HDTenEightyP/NetNews huggingface dataset:
From: iott@rtsg.mot.com (Joel K. Iott)
Subject: Dr. Who (First Look) (SPOILERS)
Organization: Motorola Inc.
Date: Thu, 20 Aug 1992 15:26:18 GMT

Well, I got my first look at Dr. Who last night, and here's the poop:

Minor spoiler:
Think "Hyper Pinbot".

Major spoilers:

First thing I noticed about this game is the WIIIIIIIIIDE open playfield.  You
can shoot all the way from the flipper to almost the back of the machine with
very few obstructions.  This is the most open playfield I can remember seeing,
except mayber for Hyperball (and that wasn't pinball!)

Once I started playing, the next thing I noticed was the gaping hole in between
the flippers - image T2 without a center post.  And the gaping outlanes -
similar to Hurricane. 

Designer is Barry Oursler. 
I don't know if he was the Pinbot designer, but Dr.  Who is essentially Pinbot
in reverse & extended.  If you are a Pinbot fan, you'll probably enjoy Dr. Who. 

Pinbot - hit targets, lock balls, hit ramp
Dr. Who - lock balls, hit targets, hit center "holes"
   (2-level pinbot has turned into 3 level Dr. Who).

New features:

A Combo shot is now an official part of the game play - not a bonus.  W-H-O
combo requires hitting a ramp, a target, and a ramp.  2 combos lights (earns?)
extra ball. 

"1/2" multipliers.
A ramp spots 1 1/2 playfield multiplier, 2X multiplier, 2 1/2X multiplier, etc. 

Extremely high levels of bonus multiplier. I saw somebody with 13X bonus!

Player selection of features. (done previously by Gott. w/ Super Mario Bros)
Before you shoot the ball, you can select one of the 7 doctors, which will
increase one of 7 scoring/feature possiblities.

Opinions and trivia coming up:

Do I detect a trend here in how I feel about games Barry Oursler designs?
Comet     - Liked it.
Cyclone   - O.K.
Hurricane - Hated it. 
Dr. Who   - Yuk!

My ratings (1-5, 1 high, 5 low)

Gameplay:    5  Maybe this game should be called "Draino"
Playfield:   5  you can almost hear the wind whistling around the
                wide open playfield
Animation:   3  the "2001" space tunnel effects are cool
Sounds:      3  Dr. Who theme is cool.
Backglass:   5  too much orange & yellow
Playfld Art: 1  almost makes me forget about the vast open spaces
Overall:     4  I reserve 5 for REALLY bad games, like Simpsons.

Trivia:

Price: $.50 a game - same as Fish Tales.
Label: Bally.

ObSolenoidPlungerActivationGimmick: none! just a button!
ObBigDecorativePlasticePiece on the Playfield : a tardis
ObGimmick sitting on top of the backbox : a moving, blinking Dalek
ObVideoMode: run & jump
ObCow: if you hit some targets at the wrong time, you cause a "transmat error"
 and get a MOOOOOO!
ObMaintenanceHeadache: either the 3-level "pinbot", or the flippers going weak
 and not making the shots up the long playfield
Newsgroups: rec.games.pinball
From: oday@lobster.gsfc.nasa.gov  (Orin Day)
Subject: Re: Funhouse steps
Reply-To: oday@lobster.gsfc.nasa.gov  (Orin Day)
Organization: Goddard Space Flight Center
Date: Wed, 12 Aug 1992 17:43:25 GMT

In article <1992Aug12.171508.22656@u.washington.edu>  
phaedrus@milton.u.washington.edu (Phaedrus) writes:
> In article <1992Aug12.122117.13745@comp.lancs.ac.uk> pj@comp.lancs.ac.uk  
(Paul Jones) writes:
> >When in multi-ball (mini or normal) and the Steps have been lit, shooting a
> >ball up the ramp to the steps, send the ball round to the left plunger, but
> >when it gets there the steps are closed and so the ball drains :-(.
> 
>      It sounds like something's wrong either with the software (perhaps your
> machine has prototype ROMs) or with the diverter that decides which of the
> two ramps the ball will go down.  During any sort of Multiball, the Steps
> should never be lit at all; any ball sent up the ramp should go to the
> inlane, not to the Steps outlane.  Does the Steps diverter work all right
> during normal (non-Multiball) play?
> -- 
> Internet: phaedrus@u.washington.edu  (University of Washington, Seattle)

I've had this happen to me on a machine in the Winston-Salem/Greensboro
airport - everything seemed to be working fine except for the steps 
during multiball only - a real disappointment. 

