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(Topic ID: 250771)

A kid that "gets it" about pinball

By SilverUnicorn

4 years ago

Topic Heartbeat

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24 posts
17 Pinsiders participating
Latest reply 4 years ago by homegameroom
Topic is favorited by 1 Pinsider

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#1 4 years ago

CRS

SilverUnicorn

Pinside+ Frequent

Quakertown, PA

12y 115K 6,692 21

We have many people over at various times of the year, and eventually, we end up in the game room. Most people just play the games without any thought, but the other day was different.

A friend of my wife came over with her 10 year old son. He was excited as he knew we had a game room. When we went down, he didn't just go up and start pounding the flippers. He walked through the game room, looked at each and every pin, looked at all the instruction cards, and then decided what he wanted to play.

As he was playing, his mom asked "how's it going?" His reply was "Good, but I don't fully understand the objectives, so I'm not getting as many points as I could".

I found this to be pretty insightful for a 10 year old (let alone an adult). It was kind of refreshing to see someone who wanted to learn about the game they were playing rather than just hit a ball around the playfield.

Anyway, I thought to myself that this kid gets it. They are fun to play, but there ARE objectives. I thought it was a cool moment, and he became more of a fan of pinball through it.

Chris

#2 4 years ago

JEF

jeffc

Pinside member

12y 91,550 2,166

Nice. Which game(s) did he play the most?

#3 4 years ago

???

Budman

Pinside+ Frequent

9y 74,550 1,850

I need to be more like that 10 year old.

#4 4 years ago

CRS

SilverUnicorn

Pinside+ Frequent

Quakertown, PA

12y 115K 6,692 21

Quoted from jeffc:
Nice. Which game(s) did he play the most?

He really liked Pinball Magic. He played that and Phantom of the Opera the most.

Chris

#5 4 years ago

ZZZ

Wickerman2

Pinside member

9y 105K 6,825

Wait, there are “objectives”??

#6 4 years ago

CAD

cottonm4

Pinside+ Addict

Wichita, KS

10y 148K 16,560 10 23

Quoted from Wickerman2:
Wait, there are “objectives”??

My objective is to just keep the ball in play.

#7 4 years ago

JLD

JayDee

Pinside+ Member

Elk Grove Village, IL

5y 114K 5,512 4

Quoted from Wickerman2:
Wait, there are “objectives”??

Mine is to get as many blinky lights to turn on as I can. Then I know I’m doing good

#8 4 years ago

JAY

Phat_Jay

Pinside+ Frequent

7y 111K 2,309

There’s a number of kids these days who have engineering type thinking who are being left behind in the modern virtual world. My youngest is one of them. These kids LOVE the physical, tactile games like pinball. When you find one, we gotta feed these kids what they need, they are our future. They’re like sponges and will devour anything like pinball.

#9 4 years ago

CRS

SilverUnicorn

Pinside+ Frequent

Quakertown, PA

12y 115K 6,692 21

Quoted from Phat_Jay:
There’s a number of kids these days who have engineering type thinking who are being left behind in the modern virtual world. My youngest is one of them. These kids LOVE the physical, tactile games like pinball. When you find one, we gotta feed these kids what they need, they are our future. They’re like sponges and will devour anything like pinball.

Yes, he was just this way. He couldn't get enough of how it worked, the mechanics. He didn't want to leave, but he has an open invitation to come back. His enthusiasm was fantastic. About everything, not just pinball. He barely touched the video games, but did like the more tactile games like Marble Madness.

Chris

#10 4 years ago

LXL

Isochronic_Frost

Saratoga Silverball

7y 219K 9,386 108 1 1

OP
Quoted from SilverUnicorn:
Yes, he was just this way. He couldn't get enough of how it worked, the mechanics. He didn't want to leave, but he has an open invitation to come back. His enthusiasm was fantastic. About everything, not just pinball. He barely touched the video games, but did like the more tactile games like Marble Madness.
Chris

Marble Madness how did people enjoy that game back when it came out?! It’s ridiculously brutal!! I bought my buddy a multicade and it has Marble Madness and the game really ticks me off!

#11 4 years ago

MAT

snyper2099

Cincinnati Pinball

16y 103K 7,644

Quoted from Isochronic_Frost:
Marble Madness how did people enjoy that game back when it came out?! It’s ridiculously brutal!! I bought my buddy a multicade and it has Marble Madness and the game really ticks me off!

Game has zero replay value. Such a horrible game.

#12 4 years ago

SBS

o-din

Pinside+ Addict

11y 158K 58,771

OP
Quoted from SilverUnicorn:
His reply was "Good, but I don't fully understand the objectives, so I'm not getting as many points as I could".

Even after reading the instruction cards?

