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Home , 2012 NFL season, Al Rollins, Bob Verga, Calvin Hill, Fred Besana, Jim Lynch

Strat-O-Matic News http://www.strat-o-matic.com © 2013 Strat-O-Matic Media, LLC Summer 2013 An NFL Season Worth Re-Living Lewis’ Storybook Ending, Peterson’s New this Summer Rush to History, Young QBs’ Heroics Even with a game as realistic as Strat- Two other rookies help turn losers into from Strat-O-Matic O-Matic, there’s an element of fantasy to winners. Running backs Alfred Morris the game play. But imagination is scarcely (1,613 yards) and Doug Martin (1,454) are Football VXI¿FLHQW WR PDWFK WKH VWRU\ RI WKH  DPRQJWKHOHDJXH¶VWRS¿YHUXVKHUV Strat-O-Matic Pro Football 2013 season that gamers They trail the most improbable comeback 2012 NFL season soon will have a chance to re-live on their story of all. After knee surgery that would 1988 NFL season table tops. have sidelined most backs for the year, 1971 NFL season All-time great returns from not only runs Minnesota 1983 USFL season VXSSRVHG FDUHHUHQGLQJ LQMXU\ DQG OHDGV into the playoffs, but leads everyone in ETA: Early August his underdog to victory breakaway runs while gaining an astonishing in the – after announcing his \DUGVMXVWHLJKWVKRUWRIWKHDOOWLPH retirement. record. His Strat-O-Matic card is something Strat-O-Matic 2013 The Ravens beat the , to behold. with 2012 NCAA season a powerhouse that gets even better when its But, wait – have you heard the one about ETA: Late August YHWHUDQTXDUWHUEDFNLVLQMXUHGDQGUHSODFHG in Denver? A 36-year-old (see Pages 2-3 for more details) by the untested . VWDUTXDUWHUEDFNZLWKDQLQMXU\VRVHYHUHWKDW 5XQQLQJDQGSDVVLQJZLWKDÀRXULVKQRW it cost him all of last season, is released by seen in the Bay Area since Steve Young, WKH WHDP KH KDV JORUL¿HG KDV QHFNIXVLRQ Hockey Kaepernick is one of several young QBs surgery and returns to his prior league-MVP Strat-O-Matic Hockey 2013 whose skill and daring lifted their teams to form while leading a new team to the best 2012-13 NHL season QHZ VXFFHVV$QGUHZ /XFN 5REHUW *ULI¿Q record in the NFL. 1953-54 NHL season III and all lead losing teams Are you kidding me? Any one of these is 1982-83 NHL season into the playoffs. a script-writer’s dream. And now you get to ETA: Late September Not Hollywood enough for you yet? continued on Page 2 (see Pages 4-5 for more details) Let’s Play Two: The Price is Right to Strat-O-Matic Basketball 2013 Begin Playing SOM Baseball Online 2011-12 NBA season The play is fun. The online community is shared the fun, the timing couldn’t be better. 1968-69 NBA season (Windows only) awesome. The stat reports are the best. And Not only is the price right, but Strat-O-Matic 1969-70 ABA season (Windows only) QRZ ¿UVWWLPH XVHUV FDQ MRLQ DW WKH ORZHVW is adding its Superstar Sixties game to the ETA: Cards-Late September SULFHHYHU7ZRWHDPVIRUMXVW YVWKH lineup that allows you to choose a league Windows-Late October UHJXODUSULFHRISHUWHDP  with the current teams, the ever-popular (see Pages 4-5 for more details) A year after the Strat-O-Matic Baseball All-Time Greats, or the top players from the Online baseball game moved to the SOM 1970s, ‘80s or ‘90s. Like us on Facebook; follow us on website, the reviews are great. If you haven’t It’s easy. Join a league. Draft a team. Set Strat-O-Matic Games @StratOMatic your lineups. Check your team’s box scores and custom reports each day for two months. Winners get free teams for future leagues. Superstar Sixties starts soon – see page 6 Strat-O-Matic News, Summer 2013 Page 2 Windows Football Upgrade Great Together: Run the Pistol with RG III, The NFL and SOM Run as Many Plays as the Pats continued from Page 1 The excitement that the NFL’s new on little-used running backs with great stats. re-write the endings with dice or computer breed of running add can be For running backs (not quarterbacks or keystrokes. duplicated with new rules for the “Pistol wide receivers) who averaged fewer than If all of that is not enough to look