Conference hbahba::cam_sports

Weekend before last I bought a CD-ROM for my PC.

One of the first CDs I bought was called Complete Baseball.   Folks,
this is an EXCELLENT CD.

It has your standard player/pitcher registers from when Jesus was pitching
for the Nazareth Carpenters, and it has league standings starting back
with the National Association in 1872.

It also has articles on baseball.


Probably the hightlight though are the pictures.  Included are some
photographs of stadiums (Cleveland Municipal Stadium 1932, Ebbets Field)
A photograph of the 1918 Boston Red Sox with Babe Ruth was taken in
Fenway, and you can see that where the huge scoreboard in Centerfield
is now, they used to have an opening in the wall out to the street
beyond.

There is a photo of the 1919 Chicaog "Black" Sox with their lawyer
in court also.

And the most exciting part of this CD, for me, was putting on the
headphones, and listening to the sound clips.   The call of Bobby
Thompson's 1951 homer to win the pennant for the Giants was chilling,
as was Don Larsen's perfect game.   The radio call of Fisk hitting
the homer in 1975, Game 6 wasn't as exciting as it would have been had
they had the video clip.


All in all it's a great CD and I highly recommend it for anyone
who has a CD-ROM on their computer....


'Saw

    Is this by any chance "Total Baseball" (not "Complete"), 'Saw?  It's 
    been out for about a year now and it sounds as if it could be even more
    useful than the hardcopy version.  Someone in BASEBALL was looking for 
    a review if you get a chance...
    
    Just curious; does the software have flexible search capabilities
    or would you have to program your own?  Let's say I want a list of all
    pitchers who compiled a sub-3.00 ERA with 150 K's before the age of 22.
    Can you do that kind of thing?  That's where the power of a CD-ROM
    baseball encyclopedia lies...
    
    glenn
    

>    Is this by any chance "Total Baseball" (not "Complete"), 'Saw?  It's 
>    been out for about a year now and it sounds as if it could be even more
>    useful than the hardcopy version.  Someone in BASEBALL was looking for 
>    a review if you get a chance...

Yes, you are correct.  "Complete" didn't seem right, but I was drawing
a big blank.

I probably won't get into BASEBALL any time soon.  Feel free to
cross post my note if you like.   I got it for $40 at a show.  It's more
expensive in the store I'm sure.

    
>    Just curious; does the software have flexible search capabilities
>    or would you have to program your own?  Let's say I want a list of all
>    pitchers who compiled a sub-3.00 ERA with 150 K's before the age of 22.
>    Can you do that kind of thing?  That's where the power of a CD-ROM
>    baseball encyclopedia lies...
    
Probably not that in depth.  I have fire it up again, as I just skimmed it
the first time.   I have another disc (150 Greatest Books) and that
has extensive search capability, and I don't want to get the two confused.

I'll try to fire it up tonight and see.  There is a "browse" menu choice.
    

'Saw

Glenn,

I had a chance to throw the Baseball disc in last night.

You can search, but it's a search that's oriented towards word matching,
and not mathematical criteria that I can see.   

I'll try to do some more investigating when I have time, but I don't think
it is as sophisticated as you'd like.....


'Saw

    
> You can search, but it's a search that's oriented towards word matching,
> and not mathematical criteria that I can see.   
    
    Thanks for checking, 'Saw.  The guy in BASEBALL was more interested in
    knowing what kind of database interface it has and if it's easily
    accessible to programmers to do those kinds of things.  I know squat
    about database management and probably wouldn't want to get into that
    kind of thing on my own...
    
    glenn
    

>    Thanks for checking, 'Saw.  The guy in BASEBALL was more interested in
>    knowing what kind of database interface it has and if it's easily
>    accessible to programmers to do those kinds of things.  I know squat
>    about database management and probably wouldn't want to get into that
>    kind of thing on my own...
    

Oh.

Well, as Tommy would say it sounds like he has too much free time 8^)


Seriously, the disc comes with an interface called DiscPassage, (which
is the common on-line interface for all of that companies disks) and that
is basically what gives you the search/browse etc etc capability.

I wouldn't even know how to go about adding to that interface (if its
even possible).   


hth,
'Saw

    

Over the weekend, I picked up Tony LaRussa Baseball II for my PC.

It's a great game, and if you've got a sound board the play-by-play is
pretty cool too.  The game itself comes with a lot of the old stadiums
(Baker Bowl, Forbes Field, Griffith Stadium, Ebbetts Field, the Polo Grounds
and others). 

The teams are "all-time" teams, made up of great players from the years
of the team.  For example, the Red Sox default batting order is
Fred Lynn, ?, Ted Williams, Yaz....  

You can get expansion disks for other stadiums (all of the current AL/NL
stadiums, including Colorado and Florida's) and for the 1992/93 MLB players.
(They're the 1993 players/teams but with the 1992 stats).


You can play it as a baseball game, or  you can let the computer play it
and you "manage" the team through a season etc etc etc.



I have one question about it though.  How the hell do you move your
fielders????  The documentation is rather poor on that subject, and I've
been diddling with it but haven't quite found the secret yet!

