3D Baseball

n/a

NTSC-U NTSC-J
3D Baseball
System(s): Sega Saturn
Publisher: Crystal Dynamics (US), BMG Japan (Japan)
Developer: Crystal Dynamics
Supporting companies: STATS (statistics), Webtone (music)
Distributor: Mindscape (US)
Licensor: Major League Baseball Players Association
Sound driver: SCSP (1 track)
Peripherals supported: Saturn Backup Memory
Genre: Sports (baseball)
Number of players: 1-2
Release Date RRP Code JP 1997-01-31 ¥5,8005,800 T-18003G US 1996-12-14 T-15906H
Non-Sega versions PlayStation

3D Baseball, called 3D Baseball: The Majors (３Ｄベースボール ザ・メジャー) in Japan, is a 1997 baseball game for the Sega Saturn by Crystal Dynamics. During development it was known as 3D Baseball '95, before missing its 1995 launch date.

As the name suggests, the game renders the players and environment with 3D polygons, with player animations captured using motion capture (including 50 unique batting stances). It features CNN sportscaster Van Earl Wright as the announcer.

Gameplay

The game is an MLB baseball game. It has an MLBPA license, so the players are represented with their names, statistics, and portraits. Rosters are from the 1996 MLB season but player statistics are from the 1995 MLB season, so players who did not play in the 1995 season have no statistics by default. Team names and logos are not licensed, so teams are only identified by locale, and the game includes only four fictional stadiums (Crystal Yards, Burton Park, the Stadium, and Willis Field).

Before a game, players can change the batting line-up and pick a starting pitcher. During gameplay, the default view for pitching and batting is from behind the batter, but the player can cycle the view by pressing . Views include higher or lower views from behind the batter or a view from behind the pitcher. The player can toggle the score and inning and the statistics of the current batter by pressing .

In the game options, players can select automatic or manual fielding (whether the game automatically moves the player's fielders when a ball is hit), toggle errors (whether fielders sometimes make mistakes, to increase the realism of the game), and toggle the spoken commentary.

	Defense
	When pitching, the player can position the pitcher on the mound with or . The pitcher throws the ball with ; while throwing the ball, holding or breaks the ball in either direction, while holding does a change-up (slow pitch) or holding does a fastball. The pitcher can throw to base to pick off a runner by pressing while holding a direction corresponding to a base ( for first, for second, for third, or for home). When fielding, the D-Pad controls the active fielder, who is identified by a yellow circle. The game tries to select the nearest fielder, but the player can manually cycle the controlled fielder with . A green target on the field shows where the ball is going to land. If there is no fielder currently visible, a yellow arrow shows the direction of the nearest fielder. The fielder throws the ball to a base by pressing while holding a direction corresponding to a base or runs to base with the ball by pressing while holding a direction corresponding to a base. If no direction is held, the fielder throws to first. The fielder can jump for the ball with or dive by pressing while holding a direction. When an outfielder is throwing to third or home and the ball is in the air, the player can have the cutoff man catch and hold the ball with or catch and throw it by pressing while holding a direction corresponding to a base (or cancel by pressing again before the cutoff man catches the ball). When automatic fielding is enabled, fielders move on their own, with the player only controlling their throws. Pitchers tire out over the course of the game, impacting their ability to control the ball or throw fastballs. This is indicated by the pitcher shrugging more before each pitch. The player can call a timeout with  START  to call in a relief pitcher. From this menu, the player can also change the infield and outfield positions, with several options available for each, in anticipation of the offensive play, or watch an instant replay of the last play. Infield setups are normal, double play, corners in, in (on the grass), half-way, righty pull, lefty pull, and guard lines, and outfield setups are normal, deep, shallow, shade left, shade right, gap right, gap left, and guard lines.
	Offense
	When hitting, the player can position the batter in the batter's box using the D-Pad. The batter swings by pressing or bunts by holding . While pressing one of these buttons, the player can direct the hit to the left by holding or to the right by holding . After getting a hit, the batter automatically runs to base. Before the pitch, the player can instruct the runners to lead-off by holding . Tapping again extends the lead-off, or tapping shortens the lead-off. The runners can be instructed to run back to base with . After the ball is hit, the player can advance all runners with or have them all return with . While pressing of these buttons, the player can advance or return a specific runner by holding a direction corresponding to a base ( for first, for second, for third, or for home). The player can call a timeout with  START  to substitute a pinch hitter or a pinch runner. From this menu, the player can also watch an instant replay of the last play.

