A clever niche: most baseball games make you swing; this one makes you think like a pitching coach. The real NPB probability tables give every call genuine weight — you're not guessing, you're managing risk, and the scoring reflects it. Japanese reading ability is effectively required, but for stats-minded baseball fans who can navigate the UI, it's a neat five-inning brain teaser.
About ノートサイン配球ゲーム
This Japanese-language play-calling game puts you in the catcher's box for the decisive pitch. Instead of swinging a bat you make the call: read the situation — inning, score gap, outs, runners on base — plus the pitcher's and batter's traits, decide what you want (a strikeout, a grounder or a fly ball), then pick one of 9 zones and throw the sign.
Every call is scored by probability. The game uses real NPB situational scoring probabilities from 2004–2013, compiled in the book 'Winning Baseball Statistics' (勝てる野球の統計学): the drop in the chance of conceding a run becomes your points, while getting scored on costs you heavily. About 15% of pitches miss the intended zone, and sometimes you'll suppress the damage even on a miss.
A session covers 5 plate appearances — 'Today's 5 Batters' gives every player the same situations that day, so you can compare scores in the comments. Pitchers and batters are fictional; zone averages and batted-ball outcomes are designed for game balance. The page credits production and commentary to Note Sign (ノートサイン), with sound effects from Sound Effect Lab (効果音ラボ).
How to Play
Check the game situation (inning, score, outs, runners) and the pitcher-batter matchup. Choose your aim — strikeout, grounder or fly — then select one of the 9 zones and call the sign. Your score is the reduction in run-conceding probability; a big negative lands if the batter reaches. You get 5 plate appearances per session.
Controls
See the original itch.io page for the developer's control notes.
Tips & Tricks
With a runner on third and one out, a grounder is usually worth more than chasing a strikeout.
The 15% miss chance means corner zones carry risk — the middle grid trades upside for reliability.
Read the batter's traits before the zone: the same call isn't right against every hitter.
Features
Baseball pitch-calling game from the catcher's perspective
Scored on real NPB 2004–2013 situational run-probability tables
9-zone course selection with a 15% throw-miss mechanic
Aim for strikeouts, grounders or fly balls depending on the situation
Daily 'Today's 5 Batters' mode with identical situations for score comparison
Japanese-language presentation (baseball terminology throughout)
Made by baseball-strategy channel Note Sign
Latest Updates
Added to PlayBloo
Call the pitch from behind the plate: one decisive sign, and the run probability does the rest.. Discovered on itch.io's new releases feed and added to the PlayBloo catalogue with verified source details.
PlayBloo
