Sports Gaming Digest (11-24-97) Greetings Sports Gamers! This week I managed to get several more files onto the website. Most of these items are variant rule ideas or other projects extracted from past digests. In the cases where the material was submitted by someone other than myself I have included a "byline" to give credit where it is due. If you don't want your name mentioned for any reason just let me know. I also advertised the digest and website on rec.games.board and .marketplace newsgroups last week. We've added two more new members. It seems that my promo messages don't last long there but I will send posts periodically to advertise the digest. I'll probably send a message to consim also. The website is still very much "under construction" but I encourage you to spread to word to sports gaming friends. It's nice to see a sportsgaming website link added to the webgrognard site, although the link misses the "overview" intro page. I am planning to add more links within the website for convenience and to other sites such as game companies. This week, I've included a status report on my efforts to decode the Statis Pro Football player cards (bad pun intended). It's the last item. Regards, Jim Gordon jgordon@library.berkeley.edu http://www.geocities.com/Coloseeum/Stadium/2125 ********************************************************* From: Richard GuentherJim, Some comments on my further playing of APBA Hockey (latest set of cards): I still love this game as much as I loved it my first few games I played. It's fast and fun and produces pretty good statistics. I'm playing through the CO Avalanche's season from last year, and I'm 15 games into it. So far I'm 9-4-2, which is, I believe, a game or two better than they were last year at that point in the season. I'm scoring about 3 goals a game and giving up a little under 2. My only real concern with the game deals with the shot frequency and shot accuracy of the players. The shot accuracy is basically from their % of Goals/Shots on Goal, and the game is playing this out quite well. The shot frequency, however, does not come out quite right. There seems to be much less of a difference between players like Claude Lemieux, who should be shooting a LOT, and players like Uwe Krupp, who should almost never shoot. In the game, a lot of the shot selections seems to come right off of the Forechecking chart (which is the basic chart that controls what happens in the game), which seems to spread the shots all around, sometimes giving defensemen like Krupp more shots than puck-hogging forwards. What this does, in effect, is greatly increase the value of those players that, although they hardly ever shot, were very accurate shooters. In the APBA game shots get divided up more equally among ALL players, so someone with a very low shot frequency rating, but with a HIGH shot accuracy rating, will still get to shoot a bit and score more often. Case in point: Joe Sakic. Sakic scores quite a few goals in a season, but he also shoots a lot, too. In the APBA game, he doesn't get as many shots on goal, and because his shot accuracy is a bit lower than average, he doesn't score many goals. In the 14 games that he's played in my season, he's scored only 2 goals. That's too low. Assists, on the other hand, are figured differently, with almost all the determining factors coming right off of the cards themselves (not the forecheck chart), and these have been very realistic so far. If anyone else has any suggestions or