Orin
--
************************** "Burrow Owl?" *************************
Orin Day, Code 664.1                    oday@lobster.gsfc.nasa.gov
Hughes STX/NASA       GSFC Laboratory for High Energy Astrophysics
****** "Think that this is NASA's opinion?   NO, NO, NO!!!" ******
Newsgroups: rec.games.pinball
From: oday@lobster.gsfc.nasa.gov  (Orin Day)
Subject: Re: Promo Stuff in new machines
Reply-To: oday@lobster.gsfc.nasa.gov  (Orin Day)
Organization: Goddard Space Flight Center
Date: Mon, 17 Aug 1992 00:55:08 GMT

In article <46465@shamash.cdc.com> sjc@hare.udev.cdc.com (Steven J Craig)  
writes:
> Hey,  can some of you who have recently puchased some of the
> newer machines let us in on what the promo piece was in the
> box (if any)?

The LW3 promo, according to a flyer from my distributor, was
a LW3 movie poster.

Orin

> |  Steven J. Craig (612) 482-4705   sjc@pooky.udev.cdc.com        |

--
**** "Where's the Men's Room?  You're soaking in it!" - MST3K ****
Orin Day, Code 664.1                    oday@lobster.gsfc.nasa.gov
Hughes STX/NASA       GSFC Laboratory for High Energy Astrophysics
****** "Think that this is NASA's opinion?   NO, NO, NO!!!" ******
From: grover@vulcan1.edsg.hac.com (Dean Grover)
Newsgroups: rec.games.pinball
Subject: Re: "Travel Time"
Date: 14 Aug 92 20:36:57 GMT
Reply-To: grover@vulcan1.edsg.hac.com
Organization: Hughes Aircraft Co., El Segundo, CA

In article l8iposINNhlr@exodus.Eng.Sun.COM, jrt@gap.EBay.Sun.COM (Joel Tornatore) writes:
> I also remember a later variation on the same theme done
> in the early 1980's, but I do not remember by whom. As
> I recall, it was not as playable as the original (only
> my opinion.)
> 
> joel

I believe that one was "Beat the Clock" by Bally.  It came out around 85-86.
From what I remember, Travel Time actually had a counter that went up to 120
seconds.  Of course, I was only about 14 when I saw it, so my memory is fading :-(
I do remember it as a "good" game, enough that I could list it as a pre-1976 
favorite.
---
//////////////////////////////////////\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\
Dean Grover                            Mappy - The ultimate game of cat
Hughes Aircraft Company                        and mouse
adgrover@hac2arpa.hac.com or grover@vulcan1.edsg.hac.com
From: crywalt@vaxc.stevens-tech.edu (Christopher Rywalt, maladjusted cartoonist)
Newsgroups: rec.games.pinball
Subject: Re: Protecting silkscreened playfield lightshields
Date: 18 Aug 92 14:53:36 GMT
Organization: Fairleigh Dickinson University

In article <1992Aug17.181926.20929@javelin.sim.es.com>, dpettit@javelin.sim.es.com (Daina Pettit) writes:
> In article <19540@fritz.filenet.com> ung@fritz.filenet.com (Bill Ung) writes:
>>I just ordered (well, ordered and received) a new set of the silkscreened
>>playfield lightshields for my HIGH SPEED game.  Several of the ones that
>>came with the game were broken and one is missing.  Of the ones that are
>>still there, a lot are scratched so that part of the scenery is missing,
>>although the physical shield is still intact.  I attribute this to years
>>of half-unscrewing the shields to change the light bulbs underneath and
>>scraping the paint off the plastic shield in the process.  
>>
>>Now that I have a new set, I'd like to keep them new.  I'll be as careful
>>as possible, but accidents do happen.  What can I do to protect the
>>artwork on my new lightshields?  Is there something like Cover-Your-Glass
>>for lightshields?  Can you spray them with clear acrylic or something?
>>How about re-enforcing them against breakage?  Is there anything that
>>helps out in that department?
>>
>>Thanks in advance,
>>
>>Bill Ung
>>  ung@filenet.com

	About the silkscreen, I can give possibly useful advice in this area;
	I have had several years of experience in protecting my paintings
	from damage.  However, I've never tried anything on plastic (other
	than model cars and the like) and I can't be certain of results.

