HDTenEightyP/NetNews huggingface dataset:
From: gleeson@mundil.cs.mu.OZ.AU (Red Mountain)
Subject: Re: Software Bugs
Organization: Computer Science, University of Melbourne, Australia
Date: Sat, 26 Sep 1992 06:28:57 GMT

In <==dzrm+@rpi.edu> sigma@picasso.ipl.rpi.edu (Kevin Martin) writes:
>Can anyone confirm or comment on the following observed software bugs?
>I've only heard one of them mentioned here.

>1) Super Mario Bros 3 sometimes decides the replay score should increase
>exponentially, gradually converging on 8 or 9 BILLION.

Haven't seen this game yet, but have heard about this happening..

>2) If you get Grand Champion on Hook, you get awarded credits but it
>immediately resets ALL the high scores, leaving you with no fame.

>The second one is the one that amazes me.

It amazed me too at first. Hook has even worse software than Star Trek, so 
after getting Grand Champ the first couple of times and seeing the High Scores
reset each time, I just thought "Oh, well, what did I expect from this
machine?". I like to play fast most of the time, which is one of the reasons
why I like The Getaway so much, but try this on Hook, and after a while
of trying to keep the display up with the awards, you just get "Command
Overrun" on the display and nothing else.

My local arcade now has the following setup:
Star Trek  The Addams Family  Hook  The Getaway
so for a "smoking allowed" arcade, it's basically two pins and two 
_very expensive_ ashtrays :-)

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***=============-------------------------
From: ben@monmouth.edu (Bennett Broder)
Newsgroups: rec.games.pinball
Subject: Re: Request: A price for an old pin and a new one
Date: 5 Oct 92 12:15:24 GMT
Distribution: usa
Organization: Monmouth College, W. Long Branch, NJ  07764

In article <1992Oct3.162238.13085@engage.pko.dec.com> adoerfer@laserwar.pko.dec.com (_bill) writes:
>
>In article <1992Oct2.123021.759@walter.cray.com>, u2606@craysea.cray.com (Kurt Peterschmidt) writes...
>>It has quite a few
>>ramp shots, skill shot, multi-ball, stereo sound, etc., i.e. standard 
>>Williams fare.

>I don't believe you'll find DINER stereo, though.
>While the sound board might be considered multi-channel, you wouldn't really 
>want to call it stereo.  


I think what is fooling him into thinking that Diner (and all recent
Bally and Williams games) is stereo are the two speaker grilles on each
side of the score panel.  In fact, these games are mono, but have a
powerful three way speaker system.  The woofer is on the bottom of the
cabinet, under the playfield, it fires downwards toward the floor.  The
midrange is to the left of the scoreboard, and the tweeter is on the
right.  The fact that the grills are the same size was done for esthetics,
if you see the game with the backglass removed the difference in the
size of the left and right speakers is readily apparent.

-- 

Bennett Broder               Monmouth College
                             Computer Services
ben@monmouth.edu             W. Long Branch, NJ 07764
Newsgroups: rec.games.pinball
From: higgins@dorsai.com (higgins)
Subject: Re: Impressions of Dr. Who
Organization: The Dorsai Embassy, New York's Computer Consulate. +1.718.729.5018
Date: Tue, 29 Sep 1992 23:09:21 GMT

Dr. Who is basically a frenetic Pinbot with a few ramps. Given that I 
LOVED Pinbot, I'm a happy guy. It's got to be the noiseiest table
I've ever played. It popped up last week at The Broadway Arcade
in Manhattan.
From: jrh@cup.portal.com (John R Hoffman)
Newsgroups: rec.games.pinball
Subject: Re: Anyone have Pin Expo '92 info?
Date: Mon,  5 Oct 92 17:42:53 PDT
Organization: The Portal System (TM)
Distribution: usa

>I haven't seen any traffic yet about this year's Pin Expo.  Is it still
>on?  Is the 800 number still working?

