Gimme a Break

About

Gimme a Break is a 1985 arcade game that puts you on the pool table with a trackball and a single button. You adjust the cue ball with the button then roll it toward your target. Two players take turns aiming at either solid or striped balls while a single player can chase bonus rounds by sinking special targets. The trackball feels like a real break shot in miniature, making each flick matter. What sticks out most is the slow-motion replay after sinking three balls in one shot, a technical flourish for its time. The hardware also had a hidden purpose, flip a switch and the game displays photos of missing children during idle. A small but serious detail in an otherwise competitive pool sim.