Cyrus D’Amato writes The APBA Blog regarding a project he’s working on:
I see you run the APBA Blog and I have a question for you. I have created a Windows program which follows the Basic version of the APBA Baseball simulation game. It is not yet 100% complete… probably closer to 85%. My intentions are to contact John Herson and see what the license fee he is talking about entails. My question to you is it seems most APBA players don’t want the type of game I’ve developed that is a computer game that follows the basic board game version? The reason I created this type was so to let the computer calculate all of the stats. In addition I have an option that allows the player(s) to roll their own dice and then enter the result into a text box or to allow the computer to roll the dice. The player’s card is displayed and the result of the dice roll is highlighted on the batter’s card. I’ve attached a photo of the Windows program running. Before I contact Mr. Herson I was wondering if you feel there is anything here that may be of interest to the APBA Baseball community?
No doubt, Cyrus wants to establish the amount of interest among the APBA community and generate some PR for his product. I know nothing of the game other than what you have read yourself but in the interest of supporting more options for those who play APBA on the computer, I’m happy to pass on his info. I am curious what John Herson’s response to Mr D’Amato will be.
So, computer APBA players and perhaps dice players looking for an alternative, what say you? Is there an interest in game like this?
I’m posting a couple of screenshots of his game below (click to enlarge).
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I was just looking at this again in hopes of seeing some good news that it might actually happen…. this time I noticed the “autoplay” button on the screenshot..how great this would be. Please don’t let this “computerized-dice” concept fade away…
APBA has not made a final decision but I’ve been waiting a very long time. Where I was optimistic before not so now but I’m not giving up.
Please don’t. This would be great. Thanks!
Cyrus, thought you were a strato-matic fan…
Jessica Alba would beat the hell out of that troll!!!!and just to be safe!we will have snippers on the roof to help Jessica out and shoot Milley if she sratts to strangle our dear Jessica
I would love to see something like this on the market. I played APBA BB and FB as a kid and would like to get back into it. Unfortunately, I don’t live near anyone who plays or played. I don’t want the BBW game since (so far as I can tell) it lacks the card look (I would miss looking at the cards and rolling the dice — but an auto-roll like this with a card visual would be the answer). PLEASE keep pursuing this and let the APBA blog know about it, as I am now subscribing to its RSS.
Cyrus, wanted to let you know that you still have my support for the computer game you’ve developed that would emulate e board game. I’d buy the game and annual updates fr certain. Should we gather signatures to show APBA the support and opportunity that exists? Thy may be concerned that the board game versions sales may suffer but it would be offset and more by the computer game and yearly updates. APBA needs to face the fact that over time the number of board game players will continue to diminish due to time constraints. We want to play but setting up a game on the scoresheet and keeping stats takes too long for most people. The computer version of the traditional board game will bring us back and give young players a cance to be exposed to the traditional game in a modern way where some basic board age like effects are intact.
Felix
I agree with your analysis completely and have used your line of reasoning with John. I have offered to meet with him at my expense from last November through March of this year and he does not have the time. Also I have offered John total control of the application if he decides to go forward. This leads me to believe he has something better to offer his customers. It’s his company and it’s his call. I know this app would fill the gap you expressed in your comment and maybe if enough people constructively express their feelings to John maybe he would reconsider.
If anyone would like to see the video I created back in January send me an email (CyrusLV at aol dot com).
Cyrus
I sent an email and look forward to seeing the video demo. Good luck on getting this done! I will pay $100 or more for this if APBA decides to sell it. Would there be an option to create your own cards? Even if it meant typing in all the card data one time for a particular card set I would do it for the time saved in a replay.
Blake
Could you send an email again. I did not receive it.
Cyrus
CyrusLV at aol dot com
I watched the demo for the first time tonight and found it to be even better than I imagined. It’s the traditional board game playing out with the ease provided by a PC. Simply done to ensure the integrity of APBA but provides the ease and speed to play repeatedly. Great stuff. A few questions that your demo didn’t reference. Does your program offer draft or expansion opportunities? Trades? Include extension sets? Maintains stats, schedules and standings? APBA! We need to move forward with this great opportunity!
