Blues Brothers Pinball. Ive been thinking about this one for some time now. I like playing pinball. I also like the challenge of doing something different. . . working on a project of some kind but I think the Mrs. gets tired if me spending so much time in the garage/shop. If I work indoors for awhile she will either realize how good she had it and be glad to get rid of me when the next outdoor project comes or she may find the retheme interesting and get more involved in my pinball habit.

This is the first post of a project that I imagine could take a year or more to see thru. I have no unrealistic expectations. . . but some big dreams at this point.

Ive enjoyed playing the pins in my little collection and at shows; I had contemplated restoring one of my games (and that will still happen) but a donor game was acquired locally for a good price so Ive decided to move forward with a theme I find entertaining that fits the experience of a pin nicely. I think a Blues Brothers theme would incorporate great music, fun callouts, and one of my favorite movies into a fun playing table. There are a couple pages of notes/thoughts that get written down as they jump into my brain, but first I will start with the foundation.

I am starting with a Williams Rollergames. The machine was local, the price was right, and the original theme is not all that great so I do not have to feel bad about the conversion. It also does not have a DMD so I do not have to worry about the graphic displays.

It is also Pinsound compatible. I am a visual gears, pulleys, and levers kind of guy. The mechanical nature of the game is one of the things that appeals to me. I am lacking when it comes to programming and computer code but I am willing to take on the challenge of creating my own sounds and callouts. I picked up a Pinsound card recently (Thanks Pinballbuyer !) and have started creating/gathering up WAV files using Audacity software. If my understanding is correct I can use every factory switch and trigger as designed on the machine and simply plug in a new sound with the Pinsound card. Perhaps I am oversimplifying things and I am getting in way over my head. . .

A coworker's spouse is involved with graphic design and vinyl decals; I have discussed the project with him and he is looking forward to helping with playfield design, cabinet decals, etc.

Some of my thoughts for the game so far:
Bumpers and that area of the playfield are the Dixieland Shopping Mall -- bumper hits can be the sound of crashing glass.
Skating Ramps/paths should convert over to roads/highways well. (Lower Wacker Drive?) Cop car crash imagery required.
The different skate team inserts can become locations in the movie: Ray's Music Exchange, Bobs Country Bunker, Soul Food Cafe, etc.
The Magnet can be labeled as "Glue, Strong Stuff"
The Pit that launches the ball thru the wire form can be the drawbridge jump.
"SKATE" can become "BLUES" for the targets/inserts along the left.
Other Inserts can be relabeled as "Cop Tires, Cop Motor, Cop Shocks, etc.
The figure eight above the flippers labeled in some way as "Mission from God"
Jake and Elwood will be pictured where the two skater girls are on the playfield near the slingshots.
Call outs. . . so many good ones. Probably the most fun Ive had with the ideas so far. Ball launch besides the intro theme could be "106 miles to Chicago. . . its dark and we are wearing sunglasses, Hit It!", or "Excessive force in the apprehension of the Blues Brothers has been approved." Ball Drain: "Dont come back until you've redeemed yourselves," or A. Franklin's "Get on outta here without your four fried chickens, without your dry white toast, and without Matt Guitar Murphy!"
Others that need to be included: John Candy's "Orange Whip", of Course "We're on a mission from God", One of my favorites "Did you bring me my Cheez-Wiz Boy?", Illinois Nazis, and so many more.

Right now the plan is to play Rollergames for awhile to get a feel for the game. At the same time I can continue to work on sound files and get a better feel for what sounds to play at what points in the game. Before I start any tear down of the machine or playfield Id like to have all the sound files done and working because that will probably be the more challenging part (for me anyway).

Again, this is probably the first post of a project that is going to take some time. I even debated starting it, but you have to begin somewhere and now that I have the donor game I feel more motivated to move forward. Who knows, perhaps I will fall in love with Rollergames and decide it would be better than a Blues Brothers Theme. . . but I doubt it!

Yea,

Its probably a little early to start posting with nothing more than a few WAV files dedicated to the theme but if I waited too long someone else would have come up with the same ideas/posted before me or I would have forgotten half the stuff from the beginning stages.

Ive restored a few vehicles in the past and many of my projects are started by someone else. I buy in after they've torn everything apart and lose interest -- I do not want to be that guy when it comes to pinball. I have every intention of taking the theme to completion but also realize I am out of my comfort zone and know there will be a lot of bumps in the road.

Starting the post/topic will motivate me to stick with it. . . if not I will forever be that guy that didnt do what he said he was going to do on pinside. . .

