I would argue that the Japanese version of RBI is the better of the two games. The pitchers just have filthy stuff and it can even be tough to beat the computer at times. The hitters are generally weaker but I think thats good because you have to work for your runs. You cant just make contact and expect a pop up home run (like you can with clowns like Reggie Jackson in the American version). Maybe im just partial to a pitcher dominated game that is more like real baseball. I realize I must be rubbing some die hard american version 'purists' the wrong way but I think everyone should at least try the Japanese version on PC.
We need to find someone that has played the Japanese Cartridge or Arcade and give good details. ROM is similar but still not quite the same.
Welcome GreatScott!
You know, I haven't played Family Stadium in quite some time. But you make some very good points. The one thing I remember when playing Familiy Stadium is that the pitcher is very tough to hit. We'll have to dip into the ROM and see what their ratings are compared to RBI...
12 teams instead of 10 is also very nice...
I'll give it a whirl later on today and post...
Just played my first Family Stadium game in quite some time. Boy it plays real similar to RBI, just about every aspect of gameplay is the same. I was wrong about the CPU though, they suck just as bad in Family Stadium. Here are the differences I noted, feel free to add some more. Want to add a FAQ item for the differences:
12 teams instead of 10
Reduced Power for the hitters
Can't go all the way up in the box
Pitch speed in kilometers per hour
ERAs extend past 3.55
Passwords for 1-player mode
Are there any BOPs in Family Stadium? I don't think I've ever gotten one...
Did GreatScott call Reggie a clown? No bueno.
OK, grabbed the ROM and played about 7 innings.
I didn't notice any major difference in fielding, maybe a very minor improvement, but if so it's hard to tell.
I think the CPU does a little better job pitching then the NES version, but this could be just because I don't play as well using the keyboard. Did seem like they used more curve to their pitches, I do think it is better.
Teams (I used W against N) are much more like Houston then other teams. Later did use G for an inning and they seemed like they had some more Power then those other teams.
Gantry,
The first team you play in the Japanese version is a very bad team. If I remember it is a purple team called N. As you progress in your season it gets a harder because you play tougher teams with better pitchers and hitters. Try playing with one of the shitty teams (the ones in the bottom right corner of the select screen) against some of the better squads (top left teams). The code for the next level is in the paper when you win.
Look im a salty old RBI vet but I still find myself striking out against the better japanese pitchers when they pitch well. I know this sounds insane but the japanese AI has good games and bad in terms of pitching. Some games they throw 78 mph meatballs over the heart of the plate like the American AI. Other times (especially with the better teams) they go for the corners and throw some very nasty stuff thats tough to deal with. And they also throw balls to throw you off. You end up having to work the count with youre shit hitters to ultimately manufacture runs.
One decent game out of the AI is something to cherish in the world of teegan baseball. Try playing a full season of Family Stadium with either N or any other team that has no 30+ homerun hitter. Trust me youll see the difference and start to appreciate the Japanese version.
GreatScott, do you have some passwords to the good teams you could post?
You've inspired me, I'm going to play a season with N...
yeah i do. i played a season with a blue team but i forget the fuckin letter. anyway heres the whole season of codes for just that team. Just tryem out on a couple team till you find a match. I must admit though they are a pretty good team (the clean up guy is a solid slugger) so you might wanna start fresh with a crap squad. anyway heres the codes in order from worst opponents to best (Although the Japan all-stars[last team] pitching sucks for some reason).
6bbe
6ac4
69ca
68d0
67d6
65e8
64e8
63ee
62f4
61fa
im not sure that the codes are universal. they might vary depending upon the last game (but i doubt it). hope i dont waste your time
Thanks, I'll try them next time I play the ROM
I played a few games, and I noticed a difference. I noticed the fielders seemed faster and the pitchers did seem a lot tougher.
GreatScott,
YOU seem like a good guy...welcome to dee-nee. We are happy to have you. By the looks of your recent posts (today) you will be a welcomed addition to the ocmmujity. I don't llike Japanese games.
