Line #21 VideoGame/ObsessionPinball


1	This is the story of two [[DigitalPinballTables pinball video games,]] three computers, and a custom controller...
2
3	----
4	[[quoteright:300:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/obsession-pinball_7524.jpg]]
5	[[caption-width-right:300:''There is a Point Beyond Addiction...'']]
6
7	The story begins in 1994 with ''Obsession Pinball'' (also known as ''Obsession''), a [[DigitalPinballTables pinball video game]] for the [[Platform/{{Amiga}} Commodore Amiga]] and [[Platform/AtariST Atari STe]], and the first title from the small Swedish firm Unique Development Studios (UDS). Published by 21st Century Entertainment, it came with four tables:
8
9	* "Aquatic Adventure"
10	* "Balls 'n Bats"
11	* "Desert Run"
12	* "X-ile Zone"
13
14	The game was clearly inspired by other pinball video games of the time, particularly ''VideoGame/PinballDreams'' (also published by 21st Century Entertainment). Although UDS was a fledging company, ''Obsession'' quickly garnered praise for the game's realistic physics and fast action, and the game became a best-seller among European Atari and Amiga owners.
15
16	----
17	[[quoteright:300:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/absolute-pinball_665.jpg]]
18
19	Two years later, the popularity of ''Obsession'' prompted UDS to set their sights on the PC world, and ''Absolute Pinball'' was released in 1996 by 21st Century Entertainment for the Platform/IBMPersonalComputer.
20
21	''Absolute Pinball'' was a PolishedPort of ''Obsession,'' with improved graphics, remixed theme music, tweaks to the physics engine, and the addition of several video modes to the tables. Furthermore, ''Absolute'' had improved screen resolution support; setting the game into High Res mode would allow viewing more of the table with letterboxing, while "VESA Flip" handled rotating monitors by displaying the entire table sideways. In a more substantive change, the "X-ile Zone" table was replaced with "The Dream Factory," centered on Hollywood stardom.
22
23	Although ''Absolute's'' gameplay was nearly identical to those of ''Obsession,'' the lateness of the port hurt it; ''Absolute'' looked dated compared to the three-dimensional graphics of other digital pinball games of the time, particularly ''VideoGame/ProPinball'' and ''[[VideoGame/ThreeDUltraPinball 3-D Ultra Pinball]]''.
24
25	----
26	[[quoteright:300:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/virtual-pinball_4172.jpg]]
27	[[caption-width-right:300:''See Me, Feel Me, TILT Me!'' [[note]]\
28	Shown here with ''VideoGame/FullTiltPinball''[[/note]]]]
29
30	Attempting to cash in on the nascent audience for PC pinball games, in 1997 Philips introduced the ''Virtual Pinball'' computer peripheral. This was a full-sized plastic replica of the front of a pinball table, with two flipper buttons and a spring-operated launcher.
31
32	By connecting the controller to the computer's [=PS2=] port, it would send various keystrokes to the PC, and a set of DIP switches on the back changed the keystroke mappings. Dedicated players could even mount it to a fixed surface, then "nudge" the pinball game by shaking the controller left, right, or forward.
33
34	A copy of ''Absolute Pinball'' was included with the controller, though it's fairly easy to make it work with any other computer pinball game[[note]]unless the game needed additional keystrokes[[/note]]. Older controllers can be found occasionally for sale online, but die-hard pinheads feel it's more trouble than it's worth.
35
36	----
37	!!''Obsession Pinball'' and ''Absolute Pinball'' demonstrate the following tropes:
38
39	* AlternateCompanyEquivalent: ''Obsession Pinball'' is this for ''VideoGame/PinballDreams,'' down to including little seams and screws in the playfield pieces.
40	* AppealToNovelty: The Virtual Pinball controller, full stop.
41	* BaseballEpisode: "Balls 'n Bats," which even includes a jingoistic American flag on the playfield.
42	* TheBigRace: "Desert Run" is based on the Paris-Dakar cross-country desert rally.
43	* {{Cyberpunk}}: The theme for "X-ile Zone".
44	* DramaticGunCock: "X-ile Zone" shows the unnamed heroine dramatically holding a large-barrel grenade launcher upright.
45	* FriendlyPlayfulDolphin: A smiling cartoon dolphin appears on the playfield of "Aquatic Adventure".
46	* FrothyMugsOfWater: Reversed in "Balls 'n Bats"; originally, the upper mini-playfield had rollovers that spelled S-A-F-E. ''Absolute Pinball'' changed them to spell B-E-E-R instead.
47	* HollywoodHollywood: This is the theme of "The Dream Factory," which has the player hire actors, attend parties, and shoot an Oscar-winning film.
48	* SpellingBonus: Several, such as S-E-A and D-I-V-E-R for "Aquatic Adventure;" W-A-R, L-I-F-E and D-E-A-T-H in "X-ile Zone;" and O-I-L in "Desert Run."
49	* TopDownView
50	* UnexpectedlyRealisticGameplay
51	** In "Balls 'n Bats," hitting a specific target will make the pitcher throw the ball towards your flippers; "batting" it rewards points, while missing the ball results in a "strike." The ball is lost after three strikes.

Context VideoGame / ObsessionPinball