	I know for my paintings, I get a good spray varnish and just cover
	them with it (usually about three coats, with very light coverage on
	each coat to prevent sagging).  Since I paint in gouache and water-
	colors, this varnish helps to protect them from moisture and scratching
	(although a concerted effort can still damage them).  Also, the paints
	are very sensitive, and the varnish doesn't affect them at all; so
	I would think that the plastics wouldn't be bothered.

	Also, you can always find a clear coat, like they use on model cars 
	(and many times on real cars).  However, they're oil based and may eat 
	your plastic.


-- Chris

%SYSTEM-F-ACCVIO, access violation, reason mask=00, virtual address=00000000, PC
=0000BFEF, PSL=03C00009
%TRACE-F-TRACEBACK, symbolic stack dump follows
module name     routine name                     line       rel PC    abs PC
                                                                                
SIGNATURE	main				 2226      00000107  0000BFEF
Newsgroups: rec.games.pinball
From: mpalmer@encore.com (Mike Palmer)
Subject: Cleaning lamp sockets - suggestions wanted.
Organization: Encore Computer Corporation
Date: Sun, 16 Aug 1992 12:12:04 GMT

What's the best way to clean lamp sockets. I have several lamps that are dim
& wiggling the bulbs makes them bright until I let go.  I tried a pencil with
an eraser at the end with no luck.

Any nifty suggestions would be appreciated.
From: ung@felix.filenet.com (Bill Ung)
Newsgroups: rec.games.pinball
Subject: Re: Kill the operator
Date: 18 Aug 92 00:21:08 GMT
Reply-To: ung@fritz.filenet.com (Bill Ung)
Organization: FileNet Corp., Costa Mesa, CA

In article <1992Aug13.191337.19802@walter.bellcore.com> jns@inoms.bellcore.com (Jesse N. Schell) writes:
|In article <1992Aug7.023744.16756@newshub.ariel.yorku.ca>, cs911084@ariel.yorku.ca (NEMO G.G. DE FURIA) writes:
|
|..stuff deleted...
||| I really would like to go back
||| to that place and set it ablaze. 
|
|Hmmmm....this brings an interesting thought to mind... Say you wanted to 
|sabotage an arcade... How would be the best way to do it? Anyone know any
|ways you could (god forbid) totally trash a pin or a vid game and not get
|caught? Would magnetized iron filings in the coin slot work? Anyone have
|any ideas?

Well, if you want to be destructive, you could always fill the coin slots
with super-glue or super-glue the flipper buttons down.  That would disable
a game pronto and keep it down for a while.  The coin-slot one is a little
safer, just in case someone else comes up and wants to play the game, they
don't get super-glued fingers :-(.

Another option would be to mess with the power, but I don't know what you'd
do to it.  Maybe clip the grounding pin?

| --------------------------------------------------------------------------
| Jesse N. Schell               
| Bell Communications Research   
| PY4 4G-316                     
| 33 Knightsbridge Rd.    
| Piscataway, NJ  08854   
| Phone: (908) 699-3649  
|   Fax: (908) 562-0104
| Email: jns@inoms.bellcore.com
| --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Bill Ung
  ung@filenet.com
From: medic@milton.u.washington.edu (Travis Lauricella)
Newsgroups: rec.games.pinball
Subject: Re: TAF - Weird Shots
Date: 17 Aug 92 17:54:25 GMT
Article-I.D.: milton.medic.714074065
Organization: University of Washington


>In article <1992Aug17.002418.14408@peponi.wcc.govt.nz>, coutinho_b@kosmos.wcc.govt.nz writes:
>> 
>> Has anyone else had funny or weird shots while playign TAF (or any other 
>> common Pinball)

Well, just an hour ago I set a personal record on TAF (but low by r.g.p.
standards) of 206M.  One of the shots I end up taking a lot is the train
wreck, but I try to stay away from it because it ends up draining down the left
(Train Wreck -> Swamp Million target -> Left slingshot -> Right Slingshot ->
Drain) but something had changed on the machine so that nearly every Train
Wreck sent the ball into the Graveyard.

