Hal Richman interview, part two
The following is the second part of an interview with Hal Richman, founder and creator of Strat-O-Matic baseball, and the Strat-O-Matic game company.
JE: Over the last several years, your fielding ratings have changed, in regards to Gold Glove winners and their ratings. Can you describe the thought process that caused you to deviate from rating Gold Glove winners automatically better than the rest? I believe the first instance was when Alex Rodriguez won his first Gold Glove at shortstop, breaking Omar Vizquel’s consecutive award string.
HR: If our research overwhelming indicates that the wrong player won the the gold glove or he is not strong enough to be rated a "1", we will deviate. The vast majority of gold glovers receive a "1". Thus, it is the rare exception that does not.
JE: Are there future innovations being developed for the computer version that we can look forward to?
HR: For this coming computer version (Version 11), you will be able to create a year book, and your own web blogger site. Also a Daily reporter has been created. Other improvements have also been made.
JE: Internet play is something new to the Strat-O-Matic game. Is it a difficult process to program a game that is enjoyable in person, and yet also Internet ready? What challenges do your programmers face in this process?
HR: As programming for the internet is entirely different than programming for the PC, the Strat-O-Matic programmers were not responsible for the internet programming. The Strat-O-Matic engine was transported to the Internet by the Sporting News programmers.
JE: Can you estimate how many games, of card and computer variety, you have sold over the years?
HR: As we are a private company, we do not divulge such information. However, millions of baseball fans have played or have heard of Strat-O-Matic over the years.
JE: Being privately owned, have you ever considered a public offering, or taking in partners for your company?
HR: Yes, but not recently.
JE: Does your company have plans to ever include video clips of players in the game?
HR: Not presently.
JE: What are some of the craziest suggestions you have ever received for additions to the game?
HR: A voice activated system that lets the computer create new leagues and draft the players for those teams. Also, from the past, transfer the game to the Coleco Adam computer, a computer system that had no hard drive and only had 36 characters of text display.
JE: Is it possible to produce a game that is statistically perfect in every way?
HR: We always strive for it.
JE: Some game companies have Internet servers that host leagues and ‘pick-up’ games. Is this something that Strat-O-Matic would have an interest in developing in the future?
HR: Perhaps.
JE: Would Strat-O-Matic ever consider putting a balancing equation into its calculations that would negate the high slugging years of "the steroid era" of baseball? How does this compare to early re-creations of years when the baseball was considerably softer-the pre-1920’s, before Babe Ruth’s glory years?
HR: We have always abided by the rule changes of Major League Baseball. If they make no changes in the treatment of Bonds’ and others statistics, chances are , we will not either.
JE: Do you personally have a favorite team, or batter or pitcher, from all the years you have researched?
HR: I love the old seasons, Walter Johnson, Babe Ruth and Joe Dimaggio are my favorites. As a child, I was a Yankee fan but now I am just a baseball fan.
JE: Do you have any final words for all the thousands of fans of your games?
HR: It has been said that if you understand Baseball, you understand America. Thus Baseball is a great tribute to the nation. It is easily the most historic of all the sports. I thank the fans for their continuous support and recognition of our efforts to duplicate the country’s greatest sport.
JE: Thanks again for taking the time for this interview, and for making a great game!
Peace-Out
Jim Evans
jevans@baseballdigestdaily.com
Baseball Digest Daily 