Oh well.

I'd recommend it if you want a good baseball game for the PC.  Oh, you'd
better have at least a 386/25.  I've got a 486/50 and it performs well...


'Saw

    Well, you can't buy this game, but you can participate in it. I have
    written a software to so that you can play fantasy football with
    netters all over the world.
    
    Wouldn't you like to own your own football team, and decide to bench
    Joe Montana? :-) This is your chance, press KP7 to add the FFL
    conference (SWECSC::FFL) to your notebook. We're currently trying to
    fill a third league, but I'm still hoping for 5-6 leagues before the
    start of the season.
    
    (If you read this after the season has started, no problem new leagues
    will open as soon as we have enough people)
    
    Paul Ahlgren

    I just ordered a DECpc 433dx LPx since DEC wouldn't let me buy one of
    Marky-Mark's DECpc XLs.  Are there any new sports games now that are a
    must buy?
    
    thanks,
    Mike

I like "Tony Larussa's Baseball II" or whatever it's called.

You get the game, which is pretty slick, with rosters of All-Star players.
The ball parks that come with it are some of the original ones -- Baker Bowl,
Connie Mack Stadium etc etc.

You can buy companion disks with the latest rosters, or you can buy a 
ballpark disk with the latest ballparks.

I think it's fun.

    MIke, the LPx is a nice box.  Did you order it with a Diamond Viper or
    S3 928?
    
    Mark.

    Wow, I never thought I'd see the day MikeH. would buy a Digital box.

>    MIke, the LPx is a nice box.  Did you order it with a Diamond Viper or
>    S3 928?
    
    The S3 is what's shipping standard now.  I think that's the better of
    the 2 as well (local bus video and all that).  I also got the MPC kit
    so I'd especially be interested in the multimedia games.

    >    Wow, I never thought I'd see the day MikeH. would buy a Digital box.
    
    Hey after working here for 13 years, I still have some loyalty left.

    Anyone know a good PC joystick to buy?

    Are you going multimedia Mike?  I'm shopping and thinking the same
    thing.
    
    brews

    
    >>Anyone know a good PC joystick to buy?
    
    MikeH, go buy the John Holmes Deluxe two-hander joystick..
    
    BTW, what's a "politically-correct" joystick anyways???
    
    JaKe
    

    
    
    >> BTW, what's a "politically-correct" joystick anyways???
    
     
    
     One that has a condom included.
    
    

    re-.1
    
    But the politically correct one includes a USED CONDOM, right??
    
    JaKe
    

nah, JaKe if 'ya listen to some folks if the condom was used that means 
that someone was likely taken advantage of. The politically-correct thing,
in some peoples minds - is a joystick that includes a condom and does
not get used.

HtH,

The Crazy Met

ps Mac must be outta here.

    I knew Jake was just around the corner after entering that.  I checked
    the PC conference during lunch and the FlightStick seems to be more
    highly regarded than the Gravis joyrod.  It's so unnatural to wear a
    raincoat while computing though.  Not only that, there's an extra
    expense involved since I have to go out and buy the tiny Jake-sized
    raincoats.
    
    yeah Brews, I already made the Multimedia jump.  Are you gonna buy a
    DECpc?  Do the right thing and sell yourself one.

I've got a Kraft Thunderstick.  It's reasonably priced, and it gets the
job done.

My brother spent the buck for that fancy Weapons Control System/Joystick
combination (I fergit who makes it).

Anyway, the joy is is an exact replica of the stick in an F4, and the
throttle control has all kinds of buttons on it to do a sh*tload of
functions.

Only problem with that is that it is GREAT for jet simulations, but it's
way too sensitive if you're doing anything earlier -- like Aces Over
Europe or WWI simulations.


JMHO,
'Saw

    The other problem is that not everyone writes the applications to
    support all the knobs and switches on them sticks.

>    The other problem is that not everyone writes the applications to
>    support all the knobs and switches on them sticks.

Yeah, that too.  I know that Aces does, but not sure about any others.

btw, I remember the name -- Thrustmaster.  


'Saw

    >btw, I remember the name -- Thrustmaster.  
    
    that's my ole H.S. moniker

    
    Yabbut that was only to disguise the fact that they really wanted
    to call ya a *sshole!
    
    ;^)
    
    

    Anyone try "Front Page" football game yet?  It seems to be getting great 
    reviews and has been the #2 seller at Babbages over the last couple
    months (MS Flight simulator is #1).
    
    Mike

    I recently acquired Wayne Gretzky Hockey - 3.  One of the best hockey
    games I've seen.  The sounds are pretty cool too and you even get the
    zamboni between periods.
    
    Mike

Cain't be better than good old slot-hockey...

    what's slot hockey?

    oh yeah, I had one of those.

    
    >>Anyone try "Front Page" football game yet?  It seems to be getting great 
    >>reviews and has been the #2 seller at Babbages over the last couple
    >>months (MS Flight simulator is #1).
    
