Replay Publishing

Replay Publishing is a game company based in Ohiopyle, Pennsylvania, that develops and publishes sports simulation games. They currently produce Replay Baseball, Replay Basketball, and Second Season Pro Football. Competitors past and present include APBA, Strat-O-Matic, Big League Manager, Design Depot, Negamco, Pursue the Pennant and Statis Pro.

Infobox Game
title = Replay Baseball
subtitle =
image_link =
image_caption =
designer = Peter Ventura
illustrator =
publisher = Replay Publishing
players = 1-2
ages = 8 and up
setup_time = minutes
playing_time = 30 minutes
complexity = Medium
strategy = Medium
random_chance = Medium (dice rolling, luck)
skills =
footnotes =
bggid = 4657
bggxrefs =

Replay Baseball was first developed by Norm Roth and John Brodak, and first published in 1973 by Replay Games of Carmichaels, Pennsylvania. [ [http://www.replaybb.com/about.htm "About Replay Publishing"] ] They continued publishing the game until 1991, when they moved on to other pursuits due to the rising financial cost due to licensing with the Major League Baseball Players Association. [ [http://tabletopbaseball.org/replay.html "Replay Baseball Game History, by Al Arthurs"] ] In 1998, Pete Ventura and Replay Publishing resurrected the franchise with the release of their first yearbook for Replay Baseball. A brand new Replay Basketball was released in 2003, and their offerings were rounded out with the release of Second Season Pro Football.

In August of 2007, the company held Replay Retreat 2007 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. [ [http://www.replaybb.com/ReplayRetreat2007.htm "Replay Retreat 2007, Pictures"] ]

Replay Baseball

Replay Baseball is played using three dice (red, white, and blue), and a Chart Book. Play is controlled by rolling three dice (red/white/blue), and using the numbers to obtain results by referencing the pitcher and batter cards, as well as the chart book. The Chart Book is offered in two formats, the Current Chart Book being valid for the new yearbook format and for original seasons produced after 1987, and the White/Classic Chart Book being valid for original seasons produced before 1987. Playtime can be as little as 15-20 minutes per game, according to TableTop-Sports administrator Jeff Downey. [ [http://www.tabletop-sports.com/modules.php?op=modload&name=Reviews&file=index&req=showcontent&id=5 "Replay Baseball Game review, by Jeff Downey"] ]

Replay fans are known to play coop games that are coordinated in their online forum, which builds a sense of community around the game. In an interview [cite web | url=http://statelineobserver.com/content/view/1175/43/ | title=Craig Pillow: Replay simulation baseball 10.31.2007 | last=Green | date=2007-10-31] with "The Stateline Observer", player Craig Pillow noted:

Quote box
quote = “I purchased it, I tried it out and I was hooked,” he said. “I started playing cooperatively in 2002 and that’s what really hooked me.” No longer did he feel like an oddball with a set of dice.“I discovered this community.”
source = Craig Pillow, "Stateline Observer", Craig Pillow: Replay simulation baseball, by David Green.
width = 50%
align = center

Replay Baseball offers a number of past seasons, in both a yearbook (perforated cardstock) and team book (eBook only) format. In addition, there are still copies of the original game (Replay Classic) and seasons available.

Replay Baseball has been mentioned in two books to-date, [Guzzo, Glenn (2005). "Strat-O-Matic Fanatics: The Unlikely Success Story Of A Game That Became An American Passion". Chicago: ACTA Sports. ISBN 0-879-46280-9] with one providing a four-paragraph write-up concerning the game. [Carroll, B., Thorn, J., Reuther, D. (1990) "The Whole Baseball Catalogue". New York: Simon & Schuster. ISBN 0-671-68347-0]

In 2004, Replay published a yearbook of the 1923 Negro National League, using full statistical data not yet published elsewhere but provided by the researcher. The data published in the yearbook remains the most complete for a single Negro League season, and is currently still the only source for that season's official statistics. Company owner Pete Ventura donated a portion of his profits to a Negro Leagues Widows fund, helping out pensionless widows of Negro Leaguers. [ [http://www.replaybb.com/BBPages/BBProductDescriptions/NLWidowsThanks.htm Negro League Widows ] ]

The company also donated games to Walter Reed Medical Center in 2006 and 2007 for convalescing soldiers.Fact|date=December 2007

Replay Basketball

Replay Basketball is offered in both the original dice version, and a new card-only version.

The game offers a number of past seasons in both a yearbook (perforated cardstock) and team book (eBook only) format.

This game was independently and comprehensively reviewed by a customer and game designer, Brien Martin, on his fan site, [http://www.geocities.com/aslplayer63/hoopscentral/review.htm Replay Hoops Central] . Based on comments found at the company's official on-line forum, a number of potential customers have used this comprehensive review to assess their potential interest in the game.

Second Season Pro Football

The game is played using two dice (one black, one white) and a game book. Play begins by selecting two teams, which will face one another in the simulated game. Following kickoff, the offensive team selects a play and a target player, while the defense is chosen by a roll of a die (for solo play). Once the play and defense are determined, the two dice are rolled, and read together. [ [http://www.replaybb.com/FBPages/SSHowTo.htm Second Season How-To] ] For example, a black 4 and a white 3 would be read as '43' (similar to other games, such as APBA Football).

This number is then used to reference the game book, which will produce a result for the play called by the offensive coach. An example of the game book can be seen at right.

Second Season has a number of past season sets available, offered in the yearbook format. In addition, a How-To guide is also produced which allows players to create their own teams from past football seasons.

References

External links

* [http://www.replaybb.com/index.html Official Website]
* [http://forums.delphiforums.com/replayball/start Official Forum]
*
* [http://www.tabletop-sports.com/modules.php?op=modload&name=Reviews&file=index&req=showcontent&id=5 Tabletop-Sports Review]
* [http://tabletopbaseball.org/replay.html Replay Baseball Game History, by Al Arthurs]
* [http://statelineobserver.com/content/view/1175/43/ Stateline Observer newspaper article]