Cue Club 2: Pool & Snooker News

Hi Everyone,

In today's update we have included a number of new features, improvements and fixes to the game. As always, a big thank you for the continual feedback and suggestions which help us to further refine Cue Club 2.


GRAPHICS

• Improved cloth texturing effects on 2D and 3D tables, with deeper shadows around and underneath cushions.
  
  
• Fixed an issue in 3D first person mode where pocket jaws sometimes did not render correctly if located close to the camera.
  

MENUS

• Added a 'Table Size' button to the bottom of 'Game Type' selection menus, to allow the table size to be changed more easily when starting a new game.
  
  
• Added qualifying information to leaderboards. See 'Achievements > Speed Pool Times / Snooker Breaks'. Advance to the online record table, then click the 'Qualification' button for details.
  
  
• Added 'Random' option to ball set selection on start screen. See 'Initial Setup > Start Screen > Ball Set', and click the left arrow button.
  
  
• Fixed the link when clicking the 'back' button when returning from cue selection screen in quick match mode.
  
  
• Fixed an issue where deleting saved speed pool and snooker breaks could leave some data intact which could then be uploaded to online leaderboards.
  
  
• Fixed an issue where exiting from the in-game menu to multiplayer then immediately returning to the game would give control back to player 1 instead of the AI, if it was the AI's turn to play.
  

POOL

• In practice mode, pocketing the 'money ball' last in 6, 7, 9, or 10 ball pool and scratching at the same time now results in both balls being replaced on the table.
  
  
• Fixed an issue where the red ball-release button could be pressed when the ball stack was not completely full.
  

AUDIO

• Added a menu button to reset the audio device, which is useful if you switch playback devices when the game is running. See 'Options > Audio' then click the 'Reset Device' button at the bottom of the page.
  
  
• Music volume is now set correctly when skipping tracks and the 'Volume Reduction (Game Menu)' setting is turned on.
  

CONTROLS

• Fixed an issue where buttons on the in-game control panel could not be selected after tabbing out then back into the game.
  
  
• Fixed instances where 7/F7 keys (restore balls) would not always work immediately after the break shot in practice mode.
  

SAVED GAMES

• Fixed an issue where a saved game file could be accidentally deleted by starting a new game then immediately exiting to the main menu.
  

Hi Everyone,

We hope you're all keeping well. Today we're pleased to release another Cue Club 2 update with a range of new features, fixes and improvements. Many thanks once again for the continued feedback and support. Full details of the changes are listed below.


GRAPHICS AND DISPLAY

• Improved screen scaling on 4K monitors. This fixes an issue that incorrectly scaled the screen on some hi-res monitors, causing part of the image to be cropped off.
  

MULTIPLAYER

• Added an option to select the pocket shape used on pool tables (angular wide, angular narrow, and rounded jaws). From the multiplayer lobby, click on the round arrow button at the top right of the control panel, then select from the 'Pocket Shape' setting below.
  
  
• Various improvements to graphics and layout in the multiplayer lobby.
  
  
• Fixed an issue which could potentially cause a crash in the lobby when sending and receiving game invites.
  

10-BALL POOL

• Fixed an issue where potting the 10-ball last but in the wrong pocket or with a scratch on the cue ball would lead to the red ball-release button flashing after the 10-ball was respotted.
  
  
• Potential fix for a rare issue that would display a wrongfully pocketed ball notice for a legal shot, when an A.I. player is at the table.
  

SNOOKER

• In 'Snooker colours' practice mode, potting a colour out of sequence (yellow to black) now results in the ball being respotted on the table.
  
  
• Fixed an issue in snooker practice mode where manually adding and removing reds from the table could lead to problems respotting the colours.
  

2 PLAYER GAMES (HUMAN VS HUMAN)

• Notification bell now sounds when the game is minimised and it's player 2's turn at the table.
  

GAMEPLAY

• Fixed an issue where the in-game control panel would sometimes automatically switch to the potted balls display when the option had been set to 'Manual'. See 'Options > Display > User Interface > Potted Balls'.
  
  
• Fixed an issue where the ball-spin crosshairs on the control panel would sometimes change position when the cue ball was respotted by the referee.
  
