I figure playing a billiards sim on your PC is the next best thing if you can't get to a table IRL.
I've tried numerous pieces of billiards software. Some can really be called simulations, while others can only be called games - that is, they are meant for entertainment rather than offering a realistic representation of real-life billiards.
I've tried a bunch from here:
http://www.onlypoolgames.com/
And a bunch from here:
http://download.cnet.com/1770-20_4-...orm=Windows,Webware&rpp=30&sort=uoRating4+asc
The quality varied a lot. Some were realistic 3D simulations. I decided that I wanted for now to only pay for one piece of software, and it had to be 3D, realistic and be a good all-rounder, with many different games and playing options.
The one that I found that fitted the bill was Virtual Pool 3:
http://www.celeris.com/games/vp3/index.html
I already knew that this game was - at least in the past anyway - counted among the best billiards simulations ever made. If not the best ever.
So I tried the Demo, and was so impressed, I bought the game almost at once (the cost is $21.95 + Registration Backup Fee of $4.05).
Although Virtual Pool 3 is no longer available in the stores (AFAIK), the game is still very much alive, being constantly updated and improved. It also has its own community forums.
Virtual Pool 3:
- offers a very realistic billiards simulation, with realistic ball physics, cushions, handling of English etc.
- good atmosphere and a very customisable playing environment
- offers the player a Career mode (with storyline), League play, Tournament play, and Internet play
- has customizable options relating to such issues as table size, style, color, speed, pocket size, pocket cut, rail speed etc.; camera options, graphics options, sound/music options, mouse sensitivity
- offers several training features such as ghost ball and aim tracking; you can also play practice games by yourself
- offers by my count 21 different billiards games, including, for example, 8-ball, 9-ball, rotation, straight, 10-ball, 6-ball, one pocket, snooker, 3-cushion billiards, bar 8-ball, British 8-ball.
- other advanced options such as shot clock and handicapping
- countless numbers of AI opponents, each with their own personalities, photos, skills, quirks and statistics. In general, I have found the AI plays, depending on the opponent and the game options, a pretty human-like game of billiards
- creation of trick shots
- saving + replaying of shots
- a cue case, which can hold 5 cues (including break cues), so you can make your own collection and buy increasingly expensive and attractive cues (better cue = higher wagers from your opponents)
- a Statistics feature where you can track your progress. (You can also track your progress by how much money you're making!) Plus you can see the stats and skills of all your AI opponents, meaning you can form a strategy for playing against them
The only cons I've found so far are:
- the game doesn't seem to recognize a mouse-wheel
- the music is kinda sucky (but you can turn it off)
I'm having a blast playing 8-ball in Career mode, and I haven't even tried League, Tournament or Online play yet. Or 9-ball, 10-ball, snooker etc.
Recommend you guys give the Demo a go. Some players really think playing it improves their game.
If you can recommend any other high-quality and realistic billiards simulations for the PC, please give a heads up
I've tried numerous pieces of billiards software. Some can really be called simulations, while others can only be called games - that is, they are meant for entertainment rather than offering a realistic representation of real-life billiards.
I've tried a bunch from here:
http://www.onlypoolgames.com/
And a bunch from here:
http://download.cnet.com/1770-20_4-...orm=Windows,Webware&rpp=30&sort=uoRating4+asc
The quality varied a lot. Some were realistic 3D simulations. I decided that I wanted for now to only pay for one piece of software, and it had to be 3D, realistic and be a good all-rounder, with many different games and playing options.
The one that I found that fitted the bill was Virtual Pool 3:
http://www.celeris.com/games/vp3/index.html
I already knew that this game was - at least in the past anyway - counted among the best billiards simulations ever made. If not the best ever.
So I tried the Demo, and was so impressed, I bought the game almost at once (the cost is $21.95 + Registration Backup Fee of $4.05).
Although Virtual Pool 3 is no longer available in the stores (AFAIK), the game is still very much alive, being constantly updated and improved. It also has its own community forums.
Virtual Pool 3:
- offers a very realistic billiards simulation, with realistic ball physics, cushions, handling of English etc.
- good atmosphere and a very customisable playing environment
- offers the player a Career mode (with storyline), League play, Tournament play, and Internet play
- has customizable options relating to such issues as table size, style, color, speed, pocket size, pocket cut, rail speed etc.; camera options, graphics options, sound/music options, mouse sensitivity
- offers several training features such as ghost ball and aim tracking; you can also play practice games by yourself
- offers by my count 21 different billiards games, including, for example, 8-ball, 9-ball, rotation, straight, 10-ball, 6-ball, one pocket, snooker, 3-cushion billiards, bar 8-ball, British 8-ball.
- other advanced options such as shot clock and handicapping
- countless numbers of AI opponents, each with their own personalities, photos, skills, quirks and statistics. In general, I have found the AI plays, depending on the opponent and the game options, a pretty human-like game of billiards
- creation of trick shots
- saving + replaying of shots
- a cue case, which can hold 5 cues (including break cues), so you can make your own collection and buy increasingly expensive and attractive cues (better cue = higher wagers from your opponents)
- a Statistics feature where you can track your progress. (You can also track your progress by how much money you're making!) Plus you can see the stats and skills of all your AI opponents, meaning you can form a strategy for playing against them
The only cons I've found so far are:
- the game doesn't seem to recognize a mouse-wheel
- the music is kinda sucky (but you can turn it off)
I'm having a blast playing 8-ball in Career mode, and I haven't even tried League, Tournament or Online play yet. Or 9-ball, 10-ball, snooker etc.
Recommend you guys give the Demo a go. Some players really think playing it improves their game.
If you can recommend any other high-quality and realistic billiards simulations for the PC, please give a heads up
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