| 0 |
Subject: TSN: 2003 Player Pricing / Game Launch
Posted by: Erik B.
- [239592612] Fri, Jan 10, 2003, 13:41
Gang:
We're going to launch Ultimate Baseball earlier this year than we've launched any other pay game. The game should be up, in fact, by the end of next week.
In preparation for that day, we're handling pricing differently this year. Because we're so far away from the start of the season, we only want to price players who have less price volatility inherent to them. So Giambi, for example, will be priced now, but a player competing for a position, or the bottom part of a pitching rotation will be priced later (probably 3 weeks before the season starts).
We think this is pretty clever. It'll allow us to launch the game early while providing better pricing before the season starts.
But we could use your help. Bernie will be working on our pricing spreadsheet over the weekend, and if you want to take a peek, you can email me on Monday (or Sunday). We will be taking "moderate" feedback. That is to say, you should give us your opinions on our first round of pricing AND whether someone should be priced now or later. We will then try to combine your opinions with our opinions for the game launch, which should be on Thursday.
Some of you have asked to be part of this process in the past, and we're excited to have you involved now (if you're interested). Again, email me on Monday if you want to take a peek and give feedback.
I am ebarmack@sportingnews.com.
-Erik
GM/TSN Games |
| 1 | Erik B.
ID: 55029217
Mon, Jan 13, 2003, 09:48
|
Reminder: we should have baseball prices today for our first round of players. If you want to give feedback, email me (ebarmack@sportingnews.com).
|
| 2 | beastiemiked
Sustainer
ID: 3531815
Mon, Jan 13, 2003, 15:11
|
Got the spreadsheet, thanks. Still looking over the prices, was wondering if the scoring is going to be the same as last year?
|
| 3 | Guru
ID: 330592710
Mon, Jan 13, 2003, 15:17
|
I asked Bernie about changes vs. last year. Here is his response:
1. Multiple position eligibility like hoops.
2. 14 players, but the 4th OF will be replaced by a DH.
3. We plan to process a price update on the first day of the season. But we probably will suspend updates on the days between the opening series in Japan and the U.S. opening day.
4. We're keeping the 5-day pitcher pricing cycle.
|
| 4 | Stuck in the Sixties
Leader
ID: 12451279
Mon, Jan 13, 2003, 16:05
|
This all sound pretty good, Guru.
Any news on the details of the Roto game, especially the pricing info?
|
| 5 | Guru
ID: 330592710
Mon, Jan 13, 2003, 16:18
|
Update from Bernie:
No, I was wrong about #3. The first price update of the season won't be until the Opening Day in the U.S.
|
| 6 | Erik B.
ID: 55029217
Mon, Jan 13, 2003, 18:26
|
Pricing info is that teams will be $15 or less (especially for early birds). Each division will have a cash prize (unlike Y! and other free games). You'll have the option of a live draft or a list draft. And scoring will be classic 5x5.
-ESB
|
| 7 | Ender
ID: 13443221
Mon, Jan 13, 2003, 23:51
|
Huzzah for the DH! I have been lobbying for that change for a couple years.
|
| 8 | Stuck in the Sixties
Leader
ID: 12451279
Tue, Jan 14, 2003, 11:44
|
Lotsa ways to play it but I'm tempted to park ARod there for the season.
|
| 9 | Ender
ID: 52438315
Tue, Jan 14, 2003, 16:30
|
Why there and not at SS? IMO the drop off from ARod to the next SS is steeper than from ARod to the next player at any position.
|
| 10 | Rogue Nine
ID: 9039143
Tue, Jan 14, 2003, 16:57
|
Question with the DH. Say you have Arod at DH and, say, Rollins at SS. Can you sell Rollins, move Arod to SS and buy a new DH, all with one trade? Or is that 3 trades?
|
| 11 | Guru
ID: 330592710
Tue, Jan 14, 2003, 17:02
|
One trade.
At least, that is how the process works for the current Hoops game.
|
| 12 | RecycledSpinalFluid
ID: 42121814
Tue, Jan 14, 2003, 18:25
|
Am I incorrect in my thinking here, but is the split pricing going to kill any chance of a cheapie (mispriced surprise starter) player from happening this year?
|
| 13 | MNG@college
ID: 117422015
Tue, Jan 14, 2003, 18:47
|
RSF: From what I gather, I don't think it will, everyone still needs sleapies on their roster to start the season right?
|
| 14 | ChicagoTRS
Sustainer
ID: 256101115
Tue, Jan 14, 2003, 18:50
|
RSF...I don't think so...there will still be players like Spivey last year that come out of nowhere after the season starts. They will add players 3 weeks before the season so again you will have players that are last minute starters etc...who will be underpriced. I really do not expect this pricing strategy to change the game at all, only thing it will do is allow them to sell the game longer before the season.
|
| 15 | beastiemiked
Sustainer
ID: 2711292917
Tue, Jan 14, 2003, 20:31
|
In the email I got from Bernie with the prices he wanted to know if players were over or underpriced by +- 1 mil. Personally, I didn't find too many guys I thought were too cheap or expensive mainly because the prices were in relative correlation with last years performance. There were of course a few adjustments but for the most part if a player did well he was priced accordingly. I did see some guys that, IMO, were vastly overpriced(Griffey) and guys that were underpriced(Rivera and Hampton).
|
| 16 | Erik B.
