Real Pool

Real Pool, known in Japan as EX Billiards (EXビリヤード, Ekkusu Biriyādo), and in Europe as International Cue Club, is a video game developed by Astroll for the PlayStation 2. This is a retooling of a Microsoft Windows and Mac OS game, also called Real Pool, which was published by WizardWorks in August 1998.^[2]

Real Pool
Developer(s)	Astroll
Publisher(s)	JP: Takara NA: Infogrames EU: Midas Interactive Entertainment
Platform(s)	PlayStation 2
Release	JP: September 7, 2000 NA: November 9, 2000[1] EU: March 1, 2003
Genre(s)	Sports video game
Mode(s)	Single player, multiplayer

A sequel to the game, called Real Pool 2, was released for Windows in 2002.

Reception

Reception

Aggregate score

Aggregator	Score
Metacritic	54/100[3]

Review scores

Publication	Score
AllGame	[4]
Electronic Gaming Monthly	8/10[5]
EP Daily	7/10[6]
Famitsu	26/40[7]
Game Informer	5.25/10[8]
GameSpot	5.4/10[9]
GameZone	8.6/10[10]
IGN	4.5/10[11]
Next Generation	[12]
Official U.S. PlayStation Magazine	[13]
PC Accelerator	(PC) 4/10[14]

The game received "mixed" reviews according to the review aggregation website Metacritic.^[3] Mike Wolf of NextGen said of the game, "The uninspired play control and average game modes make this one pool game to avoid."^[12] In Japan, Famitsu gave it a score of 26 out of 40.^[7] GamePro said earlier that the PC version "offers games of 8-Ball, 9-Ball, Straight Pool, Rotation, Carom Billiards, and Bumper Pool, and at first glance, it looks hot. Too bad it feels about three years out of date."^[15][a]

The game sold 200,000 units in the UK in 2005.^[16]

Notes

1. GamePro gave the PC version 3.5/5 for graphics, 3/5 for sound, and two 2.5/5 scores for control and fun factor.