Your favourite playfield toys, design ideas

[skyway73]

An idea I had for a mission: a four ball multi-ball where you have to lock all for balls into 4 different sink-holes. When you get down to needing to lock the final ball maybe add a 10 second countdown timer? That could be fun.

Another idea borrows a little from Theatre of Magic: some sort of 4 sided object with one side sloped to act as a ramp. Hit it once to turn it 90 degrees which reveals a sink-hole. Hit the hole to turn it a further 90 degrees so the ramp side is revealed. Hit this ramp to land ball in a hole/magnet to start mission. I would make the shots easy to hit but have a countdown timer for each stage and the cube turns back one stage when the countdown is up.

I just played some Masters of the Force and was thinking back to the above post I made a while ago, I'm sure it's just coincidence but some of my ideas seemed similar to a couple of features in the game

Anyway, thought of a few more ideas which you can use or file them safely in the rubbish bin

Hitting a spinner gradually makes the table darker until finally starting a Mission/Multiball. (I love dark tables with flashing lights)

A glass globe/box containing 3 or 4 balls which needs to be hit several times until it smashes and releases the balls for Multiball.

Fire a ball from a launcher/gun at a magnetically moving ball. If you hit the ball sticks to it and you fire another ball at those 2 moving balls. With 3 balls now moving across the playfield a plastic ball or ceramic ball is dropped on the flipper and you hit those balls to 'win'

A 2 ball Multiball where you hold 1 ball on flipper and need to hit 3 simple-ish mini loops with the other ball, the ball then continues looping round and round automatically and you need to hit it with the other ball to 'win'


Just a few ideas

[Brucethejam]

I like the spinner making the table darker idea, it would look pretty cool
One of the things I have a gripe with is NPCs obstructing the view of the ball ala Dr Strange and Han Solo, puts me offshot a lot. Maybe move them further down so they're out of the playing area.
If players manage to get to wizard mode, the table should erupt with flashlights, fanfares and Barbie popping up with the thumbs up sign lol. There's been a few wizard modes that could've had more of a celebration of the achievement.
A plinky bonus mode in the backboard would be cool lol with different prizes at the bottom, if you were gonna do a carnival table that is
When a player is in a timed mission that doesn't require bumper hits, is it possible to pause the timer when the ball hits them? You can be bouncing about for quite a while lol.
Looking forward to all these new tables too But what's the themes gonna be?

[skyway73]

One of the things I have a gripe with is NPCs obstructing the view of the ball ala Dr Strange and Han Solo, puts me offshot a lot. Maybe move them further down so they're out of the playing area.
If players manage to get to wizard mode, the table should erupt with flashlights, fanfares and Barbie popping up with the thumbs up sign lol. There's been a few wizard modes that could've had more of a celebration of the achievement.

I agree with you on your first point, they can be off-putting. Though I guess that adds to the fun/challenge.

I completely agree with your second point, at the risk of repeating other posts from myself Zen could dramatically improve tables by adding more of all the things you mentioned. Maybe someone will read this and take notice

Also wanted to mention a couple of things I love with the new tables:

'He certainly has courage' Multiball. Just such fun to play this and what a clever idea, love it!

The speech samples seem much better and more varied in these tables, a big improvement. Han Solo's quips are my favourite.

Locking a ball by jumping off the Sith Holocron on Masters of the Force. Very satisfying hitting that shot and I like the small 'clink' sound effect as the ball hits at the top, sounds like it's hitting the glass.

Hitting loops on the Sith Alchemy to earn an Extra Ball, rewarding and a lot of fun.


I'm ready to see what Deadpool has to offer now, heard some of his ramblings and he sounds funny

[Arie01]

I would like to know what are your mostly liked toys and parts on pinball tables (not only Zen products), and why did you liked them. If you have original ideas, share them here! They could find their way into one of my next tables I am interested in your other suggestions about how can we make our tables even better.

For me best pinball tables that i have ever played was Circus Voltaire, Theater of Magic, WhoDunnit

Circus Voltaire

When Ringmaster goes up and challenge you to defeat him, it was tricky shot and you never know how the ball will bounce back.
The artwork of the table was unique with great sound and lighting effects. There was one video mode which tested your quickness on flippers by repeating the sequence.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aAz-oQJ8-H0

Theatre of Magic

The skill shoot at the trunk, multi balls, hidden multi balls, tricky but very beautiful machine, i was having such great fun, the designing of ramps was epic,outstanding artwork and lightning effects. And on multi ball shooting on trunk that was really hard.
Such beautiful indication and lighting where to shoot. So much going on on that table don't know where to begin

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GRQqrL5JjtY

WhoDunnit

Table had manual how to play it, it was so complex with modes that i have drulled
The story was set in 1940. where you are in role of detective who is solving crimes finding clues and guessing who is the criminal. It was having elements from family board game Cluedo, that really gave him unique dimension.
The table was having unique feature of casino in him, where you could bet with your earned points on roulette table to earn some random reward. He even had slot jack machine built in. Time setting and music was so well integrated that you felt like you were real detective in the black and white movie with mafia elements.
Something like Sherlock Holmes.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_on5jjcIhwM