Some time back, I got into a pleasant chat over email with John Herson, CEO of the APBA Game Company. I took a chance and asked if he would be willing to engage in a Q&A interview for The APBA Blog. He not only readily agreed but even suggested that we do this on a regular basis. I’m glad I asked.
I asked my inner circle of APBA friends for suggestions on questions and expanded on them. Here is the interview:
The APBA Blog: I’m sure the APBA Game Company doesn’t make major changes to a board game lightly especially knowing how much it impacts those who play the game. What is the process the company goes through when these occasional changes are considered?
John Herson: You are correct that game changes are not done lightly. The major issue is to make sure that any change does not impact the playability of previously released card sets. Most changes are generated by ABPA fans’ comments and suggestions.
We are play testing a proposed change to the basic baseball game. This change, if adopted, will require a new player rating. In addition to game testing the change, APBA has to determine if the required information to calculate this rating is available for all seasons.
TAB: How have you targeted young adults and children when marketing your games? How much have video games impacted the bottom line in this matter?
JH: APBA has not a good job of targeting young adults and children. Beginning with soccer, APBA is preparing a series of videos of children playing APBA games. Instruction videos are being prepared. These videos will be available on APBA’s website and You-Tube. APBA is working to spread the APBA message using the internet and social media.
The old marketing plan of advertising in periodicals does not work. When I first purchased APBA, we ran ads in the Street and Smith and Sporting News baseball annuals, APBA got a lot of positive responses from fans glad to see the ads again. However, the advertising cost in excess of $8,000 and generate less than ten orders.
Initially video games did impact APBA’s business. Unlike the video games, APBA is NOT a hand-eye coordination game. Right now video games are not impacting APBA.
TAB: I know customers will always find something to grumble about but I think they all appreciate how APBA Company representatives (particularly Marc Rinaldi) keep in touch with them on the APBA forum. Will the Company continue to use social media (Facebook, Twitter etc.) to increase its presence among the APBA community?
JH: Yes APBA will continue to expand its presence on Facebook and Twitter. One reason is to attract new fans. Secondly. many APBA fans are using these new technologies.
One thing APBA fans can do to help APBA keep in touch with them is to be polite to each other. The tone on some of the threads at Between the Line confuses me. You “play” APBA. This is something you choose to do with your free time. You do not “work” at APBA. If you are playing, you are having fun. The tone, the lack of respect and rudeness of some posters on the forum bothers me. You can disagree with some one but still be respectful and polite to that person.
At the beginning of every year a lot of us customers get anxious (sometimes bordering on impatient) about when the new APBA card sets will be coming out. Can you briefly give us an idea of what it takes for the APBA Company to put out a current set of cards?
This is the timeline for the annual current season set. in mid-September, Skeet selects the players for each team. After the season is completed, card preparation begins with the gathering of all necessary statistics and player information.
After the statistics and player information file is completed, the actual cards are prepared. This process takes six weeks or so. The card file is not completed until after the World Series ends. A player’s card will be amended for certain post-season results. For example, Joey Blanton hit a playoff home run several years ago. Since Blanton had not hit a home run in the regular season, his card was amended for the post-season home run.
After the card file is completed and reviewed. the card file is sent to the printer. We are now in mid-November. At this time, the line-up and master symbol sheets are also sent to the printer.
The printer needs a month to prepare the proofs of the cards, line-up and master symbol sheets. After APBA approves the proofs, the printing begins. Since the printer closes for the week between Christmas and New Years, APBA does not receive any cards from the printer until after the first of the year.
For this reason, APBA now focuses on shipping cards the first week of January.
TAB: How does APBA determine what past seasons will become available each year? Do those sets continue to be good sellers with APBA fans? Have any seasons been wildly popular?
JH: APBA maintains a file of all season requests received from APBA fans. Periodically, APBA will request fan input. APBA will complete the gap of 20th century seasons. A new never released season will be offered later this year. The 1995 baseball season is now at the printer.
Seasons with a lot of offense are the best sellers. The 1950s and 60s seasons are the most requested.
