tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-76211566697899535612024-03-08T17:19:17.129-08:00LeisureLifeTimeLeisureLife Time focuses on the health and wellness benefits of recreation in everyday life. Topics include boating and outdoor activities as well as home entertainment and game room arcades.FirstLighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02021606864708563066noreply@blogger.comBlogger14125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7621156669789953561.post-76724127151940036992011-02-23T11:58:00.000-08:002011-02-23T11:58:17.545-08:00Pinball Machines in the SpringSpring is a special time of year when it comes to enjoying pinball machines. The first few warm days of the year snap friends out of their winter blues and helps shoo them out the door in search of activity. With endless late evenings of sunshine and warmth still a few months off, a pinball machine is the perfect combination of fun and competition to help see everyone through.<br />
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Spring is also a good time to run your pinball machines through their paces and see if they need any maintenance before the summer barbeque season starts-up. This is a good time to give your pinball machine's playfield a cleaning, replace any lights, and troubleshoot any features that may need attention. Regardless of how old your pinball machines is, you can always keep it playing like new with just a little care. If your machine is out-of-service completely, contact your pinball machine technician and go over the entire game... you'll be glad you did.<br />
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Before you know it, summer will be here and your gatherings will be all the more special as friends and family square off for some good natured fun where everyone who plays has a chance to win. You might even be there for someone playing their first ever round of pinball. With more and more people taking local vacations, this might be the perfect year to upgrade your game room with a new pinball machine addition.<br />
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Resources:<br />
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<a href="http://www.blogger.com/%E2%80%9Dhttp://www.gameroomwarehouse.com/pinball/pinball.html%E2%80%9D">Pinball Machine Archive</a><br />
www.gameroomwarehouse.comFirstLighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02021606864708563066noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7621156669789953561.post-62898491220214582252010-05-10T12:33:00.000-07:002010-05-10T12:33:46.341-07:00Walk YourselfOk so this post is more about walking your dog than it is you but non-dog owners need to walk too and I'm all about being inclusive. Which, coincidentally is what dogs are all about even though they sit out many of our day to day activities for one ineligibility or another. It's easy then to understand why they are always willing to go for a walk... it's their time to have 'you time' and it's all-around good medicine.<br />
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Now your dog may not be easy to walk. If that's the case, look up the <a href="http://channel.nationalgeographic.com/channel/dogwhisperer/">Dog Whisperer</a> and get to work on straightening that out. Oddly enough many bad behaviors go away when a dog is properly exercised. For the rest of you, you may already know why dogs enjoy walks so much. You get in touch with the weather and your surroundings, blow off a little steam, maybe meet a neighbor or two and you never know... which is the point, you never know what you'll experience until you do it.<br />
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And it's healthy of course. You could take <span style="font-style: italic;">two</span> walks a day and still not go wrong. You'll burn a few calories and help maintain your metabolism... All of which will make you look and feel better. You'll feel better for the change of pace and scene and when you get home, that'll transfer over to everyone around you - because you took time for yourself, dog or no.<br />
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It may sound strange, but do us all a favor and go walk yourself.FirstLighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02021606864708563066noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7621156669789953561.post-62361532807084587492010-05-10T11:45:00.000-07:002010-05-10T12:25:53.373-07:00Reconditioning a Pot 'O' Gold Pinball MachineI'm just putting the final touches on a Williams Pot 'O' Gold pinball machine from 1965. Williams made 1800 of the under-sea treasure themed game with Great White sharks and divers in the artwork. Pot 'O' Gold has a mechanical animation in the backbox that tallys in bonus points and extra ball. Now that I'm down to the final touches, I've been able to play a few rounds and I'm finding it's a charmer of a pinball machine.<br />
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Pot 'O' Gold enjoys that special slow pace that you only get in the older pinball machines. There's four pop bumpers and the flippers have good power so it's not a snooze fest... just plain old long running rounds from a time before our highway system existed - much less the digital age. As vintage pinball machines go, Pot 'O' Gold is a strong player especially considering flippers had only been in wide use for 10 years or so when it was being produced.<br />
