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World Championship Pool 2004 Q&A Feature
Derek dela Fuente
10/03/2004
We chat to the guys and discover why there's always the need for more pool titles...
Pool and Snooker games have progressed in leaps and bounds over the last 20 years but many believe they have reached their zenith. There has not been that much progression in this kind of entertainment, sports games, of late but Peter Jones, MD at Blade, which is producing this enticing looking Pool title, believe they have a benchmark pool game in the offing.
WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP POOL 2004, we are informed, is one the most authentic pool simulation video games coming to market. With licenses for the world's highest-ranked competitors, such as Earl The Pearl Strickland and Germany's Oliver Ortmann, WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP POOL 2004 promises to deliver challenging gameplay in polished, realistic environments. Within the game you can assume the role of the sport's best players, adopting their unique style and specific shooting preferences, or compete against these true-to-life legends. WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP POOL 2004 gives gamers the tools to improve their skills with the precise aiming aid, shot strength meter and personal coaching mode.
TVG: Peter, we have seen a number of great pool/snooker titles. What in terms of speed, looks and ideas do the next gen machines and PCs offer? What would you also say to anyone who says; â weâve seen it all beforeâ?
Just take a look at the Pool games out there (other than World Championship Snooker of course). None of them even has characters to play against. Think about it, what other sports game would you play against an invisible opponent? The truth is that what our âSeen it all beforeâ commentator has actually seen are mid-price pool games that offer OK physics and pool tables in very plausible locations â“ like on a beach or in the middle of a jungleâ¦or on the moon, etc.
What we give them here is a simulation of the sport. You play against representations of some of the most famous names in the sport that play very much like the real thing.
But returning to the question at hand what havenât they seen before.
Bombproof physics, Neural net AI, a balance of playability that has been honed through the World Championship Snooker series. Our aiming aid is a work of ânear bloody geniusâ - at least thatâs what one magazine said (well OK they didnât say âbloodyâ). If the opponents play like real pros the player has to be given a helping hand. Not too much to make it easy and not too little to make it a whitewash. Gameplay in a pool game â“ shock, horror.
Then thereâs online; our Pool and Snooker games are the only online games on the market (for the moment at least).
No other game is as fast and smooth as ours. No other game has commentary. Wouldnât really work for the competition would it âwell thereâs a hush in the tournament as the second invisible opponent gets to his, or is it her, feetâ¦â, we think. No other pool or snooker game has such perfectly round balls with full environmental reflection. Pause for the gag about balls - âwe love our balls at Bladeâ.
All this can be summed up by saying that our game is a simulation and the rest are well, whatâs the word?⦠superficial tosh. Seen it all before indeed.
TVG: The basis of a good pool game has revolved around the games AI and physics. Is this the central focus for the dev team?
We have three PhD physicists on our team so the AI and physics is utterly bombproof - 100% and a few more adjectives besides. No we have all that â“ we refine it every iteration (including current versions we have 13 format iterations of Pool and Snooker games). What we concentrate on is gameplay. Realism. Play balance. Stretching the hardware.
TVG: Up until now have there been any major drawbacks to being able to implement ideas with a Pool game and do the next gen machines give you much more scope to work with?
No, we always want more. We have a working prototype for the NEXT generation already. Weâre not about producing a single game, ours is an evolving series. We have a 5-year plan that in terms of features will make your hair stand on end. OK it wonât make your hair stand on end but itâs all pretty ambitious stuff.
We have devised a real time ball tracking system, for instance, that allows for the player at home to watch a match on TV and then play from any selected point in that match.
In a somewhat more recent timeframe we have just invested heavily in motion capturing a range of Pool and Snooker anims for the players. How many animations does this consists of? 1,200!!!!!!!!.
We aim for nothing less than domination of the Pool and Snooker niche and weâre prepared to invest whatever it takes to do just that, Mr Bond.
TVG: Apart from Pool what other experiences, side games, and interaction is on offer for the players?
Online.
Taking part in real world Pool events, playing against real players.
An aiming aid that balances play.
Speed.
Commentary.
â¦..gameplay
Graphics
Finally, Little touches like the Lewinskiâs as we call them. Each time the player chalks his cue he leaves marks on the baize. As Bill said âlittle touches are importantâ.
TVG: Have the opponents been based around real life players and what input have you had from professional players? How varied also will the opponents be?
We have worked very hard to get both the way the players look and the way they play just like real life. With regard to the latter we have modelled in the inflections that players have in their persona. In the latest incarnation of snooker some players have a nervous twitch of the index finger before playing a shot. Itâs all there.
They play like the real thing too.
We have also spent time with professional players honing their play style. We take this very âanallyâ seriously you know.
TVG: In terms of the actual game, it is more of a sim than an arcade presentation and do all the sub games also have a âreal lifeâ feel?
Took the words right out of my mouth - itâs a simulation first and last.
TVG: Execution of play, can you briefly tell us the kind of views on offer and are there any new ideas in terms of the way you will allow the player to implement shots, etc?
We are very proud of our control method. It can be summed up by saying â“ if the shot is possible in real life it can be made in the game. If it canât be pulled off in real life then you canât do it in game. We have made the silliest measurements possible. How far a player, a professional player, can reach, before resorting to the use of tools. How much backspin he can apply, etc. etc. etc.
TVG: Have you ever thought about putting behavioural traits and facets in the game with the opponent being aggressive when losing, slowing play down, etc. etc?
We were thinking about introducing Bill Werbernek to the game. Those of you who are not familiar with him, his playing style involved the rapid downing of huge quantities of larger before a match.
Sorry Bill - I never believed that myself!
We have been working hard on the double vision mode. After that part of the answer youâll probably think Iâm joking â¦but I'm not we are currently looking at a Pool game which involves cheating â“ and violence!!!!
Look I have gotten to the end of this without a single innuendo (well not many) no mention of balls, deep screwing or references to the butt or shaft. Has to be a first.