Phadraeus (sp? sorry.) still has me beat on the machine by a good 600M, though.
He's safe for now. :)

<medic@u.washington.edu>
Newsgroups: rec.games.pinball
From: bbs-garfield@jwt.UUCP (David Eison)
Subject: Re: Complaints and dreams
Reply-To: bbs-garfield@jwt.UUCP
Organization: The Matrix
Date: Mon, 17 Aug 1992 03:20:05 GMT

sjsobol@tiny.com (Steven J. Sobol) writes:

> I found a place in town that has an F-14! In really good condition!!
> (As are most of their games, from what I can see.) I told the attendant to
> give the owner my name and number... "I'd be interested in buying the F-14
> when you're ready to sell it." What do you think a good price would be...
> I've seen them advertised for $600 in arcades....

Could someone please explain what's so great about F-14 Tomcat?  Every 
single arcade (well, every decent one...) here in Orlando has an F-14.  
I've even seen one in good condition.  I've read so much good stuff about 
it, I figured I'd try it, but it seemed quite unremarkable to me... Am I 
missing something?  Someone I know said something about a hook on the end 
of a flipper to kick the ball faster?  I've never seen any weird flippers 
or such...  I feel like I'm missing out on some wonderful game...

---
David Eison - Garfield           bbs-garfield@jwt.uucp
<><  I'm not as think as you stoned I am! ><>
From: ung@felix.filenet.com (Bill Ung)
Newsgroups: rec.games.pinball
Subject: Protecting silkscreened playfield lightshields
Date: 13 Aug 92 23:50:50 GMT
Reply-To: ung@fritz.filenet.com (Bill Ung)
Organization: FileNet Corp., Costa Mesa, CA

I just ordered (well, ordered and received) a new set of the silkscreened
playfield lightshields for my HIGH SPEED game.  Several of the ones that
came with the game were broken and one is missing.  Of the ones that are
still there, a lot are scratched so that part of the scenery is missing,
although the physical shield is still intact.  I attribute this to years
of half-unscrewing the shields to change the light bulbs underneath and
scraping the paint off the plastic shield in the process.  

Now that I have a new set, I'd like to keep them new.  I'll be as careful
as possible, but accidents do happen.  What can I do to protect the
artwork on my new lightshields?  Is there something like Cover-Your-Glass
for lightshields?  Can you spray them with clear acrylic or something?
How about re-enforcing them against breakage?  Is there anything that
helps out in that department?

Thanks in advance,

Bill Ung
  ung@filenet.com
From: rls@cbnewsc.cb.att.com (richard.l.schieve)
Newsgroups: rec.games.pinball
Subject: Re: Schematics:how about a library here?
Summary: Sounds good BUT...
Date: 13 Aug 92 19:17:37 GMT
Distribution: usa
Organization: AT&T

In article <13910025@hpnmdla.sr.hp.com>, pazar@hpnmdla.sr.hp.com (Steve Pazar) writes:
> Fellow Pinheads,
>    Some of you have listed sources for manuals and schematics...this is
>    great. Thanks! But, I was wondering if we should get a list together
>    of the documentation the folks here have. It'd be a lot cheaper and
>    easier to get. I'm not going to volunteer to be the "keeper of the 
>    list" or anything (sorry). Maybe we could make it a part of the FAQ?
>    I've got several schematics myself and have made copies for others
>    many times in the past. I've also been on the receiving end many times.
>    Any comments???
> 
> 			   Steve Pazar
> 			   pazar@hpnmdla.sr.hp.com


I have a fairly large library of video game schematics and manuals and
a some pin docs.  Before I say anything else I want to say that the
people that are into working on and owning pins are usually (not
always) easier to deal with.  What I found myself doing was constantly
answerring requests for video game manuals and spending lots of time
at the copier...  I used to send the copies for the cost of the postage
and figured I was helping others that really appreciated it.  What
really upset me was the few times I was looking for manuals and no one
responded, even for easy stuff like Space Invaders, even when I sent
direct requests to the people that said they owned the games on
Steve Ozdemir's VAPS list...