I just called the 800 number today (Monday) and was told that a mass
mailing was done last week.  Information should be arriving this week.

John Hoffman
jrh@cup.portal.com
Newsgroups: rec.games.pinball
From: jchokey@leland.Stanford.EDU (James Alexander Chokey)
Subject: The cows in Black Rose
Organization: DSG, Stanford University, CA 94305, USA
Date: Sun, 27 Sep 92 17:35:04 GMT


	I've recently been playing Black Rose a lot, the pinball game passed
on the (female) pirate theme.  I think I basically have the rules and 
principles of the game worked out, but there's something I'm a bit puzzled by--
the cows!  

	Sometimes, when you hit the ball through the the first part of the two-
part combo, a herd of cows travels across the video screen, and the machine
makes a bunch of mooing sounds.  Similarly, it occasionally happens that, when
hitting the bumpers, instead of getting the little picture of the two pirates
dueling on the vid screen, you get a picture of two cows dueling!  And along
with the clanging sounds of swords, it also makes a few quick moos.

	So what's the deal with these cows?  Do they actually have anything
to do with the game or are they just in there for levity?  Is there some 
pattern of things you have to hit or something you have to do to make them
appear when you hit part one of the two-part combo or the bumpers, or is their
appearance more or less random?  Does their appearance give you any different
amount of points, or do anything else in the game, or is it completely
incidental?  Did the game's designers just happen to like cows, or is there
some strange link between pirates and cows that I was previously unaware of?

	Your guess is as good as mine--  if not better.

	--  Jim C. <jchokey@leland.stanford.edu>
Newsgroups: rec.games.pinball
From: buzz@apple.com. (Steve Bollinger)
Subject: Re: Fish Tales in the Bay Area?
Date: Tue, 6 Oct 1992 16:37:06 GMT
Distribution: ba
Organization: Apple Computer Inc.
Followup-To: rec.games.pinball

In article <1992Oct5.214530.3369@quorum.com>, hempling@quorum.com (David B.
Hempling) wrote:
> 
> Has Fish Tales made it into the San Francisco Bay Area yet?
> 
> Thanks in advance,
> dave
> hempling@quorum.com

Yea, there are two in San Jose.

There's a final version at San Jose Golfland.
Its on Blossom Hill just east of the Light Rail crossing (east of Almaden).
It set somewhat hard and the tilt is pretty sensitive.

There's a prototype at Keystone in Almaden Plaza. It's set easier and the
tilt is less sensitive. Don't worry, prototypes aren't very rough around
the
edges.
Its on Blossom Hill just west of Almaden, in a plaza with an Emporium. It
has
no signs, so just park at that plaza and look at a directory.

Both are 50 cents. Just 50 cents, no 3 for a dollar.

-Steve
Newsgroups: rec.games.pinball
From: rls@cbnewsc.cb.att.com (richard.l.schieve)
Subject: How good is Bonzai Run?
Organization: AT&T
Distribution: usa
Date: Fri, 2 Oct 1992 18:53:04 GMT

Gaming people that know me would probably describe me as a video
addict that has recently discoverred pinball and it's true.  While
I've played, worked on, and owned video games for years, I've only
played and started buying pinball games for under 2 years.  Don't
be too smug out there as I have corrupted a few "pinheads" ;-) too
(I sold Mike Knudsen his first video)!

I'm used to dealing with operators on the videos and pretty much
know the value of videos but when it comes to pins I'm a bit lost
as far as what is good and what to pay.

Anyway, I'm considerring a Bonzai Run.  It's in decent shape
probably only needing the usual flipper tune-ups, etc.  I'm curious
what others think of Bonzai run?  I see that no one in the PAPS
list has one but I understand that not a lot were made.

