Strat-O-Matic Throws A Flat Pass!!
Review of Version 3.0 Computer Football
Will Kolodzie
Introduction
Since the release of its first baseball game in
1961, the company has grown into the largest sports board-game
company in the world. Thousands of people have enjoyed Strat
throughout the years, people of all ages, occupations, and
livelihoods.
Strat-O-Matic has produced a
football board game since 1968. Affectionately known as "Hal's
baby," after company owner and founder Hal Richman, the football
game generates results that closely reflect the quality of play
for any given player during any given season. As a
statistical-based sports product, it eschews the graphics and
arcade elements found in other football products and instead
focuses on accuracy and realism of the game itself.
Manual, Help
Files
The game comes as a CD, the current roster disk,
and a manual. The help file documentation with the computer game
provides a superb, in-depth analysis of the game and its
components. The information presented in the manual is clear,
concise, and well written, facilitating help or assistance on a
variety of topics. While many people dive into the game,
forgetting the manual, Strat-O-Matic football requires some
degree of familiarity with its inner workings. Spending several
hours with the manual and help documentation brings forth a
higher level of enjoyment with the product. The CD also
includes a copy of the game rules, a necessary function given
their scope and complexity.
Copy Protection
Strat-O-Matic uses a copy protection program,
requiring the insertion of a diskette when you run the game.
The option of transferring your copy protection directly to your
computer's hard drive eliminates this activity. Unfortunately,
once moved, the copy protection does not transfer to another
computer, suggesting that users must call Strat-O-Matic for a
“code reset” or just use the diskette every time the game is
played on the other machine. Floppy disks sometimes go bad or
do not work properly, particularly when not stored carefully by
the customer. A simple call to Strat-O-Matic resolves over 99%
of the problems in this area, if they do indeed arise. The copy
protection issues affect less than 1 percent of their
customers. Though a seemingly old-fashioned enterprise,
Strat-O-Matic believes they could not maintain their sales
levels without such a system.
Past Seasons
Strat-O-Matic offers
14 seasons, including the 2002 set. The past season efforts
add a nice touch for those interested in historically accuracy
or reproducing or reliving the best the NFL has to offer.
Strat-O-Matic should continue adding approximately 3 new past
seasons with subsequent releases, not enough for satisfying the
die-hard Strat-O-Matic fan, but a hard-fought effort considering
the company’s resources. With Version 3.0, customers can
experience an exciting 1965, with Gale Sayers and Jim Brown,
1979, the final Pittsburgh Steelers Super Bowl team, and 1985,
the massive defensive Chicago Bears melee. The Bears took no
prisoners that season, and they’ll provide a great coaching
challenge against any team from any era.
League
Manager
The League Manager is well organized and possesses a high degree
of functionality. The drop-down menus at the top contain all of
the necessary information. Creating new leagues, generating a
schedule, and setting league options are a straightforward
process. Unlike the board game, which can often take between 1 ˝
to 2 hours to play, the computer game allows you to play a
single game within an hour, or simulate an entire season and
playoffs within a matter of minutes.
While a faithful reproduction of the board game, the
computerized version of Strat-O-Matic includes additional
features, options, and rules that provide a more realistic
football experience. The scope and complexity of the additions
are so comprehensive that it almost impossible to recreate them
in the board version, unless you want to spend 3 hours playing
the game.
Understanding all of the various league options is a crucial
part of running the game. You can toggle a host of settings on
and off in order to enhance your game experience. Some of these
settings include: penalties, injuries, home field advantage, and
running back fatigue. For those who want the ultimate in
statistical accuracy, there are provisions that prevent running
backs from exceeding their longest run and receivers from
exceeding their longest receptions. Many football fans will find
this feature particularly useful as it makes the players perform
more in line with their real-life statistics.
The game
automatically generates schedules for custom or draft leagues.
Gamers are only responsible for entering information for the
number of leagues, conferences, and divisions. Strat-O-Matic
does the rest. One can edit a schedule if there is a need to add
or delete games for a league.
The statistical package for the game is very impressive. There's
a plethora of statistical information in this game, enough to
keep hardcore Strat gamers busy for days. You get reports for
standings, boxscores, league leaders, team totals, injuries,
takeaways/giveaways, game results, record book, and team-by-team
scoring. Strat-O-Matic may wish to revise the format of their
statistical package in upcoming releases.
