High score competition #144: Pinball Action

[popsicle]

CURRENT STANDINGS

JDFan            1,563,610
popsicle         1,272,060
jasonbar          1,241,510
comtek            1,127,130
kixfan                493,140
bip10p               409,110
thomas_surles    308,280
PBJ                    187,530
spoot                 122,300

Previous winners:

#001 thru #099 - For list of winners for those competitions  please refer to this link
#100: Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom: Winner - Gray_Area, Second - Tafoid
#101: Marvin's Maze: Winner - Kixfan, Second - Hammerfist
#102: Rally-X:  Winner - Tafoid, Second  djm858
#103: Lock 'N Chase:  Winner - Kixfan, Second - Jasonbar
#104: Space Fury: Winner - Gray_Area, Second - kixfan
#105: Pig Out: Winner - Kixfan, Second - Gray_Area
#106: Carnival: Winner - rick6668, Second - Kixfan
#107: Rastan: Winner - popsicle, Second - rick6668
#108: Peguin-Kun Wars Winner-dancawar, Second - Popsicle
#109: Blood Bros.* Winner - harveybirdman, Second - Jasonbar *scores reflect use of game features considered cheats
#110: Rabbit Punch: Winner - jasonbar, Second - mimic
#111: Alien Syndrome: Winner - mimic, Second Comtek
#112: Block Hole: Winner - Comtek, Second - idsane
#113: Pepper II: Winner - Comtek, Second - Kixfan
#114: Break Thru: Winner - jasonbar, Second - mimic
#115: Ninja Baseball Bat Man: Winner - mimic, Second - Tafoid
#116: Shao-lin's Road: Winner - mimic, Second - Kixfan
#117: Scramble: Winner - Kixfan, Second - jasonbar
#118: Lost Tomb: Winner: Jasonbar, Second: mimic
#119: Green Beret: Winner: LeapinLew, Second: popsicle
#120: Lady Killer: Winner: Comtek Second: Mimic
#121: Qix: Winner: Comtek Second: sorhp
#122: Halley's Comet: Winner: Jasonbar Second: Mimic
#123: Cyber-Lip: Winner: Jasonbar Second: epetti
#124: Lode Runner: Winner: JDFan Second: kixfan
#125: Snow Bros. - Nick & Tom: Winner: Comtek Second: JDFan
#126: Bosconian: Winner: Cynicaster Second: kixfan
#127: Eggs: Winner: Cynicaster Second: kixfan
#128: Eyes: Winner: kixfan Second: Comtek
#129: Galaga '88: Winner: jasonbar, Second: opt2not
#130: Final Fight: Winner: opt2not, Second: Comtek
#131: Hammerin' Harry: Winner: lettuce, Second: kixfan
#132: Battle Circuit: Winner: lettuce, Second: jasonbar
#133: Giga Wing: Winner: edekoning, Second: spoot
#134: Osman: Winner: edekoning, Second: lettuce
#135: Surprise Attack: Winner: Comtek, Second: edekoning
#136: Anteater: Winner: Kixfan, Second: Comtek
#137: Jr. Pac man: Winner: Kixfan, Second: Popsicle
#138: Chelnov: Winner: Popsicle: Second: Comtek
#139: Berzerk: Winner: Popsicle: Second: Kixfan
#140: Mystic Marathon: Winner: Popsicle: Second: JDFan
#141: Moon Cresta: Winner: Kixfan: Second: Jasonbar
#142: Star Force: Winner: big10p: Second: Jasonbar
#143: Armored Car:  Winner: Popsicle:  Second: Kixfan


Wikipedia: Pinball Action
KLOV: pinball action

--------------------------------------------
Game Name: Pinball Action
  ROM Name: pbaction (set 1)
      Settings: Default (3 balls, 70k, 200k extra ball)

Controls: left flipper, right flipper, plunger, nudge

Description: It's pinball, dummy. 

