Video Games plus Fantasy Baseball equals???

[arodrokz]

We step into the mental batters box everyday. We imagine the physical results of our strategic thinking all the time. Is there a baseball video game that brings it all to life? I am looking for a serious, adrenaline-filled baseball video gaming experience. One that matches my wits with my fingers. Any recommendations?

[Skip]

I'm no expert on baseball vid games or fantasy baseball, but I will still welcome you to the NDF, arodrokz. :)

[SmedIndy]

Welcome.

Since I'm more into strategy and managerial simulation, I play Diamond Mind (sort of like APBA or Strat or Pursue the Pennant), but I think some of the young bucks would know about gaming.

My last video system had Pinball and Breakout....

[Skip]

Sidebar - I really need to get Diamond Mind. And Breakout rocked. So did Snipes.

[arodrokz]

Hey Skip, thanks for the welcome. I was hopin to see a few game suggestions before the long weekend arrives. In regards to the topic, my friends and I have combined fantasy and video games. We'll all build teams from scratch and play a season and check in every 15 games or so to see results. It's fun. One game that's cool just to play is MLB Slugfest 2003. It's new. Anyone have it yet? Great graphics and a good stress reliever. You can see what I mean here (http://baseball.midway.com)

[VNV Nation]

I wasn't happy with Diamond Mind -- I wanted realistic, surprising injuries, and things like double-play ratings for infielders. didn't get either.

[poorme]

Hey, adroxkocz, or whatever your name is (harry would have fun with that one!). Sure is cool what they have nowadays. I grew up in the 70s and 80s, you wouldn't believe the stuff we had. there was this Atari game called Home Run. you'd press the button to pitch and then you could move the ball all around, left, right, back left again. It was very realistic. the guys looked like this:
................X
...............X
......X......X
XXXXXXXX
......X.......
......X.......
.....X.X.....
..XX...XX..

ahh, the good old days.

[poorme]

Originally posted by VNV Nation
I wasn't happy with Diamond Mind -- I wanted realistic, surprising injuries, and things like double-play ratings for infielders. didn't get either.

You can set the injuries to do various things, random, as occurred, or by player rating. I find the injury aspect very entertaining. I've had players injured in bench clearing brawls, kind of humourous.

Tom Tippett (mr. diamond mind) explains why he doesn't have double play ratings. I kind of agree with him.

The game isn't perfect, but it's the best thing I've found. VNV, what have you found to be the best?

[CpUltravox]

Wow! You guys are old! My Atari had Super Challenge baseball... and SUPER Breakout.

Anyway... I hear the game High Heat Baseball has OPS and Equivalent Average as well as Runs Created as stats. So despite not having the game, there seems to be an extra level of detail in that one.

[VNV Nation]

Originally posted by poorme


You can set the injuries to do various things, random, as occurred, or by player rating. I find the injury aspect very entertaining. I've had players injured in bench clearing brawls, kind of humourous.

Tom Tippett (mr. diamond mind) explains why he doesn't have double play ratings. I kind of agree with him.

The game isn't perfect, but it's the best thing I've found. VNV, what have you found to be the best?

Maybe you have a different version than me. I was apoplectic because Lenny Dysktra kept playing 155 games even though I had him on the worst injury rating possible.

I talked to Tippett personally about this and the DP thing, and frankly wasn't satisfied with his answers. So, I'm still looking for something better.

I liked the old LaRussa interface (am I allowed to say that?) but I wasn't happy with the results generated.

[SmedIndy]

I always turn injuries off and move players to what team they were on August 1, and make my own moves on and off the active roster but that's just me. To each his own with every game.

I think we're getting off on Diamond Mind, which isn't what Arodrockz wanted to know about. There's several DM threads abouding around here, buried in the sand....

[Skip]

To follow up from Smed, any "serious, adrenaline-filled baseball video gaming experience" will do. Any candidates besides DM? (Oh ... and for those who still think DM stands for Dungeon Master - while that would certainly put a new wrinkle on "Fantasy" baseball, you are on the wrong board! :) )

[VNV Nation]

Dykstra must have had some bracers of protection +2 and potions of extra healing.

[cubfan33]

The best sim for managerial stuff is Baseball Mogul - I haven't seen the newest version and the online version chews rocks, but I play regularly ... no graphics tho.

I have a new Gamecube (happy bday!) so I'll let you know if All-Star Baseball with Derek Jeter is any good soon.

[moose]

Originally posted by CpUltravox
Anyway... I hear the game High Heat Baseball has OPS and Equivalent Average as well as Runs Created as stats. So despite not having the game, there seems to be an extra level of detail in that one.
Moose's super quick review:

If you want overall total package, get (Derek Jeter on Cover) All-Star Baseball 2002.

If you want great graphics, etc (but still good playability), get (LuGo on Cover) Triple Play 2002.

