Pinball Dreams#Pinball Mania

{{Infobox video game

| title = Pinball Dreams

| image = Pinball Dreams.jpg

| developer = Digital Illusions

| publisher = 21st Century Entertainment, GameTek (Game Boy, Game Gear, SNES)

| producer = Barry Simpson

| designer = Olof Gustafsson

| programmer = Andreas Axelsson

| artist = Markus Nyström

| composer = Olof Gustafsson

| platforms = Amiga, Atari Falcon,{{cite web|url=http://fatal-design.com/pinball/|title=Pinball Dreams - Atari Falcon|publisher=fatal-design.com|year=2001|access-date=2011-02-09}} DOS, Game Boy, GBA, Game Gear, GP32, iOS, OS X, PSN, SNES

| released = 1992{{cite web|first=Kenneth|last=Verburg|url=http://www.simracingnews.com/pittalk/interviews/fredrikliliegren/index.shtml|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20000816073556/http://www.simracingnews.com/pittalk/interviews/fredrikliliegren/index.shtml|title=Fredrik Liliegren, CEO of Digital Illusions about Rally Masters|archivedate=August 16, 2000|accessdate=June 14, 2023}}

| genre = Pinball

| modes = Single-player, multiplayer

}}

Pinball Dreams is a pinball simulation video game developed by Digital Illusions and originally released for the Amiga in 1992. It spawned several sequels, including Pinball Fantasies and Pinball Illusions. The MS-DOS port was digitally released by Rebellion Developments along with its sequel and Pinball Mania on February 22, 2011 on GOG.com with support for Microsoft Windows.{{cite web |title=New release: Pinball Gold Pack |url=https://www.gog.com/news/new_release_pinball_gold_pack |website=GOG.com |publisher=CD Projekt |access-date=14 September 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110227025834/http://www.gog.com/en/news/new_release_pinball_gold_pack |archive-date=27 February 2011 |url-status=live |date=22 February 2011 |quote=First of all, you get five games - Pinball Dreams 1 and 2, Pinball Fantasies, Pinball Mania, and Pinball Illusions, each featuring four pinball tables.}} It received an OS X build on April 23, 2013;{{cite web |title=Mac Game Update: 22 New Additions |url=https://www.gog.com/news/april_mac_game_update_22_new_additions |website=GOG.com |publisher=CD Projekt |access-date=14 September 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130425232147/http://www.gog.com/news/april_mac_game_update_22_new_additions |archive-date=25 April 2013 |url-status=live |date=23 April 2013}} and a Linux build on August 19, 2014.{{cite web |title=GOG.com Now Supports Linux! |url=https://www.gog.com/news/gogcom_now_supports_linux |website=GOG.com |publisher=CD Projekt |access-date=14 September 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140725204558/http://www.gog.com/news/gogcom_now_supports_linux |archive-date=25 July 2014 |url-status=live |date=24 July 2014}}

Gameplay

The game's four tables each had a theme, as do most real-life pinball & Panchinko machines. The version of Pinball Dreams bundled with the Amiga 1200 had a bug which rendered most of Beat Box's advanced features non-functional.

"Ignition", themed around a rocket launch, planets, and space exploration. The Expert Software's Pinball 2000 port of the game renamed this table "Rocket".
"Steel Wheel", themed around steam trains and the Old West.
"Beat Box", themed around the music industry, charts, bands and tours.
"Nightmare", themed around a graveyard, ghosts, demons, nightmares and generally evil things. Unlike the other tables in the game, the name of the table in the menu did not reflect the name displayed on the table itself—"Graveyard". Some ports of the game (notably the GameTek port to the Game Boy) name this table "Graveyard" in the menu as well.

Development

The ball moves according to reasonably realistic physics, and the game was restricted to using table elements which would also be possible to build in reality. Sound and music were realized with module files. With this technology, several music tracks could be included on the limited space of floppy disks.

