ANNOUNCEMENT: Strat-O-Matic.com to be taking over SOM Online

[macnole]

[quote:9ad7136c0f="motherscratcher"]3 pages and nobody has brought up the most important topic:

When the change occurs, there are 4 things that it will be imperative to see (and I think we will all agree on this).

1. a facepalm emoticon
2. a rabbit with a pancake on it's head emoticon
3. a hide behind a couch emoticon
4. a dancing banana

Bernie, please tell us that you have not neglected these crucial additions.[/quote:9ad7136c0f]

:)

[LMBombers]

[quote:e2d6a9d23b="WeatherNut"]What's the point system, and why should I care?

:?

WN[/quote:e2d6a9d23b]

You shouldn't. I don't.

[GFDWARF07]

[quote:423c074bae="resmanjr"]:cry: i am getting old. been playing strat since it first came out, both in 60s and TSN. It has become a younger man's game, and I am OK with it.
Looking forward to 2012. Also, thanks for the memories.
Hope games are cheaper, running out of money, soon will be living on fixed income!
keep it fun for the old guys too.[/quote:423c074bae]

I think this rings true. I would question the sustainability at $24.95 per team. I have tried to recruit a lot of friends who say no way to the price. Beyond the intro special, anyway.

[Whamo]

I hate losing the 69 version of the game. It's my favorite. I like the idea of STRAT running STRAT online instead of the SPNEWS. I like the play by play online idea, but where do I roll the dice? As I get older I don't enjoy change very much, but what can you do?

[coyote303]

[quote:2727dae93c="gfdwarf07"][quote:2727dae93c="resmanjr"]:cry: i am getting old. been playing strat since it first came out, both in 60s and TSN. It has become a younger man's game, and I am OK with it.
Looking forward to 2012. Also, thanks for the memories.
Hope games are cheaper, running out of money, soon will be living on fixed income!
keep it fun for the old guys too.[/quote:2727dae93c]

I think this rings true. I would question the sustainability at $24.95 per team. I have tried to recruit a lot of friends who say no way to the price. Beyond the intro special, anyway.[/quote:2727dae93c]

I wish they could get the price down to $19.95 for a single season (and correspondingly cheaper for a 5-pack). Psychologically, that seems a lot cheaper!

[coyote303]

The SOM point system is very similar to duplicate bridge's master point system. You accumulate them a lot faster if you do well, but everyone accumulates them the more they play. Master points don't necessarily reflect a player's skill, but they encourage you to play more.

However, SOM is missing an additional great marketing opportunity that duplicate bridge uses: titles.* It may not seem like much, but bridge players spend thousands of dollars just to get the title "Life Master" and thousands more for subsequent titles, such as "Bronze Life Master" and beyond.

I have said in the past that SOM already has an accurate gauge available for manager's skill--their winning percentage. So, SOM has the best of both worlds with their ratings.

*they do give forum titles based on participation and performance, but it encourages participation on the forums.

[Stormcrow2012]

[quote:4a66dbe34b]I wish they could get the price down to $19.95 for a single season (and correspondingly cheaper for a 5-pack). Psychologically, that seems a lot cheaper! [/quote:4a66dbe34b]


I think this is an idea most people can get behind. I know several old time Strat players who think it is too expensive to pay 25.00 for an on-line team when they can buy a season roster code for 22.00 and do as many leagues or replays as they like with it.

The question for SOM and Bernie becomes could they get more players and more profits by lowering the price (slightly)? I think the answer is yes, even if the price reduction were only temporary to get more people hooked on this great format.

A lot of SOM customers do not play the on-line game and therefor do not know what they are missing. It really is a great format for a great game. Once some of these customers find out how easy and fun it is hopefully the number of players will increase dramatically.

I like some of the ideas for keeper leagues, and offering a deal where a commissioner can buy a whole league for a certain price.

[apolivka]

I like the idea of a commissioner buying and entire league as well. That way, you could setup a true theme league where the premise of the league might not be to win. The commissioner could decide to award the "prizes" based on stolen bases, or number of losses, or whatever he chooses. Would add an interesting wrinkle to long time players who enjoy theme leagues.

[MrHacktastic]

[quote:b27352b87a="Stormcrow2012"][quote:b27352b87a]I wish they could get the price down to $19.95 for a single season (and correspondingly cheaper for a 5-pack). Psychologically, that seems a lot cheaper! [/quote:b27352b87a]


I think this is an idea most people can get behind. I know several old time Strat players who think it is too expensive to pay 25.00 for an on-line team when they can buy a season roster code for 22.00 and do as many leagues or replays as they like with it.

The question for SOM and Bernie becomes could they get more players and more profits by lowering the price (slightly)? I think the answer is yes, even if the price reduction were only temporary to get more people hooked on this great format.

A lot of SOM customers do not play the on-line game and therefor do not know what they are missing. It really is a great format for a great game. Once some of these customers find out how easy and fun it is hopefully the number of players will increase dramatically.

I like some of the ideas for keeper leagues, and offering a deal where a commissioner can buy a whole league for a certain price.[/quote:b27352b87a]

I am pretty new here and just close to finishing my second season. I love playing the game but honestly I think it is incredibly overpriced to be honest. Very fun but I just can't justify so much money on fantasy baseball with so many other free fantasy baseball, football, and basketball options. I am willing to pay money but $25 for a season seems fairly outrageous. I know I was shocked when I joined and saw the prices after the free trial.

I am not trying at all to complain either. I was absolutely shocked that somebody would pay $25 for one season of this. So far there has been one trade total I am aware of in the two seasons I have competed in. Few people respond to messages when I send them in the league. I'm pretty sure close to 1/3 of the teams in my two leagues didn't make a single roster move for the entire season. We don't manage the games ourselves and honestly the managing settings are great to have but very limited and generalized considering we are dealing with numbers and statistics.

I am hoping I win a free credit so I can play a new season when 2011 comes out but if I don't I don't expect to buy any more season without a serious special offered or a general reduction in price.

Once again I'm not complaining just thought it might be relevant to present the opinion who is new to the site. Loves playing the game but probably won't sick around. My parents bought me my first Stratomatic board game in the 80's. I think my first complete set was around 1990. I have played it off and on with friends ever since and have bought several more complete sets for the board game. I can't justify $25 for 8 weeks of automated play.

Good luck with the site change and all that stuff though. Sounds like it's great news.

To the original poster could you elaborate on the following quote:
"when they can buy a season roster code for 22.00 and do as many leagues or replays as they like with it."

How do I this $22.00 option and what is it? Is that the CD-ROM?

[gbrookes]

Bernieh, and Strat-O-Matic, CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I firmly believe that Strat-O-Matic makes the very best sports strategy simulation games. I have been playing them since 1971, at the age of 10, along with my brother who was 7 at the time. We are still playing these games. The baseball is the best of all, but the football is a great game as well. There is just nothing quite like them.

Taking control and ownership of the online gaming is not only a good idea - it is essential. It was undoubtedly just a matter of time before this recapturing and rebirth occurred. Congrats to Strat-O-Matic for having the confidence to make this happen. This is a necessary step to advancing the game with the public well into the future.

Bernieh, the interaction that you with have with gamers (including your response time) is amazing. Please keep up the great work!!!! Your own passion for this game shows in everything that you do.

Let's get this party started!!!