ID: 260401423
Wed, Jan 15, 2003, 00:45
|
Of course, the way in pricing this way is to reduce the number of cheapies while launching the game earlier. Pre-season is my favorite time of year (the only time when I have hope), so launching this week will be a big deal for us. And we also think it makes for a better game to get players as close to their value as possible heading into the season.
-ESB
|
| 17 | Tree
ID: 599393013
Wed, Jan 15, 2003, 13:07
|
i guess i'm missing the point here Erik - one of the fun parts of this game, and necessary parts, is finding good cheapies to round out your rosters. by eliminating cheapies, it makes it much more difficult, if not impossible, to play the game.
that was one of the two biggest problems with the Free football playoff game - a lack of cheapies, especially combined with three trades for the entire playoffs, made me lose interest after the wildcard weekend.
just my penny of thoughts,
Tree
|
| 18 | ChicagoTRS
Sustainer
ID: 256101115
Wed, Jan 15, 2003, 13:28
|
Anything to make the game harder IMO is a good thing...especially with baseball...there is so much time to accumulate wealth that everyone will still be able to fill good rosters at some point.
I guess the one downside could be that there should be less bargain type players but obviously there will still be some and the few that remain may end up on everyones roster.
|
| 19 | Rogue Nine
ID: 2057159
Wed, Jan 15, 2003, 13:32
|
Too many bargain players can lead to very similar teams though Tree. Especially if the player is a can't-miss bargain. The nature of baseball will produce some cheapies. But we don't need a $1.5 million Mike Hampton tearing up the league, and having everyone in the pool have him...
|
| 20 | Tree
ID: 599393013
Wed, Jan 15, 2003, 16:38
|
good points. still - i always fear that prospects - guys who haven't played one game, are priced too high. especially in baseball, where most highly touted prospects seem to fail in their first try.
granted, i haven't seen the price list...
peace,
Tree
|
| 21 | Erik B.
ID: 00501516
Wed, Jan 15, 2003, 17:51
|
Guys:
Don't be wimpy. If all players are priced fairly, it makes the game better, not worse. It forces you to manage based on your analysis of talent, not your ability to look for things that are obviously out-of-wack. And bargains will still emerge as the season progresses when players outperform. But making it harder to get bargains will make the game better.
-ESB
|
| 22 | deepsnapper
Sustainer
ID: 17103420
Wed, Jan 15, 2003, 20:22
|
# 21 Erik B. - Pardon me for saying so, but aren't you guys the experts? It says so on all the bylines. I simply don't comprehend why I'm being called a wimp. Who's the friggin wimp?
|
| 23 | The Left Wings
ID: 1668298
Thu, Jan 16, 2003, 06:23
|
I think that you should adjust some of the prices by expectation. For example, Hampton should be priced at the $5-6M range because everybody expects big things of him, even though he might just suck as much as he did in Colorado.
|
| 24 | leopard88
ID: 289273013
Thu, Jan 16, 2003, 09:14
|
I didn't play last year but I did the year before. What do you mean in post #3 about the 5 day pitcher pricing cycle? Could someone explian that?
|
| 25 | rockafellerskank
Sustainer
ID: 5800169
Thu, Jan 16, 2003, 10:12
|
leopard88: If you didn't play last year, it's going be inportant for you to understand the pitcher 5-day repricing formula. There is some discussion in these threads:
pitcher repricing discussions
|
| 26 | leopard88
ID: 289273013
Thu, Jan 16, 2003, 11:03
|
Thanks!
|
| 27 | leopard88
ID: 289273013
Thu, Jan 16, 2003, 11:23
|
Rockafellershank, the threads were helpful but after last season what turned out to be the best strategy with the pitchers? Do you just start off with the best you can afford and stick with them as long as they are producing? I guess I am asking what did everyone generally do. I would like to play this year but if I don't have this pitching deal figured out I will get so far behind before I know it. Thanks for the help.
|
| 28 | Erik B.
ID: 250311610
Thu, Jan 16, 2003, 11:33
|
deepsnapper:
no one's calling you a wimp ... errr, at least not me. i'm the wimpiest of the wimps. better?
