I disagree...I think you should give me the guys name who's asking that outrageous price so I can kick his ass!!

This is probably a dumb question, but do new production runs have all of the service bulletin items installed at the factory?

I just had my best game this afternoon on my GB Prem, and this is exactly what I was thinking of the game. To put it simply, control rules....and don't miss!!

I've been getting the "Terror Dog Champion" on a regular basis. I've also been noticing that sometimes the "Terror Dog Champion" total is larger than my score for the game, but the game still has me put in my initials. It just had me put in my initials for "TDC" at 98M, but my score for the game was only 70M. Any idea how that works?

It's on 1.13. I think pezpunk is right about it being a bug. I restarted the machine, and the Terror Dog Champion total stopped cycling up on bad games.

It hasn't happened since, but then I've been stinking it up lately.

I know exactly what you mean. This game has become an obsession. My games have become battles between me and the machine. Some of them have become quite long....the battles, not the games! I won't go the center post route, but I might try moving the outlanes. I feel like if I make the game easier, it's a concession that the game has won. I'm not quite there yet!

Just put up my best score 7B last night. Got the "K" skill shot to light multipliers with Stay Puft running. Once that finished it went into WCWS...and blew up with 6 times playfield.

I'm sure competition players would never risk the 10% additional points, but in a home setting, why not go for it. And when your friends see that number they are really impressed. You don't have to tell them it was 1 great ball out of 100!!

If they improve the code this summer that would be fantastic. I don't even know what they could do to it. Make the modes in the ladders selectable/random? Add another multiball...River of Slime?

Has there been any indication at all of what could be coming?

Unfortunately, I don't think that would change the game for me!

I don't believe that those are active while a mode is running. If you get "light Tobins" while in a mode, it doesn't actually light. Complete the mode, or if it times out, then the "tobins" light will come on. The same applies for "negative reinforcement".

I can't say that I've seen that spelled out in the rules, but it is what occurs in the game.

With no facts to back this up (not unheard of around here!) if it were intentional, I can somewhat see the logic. If a mode is running there are points to be had on the board. If no mode is running in GB, there is really nothing to shoot for score...captive balls to get to Multiball or "Ghost" to take the long way to get into a mode. At least "Tobins" or "NR" can give some kind of scoring opportunity outside of a mode. The fact that EB isn't deactivated during modes, makes me think it was intentional.

Or maybe I've way overthought this, and it's just a software glitch!!

...and get there before everyone else!

Exactly...the ball movement and sounds when the slings are activated are totally awesome. Keeps you on your toes, because you can't count on the ball doing what you think it should. Then again, they'll piss you off too! All part of the game...

I put the Modfather protectors on mine. I like the way they are cut better than the others. I also went with clear. I've seen pics of the colored ones that look cool, but I didn't want to change the original look of the machine. I'm not really into modding the machines. But this has to be done!

I've seen those posts too, but I don't think it's necessary. Just play with the kicker strength in the adjustments menu. At 18-20, I find it falls lamely to the flipper for an easy cradle. At about 40-45, it will shoot across to the opposite flipper for a dead bounce over. Sometimes it will bounce hard enough to get into the magna slings on my premium which is hairy. I just played with the settings to get the kickout that I wanted.

Awesome game, but your slings seem to be a whole lot less sensitive than mine. Up until the 4:25 mark, I thought you had somehow disengaged the magna slings. At times you had the crazy movement that mine has, but it was rare compared to the action on my slings. I just about lost it at 15:13 when the ball went back and forth between the slings 6 times without a hint of the magnets moving the ball. This isn't a criticism at all. I just want to know how to get mine to act like that. I haven't "reversed" the slings as has been discussed. Have you?

I really like this game, and it will make you a better player. The gap...the need for accuracy...the rules forcing you to plan your shots...all will lead to higher scores on this and other games.

Had my best game on GB Prem this weekend. Finished both WBTD and WGO ladders as well as Spooked Librarian. Started Back Off Man and was thinking "this is it...I'm going to finish this!". Didn't happen. Drained before BOM finished.

Didn't even come close to my best score, as I didn't have that 6x ball (or two).

