Pinball Wizards (2013)

http://the-magazine.org/14/pinball-wizards

by Tomte • 10 years ago

30 11 10 years ago

mrob• 10 years ago

I've played a lot of pinball and there are a lot of things I like about it. It has the best graphics: ultra high resolution, high FOV, high dynamic range, ultra high motion quality, true 3D (not just stereoscopic). It has great sound with the most accurate positional audio possible. It has detailed force feedback and motion control (nudging). Control latency is very low. It has an extremely detailed physics engine (real physics). Modern machines have deep and interesting rule sets.

But there's one huge problem: pinball actively encourages boring play. In almost all circumstances the correct play is slow and cautious. There's rarely any time limit so you want to trap the ball whenever possible and make every shot from a complete stop. Even with timed modes you don't want to rush because the risk of losing the ball is too great. Multiball is best played as a succession of single balls. I had more fun as a beginner because I was more often forced to react to unexpected events.

This could be solved by adding a sensor and solenoid at the base of each flipper to kick the ball out if it detects you holding it (there are other uses for holding the flippers up, eg. drop catches, so just preventing that in software would reduce the skill ceiling). The flipper size could be increased to compensate for the increase in difficulty. I think this would be good for the game in the long run, but it will never be accepted because it would hurt the rankings of the best players, and their support is essential for the industry's continued survival.

nthitz2• 10 years ago

The latest (unreleased) game from Jersey Jack called Dialed In has a feature that sort of discourages this. "Bullets" are fired at your flippers and if they reach the flipper it's temporarily disabled. You can see it in the following YT https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=urivsfl9GVM sorry I don't have a direct time code.

thefalcon2• 10 years ago

I love your perspective on pinball, and also wholly agree with your one criticism. I still prefer to play to have fun and just go full chaos mode in multi-ball, even though I've gotten better at playing the safe-but-boring route.

centizen• 10 years ago

I'm a little to young to have really been coherent during the Golden Age of pinball, but I have a huge affinity for it and find restoring old pin's to be one of the most satisfying weekend projects. I just wish the market wasn't as inflated as it currently is, nowadays most desirable machines cost more than the truck it takes to move it!

iends• 10 years ago

The cost is insane, I randomly looked up the price to buy one locally and they run $3k to $8k.

kaiserama• 10 years ago

I just finished doing a restoration on a Bally Party Zone pin, down to rebuilding ramps with a DIY vacuum form machine. These things went for a couple of hundred dollars 5-10 years ago. Now you're lucky to find a relatively ho-hum pin for under $1200 regardless of condition. Additionally they are notoriously difficult to transport safely and affordably, so you may find one you really want at a good price, but good luck since it's 1500 miles away from you.

Anyway, just wanted to chime in since I don't have a lot of pinhead friend who would appreciate the months of work I put into restoring this pin: home made ramps, all new solenoids, complete tear down, all LEDs, new posts, new bumper rubbers, cleaned the playfield. Now I have electronic gremlins to sort out - stupid horizontal DMD issues.

ashark• 10 years ago

The price of Addams Family appears to be inflating such that it's always at the price point I'd be willing to pay 5-10 years from now, for the current value of "now". Around 2000 I though for sure I'd buy it by 2010. Now I doubt I'll ever own one, if this keeps up.

cpeterso• 10 years ago

If you live in the Bay Area, check out the Pacific Pinball Museum (aka Lucky Ju Ju) in Alameda. Flat admission fee and all pinball games are free play.

http://pacificpinball.org/

nthitz2• 10 years ago

There is also a fun selfie league in Oakland you can play in if you are in the area. http://oaklandpinballwarriors.com/ All the players are super friendly and encouraging to newbies. I've recently gotten into it and while I'm not very good, pinball does something for me that I don't find in video games anymore. Looks like the Eric mentioned in the article was the winner of last months tournament :)

abrkn• 10 years ago

Also check out Mission Pinball Group[1] if you live in San Francisco

[1] https://www.facebook.com/groups/814768791983231/

thefalcon2• 10 years ago

And no visit to Las Vegas is complete without a stop at the Pinball Hall of Fame - http://pinballmuseum.org/

I happened to visit as they finished setting up their Tron LE back when that came out, and immediately fell in love. That machine -- especially the LE edition with the light-up "lightcycle" ramps, and the Daft Punk at full volume -- is my holy grail of material possessions. I'll know I've made it when I can buy one of my own.

Pinball Wizards (2013)

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