R.B.I. Baseball '94

From Sega Retro

n/a

  • Sega Mega Drive
    NTSC-U
  • Sega Mega Drive
    PAL
  • Game Gear

RBIBaseball94 title.png

RBIBaseball94 MD EU TitleScreen.png

RBIBaseball94 GG title.png

R.B.I. Baseball '94
System(s): Sega Mega Drive, Sega Game Gear
Publisher:
Sega Mega Drive
Tengen
Sega Mega Drive
Infocomm (KR)
Sega Game Gear
Time Warner Interactive
Developer:
Supporting companies:
Distributor:
Sega Mega Drive
Sega-Ozisoft (AU)
Sega Mega Drive
HIC Infocomm (KR)
Licensor: Atari Games, Major League Baseball Players Association
Sound driver: GEMS
Peripherals supported:
Sega Game Gear
Gear-to-Gear Cable
Genre: Sports (baseball)

















Number of players: 1-2
Release Date RRP Code
Sega Mega Drive
US
$64.9564.95[3] T-48296
301073-0150
Videogame Rating Council: GA
Sega Mega Drive
EU
T-48296-50
Sega Mega Drive
UK
£39.9539.95[4] T-48296-50
Sega Mega Drive
AU
FRBI01 SMC
OFLC: G
Sega Mega Drive
KR
Sega Game Gear
US
T-48168
Videogame Rating Council: GA

R.B.I. Baseball '94 is the sequel to R.B.I. Baseball '93. It was released for the Sega Mega Drive and Sega Game Gear. It is the final entry of the series for the Mega Drive and the only entry for the Game Gear.

In Europe, a run of cartridges was erroneously printed with the label upside down.

Gameplay

Mega Drive version

The game is a baseball game featuring the 26 teams and stadiums of the 1993 MLB season, including the two expansion teams that debuted in that season (the Colorado Rockies and the Florida Marlins, which now have full rosters). It has a Major League Baseball Players Association license, so it uses real player names, but it does not have a Major League Baseball license, so teams are identified only by locale and not by name. Gameplay is faster than the previous entries, the animation of pitchers, batters, and runners has been rotoscoped and uses more frames, players have baseball card-style portraits, the defense can change the positions of fielders or double switch during the game, pitchers have visible stamina gauges, the music has been redone, the play-by-play commentary has been redone by sportscaster Jack Buck, there are new full season modes, and there is a new "Pickles" mode (for practicing fielding and baserunning).

RBI Baseball 94 MD, Defense, Pitching.png

RBI Baseball 94 MD, Defense, Fielding.png

  • RBI Baseball 94 MD, Defense, Pitching.png

  • RBI Baseball 94 MD, Defense, Fielding.png

Defense
The player can position the pitcher on the mound with Left or Right. The pitcher throws the ball by pressing A. During the pitch, holding Left or Right curves the ball, holding Up throws a knuckleball or a sinkerball, or holding Down throws a fastball.

When the other team has a runner on base, pressing B switches to a field view. In this view, the pitcher can throw the ball to a base by pressing A and holding a direction corresponding to the base (Right for first, Up for second, Left for third, or Down for home) or pressing A alone to throw to first. Or the pitcher can run to a base for a tag-out by pressing B and holding a direction corresponding to the base or pressing B alone to run to first.

Pitchers lose stamina over the course of the game, causing them to throw balls slower and have less control over their pitches. Starting pitchers have more stamina than relievers. Fastballs and sinkers use more stamina than normal pitches.

When fielding, the player can move all fielders together using the D-Pad. An X appears on the field to show where the ball will land. The fielder can dive to catch the ball by pressing B while holding in the direction of the ball or jump with C. After catching the ball, it can be thrown to base by pressing A while holding a direction for the desired base or run to base by pressing B while holding a direction for the desired base. If no base is specified, the ball is thrown to the cut-off man.

The player can call a time-out by pressing  START . This brings up a menu where the player can substitute a relief pitcher, substitute a fielder, switch defensive positions (between normal, in for ground balls, and out for heavy hitters), double switch (insert a new pitcher and fielder in order to delay having a pitcher bat, only available when the home team is National League), view the scoreboard, or watch a replay of the last play. Players who are substituted into fielding positions that they do not typically play are more likely to make errors (when errors are enabled).

RBI Baseball 94 MD, Offense, Hitting.png

RBI Baseball 94 MD, Offense, Running.png

  • RBI Baseball 94 MD, Offense, Hitting.png

  • RBI Baseball 94 MD, Offense, Running.png

Offense
The player can adjust batter's stance with Left or Right. The batter swings at the ball by holding A, with the batter doing a checked swing if the button is released before the bat crosses the plate. The batter can hold a bunt by pressing C (or return the bat to the ready position by pressing C again).