The magna slings are definitely a great addition to this game, both for theme tie-in and really hooking non-pinheads with that "wow" factor. But be prepared to let loose a string of four letter words when your great game is ruined by them as well.

That's awesome. One thing I've learned about this game....6x playfield is the key to scores. You can get huge scores without progressing very far in the game if you can lock in 6x. As long as a scene is running or ready to start, I plunge for the "K".

There is no doubt that this game needs attention out of the box. But it isn't hard to do. My Prem plays really well, and I can often get deep into the game. I've been one mode away from WRTBY on several occasions. Even dialed in the game will still play hard, depending on how far you go with "tweaks". Below are the issues I had and how I corrected them, mechanically and thru software adjustments.

Airballs / Hopped In-lanes - added Modfather protectors to the left ramp and inlane/outlanes.

Switches not registering - My left ramp switch was very intermittent. I just bent the arm out to give it more travel as the ball passed.

Right ramp - Getting the ball around the right ramp was nearly impossible. I changed the hex nut to 1 5/8", and that helped. The real solution was WAX. After I waxed the playfield for the first time, the ball rocketed up that ramp. Finishing Spook and Gozer are now possible. It still has to be a clean shot, but there's no more half-way fallbacks. I'll always keep a good wax coat on this game. Of course, the trade-off is that the ball rockets around the playfield as well.

Kickouts - The left kickout would often drop right into the center drain, and the right kickout would go into the magna-slings and all hell would break loose (mine seem to be more sensitive than what I see in videos). I set both kickouts to low power (between 20 and 25 I think). Now the left KO drops to the left flipper and can be caught or bounce passed over to the right. The right KO shoots across to the left flipper and hops over cleanly to the right. I call this fair as the magna-slings introduce enough chaos into this game.

Other issues/complaints that are out there. Slimer not registering hits. On mine it takes a dead-in-the-face shot to register. I don't feel the need to change that. I see it as being part of this game...accuracy and timing are king. The Scoleri targets have also given people fits with airballs and not dropping, etc. Thankfully, I haven't had any of these problems. Some hate the wide flipper gap. There's a center post mod, but I don't think that is really necessary.

That hits the issues that I've read about or needed to adjust on my own game. Once you've got it how you like it, it might become your favorite game. It's definitely one of mine.

I've been trying to figure this out for awhile and can't get it. The rulesheet states that you increase the X multiplier on the Staypuft "choose and perish" shots by hitting the Gozer standup. I've only been able to get it to X2 on one of the shots. The others still showed X1. How does this work? How is a Gozer hit assigned to increase the bonus...which shot gets it? Can you increase the X to more than 2?

I always try to hit the Gozer shot once before activating StayPuft to get the 2X. If it takes six Gozer hits to get to 6X on the "choose and perish" shot...and the pop bumpers change the shot that it's increasing, I don't think difficult is the right word. Impossible might be better!! Sounds like I have a new goal for GB too.

I just blew up my Ghostbusters Prem! I've been focusing on the Gozer standup when I get to StayPuft. Tonight it paid off. I put the ball in the pops four times before taking the "Choose and Perish" shot. It's risky as there's no telling where the ball will go coming out of that center exit. I had X1, X3, X3 and X6 (I don't know how it assigns the multipliers). I hit the right loop for the X6 and started at 300M per shot! I completed StayPuft and drained after bricking my first shot for WCWS.

On the next plunge, I hit the "K" for light multipliers, and went into WCWS with multipliers lit. That was another points free-for-all. I wrapped up the game with We Got One, and finished with 11 Billion!!

GB 11B (resized).jpg

I can't argue with you about huge points requiring getting multipliers at the right time. However, I don't think that the "k" shot and scoring code need to be adjusted (there are bigger priorities). I think it creates an interesting dynamic for the home game. Very high risk / very huge reward. I can't imagine that tournament players even mess with the multipliers in this game. It's too unreliable (either way you try), and they would be forfeiting a for sure 10% of their scores on each plunge by not taking an easy skill shot.

Being able to pull off one of these outrageous scores on demand would be unlikely. But they sure are fun when everything lines up and you get one!! Finishing the game is still my ultimate goal. Points are nice bragging rights, but I'm more impressed by someone who can complete a game. I've yet to do that on any of my games.

