Work Pin Party Results.... 6 people played pinball for the first time ever..... Tron LE was a bust

[Max Badazz]

So I had my once every four months work pinball party yesterday. We
had 14 people over five hours playing the heck out of the games. What
was fun was watching people play pinball for the first time. Asking
how to play, how to launch the ball, how to flip, where to put the
tokens, etc. With so few pinball machines in the wild, and them
coming from other parts of the world where there's even less, it was a
treat to see how much fun they all had playing (and the awesome
international food pot luck that we had too) :)

Anyways for those who like stats, here's the totals. Korn will be
upset to again see that RBION was not a dud, however Tron LE was :(

SF Rush 2049 SE (2 linked): 44
Avatar : 37
Ironman : 32
Twister: 31
RFM: 26
LOTR: 20
RBION: 18
POTC: 17
IJ (Williams): 16
Family Guy: 16
Jackbot: 15
WCS 94: 14 (shut down half way through)
Spiderman: 14
Flintstones: 13
Mon Night Football: 11
Tron LE: 10 (and I played half of those)

Chris (in NH)
http://usergallery.myhomegameroom.com/gallery/maxbadazz

[pmk]

With non pinball players playing one must ask are they picking games
by theme and not how games play I do not think a deep rule set is what
they care about.

[TheKorn]

MaxBadazz;1923225 Wrote:
> Anyways for those who like stats, here's the totals. Korn will be upset
> to again see that RBION was not a dud, however Tron LE was :(

Nahhhhh. If anything, your numbers show that good taste is learned, and
they *clearly* haven't had enough learning time! :) :) :)

I'm actually more interested in "game play minutes" than number of games
played. For example LOTR can have very long games that tend to hold
down the number of games played. Unfortunately not all machines keep
that audit (I don't think your MNF has it, for example).


--
TheKorn
This USENET post sent from http://rgparchive.com

[Max Badazz]

> With non pinball players playing one must ask are they picking games
> by theme and not how games play I do not think a deep rule set is what
> they care about.

The new players were probably by theme. They didn't even know there
were progressive rules and multiball. The others have been playing a
while, and do like modes and variety (hence the love for RFM). Though
being software company employees, I would have thought Tron LE would
be not only a good theme, but its eye candy.

[Max Badazz]

> I'm actually more interested in "game play minutes" than number of games
> played.  For example LOTR can have very long games that tend to hold
> down the number of games played.  Unfortunately not all machines keep
> that audit (I don't think your MNF has it, for example).

I used to grab that as well. I can go down and do that later (I'd be
curious too). I think MNF does have game time average if I remember
correctly.

[Joe Jet]

On Apr 15, 9:45 am, Max Badazz <max_bad...@hotmail.com> wrote:

You really need to sell me TronLE so you can get a better game in that
lineup!

[yancy]

TheKorn;1923252 Wrote:
> I'm actually more interested in "game play minutes" than number of games
> played. For example LOTR can have very long games that tend to hold
> down the number of games played.

Since he played half of the 10 games on Tron, the playtime for noobs on
5 games would be... about 5 minutes.


--
yancy

[Rare Hero]

Well there's the proof folks! Tron's gonna take a nosedive...but
Avatar - 10k game by the end of the year, folks!!! ;)

Greg

[Furious RON]

<<[software company employees] Asking...how to launch the ball, how to
flip, where to put the tokens...>>

Remind me not to buy any software products from these super-bright
employees.


--
Furious RON

[shlockdoc]

That is funny, sorry Chris. :-)

Greg - wait, there is a collect call from your TF LE, do you accept
the charges 8)

MK

[Pin Del]

Well if you ask me,, That was a hell of a line-up to take to
work ! .But it is good seeing Chris share his games !

Pin-Del,
cargpb28

[Dan Q very much]

On Apr 15, 8:45 am, Max Badazz <max_bad...@hotmail.com> wrote:
>
> Anyways for those who like stats, here's the totals.  Korn will be
> upset to again see that RBION was not a dud, however Tron LE was :(

> Tron LE: 10  (and I played half of those)

My theory is that Tron LE is so freakin' awesome looking that these
beginners were uncomfortable playing it, i.e. "We're not worthy!"

[Max Badazz]

> Remind me not to buy any software products from these super-bright
> employees.

LOL, they are good at what they do...just not arcade game savy :)

[Max Badazz]

> Avatar - 10k game by the end of the year, folks!!!  ;)

YAY! I like Avatar :)

[nwojedi]

TheKorn;1923252 Wrote:
> Nahhhhh. If anything, your numbers show that good taste is learned, and
> they *clearly* haven't had enough learning time! :) :) :)
>
> I'm actually more interested in "game play minutes" than number of games
> played. For example LOTR can have very long games that tend to hold
> down the number of games played. Unfortunately not all machines keep
> that audit (I don't think your MNF has it, for example).