Ports:

Atari Falcon
Commodore 64: A preview was released at the Breakpoint demo party in April 2006.[http://www.pouet.net/prod.php?which=24499 Pinball Dreams Preview c64]
Game Boy
Game Gear
Game Boy Advance: Under the title Pinball Challenge Deluxe, with tables added from Pinball Fantasies.
GP32: Released in October 2002.
Super Nintendo Entertainment System: A mostly accurate conversion, including all four tables and near-perfect sound. However, the red "blood" under the top bumper in the "Nightmare" table has been changed to blue and the crosses were removed.
PC: A conversion for DOS based systems by Spidersoft.
iPhone/iPod Touch: Released in January 2009 by Cowboy Rodeo as Pinball Dreaming: Pinball Dreams.
PlayStation Network: Released in November 2009 by Cowboy Rodeo.
iPhone/iPod Touch/iPad: Released in July 2011 by Cowboy Rodeo as Pinball Dreams HD.
OS X: Released in August 2011 by Cowboy Rodeo as Pinball Dreams HD.
Amstrad CPC: Released in October 2019 by BG GAMES.[http://www.pouet.net/prod.php?which=83118 Pinball Dreams 100% Amstrad CPC]

Reception

{{Video game reviews

| rev1 = Power Unlimited

| rev1Score = 80/100(DOS){{cite web|url=http://www.powerweb.nl/database/img/index.php?page=database&&query%5border%5d=datum&ending=ASC&query%5bstart%5d=100|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20031020134027/http://www.powerweb.nl:80/database/img/index.php?page=database&&query%5border%5d=datum&ending=ASC&query%5bstart%5d=100|title=Power Unlimited Game Database|website=powerweb.nl|language=nl|archivedate=October 20, 2003|date=1993|accessdate=November 24, 2022}}
85/100 (GB){{Cite web |title=Power Unlimited Game Database |url=http://www.powerweb.nl/database/img/index.php?page=database&&query%5border%5d=datum&ending=ASC&query%5bstart%5d=140 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20031021212640/http://www.powerweb.nl:80/database/img/index.php?page=database&&query%5border%5d=datum&ending=ASC&query%5bstart%5d=140 |archive-date=October 21, 2003 |access-date=December 13, 2024 |website=Power Unlimited}}

}}

Pinball Dreams was a commercial success, selling more than 650,000 copies in its debut year.{{cite journal | author=Hawken, Kieren| journal=Retro Gamer | title=From the Archives: 21st Century Entertainment |date=2016 | issue=151 | pages=56–61 }}

Pinball Dreams was overall received positive by press reviews.{{cite web|url=http://www.kultboy.com/index.php?site=t&id=475|title=Pinball Dreams: Flipper ist unser bester Freund! |publisher=Amiga Joker|date=1992-03-01 |access-date=2011-02-07|first= Peter|last=Braun|language=de|quote=Eine der besten Flippersimulationen für den Amiga!}}{{cite web|url=http://www.kultboy.com/index.php?site=t&id=4022|title=Pinball Mania|publisher=Aktueller Software Markt |date=1992-04-01 |access-date=2011-02-07|pages=104 |language=de |first=Lars |last= Rückert|quote=Gut.}}{{cite web|url=http://www.kultboy.com/index.php?site=t&id=3214|title=Pinball Dreams: Flipperträume |publisher=PowerPlay |date=1992-04-01 |access-date=2011-02-07|pages=104 |language=de|first=Knut |last= Gollert|quote=Naja.}} Electronic Gaming Monthly gave the Game Gear version a 5.8 out of 10, commenting that "Pinball never really worked well on portable systems and Pinball Dreams is no exception. The boards are huge, but the game is a little slow."{{cite magazine|title=Review Crew: Pinball Dreams|magazine=Electronic Gaming Monthly|issue=55|publisher=EGM Media, LLC|date=February 1994|page=46}} Power Unlimited gave the Game Boy version a score of 85% summarizing: "Sharp graphics, excellent sound and simple controls all contribute to a game that will hardly get boring. And with the three different cabinets there is also variety.{{Cite web |title=Power Unlimited Game Database |url=http://www.powerweb.nl/database/img/index.php?page=database&&query%5border%5d=datum&ending=ASC&query%5bstart%5d=140 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20031021212640/http://www.powerweb.nl:80/database/img/index.php?page=database&&query%5border%5d=datum&ending=ASC&query%5bstart%5d=140 |archive-date=October 21, 2003 |access-date=December 13, 2024 |website=Power Unlimited}}