  
• When playing with table dimensions set to 'Fullscreen', the screen aspect ratio must now be between 16:9 and 16:10, otherwise the default 2:1 table aspect ratio is used. See 'Options > Tables & Equipment > Tables > Global Settings > Table Dimensions'.
  

CONTROLS

• Fixed an issue where the 'Restore' button would deactivate when switching from using 'Compact' to 'Large' user interface.
  
  
• Fixed an issue where it was possible to adjust the power of an A.I. player's shot using '+/-' or 'shift/ctrl' keys when accessing in the in-game menu.
  

SOUND

• Added ',' and '.' shortcut keys (comma and full-stop) to quickly skip to previous and next music tracks.
  
  
• Added new menu option to reduce the volume of the music when the in-game menu is activated by the user. See 'Options > Audio > Music > Volume Reduction (Game menu)'. Default setting is off. This feature may be useful when activating the in-game menu to pause the game.
  
  
• Music volume now correctly sets to default value when 'Reset' button is pressed. See 'Options > Audio > Music'.
  

A.I.

• Improved computer player's ability to avoid sending the cue ball near pockets when playing long shots off the cushion.
  

AIM LINES & LEADERBOARD QUALIFICATION

• Added information to the bottom of aim line menus to show status of online leaderboard qualification. See 'Options > Aiming > 2D / 3D View'.
  

MENUS

• Fixed an issue where changing the colour of the table cloth on the startup-screen would also change the colour theme of the menus. See 'Initial Setup > Startup > Cloth Colour'.
  

Hi Everyone,

Today's update brings further customisation to aim lines in multiplayer matches, along with a collection of fixes and improvements. Full details below.


MULTIPLAYER

• Added an option to customise the primary and secondary aim line length in MP games. See settings on the far right of the multiplayer lobby, towards the bottom of the control panel. Note the same settings will be used for both you and your opponent, and are picked from the host's settings (the player who sends out the invitation for a match).
  
  Note: the lobby aim line settings only apply to human vs human multiplayer games. In other matches, the aim lines will be set from parameters at 'Options > Aiming'.
  

8 BALL POOL

• Fixed an issue where the A.I. would get stuck if the 8-ball was potted on the break, and the computer player had to choose whether to respot the 8-ball or perform a re-rack.
  

MENUS

• Fixed various text errors that appeared in the in-game menus (Polish language).
  
  
• Fixed incorrect ordering of menu options for 'action camera' settings (Dutch language).
  
  
• Fixed some instances where menu text overlapped the edge of the in-game menu.
  

CONTROLS

• Fixed an issue where the game controller menu button was disabled when an A.I. player or multiplayer opponent was at the table.
  
  
• Fixed an issue where the game controller left thumbstick would not move the aim position in slam mode.
  
  
• Fixed game controller navigation issues when using the in-game virtual keyboard with Russian language setting.
  
  
• Fixed various menu navigation issues when using a game controller in the multiplayer lobby and keyboard entry screens.
  
  
• In practice mode, the 9/F9 key (add ball to table) can no longer be used when other balls are still rolling on the table.
  
  
• Also in practice mode, the 7/F7 key (restore ball positions) now works correctly if used immediately after restoring the break shot.
  
  
• Other minor fixes and enhancements.
  

A.I.

• Computer opponents now better at getting out of snookers. Lower ranked players can still miss the object ball on occasion, if playing off the cushion.
  

Hi Everyone,

We hope you're all doing well. In today's update we've made further enhancements to many areas of the game. Thanks again for the useful feedback and please see below for a full breakdown of the latest additions and improvements.


SNOOKER

• Visibility checks when determining if a free ball should be awarded following a foul have been made more precise.
  
  
• Default snooker table size is now 12ft (also applies to multiplayer games). Other sizes are still available including 8, 9, 10 and 11ft tables.
  

POOL

• In 8-ball, following a foul with ball-in-hand behind the headstring, AI players no longer attempt to play an illegal ball behind the headstring.
  
  
• Fixed an issue where the red ball-release button would continue flashing after pressing 7/F7 to restore the previous ball position.
  
