Pinball FX 2 (stylized as Pinball FX2) is a pinball video game for Xbox 360, Xbox One, and Microsoft Windows and is the sequel to Pinball FX. It was developed by Zen Studios and published by Microsoft Studios. It was released on October 27, 2010, via the Xbox Live Arcade service. The game includes several new features, such as local multiplayer and the ability to tweak table settings. Players can also import all of the tables from Pinball FX they had previously purchased. The Windows 8 version of Pinball FX 2 was released via the Windows Store on October 27, 2012, two years after the original XBLA release. The game was subsequently released for other Windows versions via Steam on May 10, 2013. Pinball FX 2 was announced for Windows Phone in February 2012. A sequel, Pinball FX 3, was released in September 2017.
Gameplay
Pinball FX 2 uses the same basic rules as a physical pinball machine, but in a virtual environment. As with a traditional pinball machine, the player fires a steel ball onto the playfield using a plunger. Once the ball is in play the player controls the flippers and can nudge the machine to influence the path of the ball. Each of the game's tables become more complex as the game advances, opening new paths and opportunities.
The game allows use of the Xbox Live Vision camera to operate the flippers and to video chat with Xbox Live opponents. It also features leaderboards and online multiplayer for up to four players. Players can also participate in split-screen multiplayer. Multiplayer games are won by being the first to achieve the set high score, which can be adjusted from 10 to 100 million points. Penalties can also be set for losing a ball with players losing anywhere from 5 to 25 percent of their score when a ball is lost.
Tables
Pinball FX 2 is available free of charge and includes tables that can be played with a set time limit (Xbox and Windows/Steam) or fully with video advertisements (Windows 8 and Windows 10). Players can choose to download an expansion pack dubbed Pinball FX 2 Core which unlocks four tables: BioLab, Pasha, Rome, and Secrets of the Deep. Additional tables can be purchased individually, or via compilations. The first compilation, titled Pinball FX Classic, contains four tables from the original Pinball FX. As the original Pinball FX was delisted from Xbox Live Marketplace, people who purchased Pinball FX receive the Classic collection, as well as other tables they purchased for that title, for free. The second compilation, Marvel Pinball, has four pinball tables based on major Marvel Comics characters: Blade, Iron Man, Spider-Man, and Wolverine. Achievements are based on the table rather than the game, allowing Pinball FX 2 to have a record 2,200 gamerscore and 100 achievements on Xbox Live Arcade. Each table can also be tweaked and configured via the game's Operators menu. This allows players to adjust where certain parts of the table are located and how many points unlock special sections and features of the table. On April 20, 2011, the Mars table was released. Themed around the planet of the same name, it is the first new individual table since the release of Pinball FX 2. On August 31, 2011, Pinball FX 2 received its first original individual table with the release of Ms. Splosion Man, a table based on the Xbox Live Arcade platformer of the same name developed by Twisted Pixel Games. From October 26 to November 2, 2011, the full version of the Paranormal table was given away for free as a gift to the game's fans. On September 4, 2012, a table based on the popular PopCap Games title Plants vs. Zombies was released for both Pinball FX 2 and the newly released Zen Pinball 2 for the PlayStation 3 and PlayStation Vita. On December 12, 2012, four tables from Zen Pinball were released for Pinball FX 2, leaving only one PlayStation 3-exclusive table from the original Zen Pinball remaining on that platform. Said last table, a table based on Ninja Gaiden Sigma 2, was finally released on the Xbox One version on December 4, 2014, thus removing all table exclusivity for Zen Pinball.
Table Pack Collection X360 X1 Win 8 Windows/SteamSecrets of the DeepPinball FX 2 CoreZen StudiosBiolabPinball FX 2 CoreZen StudiosPashaPinball FX 2 CoreZen StudiosRomePinball FX 2 CoreZen StudiosSpeed MachinePinball FX ClassicsZen StudiosExtremePinball FX ClassicsZen StudiosAgentsPinball FX ClassicsZen StudiosBuccaneerPinball FX ClassicsZen StudiosNightmare MansionN/AZen StudiosRocky and BullwinkleN/AZen StudiosStreet Fighter II′ Turbo TributeN/A,Zen StudiosEarth DefenseN/A,Zen StudiosExcaliburN/A,Zen StudiosMarsN/AZen StudiosSorcerer's LairN/AZen StudiosParanormalN/AZen StudiosEpic QuestN/AZen StudiosMs. Splosion ManN/AZen StudiosPlants vs. ZombiesN/AZen StudiosShamanZen ClassicsZen StudiosTeslaZen ClassicsZen StudiosEl DoradoZen ClassicsZen StudiosV12Zen ClassicsZen StudiosSuper League FootballN/A,Zen StudiosThe Walking DeadN/AZen StudiosSouth Park: Super Sweet PinballSouth Park PinballZen StudiosSouth Park: Butters' Very Own PinballSouth Park PinballZen StudiosCastleStormIron & SteelZen StudiosWild West RampageIron & SteelZen StudiosPortalN/AZen StudiosNinja Gaiden Sigma 2N/AZen StudiosWolverineMarvel Pinball OriginalMarvel PinballSpider-ManMarvel Pinball OriginalMarvel PinballIron ManMarvel Pinball OriginalMarvel PinballBladeMarvel Pinball OriginalMarvel PinballCaptain AmericaN/AMarvel PinballFantastic FourN/AMarvel PinballVenomN/AMarvel