Felix
The app as it currently stands makes the assumption you are following some type of schedule (a particular season or your own schedule). Trades are your responsibility but are easily performed by changing the Team ID of a player at any point in the season. The program could easily be adapted to include some type of drafting system but my original intent was to allow for a replay of a season with the program maintaining statistics, league leaders, standings etc..
Cyrus
I just watched the Demo and was pleasantly surprised, and that was without seeing what is behind all the tabs. This game is perfect for me because I do replays, use the “as-played” lineups and could get through a season rather quickly, I would think. I’d like to thanks Cy for the effort he put into this. I would join those who would support this product if it went to market.
APBA has decided not to include the application I created in their product mix. I want to thank all who gave their feedback and encouragement on this blog. As I have stated previously it’s John’s company and I’m sure he would not turn his back on a product he felt would be successful for his company. I disagree with him but respect his decision. I left the door open for him to reconsider or reevaluate at some point in the future. For all of those who directly contacted APBA with their opinions on my program I thank you too. Also a special thanks to Tom for having this blog and allowing me the opportunity to display my concept of running the Basic game on a PC.
Did he give a reason?
Very disappointing.
I say the hell with APBA. Find a loophole and do what you have to do to market this product.
Just my 2 cents
I prefer games that show the players on the field that move. MicroLeague Baseball did a good job of that even if the graphics were pretty basic. They had a charm about them even if some would laugh at it today. I think it is better than looking at basically nothing. If this guy’s game here is not going to have players on the field with movement then at least have a colorful interface with a nice looking baseball background. What APBA does to me should be the bare minimum. Anything less than that and I am not interested.
Terribly disappointing. I hope that APBA comes out with something very similar that they call their own. That would be the only thing that i would buy at present. I love playing the game but don’t care for the current PC game and don’t have the time to set up the board game version. I’m a hobbyist with the money to buy a game like Cyrus developed but not a current APBA version. Something wrong with that picture but it is what it is. Cyrus, thanks for your efforts. You had the right idea to satisfy all of the classic board game enthusiasts that over time will slowly but surely dissipate.
It would be nice to hear an explanation from the company.
Well, That settles it then. I’ll be playing Diamond Mind Baseball and leaving APBA. DMB is what the APBA computer game could have been had it grown up, had there been dedication to programming (I work for a software company, so I know that matters). I would have suffered through the APBA Windows game (clunky as it is, having to run it on XP) with this added utility from Cyrus. No reason to stay now.
Thanks, Cyrus, for a great idea.
Mike Heiser
I will also be moving on. I plan to purchase Dave Koch Action PC baseball and give it a try. I have waited long enough for APBA to update their computer game. Great job Cyrus, too bad they weren’t interested.
Cyrus …. change a couple of minor things and market it as your own product. DO NOT give up on this … you have a wonderful concept going here.
Too bad. I would buy the game now.
Could be that Herson has his own deal going and thus doesn’t care if Cyrus’s game is better. Unfortunately, the whole APBA community suffers.
Cyrus…again…I’m sure it would be of interest to all, to know why he turned it down?
Cyrus, why don’t you do my game then, Playball!
Did you design a computer manager for this game?
Yes, this is disappointing, I love APBA Basic and was considering switching to the Master Game and BBW. Then I found out about Replay Baseball, which is fantastic, both C&D and PC. Just made the switch….Goodbye APBA, for now.
Cyrus,
Why not approach the makers of Skeetersoft baseball with this idea? Perhaps this idea would appeal to them.
This is a FANTASTIC idea!! I would buy this game INSTANTLY!! Love playing APBA baseball, but hate all the paperwork with the stats, boxscores, etc. I LOVE this idea!!!
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Hello, i am very interested in this idea. has there been any movement on this since the last post in 2012.