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This Pot 'O' Gold pinball machine came to me from a basement game room, the owner had picked it up from a dealer and claimed it had worked recently. I'm not sure if he had this game confused with another one because this was one of the most out-of -whack pinball machines I've come across. Steppers were assembled incorrectly and the game needed all new plastics fabricated - something I've not had to do before. It never ceases to amaze me though how old pinball machines need so few parts to make them run again. Besides rubber rings and light bulbs, this pinball machine only needed a single coil to be replaced for it to be working 100%.<br />
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A few shop supplies went into the game as well including a stip of soft plastic I harvested from the lid of one of the 50 blank CD cases. A 1/2 inch strip of that made for a suitable track/bulb cover for the bonus unit in the head. The ball now runs a smooth path from the vertical plunger un around past the wire stop and a new rebound spring I fabricated form an old cell phone holster clip. I might take just a little too much pleasure from watching the rebound spring and wire stop pass that smaller gauge ball back and forth.<br />
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Overall the Pot 'O' Gold is in top playing condition now and really only suffers from a marginal quality repaint on the cabinet. The backglass and the playfield are in nice enough shape and it would show well enough in a line but it might not satisfy a particular owner or a collector. <br />
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Having grown up with electro-mechancial pinball machines in the house, these old games really stir up the nostalgia for me. There's something special about the sounds they make resetting the score reels and bonus relays at start-up, real mechanical bells and cabinet knockers too. I'm sure that whoever winds up with this one will have plenty of their own magic to make. FirstLighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02021606864708563066noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7621156669789953561.post-50230354737003874122009-11-11T13:32:00.000-08:002009-11-11T13:49:35.354-08:00Indiana Jones Pinball MachineThe first time I ever played an <a href="http://www.gameroomwarehouse.com/pinball/indiana_jones.html">Indiana Jones pinball machine</a> was at in an Airport game room. I can't remember where I was going or which airport my layover was in but I do remember playing the Indiana Jones pinball machine. Right off I noticed the trademark color palette from the film posters and oversized presence of the widebody cabinet.<br /><br />Everywhere I looked on the Indiana Jones playfield seemed to be packed with attention grabbing features, a spinning statue, drop targets, scale fighter planes with LEDS in the wings, even a elevated playfield that seemed to promise a tricky challenge. My quarters went in and I played many games.<br /><br />Right off I enjoyed the layout and there was a fine combination of short and long shots. It seemed like there was a bonus mode from one of the Indiana Jones films waiting behind every target, loads of skill and combination shots, and really high quality interaction from the sound, lights and dot matrix screen. I began racking up some decent points and landing multiball, I was having enough fun that a random stranger or two joined me for a round.<br /><br />That Indiana Jones pinball machine made a fine first impression on me and I've made it a point to stop and take the time to play when ever I happen across one. Do yourself a favor and play it a bunch if you find it on location to support your local operator. If you've got the scratch to put on in your home, your whole family will thank you for it. If you are the person who came across that Indiana Jones after I was finished with it, you're welcome for the credits I left behind for you to enjoy.<br /><br />In case you're wondering, the Indiana Jones Pinball Machine is one of my all time favorites.FirstLighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02021606864708563066noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7621156669789953561.post-88626145394285272172008-03-03T06:44:00.001-08:002008-03-03T07:09:47.153-08:00First Sail of 2008For those of you living in the Southeast, you may have noticed some strikingly beautiful weather this past weekend - Wonderfully fitting for the first couple of days of March. The weather guys nailed this one and true to their predictions we had temps in the mid-60's and winds out of the Southeast in the 10mph range - for our style of recreational boating, that's about as perfect as perfect gets.<br /><br />So with hot water in the thermos and a wife, dog, and good friend along, we headed on down to the boat for the first sail of 2008. For all you snow bird boaters out there, you might want to cover you eyes for the next part... we get to 'winterize' our boat on the water, our power plant keeps our little sailing lake warm year round... So there's not much to do but open her up and head out... <br /><br />And head out we did. We had the sails up in short order and after a quick adjustment from Genoa to Jib we settled in to seriously relaxing afternoon of sailing. The conditions were a welcome sight to more than a few other sailers in the club, and a lot of the fun was watching the other boats in the stiff breeze shake free the cob webs of our short off season.