Before the pitcher starts his wind-up, the player can have the baserunners lead-off by pressing B. The player can cancel an extra lead by pressing B with a direction for the return base. When the pitcher is beginning his wind-up, the player can steal a base by pressing B while holding a direction on the D-Pad for the destination base (Right for first, Up for second, Left for third, or Down for home).

After hitting the ball, baserunners can advance to the next base by pressing B while holding a direction for destination base or return to a base by pressing C while holding a direction for the previous base.

The player can call a time-out by pressing  START . This brings up a menu where the player can substitute a batter or runner, switch the batter's position (for switch hitters), double switch (insert a new pitcher and fielder in order to delay having a pitcher bat, only available when the home team is National League), view the scoreboard, or watch a replay of the last play.

Modes

RBI Baseball 94 MD, Home Run Derby.png

Home Run Derby

RBI Baseball 94 MD, Game Breakers.png

Game Breakers

RBI Baseball 94 MD, Defense Practice.png

Defense Practice

RBI Baseball 94 MD, Pickles.png

Pickles

The game has the following modes:

  • Play Ball: A nine-inning exhibition game between any two teams from either league (which can be the same team) or a series. The selectable series are Best of Seven (play any team in a best of seven playoff series), Play Division (play against every team in the 1993 American League, 1993 National League, American division winners, or National division winners), Play All Teams (play against every team in the game), 80 Game Season (a truncated season), or 162 Game Season (a full season). Series games use a password system for continuing.
  • Home Run Derby: Players choose a team, a batter, and a pitch speed (60, 70, 80, 90, or 100). Each player gets 20 pitches and tries to hit as many home runs as possible. In two-player games, the stadium used belongs to player one's team. Awards are given for 3 (bronze), 5 (silver), 8 (gold), or 11 or more (grand prize) runs.
  • Game Breakers: Players choose a team. Rather than starting a new game, players choose from a list of 17 situations, such as starting the eight inning down nine points, starting the ninth inning with neither team having any points, or being in the bottom of the eighth inning ahead one point but with the opposing team having bases loaded and no outs. After choosing a situation, players choose a relief pitcher and finish the game with the selected premise. A password is given after each completed game.
  • Create Teams: Players can create custom teams with any players, which can be used in any of the other modes.
  • Stadium Tour: An overhead view of any of the 30 ballparks in the game (one for every team, plus an American League and a National League stadium).
  • View Roster: View all of the team rosters and statistics for any player.
  • Defense Practice: Practice playing defense in 20 different infield and outfield defensive situations. A computer-controlled batter hits a ball off a tee, and the player controls the fielders.
  • Pickles: Practice fielding and baserunning in "pickles," situations where a baserunner is between two bases. Player one controls a fielder and must catch the ball and try to tag out the runner, while player two controls the baserunner and must try to make it safely to base. After 10 situations, the sides switch for another 10 situations.
  • View Portraits: View the portraits for every player in the game.

Games can be played as Human vs. Comp (single-player, where the player is the visiting team and bats first), Comp vs. Human (single-player, where the player is the home team and bats last), Human vs. Human (two-player game, where player two as the home team), or Comp vs. Comp (two computer-controlled teams play each other, which can be overridden by either control pad to take over play or make substitutions). Before each game, players choose any team and set the batting line-up and choose starting and relief pitchers. A pitcher can only start every other game in a series.

In the options, players can choose from three difficulty levels for computer-controlled opponents (Easy, Medium, and Hard), set the defense mode (computer-assisted for partial assistance or fully automated or manual fielding), toggle errors (whether fielders occasionally make errors such as dropping the ball), or toggle "crazyball" ("crazy" sound effects replace the normal ones).

Teams

Current

The game includes all 28 teams from the 1993 MLB season, with their stadiums. Teams are divided into three divisions, though this would not happen until the next season in real life.

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

In addition, the game includes historical rosters of every division-winning team going back to 1985 (following the previous two-division structure).

