‘Exploring the game’ vs ‘earning it’

[johnh]

https://pinside.com/pinball/forum/topic/the-official-jjp-gnr-thread/page/642#post-8599854 Came across this thread on Pinside, about using things like JJPs Coin Door save (didn’t know it was a thing, apparently there’s a setting in JJP games that saves the current ball if the coin door is opened) to keep a game going so you can get further into it. Despite loving pinball, I suck at it, so I rarely get very far into my games, and I know there are things deeper into a game I’m never going to see. I’ve never really thought about it, but they’re my machine(s), I can do what I want, but…I still feel like I’ve got to earn it. But that also means I’m not going to see a whole lot of good stuff. Of course, play better, but ….I’ve owned machines for over 25 years now, I still suck, who am I kidding.
No judgement, do you set your machines to make it easier to see all they have to offer?

 

[lukewells]

I go fot for the opposite, so that a game does not get boring too quickly. I like to have the difficulty set so that it is almost impossible to get to the final/wizard mode.

Example I have only got to Super Hero once on Spiderman, only had Graceland 3 times on Elvis, never finished everything on Hobbit

 

[Kate Rothwell-Jackson]

We have done this recently so that our 7 year old has more of a chance to get to portal on Tron. But the only thing we do is increase the number of balls. We also did it on GotG before selling it, set it to 10 ball so we had more of a chance to save Xandar. Still didn't manage it but I was close!

 

[kevlar]

Coin door ball save isn't just a jjp thing. I've used it loads of times to pause a game when my phone rings or someone's at the door. It's definitely on all modern sterns that have an interlock switch ( they didn't fit 1 to some early spike 2 machines, my GOTG and DP don't have one. )

 

[Fubar]

I like to tighten the outlanes and set the tilt bob to be very loose. Other people set it on 10 balls per game.

Ultimately it's a home game people should just play it however they want - what's the point of a ££££ toy if you don't enjoy it ?!

 

[cmrl9]

Depends on the game and who playing it in the house, lotr I had set to 10 balls a game would last three hours.

All but avengers infinity quest I'd set to very long ball saves, this was to try and keep my wife and kids remotely interested, it worked for Ghostbusters and to be honest on that game improved it.

Avengers infinity is factory stock as all the family, friends have zero interest in it, the theme and difficulty put non pinball people off.

Mando before getting rid of it I did start playing the wizard mode in the menu just to see what it offered.

 

[Jib]

I'd say if you want to explore the game don't do it with coin door ball saves, change the settings to make it achievable. Then when you get to the wizard mode or whatever you were aiming for you can change one setting at a time to make it a bit harder. Changing settings is a much better measure of if you're getting better than just opening the coin door every time you drain, I'm also not sure that would feel very satisfying. When I first got into the hobby and had JP as my first game I set it up easy, when I got to EN I dialled back some of the settings, next time I reached EN again I changed the settings again, I kept doing that until it was back to basically factory settings. I still lower my outlane posts and have a loose tilt bob though. If I get to a point I cant nudge anymore or my reaction times get worse I'll make my games easier again.

Coin door ball save is more for pausing the game if you have to get the door, phone etc imo but I'm also an advocate of if it's your game play however is most fun for you, for some people that's making games harder for some it's easier. Your £ your choice!

 

[windoesnot]

Prefer to set them hard but fair.
Have recently taken in Metallica on loan, after a couple of weeks had EOTL lit and of course bricked it on the last ball. Annoying to miss out but in hindsight makes me want to chase it down again, getting there in such a short time would have been a let down in a way.

 

[AlanJ]

I sometimes put mine on 10 ball game, super easy settings, 4 extra balls for the 4 high scores, all other awards to extra ball, it allows me to experience modes and mini wizards/final modes that I will never see otherwise.

 

[Moonraker]

In addition to what's been said above, @johnh get yourself up to SWL one Friday evening (!) and try some co-op progress games on the modern Sterns with some of our better players... or improve your flipper skills on the classics... ask for tips on how to improve... etc... :thumbs:

 

[johnh]

In addition to what's been said above, @johnh get yourself up to SWL one Friday evening (!) and try some co-op progress games on the modern Sterns with some of our better players... or improve your flipper skills on the classics... ask for tips on how to improve... etc... :thumbs:

But then everyone would know how shocking I am at pinball. And I’m held in such high regard. But…I do really need to come up.

 

[kev a]

I really like making the replay award an extra ball, doesn't feel like cheating like 5 balls as you earned it but dead handy to extend a good game