Bumpers, Flippers and Plungers Quiz

Answer: Bagatelle

The history of modern pinball can be traced back to the late 1800s when a game called bagatelle was popular in Europe. A bagatelle table was essentially a wooden box, like a mini pool table, around which the ball was hit with a cue-like stick. The ball would bounce off the various pins that had been placed on the board to form pockets with scores on them. When the ball landed in one of these labelled pockets, the player was given the corresponding score. Pinball, as we know it today, was developed in the 1930s during the Great Depression where it provided cheap entertainment for the masses. They became known a "marble games" or "pin games" and their popularity grew. The first modern-looking, coin-operated pinball machine called a "whiffle board" was created in 1931, but it took until 1936 for the term "pinball" to be first used and recorded.

Unfortunately, pinball faced opposition from lawmakers and social conservatives who believed it promoted gambling and juvenile delinquency and it was banned in many places. The introduction of solid-state technology and more complex game designs in the 1970's brought about a resurgence in popularity. However, the development of video games in the 1980s and 90s caused pinball's popularity to decline once more causing the closure of many manufacturers. Today, pinball is a mainly niche hobby enjoyed by enthusiasts and collectors with new machines only being produced by a small number of specialist manufacturers.

Answer: To score as many points as possible

Pinball is a type of arcade game in which players use various devices to hit a metal ball around a play field. The objective of the game is to score as many points as possible by hitting various targets and bumpers in the play field. The ball moves through the play field by means of gravity, and players use devices to keep the ball in play and score points. Pinball games often feature colourful and intricate artwork, and some are designed to be themed around popular movies, TV shows, or other media properties. The game is started by inserting coins or tokens into the machine. The basic premise of successful play is that the longer you keep your ball alive and the more shots you hit on the play field, the higher you will be able to score.

While games vary greatly in their approach to rules and game play, a simple and clever tactic is to "shoot for the blinking lights" as the game will normally guide you as to where to shoot the pinball. Observing the area of the play field that is lit up with signals such as an insert arrow, drop targets, a ramp, a scoop, will provide you with valuable clues in your quest for maximum points.

Answer: Plunger

The plunger is a mechanism used by players to launch the ball into play at the beginning of each ball or after losing a ball. It is a fundamental component of pinball game play, responsible for both launching the ball into play and for providing players with control over the initial shot. Mastering the timing and strength of the plunger pull is essential for achieving desired shots and maximizing scoring opportunities in pinball. Most plungers are mechanical and consist of a spring-loaded rod with a knob that is positioned at the bottom of the pinball machine, usually near the front of the cabinet, which allows players to access and manipulate it easily.

The plunger is typically operated by pulling back a handle for a certain distance to adjust how much launch force to apply to the ball. The harder the plunger is pulled, the faster the pinball will be released. Certain of the later machines made use of auto-plungers where the ball is launched without a manual manipulation by the player. They range from a simple push button to a more elaborate handle made to look like another object which fits in with the theme of the relevant machine.

Answer: Anti-tilt

An anti-tilt device is a mechanism on a pinball machine that prevents players from physically moving the machine in order to influence the movement of the ball. Tilting occurs when a player bumps or shakes the machine in an attempt to nudge the ball in a certain direction or to save a ball from draining away. The anti-tilt device came into being in 1935 in a game called "Advance" when Harry Williams, an early pinball manufacturer, saw players hitting a pinball game he had designed to gain an advantage and drove nails into the side of the machine to counteract this. To prevent tilting, modern pinball machines are equipped with an anti-tilt device that is normally a pendulum or switch mounted inside the machine's cabinet. If this detects excessive movement or vibration in the machine, it will trigger a "tilt warning". If the machine continues to detect such movement, it will register a "tilt" and impose a penalty which ranges in severity depending on the game being played.

Although, the anti-tilt device was originally designed to prevent players from lifting the front of the machine to gain an advantage, it also helps prevent damage to the machine's hardware by discouraging players from shaking the machine too hard. The anti-tilt devices can be adjusted by the operator to make them more or less sensitive, depending on the level of competition or desired game play experience. Most modern games provide a preset number of warnings per ball before tilting.

Answer: True

When the "Humpty Dumpty" pinball machine, produced by the Gottlieb Company in 1947, introduced the device known as flippers to keep the ball in play longer, it changed the face of pinball as a game. It marked the first time that players had control of the ball's movement after it had been launched into play. Flippers are mechanical devices that are used to control the movement of the ball in a pinball machine. Although "Humpty Dumpty" used six flippers, with three on each side, most machines have two. Flippers are elongated arms or paddles that are mounted on the bottom of the play field. These are controlled by buttons or triggers located on the sides of the machine. They work by using an electromagnet to pull an iron rod connected to a lever by means of a device called a solenoid. The solenoid is activated when a player presses the flipper button, causing the flipper to flip up, and when the button is released, it goes back to its rest position, giving the player control over when to move the ball and when to let it roll.