				Rick Schieve
				rls@ihlpb.att.com
From: mcsbc3ktp@dct.ac.uk
Newsgroups: rec.games.pinball
Subject: Leathal Weapon 3/hints/tips please
Date: 1 Oct 92 12:57:24 GMT
Organization: Dundee Institute of Technology

Has anyone played Leathal Weapon 3 pinball game, if so any hints or tips

for playing it.
-- 
################################################################################
# Kirk P at D.I.T. (Dundee Institute of Technology, Dundee, Scotland, U.K.)    #
#                                                                              #
# Janet : mcsbc3ktp@dct.ac.uk                                                  #
#      or mcsbc3ktp@dct.ac.uk@nsfnet-relay.ac.uk                               #
#                                                                              #
#                   K E E P    G R O O V Y !                                   #
################################################################################
Newsgroups: rec.games.pinball
From: chris1@uiuc.edu (Chris Trimble)
Subject: Re: Questions
Organization: University of Illinois at Urbana
Date: Sun, 4 Oct 1992 20:13:24 GMT

Eddie Chandler writes
     Unfortunately, these are ALL in various states of disrepair!....
     but I didn't notice a 'Credits 0.' message on the display.

There isn't necessarily going to be one. When the period is up there,
it only means that the machine itself knows there is a problem. For
example, drop target 'a' has not dropped in the last 90 balls or
something. At our Union, I've played HSII with the period there and
have had it go off after my game.
     
     In the worst cases, the flippers were 'mushy', the table at
     an odd angle, balls getting stuck & bumpers 'out-of-control'
     (All these were on LW3 & Batman!)

The machine probably won't notice a mushy flipper, unless you can't
hit it hard enough to drop some target or hit it up some particular
ramp. This goes for a poorly angled table, also.
     
     So, my questions are : -
     1) Can a dodgy pinball machine be spotted JUST by looking?

Yeah, watch someone else play, first. 

--
 Chris Trimble 	      | "Tell me why... don't we try...not to break our hearts
 chris1@uiuc.edu      | and make it so hard for ourselves."    - Pet Shop Boys
 NeXTMail Preferred   | "Ar-oo-gull-ah, it's a vege-et-a-ble"   - Steve Martin
From: jonke@kong.gsfc.nasa.gov (Stephen Jonke)
Newsgroups: rec.games.pinball
Subject: T2 question (Was: huh?)
Date: 1 Oct 92 20:24:41 GMT
Distribution: usa
Organization: NASA GSFC

In article <1992Oct1.154912.21126@gsusgi2.gsu.edu>, musjndx@gsusgi2.gsu.edu (Jonathan N. Deitch) writes:
> 
>Happens all the time with the drop target under the skull in T2.
> 

There's a drop target under the skull!!!???  That explains a LOT (why the
ball doesn't always get locked in there)!  What makes it pop back up?

Steve
From: kak1@cray.com (Kevin Kramer)
Newsgroups: rec.games.pinball
Subject: Re: Trapped in hell
Date: 29 Sep 92 20:55:44 GMT
Organization: Cray Research, Inc.

In article <ctribm2.3@caa.mrs.umn.edu> ctribm2@caa.mrs.umn.edu writes:
>I am attending the University of Minnesota, Morris, and I have become 
>trapped in a freakish land with only ill-maintained, old pinball games.  For 
>the last two weeks I have been Playing Jokerz wild, Cyclone, Elvira and Mont 
>Carlo.  
>     The only game I have any respect for is cyclone.  The ferris wheel, 
>Boomerang, spook house and two rollercoaster shots make this a challenging 
>game, while ensuring a long ball life.
>     Monte Carlo should be called the free game machine.  Shooting the ball 
>onto a ramp while it is flashing (It flashes are totally random, and dont 
>depend upon the players ability) awards 10M.  The replays for the game are 
>set at 3.5M and 4.5M, so every time I play the game I end up with two More 
>games.  Fun for a while, but staring at the glittery, shmaltzy table for 
>longer than twenty minutes can cause severe eyestrain.  
>      I dont need ( or want ) to say anything about Elvira or Jokerz wild, 
>because they suck.  Really bad.
>
>      I never saw any new games where I came from either  ( Rapid city, 
>SD ), whith the exception of HSII.  Therefore my favorites come from the 
>oldies (?) with the number one of all time being PinBot.  That was a mean 
>game.  Funhouse was a kickin' game, but we never got it in my area, and I 
>could only play it while I was on vacation.  
>      This weekend I am going to the Mall of america, and hope to find LW3 
>in their arcade, based upon the judgement of this forum.  This is a cool 
>Idea for all of the pinball freaks with a computer.  
>
>                     Thanks for reading my mindless babble.