<br /><br />Of particular note was a Catalina 22, flying a Genoa and making some serious speed for a small cruiser. There's a craft where the lines of hull combine with the sweep of sail to create something truly beautiful in motion. No less beautiful was an open Flying Scott with a crew of five (including dog) scooting along at a raucous clip with just a hint of abandon... her baby-boomer crew hiking out to off-set heel as if they spent their teens in the 90's instead of the '50s. For the record, they completely smoked us.<br /><br />There was a Laser out there too, single handed and shooting for a spot up on plane which I'm sure he made a time or two in just the right puff. Where I saw him make the best action though was back at the docks with a few friends gathered around a charcoal barbecue... Sails set loose across the dock and idle in the wind... smiles everywhere. <br /><br />I'm quite sure I wouldn't have changed a single thing.FirstLighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02021606864708563066noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7621156669789953561.post-63811213221301050292008-03-03T06:17:00.000-08:002008-03-03T06:41:07.937-08:00Sailing is the DestinationEvery since I was a little kid, I've always loved boats in a marina. Even now that I'm older and I know a thing a two about conservation and the environment, I still just can't help but love boats in a marina. On this one I have no preference for Sail or Power boats except that to say the clacking of Halyards against mast is one of my favorite sounds of all time.<br /><br />I can't take credit for coming up with 'Sailing is the Destination' but I'm not sure anyone has claimed the dock as the destination - I don't know, maybe the house boaters have me beat there... Let me tell you, those guys have recreation figured out! But if you like to unwind with a drink or spend some time with friends when it's time to kick back, a boat at the dock makes for a memorable setting to say the least. It's definitely one of those things where you just can't anticipate the different experiences in store for you.<br /><br />An inability to predict the realities of experience is something we're all familiar with from time we've spent outdoors, sailing or no. Most of us spend most of our time inside and it's all too easy to forget how much we need to be outside. For me sailing has added a new dimension to the whole affair as I'm constantly aware of what the wind is doing - even when my next sail might be days away. Wind direction and strength and approaching storms... Around here the sailing conditions are best with winds out of the south... who knew such a small thing could make a fellow so happy.<br /><br />Another thing that'll make a guy happy is owning a finely tuned function-specific machine like a sailboat. Sailboats are dauntingly complex even at a quick glance and to come to know one is an intimate and personal thing. Just like with people, there's always something new to learn and think about... It's exciting to hold confidence in your machine and your sailing skills too.<br /><br />Having that confidence in hand when you bring other people aboard is wonderfully unique. My informal observation is that most people have never been sailing. They've never felt that quiet rush of a slipping along under full sail - awash in wind and experience. It's something for everyone and not to be missed. I've yet to come across someone who says - no, I don't want to go sailing. Should be easy enough to straighten out if I ever do - Even if our journey takes us no further than the marina.FirstLighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02021606864708563066noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7621156669789953561.post-11420769602069042252008-02-27T06:42:00.000-08:002008-02-27T07:07:14.117-08:00One thing I didn't learn in pre-schoolOK, yes, I took Recreation and Leisure in college. Got an 'A' too in case you're wondering. Most of the class was what you might expect - it counted as a gym credit and was even held in one of the rec buildings on campus - Might have been only a half credit now that I recall...<br /><br />But recreation and leisure did pass on to me a little tidbit of information that has always stuck with me. Turns out that if you wait your whole life to get into recreation, say like when you retire... That you will never quite get it right. At least according to some studies anyway... To get it right, to really enjoy yourself and have the kind of fun that is good medicine for everyday life, you have to work that recreation in everyday - right now.<br /><br />That's right folks... you have to act now. You have to go for walks - ( especially if you have a dog... ), you have to treat yourself at lunch occasionally, you have to make plans with friends, and you have to pursue interests in fun. Plain old American fun.