HDTenEightyP/NetNews huggingface dataset:
From: ben@monmouth.edu (Bennett Broder)
Newsgroups: rec.games.pinball
Subject: Re: Purchasing Funhouse... comments?
Date: 9 Oct 92 13:10:21 GMT
Organization: Monmouth College, W. Long Branch, NJ  07764

In article <1992Oct8.211805.2033@kong.gsfc.nasa.gov> mstephens.520@postman.gsfc.nasa.gov (mark stephens) writes:
>I may have a chance to purchase a William's Funhouse game.  This is from
>a vendor and will be one of their refurbished games.  I was just in their
>used game warehouse and, although not impressed with the kind of games, 
>I was impressed with their seemingly good state of repair.  I would 
>rate them all above B+ (but I'm no expert!).  The games they had were
>Motocross (?), Raven, Rock 'n Roll, Eight Ball Champ and Spy Hunter.
>All these games cost about $400 with a 90 day warrenty (free-you bring in
>(ha) or flat $35 they come to you ).  There was a $35 fee for delivery 
>and setup.  I was especially impressed that all of them had strong flippers.
>Only the Motocross was beat up (below a B+, certainly).
>
>But, I asked if they had or were getting Funhouse, a game I've been playing
>(when I can't get my hands on TAF) and enjoy.  They said possibly yes and 
>I left my number.  I don't expect to purchase this game for $400!  Yes/No?

Definitely no.  A used FunHouse in reasonably good condition is going to
sell for around $1800.  It was a very popular game, and you said it yourself,
its the game you play when you can't get your hands on a TAF.  You can't
expect a bargain basement price on a machine that is this profitable to
operate.

I'd be surprised if the vendor you visited comes up with one anyway.  He
probably gets his machines from an operator who places them on routes
until they are no longer profitable, then he fixes them up and sells
them for home use.  The machines you mention are all six to eight years
old and fit this profile.

If you are serious about buying this game, I would find out which
arcades in your area own their own games, and start making offers.
You could also check the classified ads in industry magazines such
as Replay.

>Some questions for players and owners... How often does this puppy break
>down?  Do you still enjoy playing is as much as when you purchased it?
>Any other tips or thoughts?

Any pinball machine is going to require regular maintenance.
Any pinball machine is going to require little repairs now and then.

About 1/3 of the FunHouses made had a DiamondPlate playfield, the
rest had mylar.  I would prefer the DiamondPlate if I had the choice.

Good luck if you decide to go ahead with this.

-- 

Bennett Broder               Monmouth College
                             Computer Services
ben@monmouth.edu             W. Long Branch, NJ 07764
From: pcs$1610@altair.selu.edu
Newsgroups: rec.games.pinball
Subject: Re: Strange Pinball (was Re: Questions)
Date: 8 Oct 92 18:22:27 GMT
Organization: Southeastern Louisiana University

Since I asked the orignal question...


In article <1992Oct5.130915.22902@engage.pko.dec.com>, adoerfer@bk2000.pko.dec.com (_bill) writes:
> 
> On another topic - and it should be a faq, magnets in pinball games are not
> that common, and there is no game that is all magnets.  You might be
> thinking of STERN ORBITOR I, which someone descibed as bowl shapped with
> spinning rotors/bumpers at the bottom of each (of 2) bowls.  Not a bad

I don't think that's the one I'm thinking of. This one _did_ have 
magnets under the entire surface of the playfield, or at any rate it acted
like it did. It was not bowl-shaped, more like waves, as I said before. And
there was no part of the playfield which was unaffected by the magnets. I
don't recall any rotors either--I think the playfield was one solid piece of 
thick clear plastic.

But it's been a long time....


> I know about the coin-op museum in St. Louis and have heard about the
> plans for the west, but please post more info on that other museum!


It was simply a bad choice of words. It's not really a museum, just an arcade
where they take good care of old machines and let you play them.

Scott
From: jonke@kong.gsfc.nasa.gov (Stephen Jonke)
Newsgroups: rec.games.pinball
Subject: Re: What makes a game...
Date: 15 Oct 92 14:42:42 GMT
Organization: NASA GSFC

In article <20474@fritz.filenet.com>, ung@felix.filenet.com (Bill Ung) writes:
> 
> In article <1992Oct13.221627.15095@kong.gsfc.nasa.gov> jonke@kong.gsfc.nasa.gov (Stephen Jonke) writes:
> |In article <81338@ut-emx.uucp>, aodn307@bongo.cc.utexas.edu (Joshua Henry Geurink) writes:
> || 	With all this talk about "solid state flippers" and the whatnot, I
> || just wished to toss in my $.02.  The true, deciding factor in whether a 
> || game is really enjoyable, really GOOD is not the flipper type, or how many
> || ways someone can earn multiball, but SOUND.

