factors!). Another neat function is that you can see player ratings based on your scout -- in the Twins case, real-life scouting director Deron Johnson -- or OSA, which is the OOTP Scouting Association. Like real-life, it is interesting to see how two different sides look at a player. But now it’s time to hit the play button. Single games can be simulated, or played through by using command keys to dictate how you want to work your strategy. This includes pitching around a guy, pitching to contact, hitting the batter intentionally, and pretty much anything else you can think of. And if you get tired of going batter by batter, you can skip to specific innings with one simple click. At the end of the game, you can even write a postgame recap if you have any sportswriter tendencies (which shows up in your email the next day, with all kinds of news and computer-generated press releases). This isn’t a game for someone who wants to blow through it quickly, however. Indeed, one can simulate a day, week, month, or year at a time, but the game will frequently update the player on injury updates, such as activating a pitcher from the DL in Double-A, or something of the like. It could almost come across as annoying to someone trying to simulate to a specific day, like 5/7 when the draft list is published, or 7/1 when the international free agency period begins. In fact, in the first month I played, I had 15 players go on the DL in my organization, and had something like 10 or 12 email interruptions. Again, details details details! In terms of in-game stuff, almost nothing seems off. The first trade proposal was from the Mariners, and featured Dustin Ackley for Byron Buxton and an organizational arm. Not a trade which would happen in real life, but a much more realistic jumping off point than I’ve seen in many other simulations (such as Scott Baker for Stephen Strasburg). The second was an odd one, as the A’s offered Hiroyuki Nakajima -- in the midst of a 56 OPS+ season -- for closer Glen Perkins (95 ERA+ at the time) and Buxton (108 OPS+ at Cedar Rapids, but a top prospect). The toughest part of determining the realism to me when it comes to trade offers is that nobody really knows what those look like in real life. Obviously they aren’t sent as jokes, and that last one sort of comes across that way, but all-told one weird trade offer doesn’t take away from the overall gaming experience for me. OOTP14 Baseball - In Game OOTP14 In Game View The draft is a tremendously detailed part of the game, diving into slot bonus baselines -- to make sure you don’t spend too much on your top picks -- as well the ability to negotiate bonuses, with compensation picks coming in for unsigned players just like in the big leagues. The international signing period -- like how the Twins signed Miguel Sano -- also has a cash cap in place, like real life, to keep you from overspending. If you do that, you will be penalized, ranging from less money available to fewer contracts you can offer. OOTP14 Baseball - Draft Day Welcome to Draft Day In essence, one would do well to bone up on the rule book before cracking open the game! The rest of the game experience is as you’d expect. All-encompassing from the beginning, to the midsummer classic, to expanded rosters, to the postseason. And then it all starts again. Good luck putting this one down. Pros: *The customization up front (name, birth date, modes [commish mode, gm only, can’t be fired, start w/ team or unemployed]) *17 different leagues (4 Rookie Leagues, 2 short season A, 5 High-A, 3 AA, 2 AAA, ML) *Velocity readings on individual pitches. *The statistical interface is pretty much all-encompassing. *The email system (scouting reports, news, and more) *The financial system (complete with international spending limits, etc.) * Intricacies (owners can pass away, international scouting and leagues, an incredible number of statistics including WAR, wOBA, and OPS+) Cons: *Menus do run a *little* on the slow side. *The interfacing is a little overwhelming/complicated. * Trade proposals can -- at times -- be a little weird. Overall, there's almost a cautionary tale to be had here: Buy it, you'll like it. But you might like it too much.

March 22, 2013 - After over a year of blood, sweat, and tears—and fans going wild with anticipation, Web Sim Hockey 2.0 is finally online! It’s now up to you to enjoy! Enter into the new era of online hockey games thanks to the perfect mix between managing your teams and taking part in our buzzing online community. What’s new with Web Sim Hockey 2.0? - Pictures of real players thanks to our licensing agreement with the NHLPA - Completely revamped interface - Additional people, who make up the GM’s entourage (team owner, assistant-coach, doctor, etc.), give you important information and your objectives - News feed to help you better manage all of your leagues - New multi-league chat system -Badges you can earn thanks to your accomplishments -Inter-league GM rankings -GM Hockey and Finance attributes to better evaluate your skills -GM status to monitor your involvement with your team(s): Experience, Reputation, Social, and Participation -New multi-league messaging system -And much (much!) more! Become an interim GM—for FREE! Do you want to test drive the new version? All you have to do is apply for a position of interim GM. Then, you can manage this team for FREE until the end of the current season. If you enjoy the Web Sim experience, you can then renew your subscription to the league or leave it without any hassles. Launch Promotion Do you want to join a new league or renew your subscription? It’s now or never! Take advantage of our limited-time offer. Register or renew today for only $9.95! Full Article Here: http://gmgames.org/index.php?option=com_k2&view=item&id=83:version-20-of-web-sim-hockey-is-out&Itemid=200

As a Canadian myself, I will look into getting the Expos a spot in favorite teams! Welcome aboard .. we're happy to have you here

I'm looking forward to this one!

