HDTenEightyP/NetNews huggingface dataset:
From: nin15b0b@merrimack.edu (David E. Sheafer)
Newsgroups: rec.games.pinball
Subject: Cactus Jack
Date: 14 Sep 92 22:27:59 GMT
Organization: Merrimack College, No. Andover, MA, USA

I played Cactus Jack (Premier (c) 1991) yesterday

This was the first time I've seen this machine, and I thought the machine had
absolutely no thought at all, the only thing I did like is that it had drop
targets, something you don't seem to often anymore.

Does everyone else think this is a terrible machine, or am I the only one.

-- 
David E. Sheafer

internet:  nin15b0b@merrimack.edu   or  uucp:      samsung!hubdub!nin15b0b

GEnie:     D.SHEAFER             Cleveland Freenet:    ap345
Newsgroups: rec.games.pinball
From: eckhouse@athena.mit.edu (D. Noah Eckhouse)
Subject: Pharoah Game in Boston - act fast
Organization: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Distribution: ne
Date: Tue, 8 Sep 1992 13:43:48 GMT


On my way to work this morning, I saw a Gottlieb E-M game, Pharoah, in
2 large chunks out in someone's trash pile.  It didn't look operative,
but it would be a perfect parts machine.

It's in Somerville, Ma.  Call me if you want me to describe where it
is.  I didn't catch the street name.

=====================================
Noah Eckhouse
Research Specialist
MIT Department of Ocean Engineering
77 Massachusetts Avenue, Room 1-225
Cambridge, MA  02139
617/253-5900  eckhouse@athena.mit.edu
From: ben@monmouth.edu (Bennett Broder)
Newsgroups: rec.games.pinball
Subject: Re: Which One???
Date: 9 Sep 92 14:13:32 GMT
Organization: Monmouth College, W. Long Branch, NJ  07764

In article <1992Sep07.200751.19926@uumeme.chi.il.us> jrapacz@uumeme.chi.il.us (Justin Rapacz) writes:
>Well, I know this is not a very good question, but I want to buy the 
>absolutly best pinball machine for my basement.  I want it brand new,
>high tech, and high quality.  I have a rather large amount of money saved
>up for this so that is no problem.  Can someone please enlighten me on the
>best game and its features so I may make a better decision.

Since you are limiting yourself to brand new machines, your only choices
are Black Rose (Bally), HSII (Williams), Lethal Weapon III (Data East),
and whatever Premier is making now, though I don't care for their games.
You might be able to find a new Addams if you look real hard, but if you
are interested in this game you should act *fast*.  Also, HSII is nearing
the end of its production run, and Fish Tales should be replacing it soon.
If it were me I'd either pick up an Addams, or wait a few more weeks until
Fish Tales goes into production.

-- 

Bennett Broder               Monmouth College
                             Computer Services
ben@monmouth.edu             W. Long Branch, NJ 07764
From: dhembrow@eoe.co.uk (David Hembrow)
Newsgroups: rec.games.pinball
Subject: Re: Weak flipper cures?
Date: 7 Sep 92 17:49:38 GMT
Organization: EO Europe Limited, Cambridge, UK
X-Newsreader: Tin 1.1 PL3

Steve@klaatu.demon.co.uk (Steve Loft) writes:
: Can anyone tell me what the cause, and the cure, is for a weak flipper?
: I've got a Zaccaria Aerobatics, an Italian-made mid 70's
: electromechanical which I picked up for 75 UK pounds (currently
: equivalent to around 150 US dollars) about 3 months ago.  It's in
: excellent condition other than the cabinet which has a bit of graffiti
: and some quite deep scratches.  Mechanically it's sound, other than the
: right flipper which is becoming decidedly weak.  What can I do to remedy
: this?

Hmm. Assuming you've made sure the flipper mechanism is fixed firmly and
is nice and clean, you could get a new flipper coil ?
 