comments about this, please reply about this. I'd guess this is a problem that really only occurs with the APBA hockey game, as most basketball games will give the player much more liberty as to who to pass to. In APBA Hockey, it's pretty random, and passing itself is abstracted, so it's hard to comment on it in detail. Note: this doesn't seem to be a MAJOR problem. Just something I wish was a bit more accurate. Any ideas? I've also noticed that injuries are very rare, as are rare plays. I know that "rare" plays should be rare, but really the rare plays in this game are not that off the wall. They're things you see in almost every hockey game, but I think in 15 games I've only had to use the rare play chart 4 times. All that aside, I have had some great games so far. I think I might be addicted to this game, however. My other games are probably beginning to feel a bit neglected :-( Richard ********************************************************* From: Lars Hellsten Hi, After many years our Statis-pro Football league has started again. It folded when TAHGC decided to not put out any new player cards. At the time we had 20 coaches, and the whole thing was hard to run since a lot of members had started studying at different places. I was in charge of the league then but since I nowdays have 4 young children (oldest 5=BD)and lots of work I'm not participating at all. This other guy has created all the cards from last season via internet stats and some books. MAJOR task!!!! They look exactly like the old players. The League now has only 8 teams but will probably grow next year, although at a slow pace. The guys were allowed to keep 7 of their old players and then they had a draft to fill out the roster. The excitement was there as it had been many years ago. regards, Lars ********************************************************* From: Mark Sheppard I am hopefully about to reacquire Statis-Pro Baseball, and Statis-Pro Basketball. Does anyone know of any good source for schedules for past seasons in these sports on the internet, or some publication. Or do most of you concot your own schedules for season play. Just for information, the seasons I am about to acquire are 1986 for baseball, and 1986-87 for basketball, but I will probably go beyond that. Another question, do any of you know where to find driver cards for Avalon Hill's USAC Auto Racing? I currently own the 1979 cards, but would like to find other years, preferably more recent. Thanks to any assistance that can be offered. Mark Sheppard sheepherder@geocities.com ********************************************************* Hi Jim, I've been mostly out of the sports game arena for a while, but in the past I've played almost everything: APBA, Strat-O-Matic, Negamco, BLM, Pursue the Pennant, etc. My favorite sport is baseball, but I've also played football, hockey, basketball, soccer, track and field, cricket, auto racing, etc. I still have dozens of games in my collection. I've tried a few computer games, but I haven't seen any I liked -- I much prefer board games. I'm interested in getting your regulr Monday digest. Best wishes, Michael Keller ********************************************************* From: "roberto chiavini" I'm interested in receiving news on sports games around the world. I write from Italy. In particular I like soccer simulations and american professional games (especially football and basketball). ********************************************************* From: "Paul A. Van