Sports Gaming Digest (01-17-00)
Greetings Sports Gamers!
Lots to read this week and several more newcomers. Most of the new readers in
recent months have joined the list after coming across the SGD website more or
less by accident. Not surprising in these days of the web. Given that reality,
I have contemplated posting the digest to the web each Monday instead of
emailing it out to the readership. That would get the digest onto the website
in a more timely fashion by avoiding my procrastination. Also, I could avoid
some of the inevitable problems when using email. I appreciate those of you who
notify me when your email address changes, either before or after the fact.
Unfortunately, there are the unforseen problems when someone leaves a job and
their email gets forwarded to someone else who then becomes perplexed and often
highly irritated by having to deal with unwanted email messages.
Anyway, I would appreciate your thoughts and comments on the idea of my posting
the digest to the website on Mondays. Would that be a better option? A worse
option? No appreciable difference? Would you have problems retrieving it at
your end? This isn't exactly a vote but a show of hands would be welcome.
Regards,
Jim Gordon
jgordon@library.berkeley.edu
http://www.geocities.com/Colosseum/Stadium/2125
Pawtucket or Bust! Support the revival of SI/Status Pro/Avalon Hill sports
games. Write to the VP for Product Design, Hasbro Games, 50 Dunham Road,
Beverly MA 01915-1894.
****************
From: "William Underwood"
RE: Sports Action
I couldn't agree more that Sports Action CFL was a GREAT game! It isolated
player's individually into key match ups with great accuracy. I'm looking
for any old sets of it or National Pro Hockey that anyone would have or
would be willing to copy for me. I'd be willing to negotiate fair price!
Bill
****************
From: "chra"
Subject: College Football
I recently downloaded the PC version on Bowlbound from the ONElist site. It
was such a pleasure to see my favorite board game still alive. Played a few
games vs. the IE then contacted a friend (have played several hundred face
to face games with) and soon will be renewing the rivalry 2300miles apart.
Being this site is devoted to boardgames there may be a limited number of
readers who have played the Haffner 3and 1 game. I have tinkering with the
game the past few months (playing vs. the computer) and have been winning a
disproportionate amount of games. Does anyone have any suggestions on
making these outcomes more realistic. I do not call the gadget plays and
have been altering the defensive ratings to benefit the computer. Has anyone
toyed the the power ratings to aid the computer and if so how dramatic a
change is required. I really don't want to limiting my play calling. Any
input would be appreciated.
Ryan
(Jim, did Michigan and Cal agree on a football series. I am looking forward
to UMs trip to Oregon in 2002.)
****************
From: Christopher Howell
Hi all,
I recently became a little burned out on the APBA board game (and
ditto for SOM long ago, although I still like the SOM computer game).
APBA was just not fun anymore, what with constantly having to tweak
the game to make it more realistic. I found myself just trying to
complete a replay or tournament without enjoying the game-playing
process very much. I decided to look into a board game that was more
fun and unique yet not overly detailed. I investigated Dynasty and
Replay. Based on the feedback of several readers of SGD, I selected
Replay and ordered the just-released 1966 season.
After about 40 games, my comment on Replay is...it's great! I am in
love with Replay! It has a nice balance of detail, accuracy, and
playability. It really is unique in its approach as well, featuring
an interaction between the batter and pitcher (or in some cases, the
batter and a specific fielder) on every play.
Replay uses additional rolls on occasion to add a level of detail, but
the roll is always one die only and I think the additional detail
added is well worth it. It has a lot of features I desire built into
it very nicely, such as optional automatic SB attempts, Lefty/Righty
(without having separate L/R columns such as in SOM), pitcher fatigue,
controlled player usage, and greater emphasis and individualization of
fielding and baserunning.
Also, the game is also more compact than other games I have played,
with only a result booklet and a rare play booklet in addition to the
player cards. And the season yearbook with the player cards also
features a statistical summary of the season, a team page with player
stats for each team along with a written summary of the team's year,
and the actual schedule for that season. It's really a nice package.
I can't say enough good things about it (and I promise I have no
affiliation with the company!). The owner is very involved and
participates regularly in the Replay forum on Delphi (which is a good
place to check out the game- http://www.delphi.com/replayball/start/).
I'm in the middle of a 1966 NL mini-replay right now and it's a blast!
Chris Howell
****************
From: Lisa & David Heim
I appreciate all the great contributions to the review from everyone
each week. It's an enjoyable way to avoid work for a while on Mondays.
Perhaps someone else recalls a line of games from the late 70s or early
80s from a company called "21-Zip". It was a rather simple series of
games for pro football, and pro and college basketball. Each team had
its own card which were structured somewhat similarly to APBA cards and
the dice were read the same way. Each team made a roll for offense and
defense and the numbers were added up to get a final score. I had the
college basketball game for 1979-80 as it was the only college
basketball game that was around then. It was hardly representative as
some NCAA teams were not included, but there were enough teams and
conferences for some meaningful contests. I must have played the Big
Ten fifty times. Does anyone remember this game or know if it can still
be found? I've tried eBay a few times with no result. Any help would
be appreciated.
****************
From: Sean and Bonnie
Subject: National Pro Hockey
Jim,
After you ran my e-mail on the old National Pro Hockey game I received
a few e-mails wondering what exactly the "tweaks" I'd mentioned were. I
thought I'd send you a list of the rule variations and options that I
have come up with for the game, in case there is anyone else out there
who'd like the info.
