Frequently Asked Questions
Ordering
I can't buy something in the store
1. Our ordering system, for our downloadable products, requires that you have cookies enabled on your machine (this lets your web browser remember information from one page to the next):
https://www.whatismybrowser.com/guides/how-to-enable-cookies/
2. You may need to clear your web browser cache in order to progress through the ordering process. For help on this, visit http://www.refreshyourcache.com/en/home/.
https://www.whatismybrowser.com/guides/how-to-enable-cookies/
2. You may need to clear your web browser cache in order to progress through the ordering process. For help on this, visit http://www.refreshyourcache.com/en/home/.
Do the downloadable games have an electronic license that i have to activate?
We don't use any sort of e-Licensing or download limits. Therefore:
1) You can download the game to your PC and your laptop from the same link.
2) If you lose your connection while downloading, you can just click the same link and start over.
3) If you buy a new computer, you can download the game again.
We do make the download links inactive after a period of time. We also check how many times each link is used, to insure that you don't share the link.
1) You can download the game to your PC and your laptop from the same link.
2) If you lose your connection while downloading, you can just click the same link and start over.
3) If you buy a new computer, you can download the game again.
We do make the download links inactive after a period of time. We also check how many times each link is used, to insure that you don't share the link.
Downloading
i downloaded a game, but my hard drive crashed. How can I re-download the game?
Just email support@sportsmogul.com. If you know your order number, that helps, but the email address used is sufficient to find the order. Please specify which product you're looking for (e.g. "Baseball Mogul 2017").
HOW DO I DOWNLOAD MY GAME AGAIN?
If you ever need to re-install the game and you've lost the download link, just send us an email and we'll look up your link for you and send it again.
When I double-click on the downloaded file, I get "archive integrity check failed".
"Archive Integrity Check Failed" indicates that the installation file wasn't completely downloaded.
1. Delete your internet cache and re-download the software, you can find out how to do this within the help of your browser.
2. If the problem persists please e-mail support@sportsmogul.com.
1. Delete your internet cache and re-download the software, you can find out how to do this within the help of your browser.
2. If the problem persists please e-mail support@sportsmogul.com.
Installation
how do i know where my game is installed?
Open the game you'd like to find out more about and select "Open Game Folder..." from the Help Menu.
i bought the full game and installed it, but it looks like i am still running the demo version
Unfortunately, you ARE still running the demo version. There is a bug with InstallShield that doesn't install the full game over the demo. You need to do the following (in this order):
- Uninstall Baseball/Football Mogul (from Start -> Settings -> Control Panel -> Add/Remove Programs)
- Uninstall any Baseball/Football Mogul Demo Versions
- Reinstall Baseball/Football Mogul
DO I HAVE PERMISSION TO INSTALL my downloaded game ON TWO COMPUTERS?
You have our permission to install the game on all of your computers. This means your home PC, your work PC and the laptop you use when you travel. We think you are smart enough to know when you are stealing software. If you paid for the game, you can play it wherever you want.
For example, if you have a laptop without an internet connection (or with a slow internet connection), you have permission to download the game using a high-speed connection, burn the file to a CD-R, and then copy the game to your other computer.
When you buy the game, we send you a unique link just for you to download the game. However, you can use this link to download the game to two or three computers. There are no passwords or activation codes. And the link doesn't expire.
There is limit of 15 downloads so that the link will quickly become inactive if shared publicly. However, as long as you only use the link to install the game on your own systems, this shouldn't be a problem.
For example, if you have a laptop without an internet connection (or with a slow internet connection), you have permission to download the game using a high-speed connection, burn the file to a CD-R, and then copy the game to your other computer.
When you buy the game, we send you a unique link just for you to download the game. However, you can use this link to download the game to two or three computers. There are no passwords or activation codes. And the link doesn't expire.
There is limit of 15 downloads so that the link will quickly become inactive if shared publicly. However, as long as you only use the link to install the game on your own systems, this shouldn't be a problem.
i get an error message when i try to install the demo. it tells me that it can't find the file instmsia.exe or instmsiw.exe. What does this mean?
Microsoft updated their installation program after they released Windows 98. Our demo requires that you have the updated installer. We do not include it in the download, because it doubles the size of the download, and because most users have already installed the latest Windows installer.