Welcome DC, I look forward to the Steeltown team battles!

What's the limit? I'll bump it up. Cheers

FHM Beta has been released, the link to buy a copy from their ecommerce store is here: http://store.esellerate.net/s.aspx?s=STR4806181750

Hey welcome! Which leagues have you applied to and what's your favorite sim(s)? Cheers

Hi Vincent, I personally have an opportunity. I'll be looking to see what our senior soccer writer has on his plate to have a look. Cheers

I think in this one I'll be rooting for the Dayton Dawgs.... A wooooo

Wow it's crazy to think that the 49ers could have an even better team over the next few years. A great time to be a 9ers fan for ya robster

Any thoughts on this pending move? Alex Smith did win enough to goto an NFC championship game.. but is he a legit starter?

February 26th, 2013 - Brian Nichols, aka Heavyreign, has been making basketball games for years. His newest effort, Fast Break Pro Basketball 3, is on the verge of release (you can currently download the beta version and play it to your hearts’ content.) Furthermore, you can give him feedback, on the GreyDogSoftware forums. I have long been entranced with his college product, Fast Break College Basketball, and wanted to pick his brain regarding his latest work. John Comey (GM Games): What have you found to be the most difficult part of making FBPB3? Brian Nichols - The tough thing for me has been finishing. I've stopped and started so many times and each time you start up again it takes time to figure out where you were. The original code for the historical database was done in 2004 or 2005. The game has seen three different interfaces. The whole issue with the Sonics being sold to Clay Bennet and moved to Oklahoma City actually killed my interest in the NBA for a couple years. When I started working on programming again in 2009 it just made sense to me to work on the college game instead because I was still frustrated with the NBA. John Comey (GM Games): Is there something about making this game that has changed you as a fan or developer? Is there any chance that any of these changes will find their way into future games? Brian Nichols - The amount of statistical data available around the internet has gone up dramatically the last few years. One of the biggest things for me has been the data about how much players shoot from the different zones on the floor. This has been a huge help in making the engine more realistic. When I start working on the next version of the college game I'll need to make similar changes. John Comey (GM Games): How close is FBPB3 to the ideal basketball game out of the box, in your opinion? Brian Nichols - What I'm shooting for is a game that is fun for as many people as possible. The ideal game for me might be something like Football Manager with basketball and I've got a lot of work to do reach that point. I'm someone who feels like there is always more that could be done so it isn't really possible for me to look at the state of one of my games and be satisfied. John Comey (GM Games): What feature has surprised you the most? Brian Nichols - I've had a ton of fun playing around with the historical mode. I've spent a bunch of time just starting up the league in a certain year and then watching to see what happens. John Comey (GM Games): What feature hasn't lived up to your hopes or expectations? Brian Nichols - I'd hoped to get more done with the foreign leagues. Really this whole section of the game could've been the basis for a new release all on its own. John Comey (GM Games): What is atop your to-do list, in terms of future features? Brian Nichols - Long term one of the major goals will be expanding on what I've offered with the option to run leagues all over the world at the same time. There are competitions between teams from multiple leagues like the Euroleague so I'd like to build towards adding those. From there you can get into international competitions like the Olympics. These things help the universe feel more alive. John Comey (GM Games): We live in a community that seems to predicate more in immersion. Have you adjusted your approach to your games, either philosophically or in terms of actual development, as a result of this? Basically, how have your own thoughts about what your games should be aligned with what your market has sought? Brian Nichols - What makes a game immersive is different for everyone so I try and add things that appeal to different people. The print screen option was a big help for people who write about their own dynasties. The historical database would make the game more interesting to people who are interested in the history of the game. The customization options are big for people who want to create their own world or possibly mimic a system that is already in existence. Another big thing was making it possible to run multiple leagues at once. Just having a larger game universe means there are more stories out there to follow. Football Manager is a very immersive game for me and very deep but you have to be careful about what you add. Added depth can also mean added busywork that is less fun. John Comey (GM Games): The one thing I see in other games, that I have yet to add, is... Brian Nichols - The big thing these days seems to be a 2d or 3d display of the action. I'm not sure if that is something I'd ever want to attempt however. John Comey (GM Games): What sets you apart from other developers? What sets FBPB apart from other games? Brian Nichols - One thing I've heard from people is that I am more open to feedback than most developers. I've added small things that it is possible only matters to one person but if it won't make the experience worse for everyone else then I have no problem taking a little time doing that. As far as the game, the big thing for me is customization. If you get bored with one format the possibility is there to mix it up. John Comey (GM Games): I know that the creation of FBPB has been a difficult process, from a personal standpoint (as you've spoken about the issues you've gone through in the past). What has been the most satisfying aspect of making this new game? Brian Nichols - Honestly, the feedback I got when I posted the first public beta has been a huge boost to me. I actually had it ready for close to a week before I posted it but I was nervous about what the response would be. It has been such a long process and I wasn't sure how I would handle it if the feedback was massively negative. It probably says something about the various issues I've been going through that I considered that to be a possibility. I've been kind of conditioned to expect the worst. It kind of goes back to the first FBCB. I think I started living alone for the first time in my life about a month or two before FBCB was finished. I made a game that I enjoyed playing. I'm sure it didn't come near the type of sales that Jim (Gindin) or Markus (Heinsohn) likely get but I was happy with it. The initial feedback was good but there was also a ton of drama going on at the time. A big thing was the whole issue with Joe Stallings trying to negatively influence a review of FBCB. My frustration with what was going on at the time combined with the issues with living alone resulted in me staying away from text sims for a while. It didn't really sink in for me how much fun people had playing the game until several years later when I was reading though the main thread for the game at FOFC. For the Full Article: http://gmgames.org/2013/02/26/interview-with-brian-nichols-of-fast-break-pro-basketball-3/