The APBA Company is in the process of releasing a Pro Soccer Game. Was this just one more tabletop sport to add to the others or was there added incentive to bring on this particular sport?APBA wanted to offer soccer to reach new fans, domestically and internationally. Soccer video games outsell American football games in the United State. Soccer has many important leagues and international competitions to offer as card sets. Future card sets will including women’s teams.
TAB: Are any products or past seasons coming down the pipeline that you can talk about? Any new computer games coming soon?
JH: The 1995 baseball season should be released in late April.
A new golf course Magnolia was released this week.
The 2009-10 Italian Series A and Spanish Primera Division card sets are now available,
A new computer baseball game product, City’s Best disk,will be offered in April. These disks include a city’s best baseball teams regardless of franchise or league. For example, the New York City disk includes a Negro League team, the Brooklyn Dodgers, New York Giants, New York Mets and of course the New York Yankees teams.
I’ve learned the hard way not to discuss future game releases or future computer games. I can say that APBA is looking at offering at least one new board game this year. APBA has several software development projects on-going. At this time. I’m not prepared to say any more on this.
TAB: This is a question I’ve always wondered about… do any of the APBA employees play competitively in APBA leagues?
JH: Skeet and Veryl are in a face to face baseball league in Lancaster. Skeet is also in a football league. Veryl does many solitaire replays. Veryl has a special area in the warehouse where he plays games.
I do “what-if” replays. What if there was still two eight team leagues. What if African Americans played sooner in MLB. What if this player signed with the team that initially drafted him.
TAB: Finally, how many at the APBA Game Company know the “secret APBA Card Formula”? IS there a “secret APBA Card Formula”?
JH: There are two people that know the APBA card formulas for each game. I would like to think the card formula is secret but most of the elements of the card formula have been reversed engineered.
Thanks to APBA CEO John Herson for taking the time to asking these questions. I can tell a lot of time and thought was put into them.
As I mentioned, he suggested that we do another Q&A on a regular basis. When the next time comes, I’ll put out a request for serious questions for John from any and all APBA fans.
Nice! Loved it.
I was under the impression you were going to talk to RInaldi. I never knew there *was* a John Herson. Guess I’m not paying attention. Anyway, if you ever do a follow-up, I’d want to know how he personally came to be APBA CEO.
I guess I’m not surprised about his reaction to online rudeness, but I guess it shows that he hasn’t read many internet discussion groups, particularly those that have as long a history as BTL. Forums take on a character pretty quickly, and BTL was born in a time when internet forums (especially sports forums) were a lot cruder than a lot of what you see now. BTL is actually fairly mild and cordial. Rinaldi takes a LOT of heat, and he does it pretty well.
Serious Q&A will send them to you.
You lobbed Herson some real softballs for questions.
How about asking him about the SABR Atlanta debacle (both the cards and Van Wieren) and the most recent set of football cards?
@Mark, you’ve sparked a latent fear.
Now that APBA has launched soccer, if it should really catch on, will bring the passion of world soccer fans to the realm of APBA commenters. It’ll make the passion of US football fans look like a dying ember.
But I hope that Tom’s promised follow-ups with Herson will be more pointed, now that a channel has been opened. Mark, I’d suggest you give Tom some more specific questions along those lines.
Why don’t you ask him to show us a screenshot of the new computer game. This is really becoming laughable that they are really working on a new computer baseball game. You need to ask the questions people want to hear. Maybe start next time by asking him who is checking their products for errors? Quality control has absolutely ceased to exist in APBA.
I agree with Steve- I didn’t know that there was a JohnHerson.
What is history with the company? When did he actually purchase the company?
It’s a great way to get dialogue going between APBA and their fans.
There were plenty of errors in the old days too. I believe that APBA
made good on all of their soccer missteps.
I must say…making soccer was a very bold move that may pay off big time!
To Steve Stein:
Though I didn’t phrase them as questions (this isn’t “Jeopardy” ), I think Herson should be asked about what happened at Atlanta (and if the chief blogger in charge doesn’t know, then he’s been woefully out of touch), what happened with the football cards and, to throw soccer into the mix, what happened with that as there were an incredible amount of corrections, including quite a number which haven’t been made yet (that being judged by the commentary I see on BTL), as well as quite a number of what we might call “house rule” changes made in extremely short order after the release of the game, giving me the distinct impression that there wasn’t a lot of play testing for this game, that the developer didn’t possess a lot of knowledge about soccer and the game owners have ended up becoming de facto play testers.
