🚀 go-pugleaf

It's the bottom of the fifth.  Toronto vs. Detroit.  And the score?
               R    H    E
Toronto       31    43   1
Detroit        1     6   3

BTW, I'm Toronto and the computer is Detroit.

Hardball III has potential, but has MAJOR playability and realism problems.

For example:

- The computer is an IDIOT on defense.  It also seems to base pitching 
substitions solely on pitch count (meaning that Detroit's starting pitcher got 
SHELLED for about 35 hits and 25 earned runs before being replaced in the top 
of the fifth.

- A strong-armed left-fielder can gun down a batter at first base most of the
time.  A weak-armed right fielder can also do it if the batter is of slow or 
medium speed.  There is a serious disproportionality between speed and arm
strength of different players.

- Non-computer players can seemingly only hit singles.  Even shots in the gap 
are singles.  Stealing is stupid as your runners won't run unless they are 
forced.

- Home runs are next to impossible to hit.  Even in batting practice with a
power hitter batting against a pitcher who is only throwing fastballs down the
middle....and I'm not a bad batsman either (see above box score..)

Graphics are good.  Sound through my PC speaker is limited but good.  Pitching
is good, but you won't get any Bobby Witt who has continual control problems 
and gets paid $500,00 a year.  That would be a nice touch.  Even if you plug a 
guy with a FASTBALL! in the head, he doesn't charge the mound.  In other words, 
don't intentional walk.  Hit the batter with your fastest pitch (it's faster 
anyways..)  Batting is  good until you master it (for me about three full 
games).  Then it becomes light up the scoreboard time.  I'm playing the game 
now only to see if I can get 100 hits in 9 innings.

If you are looking for a realistic baseball simulation, don't look at
Hardball III.  I am thoroughly convinced that Accolade's playtesters for this
game were either hallucinating drug addicts or had no hand/eye coordination
whatsoever (which would make the game somewhat challenging...)
--
Any above opinions are the sole property of the below named:
Edward K. Jen
ej...@magnus.acs.ohio-state.edu