HDTenEightyP/NetNews huggingface dataset:
From: dubach1@husc10.harvard.edu (joev dubach)
Newsgroups: rec.games.pinball
Subject: Re: Super Mario in Mushroom Land (PREVIEW)
Date: 29 Sep 92 23:09:59 GMT
Article-I.D.: husc10.DUBACH1.92Sep29160959
Organization: Harvard Arts and Sciences Computer Services, Cambridge, MA
In-reply-to: iott@rtsg.mot.com's message of 28 Sep 92 21:41:07 GMT

What is a ticket redemption game?  Could someone please clarify?

Thanks,
Joev
--
_____________________________________________________
DDDDDDDDD   JJJJJJ      | Joev Dubach
     D      J     J     | dubach1@husc.harvard.edu
     D      J     J     | North House
D    D      J     J     | Harvard University
DDDDD    *  JJJJJJ  *   | Cambridge, MA 02138
From: mattock@rand.org (Michael Mattock)
Newsgroups: rec.games.pinball
Subject: Schematics for Bally Hi-Lo Ace
Date: 3 Oct 92 19:48:56 GMT
Organization: Banzai Institute
X-UserAgent: Nuntius v1.1.1d9
X-XXMessage-ID: <A6F3476156010B1C@mac-m1-18.rand.org>
X-XXDate: Sat, 3 Oct 92 20:49:37 GMT



Does anyone in netland have schematics for Bally Hi-Lo Ace?  It came out in
1973.  Any schematics for a Bally machine for that era might also be useful. 
Thanks in advance!


Michael Mattock                      | Post: Human Capital Department
Voice:    (310) 393-0411 x6548       |       The RAND Corporation
Internet: Michael_Mattock@rand.org   |       1700 Main Street
UUCP:     uunet!randvax!mattock      |       Santa Monica, CA 90407-2138
From: pcs$1610@altair.selu.edu
Newsgroups: rec.games.pinball
Subject: Re: Strange Pinball (was Re: HUGE pinball)
Date: 6 Oct 92 04:07:20 GMT
Article-I.D.: altair.1992Oct6.100720.766
Organization: Southeastern Louisiana University

>>Well, not as annoying as downright _strange_. Also, the playfield was
>>curved, like ripples in the ocean, adding to the oddness (esp. since you 
>>can't see the curves due to the playfield color :)
>>
> Are we talking about an old Stern Orbiter here?  The playfield was red and had
> some really funky curves, but I don't think the whole playfield had magnets;
> it did play like it, though.

Could be. Red? I said purple, but it's pretty deep in my memory, as well.
I never opened one up (it wasn't mine, and the arcade would not have been 
amused :), so I can only say it _seemed_ to have magnets moving around under 
the whole thing.

> 
> I've only played a couple of times, so it's kind of buried in my subconscious.
> I could be wrong.

Me too! 

Thinking about it, I also remember that nothing was digital--the scoreboard 
had number wheels on it, which I remember because one of them never got back 
to the right position.

Also, someone has pointed out that I should not have said "museum" when talking
about the arcade in Orlando. I said "museum" (improperly) as a figure of
speech--there were lots and lots of old games I had completely forgotten about
here that I played as a kid.

Scott

P.S. The same person told me the name and address of the place in Orlando,
if anyone wants it, send me mail.
From: sao@athena.mit.edu (Andy Oakland)
Newsgroups: rec.games.pinball
Subject: Re: Replay Magazine...
Date: 6 Oct 92 14:23:27 GMT
Article-I.D.: athena.1992Oct6.142327.19170
Organization: Massachusetts Institute of Technology

In article <BvnMpo.3H3@chinet.chi.il.us> larry@chinet.chi.il.us (Larry DeMar) writes:
>What follows if a copy of a posting that I made a few years
>ago.  Some of the info and prices may be out of date, but
>I don't have the time right now to sift through it.

Larry:

Thanks for posting the descriptions of various pinball-related magazines.
Unfortunately, your info on Pinball Trader is out-of-date.  Here's the
latest, from the FAQ.  I've also appended listings for two small magazines
you didn't mention.  I checked in with the publishers a few months ago,
so this information should still be current.

	:Andy Oakland
	sao@athena.mit.edu

New address:

The Pinball Trader
(NOTE:  Pinball Trader is not currently being published.  Also, the address
below is likely to change in the near future.)

PO Box 1795, Campbell, CA 95009-1795
Mostly articles written by collectors, focussing on home machines.  Covers
trade shows and conventions, and usually includes lists of prices paid at
recent auctions.  Subscription includes one free ad per month.
$28/year, sample issue $4.

