Virtual pool

[Flex]

There are several different versions of Virtual Pool available. Which is the best?

Flex

 

[Bob Jewett]

There are several different versions of Virtual Pool available. Which is the best? ...

The ones I know of are VP, VP2, Virtual Pool Hall, VP3/Jeanette Lee version, VP3 generic version, all for the PC. There is also a version that runs on some kinds of portable thingies. As I recall, something major was added in VPH -- artistic billiards maybe?

"Best" depends on what you are looking for. I think the physics model was significantly improved after VP1, as was the computer opponent. I'm not sure which is best for on-line play.

www.celeris.com may have more current info.

 

[Flex]

The ones I know of are VP, VP2, Virtual Pool Hall, VP3/Jeanette Lee version, VP3 generic version, all for the PC. There is also a version that runs on some kinds of portable thingies. As I recall, something major was added in VPH -- artistic billiards maybe?

"Best" depends on what you are looking for. I think the physics model was significantly improved after VP1, as was the computer opponent. I'm not sure which is best for on-line play.

www.celeris.com may have more current info.

Thanks, Bob.

I'm not looking to play online, but to use it as a learning aid.

Someone told me that the one with Jeanette Lee really uses up a computer's resources and is slow to load, and so on, and that Virtual Pool Hall will allow saving specific shots in a folder for later review.

Unfortunately, the celeris website wasn't very helpful in this regard.

Flex

 

[Aaron_S]

I own VP, VP Hall and VP3, and, IMO, VP Hall is the best. I'm not sure, but I think it's essentially just VP2 with a few added features. They also added a few cool things in VP3 (gambling, for instance), but they made some changes to the look & feel of the game that, I believe, hurt it's popularity. I'm not aware of any newer versions of the game. The main disappointment for me was always the fact that, while you could play 1-pocket, you couldn't play against a computer opponent. Someone needs to pick the brains of several 1-p greats and develop the AI for a kick-ass 1-p opponent.

 

[Andrew Manning]

Thanks, Bob.

I'm not looking to play online, but to use it as a learning aid.

Someone told me that the one with Jeanette Lee really uses up a computer's resources and is slow to load, and so on, and that Virtual Pool Hall will allow saving specific shots in a folder for later review.

Unfortunately, the celeris website wasn't very helpful in this regard.

Flex

I have the generic VP3 (without Jeanette), and it is a resource-hog, but I think if I had better graphics acceleration on my laptop, it would be a lot better. My computer starts complaining whenever I run anything with heavy graphical output. The physics seem really excellent, although some things are exaggerated. Draw is tough to regulate because bottom english with a just below medium stroke is stun, and bottom english with a just above medium stroke is table-length draw, and with a medium-hard stroke, you can draw the ball several times around the table. It's very hard to accomplish a little draw. Also spin-induced throw is exaggerated. With a full hit and a lot of side spin, you can throw a ball off course to a much greater degree than you could with real balls.

-Andrew

 

[Gregg]

Just so that you know...there is an updated VP3 availbale for download for a small fee, and had many upgrades.

In fact, before the updates, VP3 didn't work very well, as it was designed for Windows 95.