Pinball

[unixronin]

So I've just figured out part of what bugs me so much about pinball ... granted, part of it is the sheer mindlessness of pinball, but part of it is that every time I see someone hunched almost motionless over a pinball game (mechanical or software-emulated) repetitively pushing the flipper buttons in return for blinking lights and astronomical point totals, my mind's eye sees a rat in a laboratory cage repetitively pushing a lever in return for occasional food pellets.

Does anyone else see this, or is it just me?

Comments

[otherbill.livejournal.com]

Granted, I don't really see the point of video pinball. If I want to play pinball, I play pinball; if I want to play a video game, I play a video game.

However, when it comes to the real thing, I disagree. In fact, I disagree enough that I'll probably devote an LJ entry to the topic when I have a bit more time.

[tww1fa]

Most video pinball is crap... although the Pro Pinball series is about as close to the real thing as you can get, up to and including the service menus for the machine. The physics are incredibly detailed as well. It scared the bejeezus out of me when the ball got the right spin to bounce up and hit the glass.

Since a real pinball machine in good condition is over $1000, and I can get all four Pro Pinball titles for under $20, I think I'll play Pro Pinball :) Although I lust for an Addams Family or Twilight Zone machine.

[ilcylic.livejournal.com]

When I was a child, I wanted a video pinball game I could design new screens for.

I bet, sometime in the last 20 years, someone has come up with that. Maybe I'll look again. :)

-Ogre

[tww1fa]

What you wanted was Pinball Construction Set - it would be so nice if there were a newer version of that.

[tww1fa]

Actually - someone *did* create a new version - Visual Pinball for Windows.