~B
Series Baseball 2K1 Faq
Version 1.1
Written By: OSUBrianY
E-Mail: osubriany@hotmail.com
Last Updated: 7/27/2000
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| Table of Contents|
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1. Revision History
2. Modes
3. Character Creation
4. Batting
5. Base Running
6. Pitching
7. Fielding
8 Tips and Strategies
9. Q & A
10. Codes
11. Credits
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1. Revision History
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7/27/2000 - v 1.1 - Added some new Q & A.
7/25/2000 - v 1.0 - Added character creation section and more Q & A. Also a new
section, Tips and Strategies.
7/23/2000 - v .1 - The day after WS2K1 came out. The start of my first faq.
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2. Modes
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Exhibition - Play an exhibition game with the teams and ballpark of your choice
in a night or day game
Quick Start - Have the computer randomly choose two teams and lineups to face
each other
Season - Play through an entire season all the way to the World Series
Playoffs - Skip the season and start your team right in the playoffs to try to
win the World Series
Customize - Create players and edit team rosters
Options - Customize the games options
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3. Character Creation
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Character creation is a feature which sports game fans have come to love. And
in WSB2K1, they left you with a lot of options.
- PLAYER INFO -
Team - The uniform that the player will model (NOTE: he is not actually on this
team, he is just wearing the uniform right now)
First Initial - The initial of the player's first name
Last Name - The player's last name
Uniform Number - Just as it states
Position - Choose the position your player will play. If you feel that you
don't want him too specialized, select IF or OF.
- APPEARANCE -
Build - Select the size of your player
Face - Choose what his face looks like from 20 different options
Mitt - Choose the color of his glove
Bat - Choose from a multitude of bats for your player to use
Batting Glove - Have him hit in style with your choice of color
Shoes - Hitops or lowcut
Wristband - Select from a variety of colors (also an option for long sleeves)
Socks - High socks, low socks, stirrups
Elbow Guard - Select if your player wears one
- Stats -
If you have created a pitcher, please note that your batting stats will be
significantly low. The higher a stat is, the more stat points it takes to raise
it. For example, if my player has an extremely high contact stat and a very low
speed stat, it might cost me the same amount of stat points to raise the
contact up one notch than it would the speed up three.
Throwing - Choose your arm to throw with
Batting - Right, left, switch hitter
Batting Form - Select his stance from a huge list including all stars such as
Mark McGuire and Ken Griffey, Jr.
Contact - How easy it is to hit the ball
Power - How hard you hit the ball
Speed - How fast you run
Defense - How you field the ball
Arm - How fast you throw in the field
- Pitching Stats -
One of the most important stats for a pitcher is his Breaking Pitch stat. This
stat allows your pitcher to improve upon his pitches. The higher your Breaking
Pitch stat, the more points you can give to specific pitches. Keep this in
mind.
Speed - How fast you pitch
Control - How accurate you are
Power - How hard you pitch
Breaking Pitch - How well the ball breaks (very important stat - see above)
Stamina - Your endurance (starting pitchers need this to be fairly high,
closers and relievers can have it low)
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4. Batting
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Analog Pad - Move the batter's aim
R Button - Swing the bat
Batting is unlike any other baseball game to date. WSB 2K1 treats batting as an
art, with much skill involved. When you player steps into the batter's box,
press and hold down the R button. This will get your batter ready to swing.
After the piture pitches the ball, move the aiming circle to where the ball is
going to come in at. The closer you get the circle to where the ball comes in,
the better your chances of getting a hit. As the ball soars in, release the R
button a little before the ball hits the catcher's mit. This will make your
batter swing. He will be aiming wherever you have your circle lined up. Should
you swing late, early, or have perfect timing, the game will tell you. It will
take much practice before you master this art.