: While I'm here, I've been reading this group for about a month now, and
: I've never seen an Italian (or non-US, come to that) machine mentioned.
: Is this because there aren't any in the States, or because they are
: looked upon as inferior?   I've seen lots of Zaccarias in the UK, but
: I'm not sure I've seen any electronic ones.  Maybe they don't make them
: anymore.  I'm quite pleased with mine, but I reckon by about Christmas
: I'll be bored with it and looking for something a bit 'flashier'.
: Maybe a nice American job? :-)

There definitely are electronic Zaccarria machines in the UK. There
were some at the Poly which I used to go to and I've seen them in other
places too. I'm not exactly sure what happened to Zaccaria as I've not
seen any recent machines ( did they decide to call themselves technoplay? )

: 
: Steve
: 
: |  Steve Loft                                  steve@klaatu.demon.co.uk   |
: |  Doncaster,                                                             |
: |  South Yorks.                                                           |

David.
From: cafer@etek.chalmers.se (Tommy Vaske)
Newsgroups: rec.games.pinball
Subject: Re: Ball return gate (was: Re: Pinball Auction Summary)
Date: 11 Sep 92 17:11:20 GMT
Reply-To: cafer@etek.chalmers.se (Tommy Vaske)
Organization: Chalmers University of Technology, Gothenburg, SWEDEN

In article <20570005@hpsrsjk.sr.hp.com>, pazar@hpmwtd.sr.hp.com (Steve Pazar) writes:
|> Another one is Gotlieb ROYAL FLUSH circa 1976. Ballys KISS also has a gate, but it "saves" the ball
|> back into the flippers. Kinda different!
|> 
|> 			     Steve Pazar
|> 			     pazar@hpnmdla.sr.hp.com

And don't forget Gtb's Time Line - wish _I_ could, though...:-/

--tommy 
***********************************************************************
*      Tommy Vaske     * "I know, that God lives in everybody's soul, * 
*    - semper idem! -  *     and the only Devil in your world         *
*   cafer@etek.cth.se  *      lives in the human heart..."     -M.D.  *
***********************************************************************
From: cjm9321@hertz.njit.edu (The InfoMan)
Newsgroups: rec.games.pinball
Subject: Re: Secret Mania - What is IT (HSII - The GetAway)
Date: 15 Sep 92 13:45:00 GMT
Organization: New Jersey Institute of Technology, Newark, N.J.

In article <1992Sep14.130336.2177@merrimack.edu> nin15b0b@merrimack.edu (David E. Sheafer) writes:
>I was playing HSII - The Getaway yesterday & I got Secret Mania, have no
>idea how i got it or what it is, or how to get it again
>
>Can anyone tell me what it is and how to get it again
>
>thanks
>
>
>-- 
>David E. Sheafer
>
>internet:  nin15b0b@merrimack.edu   or  uucp:      samsung!hubdub!nin15b0b
>
>GEnie:     D.SHEAFER             Cleveland Freenet:    ap345

	I hate giving away the secret but...

	You get Secret Mania by shifting the gears while there are three
(3) cops at Donut Heaven.



	Just a side question...

	What does the cop say the second time you get there?

	It sounds like "... Get that scumbag."
	or is it       "... Get that suspect."

-- 
M A D E   .   . .---. .---.    \  Buy U.S.A. products,  /    xxxxx ==========
  I N     |   |  \    |___|    <     It's YOUR job.     >    xxxxx ========== 
 T H E    |   |    \  |   |    <  Christopher J. Massa  >    ================
-------   `---' `---' '   `    / cjm9321@hertz.njit.edu \    ================
From: jerryc@tekig7.PEN.TEK.COM (Jerry C Carathers)
Newsgroups: rec.games.pinball
Subject: Farewell
Keywords: For Now
Date: 11 Sep 92 19:47:24 GMT
Organization: Tektronix Inc., Beaverton, Or.


To all of my pinball-playing e-friends (that means all of you),

Effective September 30, 1992, I'm leaving Tektronix whom I've worked for for
the past 13 years. I will unfortunately lose my net access at this time and my
new company does not have it yet.

I know there is a public access UNIX site in Portland and I will do my best to
obtain an account there.