Quote from: CurtFlood on 05/14/04, 08:49:59 PM
GreatScott,
YOU seem like a good guy...welcome to dee-nee. We are happy to have you. By the looks of your recent posts (today) you will be a welcomed addition to the ocmmujity. I don't llike Japanese games.
ocmmujity?
BTW I have a copy of this: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/078640678X/ref=nosim/japanshopcom/002-3844202-0697622?afsrc=1 (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/078640678X/ref=nosim/japanshopcom/002-3844202-0697622?afsrc=1)
Give me some stats & I will tell you what year it is & maybe scan it in. Easiest way is to look on the O team (there is an O team right?) for a .360 50 HR guy - what are his exact stats?
Mike
From the RBI FAQ (http://dee-nee.com/rbi/faq.shtml#TEAMS):
Family Stadium 87 has 12 teams:
* G - Gaiantsu (Giants)
* M - Mejarigazu (Major Leaguers?)
* L - Raionerizu (Lions?)
* C - Kazu (Cubs?)
* B - Burabozu (Bulls?)
* D - Dorasasozu
* F - Fuzu Fuzu
* S - Suparozu (Supers)
* R - Reruueizu
* W - Hoiruzu
* T - Taitasozu (Titans?)
* N - Namuko Sutazu (Namco Stars)
Are tehse real Japanese teams? I assume they were fake, though I don't know why I did...
some definently are. I know the tokyo giants, seibu lions are. the others im not so sure. I think one of the teams is also like an all time team with the greatest players from all of japanese baseball history
definatly:
G - Gaiantsu (Giants) - Yomiuri Gaints
M - Mejarigazu (Major Leaguers?)
L - Raionerizu (Lions?) Seibu Lions
guesses:
C - Kazu (Cubs?) - Hiroshima Toyo Carp? (should be Red jerseys like Cincy Reds)
B - Burabozu (Bulls?) - Either Buffaloes or Braves
D - Dorasasozu - Chinichi Dragons (BLue unis - like Dodgers)
Let me bust out my japanese dictionary & the rom.
* F - Fuzu Fuzu
* S - Suparozu (Supers)
* R - Reruueizu
* W - Hoiruzu
* T - Taitasozu (Titans?)
* N - Namuko Sutazu (Namco Stars)
Mike
C looks just like the Reds, so it must be the Carp. First few hitters:
1 - Lefty, .302, 2HRs
2 - Lefty, .300, 10HRs
3 - Lefty, .284 16HRs
4 - Lefty, .294 24HRs
5 - Lefty, .290 16HRs
Let me know if you want me to translate the hiragana and katakana...
D has blue and grey unis, like the Dodgers...
Hitter breakdown:
1 - Righty, .262 12HRs
2 - Righty, .262 10 HRs
3 - Lefty, .306 32 HRs
4 - Righty, .350 42 HRs (and I popped out with him)
5 - Righty, .272 32 HRs
Any idea who the "major leaguers" would be? Does it look like they used MLB players, or all-stars of some sort? I can't read any sort of Japanese, so I can't even sound anything out on my own.
Quote from: Gantry on 05/16/04, 05:43:28 PM
D has blue and grey unis, like the Dodgers...
Hitter breakdown:
1 - Righty, .262 12HRs
2 - Righty, .262 10 HRs
3 - Lefty, .306 32 HRs
4 - Righty, .350 42 HRs (and I popped out with him)
5 - Righty, .272 32 HRs
Ok this is weird. The only one I was able to identify is #4 - Greg "Boomer" Wells. 1986 for the Hankyu Braves. But none of the other guys are appearing anywhere...
I'll have to break out the Hiragana and Katakana and take a look. One japanese class when I was 18 and about 5000 hours of anime. I'm pretty good at sounding out Katakana - which usually uses Japanese characters to sound out an English word. Should i stick with the Dragons?
Actually, I'll try a few names of the Major Leaguers. Remember that I could have butchered the pronounciation and it's an authentic team. But maybe they went the Tengen route and went with two All-Star (the Namco Stars being the other one) teams...
