Video Game Baseball Alcoholics Anonymous

[mrCPUgeek]

Hello, My Name is Theo and I am a video game baseball alcoholic. It all started when I was a young lad and got my first pack of baseball cards. I then found my self buying a little handhead baseball pin-ball game that I used with my baseball cards to play baseball games. I even kept up with AB/H/HR/etc on pencil and paper. This soon evolved to strat-o-matic baseball and the world was wonderful. But the world of computers would soon enter the scene when I got my first copy of Hard ball(Actually, I had a Sega Genesis baseball game before this but can't remember much about it other than I played it all the time). This evolved to High-Heat, and then a twist to OOTP. During this time I also found myself playing Backyard Baseball (yes, I did, loved that game actually). Then I found MLB The Show and MLB 2K Baseball at about the same time. Played them both side by side.

Now, I am playing MLB The Show 16 and just finished my first season of the year in just over two months of playing time. Yes, I admit, I played every game, even spring training. I also played about 20-30 "warmup" games before starting my franchise. Now, I am in spring training for the second season and have even put together a text fill with each game and who will be pitching and when, along with who will be starting in what position to make sure everyone gets the time they need during spring training. I even find my self up late at night with this game instead of answering to my wife's calls for me to come to bed.

This is when I realized, maybe I have a problem. I know I'm not alone. It's ok to admit it.

[sccavs64]

Re: Video Game Baseball Alcoholics Anonymous

This may have been the best post on an OS forum ever

[Ghost Of The Year]

Re: Video Game Baseball Alcoholics Anonymous

I don't have a problem, I can quit anytime I want to.
I'm under a lot of stress & Video Game Baseball (VGB) relaxes me.
I'm not hurting anybody, Also my other healty habits make up for playing a lot of VGB.
Plus, all the cool kids do it. Besides, I've played for so long, whatever damage is done, is already done. And if I did quit, I'd probably gain weight. Maybe if I cut back just a little, everything will be okay. I also usually only play if I had a tough day at work, or if I'm off the next day. Don't judge me, your'e not my real Dad!

[WhiteBunny]

Re: Video Game Baseball Alcoholics Anonymous

Lol, this thread make my day.

[mrsaito]

Re: Video Game Baseball Alcoholics Anonymous

For many of us older folks Strat-O-Matic was a gateway to the video game versions.

1. I have played when I was by myself.
2. Playing has interfered with relationships.
3. Sometime I play as soon as I wake up.
4. I can play more than I used to be able to in the past.
5. I am uncomfortable when I can't play.
6. I could quit playing any time I want to.

[RLB]

Re: Video Game Baseball Alcoholics Anonymous

Great piece, brings back memories.
I think my first card game was called Batter up Baseball in the mid 60s. That was about the same time I feel in love with the greatest game ever played. I spent most of my time playing little league, Batter up and listening to the greatness of KMOX radio and the St Louis Cardinals. Listening to Jack Buck and Harry Caray bringing the games to life. The greatness of Bob Gibson, Lou Brock, Curt Flood, and Mike Shannon over a little transistor radio every night. The team poster on my wall of my bedroom.
Then sometime in the early 70s along came Sports Illustrated's All time All star baseball where I learned about the skills of Ty Cobb, Babe Ruth, Jimmy Foxx etc. Life was perfect and then I discovered girls......and it got even better. Somewhere along the path I lost my way and didn't play the board game anymore.
I played high school ball, had a 69 Z28 and married a cheerleader. All of those things went away......really wish I had kept my Camaro.
Over the years family, work and just life in general took priority but about 2006 maybe, I discovered the Show and I have gotten my priorities back in order.
I have played the game ever since, replaced the Camaro with a Corvette and now Gibson, Brock, McCarver and Javier have been replaced by Wainwright, Holiday, Molina and Carpenter.
What a good ride it has been.

[mrCPUgeek]

Video Game Baseball Alcoholics Anonymous

I don't have a problem, I can quit anytime I want to.

I'm under a lot of stress & Video Game Baseball (VGB) relaxes me.

I'm not hurting anybody, Also my other healty habits make up for playing a lot of VGB.

Plus, all the cool kids do it. Besides, I've played for so long, whatever damage is done, is already done. And if I did quit, I'd probably gain weight. Maybe if I cut back just a little, everything will be okay. I also usually only play if I had a tough day at work, or if I'm off the next day. Don't judge me, your'e not my real Dad!

It's ok Ghost. You can let it out in here. We have all been there in the denial period. Remember we are your friends. And what is said in Video Baseball Game Alcoholics Anonymous stays here.... :-)


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

[bobzyauncle]

Re: Video Game Baseball Alcoholics Anonymous

Your not alone!!!

