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It's a huge step back from last year IMO.

I wasn't too sour on DD until this POTM program came out. Pretty beefy grind with the lightning player being very underwhelming.

Stubs are much harder to come by, rewards are iffy at best, market is a mess, etc. Just nowhere near as fun as last year (until burnout set in, at least).

Even worse if you go back two years to TA4 in '21. Mantle, Honus, and so many other god squad 99s.

But in '23 we get Leisure Suit Larry X 30.

The fall from '19-'21 to '23 and now '24 is really something.

Been saying that SDS was heading down the EA path before this. This is just another example of really pushing monetization.

I suppose this was inevitable but I naively hoped they might realize their biggest asset was being the player friendly sports gaming franchise. I guess they might still be compared to EA/2K but the lines are getting blurrier all the time.

"Quantity over quality" regarding content is a good way to put it. Every program is the same cut out with a different name, with rewards that pale in comparison to the shiny new packs that are released twice a week.

I actually enjoyed season one quite a bit but two has felt really stale. It's not motivating nor fun to grind for cards that aren't better than those I already have. That's what is missing this year for me, the feeling of building my team. Maintaining it is nowhere near as enjoyable.

Not really as I'd have eventually done the LS collection anyway. I do think it's another example of bad/indifferent planning though. Something has seemed way off at SDS this year, like the old cliche of the left hand not knowing what the right hand is doing.

Best thing about this program is the 42 pack.

Makes it really easy to take Pedro if he is indeed one of the other two.

I just assume that "stubs are so easy to get" is code for "I spend hours flipping cards in the market". Stub rewards are paltry this year. Actually pack rewards are way down as well, excepting the USA conquest map which had more hidden rewards than previous years.

As far as content goes, my opinion is that the TA2 reward cards are almost all collection fodder and a sizeable step down from the TA1 Charisma cards. It is not at all motivating to grind through another slog for cards that won't replace those I've had for a month or more. Off the top of my head Muncy, Napoli, Eddie Murray, deGrom are fine cards but that's about it. Berti and Ahmed seem like trolling more than anything. (Side note - for a series based on nicknames, how do you pick CJ Cron (Big Fella...not even his nickname) over Chuck Nazty? Think things through ahead of time and maybe save Blackmon for the nickname series eh?).

I saw someone on reddit call this year's game Grind 97/Buy 99 and I can't really argue. All these 99s behind a paywall are obnoxious and very clearly show that SDS wants more microtransactions. Very EA-like.

IMO this is the worst version of the game since I started in '18. All the grinding this year for players you can eventually collect for a few really good cards is not a model I find enjoyable. It actually reminds me of the immortal grind minus the jerseys/bobbleheads/etc.

I would give SDS credit for trying something new if I thought it was done in good faith. I don't think that because I think this system was designed to (1) keep people on the treadmill forever or (2) shortcut it by buying stubs.

(1) isn't necessarily a bad thing but the rewards have to be desirable. In this game the rewards are merely collection pieces for the most part. And it should go without saying that grinding for lesser versions of players we already have is very uninspiring.

They did have a very good idea for this year in captains, but ironically they would have been a much greater addition to the old progression system. With the high diamonds from day 1 their impact has been muted.

Judging by how little activity there is on these forums and on reddit, and how slow the market seems to be moving in game, you are obviously not alone. This is my sixth year playing this game and the only time I've felt like the game is almost dead while I was still playing (usually quit after the finest program).

It could be any number of reasons for the player decline but I'd guess sets/seasons is the biggest reason. Grinding for the same players over and over every 2 months is exhausting and needlessly pointless.

@Honor_The_Game44_PSN said in Give back real names:

The things going on with this game are what happens when a company truly doesn't listen to the feedback of their customer base. They pay attention here and there, but never truly dig into the things players like, dislike, and feel could truly elevate the game. Then they just randomly just start making decisions because of things they think they heard like "content is stale" or "it's the same every year" or "all programs are the same". They haven't taken the time to understand what most players mean when those things are said.

All true. They ARE listening to the accountants though, because microtransactions are the clear goal and push this year.

I know the sweats didn't like '21 but I think it was the pinnacle for this game. Yes, things were easier to obtain but it was FUN to do so, unlike programs now that pxp is the end all be all.

Set 2 has been awful. Today's program is another chance to grind for cards that are worse versions of guys I already have. I don't care that it's more cards for a collection. The content has to be more than that for it to be fun or engaging.

I've barely been hanging on with this game, hoping they'd finally release perennial favorite 99 George Brett and log on here to see.....this.

Oof. So much of '23 seems like an experiment to see just how awful content can be and still have people log on for it.

SDS just follows MLBs choice for POTM so why are people complaining? It was either Ohtani, who already has 4 (?) diamonds in game, or Votto, so Votto it is. Simple.

@johnny_coletrain said in Miggy Program live:

6 total bases is a joke. The card to use is awful. Against the dodgers they run down everything in the OF with belli and no okie out there. PCI in the middle or perfect is a line out. hitting a dinger is impossible with 65 power

Got a no doubt animation once but of course it was a foul ball.

I can only conclude Bellinger has 250 speed and 500 reaction. Literally nothing is landing.

I did buy him a couple days ago. You're telling me I made a GOOD market decision? First time for everything I guess.

Maybe Chris Sale for the pitcher. His 99 has been a BR and WS reward the last 2 years I believe.

Moments have always been bad. Nothing is different now.

I've mostly enjoyed this year's game but the burnout has really set in. I am going to hang in there through the finest program (Nov. 19) and that'll be that.

If I get '22 it'll be around playoff time next season, hopefully on a decent sale. I don't care about keeping up with a whole year's content anymore.