Virtual Pool (video game)
Encyclopedia
Virtual Pool is a 3D
, first-person
sports
simulation video game released by Interplay Entertainment
in . It is the first of the "Virtual Pool" franchise of computer simulation
s of pool (pocket billiards) games developed by Celeris.
, eight-ball, nine-ball, and rotation pool. The game is viewed in first-person 3D perspective, in contrast to most earlier pool games which featured a fixed overhead view.
The game's publishers, Interplay, offered a full refund for buyers of the game who did not see an improvement in their pool abilities within 45 days of purchase and returned the CD-ROM to the company.
Virtual Pool has revolutionary features that allow players to actually 'walk' around the table to check out their next shot, take a closer look, back away, look left or right and then line-up the shot like they would in a real game with a real table. This title also allows players to take an overhead view from above, something unavailable in a real pool game. Taking game tips from World Champion pool player "Machine Gun" Lou Butera
is guaranteed to improve the player's game. "Machine Gun" Lou will teach players over 30 famous trick shots the player can practice on their computer screen and then implement on a real table.
jewel case edition (i.e., a bargain bin
version without a box), called the Virtual Pool 1 / Virtual Pool 2 Bundle
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 game released by 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...
in . It is the first of the "Virtual Pool" franchise of 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 pool (pocket billiards) games developed by Celeris.
Overview
Virtual Pool is an accurate simulation of straight poolStraight Pool
Straight pool, also called 14.1 continuous or simply 14.1, is a pocket billiards game, and was the common sport of championship competition until overtaken by faster-playing games like nine-ball...
, eight-ball, nine-ball, and rotation pool. The game is viewed in first-person 3D perspective, in contrast to most earlier pool games which featured a fixed overhead view.
The game's publishers, Interplay, offered a full refund for buyers of the game who did not see an improvement in their pool abilities within 45 days of purchase and returned the CD-ROM to the company.
Virtual Pool has revolutionary features that allow players to actually 'walk' around the table to check out their next shot, take a closer look, back away, look left or right and then line-up the shot like they would in a real game with a real table. This title also allows players to take an overhead view from above, something unavailable in a real pool game. Taking game tips from World Champion pool player "Machine Gun" Lou Butera
Lou Butera
Lou Butera is an American professional pool player and an inductee into the Billiards Congress of America's Hall of Fame in 1986....
is guaranteed to improve the player's game. "Machine Gun" Lou will teach players over 30 famous trick shots the player can practice on their computer screen and then implement on a real table.
Reception
- Entertainment WeeklyEntertainment WeeklyEntertainment Weekly is an American magazine, published by the Time division of Time Warner, that covers film, television, music, broadway theatre, books and popular culture...
: "With its first-person perspective and true-to-life physics, Virtual Pool is one of the rare simulations that may actually improve your real game."
Re-release
Some time after the release of the sequel Virtual Pool 2, both games were re-packaged as a two-in-one CD-ROMCD-ROM
A CD-ROM is a pre-pressed compact disc that contains data accessible to, but not writable by, a computer for data storage and music playback. The 1985 “Yellow Book” standard developed by Sony and Philips adapted the format to hold any form of binary data....
jewel case edition (i.e., a bargain bin
Bargain bin
A bargain bin refers to an unsorted selection of merchandise, particularly softwares, tools and CDs, which have been discounted in price. Reasons for the discount can range from the closure of a production company to a steep decline in an item's popularity in the aftermath of a fad or scandal....
version without a box), called the Virtual Pool 1 / Virtual Pool 2 Bundle
Trivia
- Pre-release versions of the 1995 PC version of Virtual Pool got leaked. The authorized production version of the game has the code marking ICD-120-0 through ICD-120-5 on each disc. The stolen version CD code is ICD-059-0. According to IPCIndustrial PCAn Industrial PC is an x86 PC-based computing platform for industrial applications.- History :IBM released the 5531 Industrial Computer in 1984 , arguably the first 'industrial PC'. The IBM 7531, an industrial version of the IBM AT PC was released May 21, 1985. Industrial Computer Source first...
the stolen version was "being offered for sale at some swap meets, computer fairs and small retail shops" and "contain a defective software program which will not operate properly."