[Armor and Sword]

Re: Video Game Baseball Alcoholics Anonymous

My journey to addiction:

1. Home Run, Real Sports Baseball - Atari 2600 - pure ****.

2. Intellivision Baseball - Wow 9 players!!!! This was advanced!

3. NES - Baseball Stars, Bases Loaded 2, RBI 3, Tecmo Baseball - addiction is in full force

4. Sega Genesis - Hardball 3, World Series Baseball (graphics were sick), RBI Baseball, Tony La Russa Baseball (loved this one)

5. Playstation - Triple Play is all I played

6. PS2 - MVP 2005 (nuff said), High Heat 2004

7. PS3 - The Show is born for me


But before console baseball there was Strato-Matic and Statis-Pro (which I actually liked a lot better for solitaire playing). Also a little known gem called Starting Lineup Electronic Talking Baseball from Parker Brothers. I still have it and all the team carts with all the cards. Sweet game that I have played with my son for fun and a break from video games. We also play Strato-matic and Statis-Pro a bunch. Table top baseball games are still fantastic fun.


Yes....I think about my current franchises almost every day.

Yes.....I play at least one game a day on The Show.

Yes....My wife thinks I am insane.

Yes.....I think about moves to make in my lineup when going to bed almost each evening.

Yes.....I am a baseball video game addict.

[physicx]

Re: Video Game Baseball Alcoholics Anonymous

My first taste of video game baseball was Hardball '95 on my parents' computer way back when I was little. I played catcher in real life too and loved it, but was beaned so much when batting in little league that I started to hate baseball. I then took up hockey and played that up to AAA in high school/juniors and suffered 3 concussions. All that brain damage put me out of the game, and I rediscovered baseball through MLB 2k12. Then The Show 14 came. I now play competitive adult league and am back behind the plate every Saturday, and I'm back with a vengeance to make batters look like puppets and smoke people trying to nab 2nd base. Not on my watch I say. Don't need those lost brain cells to hose a guy down who thinks he's Mike Trout. I have the same sentiment in The Show, don't think, just do. Yee Yee

[NDAlum]

Re: Video Game Baseball Alcoholics Anonymous

If I had a nickel for every time I said "One more inning...". I've said that and then two games later I finally turn it off lol

The ability to put the PS4 in rest mode and come back to picking up where you left off is an incredible thing.

[ChubbyD]

Re: Video Game Baseball Alcoholics Anonymous

For me, my gateway game was Statis Pro Baseball - the SI version of Strat-O-Matic. I played the 1985 season I don't know how many times over. I had 5 subject notebook upon 5-subject notebook full of games and stats. Those little cards were completely worn out by the time Baseball Stars came along on the NES.

[Turbojugend]

Re: Video Game Baseball Alcoholics Anonymous

This may have been the best post on an OS forum ever

Easily runner-up to the dude who got pissed at The Show and his wife made him take a nap.

[NYJin2011tm]

Re: Video Game Baseball Alcoholics Anonymous

My journey to addiction:

1. Home Run, Real Sports Baseball - Atari 2600 - pure ****.

2. Intellivision Baseball - Wow 9 players!!!! This was advanced!

3. NES - Baseball Stars, Bases Loaded 2, RBI 3, Tecmo Baseball - addiction is in full force

4. Sega Genesis - Hardball 3, World Series Baseball (graphics were sick), RBI Baseball, Tony La Russa Baseball (loved this one)

5. Playstation - Triple Play is all I played

6. PS2 - MVP 2005 (nuff said), High Heat 2004

7. PS3 - The Show is born for me


But before console baseball there was Strato-Matic and Statis-Pro (which I actually liked a lot better for solitaire playing). Also a little known gem called Starting Lineup Electronic Talking Baseball from Parker Brothers. I still have it and all the team carts with all the cards. Sweet game that I have played with my son for fun and a break from video games. We also play Strato-matic and Statis-Pro a bunch. Table top baseball games are still fantastic fun.


Yes....I think about my current franchises almost every day.

Yes.....I play at least one game a day on The Show.

Yes....My wife thinks I am insane.

Yes.....I think about moves to make in my lineup when going to bed almost each evening.

Yes.....I am a baseball video game addict.

Exactly my story too, played all these. Plus MicroLeague Baseball on the Commodore 64.

[shanev]

Re: Video Game Baseball Alcoholics Anonymous

What a fun thread.

I too started with the Stratomatic card game, played some Atari 2600 & Atari 5200 baseball before seeing an advertisement for Microleague Baseball on the C64. I remember at the time I was so excited that the game had lefties. Kind of sad to think of that now, but it was really exciting back then!!

I was sober for a couple years while playing exclusively on the Xbox before finally buying a PS3 and checking out the Show. Now I find myself thinking up trades and lineups while I'm working during the day again.

Nice to see I'm in good company!!!