Virtual Pool 3 demo for Windows

User Reviews

• Not what it's cracked up to be.

  skeptic1stJanuary 30, 2010

  Pros

  Excellent point-of-view physics that make the game seem very real.

  Cons

  The physics aren't nearly as "realistic" as you're being led to believe.

  Summary

  As noted under "Cons," the behavior of the balls, etc., isn't quite tied to reality. Rather, the physics have been tweaked subtly to influence how things turn out in the end. Briefly, if you play the game, you ultimately realize that (1) if you strike the cue ball a little too hard, you'll wind up scratching far more often than would be the case in the real world; and (2) if you're playing (say) 9-ball, "extra" balls will get knocked into the pockets at a disproportionately high rate. There are also subjective (non-real) effects in terms of how far a ball may roll--particularly in career mode, the programmers obviously wanted to control not only how the game is played but what the outcome was going to be. I have no idea why this was done. It certainly detracts from the game at every level, and I'm hard-pressed to understand why it would have been any more difficult to just let reality be realtiy. Another note--if you were foolish enough to purchase the CD version of Virtual Pool 3 (after the Jeannette Lee edition), you're up a creek in terms of support any any level. Celeris just doesn't support it, period. To me, that's just chicken****.<br /><br /><span class='notifyMsg'> Updated </span>on Jun 28, 2010<p/>Here's how to stink up a decent sim! The physics are nice, or seem to be. But when you get into the game play in some depth, you realize that it's all "dumbed-down"--i.e., the computer tweeks ball roll, direction, speed in some situations rather than just calculating it mathematically. In Career Mode, this leads to scripted outcomes rather than real competition based on credible odds or tolerances (the computer opponent can be as good or bad as the programmer thinks the situation requires, and your efforts are similarly helped or hindered arbitrarily). Perhaps the most irritating feature of this game (not a real sim, as noted) is the allowance of shots that would be purely illegal in a real pool room--masse and jump shots specifically. Somebody obviously though this was WAAAAAAAY cool, but it actually just punks down the game, kind of like adding monsters to a car racing "sim." They need to backtrack on some things and give users what they deserve (what's advertised!).<br /><br /><span class='notifyMsg'> Updated </span>on Oct 8, 2010<p/>Just a note about the designers of this sim-- They clearly had no respect for the real game. In this sim, jump shots and masse shots are perfectly okay, even though they're illegal everywhere in the real world. This trashes up the game and detracts from what would otherwise be a very nice (and realistic) sim. Add to that the serious flaws in the game physics and the even more annoying weaknesses in the career mode, this comes up far short of what could have been achieved, and what should have been readily attainable at this stage. (After all, now many versions of this game have there been?) It's time to get it right.

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• EXCELLENT POOL SIMULATOR

  misterdownloaderDecember 24, 2009

  Pros

  I actual have the full version Virtual Pool 3 DL version 3 3.3.1.1 .Which I bought at there website.It ismost like being in a real pool hall.The best part is to play online against players from all over the world.Physics are good .

  Cons

  No cons but I would like to see more rooms to choose from. Graphics could be a little better.It's not spectacular looking

  Summary

  It's worth the price by far.Buy the game and have tons of enjoyment.Adding english to cueball is nice. masse (massé) shots can be done.Online chat during gameplay

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• The motion of balls, particularly the physics itself gives a very realistic game

  lungfungMay 28, 2007

  Pros

  Me myself like billiards

  Cons

  Summary

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• I liked it

  tycobb09April 7, 2006

  Pros

  I really like this game.It's simple and has great gameplay.The graphics are nice and the backrounds are interesting.Try it man it's free.

  Cons

  Not much.The sound on this game needs some work.I'm not nearly as good as in real life. <p>I'm not being cute here, but I think gta san andreas has the best pool game I've ever played unfortunately it's not a pool game lol which means only 1 table.I wish someone would just copy them ,only a full fledged pool game.

  Summary

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• On my top list of billiards games

  Stinger15January 23, 2006

  Pros

  Great realism, great graphics, easy gameplay, and low enough requirements to play on my crap hold of a computer. It has a great realism system that also runs fast and smooth. No lagging on low system performance computers. I can't rate much as I have not bought the game, but from what I played in the dem (single-player 4-ball) it is fun and would expected (from what I've played) be amazing on the full version. Recommended.

  Cons

  The sound in this game is horrible. It randomly makes loud annoying sounds. Luckily that can altered with sound volume on your computer.

  Summary

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• The best pool simulation ever

  zwylleJanuary 18, 2006

  Pros

  It's not only a great way to improve your real life pool skills, you can play people from all over the world in daily tournaments on Gamespy. <p>Other than in most other poolgames you actually feel the shot. You stroke the mouse like you would stroke a cuestick and shoot in realtime, the speed of the ball reflected in the speed you move the mouse.

  Cons

  What I don't like.. not much.. just instead of a few hundred there should be thousands of pool players in the VP3 online community.

  Summary

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• Best Pool, Carom and Snooker sim ever with full realism.

  billiardsdigestJanuary 11, 2006

  Pros

  Gameplay is fast and fluent, highly customizeable settings, has low hardware requirements, runs absolutely smooth and is so close to reality. So many game types to choose from, Snooker, 1Cushion, 3Cushion, 9Ball, Straight, 4 types of 8ball and many many more. Big, FREE online community on a very high standard, direct contact to the programmers, forums, daily online tournaments, world championships, etc. This is the game all real billiard players ever dreamed of.

  Cons

  In game sound... better put your fav CD in.

  Summary

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• Just Pass Me By

  TristanParrishJanuary 10, 2006

  Pros

  Cons

  Unfortunately, I don't think this game is up to snuff. I currently play TerraGames' Live Billiards, and it's far superior in graphics and playability to Virtual Pool

  Summary

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• Almost better than the real thing!

  robbiemalynnJanuary 6, 2006

  Pros

  I have the Full game. Its very realistic, You could practice your real pool with this game, in terms of getting your angles and other aspects of playing pool right. The different types of challenges make it very interesting.

  Cons

  I can't think of any. Honest!

  Summary

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• March 20, 2003

  Pros

  Cons

  Summary

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