HDTenEightyP/NetNews huggingface dataset:
From: David Brady <Brady_David@Tandem.Com>
Subject: Re: Question on HS2
X-Xxdate: Thu, 12 Nov 92 22:23:07 GMT
Organization: Tandem, Inc.
X-Useragent: Nuntius v1.1.1d11
Date: Thu, 12 Nov 1992 22:22:39 GMT

In article <20881@fritz.filenet.com> Bill Ung, ung@felix.filenet.com writes:
>How long was the game doing this for?  I know some games will keep the
>Auto-Fire on for a while, so when it starts tossing balls out for auto-
>multiball, if it drains one or two in a short period of time, it will
>just spit the ball back out and continue your multiball.  This usually
>only lasts for about 5-10 seconds, then you're on your own.  If the
>game did this for 1 minute and fifty seconds out of your 2-minute
>multiball, then consider yourself VERY lucky.


It was going on the whole time until I got the Super Jackpot (see below).  Fun
fun fun fun fun fun fun fun fun fun...

I know it certainly didn't FEEL right while I was playing it - it normally
behaves like you said.  5 or 10 seconds of free ride and that's it.  (Thinking
back on it it could have been more like 3 - my score should have been higher
though.)



In article <1992Nov12.111052.23955@walter.cray.com> Kurt Peterschmidt,
u2606@craysea.cray.com writes:
>AHA!!  Someone else has seen this bug, too!  On our local HSII it has
>(albeit rarely) done the exact same thing, where it will initiate
>Multiball and have an apparent unlimited Free Ride, until you hit either
>Jackpot or SuperJackpot, I'm not sure which (it's only happened to me
>once, and I've played the game a LOT).  


I do remember getting the Super Jackpot and soon after losing my 'free ride'. 
I didn't put the two events together.

Is it a bug?  Perhaps it is just a super rare gimme put in by the game
designers.

(In case anyone is interested here's how it happened - first ball, did a few
loops and sent it to the tunnel, got burn rubber bonus of 'multiball' and
then....)
--
email: Brady_David@Tandem.Com
(Note: This message is from me, not my employer.  React accordingly.)

Always remember -  David Brady IS Lee Harvey!
From: ben@monmouth.edu (Bennett Broder)
Newsgroups: rec.games.pinball
Subject: Re: Flipper Wear: Very odd...
Date: 11 Nov 92 20:20:03 GMT
Organization: Monmouth College, W. Long Branch, NJ  07764

In article <1992Nov10.192252.2245@cnsvax.uwec.edu> mahalkdp@cnsvax.uwec.edu writes:
>I was wondering if the gap between the flippers on pinball games is spaced
>in a certain way. I am just an average guy who is starting to take some
>interest in pinballs, and I noticed that on the Addams' Family game, the
>little rubber band around the flipper is completely worn off at the pointed
>end of the flipper. I don't really see how this could have been worn off so
>quickly..

Just another sign of a poorly maintained machine.  Flipper rubber does
wear.  Part of regular maintenance is rotating this band, flipping it
over and eventually replacing it.  Of course those operators who neglect
cleaning the playfield and replacing burned out lamps also neglect this
aspect of maintenance, and only replace rubber parts when their failure
totally disables the game.

-- 

Bennett Broder               Monmouth College
                             Computer Services
ben@monmouth.edu             W. Long Branch, NJ 07764
Newsgroups: rec.games.pinball
From: oday@lobster.gsfc.nasa.gov  (Orin Day)
Subject: Re: WMS new flippers/ credit button (was Fish Tales - bleah)
Reply-To: oday@lobster.gsfc.nasa.gov  (Orin Day)
Organization: Goddard Space Flight Center
Date: Tue, 10 Nov 1992 22:55:14 GMT

In article <1dpbq6INNnts@transfer.stratus.com>  
overturf@bigbootay.sw.stratus.com (Dallas Overturf) writes:

> FYI folks....:  This also means that WMS/Bally flippers
> are no longer replaceable across the board.  Make sure you specify
> what style you want when ordering or you may change your game 
> by mistake!

