Installation:
As someone said in the comments section, there's a problem reading any of the instructions when installing the game as everything apart from the installation path comprised of question marks. This is probably (as someone in the comments section suggested) because of the developers language Russian, which uses different alpha numeric characters than the traditional romanic characters. You can check out the comments abouit this game by following the link below:
http://game.giveawayoftheday.com/american-billiard-3d/
To install to the default path or whatever other install path you choose, click on the first button to the bottom right to install the game. Once it's installed you then have to go to where you installed it, open up the folder and create a shortcut via the executable, which amazingly is yet again that rocket icon that I see so often. (I have several games using the same icon including Poing, Platypus and Sky Aces amongst them). If you’re not sure how to create a shortcut check out the following link that details how its done:
http://www.giveawayoftheday.com/forums/topic/2594?replies=1
Once installed and the shortcuts have been sorted the game works fine.
The Game:
This is quite a good arcade version of pool and snooker, with excellent ball physics (as all pool snooker games should have), good graphics and enough choices of venue to make it interesting, though from the venues chosen, for example, a men’s club, Buckingham Palace (or castle as the developer has called it) and a billiard's club (as well as a nightclub) you’d think the title of the game was misplaced, though when it comes to the choices of game type then it makes sense. You can choose from five different games, which are 8-Ball, 9-Ball, 3-Ball and 14+1 ball pool and snooker, which should keep most of us busy for some time. You can play each of these games against the computers AI in single player with three AI settings easy medium and professional, the latter being very hard to beat. (Well impossible for me, lol) or as a two player game, and there's also a practice mode as well. When starting a new game you are able to choose the venue and also a silhouette of your player of which there are six to choose from. You can save your games progress by clicking on Esc to bring up the secondary menu that gives you access to the games rules, saving the game, starting a new game or exiting to windows as well.
The help menu isn’t very good in my opinion, but it does give you enough information about what you can do with the game such as being able to undo a shot (backspace) and perform the shot (mouse button 1 and/or space bar) see the screen captures by following the links below for details of the help menu. You can change the camera angle and rotate the table as well as choose to look at the table from either an isometric 3D or top down view. You can also change the camera angles using the mouse. This takes a little getting used to, but once you’ve mastered it it’s easy. I found setting up a shot a little difficult at first, but once you get used to the controls the game plays really well. While in game you can pause the game by pressing the Esc key. When accessing the game rules you’ll find a different set for each game type, otherwise the pause menu remains the same for each game type. I’d put this in a similar category as DDD Pool (another arcade style pool game) which I bought last year.
I’ve taken a few screen captures, but not an extensive portfolio this time as I’m spending the day with my children:
As a slideshow:
http://s109.photobucket.com/albums/n61/Whiterabbit_01/gaotd/American%20Pool/?albumview=slideshow
All on one page:
http://s109.photobucket.com/albums/n61/Whiterabbit_01/gaotd/American%20Pool/
Conclusion
This is definitely a keeper despite already having a few pool and billiards games already. There’s not much you can say about a pool or snooker game as I'm sure everyone has played the game at least a few times in their lives; (I was about 16 before I played a game of American Pool). I give this 7 out of 10 for re-playability, and family entertainment. I think two player games are always a welcome addition to any games library, especially if you have a young and growing family. Thank you Fly Games for joining the project, you’ve given us a nice game to introduce yourself with, though I’d get the installation issues sorted as they can be a little confusing, though once you’ve got past the gazillions of ?????? it’s okay. :lol: also, thanks to the game giveaway team for bringing us yet another new game.