Last day: Friday, July 18th 2014 midnight Pacific
--------------------------------------------

General Rules:
- One Credit, No Continues.
- Highest score wins.
- No savestates, savestate practices, etc. during the round.
- MAME INP recordings are encouraged but optional.
- A screenshot is required to enter a score (press F12 to save screenshot showing your final score) or take a photo of the game screen.
- If you're a MARP competitor on this title, keep in mind this is just a friendly competition among forum members, so maybe you shouldn't enter. However, if you're a forum member and this is a game you're good at and nobody knows about it, this is your time to shine!
- Even if you don't have a competitive score or if you don't *think* that you have a competitive score, please post it anyway to keep the thread fun & to give everybody a good sense of score ranges.
- Please make sure your scores are from games that take place during the competition period (no posting your best score from last year, etc.).
- Use of autofire or other non-standard hacks within MAME or your PC's OS are not allowed.  No program or other person or entity of any sort may manipulate your controls during your game.  Coaching & back-seat driving is fine as long as the party doesn't directly influence the game or controls.
- If you can beat any of the high scores from the previous competitions, you can submit your score to the BYOAC High Game Scoreboard.



- Quest for the Bronze Joystick! The most successful competitor of each calendar year will possess & display the BYOAC Bronze Joystick Trophy. See this thread for details:The BYOAC Bronze Joystick.
Happy Gaming!

Scoring Updates:

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[popsicle]

Let's get things started.

434,110

[pbj]

187,530

Interesting game, and it's on the 60 in 1s.  Never really played this one as there was always a real pinball machine around.  Never encountered that dedicated cab, either.

[JDFan]

For those that have windows running on their machines --- If you find like I did that the game keeps going to desktop (on win 7 64 bit) and asking if you want to turn on sticky keys -- It is because of the default setting in windows that if you press shift 5 times (which is this games bump key) it will turn it on or prompt you depending on the settings you have setup.

To fix it go into the control panel - Ease of Access Center - Set up sticky keys - and uncheck the turn on sticky keys when shift is pressed 5 times.

[spoot]

122,300

[thomas_surles]

140, 520

[thomas_surles]

Let's get things started.

434,110

Really?  You couldn't wait a week before dangling this thing in my face?

[JDFan]

Let's get things started.

434,110

Really?  You couldn't wait a week before dangling this thing in my face?

Guess he figured it wouldn't last long and wanted 1st at least for awhile 

Took a few games to get the hang of but finally put together a full game -- 571,620

[thomas_surles]

308,280
Im getting there.

[thomas_surles]

Right now I see

JDfan - 895670
Popsicle - 527490
Kixfan - 493140
Thomas_surles - 308280
Jasonbar - 292010
Pbj - 187530
Spoot - 122300

[popsicle]

A little better (527,490) but not good enough yet.

I like the colors and sound effects in this game, and the variety of the tables.  It's relaxing to me.

[thomas_surles]

A little better (527,490) but not good enough yet.

I like the colors and sound effects in this game, and the variety of the tables.  It's relaxing to me.

Yeah the music is good. I do better on the main table , the bowling one (green) feels safest to me, the joker (blue) always screws me over and throws the ball to behind the right flipper before I can even get gontrol of the ball, the fire one (red) is just too fast and scary.

[pbj]

No, I have not spent the last solid hour playing this game over and over and been unable to improve the score I got on my second game.

Nope.

[thomas_surles]

Nothing pisses me off more than going into a new room and the ball being thrown in the hole to the right without even getting control of yhe ball.

[JDFan]

Was able to improve a bit -- 789,200

Found that getting extra balls can really help (ie. on the fire table each time you line up the slot machine it lights the extra ball target. Was up to 7 balls @300K which really helped get the high score !

[kixfan]

493,140

Few thoughts:

Apparently there is no penalty for over using nudge.
At some point the bumpers are worth 1000 and certain screens are advantageous to just shoot the ball at the bumpers.
Trying to back hand any shots seem drain right down the middle, for me forehand shots only.

