Tomb Raider Pinball

[Lyn]

Just a notion of curiosity,l wonder if they`ll ever release a Pinball machine based on Tomb Raider?As a Pinny fan l think it would be great.After all,Indiana Jones was one of the best machines ever made,and if they can make one based on that Idiot Austin Powers,l see no excuse.Only problem is,Stern is just about the only Pinball maker still going since Williams shut it`s doors....

[tlr online]

good idea, I'd certainly like to see one. whats your favourite machine and where do you go to play them ?

[Lyn]

Well,l`d have to say for sheer depth of play and excitement Indiana Jones The Pinball Adventure,followed by Star Trek The Next Generation.Yes,l`m a Trekkie,too.Because l discovered these wonderful machines late in life past 40{deprived childhood obviously}l fell in love hard.I bought one,was lucky enough to get a Star Trek 25th Anniversary,but as with all good collections,one is not enough.Now l own 8.After the 3rd machine hubby stamped his foot and gave me an ultermatim.Him or Them.Am now happily divorced with my machines.He never could understand!So l play in my own parlour.Too old to go down the arcades with the kids,and far too noisy!If your`e interested,here are the others:
Data East:Star Wars
Williams:Indiana Jones
Hankin:Empire Strikes Back{Australian Machine}
Williams:Star Trek Next Generation
Bally:Star Trek
Williams:Scared Stiff
Bally:Creature From The Black Lagoon

[tlr online]

Do you travel to coastal-town fairs and play the pinball machines there ? there is a site I'll try and find for you which lists all the nostalgic pinball machines across the U.S. with their location.

[Lyn]

Out here in Australia there are very limited recources.That`s why Serious players end up buying their own.Even the ones you manage to find on site somewhere are so tired,badly up-kept and basically broken down you cannot get a respectable game out of them.Most of the good machines have already disappeared into the private sector,and it will only become more of a collectors field down the track.Eidos should definitely look into a Pinball,based on the series,l think.They`ve
got a huge captive audience,like Star Trek.

[tlr online]

since so many of the scores can be very high on Pinball, how do you measure how good you are ? if it's by time, what's the longest game you've had ? (I assume one game is three balls...?)

[Lyn]

Hmmm...I think half the time it`s not how good you are,but how good the Machine is to you on the day.Some days particular machines DON`T want to be used,and no matter what you do,the ball will go straight down the middle and lost.Have`nt you ever noticed that?The longest game l`ve had was on Indiana.Got all 3 jackpots,the 3 Super jackpots{with people cheering and fireworks going off in the soundtrack}By this time the adrenalin is pumping,then l got through all the 12 challenges as well and managed God mode.Got a high score that time,the highest on my machine.Think the game lasted 30-40 minutes.
In the 20 seconds you get where you cannot lose the balls{all 6 come into play}the soundtrack goes crazy and makes it all the more exciting,it really is extreme.On Star Trek:TNG when you get through all 7 challenges you go to the Final Frontier,all 3 balls come into play,depending on Dilithium Crystals etc. you get a higher score for every target you hit while the balls are kept in play{no God Mode}But you can cheat with this one.If you don`t care about getting a score saved you can buy up to 3 extra balls to keep going.The older machines have 5 balls,and sometimes you need them.The old Bally Star Trek,also far simpler,is a Hard and Tricky machine,even the old Hankin Empire Strikes Back can fool you because the flippers have a softer punch than the new machines,and must be played with this remembered.They are all,each and every one,individual,and as you can tell,l love them.

[tlr online]

sounds cool! do you have a picture of your pinball machine ?

[Lyn]

I have sent 2 pics back via the support desk.Hope you get them and that that was o.k to do

[tlr online]

Lyn. Fantastic!! I'm amazed how big the machines are, it looks like a mini-arcade. Do you buy these machines at auction or from arcades ?

[Lyn]

What do you mean LOOKS like a mini arcade??
Each machine weighs about 100 kilos.Takes 2 blokes to lift them.I bought my first one,the ST25th Anniversary from a dealer.Just rang up and said "Have you got?"
Was very lucky.Since then he has supplied all my machines.If a good/and/or collectable came up for sale he would ring and ask me if l wanted it first.You only get one crack at some of them.E.gBally Star Trek.He is now a friend as well,once he got over the initial shock that it really was the WIFE that wanted them,not the hubby.Very unusual,l`m told,particulary to become a collector.
Like l said,discovered `em late,fell real hard.

[tlr online]

Do you have to put real quarters in them too ? or don't they accept money in them any more ?

[Lyn]

There`s a button inside the door you can use to enter credits,or you can still use money.Some come with a special computer board so that you can input how many games you get for your dollar.Most pinballs "on site"out here are now 2.00 per game.They make great money boxes,as long as you keep the door Locked!The older ones don`t take money because back then it was 20 cents per game!So theres a wire thingy inside the door you flip down to record a credit.