Archive of SportingNews.com's old SOM Baseball forum

I'm about to purchase my first team. Which season is currently the most fun/active/competitive? Thanks.

~patreek

go for the 80.

Starting out you should go for 2006. Try the 80s later when you understand more if you like.

Have you considered trying the free 2003 trial?

The most populat is probably ATG3, it also has the biggest player pool, so it's maybe the easiest to learn on. The main advantage of playing 2006, is that you aren't as likely to have a league full of vets in it as you are in ATG.

I personally prefer 2006. ATG might be a little easier for a newbie because the pool is so deep. 80's is great but not recommended for first game get your feet wet first before diving in.

All of them are good in my opinion - be it 200x, ATG III or BTT80s.

However I think 2006 might be the best to start off with, followed closely by ATG III.

I personally think the 2006 is the one to choose.

ATG III is a great game, but I didn't like the bigger player pool myself.
Too Many choices and too many players that I wasn't familiar with.

I found the 2006 to be challenging and at least I knew a little about most the players vs. ATG III with so many players I knew little or nothing about.

I also think '06 plays closer to reality than ATG III, ATG III punishes players that aren't even on both sides of their cards.

This is of course my opinion, I know there are a lot of players that prefer ATG III over '06, but with that vast of Player pool, it would be hard to get to know the cards and their tendancies.

And I am getting my butt kicked over there too.

I'm a vet of the ATG1, 2, &3 and have played both the 69,05,06 leagues. Haven't tried the 80's.

Be aware that the '80's is a different game.

For a first timer the ' 06 seems easier to learn but the most popular is ATG3. You should try either but my suggestion is to try ATG3 but either go into a Standard vs Advanced which is for rookies or if your willing to play vets but in return get great advice you should enter theme leagues where you can try entire teams at once.

You shouldn't try LIVE DRAFTS.

YOU SHOULD READ THE ATG3 as well as the Strat Online Message Boards.

I have played every SOMO game in existence(and all the one's that don't exist anymore as well). I would start out with 2006 if only because you would be more familiar with the players. Some differences between the games:
2006-current players, probably the most popular. Not much action for some after the initial excitement of drafting & team building. Just watch & learn once the season starts.
2001-2005-earlier season versions of 2006, some of the early two or three years lack the game improvemments made in more recent years.
ATG-fun to play with the greats, with a great, devoted community of playes
80's-mystery card aspect(could end up with any one of five possible years for each player) lends a more fantasy element to it, as you aren't sure what you are getting and continuous moves are required throughout when you get a bad year.
69-fun diversion to play another year with some great names from the past. Lack of depth in the player set the biggest drawback.