Let’s see if those questions get asked.
I think we should give Herson some credit for taking the time to answer the questions posed to him……I like the idea that maybe hes starting to come out from behind the APBA logo.
I would also like to know more about him and if he chooses to answer the more volatile questions that some have for him, so be it. Im certainly not going to lose any sleep over it if he doesnt.
I’d also like to see a Q&A with Marc….
Nice job, Tom…..as usual!
DOM IN NY
Hi all,
I do thank every one for all the comments so far. A couple points (keeping in mind that JH reads this blog :)):
1) My first objective with this interview was to ask some really general questions about the company and the game not to be a muckraker.
2) .I think it’s great that that JH is willing to answer some questions. I think in time we will most likely throw those hardball questions but they will be done politely and with principle.
again, I appreciate the feedback! Keep the questions coming.
A Larry King special…
Careful Mr. Ruckhaus—you could get banned from the blog!
I agree that the questions were pretty light. It is nice to see that Herson is starting to come out and talk a little about the GameCo. It could help alleviate some of the discord. But, let’s not forget that it’s just a hobby and a game. Like Dom, though, no sleep will be lost over APBA, regardless of what happens.
@Randy: can you be banned from a blog?
I thought it was a terrific interview.
Those who wanted The Zealot to be obnoxious in his questioning were disappointed.
But I enjoyed reading it.
“Politely and with principle.” I like that. I must be getting old.
I have gotten to know John quite well in the past few months through a series of emails regarding the league that I ran at the Bridesburg Boys and Girls Club this past summer. John reached out to me and went out of his way to help us with our leagues in the future. I could tell that he was very happy that a younger crowd was being introduced to the game and that he was very happy and willing to help us out by donating materials to us. I am still extremely flattered the the owner of the game reached out to me, someone who has been playing this game now for 18 years. This was a great article about a very great person. John and everyone here at the site….keep up the good work, Thanks again!!!!
I enjoyed reading his answers to the questions that Tom presented. I was interested in every answer, after reading the questions first.
Nice job, Tom!
@Randy
LOL, Larry King.. good one.
I was going for Chris Matthews. :)
I thought the interview was solid. No reason to pound the guy when he decides to come forward. Had that happened I would suppose the Mr. Herson would simply go back behind the curtain.
At this point does anyone really care about some pointless give away card at an unaffiliated convention in Atlanta last year? I mean can we at some point give it a rest?
The football cards are a serious issue. The problem, to my mind, is that the cost to print all those cards doesn’t pay off based on the amount of orders received. I love the APBA football game as much as and probably more than anyone but you’d have to believe the amount of card sets sold is pretty small at this point. Which means that the stock has to be bought cheaply, which leads to the issues we saw. My concern is that the company might simply stop making the game, which would be sad.
I digress, I do think it’d be great to hear more of Mr. Herson’s vision for the company. We can all identlfy the big moments of the Seitz and Light eras. What will be the big moment of the Herson regime?
Greg,
“Pointless give away card?” C’mon man.
I’ll answer you two ways: The first was that the SABR Magnolia Chapter, of which John Herson is a member with his also making an introduction to one of the presentations, was the host chapter. OK, it was his choice to provide the cards, but at least you can see how he was involved.
OK, it wasn’t an APBA convention. But it WAS a convention of very knowledgable baseball people including at least one designer/owner (Tom Tippett). I’d think you’d want to put your best foot forward in such a situation. And, in this case, all it required was checking the cards before giving them away. And, if there’s something wrong with them, you don’t give them away and no one is the wiser.
The second is that, if those were YOUR cards from YOUR game company in those goody bags, you wouldn’t be so damned dismissive.
And, what about Pete Van Wieren not hearing from the game company “in about a year?” Though I might be wrong, my guess is that he still hasn’t heard anything and never will.
Waiting patiently for your response.