New magazines:

pinGame journal
31937 Olde Franklin Drive, Farmington Hills, MI  48334
Written by pinball collectors.  Includes info about new games in
development, as well as articles on finding, reconditioning, and playing
older games.  Subscription includes one free classified ad per month.
$26/year, sample issue $3.

Gameroom Magazine
1014 Mount Tabor Road
New Albany, IN  47150
A monthly hobbyist publication.  Covers pinballs, slots, jukeboxes,
Coke machines, neon, etc.  High proportion of advertising.
$24/year, sample issue $3.
From: pcs$1610@altair.selu.edu
Newsgroups: rec.games.pinball
Subject: Re: Strange Pinball (was Re: HUGE pinball)
Date: 5 Oct 92 10:47:12 -0600
Organization: Southeastern Louisiana University

In article <qq34RB2w164w@jwt.UUCP>, bbs-garfield@jwt.UUCP (David Eison) writes:
> pcs$1610@altair.selu.edu writes:
> 
>> Does anyone remember the name of it? I saw it recently in that arcade museum
>> in Orlando.
> 
> I feel uninformed.. <G>  I live in Orlando.  Could you tell me the name 
> of this museum?  I think I'd like to visit... (Plus it sounds like a cool 

Well, it's been a _long_ time since I lived in Orlando, and I've lived in
many places since, so all my geographies mix together. Bear with me...

It's at the end of a street near the edge of town (I want to say the west
end of an east-west street--the street is perp. to the street the Florida
Mall is on and crosses railroad tracks at some point). I seem to remember
passing several used-car dealers and I _know_ it was across from a "Denny's".
Also, there was an ice-skating rink in the same little shopping center.

If this isn't enough, let me know and I'll track down a street map of
Orlando and give you exact directions.



> pinball game...)
> And I thought The Power was annoying.. The WHOLE PLAYFIELD having 
> magnets??? <G>

Well, not as annoying as downright _strange_. Also, the playfield was
curved, like ripples in the ocean, adding to the oddness (esp. since you 
can't see the curves due to the playfield color :)



> 
> ---
> David Eison - Garfield           bbs-garfield@jwt.uucp
> I'm not writing a message.  These words are just here to take up space.

If you want more, please mail. Your address bounced when I tried to mail you.

Scott
From: ben@monmouth.edu (Bennett Broder)
Newsgroups: rec.games.pinball
Subject: Re: What are Solid State Flippers
Date: 6 Oct 92 20:02:27 GMT
Distribution: na
Organization: Monmouth College, W. Long Branch, NJ  07764

In article <1992Oct6.180609.7493@cbnewsd.cb.att.com> knudsen@cbnewsd.cb.att.com (michael.j.knudsen) writes:
>DE used an electronic timer to cut back the current after a fixed time.
>Williams kept the good old EOS contacts, but uses them to cut back
>to a lower voltage (hence current).

Wrong.  Williams uses the same voltage (50 volts) for both power and
hold.  There are two seperate coils, just like on their older design.
I posted an article (with references) detailing this last week.


-- 

Bennett Broder               Monmouth College
                             Computer Services
ben@monmouth.edu             W. Long Branch, NJ 07764
Newsgroups: rec.games.pinball
From: terence@sunset.janet.ucla.edu (Terence Chang)
Newsgroups: rec.games.pinball
Subject: Impressions of Dr. Who
Summary: rambling
Date: 27 Sep 92 09:10:22 GMT
Organization: University of California at Los Angeles

[ Disengaging lurk mode... ]

Hi.  Has anyone posted a review Bally's Dr. Who?  Is it still in beta?
It just turned up at UCLA's campus arcade (a good place to play in
West Los Angeles -- 0.25/3 balls for everything -- HS2, TAF, Hook,
Black Rose, Fish Tales, LW3, etc., though the "older" pins aren't
aging gracefully -- T2, FunHouse, Gilligan's Island, Simpsons, Back to
the Future, Star Trek).

I don't want to voice my opinions on Dr. Who yet -- I think this
particular one needs adjustments (sound volume wakes the dead, right
inlane habitrail keeps dropping the ball on the outlane (plunger feeds
ball to this habitrail to start each ball :-P )).

For those who are curious about the playfield, it's essentially an
updated Pinbot in configuration.  Wide open playfield, a 3-level
platform at the top, pop bumpers on the right.  Some things are a bit
different -- no pin between lower flippers, an upper flipper on the
left, two ramps on the right, two channels on the left -- one goes
behind the platform to the pop bumpers, the other dead ends so that
the ball rolls back to the upper flipper.  Finally there are two banks
of targets, one on each side.