Etten" Jim, Haven't seen any other posts regarding 'reverse engineering' the player formulas for SPFB. Is there any likelihood that information on how the player numbers were generated might be forthcoming from AH since SPFB was discontinued? It's probably a herculean task (which may explain why it's only gotten passing interest) made to order for the statisticians among us (which I ain't). PAVE Fremont, CA ********************************************************* STATIS PRO FOOTBALL PLAYER CARDS I've been working on decoding the Statis Pro Football player cards for a while, with some success. The game system evolved several times under Avalon Hill's control from 1980 until the demise of SPFB in the early 90s. For this study I used the 1957 player cards (produced in 1982) because they were the closest set that I have to the earliest AH version of the game. It seemed like a good starting place. A cursory examination of the 1982, 1986 and 1991 player charts shows a variety of basic changes which require further investigation. For now, I offer my preliminary findings with the caveats that for every formula mentioned below, there are exceptions, and there are numerous details which I cannot explain. With that in mind, maybe these observations will be of interest. PASSING CHART Determine completion percentage, interception percentage, number of sacks/yards lost Total for each type of pass, COM + INC + INT = 48 Quick Pass completion % + 8 (or 9) = Pass Number COM range interception % x 0.25 (round up) = Pass Number INT range Short Pass completion % = Pass Number COM range interception % * 0.5 (round up) = Pass Number INT range Long Pass completion % - 4/10 (most -6 or -8) = Pass Number COM range interception % = Pass Number INT range COM range starts and PN 1. INT range ends at PN 48. INC range is the remaining pass numbers between the COM and INT ranges. Pass Rush: SACK (1-4 to 1-20) + RUN = Pass Number 1-30 [I don't know how to determine the sack range/run range] COM + INC = Pass Number 31-48 COM: divide completion percentage by 5, round up e.g., (21%=3, 33%=3, 50%=10, 55%=11, 59%=12, 63%=13) Percentage equivalent of Pass Numbers used for: Passing Completion-Incompletion-Interception Pass Rush Sacks-Runs-Completion-Incompletion also: Extra Point, Field Goal Kicking Pass Number range = Percentage of total 1-48 99-100% 1-36 74-75% 1-24 49-50% 1-12 24-25% 1-47 97-98% 1-35 72-73% 1-23 47-48% 1-11 22-23% 1-46 95-96% 1-34 70-71% 1-22 45-46% 1-10 20-21% 1-45 93-94% 1-33 68-69% 1-21 43-44% 1-9 18-19% 1-44 91-92% 1-32 66-67% 1-20 41-42% 1-8 16-17% 1-43 89-90% 1-31 64-65% 1-19 39-40% 1-7 14-15% 1-42 87-88% 1-30 61-63% 1-18 36-38% 1-6 11-13% 1-41 84-85% 1-29 59-60% 1-17 34-35% 1-5 9-10% 1-40 82-83% 1-28 57-58% 1-16 32-33% 1-4 7-8% 1-39 80-81% 1-27 55-56% 1-15 30-31% 1-3 5-6% 1-38 78-79% 1-26 53-54% 1-14 28-29% 1-2 3-4% 1-37 76-77% 1-25 51-52% 1-13 26-27% 1-1 1-2% PLACEKICKING CHART Extra Point: percentage of XP made equals successful range Field Goal: percentage of FG made equals successful range for 26- 35 yard attempts 18-25 yards = pct made +5 pass numbers 26-35 yards = percentage made 36-45 yards = pct made -10 pass numbers 46-50 yards = pct made -20 pass numbers 51+ yards = only if made Blocked: Pass Number 48, if any kicks were blocked RUSHING CHART The average yards per carry determines the distribution of yardage results for Run Numbers 2-12. RN 1 is called Breakaway, Short Gain or Long Gain depending on the year of the cards. There are a few very strange