I have much better success posting to the people that owned the pin
I wanted manuals for in the PAPS list and because I was tired of
doing all the copying for free, I insist on paying something for
the copies I get, just as I now always ask for a small amount to make
copies.

Where is this all going...  I guess what I'm saying is that if
something like a list of manuals is put together it is more likely
to work with the people that own pins and if people appreciate the
efforts of others and don't expect to put their own library together
for free.

All and all I really enjoy owning and working on games and hearing
what others are up to, plus picking up some repair and playing tips.

Great newgroup!

				Rick Schieve
				rls@ihlpb.att.com
From: sjsobol@tiny.com (Steven J. Sobol)
Reply-To: sjsobol@tiny.com (Steven J. Sobol)
Newsgroups: rec.games.pinball
Distribution: world
Subject: Re: Lethal Cows
Organization: The Tiny Software Company, Main Office, Cleveland, Ohio
Date: Wed, 19 Aug 92 22:48:17 

sbb@panix.com (Steve Baumgarten) writes:

>That throwaway ZZ Top soundtrack and the "Getaway" jackpot make you
>think, too.  Seems like there's some serious (and not so serious)
>one-upsmanship going on here.

If you're talking about HS2, that song is AWESOME! It's "La Grange" and
is on the greatest hits album (don't remember the name or the original
album it appears on). Anyhow, of course there's one-upmanship! What did 
you expect??

-- 
***  **  ** | The Tiny Software Co.  23707 Glenhill  Cleveland OH 44122
 *  *   *   | Steve Sobol * President * sjsobol@tiny.com or tiny!sjsobol 
 *   *  *   | Alternate addresses: sjsobol@wariat.org or ag510@po.cwru.edu
 *    * *   | Disclaimer: I *AM* the Tiny Software Company. 
 *  **   ** |      *** DON'T SHOOT ME!! I'm too cute to die!!!! ***
From: phaedrus@milton.u.washington.edu (Phaedrus)
Newsgroups: rec.games.pinball
Subject: Re: Funhouse steps
Date: 12 Aug 92 17:15:08 GMT
Organization: University of Washington, Seattle

In article <1992Aug12.122117.13745@comp.lancs.ac.uk> pj@comp.lancs.ac.uk (Paul Jones) writes:
>I hunted out a FUNHOUSE when I saw how everyone thought is was great. It is.
>but something happens on this particular FUNHOUSE and I don't know if its
>supposed to, and if it is supposed to how to get around it.

>When in multi-ball (mini or normal) and the Steps have been lit, shooting a
>ball up the ramp to the steps, send the ball round to the left plunger, but
>when it gets there the steps are closed and so the ball drains :-(.

     It sounds like something's wrong either with the software (perhaps your
machine has prototype ROMs) or with the diverter that decides which of the
two ramps the ball will go down.  During any sort of Multiball, the Steps
should never be lit at all; any ball sent up the ramp should go to the inlane,
not to the Steps outlane.  Does the Steps diverter work all right during normal
(non-Multiball) play?
-- 
Internet: phaedrus@u.washington.edu        (University of Washington, Seattle)
 "If you can keep your head while those about you are losing theirs,
    consider an exciting career as a guillotine operator!"
From: cafer@etek.chalmers.se (Tommy Vaske)
Newsgroups: rec.games.pinball
Subject: Re: Anyone get PINBALL FLASHBACKS?
Date: 18 Aug 92 21:12:36 GMT
Reply-To: cafer@etek.chalmers.se (Tommy Vaske)
Organization: Chalmers University of Technology, Gothenburg, SWEDEN

Well, semi- or pseudo-pinball flashbacks you might call it...
Since my economy won't allow me to play The Real THING (tm)
for a while (it's _really_ expensive here in Sweden, and the
best arcade around (Liseberg) charges sek35, $6, for just
_entering_! sigh), I've been playing Pinball Dreams all this
weekend. And Pinball Dreams is what it has given me...

