Like anything, they say follow the money. I am not really talking about the publisher in this case, but more from the user end and whether it makes sense for someone.
If you are a draft league player, especially someone who is in more than one league using the same game, then the online subscription model might be cost effective. Depending on the game, of course.
If someone has to purchase the new version of the game every year, and maybe two to four seasons as well, they probably are not spending more on a subscription fee than they would otherwise. They might even be spending less, while getting all the benefits you outlined.
For the replay-minded gamer, it might not be as easy a choice. Unless you are a completist type and simply knowing you have access to any season brings you peace of mind, otherwise buying seasons ad hoc might still be financially advantageous. That is especially true if you only do one or two replays now and then with a particular game. Of course, that may be less advantageous for the publisher.
I think these are the way the business is going. It’s like when I used to access my work computer remotely. It’s easier for the business than to upload most software to your computer. I’ve actually gone back to Strat with cards and dice. Yes, I have to do stats work, but it’s more enjoyable (for me).
First I saw this game in the early 90s, Baseball Weekly I believe, Bill James put together a league of all stars and they posted the results as the season progressed...a few years later I noticed an ad for Bill James Classic Baseball and joined, 1995 or so. $179 a team plus charges each time you added or cut a player or changed batting order or rotations, The player catalog was simple--no stats, just names, B/T, positions and years played and salary (you had a million dollars to spend). It was much better that way. What they have now is too much information--defensive ratings and enough sim stats that it's a game for spreadsheet guys...it was great fun but it also drove me crazy. I'd build a team with Johnny Blanchard and Gene Green to back up Bob Tillman then get the box scores and find that they used Luke Easter behind the dish, and they never seemed to use my Doc Crandall-Tom Hilgendorf-Ramon Hernandez-Dave Giusti bullpen the way I envisioned
Like anything, they say follow the money. I am not really talking about the publisher in this case, but more from the user end and whether it makes sense for someone.
If you are a draft league player, especially someone who is in more than one league using the same game, then the online subscription model might be cost effective. Depending on the game, of course.
If someone has to purchase the new version of the game every year, and maybe two to four seasons as well, they probably are not spending more on a subscription fee than they would otherwise. They might even be spending less, while getting all the benefits you outlined.
For the replay-minded gamer, it might not be as easy a choice. Unless you are a completist type and simply knowing you have access to any season brings you peace of mind, otherwise buying seasons ad hoc might still be financially advantageous. That is especially true if you only do one or two replays now and then with a particular game. Of course, that may be less advantageous for the publisher.
I think these are the way the business is going. It’s like when I used to access my work computer remotely. It’s easier for the business than to upload most software to your computer. I’ve actually gone back to Strat with cards and dice. Yes, I have to do stats work, but it’s more enjoyable (for me).
First I saw this game in the early 90s, Baseball Weekly I believe, Bill James put together a league of all stars and they posted the results as the season progressed...a few years later I noticed an ad for Bill James Classic Baseball and joined, 1995 or so. $179 a team plus charges each time you added or cut a player or changed batting order or rotations, The player catalog was simple--no stats, just names, B/T, positions and years played and salary (you had a million dollars to spend). It was much better that way. What they have now is too much information--defensive ratings and enough sim stats that it's a game for spreadsheet guys...it was great fun but it also drove me crazy. I'd build a team with Johnny Blanchard and Gene Green to back up Bob Tillman then get the box scores and find that they used Luke Easter behind the dish, and they never seemed to use my Doc Crandall-Tom Hilgendorf-Ramon Hernandez-Dave Giusti bullpen the way I envisioned
I do love you had Doc Crandall, one of the founding fathers of the bullpen.