The platform is rather intriguing.  Initially only the top level is
visible.  There is a center target that has "center drain" written all
over it which lites the locks -- a pair of saucers that flank the
center target.

Locking both balls raises the platform, exposing a row of five targets
which work in a Pinbotesque fashion to expose the third layer and
start multiball.  The third layer is simply a row of three holes into
the playfield, and shooting all three gives the "jackpot".

If you've mastered this game, enlighten me -- is this a winner, or a
dog?

Terence

--
"People who get nostalgic      |  Terence Chang:
 about childhood were          |    e-mail: terence@janet.ucla.edu
 obviously never children."    |            or an acceptable facsimile thereof
       -- "Calvin and Hobbes"  |            (subject to change w/o notice)
Newsgroups: rec.games.pinball
From: S_TITZ@iravcl.ira.uka.de (Olaf Titz)
Subject: Solid State flippers - not that good!
Organization: Fachschaft Informatik, Uni Karlsruhe
Date: Tue, 6 Oct 1992 18:15:49 GMT
X-News-Reader: VMS NEWS 1.23

Given the recent debate over the technical advantages of Solid State
flippers, I wonder if you all have missed the point from a player's
view.

I have the impression that SS flippers have a major disadvantage
compared to conventional ones, and that does derive directly from
their construction: They are WEAK. Not that they did not push the ball
hard enough, but when you want to trap a ball with the flipper up, you
see the difference. I would prefer the usual 'hold' coil, which serve
the intended purpose much better than just a reduced voltage (read:
strength). 

Any comments?


MfG,
        Olaf
-- 
    o     Olaf Titz - comp.sc.student - univ of karlsruhe - germany
 _ /<_    s_titz@iravcl.ira.uka.de - uknf@dkauni2.bitnet - praetorius@irc
(_)>(_)   +49-721-60439 - did i forget something?
Woe to the land that's governed by a child! - Shakespeare
Newsgroups: rec.games.pinball
From: gleeson@mundil.cs.mu.OZ.AU (Red Mountain)
Subject: Re: The Getaway (Was: Re: What about Star Trek???)
Organization: Computer Science, University of Melbourne, Australia
Date: Tue, 29 Sep 1992 00:36:07 GMT

In <gajzg7a@rpi.edu> sigma@picasso.ipl.rpi.edu (Kevin Martin) writes:
>>This makes you play the six targets at the bottom of the playfield,
>>and helps to keep the game challenging.  If you play these targets 
>>like you should, not only will kickback stay lit, but you'll also 
>>relight the super charger and keep it maxed out at 10M.

>Except that most of the HSII's I've played don't increase the Super Charger
>Bonus from the 1-2-3 targets.  And the 1-2-3 targets are very difficult to
>play, and it resets them at odd times, like when you shoot the SC or when
>you hit the Kickback.  And of course the local machine has lousy flipper
>rubber - if you can hit anything... it's a miracle.

Actually the targets stay lit on a timer, and the timer doesn't pause for 
things like the Supercharger (which IMO is a bummer compared to the usual
handling of timers in Wms/Bally games). I don't find them all that difficult
to play, except for the No. 3 target. I think the difficulty you refer to
is a legacy of the poor state of repair of the Getaways you play. Remember,
it's not the pin's fault, it's the Operator's.

I may be in a better position to play well maintained pins than most, simply
because I play at one location regularly, and if there's something wrong
with a pin, then I fix it. The owners are quite happy to let me do so, and
even give me free games, because the servicepeople over here charge like
a wounded bull.

I've got to the stage where I simply won't play a broken pin. It's a waste
of money and time, and only frustrates you. Personally, one of the main
reasons I play pinball is to relax, and playing a shoddy pin is not going
to further _that_ cause...

Marty.
---------------------=============***O***=============-------------------------
Martin J. Gleeson  | Computer Science, Melbourne Uni, Oz |    ...  __o    Outta
gleeson@mundil.cs.mu.oz.au |     E Pluribus Unix         |  ...   -\<,       my
"We gladly feast on those who would subdue us." - Addams |  ....(_)/(_)..  way!
 "I can't give you brains, but I can give you a diploma." - The Wizard of Oz
---------------------=============***O***=============-------------------------
Newsgroups: rec.games.pinball
From: bbs-garfield@jwt.UUCP (David Eison)
Newsgroups: rec.games.pinball
Subject: Re: Strange Pinball (was Re: HUGE pinball)
Date: 4 Oct 92 08:28:49 GMT
Reply-To: bbs-garfield@jwt.UUCP
Organization: The Matrix

pcs$1610@altair.selu.edu writes:

> Does anyone remember the name of it? I saw it recently in that arcade museum
> in Orlando.