And possibly change it for the better -- if it is Dr. Who or
Fish Tales, that is :)

OD

--
************* "How about a little fire, Scarecrow?" **************
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: koziarz@chinet.chi.il.us (Louis Koziarz)
Subject: Re: Jordan Pinball
Organization: Chinet - Public Access UNIX
Distribution: na
Date: Fri, 6 Nov 1992 18:54:58 GMT

>Other conclusion:
>
>Flamers and negative reviewers should attempt to be more positive.  Nearly
>every pinball machine has some fans.  And any machine can play badly if not
>maintained.  Yes, there are some problems with MJ, but they aren't TERRIBLE
>problems.  Let's try and keep r.g.p a nice little niche away from the flaming
>going on in those "big" newsgroups. 

Good point.  I think this is a special case, considering that MJ was a special
custom pin done for charity, and that very few people out of the Chicago area
would have known about the story behind this pin.

On the _other_ hand, anyone who reads g.r.p on a semi-regular basis would
have seen some messages about it.  

On the third hand, criticism on design, graphics, etc. is allowable as long
as it doesn't turn into 23K of 'CRAP CRAP CRAP...'.  Yow.
 
-- 
Louis Koziarz
koziarz@chinet.chi.il.us
From: ben@monmouth.edu (Bennett Broder)
Newsgroups: rec.games.pinball
Subject: Re: summary of Expo talks?
Date: 5 Nov 92 20:09:27 GMT
Article-I.D.: monmouth.7753
Organization: Monmouth College, W. Long Branch, NJ  07764

In article <1992Nov5.141654.23751@linus.mitre.org> hal@gateway.mitre.org (Hal Feinstein) writes:
%For the rcp readers  who are going to Expo, I wonder if anyone might 
%either tape the talks or maybe even write up a summary(ies) of the talk 
%for the Trader or Journal?    It would be a great thing for we who couldn't
%go this year.  

If someone does this, please post your summaries to this newsgroup too!

-- 

Bennett Broder               Monmouth College
                             Computer Services
ben@monmouth.edu             W. Long Branch, NJ 07764
From: kjohnson@csugrad.cs.vt.edu (Keefer)
Newsgroups: rec.games.pinball
Subject: Re: Pinball in Buffalo?
Date: 12 Nov 92 04:43:15 GMT
Organization: Virginia Tech Computer Science Dept, Blacksburg, VA

Of course the Bills' victory over Pittsburg wasn't a fluke...  We (The Marching
Virginians from VA Tech) played at the game!  So of course the Bills were all
pumped up and ready to go.  What a blast that was...

keith
-- 
|kjohnson@csugrad.cs.vt.edu|"And the piano sounds like a carnival             | 
|.....Keith P. Johnson.....| And the microphone smells like a beer            |
|.1711 Whipple Dr. Apt. 11.| And they sit at the bar and put bread in my jar  |
|...Blacksburg, VA 24060...| And say "Man, what are you doing here?" -B. Joel |
Newsgroups: rec.games.pinball
From: rls@cbnewsc.cb.att.com (richard.l.schieve)
Subject: Need help with early Bally CPU failure
Organization: AT&T
Distribution: usa
Date: Fri, 6 Nov 1992 19:43:27 GMT
Keywords: Mata Hari halting on the 5th flash


I'm trying to resurrect a 78 Bally Mata Hari.  The CPU board had
some significant damage from battery leakage (*@$#! so and such
operators that don't cut the nicads out before storing a game).  I
pulled and cleaned under the sockets of the 5101, 6810, and lower
6821.  I installed new sockets and new devices.  The game itself is
OK as it works with a borrowed CPU.

After my repairs the original CPU stops at the 5th flash of the
LED (I was glad to see it did anything at all).  My Bally repair
manual tells me that the lower 6821 is being tested at this point.
I tried the things the book suggested and even replaced the 555 chip
as initial voltage checks at the chip were not what the book stated.
I also replaced the 6800 processor and other 6821 and it still halts
on the 5th flash.

