Credit Dot Pinball: The Update Thread

[spiroagnew]

An article on the Hobbit playfield spirals out of control into a lament for hand-drawn playfield art.

NEWS: JJP's Hobbit Playfield (a lament for hand-drawn artwork)
http://creditdotpinball.com/2014/06/16/ ... n-artwork/

EXCERPT: "It boils down to this: the community wants something value added and something unique that doesn’t look like DVD packaging or a plastic collector’s cup from Burger King. The easiest way to inject value, yet probably the costliest, is through drawn art."

 

[spiroagnew]

Featuring Bally's KISS. Tons of style, little substance...just like the band!

FRATURED GAME: Bally KISS
http://creditdotpinball.com/2014/06/19/ ... ally-kiss/

EXCERPT: "Well, Stern got the Kiss licence. Somewhere in the distant future we are going see Gene Simmons and company on a Pro, a Premium, and as many different Limited Editions as our hobby will tolerate. No matter what the community says, this is a no brainer for Stern and a licence that should have been acquired years ago. There is a built-in fan base. If you look at pictures of any Kiss fanatic’s rec-room, you are bound to see, amongst all the other Kiss Krap, a 1979 Bally KISS pinball machine."

 

[spiroagnew]

I got an email from legendary pinball artist Doug Watson (Big Game, Barracora, Demolition Man, T2, etc.) in response to that Jersey Jack Pinball Hobbit playfield article I wrote a few days ago. His words were so fitting, I asked him if I could post some of it. He agreed.

PEOPLE: An Email from Doug Watson
http://creditdotpinball.com/2014/06/20/ ... ug-watson/

 

[spiroagnew]

Got to ask a few questions of Matt from Titan Pinball, about being the new kid on the pinball supply block. Titan is currently the only place on the web to get a wide selection of coloured rubber rings for your pingame. Something else is in the works from Titan, in Matt's words: "a public, crowd-sourced database of rubber ring and led kits". Pretty neat idea if you ask me.

PEOPLE: Matt from Titan Pinball
http://creditdotpinball.com/2014/06/22/ ... n-pinball/

 

[dos.reboot]

I got an email from legendary pinball artist Doug Watson (Big Game, Barracora, Demolition Man, T2, etc.) in response to that Jersey Jack Pinball Hobbit playfield article I wrote a few days ago. His words were so fitting, I asked him if I could post some of it. He agreed.

PEOPLE: An Email from Doug Watson
http://creditdotpinball.com/2014/06/20/ ... ug-watson/

Excellent read. That passion really is missing from most of today's tables. I guess that's what draws me to Metallica even though the theme does nothing for me (and why AFM is my all-time fav - full package of theme+art+rules+flow).

Looking forward to the full interview.

 

[spiroagnew]

In a week where North Americans will observe Canada Day and Independence Day, Credit Dot goes down under, to celebrate the Pinheadz Podcast!

PODCASTS: The Pinheadz Pinball Podcast
http://creditdotpinball.com/2014/07/01/ ... l-podcast/

 

[spiroagnew]

NEWS: Vonnie D's Bad Week
http://creditdotpinball.com/2014/07/03/ ... -bad-week/

EXCERPT: One week ago, after an extended build-up, a fledging pinball manufacturer announced plans for their first release via a crowd-funding campaign. What must have been an exciting time for Vonnie D Pinball quickly spiralled into a public relations disaster and near total alienation from their core customers…all in one short week. The Vonnie D Pinball Kickstarter campaign for their first release, Pinball Gremlins, went live nearly one week ago, and has since been met with both questions and scorn..."

 

[spiroagnew]

Interview with Kristin from Mezelmods, makers of top quality snake fangs and donut shops.

PEOPLE: Kristin from MEZELMODS
http://creditdotpinball.com/2014/07/08/ ... mezelmods/

 

[pinball.customs]

awesome read, this latest entry is right up my alley

 

[Menace]

Keep up the great work. Thoroughly enjoy reading your blog...

D

 

[spiroagnew]

No excerpt for this one. I will only tease with the title itself, and share that Clay Harrell, Aussie Pinheadz Podcast co-host Rod Cuddihy and our very own DRANO are featured contributors. Also, its a subject near and dear to all of us. Enjoy!

FEATURE: “Only Give A Defect On Display, Any Stupidity”
http://creditdotpinball.com/2014/07/18/ ... stupidity/

 

[DRANO]

Awesome read Rob!
Wonder what the future of re-imports will be?

