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

computer simulation Computer simulation is the process of mathematical modelling, performed on a computer, which is designed to predict the behaviour of, or the outcome of, a real-world or physical system. The reliability of some mathematical models can be dete ...

s of pool 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 pool. 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'' serie ...

'', 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 pool 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 sport in which two competing players attempt to as many billiard balls as possible without playing a . The game was the primary version of pool played in professional ...

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 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 for since the early 1960s, its popularity has risen since the early 2000s a ...

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

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 mos ...

graphics over the original. The game was released for Microsoft Windows 95, but was later patched to work on Windows 98. 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 and Steve Davis return from ''

Virtual Snooker ''Virtual Snooker'' is a sports simulation video game developed by Celeris and published by Interplay Productions as an entry in the '' Virtual Pool'' franchise, the second in the series after '' Virtual Pool'' and the first spin-off from pool ga ...

'' on the box art. 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.

Reception

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

'', but generally more positive than that of ''

''. '' 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." ''

GamePro Gamepro.com is an international multiplatform video game magazine media company that covers the video game industry, video game hardware and video game software in countries such as Germany and France. The publication, GamePro, was originally la ...

'' 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 hatdeserves all the success it can get." The game 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 ...

1997 File:1997 Events Collage.png, From left, clockwise: The movie set of ''Titanic'', the highest-grossing movie in history at the time; ''Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone'', is published; Comet Hale-Bopp passes by Earth and becomes one of t ...

" 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 Virtual Pool Windows games Windows-only games Video games developed in the United States Multiplayer and single-player video games