Microsoft Pinball Arcade
1998 video game
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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 Home
- Classified Games (GBC, US)
- Cryo Interactive (GBC, PAL)
GBC: 2001
| Microsoft Pinball Arcade | |
|---|---|
Cover art for the Windows version | |
| Developers | |
| Publishers |
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| 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
Microsoft Pinball Arcade uses the game rules from the original tables.[2]
Reception
| 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
- Full Tilt! Pinball (Space Cadet is included with several Windows releases)
- The Pinball Arcade
- Visual Pinball