Triple Threat Baseball

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What sort of response have you had to Triple Threat Baseball?

We've placed the game in only a few selected specialty stores. The main emphases of our first year were to gain exposure, solicit consumer reaction, conduct direct sales, and get our web site functional. We have showcased the game at several gift show type events and have done a number of demos at our retailers.

So far, we have been able to identify our market more accurately which tends to be adults who are looking for the perfect gift for someone they know who is a sports fan. Also, for many adults, Triple Threat Baseball reminds them of an earlier time in their lives. They buy it in order to share with their family the love of baseball.

Photo courtesy Triple Threat Baseball.

Another surprising thing we noticed is that kids really enjoy playing Triple Threat Baseball. In our classroom playtesting experience, kids (even non-athletic types) find that they catch on to it and crave it. This tells me that even though it's not an electronic computer-based, war-type game, kids love the interaction and tension it provides. As such, it is a perfect parent-child interaction game.

Some of our more recognizable retailers are the Seattle Mariners and The National Baseball Hall of Fame in New York. Sales via our web site are happening on a weekly basis. To date, we have sold close to half of our initial "limited edition" production run. This has come with moderate effort -- I still have a day job!

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Did any of the reactions surprise you?

Two reactions have surprised me.

First, my cover photographer worked hard to convince me that that game cover should communicate a feeling that something very good is inside. The consumer should be intrigued enough to want to pick it up a check it out. I was pleasantly surprised to find out that he was right on the mark! Consumers and retailers have been very impressed with the shelf appeal of Triple Threat Baseball!

Second, I was very surprised with a recently posted critique by a long time "stat-based/real player" baseball boardgamer. This person was quick to point out that Triple Threat Baseball was not based on real players and real stats. It was a major disappointment for this person. Although we consciously decided not to compete with stat-based games, evidently there are a lot of serious baseball board gamers who expect, and assume, that real stats should be in any baseball board game.

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Our goal was not to make another stat-based game. There are many good stat-based games currently on the market. Our goal was to make a strategically fun game that kids and adults would enjoy. And, of course, it was based on my original design from 1962 -- believe me, it was fun then and it's even more fun now. At first glance, Triple Threat Baseball appears fairly simple. It is, at the Rookie League level. However, for those who play at the Big League level, they soon discover that Triple Threat Baseball can be extremely challenging and strategic as it depends so much on the managers' decision-making skills. Yes, it can be a disappointing game to play, but that's only if you lose!

Where can folks buy Triple Threat Baseball?

The Seattle Mariner Team Stores, the upcoming holiday catalog from The National Baseball Hall of Fame, New York; Wind Up Here; Games and Gizmos; Ebbets Field Flannels; and via the Triple Threat web site. The game retails for $49.95.

Do you have any plans for future games or Triple Threat expansions?

Our current retail version of Triple Threat Baseball! is a limited edition production run of only 1,000. We call it "Our First Season." The next retail production run will occur in 2001. We are currently working on a differently-packaged version that can be used as vehicle for organizational fundraising. We also have on the drawing board a version that is packaged as an educational kit for use in the classroom as a theme-based teaching unit.

NAVIGATE THIS BOARDGAMES ARTICLE
Page 1	"For 37 years I carried the rudiments of the game around in my head."
Page 2	Why can't Robbie bunt to get on base?
Page 3	"It can be a disappointing game -- but only if you lose!"

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