If you’re new to NoobTubeTV you will soon find that the only aspect of sports games I really care for is single player Franchise Mode. So, Diamond Dynasty and Road to the Show are largely something beyond afterthoughts for me… Let’s call them after- tastes instead.
With that said, there’s been ONE announcement regarding franchise mode this year and that is revitalized Free Agency with risk/reward and strategy elements. Any sort of change would be better than what it has been. It’s been far too easy to sign top tier free agents as I found last year with multiple franchises.
Trades still need more depth. There should also be a way to implement machine learning/AI systems to track how CPU teams are performing and especially how the User is trading and trying to trade. I want to experience a game that is designed to challenge me in different ways. So far, franchise mode has been the opposite of that in the front office and elsewhere.
What is elsewhere? How about terrible bullpen management by the CPU. Setup pitchers don’t get enough simulated innings. Teams generally also have a 6th or even a 7th starter in the bullpen as a Long Relief pitcher. Those actually end up skewing the situation even more. This has got to be a tough thing to program as I can’t imagine the code this would take, but it’s also not my job – neither is writing articles on the internet, but here we are.
Next Up – Wishes
I can’t explain how much I’d love The Show to allow users to institute a salary cap if desired. Right now budgets can be turned off or left on and those ‘budgets’ are poorly structured and implemented. You can take the lowest payroll and win over a few seasons and magically the purse strings start to open. But I think there’s a setting that can be implemented in the future and that is to create a GM or Owner with different tendencies, attitudes and outlooks. With this and the implementation of AI that tracks your behaviors I also hope that the CPU will track your contract offers to players, if you simply always fill that salary meter until it just hits green, you should start earning the reputation of being a cheapskate. If you offer big salaries like the Dodgers or Yankees you should be a high roller. But, with the ability to implement a salary cap, this would become a fantastic mode that I doubt I’d be able to uninstall.
Let’s also consider player confidence. More- so than any other sport (OK, debatable), baseball is a game where you can get into your own head. You can also get out of it and recover. I’d love to see players have confidence ratings that change with performance. How would they change? Let’s create another rating that also gives players a mindset – erratic, stubborn, intense, loose cannon, chill, etc. I’d also like to see similar attention to team performance and player desires. Do they want to play for a contender? Are they happy where they are? Let’s bring personalities back to the front office decisions.
Next, let’s bring in house rules as a setting to speed up games and fix the quick sim issues while we are at it. I have had sets of house rules that are easy enough to manage, but quick simming has a problem with deleting stats from your live game in early innings. Hit a home run in the 1st and then a three run double in the 3rd? Sometimes, if you quick sim those are erased. I just want this aspect to work right. Is that too much to ask? But also, let’s have a deeper quick play setting system that presents you with the option to implement the house rules for a game. Third strikeout? Get a quick option to simulate batting innings until the 9th if it’s within 3 runs. Give up a home run? Get a quick option to simulate your pitching innings until the 9th.
Screams Into the Void –
WHY THE HELL IS SCOUTING PROSPECTS AND THE DRAFT SUCH A STALE SHIT SHOW!?
FOR THE LOVE OF ALL THINGS HOLY, MAKE REBRANDING/MOVING A TEAM LESS CUMBERSOME!
LASTLY, WHY IN THE NAME OF CAPTAIN FU*KSTICK IS NINTENDO SWITCH ALLOWED TO HAVE THIS GAME AND HOLD IT BACK GRAPHICALLY?
We are only a few days from spring training. Let’s get amped, baseball is back.
Where’s the Tylenol?
NoobTubeTV 