3D Pinball for Windows (1995) • Hacker News Board

Re: 3D Pinball for Windows (1995)

#21

Post by irthomasthomas » Thu, Jul 30, 2026, 3:59 PM UTC

mushstory wrote: post #4

space bar - shoot ball z / - press it x . - shaking

Does x help you avoid that deadspot in the middle, where the flaps cant reach?

Re: 3D Pinball for Windows (1995)

#22

Post by cwnyth » Thu, Jul 30, 2026, 4:00 PM UTC

timvdalen wrote: post #3

After all this time, I still don't know how to select a mission, or what missions are

Do you see the flashing arrow? You have to hit one of those tiles, and then launch the ball up the ramp.

Re: 3D Pinball for Windows (1995)

#23

Post by Fib0112358 » Thu, Jul 30, 2026, 4:01 PM UTC

this brings me so much joy. thank you!

Re: 3D Pinball for Windows (1995)

#24

Post by cwnyth » Thu, Jul 30, 2026, 4:04 PM UTC

vunderba wrote: post #18

hootz wrote: post #11

Did it always have this music? I don't remember it having music.

Definitely did - that MIDI file is etched into everyone's soul who played Space Cadet but this was early days, maybe it's possible the win9x machine you played on didn't have a sound card? EDIT: From what others have said it sounds like it's off by default. It's been decades so I don't remember.

Huh, I don't remember turning it on. Who would want it off? The music is amazing, and it laid the seed for me to get into chip music, especially early keygen music (much of which can be found here: https://keygenmusic.tk/#).

Re: 3D Pinball for Windows (1995)

#25

Post by Fib0112358 » Thu, Jul 30, 2026, 4:08 PM UTC

zenmaster10665 wrote: post #2

oh man i love this game thanks...why no scoreboard tho?!

if you're playing on a phone, the right side of the window might be cut off. you could rotate the screen, or you could select the desktop version in Chrome options (but it will be very small).

Re: 3D Pinball for Windows (1995)

#26

Post by GlickWick » Thu, Jul 30, 2026, 4:09 PM UTC

0x1ceb00da wrote: post #20

mushstory wrote: post #4

space bar - shoot ball z / - press it x . - shaking

Does the shaking even do anything in this game?

Definitely. Looking at the code it weirdly changes ball accel, which is not how nudging works in actual pinball.

https://github.com/alula/SpaceCadetPinball/blob/master/Space...

Re: 3D Pinball for Windows (1995)

#27

Post by mangoclimb » Thu, Jul 30, 2026, 4:36 PM UTC

It was a mini-game included by default in Microsoft Windows 2000.

Re: 3D Pinball for Windows (1995)

#28

Post by alex1138 » Thu, Jul 30, 2026, 4:40 PM UTC

If you're on Linux, https://flathub.org/en/apps/com.github.k4zmu2a.spacecadetpin...

Re: 3D Pinball for Windows (1995)

#29

Post by dgritsko » Thu, Jul 30, 2026, 4:50 PM UTC

Recently stumbled across a YouTube channel (no affiliation) where a guy is documenting his process of building a working physical replica of Space Cadet Pinball. I found the process pretty interesting. If you're intrigued: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BU_02HABZ4s

Re: 3D Pinball for Windows (1995)

#30

Post by diego_moita » Thu, Jul 30, 2026, 4:51 PM UTC

I wasted my youth on this thing!

So now I should waste my working hours on it?