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5. Base Running
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Analog Pad or D Pad - Select the destination base
A Button - Advance the base runner
B Button - Return the base runner
If you press the A button by itself, all of the baserunners will advance a base
or try and steal a base. Press the button as you are batting to have them
steal, or when they are running to have them advance. Pressing the A button and
a direction on the analog or D pad will advance only the runner that you
specified. For example, if you hit UP and A, the man on first base will attempt
to advance to second. Pressing the B button works just like the A button, but B
is to go backwards.
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6. Pitching
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Analog Pad - Select the pitch, change aim, and select the pickoff base
A Button - Pitch the ball
B Button - Attempt a pick-off
L Button - Infield shift
R Button - Outfield shift
Before you pitch you will see a circle with various lines coming off in
different directions. Each direction corresponds to a direction on the analog
pad that is a pitch avaliable to that pitcher. The redder a line is, the hotter
(better) a pitcher is with that pitch right now, the bluer the line, the colder
(worse) he is. Try to stay away from pitching the blue pitches if you can help
it.
To pitch the ball you must first select your pitch by pressing the analog in
the direction of the desired pitch. Your piture will nod his head and get ready
for the pitch. Press the A button and your piture will begin to throw.
Immediately after pressing the A button, move your analog to aim where you want
to pitch to aim. For example, if you move the analog a little to the right, he
will aim just like that. If you hold the analog to the far left, he will pitch
a very far left ball. Barely move the analog to make sure you keep it in the
strike zone.
After you have pressed A the first time, a slider bar will appear and a yellow
bar will move up, then down. You must try to hit A when the yellow bar is at
the top of the slider. Make sure you continue to hold the analog until the
pitch has actually hit the catcher's mit.
Using the L and R buttons will shift your fielders into positions that you
desire.
To attempt to pick off a runner. Press B and the base you want to throw to
before you pitch.
Pitching will take skill and time to master. Be patient.
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7. Fielding
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Analog Pad - Select a base (right = 1st, up = 2nd, left = 3rd, down = home)
A Button - Throw the ball
B Button - Run to the base
Fielding is treated unlike any other baseball game as well. Instead of actually
getting to the ball, your fielders automatically do this. This provides for
some amazing cinematic angles and viewpoints. To throw the ball, press the A
button and the direction of the base you want to throw. If you try and throw a
few moments before the fielder gets the ball, when he gets it he will do a
fancy throw that will get there much faster. It is always a good idea to
attempt to do this. So think a few moments ahead on where you want to throw the
ball, and try and get it there as fast as possible.
Here is where I will be keeping the user written strategies. Write in and get
yours posted here!
Lyonheart writes in:
It's easier to hit if you move the analogue stick after you
release the R button to further increase your chances of hitting the ball
well. Those last few inches can make a difference between a base hit or not.
JMillman writes in:
First of all, for batting, the key is to stay with the ball all the way
(keep your eye on the ball). In other words for each at bat go through the
following list:
1. Decide if you think the pitch will be a strike or a ball. You will be
able to do this by getting used to the pitcher. After an inning or so you
will have a good idea where the ball is going.
2. If it is going to be a ball do not swing. You will get fooled sometimes
(just like in real life), but after a while you will get much better at
this. Sometimes it is a good idea to take some strikes as this builds up the
pitch count, and the pitchers seem to tire very realistically.
3. If you think it is going to be a strike then the first thing you must do
is time the swing. This is also something you will get used to based on the
pitcher. After you release the trigger to swing you must, and this is the
key, continue to aim the crosshair. Example: the pitch is coming in at 74
miles an hour and it looks like it is going to be on the inside corner. You
time the swing perfectly and release the trigger. After you release the
trigger the ball breaks to the other side of the plate. Even though you are
already swinging move the crosshair with the ball. This may sound simple,
but until I figured out that you could still aim after you started swinging,
I could not hit with any consistency. After I figured it out I hit the ball
with great consistency. Again I got fooled sometimes, but so do major league
hitters. You may want to follow the ball the whole time with the crosshair
and then just release the trigger with the right timing, and then stay with
the ball.
