I like to play a little pin in the morning to get my brain working. Been focused solely on my new CFTBL for the past week, but since I did a few quick repairs and maintenance items to my Whitewater last night, I woke up to it this morning.

As I was leaving the gameroom, I glanced back to make sure the shutters on the windows were closed, and it caught the corner of my eye. Creature beckoned me to come. I hadn't attained that elusive 1 B score in my first two weeks of ownership, and it had become my white whale.

In that split second I had to decide between the potential of the repeated frustration of failure or the rapt joy of having what at that point could be that seemingly ever-unattainable complete game. I could not resist the Creature's siren call, and I powerlessly allowed myself to be drawn over to the rocks once again.

Well, Zounds! Creature rewarded my waning devotion as if to keep me on yo-yo string spinning up and down, up and down. I got to the B mark scoring 1.105 B. The jackpot awarded 187 M, and the super jackpot awarded 398 M. I am back in its spell!

But as I am in the midst of the second search for the Creature and the girl, I shoot a ball up the left ramp, and as it is proceeding toward the whirlpool bowl, its compatriot in arms decides to go AWOL leaving the sole survivor abandoned in the bowl.

I decided to take advantage of the circumstances and see what I can do with some gentle nudging. Around and around and around she goes...you know the rest. When the ball finally drops, 93 complete point-scoring revolutions in the bowl had been accomplished.

Not a bad way to start the day.

Not a lot of force. Nudge as the ball is going up the right side. I posted a thread entitled "leveling creature bowl tweaking" or something like that in that last week or so. It gives very explicit instructions on how to level the bowl to get this kind of responsiveness. It is complete with pictures. This buys you time while the ball is in the bowl to complete tasks and increase the multiplier.

It took me a lot of games before the strategy on how to arrange shots became clear. I try to put the plunged ball into the rollover lanes and the first ball from the VUK into the KISS lane. If I make that shot, my next ball goes to the left ramp buying time for the snack bar or slide shot. I try to make sure my first of any pair of shots goes into the whirlpool to buy time. With it level, once you can get the hang of it, you can increase the multiplier to multiple levels on one shot.

Several times I got so focused on the CREATURE letters that I missed the ball rolling down my right flipper from the VUK into the outhole! Hate it when that happens.

Some shots roll right through on my game too. Especially the "A" lane. There is a special tool to adjust switch contacts which makes it easier to close the gap on them. Also you can clean the contacts by placing a non-slick business card between the contacts. Pressing them closed and pulling out the card. This will remove dirt on the contacts. You may need to do it several times.

You are right. the bumpers are important, but work on each task until they are second nature. Practice focusing on putting the first of two shots up the left ramp whenever two balls are available. Then shoot the search arrows and the rescue. Build the jackpot value. You are in training until you get the bumber switches more responsive and are ready to kick the game in the butt!

So, level the bowl, adjust the bumper switches and practice the snackbar (backhand also) and leftramp shots. You'll get there.

Herg's right, and they are such an important part of the game, it would be worth going through the trouble.

You might find when you take them apart that the some of the screws holding the bodies to the playfield have gotten loose. This can cause the spring to not sit properly. I found this when I shopped my MM. On one bumper, the skirt would close the switch on three sides but not the fourth. Also, check the alignment of the switch layers under the playfield making sure the center of the little white cup is in the correct position and that all the screws are tight.