forward Offense” in Strat-O-Matic’s forthcoming four carries per game, the big gains on their to – please – there’s WR ’s release of its Windows Pro Football game. cards will be reduced to their actual average record-setting 1,964 yards receiving, Drew Another optional feature will emulate per carry whenever the white die is 2 or 3 (not Brees’ league-leading 5,177 yards passing up-tempo NFL offenses’ ability to call more for white die 1 or for rolls on the defensive and 43 passes, and J.J. Watt’s plays per minute and for clock-milking cards) and the game is not a blowout. near-record 20.5 sacks, barely more than offenses to shorten the game for their ’s 19.5. opponents. A third will prevent low-use, 7KHUH¶VH[FLWHPHQWMXVWDERXWHYHU\ZKHUH high-gain running backs from distorting Flat Pass Defense with these ratings. In Houston, the division offensive play calling. champ has Watt and WR ’s These advances in realism are among Draft leagues will love an innovation that return to greatness (112 catches, 1,598 a dozen improvements in Strat-O-Matic adds low-yardage completions to the Flat yards). In Green Bay, amazes Football 2013. Pass sections of the Draft League Defense again with 67.2 percent completions, 4,295 Only quarterbacks who ran the Pistol Cards. Gains (mostly +1s, +2s, and +3s) yards, 39 TDs and another division title. Offense regularly can do so. That’s Cam with 1 Man in Zone and 2 Men in Zone will In Seattle, a wild-card team has the best Newton for Carolina, Colin Kaepernick for increase completion percentage without points differential in the NFL. The Seahawks San Francisco, Russell Wilson for Seattle distorting yardage, while making it easier to have ’s 1,590 yards worth DQG5REHUW*ULI¿Q,,,IRU:DVKLQJWRQ JDLQD¿UVWGRZQZLWKD)ODW3DVVRQUGDQG of “Beast Mode” rushing and ’s All have better End Run cards when 1-3 yards to go. No. 1 scoring defense, as well as Russell guessed Right than other quarterbacks and Wilson’s impressive rookie QB play. are permitted two more End Runs per game With Strat-O-Matic Pro Football, the hits than other QBs. Protect Computer MXVWNHHSRQFRPLQJ When running the Pistol, as opposed to the Shotgun Formation, running backs can Codes, Organize College Football, Too run off tackle, not only through the middle. This allows Pistol offenses to attack in any Card Collections There’s plenty of excitement coming in direction, with the shotgun’s advantages for Strat-O-Matic expects to launch a service Strat-O-Matic College Football 2013 for the passing. That forces and safeties soon that will allow customers to catalog computer. While the NCAA inches closer to into tough decisions – especially since these their purchases in secure, individual storage a playoff, Strat gamers don’t have to wait to teams have potent running backs as well. areas on the game company website. stage their What-If scenarios. The voluntary system is designed to &RXOG\RX¿QLVK1RWUH'DPH¶VUHVXUJHQW Historical Team Pace permit gamers to record the authorization season with a victory to deny Alabama its codes for the Windows games and rosters third BCS championship in the last four Intended only for historical NFL replays they have purchased prior to Strat-O-Matic’s years? How about reversing undefeated involving stock teams (not custom leagues), E-Delivery system. Ohio State’s ban from bowl play and putting this optional rule will improve statistical Having the codes cataloged online will the undefeated Buckeyes into the title game? DFFXUDF\E\UHÀHFWLQJHDFKWHDP¶VRIIHQVLYH eliminate the need for gamers to maintain Perhaps you’d have even more fun play frequency. No-huddle offenses will run the authorization-code cards they received replaying “Johnny Football” Manziel’s more plays per minute. Deliberate offenses before E-Delivery. And that will eliminate dashing Heisman Trophy-winning season will run fewer. the worry about losing them. “The pace rating is an internal computer that returned Texas A&M to greatness. Each gamer’s Account area already 