MANAGER MODE TUTORIAL:

INTRODUCTION:

Manager Mode is a "Rock, Paper, Scissors" approach to gameplay and is super simple and fun to play. It features a really nice TV style presentation with multiple camera angles.

Before each at-bat both human player and CPU must choose a "Command" and after they are chosen the game will switch to live play. Depending on which command you chose you may end up with a positive, negative or neutral advantage.

In regards to strategy you can either select commands which will take advantage of attribute & special skill strengths/weaknesses or take risks by outguessing the CPU. And sometimes you may just want to be conservative by pitching around or intentionally walking a power hitter.

GENERAL SCREEN TRANSLATIONS:

This image displays the batting commands which we'll ignore for now (these are covered in detail later.) By now you should be familiar with most of what's shown in this image but there's a few we need to cover...

- You have several seconds to make a command. If you fail to do so in the alloted time the CPU will choose a command for you. Towards the top left the clock says there are 8 seconds left to make a choice.

- Press LB or RB to see entire at-bat (every pitch), or just 1 pitch /immediate result (default setting). Note if you want to see the entire at-bat you will be veiwing the results only (you cannot change commands once live action has started.)

- Press 'Square' button to see the opposing lineup.

- Bottom right area of screen: The little blue bar denotes this batter has a positive special skill in effect. The green bar shows the defensive shift (you cannot change this because it's automatically assigned by the CPU.) The little red bars denote this pitcher has 2 negative special skills in effect. The (full) blue bar at the bottom is the pitchers stamina remaining.

BATTING COMMANDS:

Top Row: 

1. Contact Swing (Beats "Pitch Low")
2. Power Swing (Beats "Pitch High")
3. Pull (Beats "Pitch Inside")
4. Go Opposite Field (Beats "Pitch Outside")

Bottom Row:

5. Be Patient (Beats "Throw Balls")
6. Hit and Run
7. Sac Bunt/Bunt for hit/Squeeze
8. Steal

* There are other win/lose combinations for the commands, I simply translated the in-game text directly. See our commands reference chart for full details.

SUPER BAR:

As the game progresses, you will build up a "Super Bar" (this is the green bar shown above the top row.) Once it reaches about 30% it can be selected and your hitter will go for a big hit. The more you fill it up before you activate it, the more likely you will get a hit. It doesn't matter what command the pitcher chose, Super Bar is King! However, if a pitcher selects "Intentional Walk" then you will take a base but you won't lose the Super Bar.

As you can see here the Super Bar is near 50%, and strategic decisions have to be made which really add a fun element to the game. Do you want to use it 3-4 times per game (at minimum charge) with "ok" results? Or 1-2 times (at max charge) with the potential of game changing results (or bust?) Do you want to save it only for power hitters, or use it with anyone when men are in scoring position?


MANAGER SKILLS:

Press Triangle to bring up the "Manager Skills" menu, this is covered in detail below.

MANAGER SKILLS:

When you press the "Triangle" button at the command screen you'll see this screen. Managers will have these skills...

1. CONCENTRATE - All managers have "Concentrate" as their 1st skill. It can be used 3 times, and only when a runner is in scoring position. On Offense, if used and you successfully score a run on this play, the "Super Bar" will go up greatly. On Defense, if used and you successfully prevent a run from scoring on this play, the "Super Bar" will go up greatly. The effect will only last for one hitter. 

2. CUSTOM MANAGER SKILLS - The 2nd skill differs from team to team. It can only be used one time and (except Spirit) lasts for an entire inning. Some skills are for Offense only and some are for Defense only:

• PASSION: Offense and Defense; Super Bar will charge faster during the entire inning.
  
• SPIRIT: Offense and Defense; a powerful version of Concentrate - it only works for 1 hitter instead of entire inning
• BIG BASEBALL: Offense only - Increases hitters' Power
• SMALL BASEBALL: Offense only - Increases success of Hit & Run, Bunt, and Steal
• ID BASEBALL: Defense only - Pitcher/Catcher focus to weaken the opposing hitters
  
• STRIKEOUT SHOW: Defense only - Increases chance of strikeout

These skills work well especially when you use them with the right tactic. For example with "Big Baseball" is effective with 'Power Swing'. Or if you're the Lions (Strikeout Show) by selecting the command 'Pitch High' you might just strike out the side!

Here's the 2013 version (November 7 final patch) team rundown:

PITCHING COMMANDS:

Top Row:

1. Pitch Low (Get outs via contact easily)
2. Pitch High (Get strikeouts easily)
3. Pitch Inside (Beats "Go Opposite Field")
4. Pitch Outside (Beats "Pull")

Bottom Row:

5. Throw Balls (Decreases the hitter's chance of getting a hit)
6. Intentional Walk (this works if batter selects "Super Bar", but they can still use it for the next batter so be careful)
7. Bunt Shift
8. Be Alert for Steal

* There are other win/lose combinations for the commands, I simply translated the in-game text directly. See our commands reference chart for full details.

LIVE PLAY RESULTS:

After commands are chosen just sit back and watch the action. On the left the pitcher chose "Pitch Outside" and the batter chose "Pull Swing." This is an obvious advantage for the pitcher so note his command bar is lit up with bright yellow color. If there is no advantage to either side there will be no color inside the command bars.

AURAS:

Sometimes you'll see red, blue or orange flaming auras around the players. These activate when a special skill takes effect (red is negative skill and blue is positive skill.) In this case that batter chose "Super Bar" so he's burning orange.

Again, note the pitcher command is not shown because the 'Super Bar' over-rides any command the pitcher makes. Super Bar is King!

VIDEO LINK / PUTTING IT ALL TOGETHER: