Full Tilt! Pinball - 3D Pinball For Windows - Space Cadet

Space Cadet

3D Pinball for Windows - Space Cadet (referred to as 3D Pinball or simply Pinball) is the version of the game bundled with various Microsoft products. It was originally packaged with Microsoft Plus! 95 and later included in Windows NT, Windows Me, Windows 2000, and Windows XP. Instructions are available from Microsoft on how to install it on Windows 98. Windows XP is the last version of Windows to include the game, as it was removed in Windows Vista since beta 1. However, by simply copying the whole "pinball" folder (usually in C:\Program Files\Windows NT\) from a Windows XP installation to another system it is possible to play the game on Windows Preinstallation Environment, Windows Vista, Windows 7, and Windows 8 in both 32 and 64-bit Environments. It also runs on Wine (software) for Unix-like systems.

As the Maxis version contained significant portions of x86 assembly language, much of the game had to be rewritten in C to accommodate the MIPS, Alpha, and PowerPC platforms that Windows NT supported at the time. It contained only the Space Cadet table. The graphics of this version are only available in the 640x480 resolution, while the Maxis version comes in 3 different resolutions adjustable to a maximum of 1024x768. The image on the side is a two-dimensional image as opposed to pre-rendered 3D. The words Maxis and Cinematronics have been changed from the yellow to a dark red, making them harder to see. It also sports a splash screen that merely says 3D Pinball and shows a small pinball graphic with faded edges.

The look and feel of the two versions are similar, except Full Tilt! Pinball version has smoother animation, various resolutions that players can select from and multi-ball play, and extra music and sound. Music is not enabled by default in the Windows version. The gameplay in both versions is almost identical except for a few minor differences; most notably the completion of a mission in the Maxis version resulted in a "replay" (actually a ball save rather than a special) being awarded and hitting a wormhole that has the same color light activating the multi-ball round; these are not the case in the Windows version, where completing a mission merely awards bonus points and hitting a wormhole in the above circumstances awards a replay. Another difference is about the three yellow lights above the bumpers (both in the "launch ramp" and in the upper table zone): in the Windows version these are turned back off if the ball passes on them while they are on. This is not the case in the original version, where they just remain activated. Finally, in the Windows version the "fuel" lasts longer.

The only difference which is not part of the gameplay is the music: the Windows soundtrack is inspired by the original Maxis one. The two are similar but there are major differences in notes and MIDI instruments used.