Pinball Machines
Pinball games have a wide variety of modes. Some are competitive, challenging and skill based, while others are pure artistic immersions.
The main components of a pinball machine haven’t changed much over the years. They have adopted digital and alphanumeric displays, but the main features are very recognizable.
Most modern machines include kickers and slingshots, which operate similarly to pop bumpers. They are activated by contact with the ball or a mechanical switch.
Game mechanics
The game mechanics of a pinball machine are the mechanical, electrical and electronic parts that control playfield activities and scoring. Modern machines use solenoids, which are electromagnets that, when activated by an electric current, create a magnetic field that causes a metal object to move. These are usually connected to a playfield feature or accessory and can be operated by the player’s flipper button. Additional devices like bells, indicator lights, and colorful back-glass art add to the game’s appeal.
Most pinball games award points for interacting with or manipulating certain elements on the playfield, including ramps and stationary targets. These elements are detected by electrical switches and a series of relays ratchet up the player’s score. The current score is displayed on a dot-matrix display (DMD) at the bottom of the machine. Modern games also include “jackpots,” which accumulate and increase the value of a single target or sequence of targets. Skilled players can manipulate the behavior of the game by nudging the ball, a technique known as shaking. This can make the ball bounce harder from a bumper or go in a different direction.
Bumpers
Bumpers on a pinball machine are small mechanical devices that push the ball off in a different direction when triggered. They work with a solenoid mechanism that sits below the playfield. When pinball machine a ball hits the bumper, the solenoid pulls down a ring on the bumper and then returns to its original position ready to be triggered again.
Solenoids are the principal way that pinball machines use electricity to move mechanical objects. These are small coils with a magnet inside them, which when energized creates opposing magnetic fields that cause the inner piece to move. They are also used to control flippers and other mechanical devices on the game’s playfield.
Switches are another important component of a pinball machine. They are used to detect where the ball is at any given time on the playfield and to tell the game when a certain shot has been made. If the game doesn’t respond as expected, there may be a problem with a switch. The switches can be found on the coin door, the playfield and cabinet.
Sound cues
The sound design on a pinball machine can be very cluttered. The game often has a background song on loop, then cues audio for ramps, target shots, and jackpots that clash with the music’s key and tempo. This is jarring to the player and makes for an unpleasant experience.
To overcome this, Donners opted for a system that would decouple each trigger input from the machine’s switches using opto-isolators and amplifiers. The opto-isolators provide isolation to prevent digital noise from entering the microcontroller and an amplifier converts low-power I2S audio signals into a high-power output signal that drives the speaker.
This approach provides a level of creative cohesion and clarity that communicates to the player that progress is being made. This is especially important for a game like pinball, which relies on systems of progression and escalating motifs to bolster players’ confidence. To hear this methodology in action, watch the new gameplay footage of Jersey Jack Pinball’s Toy Story 4 machine. This video features the original soundtrack and full set of sounds that we provided.
Flippers
The flippers on a pinball machine are electromechanically (solenoid) controlled levers on the lower part of the game board that redirect the ball. They are the main source of control for the player, who can use them to hit various types of targets and score points. They are usually activated by corresponding pushbuttons and can be set to two different strengths for pushing the ball up the playfield and for holding it in place. Some older games also included kickers or slingshots that propel the ball away from one side of the flippers.
Advanced players often master techniques like trapping and cradling the ball, which allows them to pause the action for a more precise shot. Some players also have the skill to manipulate the ball, a practice known as nudging. However, excessive nudging can damage the game and lead to unearned play Cotton Candy Machine and scoring that wears out the machine. Some modern machines register heavy abuse as a slam tilt and end the current player’s turn.
Electronics
Pinball machines are composed of many mechanical, electrical and electronic parts. Contact with or manipulation of certain elements scores points for the player. The score is displayed on a backglass, LED display or dot-matrix display (DMD) depending on the era of the machine.
The circuitry inside a pinball game includes a solenoid driver board, a main control board and a playfield lamp matrix. The solenoid driver boards control the 16 to 24 outputs that drive various solenoids, motors and electromagnets throughout the game. Each output is controlled by a transistor that can switch power on/off to the specific coils in the game. Some solenoids require a lot of power and therefore are powered by a circuit that can handle up to 70 volts.
The main control board controls the GI, which consists of a few high-impulse lighting strings that are traditionally incandescent but have been moved to LEDs. These strings are controlled by the cpu and can be turned on and off or set to various brightness levels. The cpu also has some control over the DMD, which can be used to display a video mode minigame on the backglass.