If you get this error message, you can download a free upgrade file, and run it to update your Windows installer. Then run the Demo Installer again, and it should work.
You can read more about the installer at the Microsoft website:
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;Q305496
Here are links to a 1.4 MB download. PLEASE NOTE: This software is created and provided by Microsoft, and Sports Mogul Inc. cannot guarantee its effectiveness or compatibility with your computer.
If you have Windows 95/98/Me download this:
http://www.sportsmogul.com/demo/instmsia.exe
If you have Windows NT 4.x download this:
http://www.sportsmogul.com/demo/instmsiw.exe
After downloading, run the program. Then re-run the Demo installer.
If you get this error message, you can download a free upgrade file, and run it to update your Windows installer. Then run the Demo Installer again, and it should work.
You can read more about the installer at the Microsoft website:
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;Q305496
Here are links to a 1.4 MB download. PLEASE NOTE: This software is created and provided by Microsoft, and Sports Mogul Inc. cannot guarantee its effectiveness or compatibility with your computer.
If you have Windows 95/98/Me download this:
http://www.sportsmogul.com/demo/instmsia.exe
If you have Windows NT 4.x download this:
http://www.sportsmogul.com/demo/instmsiw.exe
After downloading, run the program. Then re-run the Demo installer.
i keep getting "archive integrity check failed". now what?
"Archive Integrity Check Failed" indicates that the installation file wasn't completely downloaded.
1. Delete your internet cache and re-download the software. (You can find out how to do this within the help of your browser.)
2. If the problem persists please e-mail support@sportsmogul.com.
1. Delete your internet cache and re-download the software. (You can find out how to do this within the help of your browser.)
2. If the problem persists please e-mail support@sportsmogul.com.
after install, i get an error: "writing Mogfame.dat." How can i fix that?
This problem happens for both Football and Baseball products, btw.
Try running the installation program ( <Type of>ballMogul<Year>Setup.exe ) as an administrator for your machine. To do this, right click the installation file (for example, for Baseball Mogul 2010, you'd right click BaseballMogul2010Setup.exe). Select 'Run As...' and then choose Administrator (admin) and enter your pasword. Then, install the game and start it up. The Mogfame.dat problems should be resolved.
We recommend against installing your game into C:/program files/. For some reason, our products have a tough time reading and writing there on some machines (especially on Windows Vista). We make the default installation directory in C:/Sports Mogul/.
Try running the installation program ( <Type of>ballMogul<Year>Setup.exe ) as an administrator for your machine. To do this, right click the installation file (for example, for Baseball Mogul 2010, you'd right click BaseballMogul2010Setup.exe). Select 'Run As...' and then choose Administrator (admin) and enter your pasword. Then, install the game and start it up. The Mogfame.dat problems should be resolved.
We recommend against installing your game into C:/program files/. For some reason, our products have a tough time reading and writing there on some machines (especially on Windows Vista). We make the default installation directory in C:/Sports Mogul/.
hOW DO i MANUALLY INSTALL A PATCH?
1) Run Baseball Mogul (or Football Mogul) and open your Baseball Mogul folder (by choosing 'Open Game Folder' from the Help Menu)
2) Close Baseball Mogul (or Football Mogul).
3) Download the zipped patch file (e.g. "fb22-1902-patch.zip" to your desktop).
4) Double-click the file to unzip it.
5) Copy the unzipped file(s) ("fb-22.exe" etc.) to your Baseball/Football Mogul folder (e.g. "C:\Sports Mogul\Football Mogul 22")
6) Approve any requests to copy over existing files.
7) Run the game normally using any previously installed shortcuts.
2) Close Baseball Mogul (or Football Mogul).
3) Download the zipped patch file (e.g. "fb22-1902-patch.zip" to your desktop).
4) Double-click the file to unzip it.
5) Copy the unzipped file(s) ("fb-22.exe" etc.) to your Baseball/Football Mogul folder (e.g. "C:\Sports Mogul\Football Mogul 22")
6) Approve any requests to copy over existing files.
7) Run the game normally using any previously installed shortcuts.