From what I can tell with an ohmeter, the address and data busses
are not shorted or open.  The signal at pins 37 and 38 of the PIAs
is low at the time the test fails but continuity tests says it is
connected OK.

I know some of you dig into these a fair amount and maybe have a
few suggestions (other than shooting the guy that didn't pull the
nicad).  Also, did Bally (or anyone else) publish any info on what
is going on during power up diagnostics in more detail.

			Thanks,

				Rick Schieve
				rls@ihlpb.att.com
Newsgroups: rec.games.pinball
From: Stephen Jonke <jonke@kong.gsfc.nasa.gov>
Subject: Game price question
X-Xxmessage-Id: <A71F0B82FA015C5D@joe.gsfc.nasa.gov>
X-Xxdate: Thu, 5 Nov 92 22:33:54 GMT
Organization: NASA Goddard Space Flight Center
X-Useragent: Nuntius v1.1.1d12
Date: Thu, 5 Nov 92 22:33:58 GMT

I've found three pinball machines for sale that interest me, but I
have no idea how good or bad the owners prices are.  The price
includes a one year warranty, free delivery.  These are the games
and prices:

Fireball 2 -- $650
SilverBall Mania --$500
Alien Poker -- $500

All the games were in B or better condition.  Are these good prices
and if not, what should I offer?  Thanks,

Steve
------------------------
jonke@kong.gsfc.nasa.gov
------------------------
Newsgroups: rec.games.pinball
From: hagedorn@betsy.gsfc.nasa.gov (John Hagedorn)
Subject: Questions from a neophyte
Reply-To: hagedorn@betsy.gsfc.nasa.gov (John Hagedorn)
Organization: Goddard Space Flight Center
Date: Fri, 6 Nov 1992 15:39:29 GMT



Hi, I just started looking for a machine, probably one from the mid or 
early 70's.  I've never owned a pinball machine before, and I have a
few questions.  

	1)  Some of the older machines I've played have weak flippers.
		The FAQ talks about cleaning the contacts and sleeves.
		How likely is it that cleaning will fix the problem?
		Is it more likely that parts will have to be replaced?

	2)  I was looking at a game on which the paint on a small 
		portion of the backglass was peeling.  Do collectors
		consider it OK to try to repaint the damaged portion?
		Or is this considered bad, the way that coin 
		collectors disapprove of polishing an old coin?

	3)  When I was looking at some games I neglected to take any
		measurements, and now I wonder if the door to my
		basement is wide enough.  Is it feasible to detach
		the vertical part of the case from the horizontal
		part, then reassemble them?

	4)  Are EM machines easier or harder to maintain than the
		newer electronic games?  I have patience and a
		certain small amount of experience with electrical
		devices.  Should I undertake to maintain an EM
		machine myself?

Thanks,

John

Newsgroups: rec.games.pinball
From: bhayes@Xenon.Stanford.EDU (Barry Hayes)
Subject: Re: gambling (was:Re: Funhouse glitch)
Organization: Computer Science Department, Stanford University.
Date: Fri, 6 Nov 1992 19:16:10 GMT

In article <Nov.6.13.31.05.1992.27628@ruhets.rutgers.edu> zweldron@ruhets.rutgers.edu (Matthew Charlap) writes:
> [...] since you generally do not get payoffs [...]

I've never seen a pin that does anything but take money for games, but
I haven't seen all pins.

Back in the old days, when pinballs were made of gold, when everyone
always got replays, when all games had five balls and cost a penny. . .
Some "slot machines" had a gum dispenser attached -- you put in a
nickle and got a piece of gum.  Oh, and by the way, if you want to
pull this handle, maybe you'll get a bucket full of nickles.  The
Newsgroups: rec.games.pinball
From: biesel@javelin.sim.es.com (Heiner Biesel)
Subject: Prices.
Keywords: F-14, Pinbot.
Organization: Evans & Sutherland Computer Corp.
Date: Fri, 13 Nov 1992 20:01:50 GMT

I have a chance to buy an F-14 and a Pinbot machine, both in about
B conditon overall. Does anyone have any recent prices for either of these
machines?