Quote from: GreatScott on 05/14/04, 03:46:10 PM
yeah i do. i played a season with a blue team but i forget the fuckin letter. anyway heres the whole season of codes for just that team. Just tryem out on a couple team till you find a match. I must admit though they are a pretty good team (the clean up guy is a solid slugger) so you might wanna start fresh with a crap squad. anyway heres the codes in order from worst opponents to best (Although the Japan all-stars[last team] pitching sucks for some reason).
6bbe
6ac4
69ca
68d0
67d6
65e8
64e8
63ee
62f4
61fa
im not sure that the codes are universal. they might vary depending upon the last game (but i doubt it). hope i dont waste your time
OK, these codes are for team D. I played the team for the 2nd to last code (62f4) and lost 3-2. Now I'm not a great player with the keyboard, but the pitching is light years ahead of the NES pitching. It is very tough to hit, almost as good as batting against a human (At least for the team I played against in the game). Also at work I play without sound, so I can't react as early to slowballs(drop pitches), but I stuck out 15 times, some nasty pitches.
I'm not convinced the fielding is any different, they may be slightly faster. I have to get this cartridge and figure out how to play the FAMICON games on NES.
Quote from: CurtFlood on 05/14/04, 08:49:59 PM
GreatScott,
YOU seem like a good guy...welcome to dee-nee. We are happy to have you. By the looks of your recent posts (today) you will be a welcomed addition to the ocmmujity. I don't llike Japanese games.
Reading through this post and...
One of these things is not like the other, one of these things does not belong
Can you find the sentence that isn't like the others boys and girls?
ultimate, do yourself a favor and buy a Gravis Gamepad Pro for about $20 - will make your PC RBI experience MUCH better...
Looks good, Once I start playing on my PC at home I'll get one, probably once I get a better home PC.
Quote from: Gantry on 05/16/04, 04:28:45 PM
From the RBI FAQ (http://dee-nee.com/rbi/faq.shtml#TEAMS):
Family Stadium 87 has 12 teams:
* G - Gaiantsu (Giants)
* M - Mejarigazu (Major Leaguers?)
* L - Raionerizu (Lions?)
* C - Kazu (Cubs?)
* B - Burabozu (Bulls?)
* D - Dorasasozu
* F - Fuzu Fuzu
* S - Suparozu (Supers)
* R - Reruueizu
* W - Hoiruzu
* T - Taitasozu (Titans?)
* N - Namuko Sutazu (Namco Stars)
Are tehse real Japanese teams? I assume they were fake, though I don't know why I did...
Ganrty,
Who are you trying to fool here? We all know that the G here stands for
[size=132]GODZILLAAAAAAAA!!!![/size]
That offically tops the previous best doctored RBI pic, my Estevezing of Floods pic with the wife...
Well done!
Ultimate 7
Thats exactly what im talking about. It takes a big man to admit that the computer can beat you but in the japanese version it is very possible. The pitches are really tough, sometimes moving in 3 or even four directions in a pitch. That freezes you up.
I remember Gantry saying he was gonna play a season with N. I havent heard a response yet. Perhaps he too was humbled by Japanese pitching.
I know I've struggled at times with the computer in Family Stadium. I mean I almost always won but it was challenging. Granted it was with a keyboard but I still consider myself a very good player. I gotta think even the best RBIer is gonna wiff at least 5 times.
Still going with my quest, finished another game recently. I've won 6 or 7 games now, but deifnitely harder. Some CPU pitchers are just plain filthy, almost impossible to hit. Notice my 15 whiffs...
If a pitcher is too damn filthy, I don't swing unless there are two strikes. The CPU does tend to tire itself out since they throw 80% fastballs and slowballs...
Last game I only won 3-2...
I played a rematch and won 3-0, getting slightly better at hitting them. Like Gantry said you have to be patient and try to tire them out With the first 2 starters on the team I played the curve is almost too good for the pitchers and they will hit batters if you move them way in.