 

[mwong168]

Man weren't we all late to the container party a few years ago

The price for a 72 game container was generally about $15,000 to $20,000USD. Shipping was about $3500 (with about $50 per game added for shipping).

Prices for games was cheap. System11 games were generally $100 to $200. WPC games were $200 to $500. The only exception was the Addams Family and Twilight Zone and some other WPC95 games: those were usually $600 to $800.

Unfortunately I don't think there is any more future Drano and great write up as usual Rob, Thanks!

 

[Menace]

See, I wasn't lying when I was telling you guys about the good 'ole days of containers... LOL

D

 

[spiroagnew]

In this Credit Dot follow-up article, I review and install Jeff Thompson's Creature from the Black Lagoon speaker panel mod. Prepare to get lit! Plenty of pictures, too.

MODS: Creech Speaker Panel Follow-Up and Installation!
http://creditdotpinball.com/2014/07/20/ ... tallation/

Excerpt:
"In one of the very first essay-style articles on Credit Dot, I talked up the impending arrival of the Creature from the Black Lagoon speaker panel mod like it was the second coming of Christ himself. The brainchild of Jeff Thompson, the speaker panel added lights to the “Starlight Drive- In” sign, the moon, the UFO and the tail lights of all the classic cars lined up watching the DMD. Supposedly, it was something that was to be included in production games, but the project went over-budget and it was axed from the final version..."

 

[spiroagnew]

CPR puts out the Fire! The playfield, that is.

NEWS: CPR Catches Fire!
http://creditdotpinball.com/2014/07/25/ ... ches-fire/

"Hot off the press, from Classic Playfield Reproductions, comes a definitive reproduction playfield for the Williams 1987 release, Fire! I have raved about the art package on this game in the past, and the playfield is, without a doubt, the centrepiece, and perhaps one of the most beautiful of the entire System 11 era. Early photos released of these repro playfields show that the integrity of the original Mark Sprenger art remains in tact, as is nearly always the case with any release by the folks at CPR."

 

[spiroagnew]

Credit Dot examines Drop Target Zine. Five issues strong, and a sixth coming this fall. A fantastic DIY 'zine fit for the player or collector.

FEATURE: Drop Target Zine
http://creditdotpinball.com/2014/08/03/ ... rget-zine/

Excerpt: "Drop Target Zine springs from the minds of Alec Longstreth and John Chad. It is a bi-costal collaboration of epic proportions: these men are no strangers to both the self-publishing world and the pinball community. In terms of pinball, Mr. Longstreth’s artistic work can be found frequently on Stern Pinball’s blog and Mr. Chad will be known to the community due to his fantastic (and altogether whimsical) sci-fi designs for the Professional and Amateur Pinball Association. Together they have accounted for five issues of “DTZ”, and have promised a sixth by the end of the summer."

 

[spiroagnew]

One of my favorite games of the era: the lowly ranked ROLLERGAMES (according to the Pinside Top 100, anyhow). Some great history of the licence is included!

FEATURED GAME: Williams ROLLERGAMES
http://creditdotpinball.com/2014/08/10/ ... llergames/

Excerpt: "The derby’s popularity had waned as the 1980s rolled around, but Mr. Sharpe was betting that the resurgence of Vince McMahon’s World Wrestling Federation would pull the pseudo-sport up by its skate-straps and back into the mainstream. It didn’t. Rollergames lasted only one season on American television, whereas the original incarnation of the American Gladiators enjoyed an eight year syndicated run and a host of merchandising opportunities that included action figures, lunch boxes and workout videos. Rollergames hangs its hazy legacy on a Konami arcade game and this Williams pinball machine."

 

[WARLOCK]

Thanks Rob.
You are a machine!
I am behind and need to catch up.
Always enjoy these articles.

 

[Menace]

Rob, nice write-up on Rollergames! (also one of my fav's, I've had 3 of these pass through my hands, and I've always regretted letting my first one go as it was a DP CQ copy)

Just wondering why no mention regarding the original design of the game that was to have a 5 bank drop-target setup for the "SKATE" inserts instead of the production stand-up's? (seeing as you touched on the flashers in prototypes and DP pf's) I have all of the parts and software sitting inside the coin-door of my game to re-implement these drop targets back into my game, if only I could finish my new shop and find some time to work on her...

D