Virtual Pinball

From Sega Retro

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VirtualPinball Title.png

Virtual Pinball
System(s): Sega Mega Drive
Publisher: Electronic Arts
Developer:
Sound driver: GEMS
Genre: Action

















Number of players: 1-4
Release Date RRP Code
Sega Mega Drive
US
$54.9554.95[1] 720601
Sega Mega Drive
EU
E261SMXI
Sega Mega Drive
UK
£44.9944.99[3]
Sega Mega Drive
AU

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Virtual Pinball is a pinball game developed by BudgeCo and published by Electronic Arts. It acts as a spiritual sequel to the 1983 computer program Pinball Construction Set, being designed and programmed by the same man, Bill Budge.

Gameplay

Gameplay allows up to four players (taking turns) to play on either one of the game's included tables or a custom table (the MEMORY items) with a variety of other options. Left flips the left flipper, C flips the right flipper, A charges the spring that launches a ball (on some tables), and A+B+C tilts.

Workshop

In the workshop, it is possible to either alter an existing table in the game or make a new one. Use the directional pad to move, A to select a part type from the list, B to cycle between parts of a particular type, and C to place the part. With the Blaster selected, press C to delete an item on the table. With the Grabber selected, press C to pick up an item (to move it). Press  START  to bring up a menu where the table can be saved in one of ten possible save slots.

Production credits

  • Concept and Program: Bill Budge
  • Graphics: Nick Corea
  • Music and Sound: Nu Romantic
  • Producer: Nick Simmons
Source:
In-game credits (?)


  • Game Design: Bill Budge, Nick Corea, Jim Simmons
  • Producer: Jim Simmons
  • Assistant Producer: Jeff Glazier
  • Technical Director: Tim Brengle
  • Product Manager: David Sze
  • Package Design: E. J. Sarraille Design Group
  • Illustration: Jean-Francois Podevin
  • Art Direction: Nancy Waisanen
  • Documentation: Valerie Hanscom
  • Documentation Layout, Illustration: Tom Peters
  • Testing Manager: Randy Delucchi
  • Product Testing: Tony Iuppa, Yun Shin, Mike Lopez
  • Quality Assurance: Bill Scheppler
  • Public Relations: Fiona Murphy
  • Original Game Concept: Bill Budge
  • Board Design: Bill Budge, Mike Lopez, Tony Iuppa, Jordan Maynard, Bryan Beckstrand and the incredible mystery pinball guru genius.
Source:
US manual

Magazine articles

Main article: Virtual Pinball/Magazine articles.

Physical scans

Sega Retro Average 
Publication Score Source
80
70 [3]
85 [4]
52 №12, p99
82 [5]
72 №17, p30/31
72 №15, p46
84 №8, p18/19
46 №2, p28/29
62 №24, p82/83
57 [6]
74 [7]
68 №49, p74/75
74 №27, p40/41
80 [8]
80 №24, p11
Sega Mega Drive
71
Based on
16 reviews
Sega Retro Average 
Publication Version Score
1700 igr dlya Sega (RU)
50
[9]
Aktueller Software Markt (DE)
75
[10]
Console Mania (IT) NTSC-U
80
[11]
Computer & Video Games (UK) PAL
70
[3]
Digitiser (UK) PAL
59
[12]
Game Players (US) NTSC-U
44
[13]
GamePro (US) NTSC-U
85
[1]
Gamers (DE)
40
[14]
Joypad (FR) PAL
82
[15]
Sega Mega Drive Advanced Gaming (UK) PAL
72
[16]
Mega (UK) PAL
72
[17]
Mega Action (UK) PAL
84
[18]
Mega Force (FR)
75
[19]
Mega Machines (UK) PAL
46
[20]
MegaTech (UK) PAL
62
[21]
Magazina Igrushek (RU)
50
[22]
Mean Machines Sega (UK) PAL
57
[23]
Player One (FR)
74
[7]
Sega Power (UK) PAL
68
[24]
Sega Pro (UK) PAL
74
[25]
Sega Zone (UK) PAL
79
[26]
SuperGamePower (BR)
80
[8]
Sonic the Comic (UK) PAL
80
[27]
Todo Sega (ES) PAL
78
[28]
Tricks 16 bit (RU)
58
[29]
Video Games (DE) PAL
74
[30]
VideoGames (US) NTSC-U
50
[31]
Sega Mega Drive
67
Based on
27 reviews

Virtual Pinball

Mega Drive, US
VirtualPinball MD US Box.jpg
Cover
Virtual-pinball-cart-US.jpg
Cart
Virtual Pinball MD US Manual.pdf
Manual
Mega Drive, EU
VirtualPinball MD EU Box.jpg
Cover
Virtual-pinball-cart-US.jpg
Cart

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 GamePro, "December 1993" (US; 1993-xx-xx), page 71
  2. Mega, "January 1994" (UK; 1993-12-16), page 107
  3. 3.0 3.1 3.2 Computer & Video Games, "December 1993" (UK; 1993-11-15), page 72
  4. GamePro, "December 1993" (US; 1993-xx-xx), page 70 (71)
  5. Joypad, "Novembre 1993" (FR; 1993-1x-xx), page 118/119 (118)
  6. Mean Machines Sega, "December 1993" (UK; 1993-10-xx), page 116/117 (116)
  7. 7.0 7.1 Player One, "Novembre 1993" (FR; 1993-1x-xx), page 138
  8. 8.0 8.1 SuperGamePower, "Abril 1994" (BR; 1994-0x-xx), page 33
  9. 1700 igr dlya Sega, "" (RU; 2001-xx-xx), page 331
  10. Aktueller Software Markt, "Januar 1994" (DE; 1993-12-06), page 63
  11. Console Mania, "Febbraio 1994" (IT; 1994-0x-xx), page 131
  12. Digitiser (UK) (1994-01-28)
  13. Game Players, "Vol. 7 No. 4 April 1994" (US; 1994-0x-xx), page 77
  14. Gamers, "März/April 1994" (DE; 1994-03-04), page 55
  15. Joypad, "Novembre 1993" (FR; 1993-1x-xx), page 118
  16. Sega Mega Drive Advanced Gaming, "January 1994" (UK; 1993-xx-xx), page 30
  17. Mega, "December 1993" (UK; 1993-11-18), page 46
  18. Mega Action, "Christmas 1993" (UK; 1993-12-02), page 18
  19. Mega Force, "Novembre 1993" (FR; 1993-11-10), page 96
  20. Mega Machines, "January 1994" (UK; 1993-12-09), page 28
  21. MegaTech, "December 1993" (UK; 1993-11-20), page 82
  22. Magazina Igrushek, "4/1995" (RU; 1995-xx-xx), page 61
  23. Mean Machines Sega, "December 1993" (UK; 1993-10-xx), page 116
  24. Sega Power, "December 1993" (UK; 1993-11-xx), page 74
  25. Sega Pro, "Xmas Special 1993" (UK; 1993-12-02), page 40
  26. Sega Zone, "December 1993" (UK; 1993-11-25), page 84
  27. Sonic the Comic, "April 29th 1994" (UK; 1994-04-16), page 11
  28. Todo Sega, "Diciembre 1993" (ES; 1993-1x-xx), page 70
  29. Tricks 16 bit, "Tricks Sega Gold 800 igr" (RU; 1998-03-20), page 220
  30. Video Games, "2/94" (DE; 1994-01-26), page 82
  31. VideoGames, "January 1994" (US; 199x-xx-xx), page 87