Troubleshooting
I get a 'missing file' error when trying to view box scores or recaps using windows vista
Windows Vista has a serious bug that causes some folders to be set to 'read-only' without your permission. This makes it impossible for Baseball Mogul to output a box score file (or game recap). Furthermore, if you turn off the 'read-only' setting for the box score folder, Vista will turn the setting back on without telling you. Many other software developers are struggling with this issue, and we all hope that Microsoft fixes this bug with the next major release to Vista.
some dialog boxes don't fit on my screen
On the Tools Menu, choose Options.
On the right side of the dialog, under display, you will see a text field next to the words 'Dialog Size Adjustment'. It will probably have the number '0' in it.
To make the game fit better on your screen, you need to make the dialog smaller. So, change '0' to '-1', then click the 'OK' button. If this isn't enough, try '-2'.
On the right side of the dialog, under display, you will see a text field next to the words 'Dialog Size Adjustment'. It will probably have the number '0' in it.
To make the game fit better on your screen, you need to make the dialog smaller. So, change '0' to '-1', then click the 'OK' button. If this isn't enough, try '-2'.
i can run my game, but it is unplayable because the screen looks weird
Many of the graphics settings for Baseball/Football Mogul are stored in a file called Mogfame.dat in their respective directory (usually in C:/Sports Mogul/"game name here"). Delete this file to reset your graphics settings.
I am experiencing random crashes in baseball/Football mogul
Unfortunately, viruses and spyware are growing problems. Many people who've reported frequent crashing have been able to solve them by updating their virus definitions and running a virus scan. And of course if you don't have anti-virus software, you should. You might also need to re-download the game and reinstall the game.
It's also possible that "spy-ware" may be interfering with the game's ability to write to your hard drive. There are free spy-ware removal programs, including SpyBot, available at safer-networking.org.
If you do have a crash that you can reproduce by following a specific set of steps, please send us an e-mail describing the exact steps. If we are able to reproduce the crash following the same steps, then the bug is in the game, and we will fix it as soon as possible.
It's also possible that "spy-ware" may be interfering with the game's ability to write to your hard drive. There are free spy-ware removal programs, including SpyBot, available at safer-networking.org.
If you do have a crash that you can reproduce by following a specific set of steps, please send us an e-mail describing the exact steps. If we are able to reproduce the crash following the same steps, then the bug is in the game, and we will fix it as soon as possible.
how do i run my game on a netbook (or older computer)?
Baseball Mogul is designed primarily for screens that are 1024 pixels wide, by 768 pixels high (or larger). If you are running on a smaller screen (most netbooks are only 600 pixels high), then you can change the 'Dialog Size Adjustment' to make the game fit on your screen. On the Tools Menu, select 'Options'. Next to 'Dialog Size Adjustment', enter a negative number ('-2' works well for most netbooks). This should allow the interface elements to fit on your screen.
file write error: "ACCESS iS DENIED"
In order to save simulation data and your personal settings, Baseball Mogul and Football Mogul require the ability to write files to your hard drive. On some Windows machines, this ability has been disabled for certain users.
You can enable file access by setting Baseball Mogul (or Football Mogul) to run in 'Administrator' mode:
1) Right-click on your Baseball Mogul icon.
2) Choose 'Properties...'.
3) In the Properties Dialog, click the 'Compatibility' tab.
4) At the bottom, under 'Privileges', check 'Run this program as an administrator'.
5) Click 'OK'.
In Windows Vista, you'll need to disable user account control. For more information about running Baseball Mogul or Football Mogul on user accounts with restricted access, read this.
You can enable file access by setting Baseball Mogul (or Football Mogul) to run in 'Administrator' mode:
1) Right-click on your Baseball Mogul icon.
2) Choose 'Properties...'.
3) In the Properties Dialog, click the 'Compatibility' tab.
4) At the bottom, under 'Privileges', check 'Run this program as an administrator'.
5) Click 'OK'.
In Windows Vista, you'll need to disable user account control. For more information about running Baseball Mogul or Football Mogul on user accounts with restricted access, read this.
i get an error message that baseball mogul "can't open" a file for writing
We have had some reports of Baseball Mogul being unable to open "Simulator.dat" or "MogFame.dat". The inability to open files for writing indicates one of the following:
1) Your hard drive is full. Close Baseball Mogul, free up some space, and try again.
2) Windows is low on memory. Closing all other applications and rebooting should fix this.
