It's definitely a tough game for some people to get into. It's just such a merciless drain monster 95% of the time, but it keeps me coming back. I've had mine for 7 years and I'm still not bored yet!

I'd like to think I'm pretty good at it after all these years, and I've put up many an impressive score, but this game just knows how to keep you humble. I put about 20 or so games on it this weekend, and I got my ass handed to me on every single game.

Like some others have said, if you do keep it, leave the lightning flips on. It definitely makes you a better player, and besides, longer flippers aren't going to help with the real issue on this machine; those brutal outlanes!

What I (and I'm assuming others) mean by the shorter flipper bats making you a better player, is that it forces you to learn to nudge the machine. If your bat is shorter and the ball is going to miss the end of it....you're going to learn to nudge a lot, and quickly.

The same goes for the outlanes. I know what you're saying about longer bats possibly making nice clean shots more often, but no matter what, the geometry of the layout is always going to force some nasty drains, and I think this machine does that a lot more than many others. Again, nudging is going to help a lot here too....

Bingo. That's exactly what I'm trying to say. You get a lot of practice this way, and that transfers to every game out there, lightning flips or not.

_{Post edited by MGE : fixed a typo}

Yes, indeed. I can do them on mine as well.

Phish,

Please post some pics of your adjustable outlanes. Mine only has one setting and I've never seen one that's any different. I'm thinking someone drilled your playfield.

For reference, there are some good pics on the IPDB (not my game) with plastics in the outlane area removed...and no extra (or slotted) holes to adjust anything. I'd really like to see how yours differs.

Thanks!