[jasonbar]

Thanks for picking a video pinball game, pops. I was going to do that...if I ever won a competition again...if...I'm not scared of ol' pbj Peanut Butter & Jelly's threats...

Played twice. Like it. Very relaxing, soothing, slow-paced--I can see some long long games, especially with an extra ball every 100k(?).

292,010, as usual, with 1-year-old-on-the-lap-button-mashing interference.

Thanks,
-Jason

[JDFan]

Thanks for picking a video pinball game, pops. I was going to do that...if I ever won a competition again...if...I'm not scared of ol' pbj Peanut Butter & Jelly's threats...

Played twice. Like it. Very relaxing, soothing, slow-paced--I can see some long long games, especially with an extra ball every 100k(?).

292,010, as usual, with 1-year-old-on-the-lap-button-mashing interference.

Thanks,
-Jason

nope the extra balls are 70K and 200K then you have to get the bonus ones lit during game play to earn more of them ( getting to all tables on 1 ball - 3 strikes on the bowling pin set - lighting the proper "Extra" on the spinner in the main game and lighting the last of the circle - getting matching symbols on the fire table ) -- So there are many ways to get them but all take awhile.

I'm getting better at lighting the extra balls so score is improving as it counteracts the darn right side drain 

Still can't make 1,000,000 but getting closer -- 895,670 

[popsicle]

nope the extra balls are 70K and 200K then you have to get the bonus ones lit during game play to earn more of them ( getting to all tables on 1 ball - 3 strikes on the bowling pin set - lighting the proper "Extra" on the spinner in the main game and lighting the last of the circle - getting matching symbols on the fire table ) -- So there are many ways to get them but all take awhile.

Is that what the R G B in the lower right corner indicate? That you've gone to those tables on that particular ball and extra ball if you get them all lit?

[JDFan]

nope the extra balls are 70K and 200K then you have to get the bonus ones lit during game play to earn more of them ( getting to all tables on 1 ball - 3 strikes on the bowling pin set - lighting the proper "Extra" on the spinner in the main game and lighting the last of the circle - getting matching symbols on the fire table ) -- So there are many ways to get them but all take awhile.

Is that what the R G B in the lower right corner indicate? That you've gone to those tables on that particular ball and extra ball if you get them all lit?

Not positive but I think so --- they seem to have 3 states - off - (circled means visited) - and (Lit means completed - ie. 3 strikes on the bowling, matching symbols on the fire,straight flush hand on the other is completed)

and according to the Bezel instruction card warping to all 3 gives an extra ball

[popsicle]

'One more game before bed' yields my best score ever - 1,084,900.

I had a 4x multiplier and a long run on both the bowling and poker table with one ball which got me to 600k and a couple of extra balls.  One good streak can make all the difference 

[JDFan]

'One more game before bed' yields my best score ever - 1,084,900.

I had a 4x multiplier and a long run on both the bowling and poker table with one ball which got me to 600k and a couple of extra balls.  One good streak can make all the difference 

  Thought it would take a bit longer for someone to catch me ! - but yeah one good streak can definitely add up quickly.

[popsicle]

Thanks for picking a video pinball game, pops. I was going to do that...if I ever won a competition again...if...I'm not scared of ol' pbj Peanut Butter & Jelly's threats...

Played twice. Like it. Very relaxing, soothing, slow-paced--I can see some long long games, especially with an extra ball every 100k(?).

292,010, as usual, with 1-year-old-on-the-lap-button-mashing interference.

Thanks,
-Jason

Yay!   

[Comtek]

397080

[JDFan]

Couple more improvements but still can't get past the 1M mark -- 944,590 and 989,940

A couple more observations --

1 -- try to finish one of the 3 tables early ( 3 strikes, matching symbols, royal straight ) - as once one table is        completed it lights the 1,000 point bumper on that table and the main table - which helps increase score.

2 -- Each trip to all 3 tables gives an extra ball (doesn't have to be on the same ball as previously thought)

3 -- completing A B C targets on all but main table - opens right side drain protection as well as increasing multiplier making it easier to last awhile.

