Pro pinball

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Pro pinball
developer Cunning Developments
Publisher Empire Interactive
First title Pro Pinball: The Web (1995)
Last title Pro Pinball: Fantastic Journey (1999)
Platform (s) Windows , MS-DOS , Mac OS , Sega Saturn , Dreamcast , PlayStation , PlayStation 2 , Xbox
Genre (s) Simulation game , game of skill

Pro Pinball is the common title of a series of four pinball machine simulations to date on various computer and game console platforms . In contrast to the pinball computer games from other manufacturers, each edition of the series only contained a single simulated pinball table. The games developed by the company Cunning Developments were distributed by Empire Interactive .

The first title published in the series was Pro Pinball: The Web in 1995 , which appeared for IBM PCs and Apple computers and in 1996 for the PlayStation and Sega Saturn game consoles . A year later, Pro Pinball: Timeshock! the second simulation published, again for IBM-PC and Apple and in 1998 for the PlayStation. The third part appeared in 1998 under the title Pro Pinball: Big Race USA for IBM-PC, 1999 for Apple and 2000 for the PlayStation. As the last title so far, Empire Interactive published Pro Pinball: Fantastic Journey in 1999 for IBM-PC and a year later for Apple computers and the PlayStation. The three titles Timeshock! , Big Race USA and Fantastic Journey appeared in 2001 as a game collection (compilation) with the title Pro Pinball Trilogy for Dreamcast and in 2005 under the title Ultimate Pro Pinball also for the PlayStation 2 and Xbox game consoles .

The special thing about the simulations of the Pro-Pinball series were the graphics for the pinball tables and the game elements, which were calculated using 3D rendering software . Measured against the hardware of the target platforms, this enabled a very realistic isometric representation of the entire table with high graphics resolutions and smooth game play. In particular, Pro Pinball: The Web set new standards in the area of ​​pinball simulations when it was released. In contrast to this, the games available in this area up to that point almost exclusively used a two-dimensional display with continuous movement ( scrolling ) of a section of the pinball table according to the position of the ball. In addition to the graphic design, the implementation of the physical conditions of a pinball machine, such as the movement of the ball and its reaction to the elements of the table, was much more realistic in the Pro Pinball simulations than in other pinball games.

In 2012, an attempt to finance revised versions of all four previous tables and a new table through a crowdfunding campaign at Kickstarter.com failed . In the following year, a new Kickstarter campaign was started, initially only a new edition of the Timeshock! was aimed at, with the aim, if possible, to have the other old tables and then the new tables gradually follow. This campaign was successful, so that versions for Windows , OS X , iOS and Android are now being produced , later for Linux and Xbox Live Arcade , which could be followed by versions for other systems if they are sold. The attempt to get enough support for the new edition on Steam Greenlight was also successful, so it will also be available on Steam. A first alpha version was released in April 2014. The iOS version was released on January 29, 2015. In addition, a second company was founded to build a real timeshock pinball machine.

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. kickstarter.com: Pro Pinball - Revived & Remastered
  2. kickstarter.com: Pro Pinball: Timeshock! - The Ultra Edition
  3. steamcommunity.com: Pro Pinball: The ULTRA Editions , last accessed April 23, 2014
  4. kickstarter.com: First Alpha , April 22, 2014, last accessed April 23, 2014
  5. Announcement by the developers on kickstarter.com
  6. Announcement of the real pinball machine on kickstarter.com