> |Sound doesn't hurt, but hopefully pinball players will
> |lose this attraction to fancy sounds soon, else pinball will go the way of
> |video games
> 
> The real ticket is to have a good game, flashy graphics AND great sound,
> all rolled into one.  FUNHOUSE is a good example (not a lot of graphics
> but lots of art!), or TAF.  A good game is good, a good game with good
> graphics and sound is even better (remember those Hershey syrup commercials?)
> 

Exactly, just make sure the emphasis is first on a good game and then only
secondly on enhancing it with good sound and graphics (I'd say TAF and T2 are
both good examples of this.)  The only problem is that it is sound and
graphics that gets peoples attention -- how long can the game designers hold
out from reordering their priorities?

Steve
Newsgroups: rec.games.pinball
From: dglow@lambert.uwaterloo.ca (Dave Low)
Subject: Bugs Bunny
Organization: University of Waterloo
Date: Wed, 14 Oct 1992 18:11:51 GMT

Today in Waterloo, Ont, Canada at Flynns there was
a new machine put in called Bugs Bunny...

Is this a new game or an old one... I couldn't really
tell,,,

If you have info on it and tips and tricks please post 
them


				Thanks
					Dave Low
From: simonton@applelink.apple.com (Jackson)
Newsgroups: rec.games.pinball
Subject: Pinball Trader was (Re: Replay Maga)
Date: 8 Oct 92 23:10:30 GMT
Followup-To: rec.games.pinball
Organization: Apple Computer

In article <1992Oct6.142327.19170@athena.mit.edu>, sao@athena.mit.edu (Andy
Oakland) wrote:
> 
> 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.)

Oooopps!

I guess I should have mentioned this in my previous post today....

Pinball Trader   (IS publishing!)
PO BOX 141155
AUSTIN, TX 78714-1155

Phone: 512-345-5819 
as usual, it's a FAX machine except for Tuesday evenings from 6:30pm to
9:30pm CST.

Jack
From: jrt@gap.Eng.Sun.COM (Joel Tornatore)
Newsgroups: rec.games.pinball
Subject: Re: Black Rose commentary
Date: 8 Oct 1992 18:55:05 GMT
Organization: Sun Microsystems
Distribution: world
Reply-To: jrt@gap.Eng.Sun.COM
NNTP-Posting-Host: gap.eng.sun.com

In article 21511@leland.Stanford.EDU, trump@leland.Stanford.EDU (Michael Jason Lewis) writes:
>One other thing--has anyone else gotten the 3M "Ricochet Bonus"?  Is this,
>as I think, a bonus for hitting the torch, gunpowder, and cannonball targets
>on one shot?
>
>- Mike

Got it last night, at Tressider. Your are correct on the targets.

joel


Newsgroups: rec.games.pinball
From: jonke@kong.gsfc.nasa.gov (Stephen Jonke)
Subject: Re: Strange Pinball (was Re: HUGE pinball)
Organization: NASA GSFC
Date: Wed, 7 Oct 92 14:19:18 GMT

In article <SBB.92Oct6090525@panix.com>, sbb@panix.com (Steve Baumgarten) writes:
> 
> In article <1992Oct5.172321.5947@leland.Stanford.EDU> trump@leland.Stanford.EDU (Michael Jason Lewis) writes:
> 
>    (My friend many years back's father worked at Stern, and I got into
>    the factory with them once.  They also had a Berzerk in the
>    basement.
> 
> Stern made some great, great games, both video and pinball.  BERZERK
> remains one of my all-time favorites -- I'd love to play it again.
> 
> Who needs stereo sound, 32-bit graphics, real-time polygon shading,
> and digitized Ninjas when you can have running stick figures, a
> bouncing smiley face, and that famous cry: "Intruder Alert!  Intruder
> Alert!"  (Not to mention my favorite: "Chicken!  Fight like a robot!")
> 

More importantly, it wasn't a clone game and it was different every time
because it had randomness -- todays games are mostly pattern based such that
they are impossible at first, but with each play you remember what killed
you last.  Thus, regardless of how incompetent you are, you are guaranteed
to consistently get further and further into the game such that you feel like
you've accomplished something, even though you've really done very little.

