Overview
Pool Nation is a 3D billiards game developed by Cherry Pop and published digitally by Mastertronic for the Xbox 360 on October 31, 2012. It was later ported to the PC, which was self-published on October 18, 2013.
Along with traditional 9 Ball and 8 Ball variants, the game also features numerous bonus variants (including a unique Endurance mode, where billiard balls rain on the table from above). By participating in both offline (and online) modes, players can unlock new table decals, locations, cues, and sets of billiard balls.
The PC version of the game later received a bonus sandbox mode on October 22, 2014, allowing players to add objects (including some added as DLC) to the table for creative "trickshots" (which could be uploaded to the Steam Workshop). The game later received a full-fledged sequel, titled Pool Nation FX, which would also receive snooker-focused and VR-based spinoffs.
The 360 version was removed from the system's marketplace on December 18, 2015 after the demise of Mastertronic.
Rules
- 9 Ball - Can be played in Career Mode. Pot balls in numeric order (from 1 to 9). Players take turns, alternating after each miss/foul. First player to pot the 9 ball wins.
- 8 Ball - Can be played in Career Mode. Pot all balls of a designated type (either "spots" or "stripes", determined after one player pits a single ball type after the break) while not prematurely potting the 8 ball. Players take turns, alternating after each miss/foul. Players take turns, alternating after each miss/foul. First player to pot all balls of their type, and then the 8 ball, wins. The game later received a "UK" variant, which replaces "spots" and "stripes" with plain-designed "reds" and "yellows".
- 3 Ball - Pot all three balls using a few shots (and fouls) as possible. Both players play their rounds separately, with the winner determined by the fewest points.
- Straight - Pot balls to earn points (with fouls reducing points). Players take turns, alternating after each miss/foul. First player to reach a set number of points wins.
- Rotation - Pot balls to earn their corresponding number of points. Players must hit the lowest number of balls on the table first for each shot. Players take turns, alternating after each miss/foul. First player to reach a set number of points wins.
- Golf - Pot a designated ball in all six pockets in order. Players take turns, alternating after each miss/foul. First player to pot their ball in the final pocket wins.
- Speed - Pot all balls on the table as quickly as possible, with fouls adding additional time. Both players play their rounds separately, with the winner determined by the lowest time.
- Killer - Pot a ball on each turn to avoid losing a life (losing one on each miss and two on each foul). Players take turns regardless. First player to lose all lives loses the game.
- Endurance - Unique single-player mode. Pot balls on the table as quickly as possible, with new balls added to the table at an ever-increasing rate. Potting balls adds to a "Drop Stop" bar which stops balls from being added. The game ends after 24 balls are on the table.
System Requirements
- OS: Windows XP, SP3/WINDOWS VISTA SP2/WINDOWS 7
- Processor: Dual Core, AMD/INTEL 2.6 GHZ
- Memory: 2 GB RAM
- Graphics: 256 MB OF VIDEO MEMORY ATI RADEON X1600/NVIDIA GEFORCE 7600/INTEL HD 2000 OR HIGHER
- DirectX: Version 9.0
- Network: Broadband Internet connection
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