Glad the idea holds value in others minds as well.

A few other thoughts included attaching the briefcase chain/handcuff to the machine -- wearing while playing is optional!

There are plenty of Bluesmobiles in various scales out there that can be used as toys in the machine as well as a topper; also a lot of Chicago police cars that can be in pursuit or just in a big crash/pile up.
blues-brothers-car-chase (resized).jpg

Not sure what kind of room I will have available on the play field but thought one of the buildings from Dirty Harry could fit in as Elwood's apartment building. Doubt I can make it blow up though. . .

Thought the poster for their concert from the movie might make a good image for the sides of the upper cabinet; but I do not think the colors will fit the overall theme.
s-l1000 (resized).jpg

I had actually not.
It would not surprise me if there are a number of blues brother rethemes already out there.

I was wanting the backglass to include the Dodge Monaco -- its as much part of the movie as Jake and Elwood.

BluesBrothers (resized).jpg The-Blues-Brothers-film-images-9621dfcd-61e9-4bd8-ad50-2604dd075d6 (resized).jpg

If I remember correctly the Rollergames Backglass sits above the scoring display so I will not have to worry about cutouts in the image.

Looks Great fordtudoor !
I know this project is going to take some time but hope to do it in less than 30 years!
I am in the middle of my current project -- restoration of a '72 Toyota FJ40 Land Cruiser. Have a bit more time to spend on it before I can devote full attention to Jake and Elwood but I have been working on planning/research for the retheme when I find time.

IMG_4356 (resized).jpg

Ive found many of the sound clips Ive been looking for in WAV format online, have also copied/stored most of the song files Im wanting with the Audacity Software.

I really appreciate the info and contact. The pop bumper shopping mall may be something that could benefit from your talents.
Back to the Future is a title Id like to have in the collection someday. . . there are enough irons in the fire needing my attention at the moment though so it will have to stay on the wishlist for now.

Time to blow some dust off this thread.

The idea is still active in mind and I have been doing some minor research/development over the past number of months. A lot of my time has been devoted to the Nine Ball Project that has its own thread -- in a way that has been a helpful intro to pinball basics from a parts and pieces standpoint. Probably a little better than halfway finished and hopefully past the difficult parts. Once done the Blues Brothers take priority.

I have the rollergames machine setup and have been playing it. Spending some time getting to know the game is important in my mind to know how I can transition the modes, callouts, etc. to the new theme. I also have a list of the little bugs/issues I need to workout when taking apart/rebuilding the playfield.

I have been collecting a lot of WAV files from the web and downloaded the original rollergames soundtrack file from pinsound -- not the easiest thing to "show" on a Pinside thread but as a guy lacking in fancy computer skills I feel good about being able to create my own audio/sound effects.

My buddy that works in graphic design stopped out today (one of the reasons that sparked the thread update) and took a look at the goals of the project. He seemed very at ease with the ideas I have in mind -- creating a new translite and playfield design are like trying to read a foreign language to me but he was able to describe how he would tackle the process and made it sound like a piece of cake. I have faith in his confidence, his past work is outstanding. Today he told me to get to work on clearing the playfield. Once the top is bare he would stop back, take pictures/measurements/scans, and do his computer magic to create our new playfield design.

Cabinet Art -- Taking consideration the era of the theme I am thinking of trying a painting/stenciling approach vs. decals. I was halfway decent in art/drawing back in the day and will give a try to come up with a design. Initial thoughts are Jake and Elwood on the sides of the upper cabinet (one to each side) and the Bluesmobile with Jake and Elwood in it for the main lower cabinet with "The Blues Brothers" in the font from the movie title and probably "On a Mission from God" incorporated somewhere. If I no longer have the drawing touch I can always fall back on my graphics friend to bail me out.

One challenge I do not yet know how to address is the digital readout. Ideally I'd like to change the Rollergames specific wording to something more fitting to the new theme. A couple posts in the archives touch lightly on how it could be done and if I recall correctly I cannot add letters, only change the current ones in the current spaces. Reprograming the ROMS is something I would need help with -- if anyone out there has any leads or ideas on how to farm it out Id be grateful for the information.

All words and no pictures is not fun, but sometimes planning takes time. I hope to have more visual ideas and progress for the next update.

I actually have the 1:18 Bluesmobile -- Thought it might make a nice topper someday, a little on the small side though and I know people can get touchy when it comes to toppers.

IMG_7777 (resized).JPG

I was using it more as a reference to draw the cabinet art.

Yeah,
I thought worst case scenario the "Roller - Motion" text would have some relevance. . .