PureSim v1.36 RC5 Now Avail - With New Features

[puresimmer]

OK, 1.36 is a BETA release, so all disclaimers apply... More fixes here and one pretty nice new feature!

http://www.puresim.com/PureSim2007-SetupRelease-v136_RCPatch.exe

What's New
========

- New: Player career arcs (aging, improvement, decline) now happen gradually over the year instead of just in the off season. In other words, you'll see subtle ratings changes multiple times over the season for players. So, you'll probably want to watch players more closely during the year since their skills are changing more dynamically, as opposed to previous versions of PureSim where you would pretty much look at ratings after the off season.

- Tweak: Added some more logging to FTP code to help commmishes with diagnosing upload/download issues for players in the league

- New: Added new option to dump all players to the draft pool when doing a "Real Major League" association.

- Tweak: If a player submits roster moves while the commish is logged into PureSim, but BEFORE he has simmed a game since the last upload cycle, PureSim will now apply those roster moves right before teh first game in the current cycle is simmed. (Admittedly this is a fringe case!)

- Fix: HTML Alamanac was not showing splits when generated during the first season of an association if the user attempted to build it before the season was over.

- Tweak: No longer prompting the human manager for a tagup decision if a runner is on first and a fly ball is hit.

- Fix: In a situation where the game is tied and home team can win in the bottom of the 9th (or later) if a runner was on third (not forced) with 1 out, and a ground ball was hit, the defense sometimes would throw to first, allowing the runner at third to score the game winning run. The defense will now come home in this situation.

- Tweak: Added some new background images (Lineup, Modify Roster, Defensive scouting report) Thanks to PanzersEast!

- Fix: Rare lockup that could occur in the postseason if the next scheduled starter was too fatigued to start and the best candidate to start in his place is too injured to play.

[Sonny]

All sounds great to me!

[RedSox67]

Excellent!  I've really been looking forward to the draft option.  Thanks!

[Nukester]

ORIGINAL: puresimmer

- New: Added new option to dump all players to the draft pool when doing a "Real Major League" association.

(I did say I would kiss you if it made it into this version [;)])

Oh, and......[&o][&o][&o][&o] (I love this smiley)

Thank you and great job !

[SirWolf1960]

I love the idea of the new aging model. This should make the game even more fun. [:)]
 
Steve

[33sherman]

First impressions of the new patch, the in-seasons ratings feature in particular:

A HUGE change to way the game is played. I think the AI will be helped in that it will be forced to demote high rated but young players instead of starting them right off the bat, especially using 'early import' of Lahman careers.

I also like that it rewards more mature teams, teams with players that are in their prime and not as volatile.

Possible problems:

I simmed one season, and offense spiked significantly. A lot of teams had trouble filling out pitching staffs with players who had ERAs less than 6 or 7. YOunger players who normally woulf have started all year with high ratings saw their 'stuff' ratings drop into the 70s. Though, it was drastic, however, it wasn't THAT drastic (in fact it may be an improvement on the way the career was progressing before--too many good pitchers, no real 'scrubs' on pitching staffs). Still, something to think about. I'd like to hear what everyone else thinks. I will continue playing this career.

[VanScoy]

New: Player career arcs (aging, improvement, decline) now happen gradually over the year instead of just in the off season. In other words, you'll see subtle ratings changes multiple times over the season for players. So, you'll probably want to watch players more closely during the year since their skills are changing more dynamically, as opposed to previous versions of PureSim where you would pretty much look at ratings after the off season.

This is the only thing that I think OOTP had on you. GREAT JOB!!!!1

[dneely]

Amazing job Shaun!!!!!!!!!

[33sherman]

After simming into another season, I'm convinced that the rate that pitcher's stuff ratings decrease needs to be tweaked down a little. Batting averages have gone way up, and if you don't have a team stacked with pitching, you end up with half of the pitching staff with ERAs from 7.00-10.00-plus.

[puresimmer]

ORIGINAL: 33sherman

After simming into another season, I'm convinced that the rate that pitcher's stuff ratings decrease needs to be tweaked down a little. Batting averages have gone way up, and if you don't have a team stacked with pitching, you end up with half of the pitching staff with ERAs from 7.00-10.00-plus.

Thanks for digging into this. Are you playing with real players or fictional?

[33sherman]

ORIGINAL: puresimmer

ORIGINAL: 33sherman

After simming into another season, I'm convinced that the rate that pitcher's stuff ratings decrease needs to be tweaked down a little. Batting averages have gone way up, and if you don't have a team stacked with pitching, you end up with half of the pitching staff with ERAs from 7.00-10.00-plus.

Thanks for digging into this. Are you playing with real players or fictional?

Real players, 1949. I actually love the new feature, because it makes bullpen manangement a lot more realistic. If you don't have great pitching, it can be a struggle to fill out those last couple spots, and it's not unusual to have a few pitchers with terrible ERAs. It just seems like players who are a little older or younger are seeing ratings drop a bit too much.