I just went to the Mall of America (that place is way to BIG!!!!!)
and they did have all of the latest pins in there: Hurricane (boreing), LW3 
(which I didn't like), The Addams Family (which I love, but was in bad shape),
Hook (ok), HSII (I like it), and a few others I didn't try.  They even had
the soccer pinball for two people one-on-one, good idea, lame implementation.
There was another arcade in there somewhere, but it would have taken a year
to find it.  That place is big and always busy.  The only problem is that it
is only 15 mins from my house (counting traffic) so I may find my self
going there way to often.  Great shops!!  Be sure to check out the Hologram
store.  Very expensive, but they look great.  Oh and get some CiniBuns
you will be glad you did :-)

Have fun
Kevin

ps I tried to mail this but it bounced
Newsgroups: rec.games.pinball
From: adoerfer@laserwar.pko.dec.com (_bill)
Subject: Re: Request: A price for an old pin and a new one
Organization: Digital Equipment Corporation
Distribution: usa
Date: Sat, 3 Oct 1992 17:11:45 GMT


In article <1992Oct2.123021.759@walter.cray.com>, u2606@craysea.cray.com (Kurt Peterschmidt) writes...
>I have a couple of requests from the r.g.p group:
> 
>1.  Has anyone heard of the William's pin "Diner" (1990)?
> I've got a local guy here that has one for sale, 
>it's in very nice condition - I'd say it's in A- to B+ condition, and it
>appears to play solidly, with, I think, the exception of the large "mixing
>bowl" in the top center 
>It has quite a few
>ramp shots, skill shot, multi-ball, stereo sound, etc., i.e. standard 
>Williams fare.  Anyways, he's asking $1500 for it - this seems like a fair
>price, given the newness of the machine.  Any comments?
> 
Hmm, I'm a bit concerned that it's only a- to b+, and a sensor in the
cup not working is not acceptable.  Sould be in better condition that that.
However, the price is typical for those I've seen offered.  
I don't believe you'll find DINER stereo, though.
While the sound board might be considered multi-channel, you wouldn't really 
want to call it stereo.  

You might want to consider a TAXI.
_bill   __________
                 /
                 -------* Adoerfer@bk2000.dec.com
Newsgroups: rec.games.pinball
From: bradstoc@bach.udel.edu (Craig A Bradstock)
Subject: King of Diamonds
Organization: University of Delaware
Date: Tue, 29 Sep 1992 22:42:42 GMT


Going back several decades (hope that's ok), I have a pinball machine called    King of
Diamonds.  It has been sitting in the basement several years.  I'd appreciate
any information on this game, most importantly, when it came out.  Apparently
it used to be quite popular.  Also if there is any antique value to it (not 
that I plan on selling it) I would like to know. 

Thanks in advance.

Craig
.
Newsgroups: rec.games.pinball
Subject: Re: Layout/Pinball sexism?
From: aberigan@nde.unl.edu (A. Berigan)
Date: Tue, 29 Sep 1992 17:21:55 GMT
 <1992Sep27.090058.22279@colorado.edu> <1992Sep27.201159.4341@cs.tu-berlin.de> <kajzb!b@rpi.edu>
Organization: Ord High School, Ord, NE

sigma@picasso.ipl.rpi.edu (Kevin Martin) writes:
>jutta@opal.cs.tu-berlin.de (Jutta Degener) writes:

>>The obvious fun idea would be to build a "real" sex pin -- although
>>it's probably too goofy for anybody to really pull it off. 