Rolling the Dice: When we play we completely disregard the strange
rolling system suggested by the rules. While it may result in less
rolling, we felt it also took a little excitement out of the game. We
re-roll the dice for every pass, shot, deflection, rebound, etc.
Shifts: Players may only play a maximum of two minutes before they must
go to the bench, as per the rules. However, instead of a one-minute rest
before returning to the ice, our rules state a player must wait three
minutes. This encourages players to ice three lines, instead of just
rotating their top two. If a player uses his Timeout, all lines become
fully rested.
Line Changes: Lines may only be changed at center ice (or during a
face-off), with the player with the puck staying on until another player
has taken possession. Any players trapped on the ice past the two minute
time limit are penalized, with any roll referring them to a number on
the game board treated as an intercepted pass.
Penalties: Instead of the game's system of a roll of seven in the Center
Zone indicating a possibility of a set penalty on the Advanced Penalty
Table, we have chosen a system that creates the possibility of a penalty
in any of the three zones. The use of a new penalty table also creates
an equal chance for any penalty, at any time.
Under our penalty system, whenever a player (with the puck)rolls
doubles he must roll a die again. A roll of a six indicates a penalty on
the player without the puck. The dice are then rolled again to find a
result on the penalty table, and play continues (unless both teams are
penalized) until the penalized team gains control of the puck. If a roll
other than a six is indicated, play continues (based on the original
doubles roll) as normal. Apparently, the refs missed another one.
PENALTY TABLE
Dice Roll Result
2 Tripping *
3 Boarding (hitting from behind)**
4 Double Roughing Minors (both teams)***
5 Slashing
6 Tripping
7 Holding****
8 Hooking
9 Cross-checking
10 Fighting Majors (both teams)
11 Double-minor High-sticking
12 High-sticking Major (& game misconduct)
* Roll again, a roll of 2,3,4 indicates a penalty shot
** Roll again, a roll of 2,3,4 indicates a Major penalty
*** Fighting Majors if Weak or Heavy Intimidation in play
**** Fighting Majors if Heavy Intimidation in play
Fights: In an attempt to add excitement to fights (ignore this part if
you are anti-fighting), we play that each fighter rolls the dice and the
fighter with the higher score is the winner. The dice roll is modified
by the difference in the two fighters' T (toughness) rating, with a
difference of 1 giving a +3 bonus to the roll, and a difference of 2
giving a bonus of +6.
Playing Out of Position: The game's rules state that any player may play
out of position. The only penalty for this is a pass directed to the
position the player is in is treated as an R1. In an attempt to
encourage players to play their natural position, and to reflect the
difficulty in trying to play another, we play that any pass directed by
an out-of-position player to the position he is in is treated as an X
(intercepted).
Dump and Chase: Teams having difficulty getting past an opponent's
defensive scheme may adopt a dump and chase tactic. Instead of making a
roll in the Center Zone, the player announces his intent to dump and
chase and makes a roll on the HV chart in the Attacking Zone. Play then
proceeds as normal.
Penalty Killing: Teams shorthanded in their Defensive Zone may choose to
shoot the puck down the ice in an attempt to kill the penalty. The
player announces his intent to ice the puck and then makes a roll on his
player's Defensive Zone column. If a number referring the player to the
game board (3,4,5,6 or 11) is rolled the puck is intercepted by his
opponent in the same zone. If any other result is indicated, the puck is
iced and 30 seconds tick off the clock while the opponent retrieves the
puck in his own Defensive Zone.
Assists: The game's assist rules are designed to reflect a player's
scoring ability by randomly awarding assists based on a dice roll. We
take a simpler, more accurate approach by simply awarding assists to the
actual players who passed the scoring player the puck. It may sound a
little unorthodox, but it works for us.
Thanks, and keep them digests rolling off the presses! Sean
****************
From: "Byron Henderson"
Subject: Strat Fan SOM Football card sets
Some time ago, SF took orders for the two aforementioned sets of updated SOM
football cards. so far, no one has heard any information about these sets. SOM
has no knowledge of them since they were never forwarded to them. i contacted
Glenn Guzzo about them and received the following information from his wife
Donna.
Glenn is currently working to get the cards done, but his new work schedule
is hectic (to say the least). it will be some time before they are
completed! the good news: the sets will be made! the bad news: we will
need to be very patient!
Thanks,
Byron
****************
From: dja1@iscp.telcordia.com (Dave Arlington)
>From: "Michael Owens"
>
>Hello fellow sports gamers:
>
>For those of you who have purchased Quick Play Pro Football, I thank you.
>Here are the ratings for the '99 CFL and '99 NFL. Enjoy.
>
Thanks, Mike! Again, I'd like to tell folks if you enjoy pro football and
you have not checked out this game (or Keith Avallone's more involved
Second Season football for that matter), you should really give them a
try.
>I have been thinking a lot about the best designed games I have played over
>the years - by this I mean the games that have a smooth and elegant design
>that is also fun to play.
>
>The most well designed and elegant game I have ever played (and still play)
>is CFL Pro Action Football. If the designer of that game would have
>created an NFL game with the same premise, I am convinced he would have
>sold a lot of games.
I have never seen a copy of this game, but I will say that everyone I
know who HAS ever seen or played this game seems to agree with Mike that
this is one of the best pro football games ever made. I have rarely seen
such unanimous opinion about a game. I'm sorry I never saw it.
>From: "Joseph S. Costa, Jr."