0DQ]LHO¶V ÀDVK\ UXQQLQJ DQG SDVVLQJ rating that is not visible to the gamer,” SOM stores the codes of E-Delivery products. explains. “However, the pace rating will merely set the all-time yardage records for Additionally, gamers will enter the codes the mighty Southeastern Conference – in improve statistical accuracy, as the total from their authorization-code cards. Once number of plays from scrimmage will be A&M’s debut as a league member. the codes are submitted, the system will With Alabama, A&M and such other much closer to historical numbers when the validate that they were entered correctly. option is used - especially for certain teams college powers as LSU, Georgia, Florida The entry system is information storage and South Carolina, the SEC can provide that ran a very fast-paced offense (such as RQO\+RZHYHUDVLGHEHQH¿WDOORZVJDPHUV the 2012 ).” a season full of thrills on your computer. to catalog all their board games and card Which team would you coach through that Low-Use RBs sets as a way of organizing their inventory. guantlet of opponents? For pinball scoring, For long-time and multi-sport gamers that check out Oregon, Stanford and the rest of can represent a substantial library. Look the exciting Pac-12 conference. So many There’s a new solution for gamers who for further announcements at www.strat-o- have been frustrated by opponents’ reliance good choices – Strat-O-Matic has ALL the matic.com. teams. Page 3 Strat-O-Matic News, Summer 2013 Classic NFL / USFL Bonanza 1971 NFL 1988 NFL The 1971 NFL season showcases the San Francisco was only 10-6 in the 'DOODV &RZER\V¶ ¿UVW 6XSHU %RZO ZLQQHU regular season. But in the post-season, the DQG0LDPL¶V¿UVW6XSHU%RZOWHDP OHDGLQJ 49ers crushed 11-5 Minnesota, 34-9, and to consecutive Super Bowl champions in 12-4 Chicago, 28-3. That set up one of the 1972 and 1973). PRVW GUDPDWLF 6XSHU %RZO ¿QLVKHV HYHU Others in the 1971 “six-pack” of carded when drove the trailing 49ers teams will be Minnesota (11-3), Kansas City 92 yards to the winning touchdown in the (10-3-1), San Francisco (9-5) and defending ¿QDOPLQXWHRYHU&LQFLQQDWL7KDWZDV Super Bowl champ Baltimore (10-4). San Francisco’s third Super Bowl victory. A Dallas (11-3) began 4-3 until Roger fourth the following year – all in the 1980s Staubach became the full-time starter and – made it one of the NFL’s iconic franchises. the NFC’s No. 1 passer with a league-best 1983 USFL San Francisco topped 30 points six 8.9 yards per pass and averaged 8.4 yards times with HB Roger Craig gaining 2,036 on 41 runs. led the NFL The United States Football League yards from scrimmage, QB Joe Montana with 11 rushing . His 4.5 yards launched with 14 teams and such famous completing nearly 60 percent of his passes, per carry and Calvin Hill’s 4.4 combined coaches as Chicago’s George Allen, Tampa and WRs Jerry Rice and John Taylor both with Staubach and WR (24 ypc) Bay’s and Philadelphia’s Jim topping 20 yards per catch. Taylor also took to make the Cowboys the most explosive Mora. Familiar players included New Jersey two punts to the house. Safety Ronnie Lott offense in the NFL with 406 points, topping RB , Michigan QB Bobby and DL Michael Carter and Charles Haley ¿YHWLPHV7KH'LQ%LJ'ZDV1RLQ Hebert and Philadelphia LB . starred for a defense that was especially yards per rush, and sacks. Michigan (12-6) was the surprise 24-22 strong against the run (3.6 average). Miami (10-3-1) had the AFC’s No. 1 winner in the title game against Philadelphia. Cincinnati went from worst (4-11 in passer ( who had only 10 INTs), But the Panthers had 451 points, QB Hebert  WR¿UVWLQZLWKRQHRIWKRVHGUHDP a versatile running attack (FB Larry Csonka (27 TD passes), WR Anthony Carter (60- offenses (448 points) where you cannot call and HBs Jim Kiick and Mercury Morris 1,181-19.7 avg-9 TDs) and RB Ken Lacy a bad play. QB Boomer Esiason was the combined for more than 2,000 yards) and (1,180 yards, 5.1 average). AFC’s No. 1 passer with a conference-best GHHSWKUHDW:5 3DXO:DU¿HOG  \SF  