Virtual Pool
Encyclopedia
The "Virtual Pool" franchise
is a series of 3D
, first-person
sports
simulation video games featuring computer simulation
s of various cue sports (billiards games), including several kinds of pool as well as (in later releases) snooker
and carom billiards. The games were produced, by developer Celeris and publisher Interplay Entertainment
, originally for the PC
(Windows 95
/98
/XP
), Mac (OS 9
), Nintendo 64
and PlayStation
. Not all games were released for all platforms (see individual game articles for details). The original Virtual Pool was re-released in 2009 for iPod Touch
and iPhone
.
The principal selling point of the "Virtual Pool" series games is that they were designed and tested not only by programmers
, but also by physicist
s and professional players. By
the release of Virtual Pool 3, the simulation was so accurate that the game prominently boasts "Guaranteed to improve your actual pool play or your money back" on the front of the box. The series garnered pool industry endorsements, including professional players Mike Sigel
and Jeanette "the Black Widow" Lee, and equipment manufacturers like Viking Cues, Imperial International
, Schön Custom Cues, Creative Innovations, and Joss Cues.
The graphics capabilities vary from game to game and platform to platform, but overall the 3D realism of the various simulated environments (pool halls, etc.) is on par with the graphics in other rendered games (first-person shooters, etc.) of each game's time period. The games' use of that perspective, to shoot balls instead of bullets, rather than falling back on a typical but unrealistic overhead view from the ceiling, contributed strongly to the success of the series.
The complexity of the games increased over time, from Virtual Pool' straightforward offering of four different game types, to Virtual Pool 3' s smorgasbord of snooker, 2 different carom games and 18 pool games, including 4 different variants of eight-ball. Other gradual improvements include more venues, more computerized opponents, equipment upgrade purchases, ability to customize tables (pocket width, etc.), multiplayer and network gaming, video tutorials by top pros Sigel and Lee, and ultimately the ability to earn the privilege of playing a virtual, almost unbeatable Jeanette Lee.
Media franchise
A media franchise is an intellectual property involving the characters, setting and trademarks of an original work of media , such as a film, a work of literature, a television program or a video game. Generally, a whole series is made in a particular medium, along with merchandising and endorsements...
is a series of 3D
3D 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...
, first-person
First person (video games)
In video games, first person refers to a graphical perspective rendered from the viewpoint of the player character. In many cases, this may be the viewpoint from the cockpit of a vehicle. Many different genres have made use of first-person perspectives, ranging from adventure games to flight...
sports
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 games featuring computer simulation
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...
s of various cue sports (billiards games), including several kinds of pool as well as (in later releases) 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 carom billiards. The games were produced, by developer Celeris and publisher Interplay Entertainment
Interplay Entertainment
Interplay Entertainment Corporation is an American video game developer and publisher, founded in 1983 as Interplay Productions by Brian Fargo. The company had been a quality developer until they started publishing their own games in 1988, like Neuromancer and Battle Chess. The company was renamed...
, originally 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...
(Windows 95
Windows 95
Windows 95 is a consumer-oriented graphical user interface-based operating system. It was released on August 24, 1995 by Microsoft, and was a significant progression from the company's previous Windows products...
/98
Windows 98
Windows 98 is a graphical operating system by Microsoft. It is the second major release in the Windows 9x line of operating systems. It was released to manufacturing on 15 May 1998 and to retail on 25 June 1998. Windows 98 is the successor to Windows 95. Like its predecessor, it is a hybrid...
/XP
Windows XP
Windows XP is an operating system produced by Microsoft for use on personal computers, including home and business desktops, laptops and media centers. First released to computer manufacturers on August 24, 2001, it is the second most popular version of Windows, based on installed user base...
), Mac (OS 9
Mac OS 9
Mac OS 9 is the final major release of Apple's Mac OS before the launch of Mac OS X. Introduced on October 23, 1999, Apple positioned it as "The Best Internet Operating System Ever," highlighting Sherlock 2's Internet search capabilities, integration with Apple's free online services known as...
), Nintendo 64
Nintendo 64
The , often referred to as N64, was Nintendo′s third home video game console for the international market. Named for its 64-bit CPU, it was released in June 1996 in Japan, September 1996 in North America, March 1997 in Europe and Australia, September 1997 in France and December 1997 in Brazil...
and 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...
