Hello fellow Pinsiders,

I have been posting long-form, essay-style articles and interviews over at http://creditdotpinball.com for about three months now with more success than I thought I would have. I've received over 10,000 clicks, may of which came from those here in the Pinside community. I've been urged to start one of these update threads, and decided to do so today because I'm particularly proud of the first article that I will trumpet below. Please favorite this thread or bookmark Credit Dot, whichever is easier for you. I'm hoping to announce each new article here and post a quick excerpt.

Thanks for your continued support,
Rob
creditdotpinball.com

No excerpt for this one. I will only tease with the title itself, and share that Clay Harrell and Aussie Pinheadz Podcast co-host Rod Cuddihy and Pinsider DRANO are featured contributors. Enjoy!

FEATURE: “Only Give A Defect On Display, Any Stupidity”
http://creditdotpinball.com/2014/07/18/feature-only-give-a-defect-on-display-any-stupidity/

Rob
creditdotpinball.com

In this Credit Dot follow-up article, I review and install Jeff Thompson's Creature from the Black Lagoon speaker panel mod. Prepare to get lit! Plenty of pictures, too.

MODS: Creech Speaker Panel Follow-Up and Installation!
http://creditdotpinball.com/2014/07/20/mods-creech-speaker-panel-follow-up-and-installation/

Excerpt:
"In one of the very first essay-style articles on Credit Dot, I talked up the impending arrival of the Creature from the Black Lagoon speaker panel mod like it was the second coming of Christ himself. The brainchild of Jeff Thompson, the speaker panel added lights to the “Starlight Drive- In” sign, the moon, the UFO and the tail lights of all the classic cars lined up watching the DMD. Supposedly, it was something that was to be included in production games, but the project went over-budget and it was axed from the final version..."

Rob
creditdotpinball.com

CPR puts out the Fire! The playfield, that is.

NEWS: CPR Catches Fire!
http://creditdotpinball.com/2014/07/25/news-cpr-catches-fire/

"Hot off the press, from Classic Playfield Reproductions, comes a definitive reproduction playfield for the Williams 1987 release, Fire! I have raved about the art package on this game in the past, and the playfield is, without a doubt, the centrepiece, and perhaps one of the most beautiful of the entire System 11 era. Early photos released of these repro playfields show that the integrity of the original Mark Sprenger art remains in tact, as is nearly always the case with any release by the folks at CPR."

Credit Dot examines Drop Target Zine. Five issues strong, and a sixth coming this fall. A fantastic DIY 'zine fit for the player or collector.

FEATURE: Drop Target Zine
http://creditdotpinball.com/2014/08/03/feature-drop-target-zine/

Excerpt: "Drop Target Zine springs from the minds of Alec Longstreth and John Chad. It is a bi-costal collaboration of epic proportions: these men are no strangers to both the self-publishing world and the pinball community. In terms of pinball, Mr. Longstreth’s artistic work can be found frequently on Stern Pinball’s blog and Mr. Chad will be known to the community due to his fantastic (and altogether whimsical) sci-fi designs for the Professional and Amateur Pinball Association. Together they have accounted for five issues of “DTZ”, and have promised a sixth by the end of the summer."

One of my favorite games of the era, the lowly ranked ROLLERGAMES. Lets try and get this game ranked a little higher on the Pinside Top 100, shall we?

FEATURED GAME: Williams ROLLERGAMES
http://creditdotpinball.com/2014/08/10/featured-game-williams-rollergames/

Excerpt: "The derby’s popularity had waned as the 1980s rolled around, but Mr. Sharpe was betting that the resurgence of Vince McMahon’s World Wrestling Federation would pull the pseudo-sport up by its skate-straps and back into the mainstream. It didn’t. Rollergames lasted only one season on American television, whereas the original incarnation of the American Gladiators enjoyed an eight year syndicated run and a host of merchandising opportunities that included action figures, lunch boxes and workout videos. Rollergames hangs its hazy legacy on a Konami arcade game and this Williams pinball machine."