That approach makes people happy and earns money.

Steve
From: kjohnson@csugrad.cs.vt.edu (Keefer)
Newsgroups: rec.games.pinball
Subject: Data East Tilt
Date: 10 Oct 92 19:12:39 GMT
Organization: Virginia Tech Computer Science Dept, Blacksburg, VA

Data East is just out of control on their tilt!

I was sitting there, playing the Simpsons (TAF was busy and HSII was out of
order and there's no gate on the Juggler on Hurricane (all the shots bounce
straight back), so give me a break, OK?!?), and I tried to death-save the ball
after it went down the right outlane (for a change), but it tilted.  But, it
also happened to be the 3rd ball (no extras), and it went straight to game
over.

Now, this wouldn't usually be a problem with me, because it didn't go through
the match sequence.  Like I would've matched anyway.  BUT, I also had a score
of 7.1 M which would've gotten me 3rd on the high-scores, but it didn't even
let me put my initials in!

Maybe Data East did this on purpose (it sounds like some screwed-up logic
they'd use), but I suspect it's a [major] bug (which also wouldn't surprise
me).

Any ideas/comments??

keith
-- 
|kjohnson@csugrad.cs.vt.edu|  / Amiga! |"'Relax,' said the nightman,          |
|.....Keith P. Johnson.....|\/ Not bad!| 'We are programmed to receive.       |
|.1711 Whipple Dr. Apt. 11.|           | You can check out any time you like, |
|...Blacksburg, VA 24060...|Pinball KEF| But you can never leave.'"  - Eagles |
Newsgroups: rec.games.pinball
From: trump@leland.Stanford.EDU (Michael Jason Lewis)
Subject: Re: Black Rose commentary
Organization: DSG, Stanford University, CA 94305, USA
Date: Thu, 8 Oct 92 00:59:48 GMT

One other thing--has anyone else gotten the 3M "Ricochet Bonus"?  Is this,
as I think, a bonus for hitting the torch, gunpowder, and cannonball targets
on one shot?

- Mike
From: sbb@panix.com (Steve Baumgarten)
Newsgroups: rec.games.pinball
Subject: Call for high scores
Date: 13 Oct 92 16:22:45 GMT
Article-I.D.: panix.SBB.92Oct13112245
Organization: PANIX Public Access Unix, NYC

Steve Epstein, owner of New York's best place for pinball, the
Broadway Arcade, is starting a newsletter/magazine devoted to pinball
league information, upcoming events, reviews, what have you.  The
first issue is due to be out in time for the Expo, and if you're there
you'll be able to pick up a copy.

He's interested in hearing from folks who've gotten high scores on any
of the current crop of games; people with the best scores (perhaps
from each region, I'm not sure) will get a mention in the upcoming
issue.

If you've been rolling up really high scores on a favorite machine of
yours, drop me a line and I'll forward your name, home town, favorite
place to play, and of course, the game and high score, to Steve.
He'll pick the names and include them in the upcoming first issue.

(And no, we don't have any way of validating the scores -- you guys
are on your honor here.  But here's a hint: no scores over 1 trillion
will be believed, unless they come from Lyman...)

Just to give you an idea of what the folks at Broadway have been
doing, here are some high scores direct from New York City:

	TAF        - 2 billion +
	FISH TALES - 650 million
	DR. WHO    - 1.5 billion
	BLACK ROSE - 2 billion +

If you've gotten a score in that range, send me the details (by email,
please), and I'll forward them on to Steve.

(BTW, although I have a review or two in the first issue, I won't have
any high scores -- too many really good players 'round these parts...)

--
    Steve Baumgarten       |  "New York... when civilization falls apart,
    PANIX, New York, NY    |   remember, we were way ahead of you."
                           |  
    Email: sbb@panix.com   |                            - David Letterman
From: pazar@hpnmdla.sr.hp.com (Steve Pazar)
Date: Thu, 15 Oct 1992 02:37:22 GMT
Subject: Re: Bugs Bunny
Organization: Hewlett-Packard, Santa Rosa, CA
Newsgroups: rec.games.pinball

Dave,
  This must be a new game, I can't find it in LURE OF THE SILVER BALL.
  I'd be interested in getting some details; who makes it, is it based
  on Bugs (the real one, or a cheap imitation), how is the play and 
  artwork. I've got a friend who wants a pin based on cartoon
  characters (not super heros).

