iOOTP, Out of the Park, Baseball 2011 is developed by Out of the Park Developments. And it is now available for iOS devices. It’s a text-based baseball simulator covering career, for both historical and fictional play. OOTP was originally written in 1998. Lead developer Markus Heinsohn wanted to design a game with simulation qualities and career play. Heinsohn came out swinging for the fences to not only please the hardcore fans, but casual gamers as well.

If you are a major baseball fan and into fantasy baseball a game, then iOOTP is the game to check out in this nifty portable design OS. The game is a simulation baseball game, in which, you have zero control of the players. In fact, you have control of the team and the strategies but as a manager of a team. iOOTP 2011, gives you full control of which player's you want on your team. On whom you wish to remove from your roster and whom you wish to sign under contract.

If sitting on the sidelines sounds dull, indeed it’s not. You’ll have to have strategies on what moves to make. Play each inning, or stealing second base, even to replacing players on any base positions. When you start a new game, you have the choice to choose between Major League, Fictional League, and Historical Replay. Each one let’s you pick the team you wish to manage. And within each you have your managing screen. Where you get to check your roster, team stats, and even free agents. Once you get your team together you get to play a game against other teams. On the screen, when you are playing against another team. You have your diamond shape field showing you each of your player’s positions. Once you engage in the game. A dialogue box appears on the play-by-play. And actual commentator giving you each pitch down to each hit.

The gameplay is simple. Not a multiplayer option either it’s just you and your team. It is your team, your call, and your shots. Managing everything isn’t easy, but it is addicting. The game isn’t short by any sense of the word, so you’ll get enough chances to make a lot of changes to have the team you wish to manage. Every time you finish your matches, win or lose, your game saves once it hits back onto your manager screen. Unfortunately there is no sound to the game. Which I think could’ve brought more enthusiasm to the game.

And the graphics are decent, you don’t get to see the players when they pitch or hit but the display of the field and being able to see the information is important within the game. Considering this game had originally been made for the PC, it is awesome for OOTP players to now have this game on their iOS devices. So if simulation games and managing a team hits your fancy, then try out iOOTP 2011 and enjoy making your team all the way to the end and becoming the reigning champs.

Noemi Portillo