Made the trip out to the Strong National Museum of Play in Rochester, NY with the family...had a chance to take in the "Pinball Playfields" exhibit. Decent collection, disappointing execution.

FEATURE: Pinball in a Hall
http://creditdotpinball.com/2014/08/16/feature-pinball-in-a-hall-the-strong-museums-pinball-playfields/

Excerpt: "The Strong Museum is a really odd place. It is one of those museums that cropped up in the seventies and eighties which takes popular (low) culture subject matter and turns it into high culture by putting it into a museum. Where else would you find a Tickle Me Elmo doll, new in box, preserved behind glass and tagged with its official manufacture date? That said, the museum prides itself on its “hands-on” activities: craft stations, dress-up areas, a small-sized play restaurant and supermarket, console gaming stations, and so forth. The problem I found, is that I had no time to enjoy the vintage toys behind glass or the interactive displays because I was too busy running after my two-and-a-half year old, making sure he was sharing and taking turns with the billion other kids that were visiting on the afternoon we were there."

To celebrate the release of Drop Target Issue #6, I had the opportunity to interview illustrators/authors/creators Jon Chad and Alec Longstreth about their fantastic pinball zine. These guys are sincere in their love for pinball...you owe it to yourself, as a pinball enthusiast, to check out their publication which exists as a half-magazine/half-comic hybrid.

PEOPLE: Drop Target's Jon Chad and Alec Longstreth
http://creditdotpinball.com/2014/08/27/people-drop-targets-jon-chad-alec-longstreth/

Remember that Elvira and the Party Monsters re-theme? Yep, the Gameroom Collectibles one with all the boobs? It spurred a wandering discussion of female objectivity in pinball and the higher comedic level on which the Elvira character operates.

FEATURE: GRC’s Elvira and the Party Monsters Re-Theme and Issues of Pinball Objectivity
http://creditdotpinball.com/2014/08/28/feature-grcs-elvira-and-the-party-monsters-re-theme-and-issues-of-pinball-objectivity/

Rob
creditdotpinball.com

I saw you were one of the ones involved in the original "discussion" back when photos/videos of the game first hit the site. Thanks for the words of encouragement. Besides the problem of short-circuiting Elvira's innuendo, the game serves as a perfect example of how my generation hasn't really grown up. Absolutely, we can still play games and read comics like we did when we were teens, however we need to mature quite a bit when it comes to our teenage horndog-ness. Generally, my skin crawls when I'm privy to a discussion between grown men about the "sexiness" of females in pinball art, the character's perceived "sexual tastes", and what these men would like to "do to them". In the absence of female players, it's guys "talking shop", but maybe that is the reason why there are few women in a given gameroom to begin with. To be fair, the original Elvira Boobie video doesn't skew to that lewd sort of gameroom talk, but the art does speak for itself. I'm not claiming to be a feminist, and I'm probably not perfect myself when it comes to my own track record, but the game is an interesting test case to look at, and has inspired a lot of discussion, particularly over on the Facebook Pinball Enthusiasts page.

I've offered up some thoughts about a Major League Baseball pinball machine, and looked at the past performance of sports-themed DMD machines (spoiler: they don't perform well).

OPINION: Big League Chew
http://creditdotpinball.com/2014/09/03/opinion-big-league-chew/

Rob
creditdotpinball.com

Stern's Walking Dead looks pretty...no photoshopped playfield here!

NEWS: Stern Walks with the Dead, Pictures of the Walking Dead
http://creditdotpinball.com/2014/09/09/news-stern-walks-with-the-dead-announces-the-walking-dead/

After a lengthy absence, I had the opportunity to ask Art from Comet Pinball a few questions about the LED business...

http://creditdotpinball.com/2014/10/20/people-art-from-comet-pinball/

Big thanks to Art for being one of the good guys in this hobby and keeping us well stocked with low price/high quality bulbs.