>To: Jim Trunzo ,
>
> This is the first in a series of previews of the new fighter card
>sets soon to be released for the Title Bout pro boxing board game -- the
>first update to Title Bout in nearly a decade. For information on ordering
>the updated cards -- including more than 1500 fighters, current and
>historical -- please visit the Title Bout page at Electronic Boxing
>Weekly (http://www.boxmag.com/Bookreview.htm). If you have suggestions
>for future preview bouts, please let me know at jscjr@clark.net.
Great to see some new cards, great to see there will be new Title Bout
card set coming out. With the reappearance of both Title Bout AND Replay
in 1999-2000, maybe there's hope for Hasbro and the Avalon Hill sports
games yet!
Nice write-up of the fight, BTW.
>From: Sean and Bonnie
>
> I've got a question for any gamers out there familiar with the old
>National Pro Hockey game by Sports Action Co.
> I love the game and think, with a little rule-tweaking, it is one of
>the best hockey games to play. I have the 1984-85 edition, and also have
>cards for 1985-86, 1986-87, 1987-88 and the Soviet sets from ( I think)
>1984-85 and 1986-87. I know there were fringe players offered for the
>1987-88 set, but my question is, does anyone out there know if there
>were any other years or sets offered by Sports Action for the game that
>I don't have? I know of no way of finding a complete list, and would
>appreciate any input or advice.
That's it. You've got all the seasons that were ever made for that game,
unfortunately. And they're the same guys who made the Canadian Pro
Football game that was talked about above. They didn't burn long, but
it appears they burned brightly at least as a game design company. :)
>From: Mike Boling
>Subject: Update to your game reviews on Replay
>
>I recently
>purchased a copy of the basic game and also a set of the 1966 season
>cards and love it! The interaction between the pitcher and batter makes
>it unique among the currently produced baseball board games. Their web
>page is at: http://members.bellatlantic.net/~replaybb/ There is also a
>Replay forum on Delphi.com which is quite helpful as well.
I know, I know, everything looks great to me today (maybe I'm full of
optimism for the New Year?), but I have to say the newly released 1966
Replay Baseball set is such an EXCELLENT product. Over 30 players per
team, very completely researched. In addition to the cards to play the
game and the most complete Replay ratings yet, there is a season
re-cap section, complete statistics for every team, a team write-up,
complete schedules, suggested starting batter orders against both left
and right handed pitching, a listing of all the transactions in the
1966 baseball season (and every player that was traded has a complete
guide to what stats each particular version of a card was based on -
some have more than one version). All in a perfect bound book you can
leave in one piece for a reference work or pull apart into a complete
game. And with all that detail and completeness, you still only need
two six sided dice and 20 minutes to play a complete Replay game!
Let's see, I have to think of SOMETHING negative to say.... I know -
how about balancing all that good talk above with my list of all the
WORST sports games I've ever played!
Hockey - PSG Hockey (Precision Sports Games) only 20 players per team,
no defensive ratings of any kind (the designer said goalies take care
of defense!), no kind of ratings for shots on goal or much of anything
beyond goals scored. (To be honest, Statis-Pro Hockey is just as bad,
but I've never seen Statis-Pro promote their hockey game like PSG once
did as being so wonderful and Statis-Pro let you rate your own players
so you probably only had to pay for it once.)
Basketball - APBA (from the early 70s or so). Basketball, the game of
speed? Not so with this plodding dinosaur of a game. It took maybe 3-4
hours or more to finish a game with their complete system that involved
every single dribble or pass (not that I can honestly say I ever finished
a game of their regular version). There was also a short version (which
the game instructions almost SNEERED at you for wanting to play instead
of their full version - you had to read it to understand... :)) which
cut out all the passing and dribbling but STILL took like 2 hours to play!
Baseball - (Donning flame absorbent suit now). OK, I don't think I'll
get too many PSG hockey nuts or APBA Basketball cult members breathing
down my neck like I will when I announce this one, and maybe it's just
cause it's fresh in my mind from last year, but my winner(?) in this
category goes to Extra Innings right now. I had heard good things
about it and it IS currently FREE so I guess I shouldn't beef too
much, but about the time I had downloaded my thirtieth (or was it
fiftieth?) chart to play the game, my head started to spin. And trying
to read the playing instructions just made my headache
worse. Normally, I consider myself a pretty smart guy but all I could
do looking at Extra Innings and all its charts and instructions was
go, "huh?" Games just shouldn't be that much brain work!
(I'd ALMOST put APBA in this category for the pitchers having A-B-C-D
ratings, but there's just this indefinable 'cool' to playing APBA
baseball that I can't really explain but which all the APBA devotees
out there can attest to.)
Boxing - In the same vein as Extra Innings, I'll go with Data Boxing
here. Too much ratings too obtusely explained with too many conflicting
versions - Basic play, normal - basic play, rounds - advanced play, normal
- advanced play, rounds. it's impossible to keep it all straight.
