Jimmy White's 2: Cueball
Encyclopedia
Jimmy White's 2: Cueball is a sports
simulation video game published by Virgin Interactive
as a sequel to Jimmy White's Whirlwind Snooker, and released in 1999
for the PC
, Sony PlayStation
and Sega Dreamcast. The development team
was led by Archer MacLean
, the designer of the original game. Cueball is a highly realistic snooker
and pool (pocket billiards) simulator
.
. The game makes use of a 3D accelerator card which enables the player to peruse not only the table, but the entire snooker or pool room. The shadows and reflections of the balls
are rendered
in much more detail, as are the and pockets. The computer player (now represented by a pair of disembodied hands in white gloves) can be viewed from any angle while taking a ; these hands also visibly replace the once .
table) are mini-games. An arcade machine
situated in the pool room even features a fully playable version of Dropzone
, one of MacLean's earliest games. The pool room is a bar / diner featuring a fully functioning jukebox
and fruit machine
.
The game, like its predecessor, features humour elements. Should the computer player lay a particularly nasty , an evil laugh is heard. Taking too long over a shot will send the computer player into a fit of sarcastic coughing. A soundbite of Homer Simpson
exclaiming "d'oh" is also heard when a player goes in-off another ball.
Sports game
A sports game is a computer or video game that simulates the practice of traditional sports. Most sports have been recreated with a game, including team sports, athletics and extreme sports. Some games emphasize actually playing the sport , whilst others emphasize strategy and organization...
simulation video game published by Virgin Interactive
Virgin Interactive
Virgin Interactive was a British video game publisher. It was formed as Virgin Games Ltd. in 1981. The company became much larger after purchasing the budget label, Mastertronic in 1987. It was part of the Virgin Group...
as a sequel to Jimmy White's Whirlwind Snooker, and released in 1999
1999 in video gaming
-Events:*British Academy of Film and Television Arts hosts the 2nd annual BAFTA Interactive Entertainment Awards*March – Game Over republished as “Game Over: Press Start to Continue”...
for the PC
IBM PC compatible
IBM PC compatible computers are those generally similar to the original IBM PC, XT, and AT. Such computers used to be referred to as PC clones, or IBM clones since they almost exactly duplicated all the significant features of the PC architecture, facilitated by various manufacturers' ability to...
, Sony PlayStation
PlayStation
The is a 32-bit fifth-generation video game console first released by Sony Computer Entertainment in Japan on December 3, .The PlayStation was the first of the PlayStation series of consoles and handheld game devices. The PlayStation 2 was the console's successor in 2000...
and Sega Dreamcast. The development team
Game development
Game development is the software development process by which a video game is developed. Development is undertaken by a game developer, which may range from a single person to a large business. Mainstream games are normally funded by a publisher and take several years to develop. Indie games can...
was led by Archer MacLean
Archer MacLean
Archer MacLean is a British video game programmer.- Beginnings :He is the author of such titles as Dropzone and International Karate, which he developed for the Atari 400/800 but were ported to other systems. Archer also created the sequel to International Karate, IK+ which was developed for the...
, the designer of the original game. Cueball is a highly realistic snooker
Snooker
Snooker is a cue sport that is played on a green baize-covered table with pockets in each of the four corners and in the middle of each of the long side cushions. A regular table is . It is played using a cue and snooker balls: one white , 15 worth one point each, and six balls of different :...
and pool (pocket billiards) simulator
Computer simulation
A computer simulation, a computer model, or a computational model is a computer program, or network of computers, that attempts to simulate an abstract model of a particular system...
.
Improvements over the original
A number of features from Whirlwind Snooker were improved upon for Cueball, most notably the graphics3D computer graphics
3D computer graphics are graphics that use a three-dimensional representation of geometric data that is stored in the computer for the purposes of performing calculations and rendering 2D images...
. The game makes use of a 3D accelerator card which enables the player to peruse not only the table, but the entire snooker or pool room. The shadows and reflections of the balls
Billiard ball
A billiard ball is a small, hard ball used in cue sports, such as carom billiards, pool, and snooker. The number, type, diameter, color, and pattern of the balls differ depending upon the specific game being played...
are rendered
Rendering (computer graphics)
Rendering is the process of generating an image from a model , by means of computer programs. A scene file contains objects in a strictly defined language or data structure; it would contain geometry, viewpoint, texture, lighting, and shading information as a description of the virtual scene...
in much more detail, as are the and pockets. The computer player (now represented by a pair of disembodied hands in white gloves) can be viewed from any angle while taking a ; these hands also visibly replace the once .
Other features
Numerous items within the snooker and pool rooms are interactive, some of which (such as the dartboard and draughtsDraughts
Draughts is a group of abstract strategy board games between two players which involve diagonal moves of uniform pieces and mandatory captures by jumping over the enemy's pieces. Draughts developed from alquerque...
table) are mini-games. An arcade machine
Arcade game
An arcade game is a coin-operated entertainment machine, usually installed in public businesses such as restaurants, bars, and amusement arcades. Most arcade games are video games, pinball machines, electro-mechanical games, redemption games, and merchandisers...
situated in the pool room even features a fully playable version of Dropzone
Dropzone
Dropzone is a shoot 'em up video game developed by Arena Graphics in 1984. It is a bi-directional, horizontally scrolling shoot 'em up in the style of Defender. It was designed and written by Archer MacLean, his first commercial video game. In fact, "Arena Graphics" is just a shell name for MacLean...
, one of MacLean's earliest games. The pool room is a bar / diner featuring a fully functioning jukebox
Jukebox
A jukebox is a partially automated music-playing device, usually a coin-operated machine, that will play a patron's selection from self-contained media...
and fruit machine
Slot machine
A slot machine , informally fruit machine , the slots , poker machine or "pokies" or simply slot is a casino gambling machine with three or more reels which spin when a button is pushed...
.
The game, like its predecessor, features humour elements. Should the computer player lay a particularly nasty , an evil laugh is heard. Taking too long over a shot will send the computer player into a fit of sarcastic coughing. A soundbite of Homer Simpson
Homer Simpson
Homer Jay Simpson is a fictional character in the animated television series The Simpsons and the patriarch of the eponymous family. He is voiced by Dan Castellaneta and first appeared on television, along with the rest of his family, in The Tracey Ullman Show short "Good Night" on April 19, 1987...
exclaiming "d'oh" is also heard when a player goes in-off another ball.