Planning and accuracy are rewarded richly in this game. The fact that completing a mode and starting the next mode can occur on the same shot is a bonus for good shooting. It can also be a penalty, as PinMonk stated when the left ramp is the last shot for a right ladder mode. Even then, you aren't really in jail, as you have another mode started that can be very lucrative. I much prefer this to a single "mode start shot" that allows me to pick any mode I want, but forces me to go to one place every time.

You always have the option of not taking the final shot and going thru the "ghost standup" method of relighting the modes. You can then take the one you want. I can't say that I would advise that, but it's available. I think the coding of this game is done really well. It's very different from other mode based games. With planning and good shooting, you can be in a mini-wizard mode with just 10 shots. It's damn-near impossible, but it is possible!! I find that very creative.

I do agree with PinMonk that the bugs in the code need to be fixed. Hopefully we'll see an update that is worthy of this game's potential and really puts it over the top.

Yeah, it's still got some bugs that need squashed. The pending update should take care of them.

Now I understand. I don't think that I've ever had that exact scenario play out on mine.

I'm coming in late, but I put the Modfather clear plastic protectors on the ramp and the outlanes and they cut the airballs to zero. I don't even notice them. The colored ones would definitely draw your attention to them.

I responded to you in the "So Ghostbusters" thread, so I won't repeat everything here. But paying for the post and shipping to make a $6000 game more enjoyable is worth it.

You should have 4 "choices", being the four main shots. The inserts will be lit white for the active shots.

I'm not sure what's going on here, as all of the "choices" are the StayPuft Marshmallow Man. The X1, X2, etc are multipliers that you receive by hitting the lighted Gozer target in the back of the center shot (in the pops area). I'm not sure how the game distributes the multiplier. You have to get the ball settled for the screen to show you the X? / X? / X? / X? screen again. Each of the shots will have a X? multiplier assigned to it. No matter which one you shoot the "choice" is always the same. You must have grazed the captive ball to start Scolari Bros as you shot the right orbit or it awarded from the pops after making a shot. Either way, you should have also seen the "the choice is made..." graphic.

I'm not sure that's correct. The initial "choose" screen shows X1 / X1 / X1 / X1 that correspond to the four lit shots. I don't believe that there is just a single multiplier that you apply to any one shot. As you hit the Gozer shot the screen changes. It can read X? / X? / X? / X? from X1 to X6 on each of the four slots. I believe whichever shot you use to start StayPuft, that X? multiplier applies. If that's not the case, why are there four X? slots on the "choose" screen that change individually?

I got to StayPuft tonight and put the ball into the Gozer shot / pops three times. It bounced around quite a bit. After the third shot into Gozer I caught the ball to see where things were. The choice multipliers were X2 / X4 / X1 / X2. I shot the left ramp, and it started SP at X4. I shot the right orbit and it was worth X4 (200M). All shots were X4 (200M). So it definitely looks like whichever shot you hit to "choose", that multiplier is applied to all shots.

Maybe this is a code version difference. I'm on 1.13.

I think it will take someone with a Stern connection to find out the answer to that. Glass off testing would take a lot of test runs to isolate if there is a pattern to how it hits the Gozer target and bumpers and assigns the multiplier. To get the mix of multipliers I've seen, it sure looks random.

There are lots of mods for this game. The only ones I think are "must haves" are for airballs and the right ramp (not that it's really a mod). Whether you get the package with the center post, the different stand up brackets, or just the basic protectors, it's up to you how you stop them. Shortening the screw at the right ramp will cut rejects drastically. It doesn't make the shot easier, but shots that do hit will make it all the way around that hairpin. I went with just a 1/8" reduction to 1 7/8". I still get some roll-back rejects (it's how I know it's time to clean and re-wax). At 1 3/4" there's fewer, and at 1 5/8" there shouldn't be any, but I didn't like the way the ball came around super fast.

Everything else I think is visual. Get whatever appeals to you. ColorDMD looks much better than the basic orange, but it's expensive.

