Eight Ball Deluxe (video game)

Lore & Background

Eight Ball Deluxe uses a scrolling playfield with adjustable settings such as incline and bumper strength. A 'magnet option' allows the player to drag the ball with the mouse to experiment with scoring features. The game includes left, right, and upwards nudges with realistic animations, and uses the same scoring as the physical pinball machine. Players who achieved a high score could obtain a validation code to enter it into an Amtex tournament.

Reader's Guide

Eight Ball Deluxe was a significant title in early 1990s computer pinball, noted for its faithful recreation of the physical machine. The Mac version was unveiled at PAPA III in February 1993 with a public competition for a high score. The PC version, developed shortly after, included an opening tune played on a banjo, and an upgraded version with enhanced graphics was released in 1994. Reception was generally positive: Computer Gaming World called it 'gorgeous, playable and realistic' and the 'connoisseur's choice' among four reviewed games. PC Magazine said 'This is the best pinball game around' with 'absolutely authentic' ball physics. Compute praised the detail of the recreation, and Game Players praised the nudging and digitized sound effects. However, PC Review noted flicker on slower machines and criticized the single table as poor value. Computer Games Strategy Plus praised the physics, audio, and manual but criticized how quickly the score disappeared at the end of a game. The Macintosh Bible Guide to Games found it faithful but noted it did not adjust for larger monitors.

Did You Know?

• Eight Ball Deluxe is the second pinball game developed by LittleWing, after Tristan.
• The PC version includes an opening tune played on a banjo.
• An upgraded PC version with enhanced graphics was released in 1994.