Hardball manual

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* HARDBALL (TM) *
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BATTER UP!
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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 pitch as well as the fielders.

TO START THE GAME:
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For a two-player game, connect your joystick to port 1 for the red team and port 2 for the blue team. For a one-player game, connect your joystick to either port.

CASSETTE USERS NOTE: When the program has loaded, leave the PLAY key depressed on the cassette player as more information will be loaded as the game progresses.

TO RESTART THE GAME:
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To restart the game, press RESTORE

SELECT GAME OPTIONS
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Once the game is loaded, you may use either joystick 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). For example, a two player game would be selected on lines 1, 2, 7 or 8, depending on who wants to be Home team and whether or not to have a designated hitter. The following sample screen shows the 12 possible choices:

ALL-STARS (Red)     Joystick #1

Visitor                    1
Home                       2
Visitor                    3
Home                       4
Visitor-computer           5
Home-computer              6
Visitor               -DH  7
Home                  -DH  8
Visitor               -DH  9
Home                  -DH 10
Visitor-computer      -DH 11
Home-computer         -DH 12

CHAMPS (Blue)       Joystick #2

Home
Visitor
Home-computer
Visitor-computer
Home
Visitor
Home                    -DH
Visitor                 -DH
Home-computer           -DH
Visitor-computer        -DH
Home                    -DH
Visitor                 -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 you want to make is displayed, press the FIRE BUTTON to start the game.

MANAGER'S DECISION SCREEN
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The four screens displayed during the HardBall are: The Manager's Decision Screen, the Pitcher/Batter Screen, Left Field View, and Right Field View.

The game begins with the Manager's Decision Screen. It will also appear if a player presses the SPACE BAR on the keyboard any time during the pitcher screen. In this Manager's Screen, pressing the SPACE BAR will "Play Ball" (starting the game action or counting where you left off).

This screen will display a selected line-up for both teams. "/" will indicate who is at bat and there will also be an indication of who is on which base (1b, 2b or 3b), how they bat (Right, Left or Switch), the position they play and their batting average.

Below each team's roster will be a menu of management decision options which each player may select by moving the cursor to that line and pressing the FIRE BUTTON. In the case of "substitution" or "exchange positions", additional screen prompts will be displayed at the bottom (to be explained later).

For the other options, the parameters (indicated here by parenthesis) will be cycled through and displayed one at a time by depressing the FIRE BUTTON when that line is selected (highlighted). The current parameter being displayed is automatically the one selected and remains in force until charged. The option lists are as follows.

For the team in the field (defense) - 5 choices:
- Player Substitution
- Exchange Positions
- Outfield (Normal, Shift right, Shift left)
- Infield (Normal or Double play)
- (NO) Intentional Walk

For the team at bat (offense) - 2 choices:
- Player Substitution
- Exchange Positions

If either player selects "Substitution" or "Exchange Positions", the lower position of the Manager's Decision Screen will change to appropriate team color. In these modes, press the SPACE BAR in the middle of an activity to cancel and return to the game.

SUBSTITUTION
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A line will be displayed to select "Substitute (from bench) with (on Roster)" at which time the underlined entry can be selected by moving the joystick RIGHT or LEFT (selecting a player) and pressing the FIRE BUTTON. When the bench entry is specified, you can scroll the list of players on the bench up or down within a 3-line window at the bottom of the screen by using the joystick. Then select the desired player to come onto the field by pressing the FIRE BUTTON. When the roster entry is selected, the cursor can be moved up or down the roster list with the joystick, then press the FIRE BUTTON to select the player to come off the field.

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.

EXCHANGE POSITIONS:
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Choose the entry to be filled first in a manner similar to that defined above for "substitution" on the line "exchange ........ position with ........". This will allow vertical scrolling of the cursor through the roster positions and will show each corresponding player's full performance statistics at the bottom of the screen. Press FIRE BUTTON to select position to be exchanged. If you select a player in a position for which he is not suited, then an appropriate message (i.e., "player out of position"") will be displayed later. There will also be a likelihood of an error in play or poor pitching.

Remember press the SPACE BAR to start (or continue) play of the game.

GAME PLAY
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Play begins with the pitcher's screen depicting the pitcher, batter, umpire and crowd in the background. Using the joystick, the player representing the pitcher (field team) may select a type of pitch as displayed on the bottom of the screen. He must select one of four choices displayed out of the following eight pitching types:

- Fastball! (straight and very fast)
- Fastball (straight and fast)
- Off speed (straight)
- Change-up (straight slower pitch)
- Curve ball (a big sweeping curve)
  - for left handed pitchers, the ball curves to the right
  - for right handed pitchers, the ball curves to the left
- Screwball (opposite curve ball)
  - for left handed pitchers, the ball curves to the left
  - for right handed pitchers, the ball curves to the right
- Sinker (the ball drops - curves down)
- Slider (similar to curve ball, but curves at last moment)

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

Note: Even if no options are desired, this player must press and release his FIRE BUTTON while the joystick is in the neutral position for the game to continue. This options will also appear at the bottom of the screen and will include bunt or base stealing (if appropriate).

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

When someone first steps up to bat, some of his statistics will be displayed.

Once both players have made their selections, a new set of choices are presented at the bottom of the screen. The pitcher will be able to select the location of the pitch (i.e., high, inside, etc.) with the joystick 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 the joystick and, by pressing the FIRE BUTTON swing.

When the ball is hit, the receiving fielder will be identified by flashing. The player may use the joystick 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:

2 1 2    X = always a strike

1 X 1    1 = high probability of being a strike

2 1 2    2 = low probability of being a strike

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

Certain pitchers will be stronger in some pitching types.

If 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.

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

(c) 1986 ACCOLADE. All rights reserved.