PinballThorVengeance and VirtueMarvel PinballGhost RiderVengeance and VirtueMarvel PinballMoon KnightVengeance and VirtueMarvel PinballX-MenVengeance and VirtueMarvel PinballThe AvengersAvengers ChroniclesMarvel PinballFear ItselfAvengers ChroniclesMarvel PinballThe Infinity GauntletAvengers ChroniclesMarvel PinballWorld War HulkAvengers ChroniclesMarvel PinballCivil WarN/AMarvel PinballDoctor StrangeN/AMarvel PinballDeadpoolN/AMarvel PinballGuardians of the GalaxyN/AMarvel PinballMarvel's Avengers: Age of UltronN/AMarvel PinballAnt-ManN/AMarvel PinballA-ForceMarvel's Women of PowerMarvel PinballChampionsMarvel's Women of PowerMarvel PinballThe Empire Strikes BackStar Wars PackStar Wars PinballBoba FettStar Wars PackStar Wars PinballStar Wars: The Clone WarsStar Wars PackStar Wars PinballReturn of the JediBalance of the Force Star Wars PinballDarth VaderBalance of the ForceStar Wars PinballStar Wars: Starfighter AssaultBalance of the ForceStar Wars PinballA New HopeHeroes WithinStar Wars PinballHan SoloHeroes WithinStar Wars PinballStar Wars: DroidsHeroes WithinStar Wars PinballStar Wars: Masters of the ForceHeroes WithinStar Wars PinballStar Wars: RebelsN/AStar Wars PinballStar Wars: The Force AwakensThe Force AwakensStar Wars PinballMight of The First OrderThe Force AwakensStar Wars PinballRogue OneN/AStar Wars PinballFamily GuyBalls of GloryFox PinballBob's BurgersBalls of GloryFox PinballAmerican Dad!Balls of GloryFox PinballArcherBalls of GloryFox PinballAliensAliens vs. PinballFox PinballAlien: IsolationAliens vs. PinballFox PinballAlien vs. PredatorAliens vs. PinballFox PinballDOOMBethesda PinballBethesda PinballFalloutBethesda PinballBethesda PinballThe Elder Scrolls V: SkyrimBethesda PinballBethesda Pinball Table originally from Pinball FX Table originally from or was also released on Zen Pinball Table also released for Zen Pinball 2 Full table was temporarily free to download Full table was included for free on the initial Windows 8 version Full table is included for free Non-Disney-owned IP(s) licensed to Zen Studios Table was released individually on this platform This table contains the fictional team "Zen Studios F.C.", but also has the following real licensed teams available: Liverpool F.C., Arsenal F.C., Real Madrid C.F., FC Barcelona, Juventus, A.S. Roma, and A.C. Milan. The physical design of the table is the same throughout, and all aesthetic designs are separate purchases.
Development and marketing Pinball FX 2's existence was first leaked to the public via the Australian Classification Board website on August 11, 2010. It was officially announced on August 31, 2010. The game was originally slated for release on October 13, 2010, however last minute delays pushed the game back two weeks. It was released for the Xbox 360 via the Xbox Live Arcade Marketplace on October 27, 2010, as part of Microsoft's Game Feast promotion. The development team consisted of roughly 15 individuals, and development lasted 18 months.
Zen Studios Managing Director Zsolt Kigyossy detailed the reasons for focusing primarily on pinball games. "We have guys in the studio who have spent countless hours and pockets full of money at arcades playing pinball." Kigyossy explained that the design process for the tables begins with a conceptual design on paper. Basic 3D models and shapes are then created and implemented into a test environment. The artists then add graphical details and animations. Once gameplay and visual design is complete a final pass is made "properly lighting the table, so the tables becomes lifelike." Simultaneously other designers work on the LED display system, sound and gameplay mechanics. The game then spends two to three months in testing before the table is considered ready for release. The entire process takes approximately six months per table. Kigyossy further stated the team plans to "keep the tables coming, support our games long term, and give fans a great selection to choose from."
The developers stated that they listened to fan responses from the first game and implemented those ideas into the sequel. "We have been listening to our fans and building the pinball game that they envisioned," stated Kigyossy. "It took a little longer than expected, but we have designed a game that unifies the online community, and takes all the social features to the next level." The game was made available free of charge and gives players the ability to try any table for a limited time. Players can then elect to download Pinball FX 2 Core which unlocks full versions of the Pinball FX 2 tables. Owners of the original Pinball FX can import their existing tables, then selectively choose which of the new tables they want to download. Players who do not own Pinball FX can purchase the Pinball FX Classic pack, which contains the three original tables along with the free downloadable table from the original game. Kigyossy hinted that some of the exclusive tables from Zen Pinball would be coming in the future to Pinball FX 2, which was realized when the Mars table was released on April 20, 2011. Zen Studios announced on February 29, 2012, that the game would be available for free along with the Sorcerer's Lair table for Windows 8 users, with the additional tables available as premium downloadable content. It was released on the new OS for download via the Windows Store on October 27, 2012, although the Mars table was provided for free instead.