Football - This is an interesting category for picking a 'worst'. While
almost every football game I can think of has some flaw or another (from
Paydirt to Statis-Pro to Strat-O-Matic to APBA to Second Season to Vince
Lombardi to Replay amongst others I've played), there's also no real
out and out stinkers in the bunch. In my mind, SOM and SS are a cut above
the others, but I'd really play them all. I guess I will go way out to
left field for this pick and pick SPI Pro Football. SPI was a company
that produced tactical and strategic wargames in the late 70s (and for
a short time they threatened Avalon Hill in that arena - not for sports
games though!) that took the whole 'football is war' metaphor a bit too
far in producing their 'tactical' pro football game. Think Advanced
Squad Leader crossed with football to imagine how this clunker went. :)
Dave
----------------------
Dave Arlington
Telcordia Technologies
ISCP AIN Development
RRC 4A-365 732-699-4941
dja1@iscp.telcordia.com
----------------------
****************
From: "Joseph S. Costa, Jr."
This is the second in a series of previews of the new fighter card
sets soon to be released for the Title Bout pro boxing board game -- the
first update to Title Bout in nearly a decade. For information on ordering
the updated cards -- including more than 1500 fighters, current and
historical -- please visit the Title Bout page at Electronic Boxing
Weekly (http://www.boxmag.com/Bookreview.htm). If you have suggestions
for future preview bouts, please let me know at jscjr@clark.net.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
*****************THIS WEEK'S FEATURE BOUT*****************
12 Rounds in the Light Heavyweight Division
ARCHIE MOORE ROY JONES, JR.
194-26-8, 141 KO vs. 40-1, 33 KO
Benoit, Mississippi Pensacola, Florida
--------------------------- ---------------------------
Archie MOORE - 12(S) Roy JONES JR. - 12(B/S)
Light Heavyweight Light Heavyweight
CFB/S: 11/12 CUT: 1 CFB/S: 10/9 CUT: 1
HP/KI: 8/9 TKO: 2 HP/KI: 10/7 TKO: 2
KDR 1: 2 AGG: 8 KDR 1: 2 AGG: 6
KDR 2: 3 END: 90 KDR 2: 2 END: 80
KOR: 3 DEF: -6 KOR: 1 DEF: -4
FI:2 FO:2 CU:2 KO:3 FI:3 FO:3 CU:2 KO:3
ACTION ACTION
Punches Landed: 1-42/46 Punches Landed: 1-40/40
Punches Missed: 43-60 Punches Missed: 41-58
Clinching: 61-73 Clinching: 59-67
Ring Movement: 74-78 Ring Movement: 68-78
Foul Rating: B Foul Rating: B
HITTING VALUE 3 2 HITTING VALUE 3 2
Jab: 1-3 4-16 Jab: 1-2 3-13
Hook: 17-23 24-34 Hook: 14-21 22-29
Cross: 35-41 42-51 Cross: 30-39 40-48
Combination: 52-56 57-65 Combination: 49-54 55-66
Uppercut: 66-69 70-80 Uppercut: 67-72 73-80
Corner/Ropes: 2 Corner/Ropes: 1
Fast/Slow: 2 Fast/Slow: 2
TITLE BOUT Archive TITLE BOUT 1999-2000
--------------------------- ---------------------------
The Blow-by-Blow
================
ROUND ONE: The fighters tap gloves at the center of the ring...Moore
misses with the first blow of the bout...Jones lands a combination...
now Moore does likewise...a heavy hook by Jones to the ribs of Moore...
Moore misses with a left...and Jones holds on...Moore misses again, he's
having trouble finding his range...now he scores with a good right cross
...Jones fails to connect as Moore ducks away...and a left by Moore gets
in there...but Jones answers with a thumping hook to Moore's side...Moore
misses a reply...and Jones comes back with a combo...but is wide on a
follow-up...then it's Jones with a jab at the bell.
ROUND TWO: Moore works to body with a right hook...then misses to the
head...Jones skips away into the center of the ring...then steps back in
to land an uppercut...Moore answers with a left from below...and then a
stiff left to the head...and a nice combination, good flurry from Moore...
Jones can't find the target...then taps Archie with a jab...and grabs hold
of Moore...Archie's not in a hurry to let go...Jones up on his toes as
they break...and Moore gets in a big left hook that staggers Jones...but
he's saved by the bell!
ROUND THREE: Moore misses badly...the fighters clinch along the ropes...
Jones has had enough of the inside stuff, so he backs away...Moore misses
again...and Jones lands a jab...then misses...and an uppercut by Moore
finds Roy's chin, he looks like he might be hurt a bit...Jones swings
defensively and misses...then comes up short again...but Moore is wild
himself...and Jones stems the tide with a right uppercut as Moore charges
in...Jones backpedals...and sticks another uppercut, his best punch of
the fight, Moore looks a little wobbly...but there's the bell.
ROUND FOUR: Moore seems to have shaken away the cobwebs...he lands a cross
to the cheek of Jones...follows it up with a jab...and another cross, Archie
is putting them together now...Moore holds on and takes a breather...Jones
misses on the inside...now he's got Moore backed into the corner, and he
plants the jab...some more clinching against the ropes...and Jones buries
the cross, Moore can't seem to get off the ropes...Jones misses with a hook
...Moore fighting back, but misses...but now he puts a jab right on the
face of Jones...a little blood now coming from Roy's nose...Moore still
along the ropes, holding on...now he lands a combination...and a left hook,
Moore fighting brilliantly with his back to the cords...what a round!
ROUND FIVE: Moore holds Jones' arm...Roy misses with the other hand...and
now he backs away...Moore misses with the jab...and a solid right hook gets
in for Jones...but Moore shows a scoring hook of his own...then misses with
another...and his cross is off the mark as well...now he clinches...and
Jones steps back to hit him with a right...and an uppercut is close
behind...Moore with an uppercut in reply, and Jones is hurt, he falls back
against the ropes...a big jab from Archie as he comes in for the kill...and
another big uppercut!...Jones is in trouble...but Moore runs out of time as
they hug at the bell.