In the event that I don't make it back to r.g.p. for a while, I want to let
you all know that you'll be missed and don't think for a minute that you've
heard the last of me. Hey, I'm still here until the end of the month.

I've only met a few of you in person, but I hope to get to Expo soon and meet
a lot more.

BTW: Lyman is flying all the way from Mass. to Portland to rearrange my high
     scores a week from today. I'm looking forward to it.


                   Jerry (Mr. Pinball) Carathers 
-- 
Internet: jerryc@tekig7.MAP.TEK.COM
___          __   __                __                        __  __
|_ ) | |\ | |__) |__| |   |      | (__     |\/| \ /    |   | |_  |_    
|    | | \| |__) |  | |__ |__    | ___)    |  |  |     |__ | |   |__
From: ben@monmouth.edu (Bennett Broder)
Newsgroups: rec.games.pinball
Subject: Re: The right stuff
Date: 9 Sep 92 21:34:08 GMT
Organization: Monmouth College, W. Long Branch, NJ  07764

In article <1992Sep9.150943.11486@linus.mitre.org> hal@gateway.mitre.org (Hal Feinstein) writes:
>But just maybe, what makes a game a best seller and makes money for the
>operators has nothing to do with which pop-culture marketing gimmicks. 
>
>Just maybe TAF is a best seller, not because it based on a current big 
>selling pop-culture icon but because its got the right stuff.  There is 
>something about a game that makes it exciting to play, that makes you want to
>focus your attention on the ball, that gives you visual or auditory awards. 
>These are the traditional "features"  that make pinball worth playing. 

I think you are half right.  For those of us who enjoy playing pinball,
quality of game play is the most important factor.  It is what keeps us
coming back time and time again to drop quarters in games like TAF.
To us, a good commercial tie-in probably not very important.

But, for the vast majority of people, those who play pinball just a few
times a year, the guy who wants to kill a few minutes and just happens
upon an arcade; for him the commercial tie-ins are *very* important.
These people don't play enough pinball to learn which machines are good
and which are boring, these people will select a machine based on name
recognition, eye appeal and other factors not related to game play.
For example, we have a local gameroom with two pins, a Simpsons and a
Whirlwind.  The Simpsons has terrible game play, Whirlwind is excellent.
The regulars all play Whirlwind.  Those who just happen to be in the
game room and decide to play some pinball invariably choose the Simpsons.
I'd say that overall, the two machines get equal play.

I look at it this way.  The good machines are going to get alot of repeat
play from a small number of regular players.  The so-so machines with good
licenses are going to get fewer repeat plays, but from a much larger number
of occasional players.
-- 

Bennett Broder               Monmouth College
                             Computer Services
ben@monmouth.edu             W. Long Branch, NJ 07764
From: al@hpscit.sc.hp.com (Al Knox)
Date: Thu, 10 Sep 1992 19:26:35 GMT
Subject: Harley Davidson Pinball
Organization: Hewlett-Packard, Santa Clara, CA
Newsgroups: rec.games.pinball

    I have a good friend of mine that is looking for a Bally 91
Harley Davidson pinball game in San Francisco Bay Area. Anyone
have any leads for me?

Thanks,

Al Knox
Organization: Senior, English, Carnegie Mellon, Pittsburgh, PA
Newsgroups: rec.games.pinball
Date: Tue,  8 Sep 1992 15:59:53 -0400 
From: Joelle Ann Mellon <jm7w+@andrew.cmu.edu>
Subject: Re: Which One???

In article <1992Sep07.200751.19926@uumeme.chi.il.us>,
jrapacz@uumeme.chi.il.us (Justin Rapacz) writes:


>Well, I know this is not a very good question, but I want to buy the 
>absolutly best pinball machine for my basement.  I want it brand new,
>high tech, and high quality.  I have a rather large amount of money saved
>up for this so that is no problem.  Can someone please enlighten me on the
>best game and its features so I may make a better decision.

Well, I think it's an excellent question, for it has reminded me that
it's time for the semi-annual pinball poll, postponed during the summer.
You out there Remy? This guy needs an answer....