entries, often for players who only had a few rushing attempts. Average per rush = Run Number distribution Avg 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 9.0 11 10 9 8 6 5 4 3 2 1 -1 8.0 12 11 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 0 7.0 12 11 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 0 6.1 11 10 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 -1 5.6 10 8 7 6 5 4 2 1 0 -1 -2 5.3 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 1 0 -1 -1 5.0 10 9 8 6 5 4 2 1 0 -1 -1 5.0 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 0 0 -1 -2 5.0 8 6 5 4 3 2 1 0 0 -1 -2 4.9 10 9 7 6 5 4 2 1 0 -1 -1 4.8 10 8 7 6 4 4 2 1 0 -1 -1 4.8 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 -1 -1 4.7 9 8 7 6 5 4 2 1 0 -1 -1 4.6 9 8 6 6 5 4 2 1 0 -1 -2 4.5 9 8 7 6 5 3 2 1 0 -1 -1 4.5 6 5 4 4 3 2 0 0 0 -3 -3 4.4 9 8 7 6 4 3 2 1 0 -1 -2 4.3 9 8 7 6 4 3 2 1 0 -1 -2 4.2 9 7 6 5 4 3 2 2 0 -1 -2 4.2 9 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 0 -1 -2 4.1 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 0 -1 -2 4.0 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 0 0 -1 -2 3.9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 0 0 -1 -2 3.8 8 7 6 5 3 2 1 0 0 -1 -2 3.7 8 7 6 4 3 2 1 0 0 -1 -2 3.6 8 7 5 4 3 2 1 0 0 -1 -2 3.5 8 7 6 5 3 2 1 0 -1 -1 -2 3.5 8 6 5 4 3 2 1 0 0 -1 -2 3.4 8 6 5 4 3 2 1 1 0 -1 -2 3.4 8 6 5 4 3 2 1 0 0 -1 -2 3.4 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 0 -1 -2 -2 3.3 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 0 -1 -2 -2 3.2 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 0 -1 -2 -3 3.1 7 5 5 4 3 2 1 0 -1 -2 -2 3.0 7 5 5 4 3 2 1 0 -1 -2 -3 3.0 6 5 4 4 3 2 0 0 -1 -2 -3 2.9 6 5 4 4 3 2 0 0 -1 -2 -3 2.8 6 5 4 3 2 0 0 0 -1 -2 -3 2.7 6 5 4 3 2 1 0 0 -1 -2 -3 2.6 6 5 4 3 2 1 0 0 -1 -2 -3 2.5 5 4 4 3 2 1 0 0 -1 -2 -3 2.2 5 4 3 3 2 1 0 -1 -2 -2 -3 2.1 5 4 3 2 2 1 0 -1 -2 -2 -3 2.0 5 4 3 2 2 1 0 -1 -2 -3 -4 1.8 4 3 3 2 2 1 0 -1 -2 -3 -4 1.1 4 3 2 2 1 0 -1 -2 -3 -4 -5 -0.3 4 3 2 1 0 0 -1 -2 -3 -4 -5 RECEIVING CHART In general, a receiver average yardage per catch is placed on the Short Pass column, Run Number 6. The remainder of the Short pass column is determined by using one of the distributions below which includes the appropriate Run Number 6 result. The Long Pass column (in the older charts) includes results which are usually double the result in the Short Pass column. Locate a Long Pass distribution which includes a RN6 with double the Short Pass column result. Higher Run Numbers should be double the Short Pass column results, with a minimum of 20 yards. Lower Run Numbers follow the same pattern, although the distribution should be extended to proportionately to include the longest gain as Run Number 1. Determining the Quick Pass column follows a similar pattern as for the Long Pass. Locate a yardage distribution which where Run Number 6 is one-half the yardage result on the Short Pass column RN6. The instances of blank Run Number results (see the distributions toward the bottom of the Short ands Long Pass charts) coorepsond to the total nubmer of catches by a player. I haven't determine a specific pattern yet. Short Pass yardage distribution RN 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 33 32 31 30 29 28 27 26 25 24 23 22 30 29 28 27 26 25 24 23 22 21 20 19 29 28 27 26 25 24 23 22 21 20 19 18 28 27 26 25 24 23 22 21 20 19 18 17 26 25 24 23 22 21 20 19 18 17 16 15 25 24 23 22 21 20 19 18 17 16 15 14 24 23 22 21 20 19 18 17 16 15 14 13 23 22 21 