But because players aren't always looking at the screen, which displays their status in the game, the pinball designer must create redundancy in the system. There must be several ways to let players know how they are doing and to reward good play. This is typically done with lights and sound. Unlike the early gambling games that motivated players with a possible cash reward at the end, players now play for fun. We have to entertain and motivate the player by making the games flashier, with more tricks and toys.
Toys are the things in the game that do different things to the ball, such as grabbing it.
The pinball industry, although no longer in decline, is in a period of flat growth. People have become very fussy, but Koziarz is optimistic. When the economy has been in the doldrums, people have played more pinball. It's very cyclical. It takes a second to learn and a lifetime to master.