I get the thinking with wanting some randomization, but this would take more than just a selector. The way scoring is handled would have to be completely revamped. The lower level modes score about 20M when completed. Second level modes triple that. Top tier modes are MUCH larger. Being able to select any mode at any time would just mean you trade WBTD for StayPuft every time. We'd simply play the modes in reverse.

Hopefully, Dwight has more than just randomization up his sleeve. We'll have to wait and see.

This always confuses me. The Scoleri Bros aren't nearly as annoying as the Trolls in MM...and they are a mystery "award"! It's the only game that I actively try to avoid the mystery award unless I'm also starting multiball. Scoleris are over in a blink.

I'm not sure GB falls into that category.

I know it sold well, but I think there are just as many haters, after the fact, as there are lovers.

Uuugggghhhh!!! For the second time I nearly finished this thing. All modes complete except StayPuft, and it was lit. Brought down slimer and chased him away to get the last mode ready and then drained. Didn't even get a single shot at starting it!! One of these days, I'll get it.

I agree. It's a blast to play, and if you can bring playfield multipliers into it along with hitting the Gozer X a couple of times before starting it, the points can be crazy for a single mode.

Just like finishing any of the other ladders, WCWS mini-wizard mode will light at the left ramp. That's why I like trying to start with the Librarian ladder. It only takes two modes to get a mini-wizard. Then you can do it again by completing the WGO ladder with three modes. Putting off StayPuft isn't the best strategy for points, but I'm trying to complete the game. With 8 out of 9 modes completed, my score was less than 2B, because I hadn't activated any multipliers throughout the entire game.

I don't believe that is true. I've seen the multiplier applied to all SP shots on my machine. I haven't checked with the glass off to be sure, but I think it's just an overall SP shot multiplier.

It sounds like you're looking for control right out of the kick-out. So why not just have it drop to the flipper? If you want a consistent dead bounce kick-out, save the headache of searching for it and drop the power down to minimum.

Mine are set so the left one drops to the left flipper for a catch or a soft bounce to right flipper. Since the right kick-out has a short ball save, I have it kick-out so that if I hold the left flipper up, it hits the tip and goes to the right flipper. If it's smooth I catch it, if it isn't I let it drain. My opinion is that there is enough frustration built into this game (even setup nicely). If I can remove a little, that's OK.

I learned a valuable lesson tonight...or rather a no-value lesson. I started StayPuft and shot at the Gozer shot to up the multipliers. I wanted to get the left ramp or the right orbit to at least 3x or more, because they're the easiest to hit and set the multiplier. Took quite a few shots but finally got there. I trapped up, and the screen showed 4x/3x/1x/3x. Then StayPuft ended and WCWS lights started flashing while I still had the cradle. I didn't think the timer ran until you set the multiplier and started the mode....obviously not! It was the first time I've scored 0 points in StayPuft. What a waste!!

You don't really want to prevent airballs from getting stuck on the library...you want to prevent the airballs. There are several protectors or stand-up brackets out there. I use Modfather's protectors, but most work equally well. You can find a list of other adjustments you should make further back in the thread.

I'm not big on mods, but I love that subway car over the left ramp run out!

...damn. Just another 18 post tease in the GB thread. You'd think I would learn by now. If and when there is a GB update, Pinside will probably shut down from the number of posts!

After a little over a year, I finally finished GB. Started StayPuft on the first ball, but didn't finish it. Finished SP, WCWS, and Spooked Librarian on the extra ball. Finished Back Off, second WCWS and started We Got One on actual ball 2. The replay extra ball (at 1.5B) wasn't so good. Just finished WGO and started Slimed Me. On the actual ball 3, I finished the last two modes and went into We're Ready to Believe You. Honestly, that was kind of anti-climactic. I didn't play it super well, but not horribly. Total points for it was only 200M. At that point in the game, 200M is nothing. When the game finally ended, EB was lit again (don't know why) as well as the third lock for Storage Facility (would have been the third SFMB).

It was an incredible game, but the score wasn't outstanding...just over 4B. Didn't even get on the board. My #4 score is over 5B. Scoring on this game is all about timing the 6x playfield so you bring it into multiballs and StayPuft.

This game is super fun, even with the code as is.

I always say that this game has two personalities...one on location and one at home.