<br /><br />Do this and you will be healthier, kinder, and a better person for yourself and everyone around you. Make the time and take the time and look for ways to share the time with other people. Put yourself in motion now and that motion and those skills with be with you when you do retire and your retirement will be the richer for it. Best of all you will avoid ignoring your life until you are 65 in the process. <br /><br />Take my word for it and have fun while you're at it. Today is a great day begin.FirstLighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02021606864708563066noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7621156669789953561.post-88541269951901297822008-02-25T07:14:00.001-08:002008-02-25T07:40:25.959-08:00The $75.00 Gold MineIt's out there, just waiting for you, you own personal gold mine - only you may find it's made of aluminum. You guessed it, I'm talking about a second hand canoe... the greatest leisure investment you will ever make - if you know where to find one.<br /><br />Now, a discussion on boating safety is in order and you'll want to do some reading or enlist the aide of a friend if canoing is new to you. Proper retail stores can outfit you for a reasonable fee but if you are already comfortable with the water and small water craft - do yourself a favor and start reading the classifieds... Canoes come up all the time, sometimes at give away prices... My favorite - an all aluminum Grumman canoe for $75.00 - it's one I've seen more than once.<br /><br />There're no moving parts to a canoe and when they are made in plastic or aluminum they will basically last forever. Other materials can have their issues so do some research if you are so inclined. You should also make sure you have some boating areas handy - I prefer the relative calm of lakes or 'flat water'... Other than that it's just up to you to go have some safe responsible fun.<br /><br />For my family of 3 (wife + dog), that will usually take the form of a day trip to one of Western North Carolinas mountain lakes with some food and our digital camera. We'll take it easy on the paddling distances and depending on the weather we might spend 3 hours or so on the water. Our own personal favorite? Family Float Time... Find a secluded cove, stretch out in the bottom of the boat, and drift and snooze while the breeze pushes you about. Not the best activity for a busy marina, but you'll know the spot when you find it and trust me, it really is pure gold.<br /><br />So what are you waiting for? You've got some prospecting to do!FirstLighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02021606864708563066noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7621156669789953561.post-71698673349354383212008-02-25T06:38:00.000-08:002008-02-25T07:12:52.166-08:00Standing BreakfastWe all do it, we all eat breakfast. And sure it's fun to whip up some pancakes on a snow day - maybe even a mimosa or two... but when it comes to combating the daily grind, there's few things that'll brighten your week more than a Saturday breakfast with friends.<br /><br />Something special happens when still-sleepy heads arrive at a comfortable table - foggy perhaps and ready for that first cup of coffee. All of a sudden, everyone is on the same page - the specials page - and look there... Chocolate Mousse stuffed French Toast... Pure magic. Now that's something I can really use at weeks end.<br /><br />So where does all this good leisure come from? A standing breakfast with a few like minded friends. No need to call around Friday night - just sync-up with a text in the AM and meet-up at your favorite place. It's all too easy and it's a great way to open up some last minute plans for your precious days off. <br /><br />It's also a fine way to set yourself up for an afternoon nap. You choose, it's your weekend after all!FirstLighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02021606864708563066noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7621156669789953561.post-85881994836258132702008-02-22T07:20:00.000-08:002008-02-25T07:50:10.043-08:00GT4 Racing ClubSome folks set aside time for golf, I set aside time for GT4 Racing. New for this year is a host of good friends who are like minded and to be honest, we've had some excellent racing. Now we are talking a video game here and some folks will consider that time ill-spent but I think of GT4 for the PS2 as a racing simulator and when I'm neck and with a friend at the finish line in a pair of 700hp M5 BMWs, I'm not thinking about Ms. Pac-Man or Gorf, I'm thinking about winning.<br /><br />GT4 is anything but new, in fact there's an entirely new version of the game available for the PS3 - which is in my less-than-immediate future. GT4 does a bang up job of simulating the cars and the tracks, so much so that you can come to know some of the worlds greatest autos and their relative strengths and weaknesses on real tracks - depicted with a degree of reality that has no trouble with suspension of disbelief. GT4 does not fake the difference between a GT40 and a GTi.<br /><br />Take it to the next level with a force feedback wheel and you'll feel the steering tighten as speeds exceed 200mph, along with suspension chatter, curbing texture, and everything else happening in your virtual front end. You can hone your skills to the unique characteristics of front, mid and rear engine drive cars... as well as master the differences between heavy high powered cars and the nimble and lightweight machines that enjoy similar horsepower to weight ratios.