I feel uninformed.. <G>  I live in Orlando.  Could you tell me the name 
of this museum?  I think I'd like to visit... (Plus it sounds like a cool 
pinball game...)
And I thought The Power was annoying.. The WHOLE PLAYFIELD having 
magnets??? <G>

---
David Eison - Garfield           bbs-garfield@jwt.uucp
I'm not writing a message.  These words are just here to take up space.
From: truth@sdcc13.ucsd.edu (Ain't that the TRuth)
Newsgroups: rec.games.pinball
Subject: huh?
Date: 1 Oct 92 01:06:52 GMT
Organization: University of California, San Diego

I just read through over 100 articles (I've never seen this list
before, but I am a fan of pinball) and I saw mentioned a couple of
times something about "Credits 0" vs. "Credits 0."  Could someone
please fill me in on what that's about.  There was also mention of
hitting the gear shifter at a particular time in HS2.  What was that
about?  Does this group have a FAQ? a list of tips for currently
popular games (TAF, HS2, T2, etc.)?  Thanks in advance for the info.

					- Todd Ruth
					truth@ucsd.edu
From: burnside_br@lrc.edu
Newsgroups: rec.games.pinball
Subject: Adams Family
Date: 29 Sep 92 22:12:15 EDT
Organization: Lenoir-Rhyne College, Hickory, NC

 I have never been really into pinball all that much until  an Adams Family 
machine was installed in our student center.  Now, I can't seem to shake the
habit.  It all started when everyone was getting free games off the machine
by hitting it on the front. So, I figured what the heck why not play a game?
But anyway, I have tried many pinball games since then and I still fine
Adams Family to be the best with no comparison.  Does anyone have any tips
or tricks for this game?  I'm always looking to get one-up on the locals.  
The neatest thing I have found is one time when I hit the ball into the
vault while it was closed.  Gomez said "Ahh, dirty pool --I Like It!"


Later

Bart
Newsgroups: rec.games.pinball
From: jimh@pacdata.uucp (Jim Harkins)
Subject: Re: What about Star Trek???
Organization: Pacific Data Products
Date: Mon, 28 Sep 1992 16:43:12 GMT

In article <92268.103715TAM131@psuvm.psu.edu> TAM131@psuvm.psu.edu writes:
>I haven't herd anyone mention Star Trek.  I think it is better than T2 (mostly
>because all the T2 game here are junk anymore) and it is easy to play and
>understand.  So what do the rest of you guys think about it???

When it was new I liked it because I could play forever on 50 cents.  Now I
don't like it because all the games I've seen are worn out.  Most frustrating
is when the transporter ramp won't go up, so you've got that annoying 'wattaya
waiting for man, shoot the transporter!', but it's impossible to shoot the
damn transporter.

All in all a pretty boring game, I'd say.  Although I've got friends who love
it, but they aren't as good with pins as I am.

jim


-- 
I will not refer to the ideologicaly challenged as 'braindead.'
--------------------------------------------------------------
Jim Harkins                         [ucsd|uunet]!pacdata!jim
Pacific Data Products               jim@pacdata.com
--------------------------------------------------------------

Newsgroups: rec.games.pinball
From: mike@kingpin.demon.co.uk (Mike Parkins)
ReplyTo: mike@kingpin.demon.co.uk
Subject: Re: Pinball in London (UK)
Distribution: world
X-Mailer: cppnews $Revision: 1.17 $
Organization: Reading, UK
Date: Sat, 26 Sep 1992 18:31:43 +0000


In article <1992Sep25.114731.20276@kth.se> 
 d91-jal@dront.nada.kth.se (Johan Almen)
 ...asks about places to play pinball in Central London.
 
Most of the London arcades are pretty poor, I'm afraid. In particular,
avoid The Crystal Rooms unless you enjoy playing dirty, badly (if ever)
maintained pintables. The biggest arcade in London, Funland in the
Trocadero (Picadilly Circus), is the best by far. I was there a few 
days ago and they had the following:

The Addams Family (2)
The Getaway (2)
Lethal Weapon 3 (2)
Fish Tales
Hurricane
Terminator II
Batman
Star Trek
Hook

..and one or two others which I can't remember. They are in good condition
and cost 50p a game. There's also every other type of game you can think of
including simulators and Virtuality systems. Take plenty of cash!

