Steve Davis Snooker

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Steve Davis Snooker
Steve Davis Snooker Box Art.jpg
Commodore 64 Box Art
Developer(s) CDS Software [1]
Publisher(s) CDS Software, [1] Blue Ribbon Software, Entersoft
Designer(s) Michael Lamb
Platform(s)
Various Systems
Release
Genre(s) Sports simulation – snooker
Mode(s) Single-player, multiplayer

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 [1] reached the top of the UK charts in May 1988. [4] Steve Davis Snooker simulates the cue sport snooker. Released under licence from 6-time Snooker World Champion, Steve Davis.

Contents

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. [5] Davis would also be involved with the 1989 follow-up Steve Davis World Snooker, [6] 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. [7] The game could be controlled by either a Joypad [8] or a Cursor and Keyboard control scheme. [9] 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. [10]

Screenshot from ZX Spectrum version. After potting a red ball, must nominate a colour as above Screenshot from Steve Davis Snooker.png
Screenshot from ZX Spectrum version. After potting a red ball , must nominate a colour as above

The Atari game's box art boasts that the game has a "trick shot edit mode", "accurate spin", and "friction factor." [11]

Reception

Critical reception for the game was generally high, with Zzap! magazine scoring the Commodore 64 game at 79% [13] 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% [14] before stating that whilst Snooker was a "hideously dull game", the game was a "nice conversion." [14]

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." [10] Sinclair User were also positive with the game, scoring the game at 7/10, [12] but did cite the lack of a touching ball mechanic in game as an oversight. [12]

Commodore User gave the game 60%, [7] commenting that the game's developer were "too ambitious this time", [7] 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." [7]

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. [15]

See also

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References

  1. 1 2 3 "Steve Davis Snooker for Amstrad (1984)". Mobygames. Archived from the original on January 17, 2018. Retrieved January 16, 2018.
  2. ↑ "The BBC Game Archive - Steve Davis Snooker". beebgames.com. Archived from the original on January 17, 2018. Retrieved January 17, 2018.
  3. ↑ "Top 20 Software Compiled By Gallup". Home Computing Weekly. No. 95. Argus Specialist Publications. 15 January 1985. p. 43. Retrieved 15 January 2023.
  4. ↑ "All Formats Combined Chart". Computer and Video Games. No. 81. EMAP. 15 June 1988. Retrieved 20 December 2021.
  5. ↑ "Spectrum Box Art". Giant Bomb . Blue Ribbon Software. Archived from the original on January 18, 2018. Retrieved January 17, 2018.
  6. ↑ "Steve Davis Snooker for Atari 8-bit (1985)". MobyGames. Archived from the original on January 12, 2018. Retrieved January 11, 2018.
  7. 1 2 3 4 5 MacMahon, Ken (February 1986). "Steve Davis Snooker Review". Commodore User . No. 29. p. 36. Archived from the original on June 12, 2016.
  8. ↑ "Atari 400 800 XL XE Steve Davis Snooker". atarimania.com. Archived from the original on January 17, 2018. Retrieved January 17, 2018.
  9. ↑ "Steve Davis Snooker". World of Spectrum. Archived from the original on January 17, 2018. Retrieved January 17, 2018.
  10. 1 2 3 "Steve Davis Snooker Review". Crash . No. 12. Jan 1985. p. 156. Archived from the original on January 18, 2018.
  11. ↑ "Atari Box Art". atarimania.com. CDS Software. Archived from the original on January 17, 2018. Retrieved January 17, 2018.
  12. 1 2 3 Borne, Chris (Feb 1985). "Steve Davis Snooker Review". Sinclair User . No. 35. p. 29.
  13. 1 2 "Steve Davis Review". Zzap! . No. 7. Nov 1985. pp. 100–101.
  14. 1 2 3 "Steve Davis Snooker Review". Commodore Format . No. 42. Mar 1994. p. 18. Archived from the original on December 11, 2015.
  15. ↑ "Steve Davis Snooker". Computer and Video Games. No. 92. Jun 1989. p. 64.
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