Pinball FX

Last updated
Pinball FX
Cboxpinballfx.png
Developer(s) Zen Studios
Publisher(s) Microsoft Game Studios
Platform(s) Xbox 360 (XBLA)
ReleaseApril 25, 2007 [1]
Genre(s) Pinball
Mode(s) Single player, Multiplayer

Pinball FX is a pinball machine video game for the Xbox 360. It was developed by Zen Studios and published by Microsoft Game Studios. It was released on April 25, 2007 via the Xbox Live Arcade service. The game features three tables, with six more available as downloadable content, leaderboards and online multiplayer. A sequel to the game, Pinball FX 2 was released on October 27, 2010.

Contents

The game received mixed reviews from critics, with aggregate websites GameRankings and Metacritic reporting scores of 70.56% and 69/100, respectively. Critics generally felt that the physics did well emulating a real pinball machine. Reviewers were divided on opinions of the game's multiplayer, with some calling for splitscreen gameplay, while others appreciated the online multiplayer component. It was a commercial success, selling over 362,000 copies as of July 28, 2010.

Following the release of Pinball FX 2, the game was delisted from Xbox Live Arcade marketplace, and all of the table purchases carry over to Pinball FX 2. However, as the corresponding tables are not available in the Xbox One version of Pinball FX 2, the game is still available as Xbox One backwards compatible title and can be installed if it was purchased earlier.

Gameplay

Pinball FX is the first pinball title for the Xbox 360. Pinballfx table.png
Pinball FX is the first pinball title for the Xbox 360.

Pinball FX utilizes the same basic rules as a physical pinball machine, albeit in a virtual environment. As with a traditional pinball machine, the player fires a steel ball onto the playfield using a plunger. Once the ball is in play the player controls the flippers and can nudge the machine to influence the path of the ball. [2] Each of the game's tables become more complex as the game advances, opening new paths and opportunities. [2]

The game allows use of the Xbox Live Vision camera to operate the flippers and to video chat with Xbox Live opponents. [2] It also features leaderboards and online multiplayer for up to four players. [3] Multiplayer games are won by being the first to achieve the set high score, which can be adjusted from 10 to 100 million points. Penalties can also be set for losing a ball with players losing anywhere from 5 to 25 percent of their score when a ball is lost. [2]

Tables

Pinball FX was released with three tables, Speed Machine, a racing-themed table, Extreme, which features a skateboarding theme, and Agents, adorned with secret agents and spy gadgets. [4] A fourth pirate-themed table entitled Buccaneer was released October 31, 2007 as a free download. [5] Five additional paid content tables were released prior to the release of the game's sequel, Pinball FX 2. The first table was released on January 16, 2008. Entitled Nightmare Mansion it features a campy, horror movie theme. [6] The second paid table features characters from The Rocky and Bullwinkle Show and was released April 2, 2008. [7] A third table featuring characters, sounds and music from Street Fighter II Turbo was released November 12, 2008. [8] Earth Defense, the fourth table, features an alien invasion theme. It was released September 21, 2009 [9] The fifth and final table, Excalibur, was released January 27, 2010. This table features a theme based on King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table. [10]

Tables
  • Speed Machine
  • Extreme
  • Agents

^a Free downloadable content
^b Paid downloadable content
^c Also available on other major Zen Studios pinball games

Development and marketing

Pinball FX was first revealed to the press November 7, 2006 at a Microsoft press event in San Francisco. [11] It was then shown at the Game Developer's Conference on March 6, 2007. [12] It was released for the Xbox 360 via the Xbox Live Arcade service on April 23, 2007. [1] The game has been delisted from Xbox Live Arcade as all content can be imported into Pinball FX 2. If players wish to have the original tables but did not own the game, they can buy the Pinball FX Classic pack for Pinball FX 2, which contains the three original tables plus the Buccaneer table. [13]

Reception

Pinball FX received mixed reviews from critics. On the aggregate sites GameRankings and Metacritic, it holds a score of 70.56% and 69/100, respectively. [14] [15] The game was a commercial success, selling over 362,000 copies as of July 28, 2010. [19] Eurogamer's Dan Whitehead described the game as "a fantastic virtual pinball engine", comparing it to Pinball Dreams . [4] PinballAddicts praised the cost-to-value ratio, stating "at around US$10 you really can't go wrong." [20] GameZone's reviewer stated Pinball FX was "a visual treat and a solid challenge." [3]

