Software:Virtual Pool 2

From HandWiki
Short description: 1997 video game
Virtual Pool 2
Original PC release box art
Developer(s)Celeris
Publisher(s)VR Sports
Platform(s)Windows
Release
Genre(s)Sports simulation – pool
Mode(s)Single-player, multiplayer

Virtual Pool 2 (acronymed to VP2) is a 3D, first-person sports simulation video game developed by Celeris and released by VR Sports on behalf of Interplay Productions in 1997.[2] It is the third release of the Virtual Pool franchise of computer simulations of pool games developed by Celeris.[2] VP2 is the second main series title in the Virtual Pool series, and would later be released alongside Virtual Pool 1.[3]

Gameplay

Player attempts to pot the "3" Ball in the corner pocket, using left hand english and follow

Virtual Pool 2 is a simulation of several different modes of pool. Like its predecessor, Virtual Pool, the game is viewed in first-person 3D perspective, in contrast to most earlier pool games, which featured a fixed overhead view.[4] As with all Virtual Pool games, 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.[5][6]

In addition to the three pool game modes offered in Virtual Pool (nine ball, straight pool and eight ball), Virtual Pool 2 includes different modes of eight-ball pool (APA rules, English pub or American bar variations), as well as other variants, such as three-ball, 10-ball, one-pocket and bank pool.[2] The game uses a higher frame rate and resolution of 16-bit graphics over the original.[2] The game was released for Microsoft Windows 95, but was later patched to work on Windows 98.[7][8]

Following on from Virtual Pool, Virtual Pool 2 expands the amount of AI opponents to over 100.[6] Whilst also expanding the number of game modes on offer, the game also includes the ability to play, and create tournaments, all for online, single player, or multiplayer use.[6]

Ronnie O'Sullivan and Steve Davis return from Virtual Snooker on the box art.[9] Lou Butera makes a return in game to teach the player trick shots, whilst Mike Sigel is seen in game, showing off pool shots via in-game cutscenes.[2][6]

Reception

Reception
Aggregate score
AggregatorScore
GameRankings73%[10]
Review scores
PublicationScore
CGSPStarStarStarHalf star[12]
CGWStarStarStarStarHalf star[13]
GameSpot7.8/10[6]
GameStar78%[14]
Hyper84%[15]
Next GenerationStarStarStarStarStar[16]
PC Gamer (US)90%[17]

Virtual Pool 2 received generally similar reviews to that of Virtual Pool, but generally more positive than that of Virtual Snooker. GameSpot said that the game had "taken many strides in improving upon its earlier Virtual Pool", and that VR Sports had "worked magic". However, they also stated that Virtual Pool 2 "requires some getting used to."[6] GamePro said, "With a great soundtrack, dazzling visuals, and intuitive control, no self-respecting shark should be without Virtual Pool 2."[18][lower-alpha 1] Next Generation called it "a simulation of rare quality [that] deserves all the success it can get."[16]

Virtual Pool 2 was a finalist for the Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences' inaugural "PC Sports Game of the Year" award,[19] and was also nominated for the "Best Sports Game" award at the CNET Gamecenter Awards for 1997;[20] both awards were ultimately given to Software:FIFA: Road to World Cup 98.[21][22]

Notes

  1. ↑ GamePro gave the game a perfect 5/5 for graphics, sound, control, and fun factor.