    Bought Front Page Football-Pro about 2 weeks ago.  Pretty good game.  
    Still getting used to it right now.  Lets you do either single season 
    or career leagues, but with the career leagues, if you want to have the 
    stats, ya have to let the computer simulate the other games in the league,
    at about 10-20 minutes per game.
    
    You can design your own offensive strategy and plays, and defensive
    strategies and plays, too.  You cain let the computer play the game for
    you, or just cal the plays and let the computer run them, or you can
    take control and run yer whole team.
    
    I don't have a sound card, so I don't know how good the sound
    stuff is.  I been running off of my laptop, sorta runs slow, but decent
    nevertheless.
    
    I paid about $28 for it at Egghead Software here in Pittsburgh.
    
    JaKe
    
    
    

    	Hey RaKe, being a Patriot's season ticket holder I decided to
    buy Back Page Football.  I thought it was more appropriate.
    
    				/Don

>    or career leagues, but with the career leagues, if you want to have the 
>    stats, ya have to let the computer simulate the other games in the league,
>    at about 10-20 minutes per game.
    
    do you have to do this every time you want to play a game?

    
    >>do you have to do this every time you want to play a game?
    
    Well, if ya don't want stats(cept fer won lost) there's the fast
    simulation, which plays all other games in about 5 seconds a game.  If
    ya wants player and team stats, it must do the slow simulation, which
    with quarters set at 10 minutes, versus 15 minutes qtrs, takes about 11
    minutes a game.  League size is 8, 12, 18, or 28 teams.  
    
    
    JaKe
    

    Ever play dice baseball as a kid.  Could use cards or just make up
    teams, lineups.  Play each other?
    
    7 was a single... etc
    
    Just Curious

    no, whiffle ball was king when it came for subbing for the real thing.

    We used to use three dice and have a whole bunch of different 
    combinations based on which type of player it was. We stole a lot of
    the rules from Strat-o-matic,which was the most realistic game
    available in the late 60's(you could have rain delays). There was
    also charts for top pitchers,but we emphasized hitting.
    
    It was something like this:
    1-1-1 HR
    1-1-2 (spin again) one dye > 3 HR,<3 triple
    etc.
    
    Most of it wasn't that sophisticated,but using all the combinations of
    rolls gave more variety.
    
    We would do the entire season,box scores and all,I did the NL,my friend
    the AL. We only did it one full season. Took a lot of grid paper from
    school. If I had only spent that time doing something productive.
    
    

    1-1 walk
    2-2 double
    3-3 triple
    4-4 homer
    7 single (5-2 was a two base advance)
    6-5 reached on error
    6-6 double play
    
    9s were steal of base
    
    all else were out
    
    somehow it seemed mentally we could influence the roll to produce
    homeruns for power hitters, higher averages for our favorites.  Must
    have been our imagination, eh?

Yea, it was big stuff when my buddy got a Strat-o-matic game. We thought that was the 
bee's knees.

Good memory jog.

=Bob=

    I tried this one the other day and it's pretty cool:
    
    MUCCS1::PD2:[MSDOS.GAMES]EPICBB.ZIP

    Another tidbit:  Sir Charles' new video game is out on Sega.  It's
    called "Shut Up & Jam" and is a streetball/playground game.

    	Hey MikeH if Sir Charles keeps beating up bar patrons maybe
    they can change the name of the game to "What Up In The Slammer"
    
    				/Don

    Slasher, you would love this game, much like the NBA of the '60s and
    '70s.  A bunch of muscleheads dissin' each other with no refs in sight.

|
|    	Hey MikeH if Sir Charles keeps beating up bar patrons maybe
|    they can change the name of the game to "What Up In The Slammer"
|    


GREAT.  Now I got coffee all over my screen, up my sinuses, and in 
my keyboard.....

    Hello,
     Yes, Complete Baseball is a great game. You might also want to check
    out "Tony LaRussa Baseball". It is also available on CD-ROM and 3.5 and
    5.25 disks. I purchased it last year, and I must say that it is one of
    the most realistic games ever made. There are also accessories disks,
    which include both AL and NL stadiums, and MLB players from previous
    years. There is also a Fantasy Draft disk, which allows you to have
    your own draft day (40 Rounds total). Imagine having Barry Bonds and
    Ken Griffey, Jr. on the same team? I personally like the old timers
    teams from the past, w/ a few Negro League teams as well. There are
    also the old ballparks as well (Ebbets Field, Polo Grounds, Old
    Comiskey Park, Old Yankee Stadium, etc.). This game is made by SSL,
    Inc.and is available at all major computer stores. You can also add a
    sound card to your PC to get real action voices!!!!
    
                             -Tony

    I now have Front Page Football, but not enough space on my drive to
    install it :-(

    Unfortunately,
      Tony LaRussa BB does take up quite a large amount of disk space. The
    files are actually in compressed or .zip format. They remain that way
    until you type install, then they expand into the regular files.

    
    
       Anybody looking to "sell" any old software let me know, ie. Larussa,
    Front Page, Stratomatic, etc......
    
    
    
    Chappy

I am looking for nice/neat sports games for windows:

Bowling
Golf
Baseball
Football

Thanks,

Cb.