1) Your hard drive is full. Close Baseball Mogul, free up some space, and try again.
2) Windows is low on memory. Closing all other applications and rebooting should fix this.
I'm experiencing graphical glitches, such as text being printed on top of other text
If Baseball Mogul is having trouble displaying graphics and text, the most likely cause is that Windows is low on memory. Closing all other applications and rebooting should fix this.
Baseball Mogul Functionality
when i click on a game on the calendar page, it sims to that game and plays it live. How do i play two or more games on the same day?
If you right-click on a game (instead of left-clicking), it will flag the game to be played live without actually starting the sim. Then click the team name at the top of the Calendar Page and select the other team, and do the same for that team.
is there an easy way to flag all of a team's games for live play-by-play?
Yes. Right-click on three games on the Calendar Page. Baseball Mogul will see that you are trying to select many games and will present some options so that you don't have to click 162 different games.
how do i copy stats to a spreadsheet (e.g. microsoft excel)?
1. Select 'Sortable Stats' on the Players Menu.
2. Select the Team or League you want to display.
3. Click 'Column Headings' to select which stats you want to show.
4. Right click anywhere inside the player list and choose 'Copy Players To Clipboard'.
5. Open an application like Microsoft Excel and select 'Paste'.
2. Select the Team or League you want to display.
3. Click 'Column Headings' to select which stats you want to show.
4. Right click anywhere inside the player list and choose 'Copy Players To Clipboard'.
5. Open an application like Microsoft Excel and select 'Paste'.
how do I copy stats from the scouting report?
1. Open a player's Scouting Report and click the "clipboard" icon on the right side of the report.
2. Choose stat format (".csv" or ".txt").
3. Open an application like Microsoft Excel or Notepad.
4. Select 'Paste' from the application menu.
2. Choose stat format (".csv" or ".txt").
3. Open an application like Microsoft Excel or Notepad.
4. Select 'Paste' from the application menu.
Player Rosters and Statistics
where do i find a player database with updated rosters and/or salaries?
This is the forum for discussion of the creation of new player databases:
http://forum.sportsmogul.com/forumdisplay.php?f=1729
Most new roster updates are created by other Baseball Mogul users who use the editing tools supplied with Baseball Mogul. These files are generally supplied as a .mog or .dat file.
You can create your own roster update by Resuming a .mog file, turning on Commissioner Mode (under Tools -> Options), editing player information, then saving the game file.
Once you have created or downloaded a new .mog or .dat file, rename the file to 'Universe.dat' (writing over your current Universe.dat file in the Baseball Mogul directory). Then, to use this database when you start the game, select 'Custom' on the initial splash screen. Then choose 'Custom Universe' from the next dialog box.
http://forum.sportsmogul.com/forumdisplay.php?f=1729
Most new roster updates are created by other Baseball Mogul users who use the editing tools supplied with Baseball Mogul. These files are generally supplied as a .mog or .dat file.
You can create your own roster update by Resuming a .mog file, turning on Commissioner Mode (under Tools -> Options), editing player information, then saving the game file.
Once you have created or downloaded a new .mog or .dat file, rename the file to 'Universe.dat' (writing over your current Universe.dat file in the Baseball Mogul directory). Then, to use this database when you start the game, select 'Custom' on the initial splash screen. Then choose 'Custom Universe' from the next dialog box.
how do i transfer saved game files between computers?
The saved game files are stored in files with the ".mog" extension in the same folder as BB2K9.exe.
By default, this is c:\program files\sports mogul\baseball 2009\
In Baseball Mogul 2005 and later, you can automatically open the Baseball Mogul folder by selecting 'Open Game Folder' from the Help Menu.
(To find out which version you have, select 'About Baseball Mogul' from the Help Menu).
By default, this is c:\program files\sports mogul\baseball 2009\
In Baseball Mogul 2005 and later, you can automatically open the Baseball Mogul folder by selecting 'Open Game Folder' from the Help Menu.
(To find out which version you have, select 'About Baseball Mogul' from the Help Menu).
how does baseball mogul load data from the lahman baseball database?
Here's how Baseball Mogul creates player databases:
For years BEFORE the current season, Baseball Mogul looks in the "database" folder to find where each player was at the start of that season. It then loads all career stats leading up to that season.