Seriously. The Herson regime is filled with poor quality and lies. I wish he would just state that they don’t know how to make football or soccer cards, bbw disk is not checked for errors, and there is no computer game. I think then people would give apba a break. Until then we have a right to complain as the company continues to sink.
Veryl and his secret spot…hahaha
I won’t get into a long debate. I like Tom Tippett, worked on the PTP game as a tester many (many) years ago. Still, I can’t understand why this is so important to you. Have you gone a week without bringing it up since it happened? My response is people and company’s screw up. I just bought a collection of Strat Fan magazines and there was an article about all the team defense cards having a column wrong. I suppose the prudent thing would be to log on to the Strat Forum and bring it up. Regularly. Even though it was many years ago.
The computer game may not include the announcer anymore. Or maybe there is not enough money to pay him. More to the point, why does it matter and why do you incessantly need to know? How about you play the games and enjoy them or play other games and enjoy them and stop worrying about a give away card at a local SABR convention from last summer.
I don’t know Mr. Herson and I don’t agree with everything that has happened. I just don’t see the point of turning this all into such ugliness. I want the company to survive and prosper so my son can enjoy these games as an adult. With civilized and constructive discussion that’s a possibility. With name calling, mud slinging, et al. I don’t see it.
But maybe it’s me.
Mr. Wells,
I agree with many of the above posts. Mr. Ruckhaus and others bring up valid points. Here is a company you love and it is hard to stand on the sidelines as the company continues to fumble project after project. Should I just keep rolling and never complain when I see errors and poor management? I want APBA to suceed too, but Strat NEVER had errors like APBA has been committing of late. Yes, Strat had some printing errors, but they were immediately remedied and they were so rare. APBA in the past two years has made more careless and bonehead mistakes than I care to see. No playtesting on the soccer game, football cards that were pathetic, and a phantom baseball computer game. Good lord, I could go on! APBA needs to be like our president, a little more transparent and not so arrogant.
Harry
Greg,
It IS you.
Most people have short attention spans and the SABR mess would have died down in short order.
But then came football, and the baseball mess was resurrected.
And the football mess would have died down in short order.
But then came soccer.
And, with that, baseball and football got resurrected.
Whose fault was that? And, DIRECT QUESTION TO YOU, through all of this, have you ever heard “sorry” from APBA? I’ve heard excuses–lack of stock, rounded corners, other BS–and I’ve heard nothing as over a hundred changes were made to cards/ratings for the soccer game without so much as an explanation or apology.
“Civilized and constructive discussion?” Tough to have a constructive conversation with someone who wants to hide behind a curtain and sign his underling’s name to his posts. And it’s tough to have a constructive conversation with someone who doesn’t have an ounce of contrition in him. And, by the way, what sort of “civilized and constructive discussion” might there have been with, say, the football game? Where would you have begun?
I hope your son can enjoy APBA for years to come. But, if he can’t because the company is no more, whose fault would that be?
Im not going to bash Herson and APBA here. I think the above posters have said everything I wanted to. I just want to say that this company was once one of the big boys in replay simulations. Now they are the equivalent of a AA baseball team. AAA would be a stretch. I am basing my rating on how well run Replay and Strat-O-Matic are compared to APBA. Who would have thought Strat-O-Matic is adapting to new technology and as APBA would say cranking out the products their fans want? Strat-O-Matic in the last year has really shown just how far ahead of the competition they really are. There is a real sense of community on their website too.
I do so adore the concept of being owed an apology. It’s kind of cute.
I do hope that the company continues to produce games and seasons and even takes the occasional risk. One can argue about who is the king of the hill but to my way of thinking the came that is the most relaxing and fun to play is still APBA. Replay and Strat are quality products, I love it when I stumble across someone who plays either of them. In the end we has fans of the table top genre are a small band. I think we should embrace our similarities and worry much less about which product is “better”
I have yet to understand why APBA will show the computer game at the convention and not show people on the forum a screenshot? Talk about really lowering the moral of their base. Its like they are hiding something from us. Show the game to people who could care less about a computer game. Interesting. Maybe you can ask Mr. Herson to share a screenshot with you and give us something to chew on until the next announcement in 5 years.
My question since he will not show you a screenshot is, will they show the computer game at the convention this year?