Agreed ultimate, look at the box score for the game I just played:
That's 16 strikeouts and 15 walks. Half of those walks were beanings, which family staium called "Deadballs" they also call a walk a "fourball" two more difference between Japanese and american...
And the computer tagged up on me from third base. Do they do that in the American version?
16 SOs????? Damn, you must be conditioned to play straight pitch! :)
Not sure about the computer tag up, but I did notice in Family Stadium that the computer let me score a run with my man on third and instead went for my other runner (was attempting to take a cheap extra base, going from 2nd to 3rd while the computer threw home at a runner it had 0 chance to get out)....but the computer let the run score and tried to get the other runner out. Seems like the right move and not a big deal, but the RBI we all know and love would never do that.
I'm guessing that the teams are actual Japanese teams.
(Japanese) RBI Baseball:
12 teams: M, G, L, C, B, D, F, S, R, W, T, N
Actual Japanese baseball:
12 teams:
Pacific League: Hawks, Lions, Buffaloes, Marines, Fighters, Blue Wave
Central League: Tigers, Dragons, Giants, Swallows, Carp, Bay Stars
So start matching things up ...
M- Marines
G- Giants
L- Lions
C- Carp
B-
D- Dragons
F- Fighters
S- Swallows
R-
W-
T- Tigers
N-
B, R, W, and N are unused letters.
Hawks, Buffaloes, Blue Wave, Bay Stars are unused teams.
Best guess would put Blue Wave at W. Looking at the rough guess from the Dee-Nee FAQ for N (N - Namuko Sutazu (Namco Stars)), Bay Stars seems a good fit, but I have no idea where "Namuko" came from (The full team name is Yokohama Bay Stars).
No idea on Hawks and Buffaloes (they spelled it that way, not me). Next logical step would be to start comparing in-game rosters with actual rosters, but after an hour of wading through Japanese and poor translation, I gave that up.
Of course, all of this changes if these 12 teams didn't exist when the game was made (copyright 1986,1987 ... using '85 or '86 teams?).
Nightwulf
Good analysis nightwulf, but some of those translations completely baffle me. Unless the katakana isn't straight to english, which is possible but unlikely...
I'll translate a roster tomorrow and marquis can look up the names in his book. I'll use the team with Wells, since I can usually figure out English names from Katakana...
Quote from: Gantry on 05/18/04, 04:46:39 PM
Agreed ultimate, look at the box score for the game I just played:
That's 16 strikeouts and 15 walks. Half of those walks were beanings, which family staium called "Deadballs" they also call a walk a "fourball" two more difference between Japanese and american...
And the computer tagged up on me from third base. Do they do that in the American version?
Yes computer will tag up on American versions. But I also think something happened where the computer tried to take on extra base on me when I threw to the wrong base. I ended up throwing the guy out at home, but it was a situation where in the american version I'm almost certain they would have always stopped at third.
There are wallzies in the Japanese version.
yeah the computer does have some soft spots in terms of wearing itself out. Whats annoying is that no matter how well a cpu pitcher does, they always boost him after 5 innings. I guess they are all crybaby bitches like greg maddux over in japan. But yeah the best way to beat them is to be patient and wait for good pitches when the count is favorable. Im pretty impressed you guys figured that out so quick. They do walk alot of guys and that is their big soft spot.
Anyway im glad ive got family stadium into the mix. I think its a good place for an RBIer to hone his craft and take quality at bats. Ultimately Id like to get some family stadium games going.
I understand that FS doesnt have the charm of american RBI. It doesnt have all the dirtbag players we know and love. It doesnt have teams from two of the best seasons ever. But in terms of controls and gameplay, i would argue it is the better of the two.
I think the real difference is just cultural. If Family Stadium was like an american sequel with teams from lets say 88 89 ... I think this forum would be centered on that hypothetical version of RBI.