20 19 18 17 16 15 14 13 12 22 21 20 19 18 17 16 15 14 13 12 11 21 20 19 18 17 16 15 14 13 12 11 10 20 19 18 17 16 15 14 13 12 11 10 9 19 18 17 16 15 14 13 12 11 10 9 8 18 17 16 15 14 13 12 11 10 9 8 7 17 16 15 14 13 12 11 10 9 8 7 7 16 15 14 13 12 11 10 9 8 7 7 7 16 15 14 13 12 11 11 10 9 8 7 7 13 12 11 10 10 9 8 8 7 7 6 6 22 21 20 19 18 17 16 15 14 13 12 21 20 19 18 17 16 15 14 13 12 11 18 17 16 15 14 13 12 10 9 8 7 17 16 15 14 13 12 11 10 9 8 7 19 18 17 16 15 14 13 12 11 10 30 29 28 27 26 25 24 23 22 21 18 17 16 15 14 12 11 10 9 8 16 15 14 13 12 11 10 9 8 7 28 27 26 25 24 23 22 21 20 19 18 17 16 15 14 13 12 11 15 14 13 12 11 10 9 8 7 14 13 12 11 10 9 7 7 7 24 23 22 21 20 19 18 17 20 19 18 17 16 15 14 13 15 14 13 12 11 10 9 8 14 13 12 11 10 9 8 7 35 34 33 32 31 30 29 19 18 17 16 15 14 13 13 12 11 10 9 8 7 13 12 11 10 8 7 7 31 30 29 28 27 26 24 23 22 21 20 19 12 11 10 9 8 7 28 26 24 22 20 20 19 15 12 11 15 14 13 12 11 12 11 10 9 8 17 16 15 14 13 12 11 10 25 21 20 Long Pass yardage distribution RN 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 68 64 62 60 58 56 54 52 50 48 46 44 83 71 61 50 48 46 44 42 40 38 36 34 62 58 52 50 48 46 44 42 40 38 36 34 52 50 48 46 44 42 40 38 36 34 32 30 61 56 46 44 42 40 38 36 34 32 30 28 53 51 46 44 42 40 38 36 34 32 30 28 83 72 61 55 43 43 37 34 32 30 28 26 65 60 51 42 40 38 36 34 32 30 28 26 50 46 44 42 40 38 36 34 32 30 28 26 48 46 44 42 40 38 36 34 32 30 28 26 72 65 50 43 38 36 34 32 30 28 26 24 51 46 42 40 38 36 34 32 30 28 26 24 46 44 42 40 38 36 34 32 30 28 26 24 42 41 40 39 38 36 34 32 30 28 26 24 68 54 47 41 36 34 32 30 28 26 24 22 55 47 43 40 36 34 32 30 28 26 24 22 44 42 40 38 36 34 32 30 28 26 24 22 40 38 35 34 32 31 30 29 28 26 24 22 40* 42 37 36 34 33 30 27 25 24 22 21 72 53 40 36 34 32 30 28 26 24 22 20 67 52 43 36 34 32 30 28 26 24 22 20 50 45 38 36 34 32 30 28 26 24 22 20 42 40 38 36 34 32 30 28 26 24 22 20 41 38 37 36 34 31 29 26 24 22 21 20 47 39 36 34 32 30 28 26 24 22 20 20 42 40 37 34 33 30 27 25 24 22 21 20 51 38 35 32 30 28 26 24 22 20 20 20 70 58 43 36 32 30 28 26 24 22 20 41 38 36 34 32 30 28 26 24 22 20 40 38 36 34 32 30 28 26 24 22 20 43 40 37 33 31 30 27 24 22 20 42 40 35 32 30 28 26 24 22 20 38 36 34 32 30 28 26 24 22 20 35 32 30 29 28 27 26 24 22 20 55 54 50 46 42 37 34 30 25 53 50 46 41 38 32 30 26 25 72 66 53 50 45 36 26 24 51 42 38 32 28 26 24 20 43 37 35 32 28 26 24 20 34 33 32 30 28 26 24 20 42 37 34 28 26 24 22 20 35 33 30 28 26 24 22 20 34 32 30 28 26 24 22 20 50 46 41 34 30 28 27 41 36 33 31 28 23 20 35 33 30 27 24 22 20 32 30 28 26 24 22 20 30 29 28 26 24 22 20 36 34 28 24 24 22 20 30 29 26 24 22 21 20 48 46 44 42 40 38 52 51 43 36 30 28 29 26 25 24 22 20 31 29 25 22 21 20 70 63 66 64 62 47 37 28 22 20 28 26 24 22 20 28 26 24 22 20 75 61 50 42 26 24 22 20 30 23 21 20 25 22 20 20 62 47 31 40 38 36 30 28 26 26 23 20 24 22 20 22 20 50 Quick Pass yardage distribution RN 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 17 16 16 15 15 14 14 13 13 12 12 11 16 15 15 14 14 13 13 12 12 11 11 10 15 14 14 13 13 12 12 11 11 10 10 9 14 13 13 12 12 11 11 10 10 9 9 8 14 13 13 12 12 11 11 10 10 9 9 8 13 12 12 11 11 10 10 9 9 8 8 7 12 12 11 11 10 10 9 9 8 8 7 7 12 12 11 10 10 9 9 8 8 7 7 6 12 11 11 10 10 9 9 8 8 7 7 6 11 11 10 10 9 9 8 8 7 7 6 6 11 10 10 9 9 8 8 7 7 6 6 5 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 0 10 10 9 9 8 8 7 7 6 6 5 5 10 10 9 9 8 8 7 7 6 6 5 4 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 0 -1 9 9 8 8 7 7 6 6 5 5 4 4 9 9 8 8 7 7 6 6 5 4 