On location, I actually prefer to play the Pro. The right ramp on the premium can be nearly unmakeable on location if the setup and maintenance (cleaning/waxing) aren't kept up. I've never found the Pro right ramp all that hard to hit. The premium magna slings really piss me off if/when they screw me over on a game I dropped quarters into.

At home, Premium all the way. Set it up right and the premium version smokes the Pro. Keep it cleaned and waxed and the ball rockets up the right ramp. Sure the slings can do nasty things...just play another game (you've already paid for it!).

Both shoot equally well on the other shots...left orbit is tight but exactly the same on both. I find that the left ramp is easily backhandable on most Pros. My Prem can't do it at all. Flipper power and angle are stock out of the box. I just post pass and shoot it with the right flipper...second easiest shot in the game.

I just finished my Premium for the second time in two days, so I'd say it shoots pretty smooth!!

A center post probably won't help that. Center posts only save a ball that is coming directly from the middle. If it's coming off the right rail at an angle that just misses the flipper, it will probably hit the side of the post and slide into the trough.

Leveling and pitch is a better fix.

I bought 1-7/8", 1-3/4", and 1-5/8" to see which one gave the best mix of made shots and roll backs. Let's face it, the shot should be hard but not impossible. The 1-3/4" made it on good shots and rolled back on iffy ones. That's what I stayed with. The shot is consistently makeable, but not a sure thing.

One thing that really helps is wax. I can always tell when it's time to clean. I get rollbacks when the shot looked good. A fresh coat of wax makes a big difference.

GB is both frustrating as hell and amazing. Some games on it make me want to shake the shit out of the machine sometimes. But a great game on it is more satisfying than almost any other game!

With all the complaints about linear gameplay, I think it would be good to see some kind of bonus for completing all level one modes, all level twos, etc. It would create optional strategies...complete a ladder for WCWS or complete "levels" for some other bonus. With the code in testing though, ideas are a little late at this point.

They definitely took this code and re-designed it from the ground up. The framework is still there, but they changed almost every aspect of gameplay. Most of it sounds really awesome, but some of it has me worried....or at least curious. I can't wait to play it. For what it's worth, here's my $.02.

There were several things that made me cringe a little during the stream (mostly Jack's "gloves"!). I'll have to see how I feel about some of the changes after playing. But there was a hell of a lot that had me very happy.

***** On the fence about...

The Scoleris. They never really bothered me. I always saw them as a risk/reward. Be creative about getting them down (don't just hit directly) and collect a triple super. I'm not going to be upset that I don't see them as often, but when they do come now the risk/reward isn't the same proportion. Still dangerous shots, but for a 1x super that you can collect three times.

Constant multipliers. This really jumped out at me, especially when Mike was playing at the end. Left ramp to proton pack can keep you in Xplay indefinitely. But it is still GB, so indefinitely might not be that long!

Ghost Target. Enabling this to spot mode shots seems like a cop out (or a way to add an "action button" after the fact). Having to hit that "hard" shot in a mode was the challenge! Being able to bypass the "hard" shots...probably good, but I need convincing.

Mode Completion. It's obvious that they are addressing the "I can never play StayPuft" complaint with this change. Completing modes just by starting them is going to make getting deep into the game much easier.

***** No doubt in my mind it's a good move...

Pulling Video Mode from the skill shot.
Adding Librarian mini-mode to the captive ball.
Isolating Loopin, Mass, PKE.
Adding audio and LED indicators for Mass flipper change.
Removing the immediate ladder start for the next mode. This frees up time to start the mini-modes and Tobins/Negative, and makes you "start" modes.
Making the spinner increase the super jackpot. This is going to make supers HUGE!
Adding several new call outs. I heard a lot of things that I never had before. Personally, hearing WBTD never bothered me, but it did a lot of people!

Are You a God?!?! Obviously this is focus. Coupling it with WRTBY is an interesting twist. I really didn't care much about this missing wizard mode, because I'd only gotten to WRTBY twice in a year and a half. It just seemed like something people "wanted" but wasn't really "needed". I think with these changes making the game progression easier, people will see it a lot more (ok...maybe not a lot!).

Overall...