If Netshrine is not enough and you think Lee's Encyclopedia is a waste of time because it "just doesn't have enough stats" and that Baseball Prospectus is a fun site "for a fan who's not into baseball as much as I am," then get (Curt Schilling on Cover) High Heat Major League Baseball 2003.

[sweaver]

Originally posted by moose
If Netshrine is not enough and you think Lee's Encyclopedia is a waste of time because it "just doesn't have enough stats" and that Baseball Prospectus is a fun site "for a fan who's not into baseball as much as I am," then get (Curt Schilling on Cover) High Heat Major League Baseball 2003.
Now THAT sounds like me.

Graphics are nice, but I want a good sim, and to be able to play a computer manager who seems to know something. I have never found a satisfactory one. Sierra's Front Page Sports was the closest, but no cigar.

[moose]

Originally posted by sweaver

Now THAT sounds like me.

Graphics are nice, but I want a good sim, and to be able to play a computer manager who seems to know something. I have never found a satisfactory one. Sierra's Front Page Sports was the closest, but no cigar.
:) - if you have a ps2 or an xbox, and you want a baseball game, get HHB2003. even if they have schilling on the cover :)

[WiredTiger]

High Heat is a good game on any platform.

That being said... I am a big video game and baseball junkie but I find that baseball doesn't lend itself as well as other sports to the video game format. Give me Hockey and Football instead of Baseball and Basketball.

I find the baseball simulations more exciting than the video games.

[arodrokz]

Hey Poor Me. Are you sure you weren't playing pong? Guess it was a different time. Anyway, yeah I like both the totally realistic and arcade style games. It just happens that MLB Slugfest is my current fave. It's about time I can take out the second baseman.

[sweaver]

Hey, I remember Pong. State of the art back in the day. I was in high school then.

[SmedIndy]

I may be dating myself, but nothing was better than rolling a red die and a white die out of a shaker and going "33 - second column....22 - its out of here!"

[Gosfgiants]

I'll go all nostaligic on you guys. How about the RBI Baseball series from the late '80's and early 90's. It orginally was on th orginal Ninetendo, but was updated in sequels for Sega Genesis and Super Nintendo. The very first RBI baseball game had 8 or 10 teams. It was pretty much the "good" teams from the era, such as the Mets, Cardinals, Twins, and Tigers. The all star teams had the good guys from other teams of the time. I must of played several hundred games in college. It was great fun playing with the guys and bunch of beer on a non-party night. Fun stuff.

I play a variety of games now, but it's mostly on the PC. These are usually First Person Shooters, Role Playing, or Real Time Strategy games.

[WiredTiger]

I like Ken Griffey Jr baseball for Super Nintendo. When you hit a HR it took forever to get out of the park. The fielding was brutal though. It was tough to field anything on the left side of the infield and throw the guy out.


side note: Welcome arodrokz

[gyb13]

Originally posted by moose
if you have a ps2 or an xbox, and you want a baseball game, get HHB2003.
how does High Heat Baseball 2003 look on PC, does anyone know?

[CpUltravox]

The manager whose name shall not be mentioned baseball was my favorite growing up...

(Did I get that right, smed?)

I have an XBox, and there is no High Heat Baseball for me. I do enjoy World Series Baseball (Clean Shaven Giambi Cover) more than I did All Star Baseball (Jeter Cover)

I'm just waiting for the Luis Sojo cover to come out.

[gyb13]

Originally posted by CpUltravox
I'm just waiting for the Luis Sojo cover to come out.
word is he'll be on the cover of next year's game, "2003 All-Strike Baseball." if he retires, the cover will feature mike benjamin

[CpUltravox]

gyb - that would be a great game! you could be the commissioner, and have a list of lies you could tell about the state of baseball. To win, you'd have to convince the players to act as indentured slaves, and get them to plant cotton for you in the offseason... bonus points if you plant the cotton in the outfield of taxpayer funded new stadiums

Or, you could be donald fehr, where your goal would be not only to make salaries 125% of operating income, but to get the player reps to recruit younger players to be union men by giving them tours of the Gold Club in Atlanta!

Oh, the possibilities!

[moose]

Originally posted by CpUltravox
gyb - that would be a great game! you could be the commissioner, and have a list of lies you could tell about the state of baseball. To win, you'd have to convince the players to act as indentured slaves, and get them to plant cotton for you in the offseason... bonus points if you plant the cotton in the outfield of taxpayer funded new stadiums

Or, you could be donald fehr, where your goal would be not only to make salaries 125% of operating income, but to get the player reps to recruit younger players to be union men by giving them tours of the Gold Club in Atlanta!

Oh, the possibilities!
by the way, if i ever hear some 8 year-old say, "you always get to be Donny Fehr, it's my turn!" -- I'm pulling a Thoreau and living in the woods.

[gyb13]

Originally posted by gyb13
how does High Heat Baseball 2003 look on PC, does anyone know?
well, i did get it for pc, and it is excellent, esp if you read the reviews and know its (few) shortcomings ahead of time.