-esb
|
| 29 | tomegun
ID: 300281623
Fri, Jan 17, 2003, 00:37
|
I doubt if i'll continue play. The way the game is structured now is way too time consuming. It used to be you could select a few teams and play with less than 30 minutes a day. Don't we have lives anymore? You know families and such...
|
| 30 | Guru
ID: 330592710
Fri, Jan 17, 2003, 09:30
|
By all means, keep your family.
You might consider quitting your job, however. That worked for me.
|
| 31 | Stuck in the Sixties
Leader
ID: 12451279
Fri, Jan 17, 2003, 10:37
|
Erik:
No gurupie discount for helping you generate a revenue stream in JANUARY?
|
| 32 | ukula
Donor
ID: 30081711
Fri, Jan 17, 2003, 12:11
|
Guru - better yet keep your family AND your job, but do all of your roster changes, research, and analysis at work and get paid for it!! It's a beautiful thing!!
|
| 33 | Stuck in the Sixties
Leader
ID: 12451279
Fri, Jan 17, 2003, 12:47
|
Eric:
When I sent a detailed EMail explaining a specific problem, this is what I got back:
Thank you for contacting SportingNews.com.
Member Service hours are 9:30 AM ET to 6:30 PM ET, Monday thru Friday.
Inquiries sent during non-business hours and holidays, may require additional response time.
1. If you are having trouble placing an order please be sure to check the following:
--Are you logged in with your Sporting News member name?
--Are you using a valid credit card?
--Did you fill out all the required form fields?
--Did you allow at least 3-5 minutes for your order to go through?
--Are you placing your order from behind a firewall or similar security system? That may restrict your access to making purchases.
--Does your billing address postcode match your credit card billing address postcode EXACTLY? The addresses must match in order for your credit card to be accepted.
2. If you are having trouble accessing your Ultimate or other content products, check the following:
--Are you logged in with the member name you used when you purchased the product?
--If this is your FIRST time accessing the product? If so, in order redeem it you must click on the hyperlink (underlined product name) on the purchase confirmation page OR the hyperlink within your purchase confirmation email? You must click on either of these links to enter the product. (PLEASE NOTE: You must be logged in at TSN.com with the correct member name in order to access any content product)
3. If your question is regarding a TSN Magazine Subscription. Please refer to the following link for TSN Magazine Customer Support:
http://www.sportingnews.com/magazine/cust_serv_home.html
For a TSN Book inquiry please email us at bookstore@sportingnews.com
4. To redeem the additional trades you purchased for SportingNews.com fantasy games:
--Log into the team you purchased the trades for.
--After you have logged in redeem your trades by clicking on the redeem trade link on the "purchase trades" page
OR
--Click on the "Help/Contact Us" link. On this pop up page there is a link to "Get Your Trades" click on it.
This will update your trades available.
5. For Refunds please reply with "REFUND" as the subject. In the email please include:
--Product name
--Member/Log in name
--Confirmation #
--Email address your registered under
--Reason for refund
THIS IS AN AUTOMATED RESPONSE.
Sincerely,
SportingNews.com
Is this what your customer service is all about?
|
| 34 | Erik B.
ID: 90311611
Fri, Jan 17, 2003, 13:02
|
SITS:
Customer Service is focused right now by game. So, if you're an Ultimate Baseball user and sent through Ult Baseball, you wouldn't get this. I'm thinking that this is the form we send back for all emails made on the orders page. If it is, I agree that it's not ideal, but it's not terrible either (it covers most of the issues made by orders).
In your particular case, please email me (ebarmack@sportingnews.com) and Larry (lcourtines@sportingnews.com) so we can get cracking on your problem.
-ESB
|
| 35 | Erik B.
ID: 90311611
Fri, Jan 17, 2003, 13:05
|
tomegun:
we hope you stick with us! i don't particularly think that the game's become more complicated. in many ways, the roster flexibility makes it easier to put a roster together.
-esb
sits:
no gurupie discount this year -- but if someone organizes competing gurupie divisions, we'll put together a small, gurupie-king prize. (i'm thinking head-to-head Strat-O credits for everyone in the winning division.)
-ESB
|
| 36 | Tree, also @ work
ID: 599393013
Fri, Jan 17, 2003, 13:17
|
Erik - this had probably been brought up before, but with the sheer number of people who play multiple games, there oughta be some sort of "season-ticket" type package.
right now, you pay roughly 105 bucks for 9 teams.
i'm wondering if a slightly sweeter deal, something that lets you hold onto "credits", from sport to sport, maybe 100 bucks for 10 teams, or something else, might be in the works.
peace,
Tree
|
| 37 | Farn
Donor
ID: 7822711
Fri, Jan 17, 2003, 15:58
|
How bout a deal where you get "9 credits" for a fixed fee. You can use those "9 credits" for any TSN game you want until they are gone.