GameSpot's Jeff Gerstmann praised the addition of online multiplayer, stating that it "has some neat ideas that keep things interesting a bit longer." [17] Eurogamer's Dan Whitehead was more critical, stating use of the Xbox Live Vision camera was "an oddly remote and distant way of playing." [4] GameZone's reviewer disagreed, noting that use of the camera set the game apart from other titles. [3] The reviewer further praised the game's sound effects, saying that they "carried the game forward." [3]

Pinball FX's physics system was a common point of criticism among reviewers. While some praised the physics, others felt the system had issues. Dan Whitehead of Eurogamer felt the physics were precise. [4] The reviewer from GameZone agreed, stating they "handled very well." [3] "For the most part the physics in Pinball FX hold up, but there are a few issues that harm the overall experience" stated Hilary Goldstein of IGN. [18] Jeff Gerstmann felt that the "ball movement never feels realistic." [17]

Reviewers were critical of the variety in the game. Hilary Goldstein of IGN felt the game did not have enough features, stating it had "three mediocre boards, a couple-hundred Achievement Points, and little else." [18] Jeff Gerstmann of GameSpot also criticized the variety, calling the table designs "generic", adding that they "grow old quickly." [17] GamePro 's Will Herring agreed, saying that the tables were "a little blander than might have been hoped for." [16]

Reboot

In the early 2020s, Zen Studios announced a reboot of the Pinball FX series [21] that would utilize Unreal Engine 4 after the company made a partnership with Epic Games, in lieu of a sequel to Pinball FX 3 . After many months following its initial announcenment in 2021, with only a few updates on its developmental status, the game entered early access exclusively on the Epic Games Store on March 31, 2022 [22] and was released digitally as a free-to-play service on eighth- and ninth-generation consoles, along with Microsoft Windows, on February 16, 2023, [23] with a version for Nintendo Switch later that year. [24]

Related Research Articles

Xbox Live Arcade (XBLA) is a video game digital distribution service available through the Xbox Games Store, Microsoft's digital sales platform for the Xbox 360. It focused on smaller downloadable games from both major publishers and independent game developers. Titles ranged from classic console and arcade video games, to new games designed from the ground up for the service. Games available through the XBLA service ranged from $5–20 in price, and as of October 2016, there have been 719 Xbox Live Arcade titles released for the Xbox 360. Prior to the Xbox 360, "Xbox Live Arcade" was the name for an online distribution network on the original Xbox, which was replaced by the Xbox Live Marketplace.

<i>Castle Crashers</i> 2008 2D hack-and-slash video game developed by The Behemoth

Castle Crashers is a 2D side-scrolling hack-and-slash video game developed by The Behemoth. The Xbox 360 version was released on August 27, 2008, via Xbox Live Arcade as part of the Xbox Live Summer of Arcade. The PlayStation 3 version was released in North America on August 31, 2010, and November 3, 2010, in Europe via the PlayStation Network. A Microsoft Windows version, exclusive to Steam, was released on September 26, 2012. The game is set in a fictional medieval universe in which a dark wizard steals a mystical crystal and captures four princesses. Four knights are charged by the king to rescue the princesses, recover the crystal, and bring the wizard to justice. The game includes music created by members of Newgrounds.

<i>Jetpac Refuelled</i> 2007 video game

Jetpac Refuelled is an arcade-style shooter video game developed by Rare and published by Microsoft Studios. It was released worldwide on the Xbox Live Arcade service on March 28, 2007. The game is the fourth installment of the Jetman series and a remake of Ultimate Play the Game's 1983 ZX Spectrum game, Jetpac. The game follows Jetman as he attempts to rebuild his rocket in order to explore different planets, whilst simultaneously defending himself from hostile aliens.