<br /><br />So how fun is it? Fun enough to get your heart racing. It's fun when you are taking it easy and working on your lines and it's crazy fun when your competitor looses it in a turn and spins just inches from your front bumper. It's also fun when you come to realize you've mastered driving techniques that professional drivers only get to exercise like using the gas to over come understeer. It's fun when you win, it's fun when you loose, and it's fun when you practice.<br /><br />I've you've ever loved cars, give GT4 a try. My guess is you already know someone with a complete set-up.FirstLighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02021606864708563066noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7621156669789953561.post-14823291695226758962008-02-22T06:28:00.000-08:002008-02-22T06:41:17.903-08:00Almost Sailing SeasonTransparent Gold Beckons<br /><br />Well, here it is, late February 2008... In the mountians of North Carolina that means sailing season has almost begun. The days are getting longer - daytime highs in the 50's and 60's... If this were New England, this would be some fine April / July type weather.<br /><br />While we've had days with good wind, and then days with warm weather, we've yet to have that magic combination of drop everything and go sailing weather all on the same day. Not that we haven't been down to visit the boat, she's slipped on our power plant lake - which is heated - so she's in the water all year round. Besides a little condensation here and there, she's been holding up well.<br /><br />We're still in our first year of boat ownership and so far so good. We've trailered and camped, day sailed and projected. Hard to say which part is my favorite... but taking friends out definitely heads up the list. This year our goal is to rally some like minded friends and do the raft-up... We'll keep you posted!FirstLighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02021606864708563066noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7621156669789953561.post-88046161882115285792007-10-30T05:43:00.000-07:002007-10-30T06:08:34.163-07:00How to Enjoy a Great Round on a Pinball MachineAnybody can start up a round of pinball, fire off a ball, and connect with a few arbitrary shots. Along the way, even a first time player will interact with a couple of the game's features, maybe even something big like multiball, without giving any thought to the bigger picture the designers had in mind. But there is another of level of play that is uncovered when the player takes the time to learn a few of the goals and shots to aim for. Right from the start, most modern pinball machines have some variety of skill shot based off the plunger - the particulars of which will be on the instructions card under the playfield glass on the lower right hand side.<br /><br />So the instructions card is not a bad place to begin for any first round with a new pinball machine. It will tell you the overall objectives and key areas of the playfield, as well as offer some interesting tips on how to rack up and collect on bonus points. Some more advanced playfield features may require a series of steps to be completed before you can really get things humming and those particulars will be on the card as well. Granted, the tiny card has it limits and to really get to know a pinball machine you can either play it for hours on end or you can look up it's rule sheet online... A detailed multi-page set of instructions that contains every known element in a game including any hidden surprises the designers tucked away for the truly dedicated player.<br /><br />On a modern digital pinball machine, I always check the instructions card to learn how to launch the bonus modes. The bonus modes are where all the big points are usually hidden and if there's a big motorized and dramatically themed playfield feature to figure out, there's usually a bonus mode tied to it. Bonus modes are also where Multi-Ball can be found, if you are playing in competition, having several balls on the playfield can really give you an edge. Bonus modes will usually have a progression to the them that terminates in an all out scoring fiesta where certain targets on the playfield will count for Jackpots and Super Jackpots and again Multiball tends to come into play as well.<br /><br />And this is the state I generally shoot for in a great round of pinball, with the playfield objectives met and top scoring features activated, landing critical shots off the tips of flippers or in rebound off a jet-bumper. Specialty features like robotic hands, ball cannons, or playfield magnets at my control. Intense music and sound effects hyping the excitement and well placed shots... Not to mention a flurry of balls whipping around. Somewhere around here I might take notice of the amount of fun I'm having but to be sure I'm too busy to account for just how much of myself I've forgotten and all told isn't that what recreation is all about?