I would like to see 3d space cadet pinball game

[doomguy]

my grand parents had it on their old computer, and I would play it all the time, maybe zen studios can remaster it and release it on pinball fx. I'm surprised it's not on steam.

[Pinballwiz45b]

It's said to be as difficult to get as Indiana Jones -- maybe magnitudes more. You'd be surprised how many people are involved with the Full Tilt! Pinball team at Cinematronics/Maxis, in 1995. EA holds the rights now. The article below was published two years ago.

https://www.theloadout.com/pinball-fx/windows-space-cadet

[HK714]

I believe there is a VPX version of it.

[MikeFulton]

An important distinction needs to be made. A version of Space Cadet Pinball was licensed to Microsoft for the Windows 95 Plus Pack. This is based on, but not exactly the same as the table included in the Full Tilt Pinball package, and the rights for that version are probably still held by Microsoft.

Since it was packaged by Microsoft and sold alongside Windows 95 at launch, sales of the Plus Pack were probably much, much greater than for Full Tilt Pinball. Meaning it's likely that what the OP is remembering is the Plus Pack version.

[doomguy]

Originally posted by mfulton:

An important distinction needs to be made. A version of Space Cadet Pinball was licensed to Microsoft for the Windows 95 Plus Pack. This is based on, but not exactly the same as the table included in the Full Tilt Pinball package, and the rights for that version are probably still held by Microsoft.

Since it was packaged by Microsoft and sold alongside Windows 95 at launch, sales of the Plus Pack were probably much, much greater than for Full Tilt Pinball. Meaning it's likely that what the OP is remembering is the Plus Pack version.

I think I do remember it being part of some old arcade package along side battlezone.

[Pinballwiz45b]

Originally posted by mfulton:

An important distinction needs to be made. A version of Space Cadet Pinball was licensed to Microsoft for the Windows 95 Plus Pack. This is based on, but not exactly the same as the table included in the Full Tilt Pinball package, and the rights for that version are probably still held by Microsoft.

Since it was packaged by Microsoft and sold alongside Windows 95 at launch, sales of the Plus Pack were probably much, much greater than for Full Tilt Pinball. Meaning it's likely that what the OP is remembering is the Plus Pack version.

~sigh~ https://devblogs.microsoft.com/oldnewthing/20181221-00/?p=100535

"Space Cadet Pinball was not originally written by Microsoft, but was rather obtained via licensing from a company then-known as Cinematronics. This means that there are restrictions on what can be done with the program, as spelled out by the license agreement."

You can still see Cinematronics' and Maxis' names on the apron of the 3D Pinball demo, and the "About" portion of the page outright states "3D Pinball Table created for Microsoft by Maxis."

The game has since been ported to Windows NT 4.0, 2000, ME, and XP, the last of which was where it was most recognized. "Sadly, the license agreement does not permit releasing the game as an independent entity. The agreement was for including Space Cadet Pinball in Windows 95, with options to include it in the Microsoft Plus! pack for Windows 95, as well as extending the distribution rights to successor products of Windows and the Plus! pack. History tells us that Microsoft chose to exercise all the options clauses, which earned the original licensor some extra pocket change. Unfortunately, release as an independent product was not included in the terms of the deal."

Microsoft Plus was discontinued, so they no longer have the rights. I rest my case EA holds full control of Space Cadet and Full Tilt! Pinball. Just because the vast majority remembers the 3D Pinball version that came with Windows, doesn't mean that version should be the one remastered.

[MikeFulton]

Originally posted by Pinballwiz45b:

Microsoft Plus was discontinued, so they no longer have the rights. I rest my case EA holds full control of Space Cadet and Full Tilt! Pinball. Just because the vast majority remembers the 3D Pinball version that came with Windows, doesn't mean that version should be the one remastered.

The only point I was ever trying to make was that it was more likely the Plus Pack version that the OP remembered. I said nothing about it being the best choice for a remastering.

[Orthodrom]

Originally posted by HK714:

I believe there is a VPX version of it.

Yes, it is pretty nice. :)