The long-running Out of the Park Baseball management series on PC introduced MLB.com and MiLB licensing in its 16th edition last year. That meant for the first time, the league branding, real team logos, jerseys, and ballparks were included in the game.
Out of the Park Baseball 17, releasing next month, will offer the complete suite of licensing after securing a deal with the MLBPA.
Out of the Park Baseball has always included real players in the games even without the official licensing from the MLBPA. That's because, as a text based game, it's considered in the same realm as fantasy sports where names are fair game. That's even been the case for minor leaguers and legends from the past, as OOTP includes accurate minor league rosters and historical seasons going all the way back to the early 1900s.
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The licensing means a lot more however than just having the official backing of the Player's Association. One of the most interesting new features in the game is only possible because of it.
Player portraits will come alive with "FaceGen" Not only do they look like the real players, but they will dynamically change depending on their emotional state at a given time, the portraits will age over the course of a career and the hats and uniforms worn will change when joining a new team.
Other features for Out of the Park Baseball 17 include Historical Exhibition mode which allows any two teams from history to go up against each other, an improved 3D engine which will now have moving player symbols, GM and manager preferences and tendencies, historical minor leagues from 1919 to 2015, faster simulation times and updated Opening Day rosters.
Out of the Park Baseball 17 is now available for pre-order with a discount of $5 provided to those who do so by March 1. After that date, the game will be available for its standard $40 price. The release date is set for March 22, but those who pre-order can start playing four days early. The mobile version of the game, MLB Manager 2016, is also expected to release in late March and it too will include both MLB.com and MLBPA licensing.
Bryan Wiedey posts sports gaming news and analysis daily at Pastapadre.com, has co-founded the new site HitThePass.com, hosts the Press Row Podcast, and be reached on Twitter @Pastapadre.