Virtual Pool 3

Virtual Pool 3
File:Vp3-Cover.gif North American PC box art
Developer(s)	Celeris
Publisher(s)	Interplay Entertainment Global Star Software
Series	Virtual Pool
Platform(s)	PC PlayStation
Release	PC NA: November 14, 2000 PlayStation NA: August 11, 2003 PlayStation Network NA: November 02, 2010
Genre(s)	Sports (cue sports)
Mode(s)	Single-player, multiplayer

Virtual Pool 3 is a 3D, first-person sports simulation video game, developed and released for the PC and PlayStation by Celeris.

Overview

The Virtual Pool series made its debut in 1995 with the release of Virtual Pool. From there, Interplay went on to release Virtual Pool 2 in November 1997, adding a wealth of improvements including enhanced physics modelling and a handful of new game types. Virtual Pool Hall soon followed in December 1999, bringing with it the introduction of snooker to the series. It wasn't a perfect break though, as Virtual Pool Hall suffered from poor opponent AI and a lack of a pool hall atmosphere, ironic considering its name.

Initially, Virtual Pool 3 was released as a retail boxed version endorsed by Jeanette Lee, the successful Korean-American professional pool player. Currently the latest version is available on the Celeris site as a download and is still supported via downloadable patches.

The game is an active Internet pastime for many amateur billiards enthusiasts all over the world (most notably from the USA and Europe), with a small but dedicated following, many of whom have been playing the game for years.

Gameplay

Nine-ball in Virtual Pool 3 single-player mode

The game can be played in single-player mode against the computer (Career Mode, Tournament or Quick Play), or against other human opponents on the Internet or locally through a LAN.

The game features eight billiard venues the player can choose from, which include six pool tables, a snooker table, and a carom table for cushion caroms or three-cushion billiards. There are three preset table configurations available for all games (Championship, Professional or Amateur), but any table can be customized for roll speed and pocket dimensions.

Twenty-one variations are featured in the game, and while most players stick to pool favorites such as nine-ball, eight-ball and straight pool, as well as snooker, the inclusion of less common variations such as cowboy pool, honolulu and bowliards may be of interest to some, especially since finding real-life players of them can be difficult.

The games featured in Virtual Pool 3 are as it follows:

• Snooker
• Nine-ball
• Straight pool
• Eight-ball – league
• Eight-ball – pub
• Eight-ball – midwest
• Eight-ball – bar
• Ten-ball
• Six-Ball
• Three-ball
• One-pocket
• Rotation
• Bank pool
• Honolulu
• Cowboy pool
• Bowliards
• Cribbage pool
• Fifteen ball
• Basic pocket billiards
• Cushion caroms (one-cushion carom billiards)
• Three-cushion billiards

Beginning a frame of snooker online

Critical response

Virtual Pool 3 was mostly very well received by critics, with an average score of 85% at GameRankings, which makes it the highest rated billiards game on the PC platform, as of 2007.

• GameSpot: 8.7/10
• IGN: 8.5/10
• PC Zone: 8.5/10
• PC Gamer: 8.5/10

Sequel

Virtual Pool 4 is projected to be the long-expected next generation of the Virtual Pool series, which is now officially under development. As stated on the game's official Facebook page, the offline version is up for release in late summer 2012, after which all focus will be on the online version.

External links

• Virtual Pool 3 official website