[Comtek]

I guess one good run is all that is needed I had a 40 something advance and a 4x multiplier and managed to get the collect bonus a few times on the main screen
911980

[popsicle]

Wow, these scores went up fast.  I guess I'm not safe after all  '

Good observations JD - I wasn't sure what was causing the bumpers to go to 1,000.  Have you seen the random icons that pop up in the middle of the table?  If you hit them they are worth big points but they disappear fast.  I saw a pine cone looking thing and another that spelled out something in Japanese.  Not sure what causes this.  I've also got the pole blocker thing in between the flippers pop up sometimes, but not sure how.

[JDFan]

Wow, these scores went up fast.  I guess I'm not safe after all  '

Good observations JD - I wasn't sure what was causing the bumpers to go to 1,000.  Have you seen the random icons that pop up in the middle of the table?  If you hit them they are worth big points but they disappear fast.  I saw a pine cone looking thing and another that spelled out something in Japanese.  Not sure what causes this.  I've also got the pole blocker thing in between the flippers pop up sometimes, but not sure how.

The popup pole blocker thingie is raised by completing the drop targets a second time on the main screen and a third time also opens the out lane for that table (can be reopened after use by completing ABC targets on that game screen)

And not sure what makes those pine cone looking things etc. pop up but I think they are worth 10K at first then 5K then 1K as the timer on them runs down (not sure what the japanese characters say or do but have seen them  )


EDIT : Went back and tried one more game and was able to put together a few good balls -- guess it is time for Popsicle to get back to playing. (unfortunately still a lot of time left for improving)

  New High Score -- 1,532,640 !!
 

[big10p]

The upside of this choice: I finally get to make use of the flipper buttons on the sides of my CP. 

The downside: I suck at pinball!!! 

111,480

[Comtek]

1127130

[jasonbar]

I got this many: 1,241,510. Short on time--played it only 3 times so far.

Got G & B but couldn't get R...so hard to try to shoot the left outlane!!!

Thanks,
-Jason

[JDFan]

6 days left and here's a scoring update (since Popsicle hasn't updated it yet !)

JDFan              1,532,640 jasonbar          1,241,510 comtek            1,127,130 Popsicle           1,084,900 kixfan                493,140 thomas_surles    308,280 PBJ                    187,530 spoot                 122,300 big10p               111,480

[big10p]

I'm last?! Oh, geez. I never could figure out how to play pinball. 

[JDFan]

I'm last?! Oh, geez. I never could figure out how to play pinball. 

Still plenty of time to improve -- figure my first several games were around the 100K mark but once you figure out some of the bonuses he scores get up there quickly

[JDFan]

Improved my high score a bit more ( a whopping 30,970 point increase ) -- 1,563,610

[big10p]

Think this game would benefit from flipper sounds. Seems weird having silent flippers.

409,110

[JDFan]

Looks like we are into the final day -- still plenty of time to get those final high scores in. I'm actually surprised no one has come in and past my score yet (or are they just waiting for the final hours to post it ??) 

[spoot]

Oh noes!  PBJ is beating me.   

[popsicle]

1,272,060

[JDFan]

CURRENT STANDINGS
Final Standings :

JDFan            1,563,610
popsicle         1,272,060
jasonbar          1,241,510
comtek            1,127,130
kixfan                493,140
bip10p               409,110
thomas_surles    308,280
PBJ                    187,530
spoot                 122,300


So looks like no one posted scores in at the last hours to knock off my score so went ahead and picked the next game (wanted to get it started early as many of you might have more free time on the weekends. New selection located HERE ( http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php/topic,140238.0.html )

Figured it was time for an old maze type game that I have not played in years that I came across when searching for a pick  ( MR. TNT ) where you have to balance avoiding the enemies while clearing items with gathering points for clearing parts of the maze. It is an easy game to get the basics while still providing some challenge when trying to improve the scoring - so should be interesting to see how things go.