Virtual Pool (video game)

Virtual Pool

Cover art
Developer(s) Celeris
Publisher(s) Interplay Entertainment
Platform(s) MS-DOS, Macintosh, PlayStation, Windows
Release date(s) MS-DOS and Windows
1995
Macintosh
  • NA March 1997
Playstation
  • EU May 1997
  • NA November 17, 1997
Genre(s) Sports simulationpool
Mode(s) Single-player, two-player
Rating(s)
Media/distribution Compact disc

Virtual Pool (retroactively renamed Virtual Pool 1 after the release of sequels)[1] is a 3D, first-person sports simulation video game released by Interplay Entertainment in 1995. It is the first of the "Virtual Pool" franchise of computer simulations of pool (pocket billiards) games developed by Celeris.

Contents

Overview

Virtual Pool is an accurate simulation of straight pool, eight-ball, nine-ball, and rotation pool.[2] The game is viewed in first-person 3D perspective, in contrast to most earlier pool games which featured a fixed overhead view.[3]

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.[4]

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.

Reception

Re-release

Some time after the release of the sequel Virtual Pool 2, both games were re-packaged as a two-in-one CD-ROM jewel case edition (i.e., a bargain bin version without a box), called the Virtual Pool 1 / Virtual Pool 2 Bundle[1]

Trivia

References

  1. ^ a b "Virtual Pool 1 / Virtual Pool 2 Bundle (Jewel Case)". Amazon.com. Seattle, WA: Amazon.com Inc.. 1996–2010 =copyright date?. http://www.amazon.com/Virtual-Pool-Bundle-Jewel-Case-Pc/dp/B000058AL9. Retrieved February 2, 2010. 
  2. ^ Desjardins, Dawn (1998). CD-ROMs in Print 1998. Farmington Hills, MI: Gale. p. 940. ISBN 0787610593. 
  3. ^ Newman, Jeff (December 1995). "Bosses Bound and Gagged, Now Let the Games Begin". Network Computing 6 (16): p. 32. 
  4. ^ "Bits & Bytes: The Enter*Active File". Billboard: p. 66. July 1995. 
  5. ^ "Virtual Pool Review"]. Entertainment Weekly. June 2, 1995. http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,297449,00.html 

External links