Greg,
Assuming your facetious-sounding comment (the one about the apology, BTW) to be just that, I’ll say that I’m not OWED anything.
I know what I’d do if I screwed up…say I’m sorry and attempt to learn from my mistake.
Forcing someone to say “sorry” is a waste of time. But, what about common courtesy? What would you do if you screwed up? And how do you feel about someone who screws up and doesn’t acknowledge it in any way–like APBA’s done?
Look, I don’t give a crap if APBA went belly-up tomorrow. The gameco’s products have given me, literally, thousands of hours of entertainment. But I haven’t bought from them in years. Why? Well, they came out with BBW 5.5 and they made the mistake of selling the Bill James Encyclopedia. As I have no use for modern seasons, I was as happy as a pig in you-know-where. A little Wizard, a little Merlin and, now, a little Skeetersoft, and I don’t have to buy from them until they decide to develop and market a new game.
So, if APBA wants to say “sorry,” it might show some character though, at this point, it’s probably a bit late in the game for that considering what’s gone on in the past eight months or so. And, if they don’t want to say “sorry,” well, that speaks volumes too.
Great site. Fantastic interview. We are finally meeting the person we were curious about. Excellent job, great questions. I wish City’s Best was a card miniset…
Interview with Herson: The Director’s Cut.
(Note: I won’t take credit for it, because it’s not my work. If the person who did wants to, that’s his choice. I just thought it was damn funny.)
Interviewer: So who created the soccer game–who figured out the boards and created the cards?
Herson: I did.
Interviewer: So I take it you played a lot of soccer?
Herson: No. I never played. My kid played some when he was in grade school.
Interviewer: So you must have coached a lot of soccer, to understand the game so thoroughly.
Herson: No. I saw a couple of World Cup games. Brazil vs. Botswana I think.
Interviewer: Uh, well then how were you able to put together so complex a soccer game?
Herson: Are you questioning my soccer knowledge? My game designing acumen? My very integrity?!
Interviewer: No, not really. Just curious.
Herson: Listen twit, I’m not paying you to be curious!!! I ‘m paying you to write the absolute unvarnished truth about APBA and I want you to do it exactly as I say! Enough with the soccer–next set of questions.
Interviewer: Yeah, so, I guess it’s true you can walk on water?
Herson: Not big water. I can’t walk on the Atlantic (laughs). But small ponds, lakes, the occasional river, sure–no problem!
I bought a Toyota back in the 90’s, and it’s given me thousands of hours of reliable fun since then. That was their mistake – they built it so good that I haven’t needed to update it since then. They’ve had their problems in the past year, but guess what? I don’t care if they go out of business tomorrow! I’ve got mine. What does bother me a little, however, is that they’ve never apologized to me about their mistakes in the past year. Not that I’m a customer anymore, haven’t given them a dime in years. Just sayin’…
Ok, it bothers me a lot. So much so that I’ve launched a barrage of anti-Toyota messages on any forum I can find for months. I’m specifically targeting the CEO. How dare he make mistakes that theoretically affect me, albeit non-customer that I am? It’s an outrage! Some say I’m obsessed. Some say I should be happy driving around, rather than spending months griping about something that doesn’t even affect me. I say… I complain, therefore I am!
Ahab: Awesome, exactly what I was thinking. It’s a tired old act and later I will be accused of being a bootlicker. That’s fine, at least I’m a customer.
My son has played the Soccer game a few times. He’s not a soccer buff but he likes sports and he likes games. I asked how it was and he said it was “fun”. Guys like the whiners don’t get that because this isn’t supposed to be fun, it’s supposed to be an exact replication of real life that can be played on the table top in their Mom’s basement in less than 20 minutes. Because that’s how it’s always been.
Greg,
So, being a bootlicker is OK? And you’re proud to be a customer of a company which churned out what they have over the past eight months? Like being proud of being a BP stockholder or an executive with Trans Ocean or Tokyo Electric, that’s not something I’d be in a hurry to advertise.
And somehow you still managed to avoid mentioning how you feel about someone who messes up but doesn’t have the common decency to say “sorry.” And, while I’m on the subject, if you were John Herson, how would you have handled the baseball, football and soccer messes?
