earlier baseball games

paperlantern · 11-18-2010, 03:14 PM

I've been playing OOTP since version 4, and I love it. Out of curiosity, what was everyones first Baseball Video Game addiction? Mine was Baseball Simulator 1.000 for NES. Loved how you could "edit" the stats to reflect what they player would do over 162 game season.

Who Killed Kenny? · 11-18-2010, 03:39 PM

Bases Loaded 3 and 4. I was always Hawaii. I also loved the umpires names: Yuk, Boo, Dum, and Bum.

Should mention that Ryne Sandberg was on the cover of Bases Loaded 3. He was (and is) my all time favorite player.

robc · 11-18-2010, 03:54 PM

Microleague Baseball + GM Disk was the first on the computer. Actually, there was one earlier I liked to play. It was a baseball game for the TRS-80 model III. I don't even rememebr the name of it.

My first board game for baseball was All Star Baseball with the round cards that you used with a spinner, then Stratomatic.

Edit: I think my progression went: Microleague Baseball-> Earl Weaver Baseball-> Tony LaRussa Baseball-> Front Page Sports Baseball->High Heat Baseball->OOTP / Puresim

Questdog · 11-18-2010, 04:26 PM

This was my first introduction into baseball simulation:
Name: Sher-Co.jpg
Views: 1610
Size: 26.9 KB

Sher-Co Baseball

After that I went on to Strat-o-matic and Pursue the Pennant.

On the computer I played Micro-League and Earl Weaver on the Amiga, but computer games were more a diversion and the board games were the bread and butter until I got married and started a family and found less time for the accounting required by board games.

The first computer game I really got serious about was Tony LaRussa and its companion game Old Time Baseball.

klonewarrior · 11-18-2010, 04:40 PM

I played Earl Weaver Baseball and Earl Weaver Baseball 2. Tony LaRussa and Old Time Baseball. Front Page Sports Baseball, High Heat Baseball, and now OOTP.

hefalumps · 11-18-2010, 04:47 PM

What a great thread!

When I got a NES, I rented pretty much all of the baseball games, but my favorites were Bases Loaded and Baseball Stars. I remember keeping my own box scores from some of those games. But Baseball Stars quickly took over when it came out. It was a little cartoony, but it was the first game I knew of where you could create your own team, trade/hire/fire players, and play out an actual season with statkeeping, player development/aging, etc. I also liked being able to make my fielders dive and jump for the ball! I created a little Orioles dynasty with that game using existing players and fictional players - and I somehow still remember the names of some of the fictional players (Thwack Robbins was one of my favorites - I was really sad when his skills declined so much that I had to send him packing).

On the PC, there was a game back in the late 80s/early 90s that we borrowed from a friend, and I can't for the life of me remember the name. Maybe some of you can help. I think it was called "Fantom" or something similar. It was mostly a text simulator with some rudimentary ballpark layout graphics, but I remember playing as the 1989 Orioles and being able to play out a season, make trades, manage rosters, etc. I have no idea what happened to it, and until I found OOTP, I hadn't found a text simulator that gave me the same enjoyment.

Since I couldn't find a text sim I liked, I instead played out seasons/dynasties with games like Hardball and High Heat. Those two games were great when they were around. I tried MVP Baseball for a couple of years before it went away, and while I liked the gameplay, I never got into any dynasties - I just played out exhibition games. By the time I got into MVP Baseball, I already had OOTP, so playing a dynasty in MVP Baseball just didn't seem like it would have the depth I wanted.

Now I play OOTP almost exclusively, although now that I have a PS3 I'll probably get the next version of The Show, and I might try to start a dynasty in it just to give it a chance.

Can't wait to read about everyone else's old baseball game experiences. I always hear a lot about Earl Weaver Baseball - that's one I never got to try.

bubba22plus · 11-18-2010, 05:12 PM

I'm only in my teenage years, and as much as i hate to admit it, i'm a Baseball Mogul convert.

fintach · 11-18-2010, 05:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by robc

Actually, there was one earlier I liked to play. It was a baseball game for the TRS-80 model III. I don't even rememebr the name of it.

I remember that game! A side view of the "batter" while the square ball drifted closer until starting moving lower in chunks. Even then I thought the graphics sucked, but it was baseball so I played. Not that I was supposed to -- it was a school computer.

The computer baseball game I first got addicted to was Hardball for the C64. I used to play that game with my friends for hours.

The first computer baseball game that really blew me away was Tony LaRussa Baseball (and the companion Old Time Baseball).

I got my start with boardgames though, starting with Statis Pro and leading to Strat, Pursue the Pennant and others. The one I miss was Baseball Challenge -- the zone system of hitting and fielding was amazing.

These days I play OOTP, obviously, and MLB 2K10 (for the PC) when I want take the role of a player.

Goodsox · 11-18-2010, 05:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by paperlantern

I've been playing OOTP since version 4, and I love it. Out of curiosity, what was everyones first Baseball Video Game addiction? Mine was Baseball Simulator 1.000 for NES. Loved how you could "edit" the stats to reflect what they player would do over 162 game season.

