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1st February 2003:
First World Championship Snooker 2003 shots
Who would have thought that a snooker game would contain neural net AI, a top-level kinetics engine and realistic particle effects?
Posted by Marc Hull - Xbox,PlayStation 2,PC - UK and Europe

As computers get more and more advanced, it seems as if the strive for realism in games gets ever closer to its goal. We now have racing simulations which contain hundreds of real-life cars, first-person shooters that accurately model enemy line-of-sight and hearing, as well as fighting games where even each character's hair and clothes sway realistically in the wind. However, while all of those genres mentioned are making leaps and bounds, they're still a fair way off being completely realistic. Snooker games, on the other hand, are already near the limits of their genre, and Codemasters' latest title hopes to provide the definitive simulation by modelling every aspect of the sport; and from the game's specifications, we're inclined to agree!

To begin with, World Championship Snooker 2003 contains several different play modes, which include the full World Snooker championship, 8 and 9-ball pool, various mini-games and a special trick-shot option. Being officially licensed, you'll be able to select from 28 professional snooker players including Peter Ebdon, Ronnie O'Sullivan, Stephen Hendry and John Higgins, and then participate in a career mode which allows you to rise up through the rankings to take the world title. By winning games, you can unlock bonuses such as better cues, special tables and even new clothes for your player!

The game's graphics are designed to recreate the look of TV-coverage, and include all the standard camera angles such as pocket and roving cams. During the world championship mode, you compete inside a realistic model of the Crucible theatre, with a proper 3D rendered crowd that react to your play. The snooker players themselves contain between 9,000 to 15,000 polygons each, and have full facial expressions that show their emotions during each match. The game even contains neural-network artificial intelligence to ensure that each of the professional snooker players react authentically based on their individual styles!

Taking things even further, World Championship Snooker also contains a high-end physics and kinetics engine which produces highly accurate ball movement that should be indistinguishable from the real thing. There's even a particle system for chalk dust on the table, and lighting effects such as realistic reflections on the balls. Even if you're completely new to the game, a comprehensive coaching mode presented by Dennis Taylor promises to help you with everything from basic shots to learning advanced cue skills.

Overall, World Snooker Championship 2003 certainly sounds like the closest most people will get to winning the actual World Snooker Championship! The game's due for release later this Spring on PC, PlayStation 2 and Xbox, and we hope to have further details soon. In the meantime, why not take a look at these PC screenshots?

Marc Hull

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World Championship Snooker 2003
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