-Robert Chesnavich
(Just to answer your question, TAF in my opinion. I'd be saving money
for it now if I wasn't spending money on it.)
From: jerryc@tekig7.PEN.TEK.COM (Jerry C Carathers)
Newsgroups: rec.games.pinball
Subject: Re: Weak flipper cures?
Date: 8 Sep 92 16:33:37 GMT
Organization: Tektronix, Inc., Beaverton,  OR.

In article <26375.9209081339@tsunb.ctn.cogs.susx.ac.uk+ johny@cogs.sussex.ac.uk (Lord Yak Da Hairy) writes:
+In article <1395@eouk7.eoe.co.uk+ dhembrow@eoe.co.uk (David Hembrow) writes:
++There definitely are electronic Zaccarria machines in the UK. There
++were some at the Poly which I used to go to and I've seen them in other
++places too. I'm not exactly sure what happened to Zaccaria as I've not
++seen any recent machines ( did they decide to call themselves technoplay? )
+
+Yes, they called themselves Technoplay. I used to like playing Soccer Kings
+in my younger days...
+
+"Careful - watch the goalie!"
+
+-- John Yeates (Lord Yak Da Hairy) ---------------- johny@cogs.susx.ac.uk --


I used to have two Zaccaria's. Soccer Kings (1983) and Magic Castle (1984).
They're actually pretty good machines and quite reliable. I always got a kick
out of the British accent in both the male and female voices.

I think I also had one from '84 or so called Devil Riders, but that was long
ago.

At the end of a poor game of Magic Castle it would say, "Look at your score,
what do you think..." Or on a good game, "Very good! You are O-kay!!!" I know
it sounds bland when you read it, but the accent was great.


		   Jerry (Mr. Pinball) Carathers
-- 
Internet: jerryc@tekig7.MAP.TEK.COM
___          __   __                __                        __  __
|_ ) | |\ | |__) |__| |   |      | (__     |\/| \ /    |   | |_  |_    
|    | | \| |__) |  | |__ |__    | ___)    |  |  |     |__ | |   |__
From: jrt@Eng.Sun.COM (Joel Tornatore)
Newsgroups: rec.games.pinball
Subject: looking for books
Date: 14 Sep 1992 22:27:07 GMT
Organization: Sun Microsystems
Distribution: world
Reply-To: jrt@Eng.Sun.COM
NNTP-Posting-Host: gap.eng.sun.com

Somone posted the name and phone number of a place where
one could purchase all these wonderful pinball books we keep
hearing about.

Yes I saved the number.

Yes I lost the saved number.

Can someone please send it to me?!? Or post it. I'm a regular here.

Thanks so much!

joel
jrt@eng.sun.com
From: bbs-garfield@jwt.UUCP (David Eison)
Newsgroups: rec.games.pinball
Subject: Re: LW3 and Super Mario Brothers
Date: 6 Sep 92 20:29:01 GMT
Reply-To: bbs-garfield@jwt.UUCP
Organization: The Matrix

gleason@mwk.uucp writes:

>   Ahh, this younger generation...back when I first started playing
> pinball, I learend to always leave a credit on the machine when we were
> done, in case a brother came along later and didn't have a quarter...

That's nice.. Wish I could.  I'm too much of a pinball freak and have too 
little money to do that. :(  But you're right about the younger 
generation comment, I'm 14 and haven't been playing Pinball TOO long.. 
<G>  But I've never seen a Pin with a Credit left in it, and if I did, 
I'd probably play it even if I did have the quarter because I never 
thought about it this way... Besides, I usually play till I'm out of 
money, so I qualify for the "Don't have a quarter" status.. <G>

---
David Eison - Garfield           bbs-garfield@jwt.uucp
I'm not writing a message.  These words are just here to take up space.
Newsgroups: rec.games.pinball
From: bcasper@eos.ncsu.edu (Brian Casper)
Subject: Bobby Orr schematics wanted
Originator: bcasper@c00060-100lez.eos.ncsu.edu
Reply-To: bcasper@eos.ncsu.edu
Organization: North Carolina State University
Date: Mon, 7 Sep 1992 16:15:06 GMT


Speaking of manuals (see last post) can anybody provide me with a copy of
a manual for a 1978 Bally Bobby Orr Power Play?  $ for your time/trouble...