League Year West East
Team Based on Team Based on
American 1993 Chicago Chicago White Sox Toronto Toronto Blue Jays
1992 Oakland Oakland Athletics Toronto Toronto Blue Jays
1991 Minnesota Minnesota Twins Toronto Toronto Blue Jays
1990 Oakland Oakland Athletics Boston Boston Red Sox
1989 Oakland Oakland Athletics Toronto Toronto Blue Jays
1988 Oakland Oakland Athletics Boston Boston Red Sox
1987 Minnesota Minnesota Twins Detroit Detroit Tigers
1986 California California Angels Boston Boston Red Sox
1985 Kansas City Kansas City Royals Toronto Toronto Blue Jays
National 1993 Atlanta Atlanta Braves Philadelphia Philadelphia Phillies
1992 Atlanta Atlanta Braves Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Pirates
1991 Atlanta Atlanta Braves Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Pirates
1990 Cincinnati Cincinnati Reds Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Pirates
1989 San Francisco San Francisco Giants Chicago Chicago Cubs
1988 Los Angeles Los Angeles Dodgers New York New York Mets
1987 San Francisco San Francisco Giants St. Louis St. Louis Cardinals
1986 Houston Houston Astros New York New York Mets
1985 Los Angeles Los Angeles Dodgers St. Louis St. Louis Cardinals
All-Star

Finally, the game includes All-Star teams for each league going back to 1989.

League Team
American 1993 American League All-Stars
1992 American League All-Stars
1991 American League All-Stars
1990 American League All-Stars
1989 American League All-Stars
National 1993 National League All-Stars
1992 National League All-Stars
1991 National League All-Stars
1990 National League All-Stars
1989 National League All-Stars

Production credits

Mega Drive version

  • Project Leader: Richard Seaborne
  • Programming: Richard Seaborne, May Yam, Doug Coward, Michael Alexander
  • Design: Michael Klug
  • Sound and Music: Doug Brandon, Earl Vickers
  • Graphics and Animation: Fred Andrews, Jose Erazo, Doug Gray, Manuel Laguatan, Jules Marino
  • Special Thanks: John Arvay, Bill Hindorff, Rob Boone, Dave Portera, Steve Calfee, Rob Rowe
Source:
In-game credits
R.B.I. Baseball '94 MD credits.pdf
[7]

Game Gear version

  • Produced by: Mac Senour, Time Warner Interactive
  • Developed by: Al Baker and Associates
  • Design and Direction: Tom Fessler
  • Programmed by: Al Baker
  • Music and SFX: Matt Scott
  • Artwork: Tom Fessler, Rick Incrocci, Dave Pascuito
  • Testing: Tom Christiansen, Nathan Baker, Raoul Faulkner
Source:
In-game credits
R.B.I. Baseball '94 GG credits.pdf
[8]


Magazine articles

Main article: R.B.I. Baseball '94/Magazine articles.

Promotional material

Logo-pdf.svg
Mega Drive print advert in (US) #57: "April 1994" (1994-xx-xx)
also published in:Expand
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Logo-pdf.svg
Mega Drive print advert in (US) #0705: "Vol. 7 No. 5 May 1994" (1994-0x-xx)
also published in:Expand
Logo-pdf.svg
Logo-pdf.svg
Game Gear print advert in (US) #0802: "Vol. 8 No. 2 February 1995" (1995-0x-xx)
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Physical scans

Mega Drive version

ExpandSega Retro Average 
Publication Score Source
{{{{{icon}}}|L}} Division by zero.
Based on
0 review
ExpandSega Retro Average 
Publication Version Score
(RU)
50
[12]
(FR) PAL
87
[13]
(UK)
70
[14]
(US) NTSC-U
83
[15]
(US) NTSC-U
62
[16]
(US) NTSC-U
72
[3]
(US) NTSC-U
90
[17]
(UK) PAL
65
[18]
(UK) PAL
59
[19]
(US) NTSC-U
69
[20]
(DE) PAL
62
[21]
(UK) PAL
80
[22]
(DE) PAL
73
[23]
(UK) PAL
77
[24]
(UK)
88
[4]
(DE)
75
[25]
(DE)
81
[26]
(UK) PAL
73
[27]
(UK) PAL
85
[28]
(UK)
80
[29]
(SE)
71
[30]
(UK) PAL
84
[31]
(ES)
87
[32]
(RU)
61
[33]
(DE) PAL
64
[34]
Sega Mega Drive
74
Based on
25 reviews

R.B.I. Baseball '94

Mega Drive, US
RBIBaseball94 MD US Box.jpg
Cover
RBIBaseball94 MD US Cart.jpg
Cart
RBI Baseball 94 MD US Manual.pdf
Manual
Mega Drive, EU
RBIBaseball94 MD EU Box.jpg
Cover
RBIBaseball94 MD EU Cart.jpg
Cart
RBI Baseball 94 MD EU Manual.jpg
Manual
Mega Drive, EU (Inverted cart label)
RBIBaseball94 MD EU Box.jpg
Cover
RBIBaseball94 MD EU inverted cart.jpg
Cart
RBI Baseball 94 MD EU Manual.jpg
Manual
Mega Drive, AU
RBIBaseball94 MD AU cover.jpg
Cover
RBI Baseball 94 MD AU Cart.jpg
Cart
RBI Baseball 94 MD AU Manual.jpg
Manual
Mega Drive, KR
RBIBaseball94 MD KR cover.jpg
Cover
RBIBaseball94 MD KR cart.jpg
Cart