Baseball Simulator 1.000 was awesome!!! I loved playing that game when I was a kid.

Goodsox · 11-18-2010, 05:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bubba22plus

I'm only in my teenage years, and as much as i hate to admit it, i'm a Baseball Mogul convert.

Mogul convert as well. Mogul will always hold some great memories for me and brought me into the baseball sim game world. I will always owe finding OOTP to Mogul. I remember seeing a post on the Mogul forums about this game, coming here, and never leaving

bubba22plus · 11-18-2010, 05:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Goodsox

Mogul convert as well. Mogul will always hold some great memories for me and brought me into the baseball sim game world. I will always owe finding OOTP to Mogul. I remember seeing a post on the Mogul forums about this game, coming here, and never leaving

That is exactly what happened to me.

GEP · 11-18-2010, 06:02 PM

Microleague -- recomputed stats after each game and kept league standings in a spiral notebook. I think I even still have the notebook.

fintach · 11-18-2010, 06:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Goodsox

I remember seeing a post on the Mogul forums about this game, coming here, and never leaving

Heh. I heard about OOTP in the MLB2K forums.

CHOWDERHEAD · 11-18-2010, 06:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fintach

Heh. I heard about OOTP in the MLB2K forums.

Heard about OOTP from the highheat / simcentral forums.

Giants44 · 11-18-2010, 08:05 PM

pictures worth a 1000 words

of course this isn't even half of it, just the ones I still have in the garage. All started with APBA around the mid 70's, then to strat - on to every possible PC baseball game in the 80's and 90's and into various console games.

OOTP is literally the game I was waiting my whole life for.

Afino · 11-18-2010, 08:56 PM

I remember a game for the NES. Legends of the Game, maybe?

But you could select and field a team of baseball legends from the 50's and earlier. Cobb, Ruth, Mantle, Jackson, etc. Friends and I used to keep stats and everything. First baseball game I ever religiously played.

Beach23BoyP · 11-18-2010, 09:08 PM

Strat-O-Matic -- 1963

Curve Ball Dave · 11-18-2010, 09:42 PM

I started with Status Pro Baseball. Once I got a computer I got a baseball game, but I can't remember the name. From there it was the various incarnations of Front Page Sports which was my pride and joy until High Heat 2001 came out. I discovered OOTP in '02 and the rest, as they say, is history

I also tried Hardball 5, but it sucked. I also tried Tony LaRussa 3 but thought FPS was better and didn't get into it that much.

damientheomen3 · 11-18-2010, 09:49 PM

Being a teen, my first baseball game was The Show 07, and I played the crap out of that one. I spent maybe 200 or 300 hours playing the franchise mode before I found OOTP.

1998 Yankees · 11-18-2010, 10:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Giants44

pictures worth a 1000 words

All started with APBA around the mid 70's, then to strat - on to every possible PC baseball game in the 80's and 90's and into various console games.

You and I root for different teams, but here we could be twins (not the ones from Minnesota, though) - exactly the same history as me. Those pictures of High Heat bring back especially fond memories . . . until I remember such flaws as, if you played out your games, triples and walks were practically non-existent. Maybe that's why I'm such an OOTP fanboy - I've experienced the evolution of baseball simulation games up to this point, warts and all.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Giants44

OOTP is literally the game I was waiting my whole life for.

Me too. What a great sentiment. Thanks for putting it in words so eloquently.

11-18-2010, 03:14 PM	#1
paperlantern Minors (Double A) Join Date: Mar 2002 Posts: 176	earlier baseball games I've been playing OOTP since version 4, and I love it. Out of curiosity, what was everyones first Baseball Video Game addiction? Mine was Baseball Simulator 1.000 for NES. Loved how you could "edit" the stats to reflect what they player would do over 162 game season.

11-18-2010, 03:39 PM	#2
Who Killed Kenny? Major Leagues Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 410	Bases Loaded 3 and 4. I was always Hawaii. I also loved the umpires names: Yuk, Boo, Dum, and Bum. Should mention that Ryne Sandberg was on the cover of Bases Loaded 3. He was (and is) my all time favorite player. Last edited by Who Killed Kenny?; 11-18-2010 at 03:41 PM.

11-18-2010, 03:54 PM	#3
robc Hall Of Famer Join Date: Aug 2008 Posts: 2,079	Microleague Baseball + GM Disk was the first on the computer. Actually, there was one earlier I liked to play. It was a baseball game for the TRS-80 model III. I don't even rememebr the name of it. My first board game for baseball was All Star Baseball with the round cards that you used with a spinner, then Stratomatic. Edit: I think my progression went: Microleague Baseball-> Earl Weaver Baseball-> Tony LaRussa Baseball-> Front Page Sports Baseball->High Heat Baseball->OOTP / Puresim Last edited by robc; 11-18-2010 at 05:11 PM. Reason: more info

11-18-2010, 04:26 PM	#4
Questdog Hall Of Famer Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: In a dark, damp cave where I'm training slugs to run the bases...... Posts: 16,142	This was my first introduction into baseball simulation: Sher-Co Baseball After that I went on to Strat-o-matic and Pursue the Pennant. On the computer I played Micro-League and Earl Weaver on the Amiga, but computer games were more a diversion and the board games were the bread and butter until I got married and started a family and found less time for the accounting required by board games. The first computer game I really got serious about was Tony LaRussa and its companion game Old Time Baseball.

