Virtual Pool 2

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]

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, two-player

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

Virtual Pool 2 is an accurate simulation of several different modes of pool. Like its predecessor video game, the game is viewed in first-person 3D perspective, in contrast to most earlier pool games which featured a fixed overhead view.[4] And, 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, VP2 includes many mode modes including 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]

Ronnie O'Sullivan and Steve Davis return from Virtual Snooker on the box art, with Davis quoted as saying that the game was "Even better than the original -it allows me to play all my trick shots!", and O'Sullivan "Incredibly realistic - Everything feels just right."[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 over 75 in-game cutscenes.[2][6] Following on from Virtual Pool, VP2 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]

Reception
Reception
Aggregate score
AggregatorScore
GameRankings73%[10]
Review scores
PublicationScore
GameSpot7.8/10[6]
Next Generation[11]

Virtual Pool 2 received generally similar reviews to that of Virtual Pool, but generally more positive than that of Virtual Snooker. Review aggregate website GameRankings scored the game at 73%, with Computer Games Magazine scoring the game 3.5/5, and PC Gameplay scoring the game 7/10.[10] GameSpot scored the game at 7.8, saying that VP2 had "taken many strides in improving upon its earlier Virtual Pool", and that VR Sports had "worked magic".[6] However, they also stated that Virtual Pool 2 "requires some getting used to."[6]

Next Generation reviewed the PC version of the game, rating it five stars out of five, and stated that "This is indeed a simulation of rare quality and deserves all the success it can get."[11]

Virtual Pool 2 was also a finalist for the Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences' 1997 "Personal Computer: Sports Game of the Year" award,[12] which ultimately went to FIFA: Road to World Cup 98.[13]

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gollark: They're not in this.
gollark: I wonder who wrote #14, the weird bitshifty one.
gollark: And YOU are like this weird image in osmarks.tk™ memeCLOUD™.
gollark: Interesting fact: I actually submitted #9 as part of a collaboration with citrons to obfuscate our thingies.

References
  1. Staff (November 27, 1997). "Now Shipping". PC Gamer. Archived from the original on February 18, 1998. Retrieved December 6, 2019.
    Now Shipping: "...Virtual Pool 2..."
  2. "Virtual Pool 2 for PC (1997)". MobyGames. Archived from the original on December 23, 2017. Retrieved December 22, 2017.
  3. "Virtual Pool 1 / Virtual Pool 2 Bundle (Jewel Case)". Amazon.com. Seattle, WA: Amazon.com Inc. Archived from the original on March 2, 2009. Retrieved February 2, 2010.
  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. July 1995. p. 66.
  6. "Virtual Pool 2 Review". GameSpot. December 22, 1997. Archived from the original on December 23, 2017. Retrieved December 22, 2017.
  7. "UK Patch Virtual Pool 2". Interplay Productions. Retrieved December 22, 2017.
  8. "Virtual Pool 2 PC Specifications". CNet.com. Archived from the original on December 23, 2017. Retrieved December 22, 2017.
  9. "Virtual Pool 2 Big Box PC Complete Game". Amazon. Archived from the original on December 22, 2017. Retrieved December 22, 2017.
  10. "Virtual Pool 2 for PC". GameRankings. Archived from the original on December 23, 2017. Retrieved December 22, 2017.
  11. "Finals". Next Generation. No. 38. Imagine Media. February 1998. p. 122.
  12. "The Award; Award Updates 1". Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences. Archived from the original on June 15, 1998.
  13. "The Award; Award Updates 2". Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences. Archived from the original on June 15, 1998.
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