Bases Loaded '96: Double Header

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Bases Loaded '96: Double Header
System(s): Sega Saturn
Publisher: Jaleco USA
Developer: Jaleco
Supporting companies: STATS (statistics)
Licensor: Major League Baseball Players Association
Sound driver: SCSP/CD-DA (2 tracks)
Genre: Sports (baseball)
Number of players: 1-2
Official in-game languages: English
Release Date RRP Code US 1996-03 T-5703H
Non-Sega versions PlayStation

Bases Loaded '96: Double Header is a baseball game for the Sega Saturn, released in the United States in 1996. It the only game in Jaleco's Bases Loaded series to be released on a Sega console. It is a localised version of Moero!! Pro Yakyuu '95: Double Header, featuring Major League Baseball Players Association licensing rather than the Japanese Nippon Professional Baseball.

It appears that during development, the game was known simply as Double Header.

Gameplay

Split view

The game is a baseball simulation. It has an MLBPA license with rosters and player statistics accurate to the 1995 MLB season. There is no MLB license, however, so teams are only identified by their locale and lack names and logos. The game has a selection of eight stadiums (seven based on real-life ballparks). Players are depicted by prerendered 3D models converted to sprites. The fielding view is also made using sprites and tiles, with scaling and rotation effects applied to give a 3D effect.

Before a game, players can toggle automatic fielding or running, errors, designated hitter, and wind. Then players choose a starting pitcher and a batting line-up. In season games, a pitcher must have at least three days of rest before he can start another game.

In single-player games, batting uses a view behind the umpire and pitching uses a view behind the pitcher's mound. In two-player games, players can choose to use the batter's view, the pitcher's view, or a split screen view that shows both simultaneously. During fielding, players can toggle between a high and a low view of the outfield by pressing .

	Defense
	When pitching, the pitcher moves on the mound with or . The pitcher throws the ball by pressing or . Holding or during the throw breaks the ball in either direction. Holding during the wind-up throws a fastball, while holding during the entire pitch throws a sinker (a fastball that drops low). Holding during the wind-up throws a change-up (a slow pitch). When the other team has a runner on base, pressing switches to a field view. In this view, the pitcher can run to a base for a tag-out by holding a direction corresponding to the base ( for first, for second, for third, or for home) and pressing (or press alone to run to first). Or the pitcher can throw the ball to a base by holding a direction corresponding to the base and pressing or (or press or alone to throw to first). After the ball is hit, the game switches to a fielding view. The flight of the ball is shown by a glowing marker on the ground. The D-Pad moves the nearest fielder, who is indicated by a marker, and the fielder can dive for the ball by pressing . The nearest fielder to a base can run to the base by holding a direction corresponding to the base and pressing . The pitcher's stamina is shown by a gauge in the bottom-left of the screen. The player can call a timeout with  START  and substitute a relief pitcher or change the fielding positions by pressing , , or .
	Offense
	When hitting, the batter moves inside the batter's box with and . The batter swings by pressing or bunts by pressing . The batter only swings after a pitch is thrown, and the entire swing motion is always performed (so the player cannot do a checked swing). The batter automatically runs to base after getting a hit. A runner can slide into base by pressing . An instant replay is shown after hitting a home run. To steal a base, hold a direction corresponding to the base to steal ( for first, for second, for third, or for home) and press . The dot signifying the player on base will flash in the miniature diamond in the bottom-right of the screen to indicate that the runner will attempt the steal. All runners can be ordered to advance with or to return to base with . The player can call a timeout with  START  and substitute a pinch hitter or a pinch runner by pressing , , or .

Modes

There are two main modes:

• Regular Season: Plays a season of 13, 26, 52, or 162 games against the computer. If the player's team qualifies, the post-season consists of a best-of-seven playoff series between the division champions, then a best-of-seven playoff series between the league champions. The player selects a team and a home stadium. Progress is saved to the Saturn's internal memory so the season can be continued later. Season games are scheduled on a calendar, and league standings and statistics can be viewed between games.
• Exhibition: Plays a single game with one player against the computer, two players against each other, or two computers against each other. Players can choose any team (which can be the same team) and any stadium.
• Championship Game: Skips the regular season and plays a playoff series of 3, 5, or 7 games against the computer. Progress is saved to the Saturn's internal memory so the season can be continued later.
• Trade: Allows the player to customize any of the teams in the game by trading players. Changes affect every mode (but must be done before starting a season or series) and can be saved to the Saturn's internal memory.