Game Gear version

ExpandSega Retro Average 
Publication Score Source
{{{{{icon}}}|L}} Division by zero.
Based on
0 review
ExpandSega Retro Average 
Publication Version Score
(US) NTSC-U
72
[35]
(US) NTSC-U
61
[36]
Sega Game Gear
67
Based on
2 reviews

R.B.I. Baseball '94

Game Gear, US
RBIBaseball94 GG US Box Back.jpgNospine.pngRBIBaseball94 GG US Box Front.jpg
Cover
RBIBaseball94 GG US Cart.jpg
Cart

Technical information

Main article: R.B.I. Baseball '94/Technical information.

References

  1. https://bytesizesound.com/productcredits.html (Wayback Machine: 2023-12-06 18:00)
  2. Jump up to: 2.0 2.1 GamePro, "April 1994" (US; 1994-xx-xx), page 129
  3. Jump up to: 3.0 3.1 3.2 Game Players, "Vol. 7 No. 4 April 1994" (US; 1994-0x-xx), page 80
  4. Jump up to: 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 Mean Machines Sega, "June 1994" (UK; 1994-04-30), page 68
  5. Computer Trade Weekly, "" (UK; 1994-06-06), page 17
  6. Electronic Gaming Monthly, "October 1994" (US; 1994-xx-xx), page 164
  7. File:R.B.I. Baseball '94 MD credits.pdf
  8. File:R.B.I. Baseball '94 GG credits.pdf
  9. VideoGames, "July 1994" (US; 1994-0x-xx), page 95
  10. Electronic Gaming Monthly, "May 1994" (US; 1994-xx-xx), page 8
  11. Electronic Gaming Monthly, "June 1994" (US; 1994-xx-xx), page 84
  12. 1700 igr dlya Sega, "" (RU; 2001-xx-xx), page 185
  13. Consoles +, "Juin 1994" (FR; 1994-0x-xx), page 130
  14. Computer & Video Games, "July 1994" (UK; 1994-06-15), page 98
  15. Electronic Games (1992-1995), "July 1994" (US; 1994-0x-xx), page 75
  16. Electronic Gaming Monthly, "June 1994" (US; 1994-xx-xx), page 38
  17. GamePro, "May 1994" (US; 1994-xx-xx), page 109
  18. GamesMaster, "July 1994" (UK; 1994-06-30), page 66
  19. Games World: The Magazine, "July 1994" (UK; 1994-05-26), page 16
  20. Game Informer, "May/June 1994" (US; 1994-0x-xx), page 42
  21. MAN!AC, "07/94" (DE; 1994-06-08), page 71
  22. Mega, "July 1994" (UK; 1994-06-16), page 37
  23. Mega Fun, "07/94" (DE; 1994-06-22), page 53
  24. MegaTech, "July 1994" (UK; 1994-06-16), page 50
  25. Play Time, "7/94" (DE; 1994-06-08), page 136
  26. Sega Magazin, "Juni 1994" (DE; 1994-05-11), page 68
  27. Sega Magazine, "June 1994" (UK; 1994-05-15), page 86
  28. Sega Power, "July 1994" (UK; 1994-05-05), page 56
  29. Sega Pro, "June 1994" (UK; 1994-05-24), page 58
  30. Sega Force, "6/94" (SE; 1994-09-14), page 16
  31. Sonic the Comic, "August 19th 1994" (UK; 1994-08-06), page 10
  32. Todo Sega, "Agosto 1994" (ES; 1994-0x-xx), page 38
  33. Tricks 16 bit, "Tricks Sega Gold 800 igr" (RU; 1998-03-20), page 207
  34. Video Games, "8/94" (DE; 1994-07-27), page 90
  35. Game Players, "Vol. 7 No. 12 December 1994" (US; 1994-1x-xx), page 178
  36. Game Informer, "January 1995" (US; 199x-xx-xx), page 44


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CollapseR.B.I. Baseball games for Sega systems
R.B.I. Baseball 3 (1991) | R.B.I. Baseball 4 (1992) | R.B.I. Baseball '93 (1993) | R.B.I. Baseball '94 (1994) | R.B.I. Baseball '95 (unreleased) | RBI Baseball '95 (1995)