Ruckhaus is obsessed with Henson, Rinaldi and APBA…day in, day out, he’s banging the same drum over and over — the same stories, the same tired old lines, the same righteous indignation. He used different aliases to post on BTL just to see how quickly he’d get banned, started his own forum to continue his diatribes, and now is infiltrating other venues to spout his ramblings.
He sounds as if he’s hunkered down in his basement (or parents’ basement, more likely), eating his Chitos and drinking his Mountain Dew, figuring out which recycled lines to use next (twixt naps, of course!) I’ve never seen someone so obsessed to the point of delusion. Wonder if he ever sees the light of day…probably just to go to the 7-11 to get his next Big Gulp. Ha.
Ahab the Arab, Sheik of the Burning Sand,
What a wonderfully sarcastic couple paragraphs! (Yes, I think that deserves an exclamation point!)
Let’s get to the point, shall we?
First, as I fit the demographic of what you posted to a “T,” I’m not the one who needs to be apologized to. I’m in no position to provide any forgiveness for APBA’s mistakes (well, I can buy their products–that’s a sort of forgiveness) nor am I in a position to say to them “You’re forgiven.”
Second, there was far more than one person indicating their displeasure with the quality of what APBA has churned out over the past eight months. So, if enough people begin to say the same thing, either it’s the “big lie” in action and everyone’s drinking the Kool-Aid or maybe there’s some credence to it. You’ll probably say “Kool-Aid” while I’ll say “credence.”
Third, and you can churn out all the sarcasm you want, if you’re willing to admit that APBA has made numerous mistakes over its recent history, I’m certain you’ll also admit that you have yet to see anything which looks like an apology emanate from APBA.
Fourth, and using your Toyota analogy, when the old Toyota finally hits the end of the line–and it will–and I go looking for a new car, it sure as hell won’t be a Toyota, and only because of the way they conducted their business, even if it didn’t affect me directly. And, when I go looking for a new baseball game, even if the current regime manages to churn out 6.0, it won’t be APBA.
Fifth and, again, you can churn out all the sarcasm you want, as long I’m not lying, which would lead to slander or libel, or putting people in a dangerous situation (like yelling “fire” in a crowded theatre), I have the right to say anything I want–even negative comments about a company whose products I haven’t bought in nearly 15 years and, at this point in time, have no interest in buying ever again. And it’s your right for you to post your own comments shouting me down.
Through this hobby, which I’ve participated in for the past 40 years or so, I have met and spoken to very nice people, ironically, mostly on BTL, and we’ve had a lot of good conversations and laughs over there. But, the truth apparently hurt some people too much and I was banned–numerous times–while others, A & Ds, as I refer to them, came blindly running to APBA’s rescue. You’ll note that I don’t post on BTL anymore. But, as “guest,” I still read the comments. The negatives are still there and the droolers are still putting their heads in the sand. Nothing changes.
Mr. K,
Oh, lookie here, another member of the “Eh” team. Nice job Keith–or Keith “wanna be.”
Same-o, same-o (sic), huh?
I do this stuff for entertainment–just to wind jerks like you up. Ha!
Thank you for providing my point (not) so succinctly.
As I said, completely obsessed. And delusional.
I meant to say “proving” my point. Sorry, I don’t spend all day at the keyboard like Mr. Ruckhaus.
All,
I’m done here, though I’ll read the comments, both worthwhile as well as senseless.
To some, you have proven my point yet again…
I say something honest–in this case, that I thought the interview questions were softballs and there were tougher questions to ask and noted what I thought they were–and there was the requisite piling on. ‘Oh, give it a rest already’ and ‘I must be stuffing my face with Cheetos in my parents’ basement while getting off on this.’
As predictable as I might be, so are you on the other side. The difference is that one side puts their heads in the sand and avoids answering direct questions while the other doesn’t.
Obsessed? That’s a reach. Delusional? That’s a good one. How?
For all you A & Ds–wallow in your own crap.