Philadelphia (15-3) had by far the 28 TDs and 9.21 yards per pass. FB Icky tds). The Dolphins had the AFC’s second- best record, the best defense and such Woods (1,066 yards, 15 TDs) and HB James best defense, limiting 12 foes to 14 or fewer recognizable All-USFL players as RB Brooks (931 yards) each topped 5 yards per points. Kelvin Bryant (1,442 rushing yards, 16 TDs, carry. WR Eddie Brown had 1,273 receiving Minnesota and its Purple People Eaters 53 receptions), OT Irv Eatman and LB Mills. yards at 24 per catch. led by and Carl Eller had by far Chicago (12-6), the top-scoring team Buffalo (12-4) had DE Bruce Smith (11 the most suffocating defense in the NFC with 456 points, lost an explosive playoff sacks in 9 games), LBs Cornelius (139 points allowed), strangling passing VHPL¿QDO WR 3KLODGHOSKLD  LQ Bennett and Shane Conlan, and the AFC’s games for a mere 9.8 yards per completion overtime. The Blitz had a pair of 1,000- No. 1 defense. completed 59.5 and creating 45 turnovers. yard RBs in Tim Spencer and Kevin Long, percent of his passes, Kansas City had star LBs , former QB Greg Landry, WR Chicago had the NFL’s best defense (215 and Jim Lynch, second-ranked Trumaine Johnson (81-1,322-10tds) and the points), with MLB , DE passer throwing to WRs Otis second-best defense. Richard Dent and others from the unit that Taylor (1,110 yards, 19 ypc) and rookie Elmo Boston (11-7) had the third-best offense. was a dominant Super Bowl winner three Wright (20 ypc and the initiator of end-zone QB Johnnie Walton threw 20 TD passes, HB years prior. RB Neal Anderson’s breakout dances), and versatile RB . Richard Crump ran for 990 yards on a 5.2 season (1,106 yards, 4.4 average, 12 TDs Baltimore’s defense was as impressive as average and WR Charles Smith had 1,009 and 39 receptions) helped the Bears win their Minnesota’s, allowing only 140 points while yards receiving at 18.7 per catch. ¿IWKVWUDLJKW1)&&HQWUDOWLWOH leading the AFC in run defense (3.2 ypc) Tampa Bay (11-7) had a pass-happy Minnesota scored 406 points and yielded and pass defense. DE and LBs offense. Jimmy Jordan (60.9 percent only 233. Wade Wilson was the NFC’s No. 1 Ted Hendricks and Mike Curtis starred. The completions) was the best of three passer and the Vikings had the No. 1 pass offense relied on HB Norm Bulaich’s 4.9 quarterbacks who combined to throw 27 defense, including 36 . DL ypc. The Colts topped 30 points four times. touchdown passes – 15 to All-USFL WR and and DB San Francisco had the second-best Eric Travillion. Travillion and WR Danny Joey Browner helped hold six opponents to scoring defense in the NFC, allowing a Buggs each eclipsed 1,000 yards receiving. seven or fewer points. meager 44.5 percent pass-completion rate. Oakland  ZRQWKH3DFL¿F'LYLVLRQ (10-6) had a 31-TD The OL yielded the fewest sacks (11) while with QB Fred Besana (62.7 percent comp- passer (Jim Everett), a 16-TD runner (Greg creating room enough for Ken Willard and letions, 21 TDs, 2.9 percent INTs) and All- Bell) and a 10-TD receiver () in Vic Washington to top 800 yards each. USFL TE . the NFC’s top-scoring offense (407 points).

As always, the Windows versions of Strat-O-Matic’s classic pro football seasons contain every team in the league. Strat-O-Matic News, Summer 2013 Page 4 Not Much Longer to Wait to Replay Epic NBA, NHL Playoff Finals King James rules, brings his Chicago’s sensational start Heat to NBA throne again OHDGVWR6WDQOH\&XSÀQLVK Once in awhile, a pro sports ¿UVWWLWOHRIDQ\W\SH 2QHRIWKHPRVWLQWHQVHFORVHO\FRQWHVWHG6WDQOH\&XS¿QDOVHYHU season is so amazing that you The Knicks, with will still be fresh in mind when Strat-O-Matic’s ratings for the 2012- have to play it yourself to believe league-leading scorer Carmelo 13 season arrive this summer. Appropriately, the National Hockey it. That would be the 2012-13 Anthony averaging 28.7 points League’s best team all season long, Chicago, drank from the Cup National Basketball Association and with Sixth Man of the after defeating Boston. season.