3D Pinball for Windows: Space Cadet

3D Pinball for Windows – Space Cadet is a version of the Space Cadet table bundled with Microsoft Windows. It was originally packaged with Microsoft Plus! 95 and later included in Windows NT 4.0, Windows ME, Windows 2000, the 32-bit editions of Windows XP and Windows XP Professional x64 Edition. The Windows 98 installation CD has instructions on installing Pinball 3D on this version of Windows which are partly wrong; Microsoft later issued an updated support article.[1] Windows XP was the last client release of Windows to include this game.[2]

The look and feel of Full Tilt! Pinball and 3D Pinball are similar, with a few exceptions: The latter contains only the Space Cadet table and only supports 640×480 resolution, while the former supports three different resolutions up to 1024×768. The image on the side is a two-dimensional image as opposed to pre-rendered 3D. The words Maxis and Cinematronics have been changed from the yellow to a dark red, making them harder to see. It sports a splash screen that merely says 3D Pinball and shows a small pinball graphic with faded edges. Music is not enabled by default in 3D Pinball. It has fewer soundtracks that are inspired by the original game.

There are only a few minor differences between the gameplay of the two versions. The completion of a mission in the Maxis version results in a replay (actually a ball save rather than a special) being awarded. In addition, hitting a wormhole that has the same color light activates the multi-ball round. This is not the case in 3D Pinball: Completing a mission merely awards bonus points and hitting a wormhole in the above circumstances awards a replay. Another difference is about the three yellow lights above the bumpers (both in the launch ramp and in the upper table zone): In 3D Pinball these are turned back off if the ball passes on them while they are on. This is not the case in the original game, where they just remain activated. Finally, in the Windows version, the fuel lasts longer.