4 4 9 8 8 7 7 6 6 5 5 4 3 3 9 8 8 7 7 6 6 5 5 4 4 3 9 8 8 7 7 6 6 5 5 5 4 3 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 0 -1 -2 8 8 7 7 6 6 5 5 4 4 3 3 8 7 7 6 6 5 5 4 4 3 3 2 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 0 -1 -2 -3 7 7 6 6 5 5 4 4 3 3 2 2 7 7 6 6 5 5 4 4 3 3 2 1 7 6 6 5 5 4 4 3 3 2 2 1 7 6 6 5 5 4 3 3 2 2 2 1 6 6 5 5 5 4 4 4 3 3 2 2 6 6 5 5 4 3 3 2 2 2 1 0 6 6 5 4 4 4 3 3 2 2 2 1 6 5 5 4 4 3 3 2 2 1 1 0 6 5 5 4 4 3 2 2 1 1 0 -1 OFFENSIVE LINE Block rating: +3 +2 +1 0 -1 -2 -3 Pass Block rating: 0 1 2 Possible combinations used 3 0 2 0 1 0 0 0 -1 0 -2 0 -3 0 3 1 2 1 1 1 0 1 -1 1 -2 1 -3 1 3 2 2 2 1 2 0 2 [There is an approximate correlation between the total ratings for the offensive linemen for the blocking categories totals and team ranking for average yards per rush, yards per pass, and sacks/yards lost per pass attempt.] DEFENSIVE RATINGS Tackle: -3 -2 -1 0 1 2 3 Pass Rush: 3 2 1 0 Possible combinations used: -2 3 -3 2 -3 1 -2 1 -1 1 0 1 1 1 -3 0 -2 0 -1 0 0 0 1 0 2 0 3 0 [There is an approximate correlation between the total ratings for the defensive linemen for the tackling and pass rush categories totals and team ranking for average yards per rush, yards per pass, and sacks/yards lost per pass attempt.] Interceptions: The number of interceptions equals the number of Pass Numbers covered by the INT range. Run Number 1 and 12 equals the longest return or a TD. Other yardage is distributed for Run Numbers 2 to 11 with shortest distance (usually 0 yards) in the middle numbers. Pass defense: Unknown. PUNTING Determine the average punt yardage, longest punt, percentage of punts returned and not returned. Assign the average punt yardage to Run Number 6. For other Run Numbers, add or subtract yards from the average. Assign Fair Catch to percentage of punts not returned, beginning with RN 11 and lower. Assign Punt Return number to remaining RN beginning with RN1 and higher, follow the sequence PR1, PR2, PR3, PR4, PR1, PR2 etc. (The Punt Returns can be assigned first, and the Fair Catches filled in the remaining run numbers instead.) Run Yardage Cumulative Percentage Number Adding Down Adding Up RN 01 Avg+10 9.09 % 100.00 % RN 02 Avg+5 14.77 90.91 RN 03 Avg+4 20.45 85.23 RN 04 Avg+3 27.27 79.55 RN 05 Avg+2 40.91 72.73 RN 06 Average 53.41 59.09 RN 07 Avg-2 64.77 46.59 RN 08 Avg-3 72.72 35.23 RN 09 Avg-4 81.81 27.28 RN 10 Avg-9 90.90 18.19 RN 11 Avg-19 99.99 9.10 RN 12 Below Below: RN 1 = Maximum distance RN 2 = Blocked (if any punts were blocked) remaining RN = penalty KICKOFF and PUNT RETURNS Determine the top 1, 2, 3 or 4 kickoff/punt returners, based on the total number of KOR/PTR and the percentage by each returner. Distribute the players in the KOR/PTR 1, 2, 3, 4 columns determined by the number of kick returners included. Returners: Distribution options 1: 1-4 2: 1-2, 3-4 1-3, 2-4 1-4, 2-3 1-2-3, 4 1-2-4, 3 1-3-4, 2 3: 1-2, 3, 4 1, 2-3, 4 1, 2, 3-4 1-3, 2, 4 1-4, 2, 3 1, 3, 2-4 4: 1 2 3 4 Kickoff Return Punt Return RN 01 Avg + 18 Avg+8 *=TD *=max or TD RN 02 Avg + 15 Avg+5 RN 03 Avg + 7 Avg+4 RN 04 Avg + 5 Avg+3 RN 05 Avg + 2 Avg+1 RN 06 Avg + 1 Average yardage RN 07 Average yardage Avg-1 RN 08 Avg -2 Avg-2 RN 09 Avg -8 Avg-3 RN 10 Avg -10 Avg-4 RN 11 Avg -13 Avg-5 RN 12 Avg -15 +fumble Avg-6 +fumble *********************************************************** END DIGEST 11-24-97
Return to Sports Gaming Digest Contents Page
To receive the Sports Gaming Digest, contact Jim Gordon at
jgordon@library.berkeley.edu