Yeah, flippers shaped like penises and you're bouncing testicles around
the board... ouch, that's a painful picture!

>I've always thought Bride of Pinbot is all about sex.

Oh, especially one I saw at a 7-11 which would say "Oooh," "Aaah," and
"Yes, YES!" when you made certain shots, most of the time around the
areas denoted by the "breasts" on the playfield.

>Kevin Martin
>sigma@ipl.rpi.edu

-- 
aberigan@nde.unl.edu (Greg Berigan)
From: cavers@menudo.uh.edu (Chris M. Cavers)
Newsgroups: rec.games.pinball
Subject: TAF
Date: 6 Oct 92 06:31:03 GMT
Organization: University of Houston

It seems to me that going straight for the mansion rooms in TAF is
much more likely to drain than going for thing/bear kicks and then
extra ball - then mansion rooms (i.e. extra ball first - then go for
mansion rooms).


Can someone email me the hint sheet for TAF?
From: jimfost@matt.ksu.ksu.edu (Jim Foster)
Newsgroups: rec.games.cyber
Subject: Re: CP2020 rules questions
Date: 29 Sep 92 20:14:05 GMT
Organization: Kansas State University
Archive-Name: rgc695

uplink@cwis.unomaha.edu (John M. Scheibeler) writes:

>>REPUTATION: (pgs. 44-45)
>>  *  How is a beginning reputation determined for a character?  How
>>     do game events affect it (improve or decline)?


>important in front of witnesses (by important, I mean interacting with
>important people or doing any street jobs.  Going to the bathroom isn't going 
>to affect your Rep

Heh. Depends entirely on where one goes to the bathroom. Urinating, defecating, or exhibiting some other major bodily excretion on the person of a major power figure and getting away with it should be worth a certain amount of Rep....

Cyberpunk...the dark and slightly scatalogical look at tomorrow :)


-- 
Jim Foster                [        The stars are right... Cthulhu in '92!     ]
jimfost@matt.ksu.ksu.edu  [       "Why choose the lesser of three evils?"     ]
Kansas State University   [                                                   ]
From: leifmk@Lise.Unit.NO (Leif Magnar Kj|nn|y)
Newsgroups: rec.games.cyber
Subject: Re: Sterile future fix?
Date: 27 Sep 92 01:04:08 GMT
Organization: Norwegian Institute of Technology
Archive-Name: rgc680

In article <1992Sep25.230646.22636@Veritas.COM>, ecrjbruce@economics.adelaide.edu.au writes:
 
 > Pass random notes.  Talk to players in private.  Let the buggers distrust each
 > other.  Mark@iagu, fixer in my game now roleplays brilliantly - NO-ONE gets
 > cash out of him for nothing.  Wait til I srew thos corporates over this Sunday
 > and when the Solo's find their ammo is nonfunctional they are gonna have a
 > ball!!  Given that they all read this I suspect the paranoia level has just
 > increased by a level or two.....
 > 
 > > 
 > > After a while, the players will get a feel for the kind of world their
 > > characters are living in, and start to be cynical, suspicious and selfish.
 > > 
 > > If you REALLY want to go for the throat, pit the PCs against each other. 
 > 
 > NOW you're talking my language. Be covert sneaky and downright mean.  Throw in
 > lots of RBF's and DBA's - random bastard factors and defined bastard acts - and
 > they'll soon be calling for clean underwear..... be careful before you let them
 > get it though, boosters hang out all round those laundromats!!
 > 
 > 
 > > Offer something that only one of them can have and make them compete in
 > > some way. I wouldn't make such a situation the center of a game or even
 > > one session, but throwing in the occasional ``and $5,000 extra to the 
 > > one who brings me Fitzpatrick's head'' can plant some interparty rivalry
 > > and even intrigue. 
 > 
 > Brilliant!!  By the way Mark what are you doing with all that extra cash??
 > 
 > 
 > >I have never GMed a game where the players had to 
 > > pass notes to exclude other players, but I have played in such games, 
 > > and it can be intense.
 > >
 > 
 > Orgasmic if done correctly.  Watch body language and pick on people who don't
 > get on real well in real life or on best mates.  Mark the fixer is currently
 > arguing furiously over 500eb with Mark the corporate and they are giving the
 > whole game a decided darker edge.  They may even get rewarded with extra IP's
 > who knows??
 > 
 > 
 > I do, but I'll let them work it out!!
 > 
 > regs
 > 
 > ]Rob
 >  