From what they presented, it looks like an incredible update. If I had to describe it in basic terms, I'd say they tried to compensate for the mechanical difficulty of the game, by making the ruleset easier. We'll know for sure next week how that worked.

I wish that GB were included in high level events, but I understand why it isn't. I don't know if this will change that or not even if highly customizable. I still the game is going to stay in that love/hate realm with no gray area, which is unfortunate.

Exactly...and adding a ball save to the left scoop. That's a lot of saving on factory settings.

The main goal of this update is clearly to make the game easier to reach the new shiny wizard mode everyone was screaming for. Along with that are a lot of other nice additions as well. There's no judgement in that first statement. It's just my observation.

Of all the changes in the stream, the immediate mode completion worries me the most. I understand why they are doing it, but I'm not sure I'm going to like it better. I really hope they include this as a setting.

You're really going to enjoy it. Looking at your concrete floor, you've been doing a few slide saves. Don't you know that's cheating!!

https://pinside.com/pinball/forum/topic/poll-what-is-a-slide-save-classed-as-in-pinball/page/4#post-5215174

You're absolutely right....when you play WBTD over and over, there are only three shots in the game. It's not the game's fault if a player starts the same mode every time. The fact that you omitted the right ramp tells me a lot. It's a critical shot in GB. You can't complete a lot of the modes without it...especially the high scoring ones. That's not going to be so important when the new code comes out, as modes will auto-complete. But you still don't get the points.

Also, if you shoot the WBTD shots in the order you listed, it'll put you into WGO. And the easiest way to complete that is the same three shots you listed. But that's the real trick to GB. It's not about hitting lit mode shots; it's about hitting the correct lit mode shot. Again, this won't matter so much with the new code, but GB is about planning and control. Just shooting any lit mode shot will really slow your progression and keep a player on the level one modes for the entire game.

I'm totally on board with the enthusiasm about GB's layout, but I disagree that it isn't a fan. The game is packed, no doubt. But the actual shots are a typical fan. On a two flipper game, it's hard not to be. To me, it's those extra flippers creating cross-field shots that are anti-fan.

But fans can still be creative. I think DP really makes good use of a two flipper fan layout. It pulls shots forward on the playfield to effectively use more space. Bringing in the left ramp, allows for the Collosus shot behind it. Pulling Li'l DP closer to the flippers makes them more dangerous. "FAN" isn't a curse in pinball. A lot of great games are fans.

This new code completely changes the dynamics IMHO. While it's obviously still the same game with the same shots, it doesn't play the same at all. Old strategies need to be tossed out. I've played about a dozen games, and here's what I see so far. I'm sure the more I play my thoughts may change.

Lighting and callouts - Positive...the new lighting effects and call outs are awesome. New colors have been introduced, and it really differentiates between the mode shots and secondary shots. New callouts are great. "Light is green; trap is clean" on the second lock should end the red/green debate.

Skill Shots - Positive...The auto 6x is removed, but it's actually easier now to get into it (more on that later). The video mode skill shot has also been removed. Getting that possible 60M (now 80M) has to be earned now. You can also get an upper and lower skill shot. More is always better!

Starting Modes - Positive...I'm ignoring the plunge exploit because I just think it's dumb. I like the new code taking away the right flipper backhand. It introduces another element to the right ladder. I like taking away the mode chaining. I really enjoyed planning the shots to end on the correct one in the previous code. But now after completing the last shot, you get to make a choice for the next shot. It doesn't diminish the game and is good for new players.

Auto Mode Completion - Neutral...I'm not digging this after my first few games. It drastically impacts scoring. Sure it's easy to progress, but it eliminates a lot of scoring opportunities. For example, in the old code Spook Central was worth up to 60M (unmulitplied). If I lost a ball after starting this mode, I still had a chance to get the points on the next ball. In the new mode, those possible 60M points just disappear.

Multipliers / Scoring - Neutral / Neutral...Getting into mulitplied playfields is very easy now. Left ramp / proton pack keeps you in Xplay almost indefinitely. However, the proton shot does introduce lateral movement which is dangerous. Also, some mode scoring has been nerfed, so IMHO modes are now just a means to get to MB. One specific "nerf" is the hurry-up on Spook Central. The timer now starts before the ball is released from the post. The best I've gotten is 13M from a one-timer slap shot.