***************************************************************************
*  STEVE PAZAR           DoD #702           Kawasaki KZ440A
*  E-mail:   pazar@hpnmdla.sr.hp.com
*  Ether:    WA4DUT/6
*  " Imagination is more important than knowledge "
***************************************************************************
From: kahlerm@sumax.seattleu.edu (Michael Kahler)
Newsgroups: rec.games.pinball
Subject: Multi-ball trick
Date: 16 Oct 92 22:41:23 GMT
Distribution: na
Organization: Seattle University, Seattle WA


Here's an old multi-ball trick good on most (older) williams and bally
games.  For those who don't wish to cheat, just cover your eyes.  But
then, who's making the rules? It's the machine, right?

As we know, these smart multiball machines will start 'looking' for a
ball if some switch/action does not place for several seconds (this
includes flippers).  This is  what happens when a ball gets stuck, and
if you touch absolutely nothing on the game for several seconds, the
machine will cycle through all the solenoids trying to dislodge the
ball.  (Any switch hit or flipper action will terminate this
procedure)
Now there's also that switch that sits under the ball when it's in the
plunger alley.  This lets the machine know the ball's on the
playfield, but not in action yet, therefore disabling the procedure
above.  If you have a ball locked (say the quick MB on funhouse) and
you push the plunger in enough to push the ball off the switch, the
machine will start looking.  It is smart enough to not kick the
solenoids which control locked balls for multiballs.  That is until
the third time around anyway.  Every williams I've done this on will kick the
locked ball out on the end of the third time through the solenoid
procedure (this can take up to about a minute).  But now you have MB
scoring in action with only one ball on the playfield, and an extra
ball in the alley.    
Of course, this all depends on if you can push the ball off the switch
in the alley to get the whole thing going.  It's not always possible,
but I don't think its something that checked for at the factory, so
about %50 of games I've seen allow it.    
You can tell if it'll work by pushing in the plunger, and if you hear
the 'ball shooting' sound, it works.  Remember when waiting for the
other ball to pop out, if you let off the plunger, thats a switch, and
it will abort the process.
I've seen this work on BK2K, Earthshaker, Whirlwind, Police Force, Funhouse,
Jokerz, and others.  The (older) Ballys are different: when you lock a ball,
you have to push the plunger in BEFORE the next ball enters the
alley.  Bally figures once the ball hits that alley switch, it ain't
going to sequence the solenoids, even if you push the ball off the
switch.  I guess thay caught on? :)

One problem: I havent seen this work on TAF yet, and most new
games don't have the plunger anymore!

Happy cheating!


//////////////////////////////////\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\
/ Mike Kahler                    /\ Well played thing,              \
/ Seattle University             /\   your'e really on the ball...  \
/ kahlerm@sumax.seattleu.edu     /\                                 \
//////////////////////////////////\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\
From: aodn307@bongo.cc.utexas.edu (Joshua Henry Geurink)
Newsgroups: rec.games.pinball
Subject: What makes a game...
Date: 9 Oct 92 03:06:28 GMT
Reply-To: aodn307@bongo.cc.utexas.edu (Joshua Henry Geurink)
Organization: The University of Texas at Austin, Austin TX
Originator: aodn307@bongo.cc.utexas.edu


	With all this talk about "solid state flippers" and the whatnot, I
just wished to toss in my $.02.  The true, deciding factor in whether a 
game is really enjoyable, really GOOD is not the flipper type, or how many
ways someone can earn multiball, but SOUND.  Drop me in an arcade filled to
capacity with T2 and TAF machines and I'll make a beeline for the Black
Knight 2000 machine in the back-left corner.  Sure, T2 and TAF have the 
fancy display boards, digitized voices, and obscenely high value targets, but
neither has a soundtrack comparable to BK2K.  I could just sit for hours
(and have -- while playing, mind you) listening to that game.
	In an age of technological gadetry acting as the basis for our
enjoyment, one just has to pull himself back a step and hear the music.
It plays for you and you alone.

		King Rat signing off.
Newsgroups: rec.games.pinball
Date: Wed, 14 Oct 1992 15:32:25 -0400 
From: Joelle Ann Mellon <jm7w+@andrew.cmu.edu>
Subject: Fish Tales Q's

CMU's gotten a Fish Tales, and after poking some bucks into it, I have
some questions.

1) I know it's not just me, because a friend of mine saw it happen once
too, and not just on this machine. On occasion, the game seems to not
award you your bonus! It'll flash it on the screen as normal, but when
the next ball starts, your score hasn't changed! I've noticed it at leat
four times, but because I wasn't actually watching for it, my reaction
has always been, "wait a minute....wasn't that the same score I started
with?"

