APBA Game Company CEO John Herson is almost always willing to answer a few questions for The APBA Blog. He took a few minutes to answer a couple on a variety of topics.
Thanks to Mr. Herson for his time!
…the updated APBA web site
The APBA Blog: Let’s talk about the new web design. Personally, I think it’s definitely a step in the right direction. It seems to have a more modern feel and more importantly, it’s being updated. The downloadable roster lists are a nice touch, too. First of all, do YOU like the changes?
John Herson: I like being able to update the home page. The biggest issue from the transition to Georgia was the website went into limbo.
TAB: Second, what has been the overall response from the APBA community?
JH: All positive. Most negative comments are delivered via the forum which I no longer visit.
TAB: Are there future plans for more features for the site?
JH: The site is still a work in progress. Eventually the site will celebrate the history of APBA while trying to attract new fans. The historical sections will have copies of old advertising materials and articles and downloadable copies of old football and basketball rosters. We will begin to use YouTube videos to attract new fans. The first video will be of two pre-teenagers playing the baseball game. In the near future, we will start a search for a YouTube Voice of APBA. The other addition to the website will a section featuring APBA leagues. It is really impressive what some leagues have done with their websites and/or publications.
…new and upcoming APBA products
TAB: Speaking of updates, I see the APBA Company has been announcing a few new products. The 1910 baseball set (both cards and disk) is the newest release to be announced. I also see the 2011 Golf card set is out. Are there any products on the horizon you can talk about?
JH: We will announce a Franchise All-Star set for hockey next week. Later in June, we will complete the conversion of all the golf card sets to cards from sheets. We will initially offer a bundle of all the golf card sets except the 2011 season. We still have to determine the price. The 2011 pro football set will be available at the end of July early August.
TAB: Will there be any releases of past seasons or All-time Great Teams for APBA Soccer?
JH: We are focusing on releasing the current season sets for the recently completed European seasons. We will be offering both the 2012 Men and Women Summer Olympics sets. After the current sets are done, we have identified two historical seasons and a group of 16 great teams.
TAB: Is there any news on online play for APBA Baseball that so many fans are clamoring for?
JH: It is premature to address this at this time.
…APBA on mobile devices
TAB: Along the same lines, I hear a lot from APBA fans who are hoping to play APBA on their iPad/iPhone. Is the Company looking into developing for the iOS or other mobile devices?
JH: We are deciding what is the next format for the games. Is it tablets? Cell phones? If cell phone what platform Apple or Droid? Social Games? We are working with a group to decide what is the best course for the game to offer its portfolio of games including games not currently offered.
…APBA Between the Lines
TAB: The APBA Company decided to withdraw official support from the Delphi Between the Lines forums. Why?
JH: I had wanted to do this for at least five years and I allowed myself to be talked out of it each time. I was tired of dealing with a certain element on the forum. Life is too short.
… (not) tweaking the APBA card formula
TAB: Personally, I’ve found APBA Baseball Basic Game’s accuracy with hitting pretty top notch. Have you ever considered revamping the pitching grading system? Perhaps making it more granular or basing the grades on more modern statistics than just (presumably) ERA and wins?
JH: Not really. I believe the playability of the basic game is the most important aspect of the game. I know others think there should be more than 6 different pitching grades which the master game addition offers. I don’t think there is a huge difference between the number 4 and 5 starters and long relievers. Maybe there should be more pitching grades but I’m not sure what the gain would be.
TAB: …or is that a sacred cow and such a change would cause too much confusion and chaos? Generally speaking, do you pretty much take a “leave-it-alone” attitude toward the game engine with all the sports games unless there is a real need since the APBA game relies so heavily on tradition?
JH: I want to avoid at all costs another football game situation where certain seasons purchased no longer are compatible with the current version of the game. I have an obligation to make sure that if you purchase APBA cards the cards will play with the most current version of the game. Some may disagree with this conclusion. As I’ve said many times, you can make your own changes to your APBA game to meet your needs.
Thanks to Mr. Herson for his time. You can keep up with what’s happening at APBA at their (yes, updated) website or Facebook page. Rumor has it they may start using Twitter (@APBAgames) more, too.
I met Mr Herson this past January when I picked up the 2011 Cards and Disk along with a couple of past seasons. I was very impressed and he was generous with his time and even gave me and my wife a tour of the company.
I love the game and am excited about the future of the company!
I agree with John about the negative comments in the forum although its been better lately. I’m also glad to see that he is not planning any big changes to the basic baseball game. I think its fine the way it is. Like he said those who want to make changes can always do so on there own.
I actually agree about the changes, Wayne. The appeal of APBA’s Basic Game is its simplicity, consistency and customization.
Glad to see he encourages modifications, too.
I have nothing but the highest respect for John. He has reached out on his own behalf with cards and passes to last years convention for my kids. This is stuff that people don’t always hear about. A lot has been said recently about reaching out to the youth and John has been doing so for the past year. Without his help my summer league wouldn’t have the success that it has. I can’t thank him enough for what he has done for the kids!!!
Smart move by John to disassociate APBA and himself from that forum. It’s poison and would be best to just go away. I don’t see any other sports gaming forum with the vitriol that is on that one. It’s pretty sad actually considering the people are all probably 40+ years old acting like 12 year olds.
He’s right…life is too short to deal with people like that.
I’m happy that JH is providing you with some information that might not otherwise be available and I don’t particularly mind that the questions are pretty benign. I would have liked to see some questions about the status of both the update to BBW that is supposedly being beta tested and the next generation of BBW. Maybe next time.
Interesting commentary regarding the ABTL forum. The issue with the forum has always been a lack of control by the owner of the forum. There’s absolutely no other place to place the blame.
Kevin Cluff has settled it down inside of three weeks.
There’s nothing to keep the same sort of mayhem off Facebook except the control that was not exercised previously on ABTL.
Let’s hope BOTH sites remain properly policed.
That’s an interesting take on it, Bill. I agree. Some in society feel that all web forums should work like society… no censorship etc. However, I interact with a fair amount of blogs, forums and such and find the ones I enjoy the most are the ones that are (lightly) moderated. I saw the post that Kevin Cluff wrote and hope it is effective.
My guess is that Herson inherited the BTL forums, put up with it for a while (even embraced it with the Ask John segment) but just didn’t have the time/inclination to keep up with up as an official feature of the Company.
Last I checked, there was still a link to it from the APBA front page, though.