Microsoft KB Archive/187917

= Baseball 3D: How to Configure and Use Game Controls =

Article ID: 187917

Article Last Modified on 10/28/2002

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APPLIES TO


 * Microsoft Baseball 3D

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This article was previously published under Q187917



SUMMARY
This article describes how to select, configure, and use a game controller in Baseball 3D.



MORE INFORMATION
The following topics explain how to set up game controllers in Baseball 3D and how to use them when you play a game.


 * Choosing Controllers
 * User Settings
 * Using Game Controllers
 * Batting
 * Running the Bases
 * Pitching
 * Fielding

Choosing Controllers
You can play Baseball 3D with a game pad, a joystick, or a keyboard. For best results, we recommend you use a game pad. To select a game controller in Baseball 3D, follow these steps:

 Start Baseball 3D, choose a game, and then select teams. On any pre-game screen, click Controls. Select a controller for each team. Baseball 3D displays the currently selected controller for a team in color, available controllers in light gray, and unavailable controllers in dark gray. To select a game controller, follow these steps:  If you want to run a simulated game, click Reset to clear all controller selections. If you want to play a single-player game, click the controller you want to use for your team, and then verify that no game controller is selected for the other team. If you want to play a two-player game, click the controller you want to use for your team, and then click the controller your opponent wants to use for their team.</ol> </li> When you are ready to play, click Play Ball.</li></ol>

User Settings
In Baseball 3D, each player can configure their own user settings. To do so, follow these steps:

<ol> On the Controls screen, click User Settings in the controller selection box for your team.</li> Under Batting, click either Basic or Advanced. If you click Advanced, you can aim your swing and move the batter in the box. Advanced batting gives you more control, but also makes it more challenging to hit the ball. If you click Basic, you only need to time your swing to hit the ball.</li> Baseball 3D can provide computer assistance for running or throwing and fielding, and display swing selection and pitch selection menus. To configure the computer assistance options, follow these steps: <ol style="list-style-type: lower-alpha;"> If you want computer assistance with base running, click the Running button to turn it on. If you want full control of base running, click the Running button to turn it off.</li> If you want computer assistance with throwing and fielding, click the Throwing/Fielding button to turn it on. If you want full control of throwing and fielding, click the Throwing/Fielding button to turn it off.</li> If you want to see swing and pitch selection menus, click Select Swing/Pitch Menus to turn it on. If you do not want to see swing and pitch selection menus, click Select Swing/Pitch Menus to turn it off.</li></ol> </li> Click OK.</li></ol>

Using Game Controllers
To open the online Player's Guide to the "Controls" topic, click Using Controllers on the User Settings screen. From there you can link to Help topics that contain printable tables of commands for game pads, joysticks, and keyboards. Controller information is also available in the booklet inside the CD-ROM jewel case.

The tables below list the Baseball 3D commands for game pads, joysticks, and keyboards.

Game Pad
The direction control on the game pad is laid out like a baseball diamond, and so are the game pad buttons.

For an illustration of the game pad button and direction assignments in Baseball 3D, please see the Using a Game Pad topic in the online Players' Guide.

Joystick
The direction control on the joystick is laid out like a baseball diamond, and the joystick buttons are sequentially assigned to the bases, starting with home plate for button 1.

For an illustration of the joystick direction assignments in Baseball 3D, please see the Using a Joystick topic in the online Players' Guide.

Keyboard
There are three different keyboard layouts in Baseball 3D. Each set of keys is configured like a baseball diamond, as are the ARROW keys. All three keyboard layouts are active when you select the keyboard as your controller.

For an illustration of the keyboard key assignments in Baseball 3D, please see the Using a Keyboard topic in the online Players' Guide.

NOTE: The keyboard commands in the following tables are based on keyboard layout 1. If you want to use keyboard layout 2 or keyboard layout 3, substitute the appropriate keys.

Before the pitch
When you step up to bat, you can select the type of swing you want to use or take a practice swing, and if you use advanced batting, you can change the batter's position in the batting box.


 * Advanced batting only.

During the pitch
When the pitcher throws the ball, you can swing the bat, bunt, or stop your swing, and if you use advanced batting, you can aim your swing.


 * Advanced batting only.

Running the Bases
The Tap command indicates that you can repeat the command several times in succession.

During the pitch
During the pitch, you can make your lead runner or all of your runners increase lead off, steal a base, or return to base.

After the Pitch
After the pitch, while the ball is in play, you can make your lead runner or all of your runners increase their speed, advance a base, return to their previous base, or slide into a base.

NOTE: The slide control only works when a runner is close to the target base.

Selecting a Pitch
Before you throw a pitch, you can select the type of pitch you want to throw.

Ready to Pitch
Once you select a pitch, you can attempt to pick-off a base runner, aim and throw your pitch, or apply an energy boost to your pitch.

*NOTE: The longer you hold the energy boost button, the greater the effect. For best results, release the button just before the pitcher releases the ball. If you hold the button too long, you decrease the effectiveness of the energy boost. The effect of the energy boost differs with the type of pitch. On a fastball or split-fingered fastball, an energy boost increases the speed of the ball. On a curve ball or screwball, an energy boost increases the spin of the ball.

Before Fielding the Ball
When the batter hits the ball, you can select the fielder closest to the ball, increase fielder speed, and run, dive, or jump for the ball.

"Game Action"

Game Pad

Joystick

Keyboard

Move fielder

Control pad

Control stick

ARROW keys

Dive for a ball

Button 3

Button 4

S key

Jump for a ball

Button 1

Button 2

F key

Speed burst

Tap Button H

Tap Button 1

Tap D key

Pick player nearest ball

Button 2

Button 3

E key

After Fielding the Ball
When you catch the ball, you can use either a one button or two button command to throw the ball to a base.

NOTE: Throws from the outfield might be cut off before reaching the intended base. The catcher has one second to throw to a base after a pitch.

After you finish a play, the player that has the ball automatically returns it to the pitcher. To manually return the ball to the pitcher, tap the game pad button, joystick button, or key for the base where the ball is located.

Additional query words: 1.00 msgame base ball 3-d kbfaq

Keywords: kbhowto kbui kbfaq KB187917

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