Baseball 2000 Web Site FAQ Question: The game is too difficult. How can I make it easier to play? Answer: There are two difficulty settings you can adjust, one for batting and one for overall game difficulty. Select from three batting difficulty levels on the Controller Options screen. At the Basic batting level, you only need to time your swing correctly to make contact with the ball. Intermediate batting adds the challenge of aiming your swing and shrinks the contact area of your bat. Advanced batting, gives you an even smaller contact area while aiming your swing. Both intermediate and advanced levels let you move the hitter within the batter's box before you select a pitch. Select from three overall game difficulty levels on the Game Settings Options screen. Rookie level helps new players get the hang of batting by displaying the pitch aim cursor early to help you time your swing. Veteran level is appropriate for average players. The pitch aim cursor appears after the pitch is released, making it harder to aim your swing. All-Star level is for advanced players who want a more challenging game. The aim cursor appears very late during a pitch, forcing you to anticipate pitches and be patient. *************************************************************************** Question: Where can I change game options like difficulty settings? Answer: While setting up a game, click Options from any screen. During a game, press ESC to display the Time Out menu, then click Options. *************************************************************************** Question: How can I practice my skills without playing a real game? Answer: Try our training mode, which is available anytime you play a game. Just set up a game as you normally would, then press CTRL+T when the game starts. The game will stop counting outs until you press CTRL + T again. Enter training mode as the batting team to practice your hitting and baserunning, or as the pitching team to practice pitching and fielding. *************************************************************************** Question: I'm having trouble fielding. Can the computer help me out? Answer: You bet. In fact, you can set the computer to control fielding, throwing, and/or baserunning for your team on the Controller Options screen. *************************************************************************** Question: What's the difference between one-button throwing and directional throwing? Answer: One-button throw: Each base is represented by a button on your controller. Just press that button to throw to that base (see chart). On some game pads the buttons form a baseball diamond, which makes it easier to remember which button corresponds to each base. Base SideWinder game pad 4-button game pad keyboard Home A button 1 D First B button 2 F Second Y button 3 E Third X button 4 S Directional throw: Aim your directional control toward a base, then press button 1 to throw. For example, with a keyboard, hold the right arrow and press the D key (aka button 1) to throw to third base. To throw to second, hold the up arrow and press the D key, and so on. *************************************************************************** Question: How do I throw a pickoff? Answer: Regardless of your throwing option, just double tap the base button to throw a pickoff. For example, double tap button 2 to throw to first. *************************************************************************** Question: I'm trying to get the hang of baserunning. Any tips? * Use button 4 to advance the runner, button 2 to make him retreat. This applies to stealing and running while the ball is in play. * Before the ball is in play, a single button press changes your leadoff while a double button press makes you steal. When the ball is in play, you need only press the button once to advance or retreat. * To control all runners, use button 4 and button 2. To control just one runner, point to the base where you want the runner to go with your directional control, then press button 4 or button 2. * If there is only one runner on the basepaths, it's easier to use the "all runners" commands. *************************************************************************** Question: How do I steal? Answer: To make an individual runner steal, hold button 4 and press the directional control toward the next base twice rapidly. To make all baserunners attempt to steal, press button 4 twice rapidly. *************************************************************************** Question: How do I run the bases when the ball is in play? Answer: To advance all runners, press button 4. To advance a single runner to the next base, aim the directional control toward the next base and press button 4. To retreat, use button 2 instead of button 4. *************************************************************************** Question: I usually don't have time to play a full game. Is there any way to speed things up? Answer: There are a couple of ways to speed things up from the Game Settings Options. Turn on Quick Game mode to quickly get the pitcher and batter ready to go after a pitch or a play. You can also reduce the number of innings in your game. Another quick way to get in on the action is to play Home Run Derby. *************************************************************************** Support Issues Question: I get an error with graphics.dll and the game won't run. What can I do? Answer: On some systems, your desktop color setting must be set to 16 bit in order for the game to run. To check or change your settings, right-click on your Windows desktop and click Properties. Click the Settings tab. Make sure Colors is set to 16 bit. *************************************************************************** Question: The players seem to be stuck. What can I do? Answer: Try pressing CTRL + F3. This will bring up a new batter and in most cases "un-freeze" the game. *************************************************************************** Question: Sometimes during a game, some of the graphics will disappear or look broken. What can I do? Answer: Try pressing CTRL + F5. This will reload the game graphics and correct many issues. *************************************************************************** Question: I enabled my 3D card, but the graphics could be better. Anything I can do? Answer: In many cases, an updated 3D card driver will do the trick. Check your card or chip set manufacturer's web site to see if they offer an update. *************************************************************************** Question: I don't know what kind of 3D card I have. Where can I find this info? Answer: On your Windows desktop, right-click on My Computer and click Properties. Click the Device Manager tab. Your 3D card should be listed under Display Adapters. Right-click on the card name and select Properties to find the manufacturer name and current driver information. *************************************************************************** Question: Once I get the driver, how do I install it? Answer: If your card manufacturer provides instructions or a setup program, that's your best bet. If not, see the Video Card and Driver Information section of the online Player's Guide (or click MS Baseball 2000 Help on the Start menu where the game is installed). *************************************************************************** Question: Do I have to use a 3D card? Answer: In most cases, the game graphics will look a lot better with the assistance of 3D accelerated hardware. However, you can run in "software mode" which uses your computer's available resources to run the game. On the Graphics Options screen, select Software under Video Card. *************************************************************************** Question: Where can I get more information on 3D card issues? Answer: See the Readme file where the game is installed.