Stadiums

There are eight stadiums. Seven are based on real major league ballparks while one, Jaleco Stadium, is fictional.

Stadium	Based on
Boston, MA	Fenway Park
Chicago S.	Comiskey Park
Toronto, Ontario	SkyDome
St. Louis, MO	Busch Stadium
Los Angeles, CA	Dodger Stadium
Atlanta, GA	Fulton County Stadium
Chicago, IL	Wrigley Field
Jaleco	—

Teams

Team select

The game lacks an MLB license, so teams are identified only by their locale and lack names and logos.

In addition to these teams, there are two all-star teams, the A. League MVP and N. League MVP teams.

When selecting a team, and switch between the two leagues. After choosing both teams, and switch the home and visitor (home bats last) in Exhibition games or home field advantage in Championship games.

League	Division	Team	Based on
A. League	Western	Texas	Texas Rangers
		Seattle	Seattle Mariners
		California	California Angels
		Oakland	Oakland Athletics
	Central	Chicago S.	Chicago White Sox
		Kansas City	Kansas City Royals
		Cleveland	Cleveland Indians
		Minnesota	Minnesota Twins
		Milwaukee	Milwaukee Brewers
	Eastern	Toronto	Toronto Blue Jays
		Bronx, NY	New York Yankees
		Baltimore	Baltimore Orioles
		Detroit	Detroit Tigers
		Boston	Boston Red Sox
N. League	Western	San Francisco	San Francisco Giants
		Los Angeles	Los Angeles Dodgers
		Colorado	Colorado Rockies
		San Diego	San Diego Padres
	Central	St. Louis	St. Louis Cardinals
		Houston	Houston Astros
		Chicago	Chicago Cubs
		Pittsburgh	Pittsburgh Pirates
		Cincinnati	Cincinnati Reds
	Eastern	Atlanta	Atlanta Braves
		Philadelphia	Philadelphia Phillies
		Montreal	Montreal Expos
		Florida	Florida Marlins
		New York	New York Mets

Versions

Comparisons

Main article: Bases Loaded '96: Double Header/Comparisons.

Production credits

Jaleco Ltd., Tokyo Japan

• Producer: Fusato Hosaka
• Game Design & Management: Fusato Hosaka, Sinichiro Suzuki, Kenichiro Kurata
• Programmers: Hitoshi Sekiya, Tetsuhiro Honiyo, Masanori Ishimatsu, Kenji Teravama
• Graphic Artists: Masayosi Simura, Yasuo Kato, Tomoyuki Murayama, Goichi Miyamoto, Minoru Sugiyama, Osamu Kawamura, Yasufumi Suzuki, Kei Fujimoto, Matsumoto Matumoto, Masakazu Hoshi, Akira Miyazaki, Shoujirou Inoue, Tateyama, Takeshi Shimizu
• Sound Engineers: Tatsuya Nishimura, Takahiro Ogata, Hiroshi Nisikawa

Jaleco USA, Wheeling, IL

• Overseas & U.S. Coordination: Bob Bernstein, Greg Hasler
• Product Manager/Documentation: Jarik R. Sikat
• Quality Assurance: Jarik R. Sikat, Adrian Adriano
• Japanese Language Translation: Yukiko Tanaka
• General Manager, Overseas Division: Hiroshi Sawai, Jaleco Ltd.
• Player Statistics and Ratings: STATS, Inc., Ross Schaufelberger, Drew Faust
• Package Design and Layouts: Robert Bartusevicius, The Ad Agency
• Special Thanks: Jean Naling, Roy Cooler and Mike Schechter & Associates, Jerome Fernandez, Mr. Makise, Steven Sleigh, Championship Martial Arts Academy

Source:

US manual

Magazine articles

Main article: Bases Loaded '96: Double Header/Magazine articles.

Promotional material

Print advert in Electronic Gaming Monthly (US) #75: "October 1995" (1995-xx-xx)

Physical scans

Sega Retro Average
Publication Score Source

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Based on 0 review

Sega Retro Average
Publication Version Score Consoles + (FR) 80

	80
Based on 1 review

Bases Loaded '96: Double Header

Saturn, US
Cover
Disc Manual

Technical information

Main article: Bases Loaded '96: Double Header/Technical information.