Game:

The Pinball Arcade (2012)

Duration: 15:07

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2

Playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL7IEN-HGlR45JgeZGwa8GU93Tc9bSVKOd

Space Shuttle is a pretty cool board with a rather off-putting background sound, though, I find it grows on ya! There's no real Wizard Mode to aim for, so my goal was to beat the top score that Farsight Studios have set for the board! I need to reach around 5 Million points!

This board is REALLY cruel with the outlanes... the right outlane is a BEAST because the jets have this wall that feed directly to it! Having that airlock activated is CRUCIAL. Also some mean ricochets down the middle. THAT said it actually is pretty easy to capture the ball. And isn't all too hard to start a multiball allowing for practice on those (I still mostly just shoot immediately at approaching balls, though).

My basic strategy is to aim for a multiball by locking at least one ball on either side of the table, and then activating it by going up the center ramp. It's a fairly easy multiball to get going and allows for higher scoring and a bit of a safety net.

If the airlock closes (which makes the right outlane a drain hazard) I aim primarily to open it again. I do this by bouncing off the T-L-E bank and into the targets on the left side of the ramp with the spinner. Knocking all of them down opens the airlock again, blocking the right outlane.

I don't pay too much attention the the Shuttle Value (A special bonus for lighting all the letters) or the Center Ramp rolling Jackpot (shooting up the center ramp when multiball isn't primed scores a semi-random value) during play. That is, I don't focus on them. But once I have a multiball going I'll make judicious shots their way when I can. Also, if the shuttle value is something lame (center lights indicate value, if it's the two yellow on the left, it's lame) I try to go up the ramp on the right to the target to change it. If the Shuttle value is one of the RED lights, it means lighting all the letters will award an extra ball. This is one that I'll pay heed to!

Apart from all that, you'll see me banking off the right T-L-E to try and drop some targets and make my way up to the USA lights. Dropping the Airlock targets raises the value of the spinner (and may eventually award an extra ball) and lighting USA increases the bonus multiplier at the end (2X, 3X, etc.) and will open the chance for an extra ball once 7X is lit (must hit target up on right ramp after that).
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The Pinball Arcade is a way past cool game collection which strives to authentically capture the pinball machines you'd find in your local bowling alley, bar, and arcade! These pins don't really last forever, since there are so many moving parts n' all, and that's where this game steps in! They scan the tables, match the 3d elements, and even use the table's ROM so that it reacts just as originally coded! Pretty cool stuffs!

Now that I'm uploading them in 60fps, you'll see the tables in all of their high-speed glory!
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Rough notes follow, these were made to summarize the rules after I read them:


Basic Strategy
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The most points seem to be earned during a multiball and abusing the center ramp. So, try to have that active as often as possible. Try not to worry what shuttle value is lit, too much, but go for them when possible. Especially activate the holdover. KEEP AIRLOCK OPEN by dropping drop targets when necessary. Abuse for extra ball. The end!


Shuttle Value
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Hit the right ramp target to reselect it
The right-most yellow is a preferable first target
then the 3rd yellow/white for scores
And reds for extra balls

Hit all letter targets S-H-U-T-T-L-E to score lit value
Hit T LAST for a lot of extra points! (100,000)
inlane rollovers score a letter when lit, too (once multiplier is 5X, by lighting U-S-A multiple times at top)


Multi-Ball
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Left and Right locks lock balls. Once one or more locked, go up center ramp.
Going up center ramp during multiball scores changing jackpot. Can be done repeatedly.
(Hitting T during a single ball also activates a single instance of this jackpot)


Drop Targets
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These are just to right of shuttle ramp. Hit them all to block outlane on right side. IMPORTANT
Also if done 7 times an extra ball can be earned by going up right ramp.
Once per ball.


Heat Shield
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this prevents center drains. Just go up shuttle ramp for a 12 second output.


Extra ball
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Drop targets 7 times
7x multiplier by U-S-A'ing
special by Shuttle Valuing

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