<i>Peggle</i> 2007 puzzle video game

Peggle is a casual puzzle video game developed by PopCap Games. Initially released for Microsoft Windows and Mac OS X systems in 2007, it has since had versions released for Xbox Live Arcade, PlayStation Network, the Nintendo DS, Windows Mobile, iOS, Zeebo, and Android; the game has also been ported as a Java application, and an extended minigame incorporated into the massively multiplayer online game World of Warcraft. A sequel was released in September 2008, titled Peggle Nights. PopCap, a subsidiary of Electronic Arts, announced Peggle 2 at E3 2013.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Zen Studios</span> Hungarian video game developer

Zen Studios is a Hungarian video game developer and publisher of interactive entertainment software with headquarters in Budapest, Hungary and offices in the United States. It is known for its game franchises, Pinball FX and Zen Pinball, as well as CastleStorm, a tower defense hybrid which received the Apple Store's Editor’s Choice award. The company is considered "synonymous with licensed pinball tables," having produced dozens of tables with characters and themes from the Star Wars and Marvel universes, films like Guardians of the Galaxy, TV series like Archer, South Park, Family Guy and Bob's Burgers, and video game franchises such as Plants vs. Zombies, Portal, Street Fighter, and The Walking Dead.

<i>Tetris Splash</i> 2007 video game

Tetris Splash is a puzzle video game, part of the Tetris games, was published by Microsoft Game Studios for the Xbox 360 via Xbox Live Arcade. It is the first game produced by Tetris Online, Inc.

<i>Vigilante 8 Arcade</i> 2008 video game

Vigilante 8: Arcade is a vehicular combat video game developed by Isopod Labs and published by Activision. It was released on November 5, 2008, for Xbox 360 through Xbox Live Arcade. Isopod Labs was formed by three former members of Luxoflux, developer of the original Vigilante 8 series. A remake of Vigilante 8 with some elements of Vigilante 8: Second Offense included, Vigilante 8: Arcade features online play for up to eight players.

<i>Screwjumper!</i> 2007 video game

Screwjumper! is an action video game for the Xbox 360 via Xbox Live Arcade, developed by Frozen Codebase and published by THQ. The game was released on November 14, 2007. The game was the 100th game released by THQ for the Xbox Live Arcade service.

<i>N+</i> 2008 video game

N+ is the console and handheld version of the Adobe Flash game N, which was developed by Metanet Software. N+ for Xbox Live Arcade was developed by Slick Entertainment and published by Metanet Software. Unique versions of the game were also ported separately to the PlayStation Portable and Nintendo DS by developers SilverBirch Studios and Atari. Metanet Software licensed their N IP for this deal, provided single player level design for both versions, and consulted on the project.

<i>Galaga Legions</i> 2008 video game

Galaga Legions is a 2008 twin-stick shooter video game developed and released by Namco Bandai Games for the Xbox 360. It is the twelfth game in the Galaxian series, and the third developed for home platforms. The player controls a starship, the AEf-7 "Blowneedle", in its efforts to wipe out the Galaga armada. The objective of the game is to clear each of the five stages as quick as possible. Stages have a heavy emphasis on puzzle solving and chain reactions, which are necessary to clear out enemy formations. The Blowneedle has a pair of satellites at its disposal, and can place them anywhere on the screen to fend off enemies.

<i>Shred Nebula</i> 2008 video game

Shred Nebula is a multidirectional shooter developed by American studio CrunchTime Games for the Xbox 360 via Xbox Live Arcade service. The game was released on September 3, 2008.

<i>OutRun Online Arcade</i> 2009 video game

OutRun Online Arcade is a racing video game and the most recent release in the OutRun series. It was developed by Sumo Digital and published by Sega. The game was released on April 15, 2009 on Xbox Live Arcade and released exclusively in Europe for the PlayStation 3 a day later via the PlayStation Network. Gameplay involves players racing their choice of Ferrari through a selection of fifteen stages in the shortest time possible.

<i>Zen Pinball</i> 2008 video game

Zen Pinball is a series of pinball machine video games for iOS and the PlayStation 3 developed by Zen Studios. The iOS releases are two separate applications, each containing one table; Zen Pinball: Rollercoaster, released July 7, 2008, and Zen Pinball: Inferno, released October 31, 2008. Zen Pinball for the PlayStation 3 was published by Sony Computer Entertainment and features four tables, plus an additional six tables as downloadable content. It was released on the PlayStation Network on May 14, 2009. It is the non-Microsoft counterpart to the Pinball FX series on the Xbox 360, and the first pinball game on the PlayStation 3. The game was also released on Android devices as Zen Pinball THD on December 1, 2011, and the Nintendo 3DS as Zen Pinball 3D via the Nintendo eShop on December 1, 2011 in Europe and January 12, 2012 in North America.

