How to play Super Challenge Baseball online
You need two players on one keyboard. The visitors (red team) always bat first; the home team is blue.
- Player 1: arrow keys, button = Space
- Player 2: T/F/G/H, button = A
- Start a new game: F12 (the console’s Reset switch)
- Base running on or off: F4 (the left difficulty switch)
Gameplay
Each side has eight players; there is no shortstop. The usual rules apply: three strikes, four balls, and the first two fouls count as strikes. Tied games go into extra innings until someone wins. One unusual rule shapes the whole game: every hit is a ground ball, so nobody can be caught out on a fly.
- Batting: press the button to swing. Timing decides direction: swing early and the ball goes left, late and it goes right. Before the pitch, push up for a fast swing or down to bunt.
- Pitching: left for inside, right for outside, down for a fast pitch, up for a slow one. You can bend the ball by moving the joystick while it is in the air.
- Fielding: hold the button and push a direction once for an infielder (up = second base, left = third, right = first, down = catcher) or twice for the outfielder behind them. Do the same while holding the ball to throw to that base.
The difficulty switch
Only the left difficulty switch matters. In position B, runners move up one base on every hit and you never control them. In position A, you control the lead runner: push right to run forward and left to go back. This is also the only setting where you can steal bases.
Tips
- Take control of the pitcher after the hit. Press the button without moving the stick. The pitcher can often field the ball and get the out himself.
- Let bad pitches go. Four balls give you a free walk.
- Stretch hits in position A. Start running right away. Runners are only safe while standing on a base.
- Fake with the curve. Throw wide, then steer the ball back over the plate.
History
The Intellivision original came out in 1980, and reviewers praised it for letting you move individual fielders. Once Mattel started making games for other consoles through M Network, baseball was converted for the 2600 and released in mid-1982. After Mattel Electronics closed, the game was reissued with simpler “Baseball” labels by INTV and by Telegames.
Similar games to play next
- Super Challenge Football – M Network’s football game for the 2600
- RealSports Baseball – Atari’s own 1982 answer to the Intellivision sports games
- Super Baseball – the improved late-1980s version of RealSports Baseball
- Home Run – Atari’s first baseball cartridge from 1978