Hall of Fame Potential? A Quick Look at FBPB3 February 23rd, 2013 I’ve finally had some time to sit down and play the Fast Break Pro Basketball 3 (FBPB3) demo. This is a game I’ve been looking forward to ever since Grey Dog Software announced it, which already feels like ages ago. I’m not sure what’s going to happen first: a Led Zeppelin reunion tour or the actual release of FBPB3. I’m not sure if the senior citizen version of Zeppelin would be worth the wait. Judging by the demo, FBPB3 probably is. 3 Cool Things: • Everything you would want in a basketball sim appears to be in this game. That sounds overly simplistic, but it sums the demo up perfectly. The groundwork for an awesome game is built. Let’s see if the full version fulfills the potential displayed by the demo. • The game is easy to navigate. The menus and design aren’t as pretty as Draft Day Sports: Pro Basketball 3, but they feel more practical. I don’t have to pause and think about where I need to click in order to get to where I need to go. • It doesn’t take long to get immersed in your basketball world. The easy-to-navigate screens make it simple to access and read about everything happening in the league. I can only imagine how much more immersive the game will be once some photo sets, logo packs and other user mods are created. 3 Things I Wish Were Different • I wish there was a career basketball sim with a coaching mode where you could actually call plays during games. You can call individual plays in Action PC Basketball, but that’s a single-season replay sim. • I’m not a fan of the colored squares on the player rating’s screen. I forget what each color stands for and it drives me nuts. • Editing the depth chart should be easier. You have to highlight a player, then click a “move up” or “move down” button get him where you want him. There should be a drag-and-drop or dropdown menu option. 3 Final Thoughts • The first rule of career sims: Don’t judge them on the demo. I purposely didn’t discuss the realism of the game’s stats, trade logic or other AI factors. I know the developer is still tweaking a few things in these areas and we should reserve judgment until the full game is released (For the record, nothing stood out as egregiously off). • The historical aspect of FBPB3 will make it an all-time great, or just another fun game. The demo allows you to play the 2012-13 season, and that’s it. The full version is set to have complete rosters and ratings for every player and team going back to 1946 (at no additional cost). If that portion of the game runs smoothly and is as cool as it sounds, this game could end up in the career sim hall of fame. • A few misc items to finish up: 1) Importing draft classes from FBCB2 was easy; 2) The game developer has been great about answering questions and providing support on forums here and here; 3) No release date has been announced, but it sounds like we’re getting close. Check back here for a full review once the game is available Full Article Here: http://gmgames.org/index.php?option=com_k2&view=item&id=77:preview-of-fast-break-pro-basketball-3&Itemid=199

Hey Welcome! The Nippon league looks really fun in MLB Pro actually .. Hope you drop some fun articles! Cheers