Hmm.  This is sorta like what the players in my new 'heroic fantasy' campaign
are acting like already, and I have hardly done a thing to encourage them. 
Maybe I should revive my old cyberpunk campaign with these guys as players. 
Hee hee hee.

Leif the .sigless
From: duncanj@snoopy.umd.edu
Newsgroups: rec.games.cyber
Subject: GURPS FAQ - GURPS Cyberpunk FAQs wanted
Date: 28 Sep 92 23:30:08 GMT
Organization: University of Maryland, College Park
Content-Type: text
Archive-Name: rgc689
Content-Length: 644


I'm currently working on an update to my GURPS Frequently Asked
Questions list and I need some input on frequently asked questions
with respect to the Cyberpunk genre.

Please send any questions (along with answers) which you have noted to
have come up again and again. These don't need to have been asked in
rec.games.cyber or in rec.games.frp.* but they should represent
questions which have been asked repeatedly.

Send submissions to:

Jim Duncan <duncanj@umd5.umd.edu>

An update of the GURPS FAQ list will be posted to
rec.games.frp.archives the sometime after Oct 1st (hopefully no more
than  one or two days after).

	Thanks,

	   Jim
From: 91700123@ccw306.bradford.ac.uk
Newsgroups: rec.games.cyber
Subject: Re: Vampirepunk!?!?
Date: 1 Oct 92 20:07:04 GMT
Reply-To: apple!ccw306.bradford.ac.uk!91700123
Organization: Sun Microsystems
Content-Type: text
Archive-Name: rgc713
Content-Length: 2189


	I bought the supplement because im a fan of of both the cyberpunk genre and 
horror, and ive been playing VtM and 2020 for a while and this seemed very interesting, it is.
	 The rules for the vampires themselves are actually quite good, considering the  really powerful ones cant use cyberware(can only have it from before becoming a vampire) a cyberpsycho could be quite dangerous to a vampire.The reason the feel of the book is very cyberpunk is that an effort is made to actually make vamprism a scientific condition rather than something supernatural and this is done with all the other 'magic and superpower stuff'. Their power level is based on how long they have been a vampir






e, ie they mature with age and they pick up lots of skills and extra stat points as they go, making an age level VI vampire someone nobody in their right mind would want to mess with......
	Unless of course your one of the people who hunts vampires and the book also gives good information for playing such characters, including a number of major vamp hunting organisations and their specialised equipment(stake gun anyone ?).
	Rules are also given for psychic powers which can be possessed by vampires and humans although humans are limited due to their short life spans in which they cannot develop their minds to the peak of psychic potential. The powers presented cover most of the traditional psi abilities and introduce some interesting new ones (radkinesis).
	Also included are lycanthropes and werewolves which have a very interesting feel to them, very unlike WtA and more like An American Werewolf in London. The other section of the book is an obligatory set of mini adventures which are ok, but nothing to shout about.
	I would recommend this supplement purely on the grounds of being very well written and any GM who wants to add a twist to his campaign would be wise to own a copy even if only to use sections of the book like the psychics which are totally psiberpunk(scanners,akira et al).

	Although the best bit for me was Dracula who is a solo wandering the big cities of the world looking for fights :-[

                                     jase.