. Not all games were released for all platforms (see individual game articles for details). The original Virtual Pool was re-released in 2009 for iPod Touch
IPod Touch
The iPod Touch is a portable media player, personal digital assistant, handheld game console, and Wi-Fi mobile device designed and marketed by Apple Inc. The iPod Touch adds the multi-touch graphical user interface to the iPod line...
and iPhone
IPhone
The iPhone is a line of Internet and multimedia-enabled smartphones marketed by Apple Inc. The first iPhone was unveiled by Steve Jobs, then CEO of Apple, on January 9, 2007, and released on June 29, 2007...
.
The principal selling point of the "Virtual Pool" series games is that they were designed and tested not only by programmers
Game programmer
A game programmer is a software engineer, programmer, or computer scientist who primarily develops codebase for video games or related software, such as game development tools. Game programming has many specialized disciplines all of which fall under the umbrella term of "game programmer"...
, but also by physicist
Physicist
A physicist is a scientist who studies or practices physics. Physicists study a wide range of physical phenomena in many branches of physics spanning all length scales: from sub-atomic particles of which all ordinary matter is made to the behavior of the material Universe as a whole...
s and professional players. By
the release of Virtual Pool 3, the simulation was so accurate that the game prominently boasts "Guaranteed to improve your actual pool play or your money back" on the front of the box. The series garnered pool industry endorsements, including professional players Mike Sigel
Mike Sigel
Mike Sigel is an American professional pool player.Sigel has won over 102 major pool tournaments, including 3 US Open Nine-ball Championship tournaments and 5 world pocket billiard championship titles...
and Jeanette "the Black Widow" Lee, and equipment manufacturers like Viking Cues, Imperial International
Imperial International
Imperial International is a supplier of billiard tables and other cue sports equipment. According to their website, they stock over 10,000 items, from billiard tables to accessories.-History:...
, Schön Custom Cues, Creative Innovations, and Joss Cues.
The graphics capabilities vary from game to game and platform to platform, but overall the 3D realism of the various simulated environments (pool halls, etc.) is on par with the graphics in other rendered games (first-person shooters, etc.) of each game's time period. The games' use of that perspective, to shoot balls instead of bullets, rather than falling back on a typical but unrealistic overhead view from the ceiling, contributed strongly to the success of the series.
The complexity of the games increased over time, from Virtual Pool
Releases in the series
The releases in the series include:- 1995: Virtual PoolVirtual Pool (video game)Virtual Pool is a 3D, first-person sports simulation video game released by Interplay Entertainment in...
– 4 games, all pool - 1997: Virtual Pool 2 – 9 games, all pool
- 1998: Virtual Pool 64Virtual Pool 64Virtual Pool 64 is a 3D, first-person sports simulation video game that was developed by Celeris and released for the Nintendo 64 by Crave Entertainment on December 17, 1998, solely in North America. The game features computer simulations of 11 forms of pool...
(Nintendo 64Nintendo 64The , often referred to as N64, was Nintendo′s third home video game console for the international market. Named for its 64-bit CPU, it was released in June 1996 in Japan, September 1996 in North America, March 1997 in Europe and Australia, September 1997 in France and December 1997 in Brazil...
only; based on VP2) – 11 games, all pool - 1999: Virtual Pool Hall (VP2 with new features)
- 1998: Virtual Pool 64
- 2000: Virtual Pool 3Virtual Pool 3Virtual Pool 3, often referred to as VP3, is a 3D, first-person sports simulation video game, developed and released for the PC and PlayStation by Celeris...
– 21 games, in 3 disciplines - 2006: Virtual Pool: Tournament Edition (XboxXboxThe Xbox is a sixth-generation video game console manufactured by Microsoft. It was released on November 15, 2001 in North America, February 22, 2002 in Japan, and March 14, 2002 in Australia and Europe and is the predecessor to the Xbox 360. It was Microsoft's first foray into the gaming console...
only) - Forthcoming?: Virtual Pool 3 Gold
- Forthcoming: Virtual Pool 4 (see below)