ROUND SIX: Jones lands a right cross...now he shuffles away, wary of Moore
after last round...and Jones finds a home for the uppercut...but Moore
is there with a hook...and Jones grabs him before he can do any more
damage...a combination by Jones...but he misses with the last punch...and he
hangs on again...as they are puleld apart, Moore sticks the jab...then he
holds on, the referee is getting a workout here in the sixth...Moore misses
with a left...but scores again with the jab...Jones misses...and Moore
counters the miss with a hook...Jones is off-target there...and there...and
again Moore counters effectively, this time a left cross gets Jones...and
that's the round.
ROUND SEVEN: The fighters hold each other...Jones lands a nice left...then
so does Moore...Moore misses on the inside...and they clinch again...now
Jones misses...and the Moore counter right hand stings him in
response...Jones grabs hold...the flails wildly at Moore...and leaves
himself open for the jab...Jones steps out of range...now back in and the
fighters lean on each other...neither man is in a hurry to step out, and so
the referee has to separate them...now Moore shows a little movement...but
Jones beats the bell with a left that scores.
ROUND EIGHT: Both men seem to have taken the round off in the seventh, we'll
see if there's more action this round...Moore crosses with the right and
finds the mark...Jones holding on AGAIN...Moore misses as they
wrestle...then spreads Jones' paws with the uppercut...and comes back with a
quick combination...Roy squeezes off a hook...but Moore replies with a stiff
jab..Jones swings and misses...but the counter from Moore is right on the
mark, a solid right hook as Moore is starting to dominate the round...and
there's a left to the head of Jones...but Roy uses a good left to get Archie
out of his face...here comes Moore again, but he's errant with the
right...and a left uppercut scores again for Moore...that's the bell...a
great round for Moore!
ROUND NINE: Jones gets up off his stool slowly, he's taken a fair bit of
punsihment in the first two-thirds of this fight...and Jones is wobbled
again, another big uppercut by Moore...here comes Archie wading in...oh, a
BIG left cross from Jones...and Moore is down...rolls over onto his
back...he's not going to get up...I can't believe it...it's a stunning
ninth-round knockout for Roy Jones!...what a turnaround!
"Ladies and Gentlemen, we have the official time...at forty-nine seconds of
round number nine, the winner by a knockout, Roy Jones!"
The Judges' Cards
=================
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 - TOT
---------------------------------------
Judge 1: Moore 9 10 10 10 10 9 10 10 - 78
Jones 10 9 9 9 9 10 9 8 - 73
Judge 2: Moore 9 10 9 10 10 10 10 10 - 78
Jones 10 9 10 9 9 9 9 8 - 73
Judge 3: Moore 9 10 9 10 10 10 9 10 - 77
Jones 10 9 10 9 9 9 10 8 - 74
Scoring Totals by Round
=======================
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 - TOT
-------------------------------------------
Moore 9 16 4 14 14 10 7 19 (4) - 97
Jones 12 5 9 4 8 5 4 4 (10) - 61
Post-Fight Commentary
=====================
In the end, Moore's chin wasn't equal to the task. After seizing control
of the fight in the 2nd and controlling the action from that point forward,
"The Old Mongoose" appeared to have put his final stamp on the affair twice
-- with a late-round beating that had Roy out on his feet in the 5th and
again with an 8th round battering that earned a 10-8 adjudication from all
three officials. But Jones showed his mettle by pulling the big cross from
his back of tricks and landing his only big shot of the fight, and making
sure it the only one that mattered.
****************
From: Raymond King
Jim,
I'd like to sign up to get Sports Gaming Digest, and would also like to post
the following query to the general audience:
I'm looking to recapture my youth by locating a copy of both SI's All-Time
All-Star baseball game and the Bowl Bound college football game. I played
both during the early 1970s, but Mom trashed them whe I went to college.
I'd love to find an in-box copy of each, but I'd be just as satisfied to
borrow a copy of each with which to make my own color copies. I'd be more
than willing to pay postage/shipping to anyone who'd risk letting me borrow
them, plus a fair user fee.
P.S. Already checked with Randy Cox about getting an ATAS set. He said
something may happen in the near future, but that I should check here.
I appreciate anyone who woudl be willing to help.
Lou King
rking@gpo.gov
****************
From: Derrick Beckner
Wow, sounds like fun stuff, please add me.
dgb@psulias.psu.edu
Thanks
Derrick beckner
****************
From: jimbo@albany.net
Howdy Jim,
I'm interested in subscribing to the Sports GAming Digest. I visited your web
site, and was very impressed. I'm mostly a StratOMatic guy, but have played
many of the others, and enjoyed reading about them.
Thanks,
Jim Beauchemin
****************
From: PSB1122@aol.com
Please sign me up for your digest.
thx, Paul
****************
From: "Ed Williams"
I would like to receive the Sports Gaming Digest
Ed Williams
****************
From: richardhanna64
Subject: please add me to e-mail list
Richard Hanna
****************
From: rocwwm@linknet.net
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======== ROCA53135 says to you ========
Jim, please include the following in your Monday journal. And thanks, fellas,
there is plenty of information in that journal....always find something to make
table top-computer sports more enjoyable. Henri Roca
rocwwm@linknet.idt.net
=======================Forwarded Message=======================
Forum: the Table Top Sports Forum
Subject: Anyone ever hear of a game called "BASIC
While cleaning out an old bunch of newspapers (1993), I came across a game
called Basic Baseball.