MB - Positive...This is where my strategy will change most. Playing the right ladder made put WCWS the furthest away, the mode points made it worth it. Now that that's no the case anymore, I'm going to be playing Left Scoop / Left Ramp modes much more often. MB with Xplayfield will make big scores.

Rule Changes - Positive (except for one)...I'm not going into detail, but shot changes to StayPuft, spinner for Super Jackpots, limiting Scoleri qualifying, etc are all for the better. The one I don't like is the change to the Gozer mode. Switching the right orbit and right ramp shots definitely makes it easier. But coupling that with Terror Dog target change makes the right ramp virtually unnecessary for anything but PKE.

This is getting way too long, so I'm going to stop. I'd like to hear your new strategies. I'm thinking Librarian Ladder to WCWS MB early.

I agree about the Spook Central Hurry-up. In the earlier code, the ball would release and I'd have about a one shot grace period to get the 15M. On the new code, the timer starts as the post drops. There is no way to set the hurry-up to 15M. Is anyone else having this problem?

There is an auto-complete setting, but I'm playing the new unaltered code to see how it's changed. I think the game needs a mix of old and new. I'm going to play unaltered new for a while to make sure what, if anything, I want to change.

I thought in the stream, the comment was made that the Scoleri Bros wouldn't be awarded from Tobins. I had that happen tonight.

I'm also getting more extra balls than seems normal. I know there is one for "finishing" three modes, and I turned on another at six "finished" modes. But I seem to be getting more than two.

It's an even tougher shot on the premium IMHO. But factory settings on the new code make it obsolete. With the new code changes, you can practically ignore it. You just don't want to leave it as the last shot on modes, because "Ghost" won't spot the last shot. PKE Frenzy is the only dedicated mode now where you can't bypass the right ramp.

I played thru WRTBY last night (didn't get 100 ghosts), completed the left ramp ladder a second time (96 ghosts that time...damn it) and drained on StayPuft the second time around the right orbit ladder. I don't recall intentionally shooting the right ramp at all that game other than PKE.

Everyone can set the game how they want, but I turned off "Ghost" spotting after that. Having a shot that you never need to shoot seems like a waste. The best thing about this new code is not only did they make a ton of changes, but they forsaw the needs of different players and added a lot of customizable options.

I hope this is a signal for future games not to have options like EASY, NORMAL, HARD, that only add to the number of shots required to do something. This game now has customizable code that changes how the game can be played. That by itself makes this update awesome.

The game now spots (gives you credit for) a lit mode shot if you have this setting on. You always have to shoot a lit mode shot before the "Ghost" target will give you a freebie. So on the three-shot first modes, you can get at most one spotted shot from the "Ghost" target.

Here's an example. Start Spook Central and set the shot value. Four main shots light. Shoot the left ramp...three shots left. Instead of shooting one of the remaining shots, shoot the "Ghost" target. The game will spot you the right ramp (so far it always has) and consider it hit. Next, shoot the right orbit. That leaves the left orbit...shoot the "Ghost" target and nothing happens. You have to physically make the last shot to count it.

Not any more. When you finish whatever mode/MB you are in and Loopin has been qualified, everything shuts off (for lack of a better term) except for the mini mode. You have to play it by itself. There is no way around it.

The geometry on that is perfect. It works on either side...the Shatz Loop to the opposite outlane!!

I know what you're talking about. I actually cracked the inside of the handle on my allen driver trying to loosen one on my MMr. It was unbelievably tight. So, I got a t-gripped allen wrench, and it came loose with moderate effort.

It depends on what you are trying to do...finish the game? Max points? Both? I play to finish games, when I'm playing at home. I usually start with the librarian ladder. I did the same on the original code, but the new code makes that ladder very easy. If you're playing stock code, use the Ghost target to quickly finish and get to WCWS. The same goes for the other ladders. Be sure to use the Ghost target to finish harder modes.

If you want max points, every time you hit the left ramp, shoot the proton pack targets. This will keep you in X multipliers indefinitely. It's risky because of the rebound off of the proton pack shot, but you don't need a long game to score. WCWS or Storage with 6x running will put you in the billions pretty quickly.