Regards,
       H. Biesel
From: d1mag@dtek.chalmers.se (Christian 'Mag' Magnusson)
Newsgroups: rec.games.pinball
Subject: World Championchip
Date: 6 Nov 92 14:11:22 GMT
Organization: Chalmers University of Technology, Gothenburg Sweden

BTW..

Who won the World championchip on TAF this year. I played the final in
Sweden, but I didn't win.... I had a bad day. I had the highest
average score, but I won too few matches.

Please reply if you know....

Christian 'MAG' Magnusson, Sweden
Newsgroups: rec.games.pinball
From: hal@gateway.mitre.org (Hal Feinstein)
Subject: summary of Expo talks?
Organization: Mitre Corporation, McLean, VA
Date: Thu, 5 Nov 1992 14:16:54 GMT


It doesn't look like I'll be able to make the Expo '92 this year
but I still wish I could hear some of the talks that are going to 
be given!  The ones tha really interest me are the talks on how
to build a pinball machine, what goes into making one from the ground
floor up. 

For the rcp readers  who are going to Expo, I wonder if anyone might 
either tape the talks or maybe even write up a summary(ies) of the talk 
for the Trader or Journal?    It would be a great thing for we who couldn't
go this year.  

           


                       -H.
From: ec@fc.hp.com (Edgar_Circenis)
Newsgroups: rec.games.pinball
Subject: Re: Stereo (Was: Re: Fish Flappage)
Date: 10 Nov 92 16:15:24 GMT
Article-I.D.: fc.BxID5o.I8z
Organization: Hewlett-Packard Fort Collins Site
X-Newsreader: TIN [version 1.1.4 PL6]

Darrin Jon Smart (u9039899@cs.uow.edu.au) wrote:
> PS: Where do Gottleib machines go to in Australia? Haven't seen one since
> 1812... (and that was in Gosford!)

Wow, I didn't know they made pinball machines that long ago! :-)

Edgar
Newsgroups: rec.games.pinball
From: dstewart+@cs.cmu.edu (David B Stewart)
Subject: Re: gambling (was:Re: Funhouse glitch)
Organization: The Robotics Institute, Carnegie Mellon University
Date: Fri, 6 Nov 1992 23:26:35 GMT

In article <Nov.6.13.31.05.1992.27628@ruhets.rutgers.edu> zweldron@ruhets.rutgers.edu (Matthew Charlap) writes:
>v051r9bf@ubvmsb.cc.buffalo.edu (When will Mergle EVER shut up?) writes:
>>Also, on the thread of Buffalo pinball and its relation to gambling and NYS 
>>Law---I'm sure licensed coin operators who rent games to arcades, restaurants
 
>and stuff...). I think a decent lawyer could get any place with replay scores
>set for free games and not free balls off the hook if they were prosecuted.

Even a 'lousy' lawyer should get you off on that!

I don't know how getting replays can even be considered gambling.  What is the
difference between getting 1 free ball or 3 free balls?  There is no monetary
gain.  Once you put your $0.25 in that machine, you are not getting it back.
The only question is how much playing time you get for your money.  A better
player can get much more playing time.

If you get the high score to date, end up with 5 credits, and the arcade
closes, the operators will tell you that you cannot get credit for those games,
because that would be construed a payoff, and hence you cross the bounds
of gambling.

So as long as you don't get any monetary (or prize) return with which you can
leave the arcade, then it cannot be considered gambling.  This is the same way
that you can legally get 'casino nights' in places where gambling is illegal.
You could win or lose all night, but in the end, you turn in your chips, and
you get back $0.00, regardless of how much you paid to play.  