It was played with one 6-sided die and 3-ten sided. The one 6-sided decided
whether or not to refer to the batter or pitcher's rating.
The teams came on letter size stock cards. On one side was the teams'
players actual stats and on the other they were all rated for: HOMERUN, TRIPLE,
DOUBLE, SIN/BB, SINGLE B/BALLS, ERROR, H/PITCH, S/OUT, DP/OUT, F&G/OUT.
THE TERMINAL (THIRD) DIGIT OF ROLL DETERMINED THE LOCATION OF THE OUT OR HIT:
1-4 OUTFIELD; 5-8 INFIELD; 9-0 INFIELD.
The teams I have on card stock are: San Francisco (PCL)1925 128-71; Hollywood
(PCL)1953 109-81; Los Angeles (PCL) 1934 137-50; Tacoma (PCL) 1904 130-94;
Portland (PCL) 1910 114-87; Seattle (PCL) 1940 112-66; Newark (IL) 1937 109-43;
Providence (IL) 1914 95-59; Baltimore (IL) 1921 119-47; Rochester (EL) 1909 90-
61; Montreal (IL) 1946 100-56; Toronto (IL) 1954 97-57; Milwaukee (AA) 1952 101-
53; Indianapolis (AA) 1948 100-54; Kansas City (AA) 1939 107-47; St.Paul (AA)
1920 115-49; Minneapolis (AA) 1911 99-66; Columbus (AA) 1906 95-58.
A sheet came with the game with also available as follows: 1871 National
Association, 1944 National and American Leagues, 1930 Negro National League,
1924 Pacific Coast League, 1882 American Association, 1915 Federal League, 1928
WS-Yankees vs Cardinals, 1959 Little WS- Minneapolis (AA) vs Havana (IL), 1886
WS Chicago (NL) vs St. Louis (AA), 1949 Dixie Series- Nashville (SA) vs Tulsa
(TL), 1931 Little WS- Rochester (IL) vs St. Paul (AA), 1919 Championship Series-
St. Paul (AA) vs Vernon (PCL).
I would like to find out if anyone out there knows anything about this game.
Especially helpfull would be an address, even though this might be seven years
old.
Many thanks in advance for any information forthcoming. Henri Roca
e-mail rocwwm@linknet.idt.net HENRI ROCA
****************
From: Benjamin Grimes
Mr. Gordon and gamers,
I don't see much about golf or fishing in the newsletter
so I don't know if anyone will be interested in these titles.
1). Sports Illustrated Handicap Golf from 1972
$25.00 / OBO + shipping (from a local store)
2). Tournament Golf, 1969 Rigely & Banada of Scottsdale, Ariz.
and endorsed by the PGA
$37.00 / OBO + shipping (from a local store
3). Trout Fishing--Best offer (own)
4). Strat Fan Basketball
1984-85 LA Lakers, 1985-86 Houston Rockets, & 1985-86
Boston Celtics
5). Strat Fan Football
1982 Washington
1977 Dallas
1977 Denver
1976 Oakland
1975 Pitsburgh
1972 Miami
1963 Chicago
1968 NY Jets
1958 Baltimore
1962 Greenbay
Anyone interested--e-mail me
Ben Grimes
****************
From: Christopher Orriss
Subject: Logacta Chart Soccer
I am posting this message in the vain hope that someone
can help me. Does anybody remember a game from the
late 70s, early 80s called CHART SOCCER by Logacta.
I am hoping to find someone who still has it and would be
willing to sell or can maybe point in the direction of where I
can find it.
Thanks for reading and Come On You R's.
Christopher Orriss, Fort Worth, Texas 76132
****************
From: Robert Teribery
Please add me to you list for the newsletter.
Thank you
Bob Teribery
Erie Pa
****************
From: David Wangerin
Subject: Vince Lombardi's Game
Hello, folks - the long dark nights up here in Scotland have provided me
with plenty of opportunities to progress the 1969 NFL season via "Vince
Lombardi's Game." I'm half-way through the season now, so here are the
standings for any of you who might care:
CAPITOL DIVISON
Washington 7-0-0
New Orleans 4-3-0
Dallas 3-3-1
Philadelphia 2-5-0
CENTRAL DIVISION
Green Bay 4-2-1
Minnesota 3-2-2
Detroit 2-5-0
Chicago 0-7-0
CENTURY DIVISION
Cleveland 5-2-0
New York 3-3-1
St. Louis 2-4-1
Pittsburgh 2-5-0
COASTAL DIVISION
Los Angeles 6-1-0
Baltimore 5-2-0
San Francisco 5-2-0
Atlanta 1-6-0
The Redskins have been playing out of their gourd so far, averaging over 36
points a game. Much of this is down to the performances of Sonny Jurgensen
(passing rating of 115.1, seventeen touchdowns) and Larry Brown, who
already has gained over 900 yards on the ground and with nine TDs. This
shouldn't be too surprising, I guess - it is, after all, their head coach's
game.
The infant Saints have probably been the biggest surprise - after a 54-10
trouncing against the Skins on opening day Billy Kilmer led the team to an
incredible 49-24 win over none other than the Dallas Cowboys the following
week. Danny Abramowicz has already caught 58 passes for 542 yards, and a
league-leading 14 touchdowns. Don't think they'll catch Washington for the
division crown, though.