This would get people to buy in bundles and may help add teams to other games.
|
| 38 | Erik B.
ID: 120231717
Fri, Jan 17, 2003, 18:24
|
Tree, Farn:
Cool ideas. We're a season behind. Because of all the things we wanted to accomplish for baseball, we didn't get our loyalty program in place. But something like what you're proposing has been in the works.
-ESB
|
| 39 | John D
ID: 5210581314
Fri, Jan 17, 2003, 18:44
|
gee it's early for Baseball so could you not still do it. A package deal for next year football and basketball. Or Perhaps just say not now dudes. Why do you always spin everything. you did not answer #36,37 posts. perhaps an answer could be next year maybe. we're a season behind,lame real lame. "for baseball" that is all minor BS. good grief get with it. for a front man,you are lacking,I'd fire ya and get a guy with vision.
|
| 40 | John D
ID: 5210581314
Fri, Jan 17, 2003, 18:56
|
yes I bought a team yesterday. And Eric are the prices set for the roster I'll be researching or what. you seem to be lost in the other thread. prices set or what. if they change why put it out now. just wondering if you know or are you merely a hype man.
|
| 41 | Erik B.
ID: 120231717
Fri, Jan 17, 2003, 18:59
|
John D:
Coming up with a program is time-consuming. It involves technology (creating a credit system), a business plan, and marketing. Because we schedule things 2-3 months in advance, and baseball is coming up, what I wrote above is the truth, not spin. We want to create a loyalty program, just not now.
I thought I answered the posts above, but let's see if I can be more specific:
#37 FARN: Yes, we want to go to a credit system with flexibility -- so you can apply credits to any Ultimate game. We think we'll do this for football.
#36 TREE: Yes, we want to do something like that pricing-wise. I don't know if it'll be that number, exactly, but it's consistent with what we've discussed.
So John D -- to get back to the point -- this is something we'd like to try for football. That's my hope. And I try to fire myself every day; and in the morning, I rehire myself and try to get on with life.
-ESB
|
| 42 | John D
ID: 5210581314
Fri, Jan 17, 2003, 19:15
|
ok you da man eric. I love these games. I do stop here at guru sometimes more lately. they do have some discussion in the division threads I like. but eric are the prices in the baseball going to change. if so why bother now.
|
| 43 | Tree
ID: 22052618
Fri, Jan 17, 2003, 20:00
|
Erik - just so you know, you answered my question just fine. lol. even though it's still 6+ months away, football is the next biggie, and i'm hoping the "loyalty" system might be in place by then...
thanks,
Tree
|
| 44 | penngray
Donor
ID: 453492921
Sat, Jan 18, 2003, 11:20
|
Re 35
lol! H2H credits, I already have 17 of them.... Could we have a different prize for a guru division?
|
| 45 | penngray
Donor
ID: 453492921
Sat, Jan 18, 2003, 11:22
|
Re 37 & 39
I have sent many suggestions on this. I personally spent well over $500 last year on TSN games.
I think TSN should consider memberships and yearly fees allowing a set number of credits to be used on all games.
I would like a platinum membership please!
|
| 46 | Ender
ID: 13443221
Sat, Jan 18, 2003, 14:44
|
Over $500? Wow. My wife would kill me. Plus, I simply don't have the time. I've spent about $125 between hoops and baseball, but that's all I play.
If you don't mind my asking, how profitable was it for you? I have only paid for baseball and hoops so far and only baseball season has finished. My wife finally understood my fascination when I received my check.
|
| 47 | penngray
Donor
ID: 453492921
Sat, Jan 18, 2003, 19:30
|
well, Im addicted to strat-o-matic baseball ;) I have played 26 seasons so far and that is where the money was going. Even though Im involved in Basketball I still spend time everyday on strat baseball. My wife is VERY understanding and I work for myself online all day so its easy to take a look, post an opinion, make a transaction ;)
Profitable, not even close. I do usually win my money back in the ultimate games but Strat baseball is purely not for profit fun. You do win credits, one for get into the championship and one for winning a championship so it just keeps you starting up new teams. I did recently win a H2H 16 team tournament that game me $75 worth of H2H credits (15 total). lol, there is no way I will use those up in the near future.
|
| Rate this thread: | If you wish, you may rate this thread on scale of 1-5. Ratings should indicate how valuable or interesting you believe this thread would be to other users of this forum. A '5' means that this thread is a 'must read'. A '1' means that this is a complete waste of time. If you have previously rated this thread, rating it again will delete your previous rating. If you do not want to rate this thread, but want to see how others have rated it, then click the button without entering a rating, or else click here. |
|
|
|
Post a reply to this message: (But first, how about checking out this sponsor?)
|