Contributions > Descriptions by Clay Dreslough (30)

The 3rd installment in the Tony La Russa Baseball series. This sports an array of new features and improvements for both arcade-action fans and baseball strategists and statisticians.

The response time of all input device options has been optimized to improve the reactions of the on-screen ballplayers. From pitching and hitting to running and fielding, gamers will now enjoy quicker, more responsive interaction when playing the game.

With the new pitcher/batter matchups, specific confrontations between each pitcher and batter can now be simulated even more accurately, with an expanded database of stats reflecting each pitcher's and batter's tendencies versus any opponent they've faced during their careers.

In addition to providing detailed play-by-play and color commentary for each game in the "action (arcade) mode" as they did in Tony La Russa Baseball 3, the game's veteran announcers, Mel Allen, Lon Simmons, and Hank Greenwald, supply more realism than ever by referring to each player by name when pitching, batting, fielding and baserunning.

Two "universes" of data-final 1995 season stats and 1996 Spring Training rosters-are available when simulating a single game, an entire season, or multiple future seasons in the "General Manager Challenge" mode.

New stat categories have been added, which help define each hitter's performance in specific situations, such as: runners in scoring position; pinch-hitting appearances; and other critical circumstances such as close games in the late innings.

Clutch performers like Wade Boggs, Mike Piazza, Barry Bonds, and Don Mattingly are now portrayed more faithfully than ever before.

Baseball Mogul 2002 is the baseball franchise management game that founded a genre.

As General Manager (GM), your job is to build the best lineup of players to take your team to the Championship Series. You can make complex player trades and sign players to multi-year contracts as you build your team, but you'll have to compete with the other team GMs, and negotiate with the player's agents. If your new players are good enough, have them join your team right away, otherwise send them to your minor league franchise for training and improvement. Then, as the season progresses you choose which players stay in the big leagues, which ones get sent down to the minors, and which ones get released or traded.

As GM you also have to manage all the finances for your ballclub, making sure that the team doesn't go bankrupt. Raise revenue for your team by setting the price of tickets and selling the TV broadcast rights, while you manage your team's expenses by setting the budget for your farm system, player scouts, medical staff, and player payroll. But be careful, because fans can be fickle if your team doesn't win or if your tickets become too expensive!

Your involvement as GM does not stop in the team's front office -- you also help to manage your team on the field. You set the starting defense, batting order and pitching rotation for your team. Of course, once a ballgame starts, you retire to the luxury box and its up to your team's coaches and players to get the win! A powerful game engine simulates each at-bat of the game based on historical stats and real player performance, assuring you the maximum realism possible!