Rob
creditdotpinball.com

Following up yesterday's interview with Art from Comet Pinball, I've posted a simple lighting mod I performed on my Demo Man with one of Comet's products.

http://creditdotpinball.com/2014/10/21/mods-lighting-up-demo-man/

Rob
creditdotpinball.com

I got some Credit Dot Pinball stickers printed up for use on your toolbox (or what have you). It features the dreaded "Check Fuses F114 and F115" DMD message common to WPC games of the 90s. The first five people to PM me their mailing address will get a couple mailed to them gratis.

Rob
creditdotpinball.com

Had a chance to interview legendary artist Greg Freres about a new line of art pints that feature some of his early work at Bally, specifically, Hotdoggin', Fathom, Strange Science and Black Pyramid. All of the prints are available through Pinball Life now...

PEOPLE: Greg Freres on his Early Bally Backglass Prints
http://creditdotpinball.com/2014/11/05/people-greg-freres/

Thanks guys! Surprised he had the time for me, considering his workload may have just doubled with the pickup of WNBJM by Stern! Short of hanging actual translites on your wall, I can only think of those small number of Python prints and the screen-printed Pinsanity poster series that fit the description of quality pinball gameroom wall décor. PPS is trying to enter the market with repro prints of classic WMS backglasses, but Mr. Freres' series of prints bring authenticity: being authorized by the artist himself.

Rob
creditdotpinball.com

Credit Dot returns, and we're talking side rails. Yup, side rails.

http://creditdotpinball.com/2015/02/08/hardware-the-elusive-bally-side-rail/

An interview near and dear to me...I talked to Jess Askey, webmaster of the Internet Pinball Serial Number Database (http://www.ipsnd.net), probably the most under-used resource in our community. We get to see how the database first took shape and take a look behind the serial numbers to find out what kind of information the numbers can actually tell us.

PEOPLE: Jess Askey of the Internet Pinball Serial Number Database
http://creditdotpinball.com/2015/02/16/people-jess-askey-of-the-internet-pinball-serial-number-database/

EVERYTHING YOU EVER WANTED TO KNOW (AND MORE) ABOUT MICHAEL JACKSON AND PINBALL. Not sure why the caps...I don't even particularly like Michael Jackson. However, I do love when pop music intersects with other media. Find out about the Michael Jackson/Pepsi pinball machine, Jackson's Neverland pinball lineup, and more...

Feature: Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About Michael Jackson and Pinball
http://creditdotpinball.com/2015/02/20/feature-everything-you-ever-wanted-to-know-about-michael-jackson-and-pinball/

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Anyone can explore the rules and history behind a Williams 90s-era DMD. Instead, Credit Dot explores another System 1 game: Charlie's Angels.

Featured Game: Gottlieb's CHARLIE'S ANGELS
http://creditdotpinball.com/2015/03/02/featured-game-gottliebs-charlies-angels/

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Head over to Credit Dot for a summary of what has happened with the #wheresthecode campaign up to this point. A little editorializing, too...

FEATURE: Code-Breaker, the Rise of #WHERESTHECODE
http://creditdotpinball.com/2015/03/05/feature-code-breaker-the-rise-of-wheresthecode/

A little interview I did with Brett Davis from XPin (XPin being the pinball community's top choice for replacement displays for nearly five years). Mr. Davis talks about business philosophy, his new 7Volution display sets and much more...

PEOPLE: Brett Davis from Xpin
http://creditdotpinball.com/2015/03/15/people-brett-davis-from-xpin/

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Credit Dot does it's best Dr. Phil imitation with a very personal entry about trading a game.

OPINION: The Complications of Letting Go
http://creditdotpinball.com/2015/04/14/opinion-the-complications-of-letting-go/

The first in a series of reviews for pop bumper lighting solutions. First up, the BriteMods BriteCaps EVO. Credit Dot is also hosting its first giveaway...details and how to enter are included at the end of the article.

