Steve Davis Snooker

{{Infobox video game

| title = Steve Davis Snooker

| image = Steve Davis Snooker Box Art.jpg

| caption = Commodore 64 box art

| developer = CDS Software{{cite web | url=http://www.mobygames.com/game/steve-davis-snooker | title=Steve Davis Snooker for Amstrad (1984) | publisher=Mobygames | access-date=January 16, 2018 | url-status=live | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180117070237/http://www.mobygames.com/game/steve-davis-snooker | archive-date=January 17, 2018 }}

| publisher = CDS Software, Blue Ribbon Software, Entersoft

| designer = Michael Lamb

| released = {{vgrelease|EU|1984{{cite magazine |title=Top 20 Software Compiled By Gallup|magazine=Home Computing Weekly|issue=95|publisher=Argus Specialist Publications|date=15 January 1985|page=43|url=https://spectrumcomputing.co.uk/page.php?issue_id=2661&page=43|access-date=15 January 2023}} }}

| genre = Sports simulation – snooker

| modes = Single-player, multiplayer

| platforms = {{collapsible list|title={{nobold|Various Systems}}|{{Plainlist|Amstrad CPC, Amstrad PCW, Atari 8-bit, BBC Micro,{{cite web | url=http://www.beebgames.com/games.php?search=1&terms=Steve+Davis+Snooker&search_titles=on | title=The BBC Game Archive - Steve Davis Snooker | work=beebgames.com | access-date=January 17, 2018 | url-status=live | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180117190938/http://www.beebgames.com/games.php?search=1&terms=Steve+Davis+Snooker&search_titles=on | archive-date=January 17, 2018 }} Commodore 16, Plus/4, Commodore 64, Electron, Enterprise, Sinclair QL, ZX Spectrum}}}}

}}

Steve Davis Snooker is a sports simulation video game developed and published by CDS Software in 1984. The budget release published by Blue Ribbon Software reached the top of the UK charts in May 1988.{{cite magazine |title=All Formats Combined Chart|magazine=Computer and Video Games|issue=81|publisher=EMAP|date=15 June 1988|page=|url=https://archive.org/details/cvg-magazine-081/page/n7/mode/2up|access-date=20 December 2021}} Steve Davis Snooker simulates the cue sport snooker. Released under licence from 6-time Snooker World Champion, Steve Davis.

The game is the first to feature a license of a professional snooker player, with later Jimmy White creating the Cueball series. CDS called the game the "ultimate successor" to their 1983 pool simulator, titled Pool.{{cite web | url=https://www.giantbomb.com/images/1300-624718 | title=Spectrum Box Art | publisher=Blue Ribbon Software | work=Giant Bomb | access-date=January 17, 2018 | url-status=live | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180118064623/https://www.giantbomb.com/images/1300-624718/ | archive-date=January 18, 2018 }} Davis would also be involved with the 1989 follow-up Steve Davis World Snooker,{{cite web|title=Steve Davis Snooker for Atari 8-bit (1985)|url=http://www.mobygames.com/game/atari-8-bit/steve-davis-snooker|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180112160002/http://www.mobygames.com/game/atari-8-bit/steve-davis-snooker|archive-date=January 12, 2018|access-date=January 11, 2018|publisher=MobyGames}} as well as 1996's Virtual Snooker.

Overview

Steve Davis Snooker allows players to play against themselves, or against a human opponent in either Snooker, or Pool. However, there is no opponent AI.{{cite magazine | url=https://archive.org/stream/commodore-user-magazine-29/Commodore_User_Issue_29_1986_Feb#page/n35/mode/2up | title=Steve Davis Snooker Review | author=MacMahon, Ken | magazine=Commodore User | issue=29 | date=February 1986 | page=36 | url-status=live | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160612122439/http://archive.org/stream/commodore-user-magazine-29/Commodore_User_Issue_29_1986_Feb#page/n35/mode/2up | archive-date=June 12, 2016 }} The game could be controlled by either a Joypad{{cite web | url=http://www.atarimania.com/game-atari-400-800-xl-xe-steve-davis-snooker_6586.html | title=Atari 400 800 XL XE Steve Davis Snooker | work=atarimania.com | access-date=January 17, 2018 | url-status=live | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180117011954/http://www.atarimania.com/game-atari-400-800-xl-xe-steve-davis-snooker_6586.html | archive-date=January 17, 2018 }} or a Cursor and Keyboard control scheme.{{cite web | url=http://www.worldofspectrum.org/infoseekid.cgi?id=0004896 | title=Steve Davis Snooker | publisher=World of Spectrum | access-date=January 17, 2018 | url-status=live | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180117190453/http://www.worldofspectrum.org/infoseekid.cgi?id=0004896 | archive-date=January 17, 2018 }} The game has two different modes, with a short game (a game of Ten-Red Snooker similar to power snooker), or long game, a game of traditional fifteen-red Snooker.

