''Virtual Pool 2'' (acronymed to VP2) is a 3D, first-person

sports Sport is a physical activity or game, often competitive and organized, that maintains or improves physical ability and skills. Sport may provide enjoyment to participants and entertainment to spectators. The number of participants in ...

simulation A simulation is an imitative representation of a process or system that could exist in the real world. In this broad sense, simulation can often be used interchangeably with model. Sometimes a clear distinction between the two terms is made, in ...

video game A video game or computer game is an electronic game that involves interaction with a user interface or input device (such as a joystick, game controller, controller, computer keyboard, keyboard, or motion sensing device) to generate visual fe ...

developed by Celeris and released by

VR Sports Interplay Entertainment Corp. is an American video game developer and Video game publisher, publisher based in Los Angeles. The company was founded in 1983 as Interplay Productions by developers Brian Fargo, Jay Patel, Troy Worrell, and Rebecca ...

on behalf of

Interplay Productions Interplay Entertainment Corp. is an American video game developer and Video game publisher, publisher based in Los Angeles. The company was founded in 1983 as Interplay Productions by developers Brian Fargo, Jay Patel, Troy Worrell, and Rebecca ...

in 1997. It is the third release of the ''Virtual Pool'' franchise of

computer simulation Computer simulation is the running of a mathematical model on a computer, the model being designed to represent the behaviour of, or the outcome of, a real-world or physical system. The reliability of some mathematical models can be determin ...

s of

pool Pool may refer to: Bodies of water * Swimming pool, usually an artificial structure containing a large body of water intended for swimming * Reflecting pool, a shallow pool designed to reflect a structure and its surroundings * Tide pool, a roc ...

games developed by Celeris. ''VP2'' is the second main series title in the Virtual Pool series, and would later be released alongside '' Virtual Pool 1''.

Gameplay

''Virtual Pool 2'' is a simulation of several different modes of

. Like its predecessor, ''

Virtual Pool ''Virtual Pool'' is a 3D, first-person sports simulation video game series with computer simulations of cue sports which was developed by Celeris. The games in the series simulate pool, snooker and carom billiards. The ''Virtual Pool'' series f ...

'', the game is viewed in first-person 3D perspective, in contrast to most earlier pool games, which featured a fixed overhead view. 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. In addition to the three

game modes offered in ''Virtual Pool'' (

nine ball Nine-ball (sometimes written 9-ball) is a discipline of the cue sport pool. The game's origins are traceable to the 1920s in the United States. It is played on a rectangular billiard table with at each of the four corners and in the middle of e ...

straight pool Straight pool, which is also called 14.1 continuous and 14.1 rack, is a Cue sports, cue sport in which two competing players attempt to as many s as possible without playing a . The game was the primary version of Pool (cue sports), pool play ...

and

eight ball Eight-ball (also spelled 8-ball or eightball, and sometimes called solids and stripes, spots and stripes, bigs and smalls, big ones and little ones, or rarely highs and lows) is a discipline of pool played on a billiard table with six pockets, ...

), ''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 Three-ball (or "3-ball", colloquially) is a folk game of pool played with any three standard pool s and . The game is frequently gambled upon. The goal is to () the three object balls in as few shots as possible.10-ball Ten-ball is a rotation pool game similar to nine-ball, but using ten balls instead of nine, and with the 10 ball instead of the 9 as the "". Although the game has existed since the early 1960s, its popularity has risen since the early 2000s as a ...

one-pocket One-pocket is a pool game. Only one pocket for each player is used in this game, unlike other games played on a pool table where any can be used to score . The object of the game is to score points. A point is made when a player pockets any obj ...

and

bank pool Bank pool is a pool game that has as its most fundamental requirement that all scoring shots in the game must be made by a called ball off a and into a called pocket. While the game has multiple variations, the predominant version through much ...

. The game uses a higher frame rate and resolution of

16-bit 16-bit microcomputers are microcomputers that use 16-bit microprocessors. A 16-bit register can store 216 different values. The range of integer values that can be stored in 16 bits depends on the integer representation used. With the two ...

graphics over the original. The game was released for

Microsoft Windows 95 Windows 95 is a consumer-oriented operating system developed by Microsoft and the first of its Windows 9x family of operating systems, released to manufacturing on July 14, 1995, and generally to retail on August 24, 1995. Windows 95 merged ...

, but was later patched to work on

Windows 98 Windows 98 is a consumer-oriented operating system developed by Microsoft as part of its Windows 9x family of Microsoft Windows operating systems. It was the second operating system in the 9x line, as the successor to Windows 95. It was Software ...

. Following on from ''Virtual Pool'', ''Virtual Pool 2'' expands the amount of AI opponents to over 100. 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.

Ronnie O'Sullivan Ronald Antonio O'Sullivan (born 5 December 1975) is an English professional snooker player. Widely recognised as one of the most talented and accomplished players in snooker history, he has won the World Snooker Championship seven times, a m ...

and

Steve Davis Steve Davis (born 22 August 1957) is an English retired professional snooker player who is currently a Sports commentator, commentator, DJ, electronic musician and author. He dominated professional snooker in the 1980s, when he reached eight ...

return from '' Virtual Snooker'' on the box art.

Lou Butera Lou Butera (May 15, 1937 – June 25, 2015) was an American professional pool player (then retired and operated a pool hall) and an inductee into the Billiard Congress of America's Hall of Fame in 1986. His nickname, "Machine Gun Lou", derives f ...

makes a return in game to teach the player trick shots, whilst

Mike Sigel Michael Sigel (born July 11, 1953) is an American professional pool player nicknamed "Captain Hook." He earned the nickname from his ability to hook his opponents with safety plays. Sigel was dominant during the 1980s in 9-Ball and Straight P ...

is seen in game, showing off pool shots via in-game cutscenes.

Reception

''Virtual Pool 2'' received generally similar reviews to that of ''

'', but generally more positive than that of '' Virtual Snooker''. ''

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 ...

'' said that the game had "taken many strides in improving upon its earlier Virtual Pool", and that

had "worked magic". However, they also stated that ''Virtual Pool 2'' "requires some getting used to." ''

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 ...

'' said, "With a great soundtrack, dazzling visuals, and intuitive control, no self-respecting shark should be without ''Virtual Pool 2''." ''

Next Generation Next Generation or Next-Generation may refer to: Publications and literature * ''Next Generation'' (magazine), video game magazine that was made by the now defunct Imagine Media publishing company * Next Generation poets (2004), list of young ...

'' called it "a simulation of rare quality

hat A hat is a Headgear, head covering which is worn for various reasons, including protection against weather conditions, ceremonial reasons such as university graduation, religious reasons, safety, or as a fashion accessory. Hats which incorpor ...

deserves all the success it can get." ''Virtual Pool 2'' was a finalist for the

Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences The Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences (AIAS) is a non-profit organization of video game industry professionals. It organizes the annual Design Innovate Communicate Entertain Summit, better known as D.I.C.E., which includes the presentation ...

inaugural In government and politics, inauguration is the process of swearing a person into office and thus making that person the incumbent. Such an inauguration commonly occurs through a formal ceremony or special event, which may also include an inau ...

" PC Sports Game of the Year" award, and was also nominated for the "Best Sports Game" award at the '' CNET Gamecenter'' Awards for 1997; both awards were ultimately given to '' FIFA: Road to World Cup 98''.

Notes

References

External links

*
Developer Celeris official website
{{DEFAULTSORT:Virtual Pool (Video Game) 1997 video games Interplay Entertainment games Multiplayer and single-player video games Video games developed in the United States Virtual Pool Windows games Windows-only games