5000+ designs later, it's gotta be tough to come up with an original playfield layout. It's such a small space to design for. You need a device to shoot the ball, the ball needs to drain somewhere, and you gotta have something cool to hit.

Have you ever spotted a copy or 'near copy' of another PF layout?

Today, I was browsing a few PF layouts on ipdb, and I came across a layout that looks almost identical to the layout of my favorite pin! I was very surprised. Start with games in your collection, and see if you can figure out what inspired them.

1) If you can think of a game that borrows its layout from another pin, then name it. Let's figure it should have an 80%+ match to another layout (Sometimes there are ramps instead of orbits for example.)
2) If you know of a toy or gimmick that is was borrowed from another game, name it.
3) Use some sort of wording or symbol to show that one game leads to the next game, such as A --> B (A leads to B) -- so newer members don't have to look up release years after reading your post.
4*) You get bonus points if you take an extra 5 minutes to grab the operator manuals (or ipdb playfield pics), and take screen captures of the two playfields you think are so very alike, and post them, so your viewers can see your point better.

It would be very cool, if when the thread is over, we can find a few games that are NOT mentioned at all. Those would be games that possibly have very original designs. Likely we'll find many? I don't think so...

I'll name a few to get started. But first, here's a good post to help jar your memory to check on some "Firsts"
http://pinside.com/pinball/forum/topic/pinsiders-christmas-quiz-on-pinball-history

have fun!
-mof

reserved.

Diner borrows it's PF layout from Taxi and Blackout.

(Blackout + Taxi) -> Diner

Whirlwind borrowed spinning discs from Fireball

Fireball -> Whirlwind

-mof

Where can I find an operator's manual for Tron to review the playfield?
-mof

Did Whirlwind borrow it's upper flipper jackpot shot from any game?
-mof

I'm looking at Xmen now. To me it looks like an easier version of Whirlwind without spinning discs, and without a right ramp ball return that drains often. Which is basically -- reverse FH. Does that make it more reverse FH than Whirlwind?
-mof

http://www.ipdb.org/showpic.pl?id=5824&picno=55817
http://www.ipdb.org/showpic.pl?id=2765&picno=3170

I've been examining the PF designs for Whirlwind and FH, and there are some similarities, but I couldn't put it in the 80%+ copy bucket. I think when comparing a newer game to Whirlwind or FH, it's important to pick the right one, and stick to your guns.

FH has:
* two high value shots from upper flipper
* no spinning discs
* a talking head
* a variable trap door in one of the two high value shots from upper flipper
* two plungers
* only one cellar in the lower PF
* An important 12 o clock shot (top middle) that allows the ball to be a "Set up shot", and Whirlwind only has one set up shot of the outer orbit.
* Different skill shot
* No pops center top of PF
* right side has two inlanes
* no centerpost

I'd call this an "influence" not a PF "copy"...

What about Earthshaker? Is Whirlwind a copy of Earthshaker, or just another influenced design?

-mof

Quick question: I want to review the progression of 3-flipper games like we often see with Lawlor games. Do they start with Flash?

-mof

Right, but I'm wondering what was the first 3-flipper game with a nice ramp/upper orbit shot -- was it Flash?
-mof

Thanks -- sounds like a resounding YES !

I didn't realize Flash was so important to the evolution of the modern PF, very good to know!
-mof

I'm thinking about the evolution of the 3rd flipper upper orbit setup shot for the jackpot shot (like in Whirlwind)

Flash ->* High Speed -> Whirlwind

*Fathom has a nice 3rd flipper, but it has a less-flowy set up shot where you knock down all the inlane targets THEN that area becomes a setup for the 3rd flipper. Not sure I'd call it an evolutionary step, it's more of a parallel path in a different direction (just a different kind of set up)

Does that evolution look correct to you?
-mof

Wait -- what looks exactly like a Gorgar???
-mof

Where can I download an operator's manual for Metallica, to observe the playfield layout?
-mof

Highspeed -> Rollergames
-mof

Rollergames is Highspeed phoned in.png