Ideas for making pool game easier

Putting togther a simple casual game which involves making 8-ball pool shots one after the other (i.e. you don't play a full game, you take one shot and if you make it you get another shot).

I have a challenge:

- If I dont provide a guide of where the white ball (cue ball) will hit the object ball the game is much too hard

- If I draw a line from the white ball to the object ball and then from the object ball to the pocket it is MUCH too easy

- If I draw a line from the white ball to the object ball but NOT to the pocket the game is better but still too hard

(Sample)

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Here's some ideas I have for making the game easier:

1. Strong bias to easier shots (i.e. balls closer together, balls closer to pockets)

- Best option I have so far, but I'm not sold.

2. Cheat the physics and make the pockets a little 'magnetic' (i.e. additional force to attract balls to pockets)

- Seems like this would look weird if the ball moves too far, but haven't yet tested

3. Include more balls on the table, so even if player misses they have a good chance of knocking something else in (combined with some easier shots as per 1)

- Multishots for extra score are something I was planning to add, but I don't know if I want it to be this random... "Hit and Hope" style

4. Use the full shot prediction line, but add a time limit to each shot (3-5 seconds)

- I want the game to be fast paced, but not frantic, this changes the complexion of the game entirely

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Does anyone have any other ideas?

 

SOLVED

Turned out that simple showing the direction the ball will travel after the collision with a short arrow, rather than extending the full line to the pocket, gives a very nice difficulty level. Whats more you can tweak it by setting how far the line is extended!

 

If anyone is interested here's what we ended up with (currently Android only, Steam and iOS coming):

Get it here: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.jnamobile.eightballstreakz

 

You might consider an adjustable difficulty setting which enables/disables the various indicators. Some people might find it satisfying to play with no indicators, others may need everything shown.

 

Aye, good idea Joe.

 

Johnny A . That game looks incredible. I would love to try it out. Is it on unity?