References

  1. ↑ PC Gamer staff (November 20, 1997). "Now Shipping". Imagine Media. http://www.pcgamer.com/news/news-1997-11-17.html. "Now Shipping: ...Virtual Pool 2..." 
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 "Virtual Pool 2 (1997) Windows release dates". Blue Flame Labs. https://www.mobygames.com/game/windows/virtual-pool-2/release-info. 
  3. ↑ "Virtual Pool 1 / Virtual Pool 2 Bundle (Jewel Case)". Seattle: Amazon.com Inc.. https://www.amazon.com/Virtual-Pool-Bundle-Jewel-Case-Pc/dp/B000058AL9. 
  4. ↑ Newman, Jeff (December 1995). "Bosses Bound and Gagged, Now Let the Games Begin". Network Computing 6 (16): 32. 
  5. ↑ "Bits & Bytes: The Enter*Active File". Billboard (Eldridge Industries): 66. July 1995. 
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 6.4 6.5 Hunsanger, Kevin (December 22, 1997). "Virtual Pool 2 Review [date mislabeled as "May 2, 2000""]. Red Ventures. https://www.gamespot.com/reviews/virtual-pool-2-review/1900-2531769/. 
  7. ↑ "UK Patch Virtual Pool 2". http://www.interplay.com/downloads/pool2uk.zip. 
  8. ↑ "Virtual Pool 2 PC Specifications". CBS Interactive. https://www.cnet.com/products/virtual-pool-2-pc/specs/. 
  9. ↑ Virtual Pool 2 Big Box PC Complete Game. Amazon.com Inc.. https://www.amazon.co.uk/Virtual-Pool-Big-Game-Complete/dp/B000YOJ0JE. Retrieved December 22, 2017. 
  10. ↑ "Virtual Pool 2 for PC". CBS Interactive. https://www.gamerankings.com/pc/55430-virtual-pool-2/index.html. 
  11. ↑ Bateman, Selby (December 2, 1997). "Virtual Pool 2". CNET. http://www.gamecenter.com/Reviews/Item/0,6,0-1336,00.html. 
  12. ↑ Smith, Peter (1997). "Virtual Pool 2". Strategy Plus, Inc.. http://www.cdmag.com/articles/009/100/vp2_review.html. 
  13. ↑ Coffey, Robert (June 1998). "Virtual Pool 2". Computer Gaming World (Ziff Davis) (167): S26. http://www.cgwmuseum.org/galleries/issues/cgw_167.pdf. Retrieved November 3, 2021. 
  14. ↑ "Virtual Pool 2" (in de). GameStar (Webedia). November 1997. 
  15. ↑ Toose, Dan (February 1998). "Virtual Pool 2". Hyper (Next Media Pty Ltd) (52): 81. https://retrocdn.net/images/6/6b/Hyper_AU_052.pdf. Retrieved November 3, 2021. 
  16. ↑ 16.0 16.1 "Virtual Pool 2". Next Generation (Imagine Media) (38): 122. February 1998. https://archive.org/details/NextGeneration38Feb1998/page/n123/mode/2up. Retrieved November 3, 2021. 
  17. ↑ Vaughn, Todd (January 1998). "Virtual Pool 2". PC Gamer (Imagine Media) 5 (1). http://www.pcgamer.com/reviews/1133.html. Retrieved November 3, 2021. 
  18. ↑ Dan Elektro (February 1998). "Virtual Pool 2". GamePro (IDG Entertainment) (113): 71. https://archive.org/details/GamePro_Issue_103_February_1998/page/n75/mode/2up. Retrieved November 3, 2021. 
  19. ↑ "The Award - Updates". http://www.interactive.org/html/award/awardupdate.htm. 
  20. ↑ Gamecenter staff (January 28, 1998). "The Gamecenter Awards for 1997! (Sports, Part 2)". CNET. http://www.gamecenter.com/Features/Exclusives/Awards97/Off/ss10a.html. 
  21. ↑ "The Award - Winners". http://www.interactive.org/html/award/awardwin98.htm. 
  22. ↑ Gamecenter staff (January 28, 1998). "The Gamecenter Awards for 1997! (Sports Winner)". CNET. http://www.gamecenter.com/Features/Exclusives/Awards97/Off/ss10b.html. 
  • MobyGames is a commercial database website that catalogs information on video games and the people and companies behind them via crowdsourcing. This includes over 300,000 games for hundreds of platforms.[1] Founded in 1999, ownership of the site has changed hands several times. It has been owned by Atari SA since 2022.

Features

Edits and submissions to the site (including screenshots, box art, developer information, game summaries, and more) go through a verification process of fact-checking by volunteer "approvers".[2] This lengthy approval process after submission can range from minutes to days or months.[3] The most commonly used sources are the video game's website, packaging, and credit screens. There is a published standard for game information and copy-editing.[4] A ranking system allows users to earn points for contributing accurate information.[5]

Registered users can rate and review games. Users can create private or public "have" and "want" lists, which can generate a list of games available for trade with other registered users. The site contains an integrated forum. Each listed game can have its own sub-forum.

