:''This game is not to be confused with the similarly titled Animaniacs: Ten Pin Alley, which was developed by Saffire.'' ''Ten Pin Alley'' is a

ten-pin bowling Tenpin bowling is a type of bowling in which a bowler bowling form, rolls a bowling ball down a wood or synthetic lane toward ten pins positioned Tetractys, evenly in four rows in an equilateral triangle. The goal is to knock down all ten Bowlin ...

simulation game released by

ASC Games ASC Games (abbreviated from American Softworks Corporation) was an American video game publisher founded in 1992. Formerly based in Darien, Connecticut, the company quickly became a major publisher for games on the Nintendo Entertainment System, ...

in 1996 and developed internally at Adrenalin Entertainment. The game was released on November 28, 1996 in North America, and eventually released in February 1998 in the United Kingdom. Just before its North American release, Sony selected the game's demo to be included on its PlayStation sampler disc. A sequel to the game entitled '' Ten Pin Alley 2'', by an unknown developer, was mooted for a release on the

PlayStation 2 The PlayStation 2 (PS2) is a home video game console developed and marketed by Sony Interactive Entertainment, Sony Computer Entertainment. It was first released in Japan on 4 March 2000, in North America on 26 October, in Europe on 24 Novembe ...

, but for unknown reasons was shelved. The sequel, developed by Pronto Games and published by XS Games, was released on the

Game Boy Advance The (GBA) is a 32-bit handheld game console, manufactured by Nintendo, which was released in Japan on March 21, 2001, and to international markets that June. It was later released in mainland China in 2004, under the name iQue Game Boy Advanc ...

to dismal reviews. ''Ten Pin Alley'' should not be confused with an

audio game An audio game is an electronic game played on a device such as a personal computer. It is similar to a video game save that there is audible and tactile feedback but not visual. Audio games originally started out as 'blind accessible'-games and ...

with the same title made by PCS Games.

Gameplay

Players choose from a set of characters, each with their own strengths and weaknesses. The game play modes are single player, multiplayer, tournament and practice. Each shot is controlled in a similar fashion to many of the

golf Golf is a club-and-ball sport in which players use various Golf club, clubs to hit a Golf ball, ball into a series of holes on a golf course, course in as few strokes as possible. Golf, unlike most ball games, cannot and does not use a standa ...

games of the era: with an accuracy based pendulum system. With this the player decides the power, accuracy and hook for each shot.

Critical response

Response to the game was favorable. Critics applauded the accurate and realistic physics, the mechanics for controlling the ball's release, and the humorous behavior of the bowlers. Some critics remarked that the multiplayer capabilities, in combination with its other positive aspects, make ''Ten Pin Alley'' an ideal party video game. '' Next Generation'', for example, called it "the perfect party game, with multiplayer capabilities, wacky characters, and solid game mechanics." ''

GamePro ''GamePro'' was an American multiplatform video game magazine media company that published online and print content covering the video game industry, video game hardware and video game software. The magazine featured content on various video ...

'' summarized, "Striking sparks into the world of bowling, ''Ten Pin Alley'' delivers enough fun per frame to be recognized as the kingpin of its sport." Dean Hager of ''

Electronic Gaming Monthly ''Electronic Gaming Monthly'' (''EGM'') is a monthly American video game magazine. It offers video game news, coverage of industry events, interviews with gaming figures, editorial content and product reviews. History The magazine was fou ...

'' commented, "Despite its cheesy atmosphere and goof-ball characters, this sleeper-hit delivers an accurate and entertaining bowling game to the 32-bit platform." ''

GameSpot ''GameSpot'' is an American video gaming website that provides news, reviews, previews, downloads, and other information on video games. The site was launched on May 1, 1996, created by Pete Deemer, Vince Broady, and Jon Epstein. In addition ...

'' deemed it "more fun than real bowling." ''GamePro'' assessed the Saturn version as inferior to the PlayStation version, elaborating that "Although the aturn versioncontains new camera angles, the alleys and bowlers don't look as cleanly animated as they do in the PlayStation version." However, they considered it a recommended title for Saturn owners due to its strong gameplay. ''Ten Pin Alley'' was inducted into the International Bowling Hall of Fame in 1997, with an exhibit including an

interactive kiosk An interactive kiosk is a computer terminal featuring specialized hardware and software that provides access to information and applications for communication, commerce, entertainment, or education. By 2010, the largest bill pay kiosk network ...

References

External links

* (archived) *{{moby game, id=/ten-pin-alley, name=''Ten Pin Alley'' 1996 video games Adrenalin Entertainment games ASC Games games Bowling video games Multiplayer and single-player video games PlayStation (console) games PlayStation Network games Sega Saturn games Video games developed in the United States Windows games