<br /><br />If I am demoing a pinball machine for a new player, I will encourage them to play at least three rounds on the same game so they can open up some bonus modes and perhaps get a taste of multi-ball. Three rounds may not be enough for the casual player to land a Super Jackpot but it's usually enough to get a sense of the caliber of the machine. Every once and a while a new player will surprise me and have a seemingly endless ball as I watch a connection being made. All it takes is one great round for someone new to fall in love with pinball.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.gameroomwarehouse.com">www.GameroomWarehouse.com</a> - Sponsor Link<br /><br /><a href="http://www.ipdb.org">www.ipdb.org</a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.gameroomwarehouse.com/pinball/theatre_of_magic.html">Theatre of Magic</a> - Modern Digital Pinball MachineFirstLighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02021606864708563066noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7621156669789953561.post-41421718409653314452007-10-09T08:25:00.000-07:002007-10-30T05:56:21.341-07:00The Three Types of Pinball MachinesWhile it's easy to understand <a href="http://leisurelifetime.blogspot.com/2007/10/you-should-own-pinball-machine.html">why you should own a pinball</a> machine, it may not be so easy to figure out which pinball title to buy or even which type of pinball machine to buy. Of course you will want to limit your search to 'real' pinball machines, the coin-operated variety, and you will want to research titles and features to find a game that really works with you and your home. Most importantly, you will want to have an understanding of the three main types of flipper pinball: electro-mechanical, early digital, and modern digital. With a little information on your side, starting your pinball collection can be as fun as well - playing a round of pinball.<br /><br />'<a href="http://www.gameroomwarehouse.com/pinball/hi_diver.html">Wood Rails</a>' of the 1950's, are the first pinball machine type to establish the modern use of flippers at the base of the playfield and were named for the wooden rails that flank and retain the playfield glass. While the wood rails would be replaced in favor of steel by the end of the decade, the common underlying electro-mechanical(EM) technology of score reels, whirring motors, and clicking relays would remain the standard until the end of the 1970's. These EM machines have a magical charm about them due to their funky old world operations and are every bit as fun to play as modern pinball machines - some even boasting features like 4 player scoring, bonus counters, extra ball, and even multi-ball (<a href="http://www.gameroomwarehouse.com/pinball/fireball.html">Fireball</a>). Players of all ages enjoy the EM pinball for the face value objectives, period artwork, and simplicity of design. Surprisingly, the technology evolved over so many years that a properly reconditioned EM pinball can be a very reliable performer in the home - even the ones old enough to be in a museum.<br /><br />In 1979, the very first early digital <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solid_state_%28electronics%29">solid state</a> pinball machines appeared. These games launched a new era with fantastic blue scoring displays, high score and feature status memory, and thrilling new sound effects. Beyond that however, these games were very similar to the EM games that preceded them, in fact it's possible to find pinball titles like <a href="http://www.gameroomwarehouse.com/pinball/night_rider.html">Night Rider</a> and <a href="http://www.gameroomwarehouse.com/pinball/sinbad.html">Sinbad</a> in both Solid State and EM versions. Yet in 1979, <a href="http://www.gameroomwarehouse.com/pinball/gorgar.html">Gorgor</a> was talking and the early digital was on it's way to more advanced features like stereo sound, complex scoring objectives, and ramp arrays... even secondary playfields like Haunted House. These early digital machines are great fun to play for more than just their silverball action, at the dawn of the digital age it was really something to be walking past a boardwalk arcade and be immersed in all that sound and energy, pinball from this era is more than just a sign of the times, it is a celebration.<br /><br />Today's modern digital pinball machines operate on the same, albeit vastly more advanced, digital technology that has it's roots in those late 1970s machines. Something really amazing happened in the early 1990's, pinball machines embraced the Bonus Mode. When Dot Matrix screens appeared in the late 1980s with leader board scoring and animations, the time was right to step things up a notch and bonus modes started appearing in just about every machine. A Bonus Mode converts the entire playfield in to a theme specific mini game, complete with unique lighting, sounds and music - often times centered around a major playfield feature like the file cabinet in <a href="http://www.gameroomwarehouse.com/pinball/x-files.html">X-Files</a> or the ball cannons on <a href="http://www.gameroomwarehouse.com/pinball/star_trek_the_next_generation.html">Star Trek TNG</a>. Activate a bonus mode and the entire atmosphere and feel changes. A modern digital might have 12 or more such modes, enough to elevate a good round to something much more of an experience. Some of the modern digitals are so popular among collectors that they command twice the price of what they did when new. It's possible to play a modern digital for hours and not see everything the designers have packed in, the rule sheets are sometimes several pages long and there are even hidden features to uncover for the more dedicated player. For a lot of families, the modern digital is the single machine that represents the entirety of pinballs history.