Regarding Java versions - believe me, ive tried em all! LOL!

I'm gonna put it down to a quirk in the system, as a programmer myself (purely C, not getting involved in Java thankyou!) i know how these things happen. Just curious as to the obvious difference in the arcade snooker game..

I assume the lag you're talking about is the 3rd option?

3) The whole game slowing down
This seems to affect Java 1.5 while Flash is showing.

I think the problem is that for whatever reason your machine struggles to handle the processing required for all the shot animation (ie the balls moving).

The intensive part of the animation is rendering the balls (making them roll correctly). It is a known problem that on some machines the rendering in Java is very slow (processor dependent). Arcade snooker does not render the balls, hence works acceptably. Snooker may be slow due to the large table size.

So... is the game slow when you don't have an advert shown? Eg when the rankings are displayed?

Can you right click an advert and see if you're using Macromedia Shockwave (a heavyweight component) or Macromedia Flash (should be much lighter).

I suspect the problem is some versions of Macromedia hogging the processor and leaving the polite Java applet with no processing time. It would help me a lot if you could detail your Macromedia type for each computer.

Version checker for flash: http://www.adobe.com/cfusion/knowledgebase/index.cfm?id=tn_15507

Version checker for shockwave: http://www.macromedia.com/shockwave/welcome/

OK Nick, never thought about the flash modules so i'll check these at home.

Not having ads displayed doesnt make much difference though. The games are marginally better in firefox with pictures/animations disabled (untill it crashes of course)

Regarding rendering, UK pool is just as bad as US pool, so i doubt thats the issue.

By the way, i'm not bitching about this, if i wanna play i can use the laptop its just that i'm curious!

i find that on my home pc with a crap processer and mem it works when i have 1.1.4 java but on my uncles pc whos is much better it works with anything going including msn windows mp or media centre and sophos up dateing everyhour but thats just me my pc is crap i need a new 1 ne 1 wanna donate cash 2 the buy jacko a new pc so he can play funkypool fund ?

Right - Shockwave version 10.1.1r16, Flash version 8,0,22,0

All latest versions on all machines.. When playinf practice processor usage has never gone over 66% on the Athlon, but frequently maxes out on the old P2, despite that machine playing nice and smoothly.

*confused shrug*

i think i got a cure to lag on my pc im not sure if it will work on other peoples pcs

u need zonealarm pro its stopped my lag and im using a diff java 2 1.1.4 and now it works like a dream no lag no adds no nothing apart from pure game play :D