#13 4 years ago

CAD

cottonm4

Pinside+ Addict

Wichita, KS

10y 148K 16,560 10 23

Quoted from Phat_Jay:
There’s a number of kids these days who have engineering type thinking who are being left behind in the modern virtual world. My youngest is one of them. These kids LOVE the physical, tactile games like pinball. When you find one, we gotta feed these kids what they need, they are our future. They’re like sponges and will devour anything like pinball.

Music to my ears. We need a new crop of buyers when it is time to cash out

#14 4 years ago

RCN

homegameroom

Pinside+ Frequent

10y 61,650 366

Thank you for the cool post about an awesome little dude! I try to keep my machines at an easier play level for guests of all ages, as it can be frustrating for a novice when things don't go well. And I clearly am not a good player, since i haven't completed a Wizard mode in a loooooong time!

#15 4 years ago

CRS

SilverUnicorn

Pinside+ Frequent

Quakertown, PA

12y 115K 6,692 21

Quoted from o-din:
Even after reading the instruction cards?

Yes. I do give him credit for trying to figure out the games on his own before asking though.

Chris

#16 4 years ago

CRS

SilverUnicorn

Pinside+ Frequent

Quakertown, PA

12y 115K 6,692 21

Quoted from Isochronic_Frost:
Marble Madness how did people enjoy that game back when it came out?! It’s ridiculously brutal!! I bought my buddy a multicade and it has Marble Madness and the game really ticks me off!

LOL, I get that way too, which is why I don't play it too much. I have only gotten to the silly race one time, and I have owned the machine for 6 years. Never finished the game.

Quoted from snyper2099:
Game has zero replay value. Such a horrible game.

I respectfully disagree, but you're entitled to your opinion It's different, and I think that's why I like it. Love the music as well. I suck at the game, but still come back to it.

Chris

#17 4 years ago

SBS

o-din

Pinside+ Addict

11y 158K 58,771

OP
Quoted from SilverUnicorn:
Yes. I do give him credit for trying to figure out the games on his own before asking though.

Chris

I find kids prefer games where all the rules are spelled out on the instruction cards and scoring is printed on the playfield.

#18 4 years ago

GMK

grantopia

Pinside member

Fairview Park, OH

8y 99,600 3,561 8

Quoted from Wickerman2:
Wait, there are “objectives”??

Shoot the lit shots, don't drain, duh!

Optional but recommended: Drink a beer.

#19 4 years ago

???

snaroff

Pinside member

Jupiter, FL

11y 93,800 5,830 15

Reminds me of another 10 year old first-timer story...

Back in 2004, just purchased my first 2 games (LOTR/TSPP). My son was 10 and he brought a friend over...they played all afternoon. When I returned, I was SHOCKED that his friend beat my GC score (don’t recall the score). For years, I told folks about his savant-like pinball skills. Last time I recalled the story, my son (now 24) was in the room and reluctantly disclosed his friend took the glass off to artificially boost his score. Odd that a 10 year old would go to such lengths to impress/cheat...kid ended up being a successful stunt man.

#20 4 years ago

CLE

CLEllison

Pinside+ Frequent

Portland, OR

5y 66,550 1,613 4 7

Great story! What I have found to be very helpful is to tell them, this is NOTHING more than a video game. It has levels. You have to obtain things to start what's called modes in pinball but in video games they're called levels. Looking for flashing lights and shoot em.
Just drawing the connection between the 2 worlds just makes sense to them.

#21 4 years ago

JRM

Mitoska

Pinside+ Frequent

Brooklyn, MI

8y 102K 620 51 2

My 7 year old in the last year seems to discovered game dynamics, I just play for fun.. but he really gets the games, the modes, all that. In the last few weeks he grand champed our Guns N Roses with a 2 billion game, Grand Champed Gladiators with a 2.1 Billion, put up 500 Million on GOTG, Grand Champed my buddies hurricane while riding a hover board, and at another league members house during our league he wiped every single score off iron man, then Grand Champed Musnters LE, then beat ever adult in pinball league in last man standing tournament and won all the cash for the night. Took him to his first stern tournamnet last month too, he finished 7 out of 14 semi pro adult players as well

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#22 4 years ago

JEC

bluespin

Pinside+ Frequent

Johns Creek, GA

7y 141K 9,116

Quoted from JayDee:
Mine is to get as many blinky lights to turn on as I can. Then I know I’m doing good

Then stick to the attract mode so you'll know that you're an awesome player!

#23 4 years ago

TSH

Travish

Pinside member

Greensboro, NC

11y 98,800 3,348 6

Quoted from homegameroom:
i haven't completed a Wizard mode in a loooooong time!

Wizard mode? Is that a Bally?

#24 4 years ago

RCN

homegameroom

Pinside+ Frequent

10y 61,650 366

Quoted from Travish:
Wizard mode? Is that a Bally?

As in "Pinball Wizard" - the final game mode after you actually complete all levels.

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