Thanks
-- 
-- 
Brian Casper                |   "I like to study psychologists.  It gives
bcasper@eos.ncsu.edu        |    good insight into what rats are thinking."
  Pinball Consultant        |     -  Dr. Oscar Wesler
From: jrt@Eng.Sun.COM (Joel Tornatore)
Newsgroups: rec.games.pinball
Subject: Re: need help on old EM game
Date: 15 Sep 1992 23:12:08 GMT
Organization: Sun Microsystems
Distribution: world
Reply-To: jrt@Eng.Sun.COM
NNTP-Posting-Host: gap.eng.sun.com


In article 6829@kong.gsfc.nasa.gov, mstephens.520@postman.gsfc.nasa.gov (mark stephens) writes:
>I've suddenly bin bitten by the pinball purchase bug.  I'm mainly interested
>in getting one of the older electro-mechanical games.  (Of course, I would
>not mind the Addams Familly, even if I've only just looked at it, never
>played it!)
>
>I have an opertunity to purchase a "mint condition" game called "Nipit".
>I have not seen it and don't know what mint condition here means.  I've
>read the FAQ for this group (thanks folks!) but any other advice as to 
>what to look for would be helpfull.  Anybody remember this one?  Good
>game? Comments on EM machines verses ones with chips?  I believe the price
>mentioned was in the $400 - $500 range.  Seems like a lot of bucks for an
>older game.  If it is in mint condition, which I take for all parts working
>and the artwork intack, what should I offer?
>
>thanks!
>                mark



(By memory. I have not seen this game for fifteen years.....)

Nip-It game had several interesting features:

multiball -- the ball was not released at the end of the game, either,
     so you could often find a game with a ready-to-release ball

an E-M trap that grabbed the ball -- using a flipper button just past
     the right flipper button, you could activate a hook-shaped piece of
     metal that would attempt to grab the ball. actually the device was
     shaped like an inverted "U" and would jump out when the button
     pressed and then drop (hopefully capturing the ball). When the button
     was released, it would retract and bring the ball with it, allowing it
     to go down a covered lane. The grabber was at the top right of the
     playfield, and the lane went most of the length of the right side.
     The grabber (or maybe we should call it a nipper?) was related to
     the alligator theme. A very interesting timing feature. Quite unique.

mushroom bumpers -- certainly not unique to this game, but I don't
     think they'd make it on today's fast-paced games. They are very
     small mushroom-shaped targets that could be hit from any side, but
     did not "pop" like pop bumpers to shoot the ball away.

short flippers that closed -- the pivot point for the flippers would actually
     rotate down and towards the middle until the flippers were horizontal
     and touched. This made it hard to lose the ball down the middle, but
     certainly made most shots a little different. WOW! talk about a great
     backhand!

If you ever saw the episode of Happy Days in which Potsie and Ralph Malph
are doing "lip-ups" on the side of a pinball machine, they are exercising
their kissers on a Nip-It machine. (Bally, as I recall). I played this game
a lot when I was about twelve. It was fun, definitely slow-moving, and
never much of a problem to beat. (Single-player, by the way.)

joel
From: ung@felix.filenet.com (Bill Ung)
Newsgroups: rec.games.pinball
Subject: **THWACK** replay!
Date: 15 Sep 92 21:50:52 GMT
Reply-To: ung@fritz.filenet.com (Bill Ung)
Organization: FileNet Corp., Costa Mesa, CA

The other day, I was playing ELVIRA, knocking up replay-after-replay,
it was lots of fun (redundant, I know).  One thing I noticed was the
loudness of the knocker.  It was so loud, it nearly scared me.  It
made me miss really loud replay knockers.  The replay knocker on my
HIGH SPEED is loud enough to hear, in fact, at a decent audible level
about 90% of the time.  Sometimes, it's not that loud.  I used to
remember replay knockers loud enough that you thought it was going
to split the cabinet open.  I decided it was time to turn up the
volume on my replay knocker.  My question is: how?

