Virtual Batting
From Sega Retro
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| Virtual Batting | |||||||||
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| System(s): Sega Titan Video[1] | |||||||||
| Publisher: Sunsoft[2][1] | |||||||||
| Developer: Sunsoft[1][3] | |||||||||
| Number of players: 1 | |||||||||
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Virtual Batting (バーチャルバッティング) is a Sega Titan Video arcade baseball batting mid-size attraction developed and manufactured by Sunsoft. Released exclusively to Japanese arcades in 1994, the attraction is a one-person simulated batting cage, and features a large screen opposite the player which displays pitchers and their throws.
Contents
Gameplay
For 300 yen[5], players enter the batting cage, where they are greeted with the on-screen virtual pitcher. The pitcher is then shown pitching a baseball towards players, which results in a real baseball being pitched into the cage. When the baseball is hit, the game’s internal sensors will calculate the force and angle of the ball to predict its trajectory, and display footage of a baseball flying away in that direction.[5]
History
Virtual Batting was the first batting machine of its kind in the industry, featuring live action pitching footage of famous Japanese pitcher Masahiro Nakane throwing pitches in specially-recorded footage in Tokyo, overlaid atop baseball stadium imagery.[5]
Advertised as aiding players in improving their batting skills[4], the game was once planned to be released in the United States. On October 17, 1994, Sun Corporation of America (the American branch of Sunsoft) filed a trademark application for Virtual Batting[4]; however, the company never followed through on the application, leaving it legally abandoned[4], and the game ultimately remained a Japanese exclusive.
Although Virtual Batting was one of the more expensive games of its time, it sold considerably well, ultimately managing to ship 100 units.[5]
Development
Virtual Batting was produced and managed by Kazuaki Goto (now Sunsoft's full-time auditor) and developed by Sunsoft programmer Michio Okasaka, who later departed with other staff in December 1994 to form developer Santaclaus.[3]
Production credits
- Producer: Kazuaki Goto [5]
- Programmer: Michio Okasaka[1]
- Sound Effects: Kengo Sakurai [6]
Magazine articles
- Main article: Virtual Batting/Magazine articles.
Promotional material
Flyer.
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 http://santaxsanta.com/about.html (Wayback Machine: 2000-09-17 20:47)
- ↑ File:VirtualBatting flyer.pdf
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 http://gdri.smspower.org/wiki/index.php/Blog:Santaclaus_is_Coming_to_Town
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 https://alter.com/trademarks/virtual-batting-74586249 (Wayback Machine: 2021-09-18 09:16)
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 https://shmuplations.com/historyofsunsoft/
- ↑ http://www.midiclub.jp/outline/results.html
| Mid-size attractions | |
|---|---|
 |
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