In 1993 Computer Gaming World criticized the PC version of Pinball Dreams as having "the worst physical model" of four reviewed games, and disliked the "jerk[y]" scrolling.{{cite magazine | url=http://www.cgwmuseum.org/galleries/index.php?year=1993&pub=2&id=113 | title=Bumper Crop | magazine=Computer Gaming World | date=December 1993 | access-date=29 March 2016 | author=Lombardi, Chris | pages=110–114}} The magazine said in June 1994 that Pinball 2000 "is an average title at a better than average price".{{Cite magazine

|date=June 1994

|title=Taking A Peek

|url=http://www.cgwmuseum.org/galleries/index.php?year=1994&pub=2&id=119

|magazine=Computer Gaming World

|pages=168–172

}} In 1996 the magazine ranked Pinball Dreams as the 119th best game of all time, stating, "Smooth scrolling and great ball physics made this Amiga game a wizard's choice."{{cite magazine | url=http://www.cgwmuseum.org/galleries/index.php?year=1996&pub=2&id=148 | title=150 Best Games of All Time | magazine=Computer Gaming World | date=November 1996 | access-date=25 March 2016 | pages=64–80}} In 2011, Wirtualna Polska ranked it as the fourth best Amiga game.[http://gry.wp.pl/galeria/30-najlepszych-gier-na-amige,179431/28.html 4. Pinball Dreams - 30 najlepszych gier na Amigę - Imperium gier], WP.PL {{in lang|pl}}

Sequels and spin-offs

=''Pinball Dreams 2''=

An alternate PC-only sequel, Pinball Dreams 2, was released in 1995 by 21st Century Entertainment (like Pinball Dreams) but was developed by Spidersoft.

It includes four tables:

"Neptune", themed to underwater exploration.
"Safari", themed to an African safari.
"Revenge of the Robot Warriors", themed to a battle against robots.
"Stall Turn", themed to aerobatics.

Composer Andrew Barnabas did not have access to the game while writing its music, and was instead given only a list of song titles and a copy of the original Pinball Dreams. He complained that "I couldn't even see what the game looked like. It was like composing in the dark."{{cite journal|title=Making Tracks: The Noble Art of Game Music |journal=Next Generation|issue=3|publisher=Imagine Media|date=March 1995|page=52}}

=''Pinball Mania''=

Pinball Mania is a 1995 DOS game based on Pinball Dreams. While "Digital Illusions was not involved in the fourth title in 21st Century's pinball series" it was instead developed by Spidersoft. The game featured 4 tables: Kick Off, Jail Break, Tarantula, and Jackpot. PC Games (Germany) gave the game a 69 out of 100, while High Score gave it 3 out of 5.{{Cite web|url=http://www.mobygames.com/game/dos/pinball-mania|title = Pinball Mania for DOS (1995)}} A Game Boy port was published by GameTek UK Ltd. Consoles Plus gave it 80 out of 100, while Total! (Germany) gave it 3 out of 6.{{Cite web|url=http://www.mobygames.com/game/pinball-mania_|title = Pinball Mania for Game Boy (1995)}}

=''Absolute Pinball''=

Absolute Pinball is a 1996 DOS game based on Pinball Dreams. It was developed by Unique Development Studios AB and published by 21st Century Entertainment Ltd. on Sep 01, 1996. Joystick (French) gave it 80 out of 100, Coming Soon Magazine gave it 76 out of 100, PC Games (Germany) gave it 75 out of 100, PC Player (Denmark) gave it 70 out of 100, PC Player (Germany) gave it 3 Stars, High Score gave it 3 out of 5, PC Joker gave it 55 out of 100, and Power Play gave it 54 out of 100.{{Cite web|url=http://www.mobygames.com/game/absolute-pinball|title = Absolute Pinball for DOS (1996)}}

=''Pinball Builder''=

=''Total Pinball 3D''=

Total Pinball 3D is a DOS game released in 1996 by 21st Century Entertainment and developed by Spidersoft.

A Next Generation reviewer criticized that the view of the table in 2D mode is too small due to it being restricted to one side of the screen, and concluded, "There is a lot of variety in play style, difficulty, and theme, and the graphics are sharp, but compared to the high level of detail and originality in recent titles, the tables here look bland. ... much better games like Hyper 3-D Pinball and Pro Pinball: The Web now come to mind." He scored it two out of five stars.{{cite magazine|title=Total Pinball 3D |magazine=Next Generation|issue=21 |publisher=Imagine Media |date=September 1996|page=158}} Coming Soon Magazine gave it 81 out of 100, PC Games (Germany) gave it 68 out of 100, GameSpot gave it 5.8 out of 10, Power Play gave it 42 out of 100, and PC Player (Germany) gave it 1 Stars.{{Cite web|url=http://www.mobygames.com/game/total-pinball-3d|title = Total Pinball 3D for DOS (1996)}}