Version 3.0
introduces a new method of managing league rosters via a new
module that allows releasing, trading, drafting, etc…
This module represents an upgrade in
that it displays an entire league instead of single teams, sorts
and filters players through numerous categories and adds new
statistical display categories not previously available to the
Strat-O-Matic football customer. The game now captures all
player movement in a text file.
The new
import/export league function, plus the password feature for the
computer manager, greatly enhances the draft league experience
created by this game.
Game
Screen
The game-playing area provides a representation
of an official NFL field: a full 100 yards from goal line to
goal line, clearly divided into five and 10 yard segments,
marking each yard with small dashes along the sidelines. The
game screen looks fantastic, whether tested with a 1024 x 768 or
800 x 600 screen resolution.
The improved
animation adds a positive touch to the gaming experience.
Running backs burst through the line of scrimmage. Offensive
linemen open holes and passing lanes. Linebackers penetrate on
the blitz. A screen pass looks, well like a screen pass.
Choose the
formation via a drop down menu on the right side of the
screen. Then use the “point and click” method for selecting a
play. Click on a player’s icon, then click the zone where you
want the ball to go. For instance, a short pass to the split
end involves clicking on the split end, then selecting the short
pass zone. Select “Snap the ball” and you’re good to go.
The computer
game removes the need for dice and charts in the game, although
the Play-By-Play module has an optional “Show Board Game
Information,” a concise but detailed summary of every external
roll or mechanism associated with every play. Customers can
modify the Play-By-Play without much effort, including your own
comments, player nicknames, or colorful expressions. I know
someone who added Madden-like expressions to Version 2.0, and it
really added a touch to playing the game.
The realism and
playability of this game also extends to head-to-head
encounters. Strat-O-Matic football has featured an Internet Play
module since day one of this product. Provisions for Internet
Play include IPX, TCP/IP, modem, and serial connections.
Internet Play works directly, not through a third party. A
message field at the lower right of the game screen sends
messages to your opponent. These are displayed in the
Play-by-Play field.
The in-game boxscore is worthy of praise, too. It contains
almost every statistical measure possible. Strat-O-Matic has
done a tremendous job in removing some of the clutter that
hindered the boxscore in previous versions. Available at any
time during the game, or for future reference via the League
Manager, the boxscore represents one of the highlights of the
post game statistical package. Even more, the boxscore
translates well to text or html functions.
Kudos to Strat-O-Matic for
including in-game decisions, such as
choices for kickoff returns,
punt returns, interception returns, fumble returns and blocked
kick returns, in Version 3.0. These features promote greater
control and flexibility within the game.
New Rules
Strat-O-Matic didn’t “create” a new set of rules
inasmuch as offer a number of rule revisions and changes. These
rules allow offenses more success in the passing game,
increasing completion percentages. They also prevent the
defensive coach from taking advantage of the game, as occurred
often in Version 2.0. The “Strat ball” or unrealistic
elements used by the defense, such as calling “run” while
placing two defensive backs in the long pass zone, or calling
“pass” but leaving passing zones vacant, no longer work in
Version 3.0. The defense can’t hedge its bets, and instead,
must play the “run” or the “pass.” In addition, the new rules
refine the defensive strategies so that the defensive coach must
consider playing “long” vs. “short.”
These Strat ball defensive elements created a
number of stifling, discouraging situations over previous years,
particularly for passing, ones that compromised the integrity of
the football game itself. The "flat" pass is now a big weapon
in this game, just like it is in the real NFL. Offensive
coaches have an easier time getting the yards underneath, and
yet the challenge still remains in other areas. You can't rely
solely on the flat pass in this game. A versatile offensive
plan provides the ke for victory.
Strat-O-Matic has adjusted the rules, and altered
the gaming strategies to reflect actual NFL tendencies.
They've "opened" this game away from the stagnation created by
defensive brute force in Version 2.0.
Playability
Replaying
current or past seasons represents one of Strat-O-Matic’s
greatest strengths in the market. You can schedule league or
exhibition games, utilizing a vast number of game play options.
The “Manage League Rosters” module contains sufficient
flexibility for creating a number of alternatives and possible
“What if?” draft or replay leagues or scenarios. The vast
number of game play options promotes a high measure of
customization, allowing for strict board game adherence, or
loosening standards sufficiently for a greater variety or
variance within the final results.
