[1] 3D POOL was originally planned by Firebird to be a full-blown licensed game entitled MALTESE JOE'S 3D POOL, with an official endorsement by then-British and European pool champion 'Maltese' Joe Barbara (pictured in the intro sequence HERE and HERE). When MicroProse bought Firebird as part of the Telecomsoft software stable in May 1989, however, the decision was made to shorten the name to 3D POOL and not plaster Joe Barbara's endorsement of the game all over the packaging. Even so, Barbara's name remained in the game itself and he was briefly mentioned on the back of the game box of the original releases (see HERE and HERE).
[2] Budget Publisher: Kixx budget release No. 1 in the dual/tri-format Amiga/PC/ST game series.
[3] Only the Firebird and budget Mirror Image UK releases of 3D POOL contain the intro animation of 'Maltese' Joe Barbara potting a ball (see screenshots HERE and HERE). In contrast, Microplay's U.S. release contains an unrelated loading picture instead.
[4] The U.S. release of 3D POOL released by MicroPlay was marketed/distributed by Medalist International.
TRIVIA:
[1] 3D POOL was coder Nick Pelling's first 16-bit game, initially completing the Atari ST conversion before porting it over to the Amiga. [Source: The Bird Sanctuary]
[2] A delightfully jovial hidden message from coder Nick Pelling (Orlando) is embedded in the game's main exec file and reads as follows:
'Maltese Joe plays 3D-Pool. Designed & Programmed by Orlando (lucky geezer, eh?) ...I know this should be a scrolling message, but, well, times are hard. Please don't pirate this game - my last three games bombed out and I'm on the breadline, paying off debts. "Millionaire whizz coder prangs Porsche" - HA! ... no chance of that! I don't even own a pushbike, let alone a car. This is my first 16-bit game: if you rip it off, it'll be my last. For what it's worth though, I hope you really enjoy the game - I've been working on it for a year now, and I still love it.
Before I disappear, some quick 'thank you's.... Thanks to Colin Fuidge, and Joe 'Big Q' Bonar for all their support and encouragement during gestation (I s'pose)... Also, ta Gary Liddon for his 'specialist' knowledge (without him the world would be an emptier place). Generally, thanks to all at TelecomSoft (as was) - it's the end of an era, folks. Thanks to MicroProse - let's take it from here.
Biggest thanks goes to a certain small furry animal. (((I'll see you later))) Many thanks to all the people who shelled out money for this - you're the people this is really for.
Stop reading this! go back and play the game!!
There is no cheat-mode!!
* MESSAGE ENDS * '
[Source: Carlos Ace, via message posted on EAB]
Based on Aardvark/Firebird BBC release.
PC versions: Hercules, CGA, EGA, Tandy
N.B. aka MALTESE JOE'S POOL CHALLENGE on 8-bit platforms and SHARKEY'S 3D POOL in the U.S. for PC/Tandy
Manual (English) [alt] [Source: Retro Commodore]
Here are some codes for trickshot solutions. The first four numbers represent the table’s orientation, the next three show the tilt of the table, the next two show the strength of the shot and the last two show the amount of right spin.
1-“0768 024 63 10” 07-“0018 061 63 20” 13-“0004 054 58 20”
2-“1002 041 63 09” 08-“0771 099 56 12” 14-“0864 100 63 10”
3-“0032 100 63 00” 09-“0932 024 63 11” 15-“0084 076 12 00”
4-“0962 024 63 00” 10-“0927 027 63 20” 16-“0880 048 39 20”
5-“0512 024 63 10” 11-“0751 100 16 20” 17-“0372 100 63 06”
6-“0405 060 63 20” 12-“0916 025 55 10” 18-“0512 100 63 10”
19-“0601 024 63 20”
No maps found.