Apparently some enjoy being the mocker, but can’t stand being the mock-ee. Amusing. :)
So, let me get this straight – not a customer for 15 years, no intention of ever being a customer again…but…if you ever change your mind…you’re taking your business elsewhere! *LOL*
And yet, obsessed with how the company is run…disturbing behavior to say the least.
Do you still hold a grudge against Coke for their New Coke failure? Are all their current customers droolers because they’ve moved beyond New Coke and actually enjoy Coke?
Hey! Look! On the starboard bow! It might be…it could be… Get your harpoons ready!
Ahab, if you’re going to steal from Harry Carey, get the line right: It might be…it could be…it is! :)
Tom-
LOL. Chris Matthews would have interrupted several times.
Randy
All-
APBA fans are PASSIONATE. That explains the high level of emotions involved.
If I were an outside consultant, I’d advise Mr. Herson to do a little personal PR work. I’d recommend that he come to the July convention, that he meet the hard-core fans, that he engage the group in a serious Q&A and come clean about the problems and challenges.
I’d also tell him to go to the bar on Friday and Saturday nights and hang out with the guys and LISTEN. As Yogi Berra said, “You can observe alot by just watching”. Even better, pick up the bar tab.
I’d tell Mr. Herson that perception is reality, and that if he wanted his business to be successful he needs to meet, understand and empathize with his customers. I’d also advise him to lighten up on banning dissenting voices, and encourage his personal humility.
I know I’d be quite willing to sit down with Mr. Herson and have an honest, logical, rational business discussion with him, Banker to Attorney. Gratis–which is the best price of all!
Randy Egan
Good luck on that Randy. Mr Herson needs to realize the importance of a computer game. I can’t play bbw on my computer and I am not going try to find a way to make it work. He has had 4 years and nothing. I would love to play apbs but the arrogance and lies have pushed me Strat
Jim – There’s a very simple way to play bbw on your computer…no need to wring your hands or go to another game; it’s not that complicated.
Randy:
I’ve seen the bar tab, might not be gratis!
I agree with the idea that Mr. Herson needs to step up the personal PR. The outrageous level of diatribe needs to be addressed and he should be doing at least some of that. I don’t think he has “over-reacted” to the negative stuff though, it really got out of hand and frankly if I was him I would have shut the ABTL site down.
I know there’s passion. Having been around the AJ when Howard Ahlskog ran it I saw some things that would make you shake your head all those years later. The difference, I think, is that the unfiltered nature of the boards allows people to stand on the pulpit and spew forth their opinions as facts and before you know it people are saying “the entire soccer game was completely wrong” which, really, isn’t an accurate statement.
Sometimes I get tired of dealing with this level of disingenuous discourse, which is why I got sucked in here, because I know the great effort that the company has put into product, on what is essentially a shoestring budget. Surely I am biased in the favor of the people that are working at APBA but I also know the difference between a “disaster” and “the scoring rating was wrong on some of the players” (or whatever it was)
It especially grates on my nerves when someone logs on to rip the company or especially Mr Herson personally when they don’t spend a penny on the product and have never met the man.
Still, I hope the company can find a way to produce a solid computer game. Though I am aware that the complaint will change from “no upgrade” to “this game isn’t any good and everyone knows it”.
At least that will be different….
@ Randy and Greg
you both raise good points in your last comments. Mr Herson would probably indeed learn a lot by sitting down for a few hours with some APBA customers (as would most CEOs).
I don’t know what his motivations are for doing this (and hopefully more) interview but aside from generating some goodwill, my guess is that he does genuinely want to be more in touch with the customers.
@ Greg
“No reason to pound the guy when he decides to come forward. Had that happened I would suppose the Mr. Herson would simply go back behind the curtain.”
Exactly my train of thought. Thanks for putting it so succinctly.
I don’t know about the rest of you but I’m playing some APBA baseball tonight.
One more thing just to clarify a few things and before I sign off for good…
The downhill spiral between me and APBA started when I spoke to Pete Van Wieren and found out there was no new computer game in the works. Given what happened later with football and soccer, that the three Braves teams were screwed up was an added bonus.