History

Logo used until March 2014

MobyGames was founded on March 1, 1999, by Jim Leonard and Brian Hirt, and joined by David Berk 18 months later, the three of which had been friends since high school.[6][7] Leonard had the idea of sharing information about computer games with a larger audience. The database began with information about games for IBM PC compatibles, relying on the founders' personal collections. Eventually, the site was opened up to allow general users to contribute information.[5] In a 2003 interview, Berk emphasized MobyGames' dedication to taking video games more seriously than broader society and to preserving games for their important cultural influence.[5]

In mid-2010, MobyGames was purchased by GameFly for an undisclosed amount.[8] This was announced to the community post factum , and the site's interface was given an unpopular redesign.[7] A few major contributors left, refusing to do volunteer work for a commercial website.{{Citation needed|date=June 2025} On December 18, 2013, MobyGames was acquired by Jeremiah Freyholtz, owner of Blue Flame Labs (a San Francisco-based game and web development company) and VGBoxArt (a site for fan-made video game box art).[9] Blue Flame Labs reverted MobyGames' interface to its pre-overhaul look and feel,[10] and for the next eight years, the site was run by Freyholtz and Independent Games Festival organizer Simon Carless.[7]

On November 24, 2021, Atari SA announced a potential deal with Blue Flame Labs to purchase MobyGames for $1.5 million.[11] The purchase was completed on 8 March 2022, with Freyholtz remaining as general manager.[12][13][14] Over the next year, the financial boost given by Atari led to a rework of the site being built from scratch with a new backend codebase, as well as updates improving the mobile and desktop user interface.[1] This was accomplished by investing in full-time development of the site instead of its previously part-time development.[15]

In 2024, MobyGames began offering a paid "Pro" membership option for the site to generate additional revenue.[16] Previously, the site had generated income exclusively through banner ads and (from March 2014 onward) a small number of patrons via the Patreon website.[17]

See also

  • IGDB – game database used by Twitch for its search and discovery functions

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Sheehan, Gavin (2023-02-22). "Atari Relaunches The Fully Rebuilt & Optimized MobyGames Website". https://bleedingcool.com/games/atari-relaunches-the-fully-rebuilt-optimized-mobygames-website/. 
  2. ↑ Litchfield, Ted (2021-11-26). "Zombie company Atari to devour MobyGames". https://www.pcgamer.com/zombie-company-atari-to-devour-mobygames/. 
  3. ↑ "MobyGames FAQ: Emails Answered § When will my submission be approved?". Blue Flame Labs. 30 March 2014. http://www.mobygames.com/info/faq7#g1. 
  4. ↑ "The MobyGames Standards and Practices". Blue Flame Labs. 6 January 2016. http://www.mobygames.com/info/standards. 
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 Miller, Stanley A. (2003-04-22). "People's choice awards honor favorite Web sites". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. 
  6. ↑ "20 Years of MobyGames" (in en). 2019-02-28. https://trixter.oldskool.org/2019/02/28/20-years-of-mobygames/. 
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 Plunkett, Luke (2022-03-10). "Atari Buys MobyGames For $1.5 Million". https://kotaku.com/mobygames-retro-credits-database-imdb-atari-freyholtz-b-1848638521. 
  8. ↑ "Report: MobyGames Acquired By GameFly Media". Gamasutra. 2011-02-07. https://www.gamedeveloper.com/game-platforms/report-mobygames-acquired-by-gamefly-media. 
  9. ↑ Corriea, Alexa Ray (December 31, 2013). "MobyGames purchased from GameFly, improvements planned". http://www.polygon.com/2013/12/31/5261414/mobygames-purchased-from-gamefly-improvements-planned. 
  10. ↑ Wawro, Alex (31 December 2013). "Game dev database MobyGames getting some TLC under new owner". Gamasutra. https://www.gamedeveloper.com/business/game-dev-database-mobygames-getting-some-tlc-under-new-owner. 
  11. ↑ "Atari invests in Anstream, may buy MobyGames". November 24, 2021. https://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2021-11-24-atari-invests-in-anstream-may-buy-mobygames. 
  12. ↑ Rousseau, Jeffrey (2022-03-09). "Atari purchases Moby Games". https://www.gamesindustry.biz/atari-purchases-moby-games. 
  13. ↑ "Atari Completes MobyGames Acquisition, Details Plans for the Site's Continued Support". March 8, 2022. https://www.atari.com/atari-completes-mobygames-acquisition-details-plans-for-the-sites-continued-support/. 
  14. ↑ "Atari has acquired game database MobyGames for $1.5 million" (in en-GB). 2022-03-09. https://www.videogameschronicle.com/news/atari-has-acquired-game-database-mobygames-for-1-5-million/. 
  15. ↑ Stanton, Rich (2022-03-10). "Atari buys videogame database MobyGames for $1.5 million". https://www.pcgamer.com/atari-buys-videogame-database-mobygames-for-dollar15-million/. 
  16. ↑ Harris, John (2024-03-09). "MobyGames Offering “Pro” Membership". https://setsideb.com/mobygames-offering-pro-membership/. 
  17. ↑ "MobyGames on Patreon". http://www.patreon.com/mobygames. 
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