That's how it was growing up in So. Indiana. We even told the same joke! (but we never used diet root beer as the punchline )

Yes we did!!

I just dealt with a similar issue, except it happened every time...not just for extra balls. I'd shoot the scoop, and it would just eject it without acknowledging the shot. Like Supersquid said, just bend the switch up a hair. That's all it took on mine, and she's running like new.

This is really not the case, especially in the new code. You can shoot the left ramp repeatedly to build the gear jackpot. It tops out at 75M. Then hit just one of the gear targets to collect. Put that with a 6x multiplier, and you get a lot of points. It's worth as much as DCTS, but it's always available.

I wouldn't call this game easy under any circumstances, but you have to play this game under control. Trying to play a "flow" style is begging for frustration.

Playing the real game is amazing. I really love it!!

Really awesome!! You've got your nudging down pat on this game...

I love my GB Prem, but my magna-slings are a lot more animated (and frustrating) than yours. In Storage Facility you had a couple of 360 degree spins but nothing else really "violent" from them. My slings will throw the ball around the playfield, shoot the ball back and forth so fast you can't follow it, or stop it dead in it's tracks. Is there a menu setting for this? Or is it just manufacturing difference?

If I screw up and miss starting a mode, this becomes my goto. 75M per "loop" is pretty good, but it can't compare to completing a ladder and getting into WCWS. It's also a lot of shots to the ramp and standups, and misses becomes risky.

"Who said anything about fair!...is it fair that you were born like this?"

I know exactly what you mean, but I agree with @embryon. It's the feeling of satisfaction from a good game that makes the frustration of a bad one worth it. On location, where you're paying each game, these frustrations are magnified. But in home use, the start button is always lit. Sure, I've had some real stinkers on GB on a regular basis....4M point games, magna sling screw jobs, center pop exits that have no chance of being saved. But I've also gotten to WRTBY on previous code and AYAG on the new code several times.

Personally, my MMr kicks my ass a lot harder than GB. It was my first game, and I've never been close to BftK. I've had three blue lights a couple of times, but nowhere near finishing. Average score is well under 20M and ball times are negligible compared to even GB. I read posts about how great BftK is and think, how the *&^% did they get there? Is it setup; is it play style? "How come I can't make progress on this damn game!?!" That constant thought makes me keep playing.

Finishing the third ladder would start We Are Ready...., not another WCWS.

Are You A God starts if you complete WARTBY.

GB is awesome. There are a lot of risk / reward decisions. Getting deep into it makes me feel like I really had a fantastic game and makes me love it even more. But it's also the game I dream about throwing out a window most often!!

Absolutely!

Recently the subway eject has started shooting out a ball during normal gameplay. It doesn't happen every game, or more than once a game, but it has been happening more often. During normal gameplay, I can hear repeatedly the subway making the "thunk" sound, as if it stopped a ball for an animation and then released it to be ejected back into play, even if there is no ball there! If there is a ball there, it will put it into play.

If I let one of the balls drain, it triggers the end-of-ball bonus sequence. Although there is still a ball on the playfield. Is this a trough issue or a subway issue? I'm planning to run a switch test tomorrow. I just wanted to get input before I start blindly poking around.

I haven't had time to dig into yet. I'll probably be able to check the switch this afternoon. Thanks for the advice!

I need some help diagnosing a problem that has gotten worse. On my Prem, when I turn the game on, the subway lock fires like it's trying to get a ball out. However, there is no ball there. It fires off several times. I haven't counted but it does it for a while. It doesn't give an error and will eventually just stop and allow a game to be started.

The game then sometimes plays normally. However, sometimes when a ball drains and there's one or more in the subway lock, the game will put a new ball in the shooter lane correctly, and then also eject a ball from the subway lock. If you then let one ball drain and try to keep the other in play, the game will go into the end-of-ball sequence.

I don't know if this is a subway lock issue, subway eject issue, or the trough not detecting all of the balls. Any insights would be greatly appreciated. This is one of my favorite games, and it's frustrating not being able to play it reliably. Thanks in advance!