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Scratches
Posted in 
Billiards
Scratches
Posted in 
Billiards
Scratches
The number of times i scratch is unbelievable! X-(

Am i alone in thinking FOD rig it to make game more exciting? 
Errr yes[img=
http://www.myleague.org.uk/emotions/loser.png
]:D

You need to learn young one:p, go to the practice table:) 
Why would they want to rig it? If you think of the ammount of cushions u hit it is obvious that you will eventually pot the white. You just have to learn how to control the cue ball.
Unlike real life, video games are mathematical based softwares. This means there is a pre-programmed feature which tries to simulate an "auto-balance". This holds true in almost all types of games which involve simulated physics. Why do you think there are games that allow the user to choose "difficulty settings". Even in a game like NBA Live one has the option to turn on "momentum" and "increased fouls". Another example is in the practice mode of billiards. 

Just go to practice mode in billiards here and you will notice that there is a "show path" mode. This allows the practitioner to see the path lines of the cue ball, object balls, collisions and so forth. That's an example of the software's mathematical calculations.

 There have been a great number of times in which I started off with a big lead then predicted with astounding accuracy that my opponent was going to comeback, regardless of what rating he or she had. Whether they be a Steve Davis or a Botcher, most of my games have been quite close. I could recall a game in which my opponent only had the 8-ball left and I had 1 ball to go that was right at the center of the top rail. The thing  that stood out the most was that I knew the odds for me winning this game was extremely slim because the 8-ball was practically inside the pocket but hadn't fallen in yet. I tried to top spin my ball into one of the side pockets but it didn't fall so I thought it was over for me. Nope, instead my ball had blocked the cue from the 8-ball. I ended up losing that game anyways but it took about 5 more turns for him to get an open look at the 8. 

There are many games similar to the one I described above that I continue to play in as well as watch from others. Obviously if one whacks the balls all over the table the odds of fluking or scratching are higher. However though, I have seen too many high rated players who play with good control of the cue that seemingly get "luck" and/or "bad luck" in an almost predictable fashion. 

I am not saying that all this is part of the software because the fact of the matter is that these games still require a lot of skill. But if there is an "Auto Balance" factor in the software's programming then I would probably think that the game has more control over "accidental" snookers and scratching than it has over no rail fouls. The software cannot control how much power or lack of in each shot you make. It does however have some control over the mathematical equations which try to simulate real physics. Video games aren't real and are only simulations of the actual thing. 

If video games had all the natural laws of real physics then they would take up too much memory to be played online or in a computer. But obviously that would be impractical in terms of programming to say the least. That's why programmers have to narrow the properties to make a simulation playable. It's a simulation not the real thing and because it's a simulation the causes and effects of games are more predictable.


hmmm didn't read gursts 2 long :S
I never read long fins like dat..sorry guest if I wanted to read an essay I would :)
Guest - I would like to believe that this game uses a simple geometry system for ball paths, and not an AI engine to determine who wins. The main memory and maths calculations are in creating the 3D graphics, and even that is not too difficult these days.

Whilst only the programmer knows the truth, I'd like to believe more in statistics. Most games are going to fall in the average zone where everything seems normal, but there will be extremes of luck and bad luck. There will also be runs of these extremes. It's to be expected, and it will happen both ways.
Also, If you are getting fed up with potting the white, Simply try and control the power on the cue ball, Sometimes it is good to power it, Sumtimes good to tap it. You have to think about it, But you gotta think ..Everyone 
Scratches
 somtimes, even my dóg :p