  
• Fixed an issue where the ball number (shown in aiming circle) could briefly flash on screen at the start of a new game.
  
  
• Fixed a rare issue where a freeze could happen at the start of a new game, if another game had just been played before.
  
  
• In practice mode, pressing the red ball-release button then quickly clicking the restore button, or going to the menu to re-rack balls, or exiting to the main menu, will now halt the audio sample of the balls rolling.
  

KILLER POOL

• Fixed an issue where the number of lives remaining would not always display correctly in the match information screen.
  
  
• Maximum number of lives now capped at 10 when the rule variation for gaining extra lives is enabled.
  

MULTIPLAYER

• Fixed an issue that could sometimes cause a disconnection during a match.
  
  
• When choosing the table size in the MP lobby, separate values are now stored for pool and snooker tables.
  
  
• The progress bar (row of flashing lights) at the bottom of the in-game menu has been replaced with an animated ring at the top right of the menu.
  

CONTROLS

• Game controller now correctly navigates on the tournament fixtures screen when returning from a completed match.
  

A.I.

• Computer opponents are now less accurate when playing off the cushion, and can occasionally miss the object ball, especially on lower difficulty settings.
  

AIM LINES

• Primary aim line is now correctly clipped to edge of table when using high power. Also improved scaling of primary line arrows with power adjustment, and visibility made slightly less opaque.
  
  
• Secondary aim lines for human vs human multiplayer games are now identical for both players (medium length), to offer a fair and balanced gaming experience. They can also be turned off for both players, if preferred, from the MP lobby.
  

CAMERAS

• Improved transitions of 3D cameras on frame and match winning screens.
  

GRAPHICS

• In-game avatars for A.I. players during chat messages are now slightly smaller and obscure less of the table view.
  
  
• Tweaked cloth colours for 'Electric Blue' and 'Teal'.
  

MENUS

• In-game menus now accomodate an extra line, allowing some menus to be contained on one page.
  
  
• Added an extra page and slot for saved games and shots, bringing total saves from 36 to 49. Also added an extra tournament save slot.
  
  
• The advanced control options in the main menu are now organised over 2 pages instead of 3.
  

OTHER ADDITIONS AND FIXES

• Added a random setting for the start-up screen cloth colour. See 'Initial Setup > Start Screen > Cloth Colour' and click the left button until you reach the 'Random' option.
  
  
• Added a 'Test' button to 'Options > Display > Graphics Settings' to test current graphics settings using the start-up screen.
  
  
• Added a 'Recommended' hint to 'Limit frame rate' option in 'Options > Display > Graphics Settings'. Usually this should be set to 'Yes' for smooth and consistent frame rate, but on less powerful machines the 'No' option might give better performance.
  
  
• Fixed an issue when using the virtual keyboard, which prevented delete key, shift key and cursor keys being used when editing player names.
  
  
• Fixed an issue when using a dual monitor setup and the mouse has been clipped to the edges of the window. Clicking the minimise button in the menu, then restoring the window no longer freezes the mouse pointer. See 'Options > Controls > Advanced Settings (Page 2) > Mouse Movement'.
  
  
• Fixed an issue where saved replays would pause when using ALT-TAB to minimise game.
  
  
• Fixed an issue where the cue would rotate when the ESC key is pressed for the in-game menu, immediately after a shot is played.
  
  
• Fixed an issue where the cue would return to the table when the ESC key is pressed for the in-game menu, shortly after chalking the cue.
  
  
• Fixed an issue in slam mode, where pressing 2/F2 (add chalk) would prevent balls from being dragged around on the table.
  
  
• Similar to above, power adjustment keys (shift, ctrl, +, -) and spin / cue elevation keys (e, q) are no longer active in slam mode.
  
  
• Other minor fixes and enhancements.
  

Hi Everyone,

Wishing you all a Happy New Year! In our first update of 2022 we've put together an array of new features, improvements and fixes covering many aspects of the game. Thanks once again for sharing your ideas here and on the forums and we hope you enjoy these latest additions to Cue Club 2.