It's weird, because before the patch hitting seemed a litle low, using the default XML (batting avg record was .398 all time), and I think the new feature improves this, but perhaps a little too much. Some older and younger guys can barely get out of an inning, outing after outing.

[Woodruff]

Shaun, I'm using fictional players and seeing similar stuff.

Frankly, the STUFF rating has been trashed in my league after three seasons...even the young players who should be improving are having this rating crash immensely.

And yes...offense is through the roof. My #3 pitcher has an 8.35 ERA...third best on my team.

[PadresFan104]

ORIGINAL: puresimmer
- New: Player career arcs (aging, improvement, decline) now happen gradually over the year instead of just in the off season. In other words, you'll see subtle ratings changes multiple times over the season for players. So, you'll probably want to watch players more closely during the year since their skills are changing more dynamically, as opposed to previous versions of PureSim where you would pretty much look at ratings after the off season.

I haven't loaded the latest patch yet, but I still wanted to discuss this change since I'm not convinced that I like the described implementation.

In real life, if you want to scout a players attributes, about the only way to do it is to watch the player play, analyze his stats and make predictions based on any number of factors. We already have the tools to do this in the game throughout the season, and it's Spring Training that allows our scouts to change the players ratings for the upcoming season.

Are we going to see the actual ratings change for players during the season, or is this strictly in the hidden ratings? If it's hidden, then great. If we're being shown the ratings changes, then not-so-great. What's the point of keeping any eye on your players performance if we will have the ratings changing in front of our eyes?

The worst scenario I can think of is that bench player who doesn't throw very many innings or get very many at bats. How would a real manager or scout be able to say that their attributes got better or worse if their not getting a chance to play and show what they do or don't have?

At the very least, visible ratings changes should be tied to playing time to make it more realistic.

[33sherman]

ORIGINAL: PadresFan104


At the very least, visible ratings changes should be tied to playing time to make it more realistic.

I'm almost postive that the ratings change is indeed tied to playing time.

[Woodruff]

I very much agree with PadresFan on this one.

With ratings changing during the season, this is going to affect the player's stats during the season. This seems counter-intuitive as a change, from my perspective.

I've always preferred the stat-driven standpoint of playing the game myself (I only look at the ratings during the offseason as it is, and then I only use it as a cursory check against the actual stats), but this means a player will actually improve or get worse physically, rather than just the ebb and flow of the season (that streaks give you, for instance).

I don't know...

[PadresFan104]

ORIGINAL: 33sherman

ORIGINAL: PadresFan104


At the very least, visible ratings changes should be tied to playing time to make it more realistic.

I'm almost postive that the ratings change is indeed tied to playing time.

That's good news. So in your test seasons, have you seen the biggest changes amongst the starters? If so, have their stats trended in the new direction as you would expect? And if so, I contend that this supports keeping the ratings changes hidden and letting the user spot the trend.

I wonder though... does the AI need to see these ratings changes so it can value improving players appropriately? If the AI is unable to spot improving players on a monthly (or some other interval) basis by using stats, then the ratings changes may be the only way for the AI to know the true value of a player when dealing with roster changes, trades, etc. Hmmm...

[33sherman]

ORIGINAL: PadresFan104

ORIGINAL: 33sherman

ORIGINAL: PadresFan104


At the very least, visible ratings changes should be tied to playing time to make it more realistic.

I'm almost postive that the ratings change is indeed tied to playing time.

That's good news. So in your test seasons, have you seen the biggest changes amongst the starters? If so, have their stats trended in the new direction as you would expect? And if so, I contend that this supports keeping the ratings changes hidden and letting the user spot the trend.

I wonder though... does the AI need to see these ratings changes so it can value improving players appropriately? If the AI is unable to spot improving players on a monthly (or some other interval) basis by using stats, then the ratings changes may be the only way for the AI to know the true value of a player when dealing with roster changes, trades, etc. Hmmm...

The biggest changes were for all pitchers, the stuff rating in particular.

I think the visible ratings does help the AI (like I mentioned the AI is forced to develop players in the minors more instead of starting them right out of the gate because of high ratings). Maybe one solution would be a hide ratings toggle after the season starts.

[verizon32]

ORIGINAL: 33sherman

ORIGINAL: PadresFan104


At the very least, visible ratings changes should be tied to playing time to make it more realistic.

I'm almost postive that the ratings change is indeed tied to playing time.

Age too?
Stats?

[modred]

From my point of view I think puresim is treading into complexity that needs to be toggleable to keep it fun for someone who doesn't want to have to look at ratings every time he turns around.

[PadresFan104]

I'm also curious about the bar charts that represent the players ratings changes over time.  In previous versions it showed the changes season to season.  In this new version, do these bar charts update with greater frequency?