With the new rules and the game
structure/interface, Strat-O-Matic provides a very positive,
realistic representation of NFL football. This game now has a
“buzz” surrounding it, and the positive-to-negative comments run
about 99 to 1.
Computer Manager
The addition of team-specific offensive managers
transforms Strat-O-Matic computer football into a highly
entertaining and engaging experience. The computer managers
exhibit realistic play-calling tendencies, make appropriate
in-game substitutions, and react sufficiently to oppositional
strategies and schemes. These computer managers possess
sufficient quality and ability for defeating its human
counterparts.
Version 3.0
adds a play call “Computer Decides,” forcing the computer
manager to base “pass” or “run” calls based on what opponents
have done previously in a game. This addition works very well,
and the computer manager will key into opposing tendencies and
shut them down. The computer manager also has such
improvements as double teaming receivers covered by the
lower-rated defender.
The computer
manager will not take a low-performing team and turn it into a
Super Bowl contender. In similar fashion, you won’t have a
high winning percentage playing Dallas against Tampa Bay. This
doesn’t imply that the computer manager performs too strongly or
weakly. By mirroring realistic NFL strategy, the computer
managers perform as they should. All things equal, where
turnovers or injuries don’t influence the outcome of a game,
teams with a higher level of talent (better card chances or
ratings) will defeat those of inferior levels.
Difficulty
Version 3.0 improves
the functionality of the “League Manager” by adding a feature
that promotes easier roster management. This was a major flaw
in previous versions as trading, drafting, or releasing players
constituted a major time commitment. The rules governing the
football game don’t reflect any hint of impenetrability, but do
require serious consideration regarding the minor rule
adjustments and nuances. Both veteran Strat-O-Matic players and
newcomers to the hobby shouldn’t have a problem navigating the
game screens or directing the action on the field.
This game, as
relating to the game screen, does have a “learning curve,” not
steep but present, providing some obstacles to truly knowing the
ins and outs. Customers will gain experience and knowledge by
playing the game and by studying the rules. Just like regular,
or “real,” football, you have to have an understanding of the
game, the tendencies and probabilities, in order for true
success.
Graphics
The Strat-O-Matic football screen has player
animation, meaning the players move on the field in a similar
fashion to the real NFL or traditional arcade games. Version
3.0 allows users to control the animation speed. The maximum
speed makes the arcade games look as if they’re running in slow
motion, but the quality is nowhere near as comparable to a title
like John Madden or NCAA Football. Strat-O-Matic emphasizes
the accuracy and strategy decisions found in professional
football, not the ability for manipulating or controlling
players via a joystick or game pad. Though people play
Strat-O-Matic for other reasons than the graphics, the player
movement on the screen makes a compelling addition to the
product release.
The Fun Factor
Those who enjoy replaying the current or past
seasons will enjoy Strat-O-Matic football. The computer version
lends itself credibly to such efforts, without much set-up or
“tweaking” either. Other than customizing the gaming rules, if
desired, Strat-O-Matic computer football is “good to go” upon
delivery.
The “hard core”
Strat devotees might say that this game works best in a
“head-to-head” fashion, easily accomplished given the product’s
smooth DirectPlay module, which in many respects, probably works
better than most other alternatives on the market today.
Playing against a live opponent, given the rules and probability
table design, provides a gaming experience of the highest
order. You simply can’t get enough of DirectPlay.
Pricing, always a major
consideration in this day and age, remains rather reasonable for
this product. You can play this game for $50 (with current
season) or for several hundred dollars for including season
disks. The card image option is a nice bonus, and truthfully,
it’s a requirement for those who want to know the nuts and bolts
of the game. You don’t necessarily need the card images. They
will, on the other hand, improve your play-calling ability
immensely.
Summary
Strat-O-Matic may have put more time and effort
into their Version 3.0 upgrade than any other product in recent
memory. Strict, meticulous testing over a period of months
produced a game significantly better than its previous
incarnation, though not without a few faults or flaws along the
way. Faulting Strat-O-Matic for absences or omissions doesn’t
possess a sufficient level of appropriate scrutiny given the
amount of work put forward into this release.
Final Scores