~dave

Newsgroups: rec.games.pinball
From: steve@klaatu.demon.co.uk (Steve Loft)
ReplyTo: steve@klaatu.demon.co.uk
Subject: Williams Blackout
Distribution: world
X-Mailer: cppnews $Revision: 1.19 $
Organization: home
Date: Thu, 5 Nov 1992 18:59:51 +0000

I have the chance to buy a Williams Blackout from a local dealer.  I
bought my present EM machine from him; he seems OK.  I'd be very
grateful for your opinion of this machine (a brief description would be
nice, as I haven't seen it yet).  He says it's in good condition, and he
wants 250 UK pounds.  What do you think?

A number of people are in 'the list' as owning this machine, so I've
mailed them privately for their opinion, but I'd be grateful for anyone
else's views on the machine.

Steve

|  Steve Loft                                  steve@klaatu.demon.co.uk   |
|  Doncaster,                                                             |
|  South Yorks.                                                           |
From: f90pegu@fy.chalmers.se (Peter Gustafsson)
Newsgroups: rec.games.pinball
Subject: Star Wars from Data East
Date: 5 Nov 92 16:25:57 GMT
Organization: Chalmers Univ. of Technology, G|teborg, Sweden

Hi.

I don't follow this group to regurlarly, but I hope this is news.
On the other hand, since most pinballs come from come from the US,
I can't see how it wouldn't have appeared earlier.

But let's stick to the subject.
At our local pinball hall a new STAR WARS pinball has arrived.
It's from Data East, and as usual it sucks.
For example the flippers are weak already and it's been there for only three - four
days at the most.

Anybody else seen it? Opinions?

/Peter Gustafson.
Newsgroups: rec.games.pinball
From: "luc theriault" <luc.theriault@canrem.com>
Subject: taf in toronto
Reply-To: "luc theriault" <luc.theriault@canrem.com>
Organization: Canada Remote Systems
Distribution: rec
Date: 6 Nov 92 20:33:29 EST

Hello

A little anecdote and a request for information

A couple of weeks ago I found a functional TAF at a take-out pizza store
near the place where I work. It was great, I started dropping in
semi-regularly after work for a couple of hours. I managed to get the
high score (971 million). On the down side since I usually win 3-4 games
for every one I pay for the replay "base" score went from something like
60 million to 150 million and the Bear Kicks for extra ball from 5 to
14.

In the time I have been playing, I have never refused other players
joining in. I have purchased the occasional soft drink and submarine
sandwich from this store. I have not abused the machine (aside from an
occasional slap on the side of the cabinet - the ball frequently goes
into the vault and just sits there). Yet, tonight, the clerk at the
desk, came up to me and gave me dollar and told me that they did not
want to see me there anymore!

Obviously, this TAF is only for use by marginal players. Wizards are not
welcome. I discussed this with this clerk who unable to give a clear
answer to why he wanted me out simply told me that "It's none of your
business". Words were exchanged and I gave him the one finger salute.
(It nearly came to blows).

His store is private property, I suppose he can do wath he wants, my
recourse is limited to writing a letter to head office of the chain to
mention the incident.

Now the question:

Does anybody know of a good TAF somewhere in metro Toronto (Please
forget about the one at the Panzerotto and Pizza store at Yonge and
Davisville ... that's where the incident took place). Also, I know about
the ones in the arcades on lower Yonge Street, but I find them in bad
shape.

Thank you for your help.

Luc
--
Canada Remote Systems  - Toronto, Ontario
World's Largest PCBOARD System - 416-629-7000/629-7044
Newsgroups: rec.games.pinball
From: csilver@nyx.cs.du.edu (Cameron Silver)
Subject: Re: Stereo (Was: Re: Fish Flappage)
Organization: University of Denver, Dept. of Math & Comp. Sci.
Date: Mon, 9 Nov 92 06:15:50 GMT

iott@rtsg.mot.com (Joel K. Iott) writes:

>Another post mentioned that the two speakers on new Williams/Bally games
are
>actually tweeter/midrange, and not stereo.  Also I believe W/B have a ba
s
>speaker in the bottom of the cabinet. (e.g. for rumbling during TAF mult
ball
>entry). 

