Garcia's latest blog

...lots of exciting new things are happening here...

I think my definition of exciting is drastically different from Mr. Garcia's.

Exciting would have included the NEW 2015 cards coming out NEXT week. Improvements with the game itself and a plethora of NEW cards besides the 20 voted for added to the ATG Set ALL coming NEXT week. Throw in a 5 Pack Special and the cash register would have been cha-chinging at SOM! Snap I just woke up!

Aren't you aware of the new game that will update the cards based on the real player's performance the night before? That is exciting! It is nothing short of magnificent!

Yeah, I think Strat has had a pretty good year.

Aren't you aware of the new game that will update the cards based on the real player's performance the night before? That is exciting! It is nothing short of magnificent!

Very aware, just not very interested, that's why I don't find it exciting. Doesn't mean others won't and for them I hope it lives up to their expectations, but for me, I'd have rather seen improvements to the game I love and play, like better line up controls, better substitutions, etc.

So fantasim taken to another level. Why am I not interested. Looks and feels more like fantasy baseball. Has more of the elements of fantasy baseball and how things can swing drastically at any time. But here is the thing. My reaction is about the same as when they told me yogurt taste just like ice cream. If I want ice cream I will just eat ice cream, not something that is close. If I want to play fantasy baseball I will just play fantasy baseball.

Bottom line it seems to me they are losing sight of what differentiated them from everything else and made their product superior. That which set them apart is what they need to concetrate on. Make that even better and they maintain a monopoly with loyal following. Chase after the fantasy baseball crowd and even if successful there will be no loyalty as people change fantasy baseball sites on an annual basis.

Bottom line it seems to me they are losing sight of what differentiated them from everything else and made their product superior.

I don't agree with this at all. I think they are looking at the fantasy sites (many more users than SOM) and the daily gambling sites (huge buzz and attracting new users/different demographic than fantasy even) and thinking that they can expose them to the SOM system and all the goodness it brings, expanding their customer base in the process.

Everyone (yes including you & me Bill) who whines about how little the game has improved over time should be rejoicing right now, because FINALLY the SOM team has seized on an opportunity to grow the business. And if they are successful, then it will only help the traditonal netplayers and SOM Online players because the daily game will still be based on the same card engine as the other two platforms, and so they may gain additional resources to improve the base platform as a result of adding a new way to consume SOM.

So Valen I think you've got it backwards - SOM is not trying to be like the fantasy sites with this move, it would be death to try a "me too" play given how mature that market is. They are saying, "we can bring SOM to this market and it WILL be different, and that's how we can grow." Ya feel me?

I loved SOM as a product but quite honestly had zero respect for them as a business until this move. The biggest opportunity for them since SOM Online got me to play way back when. I was a Pursue the Pennant guy originally FWIW.

I agree and think this is a huge moment for SOM. ............................ So your so called "secret formulas " won't work with this new game, and yes there will be more fluctuation, just like real life baseball. This is it, this is the GM/manager experience! And I agree that it will pull new people into the game.

I think some of these people who have played thousands of teams with the same format are worried about having to learn a new game where the future is uncertain. I have noticed a lot of the so called "Top Managers" are afraid of the mystery game for this very reason. Some people will always resist and be afraid of change, even , or especially a game changer change like this. Well done SOM!

I like the idea of the new daily game, unfortunately it can only run concurrent with the real season, of course. Nice addition though.