--tommy 
*************************************************************
*       semper idem!        *     "O Frabjous Day!          * 
*  cafer@etek.chalmers.se   *      Callooh! Callay!"   -L.C.*
*************************************************************
Newsgroups: rec.games.pinball
From: koziarz@chinet.chi.il.us (Louis Koziarz)
Subject: Honey I Blew Up the Tales from the Crypt Deadline
Keywords: Data East, DE, bugs, greed, pestilence, plagues, oh yeah LW3.
Organization: Chinet - Public Access UNIX, Sweet Home Chicago...
Distribution: usa
Date: Sat, 22 Aug 1992 00:04:19 GMT

Honey I Blew Up the Tales from the Crypt Deadline, or,
What Data East is _really_ doing....

From the O'Malley & Collin Inc. Column, Chicago Tribune, 8/21/92, reprinted
without permission since those busybodies probably think the InterNet is a
type of pantyhose.

-------
SHE'S GOTTA HAVE IT, or "Keeping Up With the Silvers:"  

Joel Kaminkow of Data East Pinball recently got a call from the wife of a 
high-profile Hollywood Husband.  She had just seen a story in Premiere 
Magazine about a personalized pinball machine director Richard Donner had
ordered from Data East as a gift for producer Joel Silver, and she _had_
to have the same kind of customized toy for her husband.  Sorry, said
Kaminkow, recalling the hassles of the Silver project, we only did that once.
Oh, please, she begged, my husband has everything and this would be a perfect
gift.  Kaminkow countered with the information that the machine would cost
at least six figures; she responded by saying that would be no problem.
The pinball machine, now in the planning stages, will be a holiday surprise
for the husband (who, we assume, will also be surprised by the bill).
-------

Hmmm.  So _this_ is where the engineering effort has been going.  Maybe DE
has found its true market, making custom machines loaded with software bugs.
Maybe I'll call Pat Lawlor and see if he'll stick a sculpture of my head in
a Funhouse.  Hello, Williams?
-- 
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Louis Koziarz              
koziarz@chinet.chi.il.us  
Newsgroups: rec.games.pinball
From: xor@acm.rpi.edu (Joe Schwartz)
Subject: Where DOES the dirt come from?
Organization: The Voice of Fate
Date: Fri, 21 Aug 1992 03:50:18 GMT

Perhaps one of you has some insight into this Unsolved Mystery.  Pinball
machines seem to create a soot-like grime that collects on the playfield
and rubbers.  It's definitely deposited by the balls, because the flippers
and inlanes show the most accumulation.  But where does this dirt come from?

Methinks something under the playfield (the solenoids?) throws carbon dust
into the air, which eventually finds its way onto the playfield surface.
Any ideas, anyone?  Can this process be prevented?
-- 
Joe Schwartz (xor@acm.rpi.edu)
From: dhembrow@eoe.co.uk (David Hembrow)
Newsgroups: rec.games.pinball
Subject: Re: Pinball dealers in SE England?
Date: 19 Aug 92 11:51:14 GMT
Organization: EO Europe Limited, Cambridge, UK
X-Newsreader: Tin 1.1 PL3

This is not the address of a supplier as such, but ( as a member )
I would strongly suggest you get a sub to the Pinball Player
magazine from:

	PINBALL OWNERS ASSOCIATION
	PO BOX 2
	HASLEMERE
	SURREY
	GU27 2EQ
	GREAT BRITAIN

The Pinball Player magazine is produced in small quantities, is
black and white. There are always ads in the back for machines all
over the UK. The association is run by enthusiasts and has quite
a few tips for maintaining machines in it.

You should be able to get a fairly decent machine for #200, esp.
if you want to have a go at fixing one yourself.

David.
Newsgroups: rec.games.pinball
From: mpalmer@encore.com (Mike Palmer)
Subject: Re: Posting pix of pins?
Organization: Encore Computer Corporation
Date: Sun, 16 Aug 1992 12:14:40 GMT

Sounds like a great idea.
Newsgroups: rec.games.pinball