Microsoft Pinball Arcade is a pinball video game from Microsoft. It was released on December 15, 1998, for Microsoft Windows and in 2001 for the Game Boy Color. The game is a collection of seven real pinball tables licensed from Gottlieb. These include one from each decade:[1] Baffle Ball (1931), Humpty Dumpty (1947), Knock Out (1950), Slick Chick (1963), Spirit of 76 (1975), Haunted House (1982), and Cue Ball Wizard (1992).
| Microsoft Pinball Arcade | |
|---|---|
 Cover art for the Windows version | |
| Developers | |
| Publishers |
|
| Platforms | Microsoft Windows, Game Boy Color |
| Release | PC: December 15, 1998 GBC: 2001 |
| Genre | Pinball |
| Modes | Single-player, multiplayer |
This game was designed for Windows 9x and Windows NT 4.0.[2] The resolution of the PC version could be set up to 1024x768.[3]
A free trial PC version was released, with Haunted House as the only playable table[1] up to a limited score.[4]
The Game Boy Color version features five tables,[5] excluding Humpty Dumpty and Cue Ball Wizard.
Gameplay
editMicrosoft Pinball Arcade uses the game rules from the original tables.[2]
Reception
edit| Publication | Score |
|---|---|
| Computer Gaming World | PC: 3/5[3] |
| IGN | PC: 5.2/10[2] |
| Nintendo Power | GBC: 6.5/10[5] |
| Gamespot | PC: 6.2/10[6] |
GameSpot praised the game for its faithful reproduction of the sound effects, detailed high-quality graphics, and realistic ball physics.[6] IGN enjoyed the graphics, but found much of the gameplay and sounds boring although did enjoy Haunted House.[2] CGW noted that the game includes some entertaining tables, and some of "purely historical" value.[3] Reviewing a beta version, GameRoom noted that "only a pinball machine can be a pinball machine", but were still impressed with the graphics and sound.[7]
Nintendo Power found the ball moved "curiously slow."[5]
In 2025 Pixel Addict said the simulation is good, but "a little glacial."[8]
See also
edit- Full Tilt! Pinball (Space Cadet is included with several Windows releases)
- The Pinball Arcade
- Visual Pinball
References
edit- 1 2 "Disc Directory". Ultimate PC. No. 18. January 1999. p. 160.
- 1 2 3 4 Fischer, Blake (11 February 1999). "Microsoft Pinball Arcade". IGN. Archived from the original on February 18, 2002. Retrieved 25 March 2008.
- 1 2 3 Atkin, Denny (March 1999). "Reviews - Give No Quarter(s)". Computer Gaming World. No. 176. p. 164.
- ↑ "On the CD". PC Zone. No. 71. December 1998. p. 194.
- 1 2 3 "Also playing this month". Nintendo Power. No. 139. December 2000. p. 158.
- 1 2 "Pinball Arcade for PC". GameSpot. 21 December 1998. Retrieved 25 March 2008.
- ↑ "Gameroom Book & CD-ROM Review". GameRoom. Vol. 10, no. 10. October 1998. p. 52.
- ↑ Qually, Gareth (2025). "The CRT Glow of Pinball". Pixel Addict. No. 27. p. 28. ISSN 2754-9275.
External links
edit- Official site for Microsoft Pinball Arcade at the Wayback Machine (archived September 8, 2004)
- Microsoft Pinball Arcade demo at the Wayback Machine (archived April 2, 2002)
- Microsoft Pinball Arcade (PC) at MobyGames
- Microsoft Pinball Arcade (Game Boy Color) at MobyGames