I would happily buy from APBA again on two conditions: First, if they gave me something worthwhile to buy, as between the encyclopedia and my general disdain for modern seasons there’s nothing they have that I want and, second, if the ownership changed. Jim Sce had offered to buy the company and I would have supported him to the hilt because I know he has both a tremendous business sense as well as baseball knowledge. Plus I think he can round up the right people to program and develop some new stuff for APBA.
AHAB: As far as my ability, or lack thereof, to be on the receiving end of mocking: Bring it on. All I’ll say to that, in addition, is that, as predictable as my behavior is, so it is from the other side as well. I made a comment about the interview questions being softballs–and that’s all I said, besides giving my recommendation on what I thought would be appropriate to ask–and a few people dutifully crawled out of the woodwork and piled on. Very predictable. From both sides.
FINALLY, and I’ll say this with a straight face… If I didn’t come here and make my comments or stir the pot (either one or the other depending on what your viewpoint is), you folks would have little to talk about. You’d all be saying “loved it,” “fantastic,” “terrific,” “solid” and “enjoyed” and maybe a couple stray “harrumphs!” thrown in. My guess is, that when some of you sign off here, you likely continue your lives as sycophants somewhere else.
Maybe I’m obsessed. Truth be told, it’s more of a sport than an obsession–make a comment or two and watch people get wound up. And many of you go for it hook, line and sinker. But at least I’m honest and I don’t sugarcoat stuff. If I don’t like something, I won’t tell you I do.
Sayonara.
Blah blah blah blah blah blah. Another dissertation. Don’t you ever take a break from this? I doubt anyone even bothers reading your ramblings anymore.
Obsessed is an understatement. Disturbed is more appropriate.
Signing off for good now? Ha.
He’s said goodbye more times than Jimmy Durante. (old reference)
If he’d ever heard Pete Van Wieren broadcast a game he’d be bitching about what a dullard he was if APBA ever used his voice in the game. (Not that he’d buy the game anyway.)
This blog isn’t “Meet the Press”, or “60 Minutes”.
Wound up?!? Letting a game he isn’t even a customer of bother him to the extent it obviously does tells me he’s wound up alright – wound up too tight.
This Blog is a great site and you have done a wonderful service to the APBA community. Thanks for that.
I considered writing a long diatribe about the difference between “truth” and “opinionated lies” but have thought better of it.
I hope Mr. Herson will return to these pages and answer more questions. That would be the biggest win.
Greg-
The people who know each other from the conventions generally don’t flame each other. The interpersonal is one thing missing from the internet.
I love BBW and am fine with it as long as I can run it. I just invested in five BBW disks from the teens. 1916 looks overrated for pitchers, and Walter Johnson’s grade makes no sense compared to his stats. Does this make me a whiner? Probably. So I’ll go on record as saying the 1911, 1913, 1914 and 1915 BBW disks look great.
That being said, I have several hundred dollars invested into 5.5 and disks. I’ve played thousands and thousands of BBW games, both replays and in draft leagues. I know how a disk is supposed to look. Some disks, even some R (1949R) are flawed.
I guess I’m saying I understand people’s frustration. I didn’t get on the board and complain about the 1916 disk, that’s not my style; if necessary I can edit it.
As to marketing, the Strat web site totally blows away the APBA website–and I’ve never played Strat. Upgrading the APBA website would be a great place to start.
Randy
R-
I agree with your points actually. Except for your conclusion on whining. If you have a basis than it would not meet the definition:
Whining- Complain in a feeble or petulant way.
My thought is, you bought the disks, you have a serious investment in the disks and you are a good and loyal customer. If you say the disk is wrong than that deserves some merit and credence. It’s the folks that are saying the “card sets are all wrong” that are sort of grating. I just get annoyed with people who have an agenda and that agenda hurts the company because, in the end, I’d like this company to be around for my Son to enjoy with his son.
I wonder, with the disks, if the grades look high because the formula for the cards is different, or because of an issue with errors. Also, the lack of power my be presenting a challenge in the set. I have the card sets but I don’t recall anything from that. Be interested if you auto-played ’16 a few times how bad it was.
You’re right about the Strat site. It used to be awful but this latest effort is quite good. DKS website is also good. The APBA site, when it launched, was one of the best but that was several years ago and it needs a new interface. There again, might cost more than it’s worth.