REVIEW: Pop Bumper Showdown, Part 1: BriteMods BriteCaps EVO
http://creditdotpinball.com/2015/06/11/review-pop-bumper-showdown-part-1-britemods-britecaps-evo/

Part two of the pop bumper lighting series...featuring products from Comet Pinball. And a new contest, too! Two Comet prize packs to give away. Directions at the end of the link below.

REVIEW: Pop Bumper Showdown, Part 2: Comet Pinball
http://creditdotpinball.com/2015/06/17/review-pop-bumper-showdown-part-2-comet-pinball/

Wrapping up the Pop Bumper Showdown, and the announcement of the contest winners! Also, read the story of the exploding CoinTaker pop bumper discs!

REVIEW: Pop Bumper Showdown, Part 3: The Wrap-Up
http://creditdotpinball.com/2015/07/03/review-pop-bumper-showdown-part-3-the-wrap-up/

Credit Dot interviews Jeff Miller, aka THE PINBALL PIMP. Mr. Miller has been restoring machines since 2005...more importantly, he has recently began to offer the definitive stencil sets for older Bally and Williams machines for public sale...and they are licenced and everything!

PEOPLE: Jeff Miller, the Pinball Pimp
http://creditdotpinball.com/2015/07/07/people-jeff-miller-the-pinball-pimp/

Woah.

Stop the presses.

A Credit Dot Pinball update! I look at Gottlieb's Target Alpha/Solar City, with a discussion about Gottlieb 2-player and 4-player games of the 1970s and Gottlieb's reliance on EM technology while Bally was smashing sales records with their Solid State offerings.

FEATURED GAME(S): Gottlieb’s Target Alpha & Solar City
https://creditdotpinball.com/2016/08/18/featured-games-gottliebs-target-alpha-solar-city/

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Credit Dot Pinball explores the bumpy road Data East designers and artists had to endure to get WWF Royal Rumble out the door. I had the opportunity to speak with game designer Tim Seckel about his experiences getting the game built.

FEATURE: Smaller Muscles and Fewer Wrestlers, The History and Production of Data East's WWF Royal Rumble
https://creditdotpinball.com/2016/08/26/feature-smaller-muscles-and-fewer-wrestlers-the-history-and-production-of-data-easts-wwf-royal-rumble/

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Credit Dot reviews the DIY Bally/Stern LED Lamp Driver Board, available from Pinball Electronics (maintained by our good friend @barakandl).

00-BSlamp05xx (resized).jpg

REVIEW: Pinball Electronics’ Bally/Stern LED Lamp Driver Board
https://creditdotpinball.com/2017/07/17/review-pinball-electronics-ballystern-led-lamp-driver-board/

With Pinitech's DIY Retrofit Conversion LED Display kit, you can use the parts from broken or outgassed Bally/Stern displays and turn them into a set of fully-fuctioning low-voltage LED displays. What once was old, is new again...and for a fraction of the cost of an aftermarket plug-and-play display solution. Credit Dot examines the ideas behind the display kit and walks through the conversion process in this second article in a series highlighting technological innovations for your classic Bally/Stern games.

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REVIEW: Pinitech’s Retrofit Conversion LED Display Kit
https://creditdotpinball.com/2017/08/04/review-pinitechs-retrofit-conversion-led-display-kit/

Quite possibly five of the very worst operated pinball machines on location in North America. Tales of drywall screws and painter's tape.

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FEATURE: The Worst Kept Location Games in North America
http://creditdotpinball.com/2017/08/17/feature-the-worst-kept-location-games-in-north-america/

Credit Dot keeps rolling with the third installment of the classic Bally/Stern tech review series. In the prior review, I looked at the Pinitech Retrofit kit which took outgassed displays and converted them into great looking 5V LED displays. Pinitech now offers two different complete LED display kits you can build from scratch, and are the subject of this review. These displays don't require a set of original donor displays, are easy to assembly, look great and the price is hard to beat.

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REVIEW: Pinitech’s UNO and TRADITIONAL LED Display Kits
http://creditdotpinball.com/2017/08/21/review-pinitechs-uno-and-traditional-led-display-kits/