>If this is true, why does W/B do this?  Why don't W/B machines have real
stereo
>sound? 

>After listening to Data East music, I think that must be in stereo.

>Is Premier/Gottlieb real stereo?

>--
>Joel Iott

data east is in stereo (Or so the machines say) ...
 
I always wondered how TAF got the whol building to shake during the build
up to multiball!
 
Cameron Silver

Newsgroups: rec.games.pinball
From: csilver@nyx.cs.du.edu (Cameron Silver)
Subject: Re: taf in toronto
Organization: University of Denver, Dept. of Math & Comp. Sci.
Distribution: rec
Date: Mon, 9 Nov 92 06:12:32 GMT

dstewart+@cs.cmu.edu (David B Stewart) writes:

>In article <8009@transfer.stratus.com> overturf@bigbootay.sw.stratus.com
(Dallas Overturf) writes:
>>In article <19926.4950.7088@dosgate> "luc theriault" <luc.theriault@can
em.com> writes:
>>>Hello
>>>
>>>into the vault and just sits there). Yet, tonight, the clerk at the
>>>desk, came up to me and gave me dollar and told me that they did not
>>>want to see me there anymore!
>>>
>>If they have a regular crowd that likes to play (or maybe the employees
>>even??) they may have found it too hard to beat when you were done with
>>it.  

>I think the clerk used to always have the high score on the machine, and
used
>that to show off to his/her friends.  But now that you got the high scor
, the
>clerk felt defeated, and as a power trip "I'll still get the last laugh,
you
>can't play anymore", asked you to stop playing.  :-)

>~dave


I think the clerk was rather stupid .. stopping someone who played as
often as you did ... You come on here and tell us about it .. he
(indirectly) lost heaps of $$$ ... Maybe we get the last laugh after all!
 
Cameron Silver

Newsgroups: rec.games.pinball
From: hempling@quorum.com (David B. Hempling)
Subject: Re: Fish Flappage (repost?)
Originator: hempling@parker
Organization: Quorum Software Systems, Inc.
Date: Fri, 6 Nov 1992 23:20:25 GMT

First off, thanks to Tom Yager for the posting concerning Fish Tales
out of the box. It certainly confirms my experiences with three
different Fish Tales machines (within 4 blocks of one another) in
San Francisco. 

This looks like a machine that requires more care
to setup than others. Obviously more care than the local operators
are willing to invest. Two of the Fish Tales I played didn't have
the upper left corner gate attached to the hook that holds it
open once in a while, making advancement of the captive ball via
a long cast impossible.

I've also noticed that the game seems to drain less on the sides
as it is broken in a little bit. Two of the machines which were in 
place less than a week drained down the sides constantly. 
The third machine, about two and a half to three weeks old and 
more played, was more forgiving. Perhaps it has something to do with 
the playfield finish slowing down after more play. On a machine out
of the box, the ball flies across the field! I've had one ball
jump up from the left flipper, ricochet against one of the 
'over passes' and fall into the left drain lane!

tyager@maxx.UUCP (Tom Yager) writes:

>    - The microswitch at the bottom of the drop target (in front of the
>      Caster's Club) wasn't making at all--not even close. The electromagnet
>      that drops the target buzzes loudly when it engages.

I noticed the drop target in front of the Caster's Club but I've 
never seen it in the up position. Is is supposed to work like the
drop target on T2 and force the player to drop it once before
the ball can be locked? Or does it only come up during a more
advanced Jackpot session?

One more thing: Is it possible to hit the 'extra ball' target 
from the left flipper? I've only been able to do it 'backhanded'
from the right.

All in all, I really like this game. It's obvious that much more
imaginative thought went into its creation than any other pin
I've seen. I just wish it weren't so darn difficult! Sometimes 
it seems more frustrating than fun.

Tom - 
  Any chance you could tell us about some of the more interesting
  operator adjustable settings on your Fish Tales?

Thanks,
dave
hempling@quorum.com		

Newsgroups: rec.games.pinball