Modes

There are two main modes:

• Exhibition Game: A single game between one player and a computer player, two players, or two computer players (in a demo mode). Players can choose any team (which can be the same team) and any stadium and can optionally use the roster from the Pennant Race mode (including any trades that the player has made). There is a toggle for the Ten Run Rule, which ends the game early if a team is winning by 10 or more runs by the bottom of the fourth inning. Players can enter the General Manager menu before the game to alter player stats or make trades.
• Pennant Race: A season of 26, 81, or 162 games, played by one player. Progress is saved to the Saturn's internal memory so the season can be continued later. The player selects a team and a home stadium. Season games are scheduled on a calendar. There is a General Manager menu that allows the player to alter players stats or make trades.

Teams

In addition to these teams, the American League All-Stars and the National League All-Stars are available to play in exhibition games.

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

Versions

Localised names

Also known as

Language	Localised Name	English Translation
English (US)	3D Baseball	3D Baseball
Japanese	３Ｄベースボール ザ・メジャー	3D Baseball: The Majors

Production credits

• Lead Programmer: Bill Willis, Richard Anderson
• Lead Designer: Sam Player
• Additional Programming: Jonah Stich, Steve Timson, Charles Martin, Dan Su, Doug Ihde, Mark Burton, Sam Dicker, Jeff Kesselman, Sean Vikoren, Robin Heydon, Bob Smith, Dan Rosenfeld
• 3D Art: Chad Greene, Amy Hennig
• Art: Amy Hennig, Cynthia Hamilton, Andy Kaplan, Mike Provenza, Maj Cole, Tenaya Sims, Laura Grieve
• Additional Design: Bill Willis, Mark Burton, Richard Anderson, Andy Trapani, Riley Cooper, Lyle Hall
• Starting Producers: Dave Kirk, Andy Trapani, Lyle Hall
• Relief Producer: Bill "The Thrill" Mitchell
• Closing Producer: Jeff Lee
• Assistant Producer: Alex Ness
• Executive Producer: Jon Horsley
• PCA: Phil Lemarbre, Gene Bodio
• Windlight Studios: Pam Lehn, Ron Pitts, Shannon Gilley, Jeff Raymond
• Storyboard Art: Andy Mitchell
• Original Music Score: Webtone Productions, Greg Weber
• Intro Music: Steve Henifin
• Music Adapted for Sega Saturn™: Brian Coburn
• Audio/Video Group: Mark Miller, Dan Brazelton, Katie Weathers, Burke Trieschmann, Leland Susser
• Intro Video Production: Twenty2Product, Chad Greene
• Sound Effects: Steve Henifin, Brian Coburn, Loudmouth, Inc.
• Statistics Provider: STATS, Inc., Jim Capuano, Stefan Kretschmann, Peter Woelflein
• Player Photographs Provided by: The Upper Deck Company, Steve Babineau
• Motion Capture Data Provided by: Biovision, Ron Marchi, Dwayne Mason, Matt Wynne
• Motion Capture Actors: Paul Chiaffredo, Matt Daily, Jeff Martin, Sam Player, Jarrod Schock, Michael Wynne
• Vice President of Marketing: Scott Steinberg
• Product Marketing Managers: Chip Blundell, Jim Curry
• Public Relations: Steve Groll, Sandra Yee, Jenniffer Bulka
• Test Manager: Alex Ness
• Lead Testers: Doug Leslie, Matt Prescott
• Test: Sako Bezdjian, Eddie Ramirez, Scott Crisostomo, Billy Martorana, Mitch Giampaoli, Casey James Craig, Sean Potter, Craig Locicero, Joe Damon, Billy Mitchell, Chris Bruno, Shun Chang, Jeff Wilkinson
• Voiceover Recorded at: General Television Network, Detroit, Michigan
• Special Thanks: Madeline Canepa, Roy Cooler - MLBPA, Team Titan, Music Annex, Alpha CD
• Game Manual: Hanshaw, Ink., Sam Player

Source:

US manual

Magazine articles

Main article: 3D Baseball/Magazine articles.

Promotional material

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

Print advert in Sega Saturn Magazine (JP) #1997-03: "1997-03 (1997-02-14)" (1997-01-31)

Artwork

• 

  US prototype box art

Physical scans

Sega Retro Average
Publication Score Source

{{{{{icon}}}|L}}
Based on 0 review

Sega Retro Average
Publication Version Score GamePro (US) NTSC-U 65 Game Informer (US) NTSC-U 53 Intelligent Gamer (US) NTSC-U 58 Next Generation (US) 50 Saturn Fan (JP) NTSC-J 52 Saturn Fan (JP) NTSC-J 63 Sega Saturn Magazine (JP) NTSC-J 57 Ultra Game Players (US) NTSC-U 78

	59
Based on 8 reviews

3D Baseball

Saturn, JP
Cover
Spinecard Disc Inlay

Saturn, US
Cover
Manual

Technical information

Main article: 3D Baseball/Technical information.

External links

• Sega of America webpage: Saturn