<br /><br />Now one could argue that <a href="http://www.gameroomwarehouse.com/pinball/haunted_house.html">Haunted House</a> had a bonus mode way back in 1982 with the unique lighting, sound, and scoring that activates when you enter the lower playfield so for simplicity sake, assume that these designations of the the machine types are informal. And the question remains, which machine is right for you. Electro-Mechanical games are great for young kids as the pace is slower, the objectives are easy to understand, and the game play is thick with nostalgia. If you have teens in the house, consider a modern digital as they pack in the most intense experience. But for all pinball shoppers, my advice would be to find a modern digital in your area that is set-up properly and play it until you've sampled a few bonus modes and at the very least some Multiball action. See if you can develop a taste for the intensity and depth - attributes that will serve your family well over the long run. Remember that it is hard to go wrong with having a pinball in the house and that if you really want to go big, the best thing to do is start a collection with one or more titles from each machine type.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Resources:<br /><a href="http://www.gameroomwarehouse.com/pinball.html"><br /></a> <a href="http://www.gameroomwarehouse.com/pinball/pinball.html">www.gameroomwarehouse.com</a> </span>- Sponsor<span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /><br /> <a href="http://www.ipdb.org/">www.IPDB.org </a> </span>- Online Pinball Database<span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /><br /> <a href="http://www.gameroomwarehouse.com/pinball/indiana_jones.html">Indiana Jones Pinball Machine</a> - </span>Favorite Modern Digital (one of many)<span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /><br /></span>FirstLighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02021606864708563066noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7621156669789953561.post-36650292480142918512007-10-04T07:21:00.000-07:002007-10-30T06:10:40.211-07:00You should own a Pinball Machine<span style="font-weight: bold;">Pinball Fits Active Lifestyles<br /><br /></span>I believe every household should have a least one pinball machine - especially if you have kids. I am a little biased because I grew up with pinball and I have always known the joys of pinball's simple competition, family interaction, and general social benefits. There are skill sets to acquire and refine and just like golf, it's never the same game twice. But most of all, I believe having a pinball machine around is a fantastic way for any busy family to enjoy some intense R&R at a pace that fits this modern life of ours.<br /><br />The other day, a neighbor friend of ours and his young son, Jude, were over for dinner and what turned out to be a special event - Jude's first ever round of pinball. It's easy enough to underestimate the range of emotion a child encounters when in control of such a fantastic device... Lights and motion, mechanical sounds, bells; Pinball is after all a carnival in a box. I'm pretty sure that even though Jude may not be old enough to tie his own shoes, he's going to remember playing that pinball for a long time to come.<br /><br />Now Jude did master the reset button and gave the flippers quite a workout but it will be some time before he's able to match his dad in a round. Taking on Dad is something every kid can enjoy and when that auspicious first win does come, father and son (or daughter) will be able to enjoy a level playing field (pun intended) that few other activities provide. Modern pinball with memory and score boards will even enable competition when everyone is not home at the same time... Let's see golf or badminton do that.<br /><br />And yet just like lawn sports, Pinball can become a beneficial recreational activity. Spirited play dispels stress quickly and effectively and a great round of pinball can happen in 5 minutes or 20 or over several hours of competitive play. That's quite a lot of therapy for life's little time windows like when you have 15 minutes before dinner or practice or perhaps an entire Friday night.<br /><br />Take a few minutes and begin the process with a little research. See if you can find the game you played in college or at a friends growing up or reach out and ask for some recommendations... There are some amazing pinballs out there for you and your family to enjoy.<br /><br />Have a look at what is available:<br /><br /><a href="http://www.gameroomwarehouse.com/">Gameroomwarehouse.com</a> - [Sponsor]<br /><br /><a href="http://www.ipdb.org/">Internet Pinball Database</a> - [Resource]<br /><br /><a href="http://www.ipdb.org/machine.cgi?id=393">Buckaroo</a> - [Pinball I played as a Kid]FirstLighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02021606864708563066noreply@blogger.com0