2) How high does the monster fish bonus go?

3) After completeing the captive ball list (after instant multi-ball),
what exactly do you get on subsequent hits? It seems to be a
millions-plus sort of scoring, but the rules sheet says that the special
is supposed to light, and I have yet to do that.

4) Is it just me, or is this game just too damn hard? I enjoy a
challenge, but this game is downright frustrating. The shots aren't
really harder than any other Bally/Williams game, but ball control is
insanely hard, considering the stiffness of the flippers (one reason I
miss HOOK), the very large space between the flippers, and the
hypersensitivity of the pop bumpers.

I still like the game though. Now if I can just find a Black Rose....(I
know half you guys can't stand it, but I'd like to make my own opinion,
thank you. :-) )

-Robert Chesnavich
From: mcsbc3ktp@dct.ac.uk (Kirk Potter)
Newsgroups: rec.games.pinball
Subject: TAF tilting/3 way combo?
Date: 13 Oct 92 15:20:38 GMT
Organization: Dundee Institute of Technology

-- 
Is it true to say that it is easier to title Highway 2 than TAF...??

TAF in our local arcade can be shaken around stupid and I haven't had a tilt

yet...!!

Also I have had the message "3 way combo" a couple of times but never really

payed attention to what I actually did with the ball.....can anyone shed some

light????

Thanx..

#############################################################################
# Kirk P at D.I.T. (Dundee Institute of Technology, Dundee, Scotland, U.K.) #
#                                                                           #
# Janet    : mcsbc3ktp@uk.ac.dct                                            #
# Internet : mcsbc3ktp%dct.ac.uk@nsfnet-relay.ac.uk                         #
#                                                                           #
#############################################################################
Newsgroups: rec.games.pinball
From: gleeson@mundil.cs.mu.OZ.AU (Red Mountain)
Subject: Re: Hook - got a question
Organization: Computer Science, University of Melbourne, Australia
Date: Tue, 13 Oct 1992 02:54:25 GMT

In <1992Oct10.221516.43745@kuhub.cc.ukans.edu> 2ftuclay@kuhub.cc.ukans.edu writes:

>On Hook, I occasionly get the "Captain's Extra Special" or something like
>that.  What I still haven't figured out is what triggers it, and more
>important what ramp/target do I shoot to "get it?"

It is lit on the left 4-target bank at random. Hitting one target will give
the lit award (extra ball, 10 mil, special).

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: ung@felix.filenet.com (Bill Ung)
Newsgroups: rec.games.pinball
Subject: Re: What makes a game...
Date: 14 Oct 92 19:13:15 GMT
Article-I.D.: fritz.20473
Reply-To: ung@fritz.filenet.com (Bill Ung)
Organization: FileNet Corp., Costa Mesa, CA

In article <7151@transfer.stratus.com> overturf@bigbootay.sw.stratus.com (Dallas Overturf) writes:
|In article <81338@ut-emx.uucp> aodn307@bongo.cc.utexas.edu (Joshua Henry Geurink) writes:
||
||	With all this talk about "solid state flippers" and the whatnot, I
||just wished to toss in my $.02.  The true, deciding factor in whether a 
||game is really enjoyable, really GOOD is not the flipper type, or how many
||ways someone can earn multiball, but SOUND.  Drop me in an arcade filled to
||capacity with T2 and TAF machines and I'll make a beeline for the Black
||Knight 2000 machine in the back-left corner.  Sure, T2 and TAF have the 
||fancy display boards, digitized voices, and obscenely high value targets, but
||neither has a soundtrack comparable to BK2K.  I could just sit for hours
||(and have -- while playing, mind you) listening to that game.
||	In an age of technological gadetry acting as the basis for our
||enjoyment, one just has to pull himself back a step and hear the music.
||It plays for you and you alone.
||
||		King Rat signing off.
|
|AAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHGGGGGGGGGGGG!!!!!!!!
|
|You really like the sound that game makes ????????????
|
|Unbelievable!
|
|I thought it was the noisiest game (and awfull noise at that)
|that I have ever played!

I take it you never played THE SIMPSONS?  "Ow, quit it!  Ow, quit it!"
"Come again" - times 13.

|TAF on the other hand has great sound!  Great voice, Great just about
|anything else!

"SHOWTIME!"

|		Regards,	Dallas...

Bill Ung
  ung@filenet.com