Play 8 Ball Pool on iMessage

[nerdslife_team]

8 Ball Pool is one of those games that’s easy to pick up but tough to master. It’s a classic for a reason, and now you can play it directly within iMessage for some quick matches with your friends. It’s all about lining up the perfect shot and having a bit of luck.

The basic idea is that you get assigned either stripes or solids once the first ball is pocketed. You need to pot all of your assigned balls, and finally the 8-ball to win. Be careful not to hit the wrong ball first or pot the cue ball, as this gives your opponent an advantage.

Here’s a breakdown of how to get started with 8 Ball Pool in iMessage:

Getting the Game Setup

First things first, you’ll need to install the GamePigeon app, which has 8 Ball Pool and a bunch of other fun games. Let’s get it installed.

1. Open your Messages app on your iPhone or iPad.
   

   

2. Select a conversation, or start a new one with a contact.
   

   

3. Look for the grey App Store icon, it’s usually at the bottom of your screen in the chat. Tap it to open the iMessage app drawer.
   

   

4. Tap the blue App Store icon in the app bar.
   

   

5. Tap the search icon in the top right corner.
   

   

6. Type game pigeon in the search bar and hit Search on the keyboard.
   

   

7. You should see GamePigeon in the results; tap Get to download it. You might need to authenticate with your Apple ID.
   

   

Note: If you’ve already installed GamePigeon before, the button might be a cloud download icon.

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Starting a Game with a Friend

Now that GamePigeon is installed, let’s get a game of 8 Ball Pool started!

1. Open the Messages app again.
   

   

2. Go to an existing conversation or start a new one by tapping the compose button.
   

   

3. Look for the GamePigeon icon in the app bar (it’s above the keyboard); you might need to scroll horizontally to find it. Tap it to see available games.
   

   

4. Choose 8 Ball from the game options.
   

   

5. Select your GAME MODE. 8 Ball is a regular match, while 8 Ball+ uses more balls for a longer match.
   

   

6. Pick a difficulty level. Normal has aiming assists while Hard removes them for a challenge.
   

   

7. If you want, customize your cue by tapping CUSTOMIZE. Most options need an in-app purchase.
   

   

8. Add a message if you want, and tap Send to invite your friend to play.
   

   

Since you initiated the game, it’ll be your friend’s turn first. When it’s your turn, tap the YOUR MOVE message to play.

9. Adjust your aim by dragging your finger horizontally across the screen. Align the white line to aim the cue ball at your target ball.
   

   

10. To add spin, tap the cue ball icon on the right. Then tap the cue ball itself to adjust the impact point.
    

    

11. To increase power, tap and hold the cue stick icon on the left, then drag down. Release it to take the shot.
    

    

Once someone pots a ball, the stripes/solids assignments are shown under the player’s icon. Your goal is to clear all your balls before your opponent does.

A cross mark appears when you aim at a ball that isn’t yours.

If your opponent makes a foul, you get the ball in hand, meaning you can put the cue ball anywhere on the table for your next shot.

Be careful, if you pot the black 8-ball before clearing your other balls, you automatically lose.
The player who gets all their assigned balls and the 8-ball wins!

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Muting Sounds in 8 Ball Pool

If you need to play without disturbing others, here’s how to mute the game’s sounds.

1. While in a game, tap the gear icon at the bottom left of the screen.
   

   

2. Toggle the Music and Sound options to turn off sounds.
   

   

You can also personalize your in-game avatar with different expressions, hairstyles, and accessories, just above the sound options.

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And that’s it! You’re ready to have some fun with 8 Ball Pool in iMessage.