I doubt that. IJ was way down the list, so maybe learning comes natural
for some. Same with SM and Flintstones.


--
nwojedi

* C a p t a i n N e o *
Pinball Playfield restoration service at:
_www.Captainneo.com (\"http://www.captainneo.com\")__:D

[Rare Hero]

On Apr 17, 7:22 pm, Max Badazz <max_bad...@hotmail.com> wrote:
> YAY!  I like Avatar :)

I'm still pushing Stern for another update...heheh

Greg

[mr tobias]

My experience with Tron LE on location is that starts slowly,
initially attracting people with its looks only to put them off with
its short ball times. But then it gradually grows on them and gets
played more and more as time goes on.

So I'm not at all surprised by your results.

[Max Badazz]

> I'm still pushing Stern for another update...heheh

I would welcome that. My only complaints are:

- no animations during banshi mode. Just some words and the countdown
timer
- lower the difficulty level to get the wizard mode. There's no way I
can light all modes in one ball or complete them all with three
balls. Maybe if the modes were easier, I could, but I am not good
enough yet after over 500 games :)

Otherwise the game is great. I've toyed with the idea of selling it/
trading to get the LE but I've fined tuned mine exactly the way I like
it so its hard to part with.

[Rare Hero]

On Apr 18, 5:32 am, Max Badazz <max_bad...@hotmail.com> wrote:
> - no animations during banshi mode.  Just some words and the countdown
> timer

Do you have the lastest code? Or maybe it's different on the LE -
every time you make a shot - a nicely animated Banshee flies across
the DMD. It's not movie footage, but it's still what I'd call
'animation'

> - lower the difficulty level to get the wizard mode.  There's no way I
> can light all modes in one ball or complete them all with three
> balls.  Maybe if the modes were easier, I could, but I am not good
> enough yet after over 500 games :)

Nah, the game is VERY fair and challenging. The modes all save
progress so you can start again where you left off. You can stack
EVERYTHING. Watch Eywa - the captive ball will always add time to
your modes...this is the key to finishing some of the more difficult
ones like Bomber Battle. Take advantage of "The Bond" inlanes -
always go for the hurry up that they start - this is another way to
collect characters for Na'vi Multiball. Remember - you don't have to
finish all the mdoes in one ball ...if you complete a mode, the insert
flashes and will hold for the whole game. The only one I haven't
completed is Na'vi Multiball...it is very hard...but - if you complete
everyhting else and then simply play Na'vi Multiball - you're all set
up for Final Battle!

The only code updates I want are minimal, and one is exclusive to the
LE.

1.) Light Unobtanium insert should be lit until you shoot the target
twice (lighting the two Unobtanium inserts in the outlanes).
Currently it's never lit except for the Final Battle jackpot.

2.) On the LE verison, the AMP suit has foot coils that were supposed
to "stomp" or "march" ...all they do is shake when you hit him - which
the Pro does using the motor attached to its back. All the LE needs
is for those coils to fire in a repeating sequence during AMP
battle ...left....right...left...right...so the suit looks animated
during the mode. A corresponding sound effect would be nice too...but
even just the movement would suffice and correct a broken promise with
the LE.

> Otherwise the game is great.  I've toyed with the idea of selling it/
> trading to get the LE but I've fined tuned mine exactly the way I like
> it so its hard to part with.

Did you put in stronger flipper coils like I've recommended in the
past? This really improves the games timing, flow, and speed.

Greg

[Max Badazz]

> Did you put in stronger flipper coils like I've recommended in the
> past?  This really improves the games timing, flow, and speed.

No, I keep forgetting to add them when I place an order. Its the only
Stern I have with weaker than normal flippers. So far I have:

added the banshi over the ramp (left side so his tail fits), added the
ramp topper that Stern made me when I had airball issues the first day
(thanks to john B for that), added a Jake avatar figure with those dog-
like animals from the night scene on the left above the NAVI targets
(figured if he was in the "coffin", it makes more sense to have him
out and about in his avatar), added the usual standard stuff like
shaker motor, blue neon under the cab, blue coin slot inserts, full
LED lights (making it look like the night scene) and the playfield
rails to replace the nubby sticks. Added a pair of spotlights on the
playfield...one to shine on the AMP suit, the other to shine on the
dogs and jake (made that a super bright purple to give that night
scene feel to the playfield). Drilled holes in the coffin to allow
bright blue LEDs to shine through giving it a glowing look. Installed
the SDTM fix and some blue legs (from Roadshow).

I would love to have the Navi-ball that the LE has, but I never
bothered upgrading when I first had the chance to switch games. This
machine was in a Pingame Journal article that I wrote, so its "famous"
now :)

[Max Badazz]

> You really need to sell me TronLE so you can get a better game in that

> lineup!-

With the prices that they are going for, its tempting to sell it, grab
a Pro, then use the rest for another game like Facie-DC :)