When I got my game, the knocker was disabled.  The whole thing was
wired up okay, but the "firing pin" inside was swapped out for a
piece of non-magnentic metal.  Basically, it just sat there.  When
I complained, the distributor sent me a knocker pin and I installed
it.  It was very low.  I lubed it up a bit and it got better.  Right
now, that's where we're at.

I'm afraid that the knocker pin I got was not entirely correct, in
that it won't knock as loud as it's supposed to.  I'm also afraid
that maybe the coil for the knocker was replaced for a weaker one
since the operator didn't like the knocker.  When the weak knock
didn't satisfy him, he just shucked it altogether and replaced the
firing pin with a null-pin.  What should I do here?  Are knocker
pins generic?  And how do you tell how strong a coil is, or should
be?  Can someone provide a list of part numbers, strengths and
what each coil type is commonly used for?  Any help is appreciated.
Thanks!

Bill Ung
  ung@filenet.com
Newsgroups: rec.games.pinball
From: rls@cbnewsc.cb.att.com (richard.l.schieve)
Subject: Re: Weak flipper cures?
Organization: AT&T
Date: Tue, 8 Sep 1992 20:16:52 GMT
Summary: A few Zaccarias

In article <715662736snx@klaatu.demon.co.uk>, Steve@klaatu.demon.co.uk (Steve Loft) writes:

stuff deleted

> While I'm here, I've been reading this group for about a month now, and
> I've never seen an Italian (or non-US, come to that) machine mentioned.
> Is this because there aren't any in the States, or because they are
> looked upon as inferior?   I've seen lots of Zaccarias in the UK, but
> I'm not sure I've seen any electronic ones.  Maybe they don't make them
> anymore.  I'm quite pleased with mine, but I reckon by about Christmas
> I'll be bored with it and looking for something a bit 'flashier'.
> Maybe a nice American job? :-)
> 
> |  Steve Loft                                  steve@klaatu.demon.co.uk   |

I visited an operator with several electronic Zaccaria pins.  They
were impressive machines but both were not working and had not been
in service for sometime.  I live just west of Chicago and pretty 
much know what kind of parts I can expect to get for Bally and
Williams machines but what would I do for parts for a Zaccaria...

				Rick Schieve
				rls@ihlpb.att.com
Organization: Penn State University
Date: Thu, 10 Sep 1992 19:08:11 EDT
From: <BXL108@psuvm.psu.edu>
Newsgroups: rec.games.pinball
Subject:  Fish Tales

Has any one compiled a full set of rules for this game.  I played it a
couple times and it seems very challenging and has a variety of ways to
score points.  I am confused on exactly how to get the special light
on.Thanks

                                        Barry
Newsgroups: rec.games.pinball
From: bbs-garfield@jwt.UUCP (David Eison)
Subject: Re: *** High Speed II ***
Reply-To: bbs-garfield@jwt.UUCP
Organization: The Matrix
Date: Sat, 5 Sep 1992 19:24:23 GMT

knudsen@cbnewsd.cb.att.com (michael.j.knudsen) writes:

> In article <1992Aug31.230158.4124@cbnewsd.cb.att.com>, knudsen@cbnewsd.cb.att
> 
> > Anyone else shift gears with his knee?
> > After losing a ball off the left flipper while I was shifting,
> > I learned to prop my left leg up so I can easily pop an up-shift
> 
> Oops...
> anyone can tell I really meant my RIGHT knee shifts the gears.
> "I know the difference, just get the names crossed up."
> 
> Anyone else play HS-II this way?

I was wondering about that... <G>  British High Speed or something? 
(Joke.  Don't ask.)  I don't get to play HSII too much, because I only 
know of one in Orlando, but when I play that (Or LW3 or anything that 
makes you hit something while a ball is going) I usually just aim for a 
nice ramp and peg the shifter/whatever... It's not like it's far from 
your hand or anything.. <G>

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