RBI Baseball '95

From Sega Retro

For the unreleased Sega Mega Drive game, see R.B.I. Baseball '95.

n/a

RBIBaseball95 Title.png

RBI Baseball '95
System(s): Sega 32X
Publisher: Time Warner Interactive
Developer:
Licensor: Atari Games, Major League Baseball Players Association
Sound driver: GEMS
Genre: Sports (baseball)

















Number of players: 1-2
Release Date RRP Code
Sega 32X
US
$59.9559.95[1] T-4803F
ESRB: Kids to Adults

RBI Baseball '95 is a baseball game developed and published by Time Warner Interactive exclusively for the Sega 32X in North America in 1995. It is the last game in the RBI Baseball series to be released on a Sega platform, following R.B.I. Baseball '94.

The history of RBI Baseball '95 history is curious as it was originally announced at CES 1995 for the Sega Mega-CD as well as the 32X, priced in the US at $49.95 and $54.95 respectively[2]. For some reason, the game instead moved onto a cartridge.

Gameplay

The game is a Major League Baseball game including the 28 teams and stadiums of the 1994 MLB season. The game carries a Major League Baseball Players Association license, so it contains all of the Major League Baseball players but not the team names or logos.

Unlike previous entries in the RBI Baseball, which used a high view from behind the umpire, RBI Baseball '95 has the player delivering pitches and hitting the ball from the catcher's point of view. Many of the sprites have been redrawn to take advantage of the increased color depth of the 32X. Commentary, provided by sportscaster Jack Buck, has been carried over from the previous game.

RBI Baseball 95, Defense, Pitching.png

RBI Baseball 95, Defense, Fielding.png

  • RBI Baseball 95, Defense, Pitching.png

  • RBI Baseball 95, Defense, Fielding.png

Defense
The player can position the pitcher on the mound with Left or Right. Regular speed pitches are thrown by pressing B. Holding Up and pressing A (but releasing Up before the pitch is thrown) throws a slow pitch. Releasing Up early throws a sinker for a ground ball. Holding Down and pressing A (but releasing Down before the pitch is thrown) throws a fastball. After the pitch is thrown, the player can put movement on the ball by pressing any direction on the D-Pad.

The pitcher can throw a spitball by holding C and pressing A. A spitball drops before it crosses the plate, so it is much more difficult for the batter to hit. However, it is an illegal pitch, so if the batter does not swing at it, the pitcher receives a warning. A pitcher is thrown out of the game if he is caught two times throwing spitballs.

The player can throw the ball to any base for a pick-off by holding A while pressing a direction on the D-Pad for the desired base (Right for first, Up for second, or Left for third, or Down for home).

The pitcher can throw a pitchout by moving to the edge of the mound with Left or Right and continuing to hold that direction while holding C and pressing A. A pitchout is thrown as fast as a speed pitch but only uses the stamina of a normal pitch. The purpose of the pitchout is to throw the ball such that it is unhittable but easy for the catcher to retrieve, in order to thwart an attempt at a base steal. The catcher will automatically throw the ball at the base that the lead runner is trying to steal.

A meter shows the pitcher's stamina. Pitchers throw balls slower and have less control over their pitches when their stamina is low. Starting pitchers have more stamina than relievers. Fastballs and sinkers use more stamina than normal pitches.

When fielding, the player can move the fielder nearest to the ball with the D-Pad. An X appears on the field to show where the ball will land. The nearest fielder will automatically move to intercept the ball, though this behavior can be overridden by holding A. 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.

RBI Baseball 95, Offense, Hitting.png

RBI Baseball 95, Offense, Running.png

  • RBI Baseball 95, Offense, Hitting.png

  • RBI Baseball 95, 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 swing high with Up+A to hit fly balls or low with Down+A to hit grounders. 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 a baserunner take an extra lead 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). 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 in the same way.

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

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 series), Play Division (play against every team in the 1994 American League, 1994 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 situations, such as being down four points at the top of the ninth inning but having bases loaded, needing to make a comeback from being down nine points in the fourth inning, or entering a tie game at the bottom of the ninth inning with one runner on base. After choosing a situation, players choose a relief pitcher and finish the game with the selected premise.
  • 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 28 ballparks in the game.
  • 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.

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.

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), or toggle errors (whether fielders occasionally make errors such as dropping the ball).

Teams

Current

The game includes all 28 teams from the 1994 MLB season, with their stadiums (following the three-division structure, which had premiered that year).

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 1986 (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 Chicago Chicago White Sox Boston Boston Red Sox
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

All-Star

Finally, the game includes All-Star teams for each league going back to 1990.

League Team
American 1994 American League All-Stars
1993 American League All-Stars
1992 American League All-Stars
1991 American League All-Stars
1990 American League All-Stars
National 1994 National League All-Stars
1993 National League All-Stars
1992 National League All-Stars
1991 National League All-Stars
1990 National League All-Stars

Production credits

  • Project Leader: Richard Seaborne
  • Programming: Mike Alexander, Richard Seaborne, Doug Coward, Charles Tolman, Doug Nonast, May Yam
  • Design: Michael Klug, Jules Marino
  • Sound and Music: Doug Brandon, Earl Vickers
  • Director: Bill Hindorff
  • Graphics and Animation: Jennifer Case, Lindsay Dawson, Valerie Couderc, Doug Gray, Jose Erazo, Jules Marino
  • Voices: Jack Buck, Walter Fields
  • Special Thanks: John Arvay, Steve Calfee, Rob Boone, Chris Ebert, Mike Kruse, Our Video Lab
Source:
In-game credits
RBI Baseball 95 32X credits.pdf
[3]

  • Product Development: Bill Hindorff
  • Manual Editor: Jon Mongelluzzo
Source:
US manual
Rbibaseball95 32x us manual.pdf
[4]


Magazine articles

Main article: RBI Baseball '95/Magazine articles.

Promotional material

Logo-pdf.svg
Print advert in (US) #77: "June 1995" (1995-0x-xx)
also published in:
  • (US) #78: "July 1995" (1995-0x-xx)[5]
  • (US) #0807: "Vol. 8 No. 7 July 1995" (1995-0x-xx)[6]
  • (US) #79: "August 1995" (1995-0x-xx)[7]
Logo-pdf.svg

Physical scans

Sega Retro Average 
Publication Score Source
{{{{{icon}}}|L}} Division by zero.
Based on
0 review
Sega Retro Average 
Publication Version Score
(RU)
50
[8]
(US) NTSC-U
70
[9]
(US) NTSC-U
77
[10]
(US) NTSC-U
85
[1]
(US) NTSC-U
25
[11]
(US) NTSC-U
60
[12]
Sega 32X
61
Based on
6 reviews

RBI Baseball '95

32X, US
RBIBB 32X US Box Back.jpgRBIBB 32X US Box Front.jpg
Cover
RBIBB 32X US cart.jpg
Cart
Rbibaseball95 32x us manual.pdf
Manual

Technical information

Main article: RBI Baseball '95/Technical information.

References


RBI Baseball '95

RBIBaseball95 Title.png

Main page | Hidden content | Development | Magazine articles | Reception | Region coding | Technical information


No results



R.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)