11-18-2010, 05:12 PM	#7
bubba22plus All Star Reserve Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Equestria Posts: 808	I'm only in my teenage years, and as much as i hate to admit it, i'm a Baseball Mogul convert. __________________ OOTP Resident Brony

11-18-2010, 04:40 PM	#5
klonewarrior Minors (Double A) Join Date: Jul 2010 Posts: 112	I played Earl Weaver Baseball and Earl Weaver Baseball 2. Tony LaRussa and Old Time Baseball. Front Page Sports Baseball, High Heat Baseball, and now OOTP.

11-18-2010, 04:47 PM	#6
hefalumps All Star Starter Join Date: Mar 2003 Posts: 1,358	What a great thread! When I got a NES, I rented pretty much all of the baseball games, but my favorites were Bases Loaded and Baseball Stars. I remember keeping my own box scores from some of those games. But Baseball Stars quickly took over when it came out. It was a little cartoony, but it was the first game I knew of where you could create your own team, trade/hire/fire players, and play out an actual season with statkeeping, player development/aging, etc. I also liked being able to make my fielders dive and jump for the ball! I created a little Orioles dynasty with that game using existing players and fictional players - and I somehow still remember the names of some of the fictional players (Thwack Robbins was one of my favorites - I was really sad when his skills declined so much that I had to send him packing). On the PC, there was a game back in the late 80s/early 90s that we borrowed from a friend, and I can't for the life of me remember the name. Maybe some of you can help. I think it was called "Fantom" or something similar. It was mostly a text simulator with some rudimentary ballpark layout graphics, but I remember playing as the 1989 Orioles and being able to play out a season, make trades, manage rosters, etc. I have no idea what happened to it, and until I found OOTP, I hadn't found a text simulator that gave me the same enjoyment. Since I couldn't find a text sim I liked, I instead played out seasons/dynasties with games like Hardball and High Heat. Those two games were great when they were around. I tried MVP Baseball for a couple of years before it went away, and while I liked the gameplay, I never got into any dynasties - I just played out exhibition games. By the time I got into MVP Baseball, I already had OOTP, so playing a dynasty in MVP Baseball just didn't seem like it would have the depth I wanted. Now I play OOTP almost exclusively, although now that I have a PS3 I'll probably get the next version of The Show, and I might try to start a dynasty in it just to give it a chance. Can't wait to read about everyone else's old baseball game experiences. I always hear a lot about Earl Weaver Baseball - that's one I never got to try.

11-18-2010, 06:02 PM	#12
GEP Minors (Double A) Join Date: Apr 2007 Posts: 132	Microleague -- recomputed stats after each game and kept league standings in a spiral notebook. I think I even still have the notebook.

11-18-2010, 08:05 PM	#15
Giants44 Hall Of Famer Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: San Francisco Bay Area Posts: 2,408	pictures worth a 1000 words of course this isn't even half of it, just the ones I still have in the garage. All started with APBA around the mid 70's, then to strat - on to every possible PC baseball game in the 80's and 90's and into various console games. OOTP is literally the game I was waiting my whole life for. __________________ "In a text sim - Immersion is everything" -Me "Judge a man not by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character" -Martin Luther King "Not everything that counts can be counted, and not everything that can be counted counts." -Einstein "The man who views the world at 50 the same as he did at 20 has wasted 30 years of his life." -Muhammad Ali "Baseball statistics are like a girl in a bikini. They show a lot, but not everything." -Toby Harrah Last edited by Giants44; 11-18-2010 at 08:06 PM.

11-18-2010, 08:56 PM	#16
Afino Hall Of Famer Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Buffalo, NY Posts: 3,828 Blog Entries: 2	I remember a game for the NES. Legends of the Game, maybe? But you could select and field a team of baseball legends from the 50's and earlier. Cobb, Ruth, Mantle, Jackson, etc. Friends and I used to keep stats and everything. First baseball game I ever religiously played. __________________ GUBA: Moscow Enforcers

11-18-2010, 09:08 PM	#17
Beach23BoyP Major Leagues Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Spring, Tx Posts: 407	Strat-O-Matic -- 1963

11-18-2010, 09:42 PM	#18
Curve Ball Dave Hall Of Famer Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Chicago Posts: 2,286	I started with Status Pro Baseball. Once I got a computer I got a baseball game, but I can't remember the name. From there it was the various incarnations of Front Page Sports which was my pride and joy until High Heat 2001 came out. I discovered OOTP in '02 and the rest, as they say, is history I also tried Hardball 5, but it sucked. I also tried Tony LaRussa 3 but thought FPS was better and didn't get into it that much. __________________ "Hitting is timing. Pitching is upsetting timing"-Warren Spahn. Last edited by Curve Ball Dave; 11-18-2010 at 09:52 PM.