File:Screenshot from Steve Davis Snooker.png version. After potting a {{cuegloss|red ball}}, must nominate a {{cuegloss|colour ball|colour}} as above.]]

The Atari game's box art boasts that the game has a "trick shot edit mode", "accurate spin", and "friction factor."{{cite web | url=http://www.atarimania.com/game-atari-400-800-xl-xe-steve-davis-snooker_6586.html | title=Atari Box Art | publisher=CDS Software | work=atarimania.com | access-date=January 17, 2018 | url-status=live | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180117011954/http://www.atarimania.com/game-atari-400-800-xl-xe-steve-davis-snooker_6586.html | archive-date=January 17, 2018 }}

Reception

{{video game reviews

|title=Reception

|CRASH = 77 (ZX Spectrum){{cite magazine | url=http://live.worldofspectrum.org/infoseek/magazines/crash/12#188 | title=Steve Davis Snooker Review | magazine=Crash | issue=12 | date=Jan 1985 | page=156 | url-status=live | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180118010522/http://live.worldofspectrum.org/infoseek/magazines/crash/12#188 | archive-date=January 18, 2018 }}

|SUser = 7/10 (ZX Spectrum){{cite magazine | url=https://archive.org/stream/sinclair-user-magazine-035/SinclairUser_035_Feb_1985#page/n28/mode/1up | title=Steve Davis Snooker Review | author = Borne, Chris | magazine=Sinclair User | issue=35 | date=Feb 1985 | page=29}}

|rev1=Zzap

|rev1Score=79% (Commodore 64)

|rev2=Commodore Format

|rev2Score=70% (Commodore 64)

|rev3=Commodore User

|rev3Score = 60% (Commodore 16, Plus/4)

}}

Critical reception for the game was generally high, with Zzap! magazine scoring the Commodore 64 game at 79%{{cite magazine | url=https://archive.org/stream/zzap64-magazine-007/ZZap_64_Issue_007_1985_Nov#page/n99/mode/2up | title=Steve Davis Review | magazine=Zzap! | issue=7 | date=Nov 1985 | pages=100–101}} commenting "Steve Davis Snooker is the best version of the sport I have ever seen on the 64, with its excellent approach and options helping make it so if you're a snooker fan or you want to try something different from your everyday shoot em up, then this makes a worthy and refreshing change." Commodore Format also mentioned the game in a review, scoring the game at 70%{{cite magazine | url=https://archive.org/stream/commodore-format-magazine-42/Commodore_Format_Issue_42_1994_03#page/n17/mode/2up | title=Steve Davis Snooker Review | magazine=Commodore Format | issue=42 | date=Mar 1994 | page=18 | url-status=live | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151211233041/http://archive.org/stream/commodore-format-magazine-42/Commodore_Format_Issue_42_1994_03#page/n17/mode/2up | archive-date=December 11, 2015 }} before stating that whilst Snooker was a "hideously dull game", the game was a "nice conversion."

Crash Magazine also reviewed the game for the ZX Spectrum, scoring the game at 77% saying "A very good, user-friendly simulation, which (possibly for the first time) really calls on skill." Sinclair User were also positive with the game, scoring the game at 7/10, but did cite the lack of a {{cuegloss|touching ball}} mechanic in game as an oversight.

Commodore User gave the game 60%, commenting that the game's developer were "too ambitious this time", commenting on the game's downgrade in the port from the Commodore 64 to the Commodore 16. However "If you're a dedicated afficionado [sic] then Steve Davis will no doubt appeal to you."

Sequel

An updated version of the game would be released in 1989 for the Amiga and Atari ST, known as Steve Davis World Snooker. The game featured similar gameplay as that of the original, however, also included AI opponents, and improved graphical designs. The game also features additional modes, such as eight-ball and nine-ball pool, with billiards.{{cite magazine | url=https://archive.org/stream/cvg-magazine-092/CVG_092_Jun_1989#page/n64/mode/1up | title=Steve Davis Snooker | magazine=Computer and Video Games | issue=92 | date=Jun 1989 | page=64}}