managing during games

[augustus]

I'm thinking of buying this game, but I'm wondering how the in-game management works out. The last baseball game I had did have a "manage only" option, but during the game I felt like the only effect I had on the game was making substitutions--otherwise, it was just the AI vs AI. With Puresim, do your decisions have an impact on whether you win or lose the game through actual playcalling, or are you there just to make substitutions. The thing is I'm not really interested in the franchise, make-trades-deal-with-salaries and so forth, I'm just looking for a baseball game where the game itself depends more on brains than quick clicking.

[cdvalenta]

I play Puresim managing each and every game only and I've played close to 2 seasons using fictional players. I never sim out any game for the team I am controlling. Your decisions definitely will have an imapct on the outcomes of your games. You will have the managerial options like steal, hit and run, infield in, guard the lines, play the outfield deep, play the infield in, pitch around a batter, intentionally walks, etc... I enjoy each game and I end up really getting into them. A lot of times I will start to get the "just one more game" syndrome. I'm not big on playing franchises either but Puresim's was easy enough and fun enough where I decided to continue my team on for another season. After getting knocked out of the playoffs in the first round I just had to continue on because I knew the team I assembled could go deeper. You really don't get overwhelmed with information and have to micro manage in the offseason like you do in other games. It seems just right.
 
Another big plus for Puresim is the user community and user mods. If you download some facepacks and stadium packs it will really add to the experience. I've played a couple of other baseball sims and they all have their positives and negatives but I keep coming back to Puresim and play it by far the most.

[Hitandrun]

I mangage every game and in my opinion, this is the strength of Puresim. You can make most of the same decisions that have to be made in real baseball, and these do affect the game. I have played OOTP and Baseball Mogul, but I feel Puresim is the best for managing each game. It's the only game I currently play. It's simple, gives accurate results for the most part, and is just pure fun. Download a demo and try it. I think you are in for a pleasant surprise.

Also physics actually affect play; such as weather, outfield wall distances, wind, altitute.

[KG Erwin]

I absolutely agree. The AI in-game manager is pretty damn good, and every game I've managed is a drama unto itself. If you wanna do a career league, and play the parts of both the GM & game manager, PureSim is THE game.

Also, if you're a baseball historian, and want to recreate the "feel" of a particular era, the tools are there to transport yourself into that time.

I fully agree with cdvalenta. The "one more game" syndrome can draw you in very quickly. It is a beautiful addiction, that is, if you give up the habit of sleep.