<i>Snoopy Flying Ace</i> 2010 video game

Snoopy Flying Ace is a dogfighting video game based on Charles M. Schulz's Peanuts franchise and developed by Smart Bomb Interactive for the Xbox Live Arcade service on the Xbox 360. It was announced on November 10, 2008 and released on June 2, 2010. An unofficial sequel to the 2006 video game Snoopy vs. the Red Baron, it features a similar World War I setting. Snoopy is tasked with defeating several members of the Flying Circus, a special flight squadron in the Luftstreitkräfte, and its commander, Manfred von Richthofen, also known as the Red Baron.

<i>Perfect Dark</i> (2010 video game) 2010 video game

Perfect Dark is a 2010 first-person shooter developed by 4J Studios and published by Microsoft Game Studios for the Xbox 360 through its Xbox Live Arcade download service. The game is a remaster of the original Perfect Dark, which was released for the Nintendo 64 in 2000. Although the gameplay remains largely unchanged, the remaster features significant technical improvements over the original, including new higher-resolution textures and character models, a higher frame rate, and a multiplayer mode that supports the Xbox Live online service. The story of the game follows Joanna Dark, an agent of the Carrington Institute organization, as she attempts to stop a conspiracy by rival corporation dataDyne.

<i>Pinball FX 2</i> 2010 video game

Pinball FX 2 is a pinball video game for Xbox 360, Xbox One, and Microsoft Windows and is the sequel to Pinball FX. It was developed by Zen Studios and published by Microsoft Studios. It was released on October 27, 2010, via the Xbox Live Arcade service. The game includes several new features, such as local multiplayer and the ability to tweak table settings. Players can also import all of the tables from Pinball FX they had previously purchased. The Windows 8 version of Pinball FX 2 was released on the Windows Store on October 27, 2012, two years after the original XBLA release. The game was subsequently released for other Windows platforms via Steam on May 10, 2013. Pinball FX 2 was announced for Windows Phone in February 2012. A sequel, Pinball FX 3 was released in September 2017.

<i>Marvel Pinball</i> 2010 video game

Marvel Pinball is a 2010 pinball video game developed by Zen Studios. It features Marvel Comics-themed pinball tables. It is available as a standalone game for the PlayStation 3 via the PlayStation Network, and as downloadable content for Pinball FX 2 on the Xbox 360 via Xbox Live Arcade. Its content on the PlayStation 3 is also playable in Zen Pinball 2. It is the second pinball title for the PlayStation 3, succeeding Zen Pinball. It was released on December 8, 2010, on the Xbox 360 and December 14, 2010, on the PlayStation 3.

<i>CastleStorm</i> 2013 video game

CastleStorm is a 2013 game developed by Zen Studios for Xbox 360, Windows, PlayStation 3, PlayStation Vita, and Wii U. A remastered version titled CastleStorm: Definitive Edition was released in 2014 for PlayStation 4 and Xbox One. A free-to-play mobile version titled CastleStorm: Free to Siege was released in 2014 for Amazon, Android, and iOS. The game also received a virtual reality adaptation for Oculus Rift, Samsung Gear VR, and PlayStation VR. A sequel titled CastleStorm 2 was released on July 31, 2020.

<i>Pinball FX 3</i> 2017 video game

Pinball FX 3 is a pinball simulator video game developed and published by Zen Studios and is the sequel to Pinball FX 2. It was released for Microsoft Windows, Xbox One, PlayStation 4 in September 2017 and then released for the Nintendo Switch in December 2017. A followup called Pinball FX was released in February 16, 2023.

<i>3D Ultra Minigolf Adventures</i> 2006 video game

3D Ultra Minigolf Adventures is a 2006 arcade golf video game for Microsoft Windows and Xbox 360 developed by Wanako Games and published by Vivendi Games. The game released on December 20, 2006, for Microsoft Windows, and April 18, 2007, for Xbox 360.