CAMERAS

• Further improvements made to the 3D camera which tracks balls after a shot is played.
  
  
• Added a new menu option to select different variations of the post-shot action camera. Four settings are available: 'No tracking', 'No tracking + rotation', 'Auto tracking' and 'Auto tracking + rotation'. The default setting is 'Auto tracking + Rotation' but we recommend taking a few moments to experiment and configure this to suit. See 'Options > Cameras > Action Camera (All Players)'. With all variations, the middle mouse button or gamepad left shoulder button can be used to quickly zoom out after a shot is played.
  
  
• Introduced a very short delay after striking the cue ball, before the above rotation effect can be used. This is to prevent accidental rotation when using the mouse to shoot, especially with the 'manual' cueing method which requires additional mouse movement.
  
  
• When zoomed out from the table in 3D mode it is now possible to lower the camera further, to just above the height of the rails (mouse movement down or game controller left trigger).
  

MULTIPLAYER

• Maximum number of games in multiplayer now set at 'Best of 17' (Race to 9).
  
  
• Increased the maximum number of points earned in all matches of 3 games or longer by 10 points.
  
  
• Fixed a vulnerability that could potentially cause a multiplayer match to lose synchronisation.
  

GRAPHICS

• Added Steam player and opponent avatar images to frame and match winning screens.
  
  
• Corrected avatars during in-game chat, which sometimes displayed the default male / female image instead of the user's Steam profile picture.
  
  
• Improvements made to Bar Challenge membership card designs for Basement, Cocktail and Penthouse bars.
  
  
• In the 'Tables' customisation menu screen, buttons for previous / next page have been enlarged for visibility and ease of access. See 'Options > Tables & Equipment > Tables'.
  
  
• Fixed an issue that sometimes prevented the 3D pool table diamonds from rendering when they were near the edge of the screen.
  
  
• Fixed an issue that sometimes made the stage barriers flicker when switching camera views in a theatre venue.
  
  
• In Killer pool with 3 players, the end-of-match screen now displays the scores in the correct position.
  

BALL PHYSICS

• Maximum cue power has been increased, allowing for more powerful break shots with all cues. Please note, to compensate for this, the default cue power has been reduced from 30% to 25%. Existing users should go to 'Options > Controls > Advanced Settings > Default Power' to adjust if necessary.
  
  
• Changing the value for default shot power from the in-game menu now instantly changes its effect in the game, without having to exit and restart.
  
  
• Small increases made to the maximum amount of side, top and bottom spin that can be applied to the cue ball.
  
  
• Improved cushion dynamics. Shots with high amounts of top or side spin now play better off the cushion allowing for more effective positional play and trick shots.
  
  
• Increased the difference between tables with slow, medium and fast cushions by varying the strength of the rebound effect. See 'Options > Tables & Equipment > Tables > Global Settings > Cushion Speed'.
  

8 BALL POOL

• When playing with ball-in-hand behind the headstring, the orange aiming target is now correctly applied to balls behind the headstring that cannot be legally hit unless the string is crossed first.
  

SNOOKER

• Corrected a rule for when a free ball is awarded after a foul and only the colours remain. If the 'on' ball is potted after the cue ball hits the nominated free ball first, then the 'on' ball is scored and remains off the table.
  

GENERAL FIXES

• Fixed an issue that could run the game at a time-accelerated rate on some PC configurations, causing the balls to slow down too quickly.
  
  
• Fixed an issue related to dual monitor use, where the mouse pointer would not clip to the edge of the screen after minimising then maximising the game window. See 'Options > Controls > Advanced Settings', then advance to page three and set 'Mouse Movement' to 'Restricted to screen'.
  
  
• Fixed an issue on first run of the game that would exit from the main menu information screen to the player profile screen instead of the main menu.
  
  
• Fixed an issue that enabled the in-game 'Restore' button to be clicked after loading a saved practice game but before a shot was played.
  
  
• Fixed an issue that very occasionally caused an object ball to be respotted on the table while it was still spinning.
  
  
• Closed a loophole that allowed more than one copy of a tournament to be saved, enabling the same match to be played again.
  
  
• Other minor fixes and enhancements.