As far as fielding goes I have had the best luck by hitting the a button
continuously before the fielder gets the ball. In order to have a good throw
you are supposed to time the button push precisely with the ball hitting the
glove. This is difficult, but I have found that if you start pressing the
a-button continuously before the fielder gets the ball, it works most of the
time.
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9. Q & A
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*** NEW *** Q: The box says something about hot and cold streak for batters and
pitchers. Can you tell me more about this?
A: Honestly, I don't really know what the box is talking about. It
may be talking about the hot and cold bars when you select a pitch.
When you choose a pitch the circle will have red, yellow, or blue
bars. The red represents a pitch that he is hot with. Yellow, he
is warm. And blue he is cold. As for batters, I really don't know.
This may be another ommision on Sega's part. But I am unsure.
*** NEW *** Q: What do the percents mean in the handicap?
A: The higher the percent, the easier it will be for you. For
example, if you put your pitching percent higher, you will have
a much easier time preventing hits, homeruns, etc. Say you lower
your batting percent, you will have a harder time of getting hits
and homeruns.
*** NEW *** Q: Can you e-mail me the codes when they come out?
A: Yes. Simply e-mail me your e-mail address and tell me you'd like
me to e-mail you the codes. And when and if they come out, I will
e-mail you them. I have a list of e-mails already. Feel free to tell
me to add yours.
Q: There's no running to get to the ball? Doesn't that take away from the game?
A: Surprisingly, no. It actually adds to the game. You now get incredibly
cinematic views and great strategic gameplay. It will seem skeptical at first.
But after playing the game for mearly a few innings, you will realize just how
great everything works out.
Q: This pitching stuff is too hard. Isn't there an easy way to do this?
A: If you give the pitching some time. You will grow to love it, and become
very skilled at it. Keep at it.
Q: Sometimes my fielders seem stupid. Especially in the outfield. What's up
with that?
A: They aren't really stupid, they are attempting to outsmart the ball. What I
mean by this is if they see a ball that is a sure hit, they may not even
attempt to get it for a second because they know no matter what it will be a
hit. And then they will try to run and cut it off. It may look like they are
complete idiots at times, but they really aren't.
Q: These graphics are great, but what's up with the crowd graphics and sounds?
A: Well, the crowd graphics are a bit sub-par yes, but is your focus really the
crowd? Or the simply amazing on the field graphics? As for the sound, yes, the
boos are a bit.. umm... different. ;-)
Q: Is Pedro Martinez really a god in this game?
A: Well, if you look at his pre-game high-points when he's starting, it will
look that way yes. But in actuality, yes, he's a good piture, but no, he's not
a god. Maybe more like an underling. :-)
Q: Why was this game released so late into the season?
A: That, I can't quite answer. I know numerous delays were part of it. SEGA
wanted this game the best it could be before releasing it.
Q: Can I send you my strategies and will you post them in your FAQ?
A: Absolutely. I am actually thinking of creating a section where people can
send in their strategies. And yes, you would get full credit.
Q: What is the best way to get a strikeout?
A: Make sure you are mixing pitches around. For example, use some curves and
sliders, but occasionally throw in a fast ball. This is step one. The key is to
aim and attempt to get as close as possible to the corners. Oftentimes the
computer will not even attempt to swing. Eventually you will become masterful
with this skill and will be an ace pitcher.
Q: Those replays are annoying, how can I turn them off?
A: Simple. When you are at bat, hit START. Simply go to REPLAYS and hit the
analog right or left.
Q: I haven't been able to bean anyone yet, is it possible in this game?
A: Yes, it's possible, but somewhat difficult to pull off. Just keep at it and
you will hit that darn batter eventually!
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10. Codes
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There are no known codes as of yet. When they come out, I will post them. And
knowing SEGA Sports games, there will be plenty.
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11. Credits
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SEGA Sports for continuing to make sports games that blow away all predecesors
and create new standards.
My roomates at college for playing a lot of sports games. Too bad they never
want to play real baseball with me. BAH!
Gamefaqs.com for creating an incredible website.
----- Be sure to e-mail me your strategies and comments at:
osubriany@hotmail.com
