Bain: Retro computer baseball game review: Full Count Baseball
From SABR member Derek Bain at Baseball Analytics on January 23, 2020:
This is the ninth entry in a series focusing on computer baseball simulations to supplement the chapter “Play Retro Baseball Video Games In Your Browser” from my Hardball Retroactive book along with the corresponding post at Baseball Analytics. The series focuses on baseball simulations – games in which the primary emphasis is on managerial strategy and the ability to replay entire seasons with a degree of realism. Baseball video games that are strictly arcade representations of baseball (based solely on reflex and hand-eye coordination) are excluded.
Full Count Baseball is a text-only computer baseball simulation featuring few of the bells and whistles that microcomputer hardball fanatics expected in their software by the mid-1980’s. It was ported to the major platforms of the period but I only owned the Commodore 64 version. I am utilizing the Commodore 64 edition and the VICE emulator to play a series using the 1986 Team Disk. Upon loading the game, I chose option 1 (“Play a Game”) from the main menu. I was prompted to place the Team Disk in the drive, then entered the display speed (1-100), number of players (1 or 2 humans, or computer vs. computer) and whether to use the designated hitter. To select the visitor and home teams, you need to know the corresponding number of each team. I had to check the disk directory to determine that Cleveland was team # 12 and Texas was team # 19. When choosing your starting lineup or today’s pitcher, you are allowed to bench anyone that may be unavailable due to fatigue. The contest begins after placing the Game Disk back in the drive (does anyone miss swapping floppies?!)
Read the full article here: http://www.tuatarasoftware.com/baseballanalytics/2020/01/25/retro-computer-baseball-game-review-full-count-baseball/
Originally published: January 27, 2020. Last Updated: January 27, 2020.