Players must master the art of controlling the flipper timing and positioning to accurately aim for targets, activate features and keep the ball in play as long as possible. This skill is a crucial part of successful pinball play.

Answer: Drop targets

Drop targets are a type of scoring mechanism commonly found in pinball machines. A drop target is a flat mechanical target that is held on a small ledge and which, when hit with a ball, is moved backwards and dropped down via a small spring. These can be arranged as single targets or in rows. When a ball strikes one of the targets, it drops down, usually accompanied by a sound effect, and reveals a point value or other reward. It then gets removed from play until some set of conditions makes it pop back up again. They are often used in combination with other scoring mechanisms to create more complex and challenging game play. The first "drop targets" were introduced by Williams Manufacturing in the "Vagabond" machine in 1963 and became a popular feature

There are several different types of drop targets. Standup targets are fixed in place and require a direct hit to drop whereas inline targets are arranged in a row and can be dropped in sequence. Bank targets are made by combining multiple drop targets into drop target banks.

Answer: A two player option

The "Duette" pinball machine was launched in 1955 by D.Gottlieb and Company of Chicago. It was the first pinball machine to feature a two-player layout, allowing two players to compete against each other simultaneously. It was also characterized by a colorful backglass and play field artwork. The "Duette"'s game play was powered by electro-mechanical mechanisms rather than the electronic components used in modern pinball machines.

The "Duette" proved so popular that Gottlieb later released a "Duette Deluxe" version that featured a larger backglass and playing field. Today the "Duette" is recognized as a valuable machine from Gottlieb's extensive history as a pinball manufacturer. They are now quite rare and are much prized by vintage pinball enthusiasts and collectors for their historical significance within the pinball industry.

Answer: Bumpers

The invention of the bumper in the mid 1930's replaced the well-known pins and pockets of earlier machines. It is generally accepted that the bumper debuted in the eponymously named game "Bumper" which was manufactured by Bally Hoo. Bumpers are small, rounded, mushroom-shaped devices that are strategically placed on the play field. When the ball comes into contact with a bumper, it causes the bumper to "pop" upward and downward, creating a bouncing effect on the ball. Bumpers are usually surrounded by a circular rubber ring or skirt, which enhances this action. The main object of bumpers is to provide random ball movement and increase scoring opportunities. They added an unpredictability to game play.

There are two categories of bumpers; active where the ball is forcefully kicked away when struck and passive where the ball's movement is solely determined by the initial rebound. The introduction of bumpers were a significant innovation in pinball. Players could strategically aim for the bumpers to score points and activate features. Bumpers also added a dynamic visual and auditory element to the game as they often produced a distinct sound or visual effect when hit.

Answer: True

The "Gorgar" pinball machine, designed by Barry Oursler and released by Williams Electronics in 1979, was notable for being the first talking pinball machine. Specifically, "Gorgar" was the first machine to use a dedicated sound board and speech synthesis technology to create audible speech and other sound effects during game play. The speech feature was used to give Gorgar, the machine's namesake, a voice. Gorgar was a demonic figure who was depicted on both the backglass and play field. Gorgar had a vocabulary of seven words; Gorgar, Speaks, Beat, You, Me, Hurt, Got. These words could be combined together to produce different phrases, usually in broken English, such as "Gorgar Speaks" or "Me Beat You". Spelling out the word "Gorgar" during play made the monster say his name and increased bonus values.

The use of speech helped to create a more dynamic and intense experience for players. "Gorgar" also had other innovative design elements, including a unique "heartbeat" sound effect that would increase in speed as the player approached higher scores. "Gorgar" helped to usher in a new era of pinball.

Answer: Tommy

Pinball plays a prominent role in the rock opera, "Tommy", which was released as an album by The Who in 1969 and later adapted into a film and stage production. The story follows the life of Tommy, a young boy who becomes deaf, dumb, and blind after witnessing a traumatic event. In the story, Tommy's mother brings him to a pinball machine in an attempt to cure him of this sensory deprivation. To everyone's surprise, "that deaf, dumb, and blind kid sure play(ed) a mean pinball". Tommy becomes a pinball prodigy who gains a following of fans who idolize him for his talent. The song "Pinball Wizard" is the most successful and recognized song from the album.

The role of pinball in Tommy is symbolic of Tommy's journey to overcome his past and his fears. The challenges found in pinball are a reflection of the struggles and challenges that Tommy faces in his life. His mastery over the machine represents his overcoming his own limitations. In 1994 a pinball machine called "The Who's Tommy Pinball Wizard" featuring 21 songs from the musical, was introduced by Data East.