In the Central, Green Bay's tough top-ranked pass defence has kept them in
every game so far, but they've consistently come up short against the
better teams. Minnesota's has started to come on strong (40-3 v Detroit,
44-7 v Chicago in their last two games) although Joe Kapp was injured
against the Lions and will miss the next few weeks. Amongst the
disappointments have been Gale Sayers (only 21st in rushing, averaging
under 47 yards a game - and, bizzarely, the worst kick return average in
the league!), and virtually the entire Detroit Lions team, who for some
reason seem as if they want to fight the Bears for the number one draft
choice. Woeful Bill Munson was benched in the last game and replaced by
young Greg Landry, but the Lions lost anyway to San Francisco 26-23.
The strongest division has proved to be the Coastal, with three serious
contenders for the division crown. My money would be on the Rams, although
John Unitas threw for 430 yards in a 52-14 rout of the Eagles and John
Brodie's receiving corps look the strongest in the league at this point.
Before I go - a technical question. Because the goalposts were on the
goal-line in those days, how was actual field goal distance measured? If a
team opted to kick with the ball on the one yard-line, wouldn't that make
it an eight or nine yard field goal? I don't seem to find many kicks of
that distance mentioned in the scoring summaries of that time, and yet it
must have happened, yes?
I have a few other comments, but I'll save them for another time. If anyone
would like to see the individual or team statistics, feel free to e-mail
me.
David Wangerin
****************
From: Cochise
Subject: My Regards to Bob Campbell!
Greetings fellow sports enthusiasts!
I want to take a moment to commend Bob Campbell who last week put up for sale
games to the forum readers even though he could have made more money putting
them on Ebay. I was able to acquire APBA Golf and was very pleasantly elated
after getting it home and finding not one course, but all of them. Plus 64
golfer cards!! Thanks again, Bob!! I'm very glad my money went to a fellow
Wisconsinite!!
Now for this week... I'd like to add to my collection the Gil Hodges Baseball
game. Its only a modest effort when compared to many other games available, but
I used to have it and I'd like to complete my RGI collection having already
adding Gilbert Hockey, Robertson Basketball and Lombardi Football. I have a
copy of it, so not interested in that.
Thanks and happy gaming!!
Jeff
****************
From: aismike
Subject: 'Rivalries' College Basketball review
Dear Jim,
following you'll find my review of Dan Armfield's "Rivalries" College
Basketball game, which I think deserves a good look by anybody.
I am also forwarding it to Dan, so that
he can comment on it directly on SGD, adding to it any information
he thinks is important.
Thanks for SGD for zillionth time !!!
Michele Montagni
via Sabotino 16 - 21100 Varese, Italy
=====================================
phone: +39(0332)23.83.87
fax: +39(0332)23.78.84
e-mail: Michele.Montagni@MailHome.com
"Stats-based basketball games are not that frequent, and good ones are
even more difficult to find. Add to this that college basketball games
using individual players' ratings are somewhat a rarity and you'll easily
understand that when Dan Armfield offered me the chance of reviewing his
'Rivalries' game, I couldn't possibly miss the occasion.
His airmail envelope brought me photocopies of the 1994 edition rules
and charts, together with the cards for two ACC teams, Duke and North
Carolina. I cannot testify for the physical aspect of the components, but
I understand Dan is thinking of reviving the game, so just surf to
his Web site at http://rivalries.bizland.com/rivalries.htm to take a look
at their real appearance, which I'm sure will please anybody.
The rules are just a little more than six pages long and in general
they are sufficiently clear: an example sequence of play is provided, to
give the gamer a quick idea of the proceedings. Some parts could use
a better layout: in particular, the "Results" section should be better
indented to identify cases and sub-cases. I also found some problems in
understanding the use of the shot clock: in one spot a 45-second
clock is mentioned (used only if in Zone defense mode ?), while another
cites a 35-second clock. Actually, it's not Dan's fault, but college
basketball has had so many rules on the subject, differing from year
to year (and sometimes even from conference to conference ...),
that maybe a short explanation of the official ruling in use that
year might be useful. Same for rules on team fouls and timeouts,
which might not be so familiar to casual followers of the sport.
But here I'm just nitpicking ...
The attention to detail is excellent: a sketch is given for each team
of the 1994 ACC, together with suggested lineups and offensive and
defensive strategies. The complete conference schedule is given, even
mentioning televised games.
Each teams is composed of its individual player cards, which are rated
for field goal shooting (both 2- and 3-pointers), foul drawing,
defense, free throw percentage, rebounding and tendency to commit foul,
and three team cards, of which one is to select the offense
(set, fast break or delay game), one to select the defense (man-to-man,
zone or press) and the third is used to implement the home court edge
(which is triggered by particular dice rolls):
each team is rated for this very important aspect of the sport and also
for its ability to keep "road composure" while away from home.
As you see, again the attention to details is remarkable and gives the
gamer a good 'feeling' for the sport being simulated.
Apart from the rules and the team and player cards, only a one page of
charts is needed, to which reference is not frequent, since most of the
action is taken from the team and player cards. One of the charts is
the "Event !" one, which provides some "unusual occurence" chrome,
ranging from injuries to technical fouls, but it's so tied to the teams
and year (mentioning specific players and real life injuries), that I
expect it to be changed with each season or substituted with a more
generic one in the definitive version. Time and score are marked off
on the provided, well-designed scoresheets, which have space for
recording team and player names, date and location of game and for
complete stat-keeping.
