Microsoft Pinball Arcade

by Microsoft

Product Details

• Shipping: Currently, item can be shipped only within the U.S.
• ASIN: B00001LDBZ
• Media: CD-ROM
• Release Date: July 1, 1999
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (41 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #18,867 in Video Games (See Top 100 in Video Games)
• Discontinued by manufacturer: Yes

Product Description

Amazon.com Product Description

You'll flip more than seven classic pinball machines that look, sound, and play like the real thing. Go for the high score on one groundbreaking table from each decade--from the 1930s to the present. The widest variety of tables, realistic ball physics, and striking graphics all add up to wickedly fast action for current and prospective pinball wizards.

Product Description

Microsoft Pinball Arcade is a collection of seven licensed tables that represent the evolution of pinball in America. A state of the art physics model and realistic graphics make for the most authentic pinball simulation on the PC ever.

See all Product Description

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

38 of 38 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The most realistic pinball sim I've ever played., November 14, 1999

By 

Steve Lampros aka: KGB ([e-mail]) (misplaced SF peninsulian in Bellvue :-() - See all my reviews

This review is from: Microsoft Pinball Arcade (CD-ROM)

I've played 4 of the machines, in real life and the simulations are awesome clones of the REAL thing. While young I was lucky enough to learn alot of pinball playing Spirit of 76, and there's no almost no difference. Cue Ball Wizard, the most current game, is lacking a simple way to hit the right ramp shot (the real game has a VERY easy ramp shot). Otherwise, the old games are entertaining, with different generations remembering one table or another.

35 of 35 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The absolute BEST Pinball CD for your computer...so far!, November 7, 1999

By 

Jack Guarnieri ([e-mail]) (New Jersey) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Microsoft Pinball Arcade (CD-ROM)

Since Gottlieb has been known at the "cadillac" of the pinball industry, it is only fitting that this CD contains Premier/Gottlieb games.

The realistic action, features and sounds make it a wonderful addition to a CD game library.

That's coming from someone who has been in the commercial side of the coin operated amusement industry since 1975!

The only thing missing is changing light bulbs and waxing the playfield!

This is a great CD and a great place to start playing pinball on CD rom....Have fun!

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Not bad for what it is, but..., March 29, 2000

By 

have clue -- will travel (Philadelphia, PA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Microsoft Pinball Arcade (CD-ROM)

This isn't a bad pinball package at all, but it's definitely not the best available (for that, refer to the Pro Pinball series).

The games are faithfully rendered on-screen, and look and sound just like the originals. The gameplay itself, on the other hand, can be a bit choppy in places compared to the Pro Pinball engine. Cue Ball Wizard, in particular, is very difficult to play -- the sharp angle at which you view the table doesn't help. (If only they'd allowed you to view the tables from different angles...)

The earlier games provide a nifty sense of history for the pinball genre -- but are often not that much fun to play. The novelty may wear off relatively quickly for those used to today's tables.

Well worth a look -- and...it's not a bad value just for the nostalgia factor. If you want a great game as well as a history lesson, however, look to the Pro Pinball games.