References

  1. 1 2 Rea, Jared (2007-04-23). "Eets: Chowdown and Pinball FX to XBLA this Wednesday". Joystiq . Retrieved 2007-04-23.
  2. 1 2 3 4 Zen Studios (2007-04-25). Pinball FX. Microsoft Game Studios.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 jdkmedia (2007-10-31). "Pinball FX - 360 - Review". GameZone. Archived from the original on 2009-10-02. Retrieved 2010-11-29.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 Whitehead, Dan (2007-05-01). "Pinball FX Review". Eurogamer . Retrieved 2007-05-13.
  5. ↑ "Free Pinball FX Expansion Table Hits XBLA". IGN. 2007-10-31. Archived from the original on 2011-06-29. Retrieved 2010-11-29.
  6. ↑ "Zen Studios to Spook Up Xbox Live Arcade with Its Nightmare Mansion Table for Pinball FX". GameSpot . 2008-01-16. Retrieved 2010-11-29.
  7. ↑ Fahey, Mike (2008-04-03). "Pinball FX Taps Moose And Squirrel". Kotaku. Archived from the original on 2012-10-16. Retrieved 2010-11-29.
  8. ↑ Dobson, Jason (2008-11-05). "XBLA's Pinball FX getting Street Fighter theme". Joystiq . Retrieved 2008-11-06.
  9. ↑ "Save the Planet From the Evil Flip-Bot in Earth Defense, the Latest Table for Pinball FX". IGN. 2009-09-21. Retrieved 2009-09-21.
  10. ↑ "Step Into the Legend of Arthur with Pinball FX's Excalibur Table". IGN. 2010-01-27. Archived from the original on January 29, 2010. Retrieved 2010-11-29.
  11. ↑ Calvert, Justin (2006-11-06). "Pinball FX Hands-On". GameSpot. Retrieved 2010-11-29.
  12. ↑ Goldstein, Hilary (2007-03-06). "GDC 2007: Pinball FX Eyes-On". IGN. Archived from the original on March 22, 2012. Retrieved 2010-11-29.
  13. ↑ "Taking Care of Business: Pinball FX 2 Pricing Explained & Secrets of the Deep Revealed". mcvuk.com. 2010-09-29. Retrieved 2010-11-30.
  14. 1 2 "Pinball FX for Xbox 360 - GameRankings". GameRankings . Retrieved 2010-11-29.
  15. 1 2 "Pinball FX for Xbox 360 Reviews, Ratings, Credits and More at Metacritic". Metacritic . Retrieved 2010-11-29.
  16. 1 2 Herring, Will (2008-05-28). "Review: Pinball FX". GamePro . Archived from the original on 2011-07-08. Retrieved 2010-11-29.
  17. 1 2 3 4 Gerstmann, Jeff (2007-04-25). "Pinball FX Review". GameSpot. Retrieved 2010-11-29.
  18. 1 2 3 Goldstein, Hilary (2007-04-27). "IGN: Pinball FX". IGN . Archived from the original on January 14, 2009. Retrieved 2007-05-13.
  19. ↑ Langley, Ryan (2010-07-28). "In-Depth: Xbox Live Arcade Sales Analysis, First Half Of 2010". Gamasutra . Retrieved 2010-11-29.
  20. ↑ Jupp, Graham (2007-04-25). "Pinball FX review - Xbox 360". Pinball Addicts. Retrieved 2007-05-13.
  21. ↑ Meija, Ozzie (27 January 2021). "Pinball FX is being rebooted in 2021, teases 'Pinball Royale'". ShackNews . Retrieved 9 February 2023.
  22. ↑ Smith, Mark (31 March 2022). "Zen's "Pinball FX" Enters Early Access on Epic Games Store". GameChronicles. Retrieved 9 February 2023.
  23. ↑ Gilbert, Fraser (4 February 2023). "The New 'Pinball FX' Arrives On Xbox Consoles Later This Month". Pure Xbox . Retrieved 9 February 2023.
  24. ↑ "Pinball FX releasing on Switch in 2023". NintendoEverything. 8 December 2022. Retrieved 9 February 2023.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.