The game uses two decimal dice for all its actions and you can expect
to resolve a possession with two to four dice rolls: a roll on the
Offense card to determine the player who shoots, one roll to determine
the shot outcome and one or two rolls to determine the rebound.
This is the part that I like less of the game, but please understand
it's strictly a personal preference. In my opinion fast action cards
are more apt to tell the 'story', the flow of a continuos action
game like basketball or hockey (which is everything but purely random),
and they are better and quicker to capture the up-and-down-the-court
visual aspect of these sports, while dice are perfect to determine
the purely statistical events, like a shot being made or missed.
In terms of time, I suspect FACs are quicker to interpret than a
roll of percentile dice and a reference to a card or chart (and, in
my opinion, 10-sided dice take longer than regular 6-sided dice:
maybe it's just because we are more accustomed to the latter; I'd
surely like to see some 'serious' study on time spent with the
different game 'activators' ...). Of course, we are talking about
a matter of seconds, but since a quarter of "Rivalries" is 85 time
segments, we are looking at about 200 to 300 dice rolls per quarter,
thus in the end the time spent for the whole game is directly
influenced by how long each single action takes.
Apart from this (small) complaint of mine, 'Rivalries' plays smoothly,
with all the details and nuances of college basketball well accounted
for (fatigue, timeout, strategies, etc.). Only missing are assists,
thus a good or excellent passer is not portrayed at all: I hope that
the definitive version will have this, too, although getting stats at
the college level is definitely not easy !
I cannot vouch for its statistical accuracy, since it requires many
games to be checked, but considering the attention given to all aspects
of the game, this should be nothing to worry about.
Dan has indicated that he's willing to issue complete conferences:
my only suggestion would be to market the game as components, i.e.
rules and charts to be combined with one or more conferences or, if
possible, groups of famous Final Fours, which could appeal more to fans
less interested in a specific conference than in replaying famous teams
and finals of the past. Also, a significant cost is postage (especially
for people not living in the US ...): an option could be given, so that
upon payment, a customer could choose to receive the game parts and teams
in electronic format (for example, as a Word or Excel file), that he
can print at his own ease. This would save quite a few days in delivery,
and keep game costs down, cutting on room for stocking cards and
advance expenses for 'print runs'. Internet has made this way of
doing business easy and convenient !
But any route Dan decides to take, I look forward to the official
release of 'Rivalries': it's a very good game, that could easily
become THE college basketball game of choice for most fans of the
sport."
****************
From: EJWeinbach@cs.com
My particular interest is SI College Football(or Bowl Bound) and
Paydirt Football.
Thanks.
****************
From: "JM Weaver-La Mountain"
Subject: Strat Basketball Cards Wanted...
Hey guys!
I've been seeking the 1982-83 season Basketball Card set for Strat-O-Matic
Basketball...If anyone out there in gameland has this set and would like to sell
these cards I'd love to buy them, provided they are in good shape (great shape
isn't necessary, just good shape..). Can anyone help me???? Pretty-please???
J.R.
jmweaver@wtvl.net
****************
From: "The Holdaway Family"
Jim,
As a long-time sports board-gamer (Strat-O-Matic primarily), it was with
great delight (and a little relief) that I happened upon your site a few months
ago. After devouring the most recent entries in the archive, I decided it was
time to get it on a weekly basis, rather than every three or four.
In so doing, I would like to thank you, and the contributors to the SGD for
reenergizing my passion for a beloved hobby. Ironically, it has rekindled an
interest in a game from my youth, one I had not played in twenty-or-so years--
Paydirt.
Actually, it was SI's Pro Football from 1971, and I have since added the
1970 and 1972/73 (what were they doing???). I'm looking for more, so if anyone
has some to sell, let me know.
At any rate, I completed the 1971 playoffs, culminating with a Super Bowl
finish that may rank as the most compelling contest in all of my years of
gaming. I had forgotten what a wonderfully subtle and elegant game Paydirt was.
Granted, it lacks the tactical depth that individual player ratings bring, but
for solitaire play, I find that simplicity a bonus (especially with a one-year
old daughter with remarkably agile hands and boundless energy).
Oh, and the Super Bowl...Kansas City vs. Washington. Chiefs lead 17-14 with
2:10 to play. Stenerud kicks a FG to put KC up 20-14, but they leave Kilmer and
the Redskins time. Driving from ther own 20, Washington methodically marches to
the five yard line where they face a fourth and goal with ten seconds left.
Kilmer hits Taylor for six, and on the last play, Knight converts the PAT for
the win. A great moment, and one I would not have been motivated to experience
had I not come across the Digest.
I look forward to contributing in the future, and if there are any gamers in
the Salt Lake area interested in some FTF action, please e-mail me at
holdaway@aros.net. And please send me the Digest.
****************
From: Barry Gregory
Hi there
A friend of mine, Pete stuttard, told me you produce a newsletter about American
sports boardgames. Please add me to you your list of subscribers if this is
true.
Many thanks
Baz
*****************
From: "Kevin Taylor"
I have started to revamp my web page including adding a list of games and game
producers. Let me know what you think
http://www.users.globalnet.co.uk/~kkcomp/replay.htm
Still loads more to add so keep checking back.
Kevin
*******************
END DIGEST (01-17-00)
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