Look out for my initials (MIK) on one of the TAFs - I finally toured the
mansion :-)

Mike.
From: ben@monmouth.edu (Bennett Broder)
Newsgroups: rec.games.pinball
Subject: Re: TAF Draining
Date: 6 Oct 92 13:08:19 GMT
Organization: Monmouth College, W. Long Branch, NJ  07764

In article <1992Oct6.000832.395@lrc.edu> burnside_br@lrc.edu writes:
>When they "fixed" our machine, they raised the free game to 72mil from 64mil, 
>made it 7 bear kicks for the extra ball, and now thing never flips into the 
>swamp when he used to get it all the time.  It really doesn't seem to be 
>draining, but they sure made it harder...

On a machine with default settings, replay scores and bear kick extra balls
both adjust automatically every 50 games.  The machine will attempt to set
them at a level that will award an extra ball in 25% of all games, and a
replay in 10% of all games.  Although it is possible that they altered
the factory settings and fixed the replay and extra ball levels, It doesn't
seem likely.  The levels you witnessed are less than the initial factory
defaults of 80 million replay and extra ball after 8 kicks.

Inaccuracy in "thing flips" shots is common whenever something that
significantly alters the timing required to make the shot.  Things like
cleaning a normally dirty playfield, replacing flipper rubber, moving the
machine to a new location (floors are rarely completely level) or changing
the angle of the playfield can really throw "thing" off.  If you can get
someone to run the "New Location" routine on the utilities menu, "thing"
should regain his former accuracy relatively quickly, otherwise it could
take alot longer.

I have also seen a mechanical malady that causes "thing" to become (and stay)
very inaccurate.  This happens when the rivet holding the standup target
directly below the swamp (swamp millions) gets loose and overlaps the target
below it -- so a hit on the top target also activates the one below it,
causing "thing" to think his shot was wayyyyy low instead of just a little
bit low.  Since the machine was just shopped out, it isn't too likely to
have this problem.

-- 

Bennett Broder               Monmouth College
                             Computer Services
ben@monmouth.edu             W. Long Branch, NJ 07764
From: colonius@dino.dinoco.de (Stephan Muhs)
Newsgroups: rec.games.pinball
Subject: Re:  Most expensive place to play pinball
Distribution: world
Date: 25 Sep 92 20:53:02 CET
Organization: Private

In article <1992Sep22.181911.21723@nsisrv.gsfc.nasa.gov> oday@lobster.gsfc.nasa.gov  (Orin Day) writes:
>In article <1992Sep22.145055.3064@kth.se> d91-jal@dront.nada.kth.se (Johan
>Almen) writes:
>> >To all those who posted prices from countries outside the U.S.A.,
>> >I sympathize, but do not consider those prices relavent here.
>> >Pinball games are built in the U.S.A. and are exported to your
>> >countries, correct?  Anything imported is generally more expensive
>> >(save for Japanese imports ... another topic entirely), so I figure
>> >you have to take into account when figuring the price.
>> >Bill Ung
>> Sorry, Bill, but I don't agree entirely with you. If the price of a credit
>> is that dependent on the price of the machine, how come it's just as
>> expensive to play a game of FunHouse or Rollergames as a game of TAF???
>
>I'd figure that the following factors would come into play to price
>games in Europe/outside US:
>
>o  Cost of shipping (perhaps more than even cost of game, also
>   any import taxes)

I am not sure about the EC import duties, but typically they are around
4% to 7% for goods on which they do not have to protect the domestic
industries. Pinball games should qualify for that category. Air Cargo
from the US west coast to Europe is approximately $ 2.30 per kg, it should
be much less for land and sea cargo. I estimate the weight for a average
pinball game to be something like a 100 to a 150 kg (220 to 330 lbs.).
So the shipping should be no more than $ 300, probably much less.

>
>o  Cost of maintenance (probably more expensive in Europe
>   assuming that there are fewer tables, thus fewer repairmen,
>   coupled with greater difficulty in obtaining spare parts)
>

Nope. At least in Germany, pinball games are pretty common (and so are
repairman. I admit that the average cost of work is higher in many
European countries than in the US. Spare parts: should not be a
problem, since parts can easily be obtained through the same channels
than the machines.

>o  A smaller supply of pinballs available - less competition,
>   if you like.
>

No, at least in major cities you can find plenty of pinball machines.

>o  A high cost of living in many European countries.
>

That is true, the cost of living is higher over here.

>o  Coin currency with higher values than the US Quarter, the
>   highest denomination US coin in (common) circulation.
>

Exept maybe for Italy, this is probably also true for most european
countries - though I fail to see the relation to the price per game.

Maybe operators over here are just a bit more greedy...


--
stephan muhs      colonius@dino.dinoco.de
wilhelmstr. 51    ...!unido!easix!dino!colonius
5000 koeln 60     Genie: s.muhs
germany           voice: +49 221 7393484