Batter Up!

Welcome to the most realistic baseball game ever designed. Step up to the plate and try to knock that ball out of the park. You can choose to bunt, steal a base, and control base running. When your team is in the field, you can control the type and location of the pitch as well as the fielders.

Select Game Options

Once the game is loaded, you may use the menu to select a variety of game option combinations such as Home/Visitor, which team (if any) the computer will play (for a one-player game), and whether you want a designated hitter (-DH).

Only one line will be displayed at a time (starting with line 1). Move the joystick down or up to view other possible options. When the choice is displayed, press Fire to start.

Manager's Decision Screen

The three screens displayed during Hardball are:

1. The Manager's Decision Screen,
2. the Pitcher/Batter Screen, and
3. the Field View.

The game begins with the Manager's Decision Screen. It will also appear if a player presses Space on the keyboard at any time during the Pitcher screen. In this Manager's screen, pressing Space will "Playball" (starting the game action or continuing where you left off).

This screen will display a selected line-up for both teams. "[Tick]" will indicate who is at bat and there will also be an indication of who is on which base (1st, 2nd, or 3rd) how their batting average. Pitchers are denoted by a P and the displayed values are the pitchers earned runs average.

Either player can then press his fire button to bring up a full line up which also displays the team positions and which hand they bat/pitch with (Right, Left or Switch). Below the roster will be the management decision options which can be selected by moving left to select SUBSTITUTE or right to select EXCHANGE. He can select the player to be substituted or exchanged by moving up and down the roster (the selected player being displayed with inverted colours).

To substitute a player move to the appropriate entry in the roster and move left. You can then scroll the list of players on the bench up or down within a 3-line window at the bottom of the screen by moving up or down. Then select the desired player to come onto the field by pressing the fire button.

Note: Once a player is substituted out(after the first pitch), he can't return to the field and doesn't go to the bench list. The new player coming onto the field will replace him at his current position. Moving left or right will return to the roster.

To exchange positions choose the entry in a manner similar to that defined above for "substitution". Then move up or down to select the 2nd player, and press fire to exchange their positions. If you select a player in a position for which he is not suited, then an appropriate message ("out of position!") will be displayed later. There will also be a likelihood of poor pitching. Likewise to the substitution moving left or right will return to the roster menu.

The player playing the pitching team can also select the intentional Walk option on his management screen by pressing Fire.

Remember, press Space to start/continue play.

Gameplay

Play begins with the pitcher's screen depicting the pitcher batter and umpire. Using the controls, the player representing the pitcher (field team) may select a type of pitch as displayed at the bottom of the screen. He must select one of four choices displayed.

The other player, representing the team at bat, may select his offensive strategy by holding Fire down while moving the joystick to select one or more options. Upon releasing Fire, his selection(s) will be made, thus allowing the game to continue.

Note: Even if no options are desired, this player must press and release his fire button while the controls are in a neutral position for the game to continue. His options will also appear at the top of the screen and will include bunt or base stealing (if appropriate).

Note: If you tell a runner to steal a base and the batter doesn't hit the ball, then the catcher will attempt to throw the lead runner out.

Once both players have made their selections, a new set of choices are presented at the top of the screen. The pitcher will be able to select the position of the pitch (i.e. high, inside, etc.) and his wind-up will begin once the fire button is released. The batter will be able to select his corresponding location of swing with his controls and, by pressing the fire button, swing.

When the ball is hit, action will flip to the field view screen. The receiving fielder will be identified by flashing. The player may use his controls to position the fielder (Back, Left, Forward, Right) to catch the ball. Once the ball is caught, he is presented choices as to where to throw the ball (2nd, 3rd, HOME or 1st).

Nine Pitching Zones Over Home Plate:

Miscellaneous Notes

As a pitcher gets tired, the probability of throwing a strike goes down.

Certain pitchers will be stronger in some pitching strikes. If a pitch is not in the strike zone, the batter can swing but can't hit the ball. When the ball is hit, the fielding screen is displayed and (unless it is a foul ball) when the play is completed, the Manager's Decision screen will be displayed momentarily before returning to the pitching/batting screen.

When bunting with 2 strikes against you, if the ball goes foul, it is considered your 3rd strike.

Runners have the option of running to the next base after a hit.

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