Virtual Pinball
Virtual Pinball is a follow-up to EA's 1983 title Pinball Construction Set from the same author, Bill Budge, released 10 years later for the Sega Genesis. One to four players can choose from either 29 premade tables or design one using in-game editor tools. Designing options include ten different backgrounds and six themes, and a player can choose where objects are placed, the style of music, and the ball speed. Virtual Pinball lacks the unlimited floppy disc storage used by the original, and the ability to create self-booting disks that can be played without the construction set software.
| Virtual Pinball | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Developer(s) | Bill Budge |
| Publisher(s) | Electronic Arts |
| Designer(s) | Bill Budge Nick Corea Jim Simmons |
| Platform(s) | Genesis |
| Release | |
| Genre(s) | Pinball simulation Game creation system |
| Mode(s) | 1-4 players, alternating |
Gameplay
The player can play the 29 existing games, go to the blueprint plans, or play one of the ten user created games. It also allows the player to change the Game theme, Parts theme, Board background, Skill level, ball action, and music.
Workshop Mode allows starting with a blank game where up to 256 parts can be placed anywhere on the board. These parts include Bumpers, Flippers, Walls, Kick Walls, Targets, Tracks, Specials, Launchers, Blasters, and Grabbers. All of these items are related to items found on a real table.
A game starts with four balls. The ball is launched by pressing and holding the A button, with the time held determining the power of the launch. All left flippers are controlled by the D-pad, while all right flippers are controlled by the C button. Hitting B will nudge the table, and can be used in conjunction with the D-pad to nudge in a certain direction.
Scoring
| Parts | Point Values |
|---|---|
| Small bumpers | 100 |
| Kick Walls | 100 |
| Spring | 100 top surface |
| Rollovers | 100 |
| Sling Shots | 100 |
| One Way Gate | 100 top surface |
| Large Bumpers | 200 |
| Ghost Ball | 1,000 on release |
| Spinner | 1,000 for each revolution |
| Drop Targets | 5,000 |
| Moving Targets | 5,000 |
| Pegs | 5,000 |
| Tracks | 5,000 on entry |
| Worm Hole | 5,000 on entry |
| Kick Hole | 10,000 on entry |
| Jackpot | 1,000,000 when active |
References
- "Release date information". GameFAQs. Retrieved 2010-06-26.