Because the current season hasn't been played when we ship each new version in March, the database doesn't include any stats for the current season. Therefore, when starting in the current season (by clicking the 'Modern' button):
1. Baseball Mogul loads the most recent season and puts players on the team they were with at the END of that season.
2. Then, to accomodate off-season transactions, Baseball Mogul loads a file called Rosters.csv from 'Players/Input' folder. If a player's name is listed for a team, he is moved to that team.
If a player is on the wrong team, you can edit the Rosters.csv file and Mogul will do the work of moving the players (also, you can share this Rosters.csv with others without the trouble of editing the player database, or creating a new Universe.dat file).
Please visit this forum for updated discussions about player databases.
For years BEFORE the current season, Baseball Mogul looks in the "database" folder to find where each player was at the start of that season. It then loads all career stats leading up to that season.
Because the current season hasn't been played when we ship each new version in March, the database doesn't include any stats for the current season. Therefore, when starting in the current season (by clicking the 'Modern' button):
1. Baseball Mogul loads the most recent season and puts players on the team they were with at the END of that season.
2. Then, to accomodate off-season transactions, Baseball Mogul loads a file called Rosters.csv from 'Players/Input' folder. If a player's name is listed for a team, he is moved to that team.
If a player is on the wrong team, you can edit the Rosters.csv file and Mogul will do the work of moving the players (also, you can share this Rosters.csv with others without the trouble of editing the player database, or creating a new Universe.dat file).
Please visit this forum for updated discussions about player databases.
in historical seasons, baseball mogul loads fewer real life rookies the closer i get to the current season. This means that in the current years, there are a large number of fake players in the amateur draft. Why is this?
Baseball Mogul loads real-life rookies in the year that they turned 18, approximating the age at which most players enter the Amateur Draft (we chose age 18 because we currently don't have access to real-life draft data).
Many of the players that turned 18 in recent years (e.g. 2003, 2004, 2005) aren't yet in the majors. Since we only have stats for players with major league experience, that leaves us without enough players to fill the Amateur Draft.
Therefore, Baseball Mogul needs to create fictional players to fill in the gaps. The closer it is to the current season, the more fictional players are needed to fill the draft pool.
Many of the players that turned 18 in recent years (e.g. 2003, 2004, 2005) aren't yet in the majors. Since we only have stats for players with major league experience, that leaves us without enough players to fill the Amateur Draft.
Therefore, Baseball Mogul needs to create fictional players to fill in the gaps. The closer it is to the current season, the more fictional players are needed to fill the draft pool.
Sports Mogul, Inc.
I have a great idea for a new game! What do you recommend?
I have been making computer games since the 1970s, and professionally for the last 24 years. My first recommendation is to not waste much time pitching an "idea" to game companies. They have more ideas than they know what to do with. What they want to see are game prototypes or demos, and an experienced team that can bring the game to completion.
If your game is similar in scope to something like the first Baseball Mogul (i.e. a development budget of $75,000 or less), you should find a way to get the game up and running on your own, and probably self-publishing (like we did with our first version).
If your game idea needs a larger budget, you should probably get some game industry experience and contacts first. Gamasutra is a good place to start.
This site basically reiterates the above advice about selling your game idea, but in more depth.
If your game is similar in scope to something like the first Baseball Mogul (i.e. a development budget of $75,000 or less), you should find a way to get the game up and running on your own, and probably self-publishing (like we did with our first version).
If your game idea needs a larger budget, you should probably get some game industry experience and contacts first. Gamasutra is a good place to start.
This site basically reiterates the above advice about selling your game idea, but in more depth.
are you currently working on hockey mogul or basketball mogul?
Basketball Mogul was started many years ago, but continual improvements on Baseball Mogul are a higher priority.
Hockey Mogul isn't going to happen. I just don't know hockey well enough to create a realistic simulation.
Hockey Mogul isn't going to happen. I just don't know hockey well enough to create a realistic simulation.
If you are confused about how a feature works in Baseball Mogul, click the Help button on the appropriate screen, or press 'F1', or use the 'Help' menu.
If that doesn't answer your question, e-mail your inquiry to us at support@sportsmogul.com.
If that doesn't answer your question, e-mail your inquiry to us at support@sportsmogul.com.