Pool (video game)

Not to be confused with Pools (video game).

Pool is a 1983 video game written by Mike Lamb and published by CDS Micro Systems for the 16K ZX Spectrum. It was re-released later in 1983 on CDS's Blue Ribbon label, and re-released again in 1986 on their "2.99 Classic" label.

Pool
Publisher(s)	CDS Micro Systems
Programmer(s)	Mike Limb
Engine	Machine code
Platform(s)	ZX Spectrum
Release	1983
Genre(s)	Sports
Mode(s)	One or two players

Gameplay

In Pool, the table begins with six balls (three red and three blue), and each player gets three shots with the white ball. The goal is to pot all six balls. The cue ball is aimed by moving a target around the edge of the table and setting the strength of the shot. The number of shots remaining decreases for each shot made unless a ball is potted, upon which it is restored to three. Blue balls are worth 20 points, and red balls 10 points.

Reception

In Crash magazine's review, the reviewers noted that balls moved "accurately and smoothly" with "convincing" rebounds. It was considered to be the best Spectrum version of arcade pool and awarded an overall score of 77%.^[1] Your Sinclair rated Pool 6 out of 10, finding it was "not the most imaginative of realisations" but "a pleasure to find a game where Euclid is of more use than blood-lust and whizzo reflexes".^[2]

Home Computing Weekly gave the game 5 stars, saying "this is not the game I spent my misplaced youth on, but it's pretty close, and a good game too." However, they were less happy with the game's graphics.^[3]