In other words, the fact the family stadium is japanese shouldnt bother us. Maybe if someone with knoweldge of japanese and no life anglicized the player games on the family stadium rom the cultural issue might be bridged to some extent. God knows their would be some goofy sounding names that would become immediate fan favorites.
oh and on the front of differences ... Im not sure but I dont think the American RBI game ends after 12 innnings. In Japan and in Family Stadium all baseball games end in a tie after 12. Can someone refresh my memory on this one in reference to the american version. For some wired reason i feel like it does end after 12 in the american version.
As far as I can remember the NES version will go "forever" no ending while tied. The arcade version will end after 9 innings.
There's no doubt that the extra teams alone make Family Stadium a better pick. But the real MLB players we all grew up with are what makes RBI so fun. We know them and have followed them since we were kids. But no BOPs are a huge downside for me as an RBI fan....
QuoteBut in terms of controls and gameplay, i would argue it is the better of the two.
I see virually no differences between the controls and gameplay of FamSta and RBI. Which areas do you consider better?
There is no question Famista gets an advantage for CPU pitching. 12 teams is good, but no BOPs is bad. 12 inning ending in ties would be bad. The passwords are also nice, but not just being able to choose the team to play against is a negative.
Everything else as far as game play seem exactly the same.
i had forgot about the lack of bops. it is a nice feature of the american version. Look im partial to the american version too. It has charms that FS just doesnt. I prefer american RBI to FS.
i was just trying to suggest that family stadium is a great game that deserves more attention. It is definently better if you are just playing the computer. whatever im glad ive generated discussion over the game and got people playing family stadium a bit.
thanks to nightwulf i think that team #1 (M) is made up of at least a few all-stars from 87, check out some of the names: kanseko-canseco, guin-gwynn, raian-ryan, rigeto-righetti, rifukin-ripken.... just to name a few.
My guesses:
Paketo RHB .358 40 = Puckett
Sando RHB .314 18 = Sandberg
Sutorou LHB .290 36
Kaataa RHB .286 32
Makuga RHB .300 61 = McGwire (Maris matches the stats better, but it appears to be current players)
Shiyumito RHB .320 48
Bafui RHB .320 52
Osumisu LHB .310 2 = Ozzie Smith
Kanseko RHB .270 42 = Canseco
Rifukin RHB .312 32 = Ripken
Guin LHB .360 18 = Gwynn
Matsuchin LHB .382 40
Raian = Ryan
Sukotsuto = Sutcliffe?
Baren = Bedrosian
Rigeto = Righetti
That's the best I can come up with so far... if anyone else can contribute, please do.
Ok, so you've all got me interested in "figuring out" the Japanese game.
Just as today, twelve teams existed when the game was made. However, three changed their names.
Pacific League: Hawks, Lions, Buffaloes, Orion (Marines currently), Fighters, Braves (Blue Wave currently)
Central League: Tigers, Dragons, Giants, Swallows, Carp, Whales (Bay Stars currently)
So I went back to the list of team "letters" from the ROM, and started comparing with what little information I could find online regarding Japanese players from the mid 80's.
M-
G- Giants
L- Lions
C- Carp
B- Braves
D- Dragons
F- Fighters
S- Swallows
R- Hawks
W- Whales
T- Tigers
N-
The two teams not listed are Orion and Buffaloes. I couldn't find any relation between players on either team and players listed in the ROM. I believe the other ten teams listed are correct, as players in the ROM do match actual player information I found.
"M" definitely seems to be USA players. There was no team which logically could be represented by "M" at the time, I couldn't find any players from the Buffaloes or Orion which matched the ROM, and hell the similarity is just too glaring (Kanseko? Come on).
"N" is still anybody's guess. I like the idea of "Namco Stars" as suggested in the dee-nee FAQ, but I still haven't been able to find information on any players listed in the team.
Nightwulf
Video game characters, maybe? I once played a game on MAME called "Pipi & Bibi's: Whoopee", which was kind of like Elevator Action, except with pictures of women in various states of undress if you finished a level. Just a thought, since Pipi is one of the players on the N team. A Google search for the game shows that it was made by Toaplan, though, and I don't know whether they have any relationship with the makers of RBI.
Forrest Gump