TWIP – Timeshock, Thunderbirds, TBL Review, more

July 17, 2017 • Time to Read: 8 minutes

The Scoop

Homepin Thunderbirds Pinball Machine Update

Homepin released a video this week of the ball lock release on the upcoming Thunderbirds pinball machine, based on the Thunderbirds TV show.  Here is the video of the ball lock release, and here is the part of the show it is emulating.  For those unfamiliar with Homepin, check out this article from 2015 or this video for more info.

Silver Castle Pinball Timeshock

Silver Castle posted a long awaited update to their Facebook page which shows a prototype playfield for their upcoming machine, Timeshock.  Check out the post and video here.  For more details on the Timeshock pinball machine, check out this article from a couple years ago.

The Big Lebowski Update

Dutch Pinball sent their weekly production update which states that they started ordering parts for the “0-series”, which they have a goal to finish by October 2017.  Click here to read the full update.  TWIP recently had the opportunity to play The Big Lebowski, check out the review here. (The review is just like, our opinion, man.)

Project Pinball

In what was the coolest pinball related news last week, Project Pinball donated two pinball machines to children’s hospitals – one in Wichita, Kansas (more) and one in Kalamazoo, Michigan (more).  Check out more about Project Pinball here.  Want to help out?  Enter into their sweepstakes drawing here, which not only help put pinball machines in children’s hospitals but also gives you a chance to win a new Stern Star Wars pinball machine.

For Amusement Only Pinball Podcast – 400th Episode

Congrats to Nick Baldridge on his 400th episode of the For Amusement Only Pinball Podcast!  The podcast focuses on EM and bingo pinball.  Nick plans to attend the York Show, so if you’d like to learn more about bingo pinball, come see him there and play a few games.  More info on the York Show can be found here, it takes place on September 29th-30th.  If you’d like to check out his podcast, his website can be found here or check it out on iTunes or your favorite podcast player.

ColorDMD Release: The Adventures of Rocky and Bullwinkle and Friends

In their longest named pinball release so far, ColorDMD (the pinball mod that will increase your happiness in life by 12-15%) released their newest title, The Adventures of Rocky and Bullwinkle and Friends.  Check out the video teaser here.  To buy, visit ColorDMD.com.  Another release is expected this week.  Possibly No Fear?

Stern Star Wars Updates

Stern already put out their first code update (0.83 to 0.84) for the new Star Wars Pro pinball machine.  To read what has changed, check out the bottom of this page.  There are also rumors that production for the Star Wars Limited Edition began this past week.  To check out TWIP’s initial thoughts on the Star Wars Pro from last week’s post, click here.

Pintastic Wrap-up

The panel discussions from Pintastic are in the process of being loaded onto YouTube.  These will include Jersey Jack, Barry Oursler, David Thiel, Zombie Yeti, and more.  Check them out here.  Also, if you attended Pintastic, here is a link to a five minute survey to take to help improve the show.

What’d we miss?  Have an announcement or news for next week?  Email us at [email protected]

Pin of the Week

THE MACHINE: BRIDE OF PIN-BOT

Interesting notes about The Machine: Bride of Pin-Bot:

  • “It is the second game in the Pin-Bot series, and is the last game produced by Williams to use a segmented score display rather than a dot-matrix screen. It is also one of the few pinball games produced that uses a variable-brightness segmented display.” – Wikipedia

  • According to this Cows and Easter Eggs website, you can get an interactive “Old McDonald Had a Farm” song by doing the following:With the ball in the plunger lane from a ball start (won’t work if you land in the lane while playing), hold the right flipper for at least 45 seconds.  Hold the left flipper for at least 45 seconds.  Hold both flippers for at least 45 seconds and you will hear a small beep sound to show that you did it correctly.  Now, tap out the song starting with the right flipper.  R-Old/L-Mac/R-Don/L-ald/R-had/L-a/R-farm, and the display will show; EEEEEEEEEIIIIIIIIII EEEEEEEIIIIIII OOOOOOOOOOOOOO, L-and/R-on/L-this/R-farm/L-he/R-had, and the display will show a cow which will MOOOOO.  Note: The timing between the RLRLRL is sensitive so tap consistently as you sing the song.

Manufacturer: WilliamsDisplay: AlphanumericPlayers: 4Flippers: 2Ramps: 2Release date: February 1991System: Williams WPC

Design: John Trudeau, Python AngheloProgramming: Brian EddyArtwork: John YoussiMechanics: John JungMusic/Sound: Chris Granner, Jon Hey, Rich KarstensProduction run: 8,100

Website of the Week 

“This site is a web resource for those interested in making their own pinball machines, from the initial idea to a completed and working game. Thanks to advances in home-based computer-aided design, CNC routers, laser cutters and 3D printers, it’s easier than ever for the home hobbyist to construct a commercial quality machine in a garage workshop.”  This site has a plethora of great information for anyone crazy enough to try to make their own pinball machine!

Have a site we should check out or want your website featured?  Send an email to [email protected] with the URL and a short description and we’ll include it.

Welllll, Lets See What We’ve Got Here

 Identify the pinball machine pictured below for a chance to win a gift card to Pinball Life!

Hint #1: Young mustacheHint #2: This thing has magnets

Last Week’s answer: Harlem Globetrotters

Email guesses to [email protected], correct answers in July are entered into the drawing for a gift card to Pinball Life!

Upcoming Games and Rumors

Stern PinballMost Recent Titles

  • Aerosmith

  • AC/DC Vault Edition

  • Star Wars

Announced/Confirmed

  • Elvira 3

Rumors of Future Titles

  • Guardians of the Galaxy?

  • Iron Maiden?

Spooky PinballMost Recent Titles

  • Rob Zombie’s Spookshow International

  • Dominos

  • Jetsons

Announced/Confirmed

  • Total Nuclear Annihilation

  • Alice Cooper’s Nightmare Castle

  • Ben Heck’s game

American PinballMost Recent Titles

  • Houdini

Dutch PinballMost Recent Titles

  • Bride of Pinbot 2.0

  • Bride of Pinbot 3.0 (on hold)

  • The Big Lebowski (production issues)

Silver Castle Pinball «New!

  • Timeshock (coming soon) «New!

Jersey Jack PinballMost Recent Titles

  • Wizard of Oz

  • The Hobbit

  • Dialed In

Rumors of Future Titles

  • Pirates of the Caribbean?

  • Toy Story?

Chicago Gaming/Planetary PinballMost Recent Titles

  • Medieval Madness Remake

  • Attack From Mars Remake

Rumors of Future Titles

  • Monster Bash Remake?

  • Big Bang Bar Remake?

  • Cactus Canyon Remake?

Heighway PinballMost Recent Titles

  • Full Throttle

  • Alien (production issues)

Rumors of Future Titles

  • Queen?

P3 (Multimorphic)

  • Lexy Lightspeed (coming soon)

  • Cannon Lagoon (coming soon)

  • Cosmic Cart Racing (coming soon)

Homepin

  • Thunderbirds (coming soon)

Reply

or to participate.