I've been digging to the Jurassic Park rules for my code update.

One thing I have dug into recently is the "Escape From Isla Nublar" mode.

From what I am reading of the strategy guides, this mode's scoring is completely misunderstood. The way the mode works is very confusing.

Here is how the mode actually works as it stands today in v.5.13:

1) Starts at 21M.
2) Counts down 1M per second.
3) When you hit one of the awards (Heli, Boat, Visitor) it FLASHES the score on the screen. IT DOES NOT ADD THAT SCORE!!! It also adds 10M to the score countdown.
4) When you hit another of the awards, it FLASHES the countdown score on the screen. IT AGAIN DOES NOT ADD THAT SCORE!!! It also adds 10M to the score countdown.
5) When you COMPLETE the mode by hitting the last target, it FLASHES the countdown score on the screen. THIS IS THE >>>ONLY<<< SCORE THAT IS ADDED.
6) If (after you hit a target) more than 10 seconds counts down (bringing you back to the score it flashed on the screen) then the mode abruptly ends and THAT IS THE >>>ONLY<<< SCORE THAT IS ADDED.

So... if I start this mode, and I quickly hit the Dock, it flashes 20M on the screen, then I quickly hit Heli and it flashes 29M on the screen, then I quickly hit Visitor and it flashes 38M on the screen. I am awarded a TOTAL of 38M for this mode.

Another example... if I start this mode, and I hit the Dock with 3M on the countdown, it flashes 3M on the screen, then 9 seconds later I hit Heli at the 4M count down mark and it flashes 4M on the screen, then 9 seconds later I hit Visitor at the 5M count down mark and it flashes 5M on the screen. I am awarded a TOTAL of 5M for this mode.

It does NOT accumulate each one. I think this is where everyone's misunderstanding comes in. I think most people thought that the scores were accumulating and that the max possible was 93M (21M + 31M +41M).

The absolute best you could possibly score in the mode is 21+10+10 = 41M.

I know... confusing, huh?

FYI, check out my code update thread here if you haven't already:
http://pinside.com/pinball/forum/topic/jurassic-park-rules

None yet. Still thinking about this one.

Yes. As it stands, scoring of the mode is fair... if you are very good and immediately make all three shots and then you'll score in the 30-40M range.

I don't like how the average player who will probably hit only one or two targets (and not right away) will end this mode with probably 10M. Trying to find the balance here. I also really don't like how it is technically possible to make all three shots in the allotted time and walk away with only like 3M to 5M total.

Finally, I would like this mode to be a little more clear or self explanatory... I don't like how it is flashing the score when the player makes a shot but the player is not really scoring that amount. Lastly, I don't like how it abruptly ends if you don't make the 2nd or 3rd shot. At the very least, I'd like it to flash the actual score the player was awarded in that moment.

I'm liking this idea. I'll see what I can do.

OK, after much thought and many ideas... I ended up keeping the mode scoring just like it is but having the display more clearly show what is (and is not) going on.

ORIGINAL:
1) Starts at 21M.
2) Counts down 1M per second.
3) When you hit one of the awards (Heli, Boat, Visitor) it FLASHES the score on the screen. IT DOES NOT ADD THAT SCORE!!! It also adds 10M to the score countdown and plays the "Escape" voice call and dinosaur roar.
4) When you hit another of the awards, it FLASHES the countdown score on the screen. IT AGAIN DOES NOT ADD THAT SCORE!!! It also adds 10M to the score countdown and plays the "Escape" voice call and dinosaur roar.
5) When you COMPLETE the mode by hitting the last target, it FLASHES the countdown score on the screen. THIS IS THE >>>ONLY<<< SCORE THAT IS ADDED.
6) If (after you hit only one or two targets) more than 10 seconds counts down (bringing you back to the score it flashed on the screen) then the mode abruptly ends, nothing is shown on the display, and THAT IS THE >>>ONLY<<< SCORE THAT IS ADDED.

PROPOSAL:
1) Starts at 21M.
2) Counts down 1M per second.
3) When you hit one of the awards (Heli, Boat, Visitor) it adds 10M to the score countdown and plays the "Escape" voice call and dinosaur roar.
4) When you hit another of the awards, it adds 10M to the score countdown and plays the "Escape" voice call and dinosaur roar.
5) When you COMPLETE the mode by hitting the last target, it FLASHES the countdown score on the screen. THIS IS THE >>>ONLY<<< SCORE THAT IS ADDED.
6) If (after you hit only one or two targets) more than 10 seconds counts down then the mode ends, it FLASHES the score that you achieved on the screen and THAT IS THE >>>ONLY<<< SCORE THAT IS ADDED.

As you can see above, the mode will no longer flash the score when you make the first or second shot. It was very confusing that it would flash the score and the player was lead to believe that the score being flashed was also being added to the overall score. This is not true. So, as a result, now when you make the first or second shot, it will not flash the score but it will increase the countdown timer by 10M and play the "Escape" voice call and dino roar sound effect to indicate that you made a shot.

The other big problem with the mode was if you only made one or two shots and did not make the last shot within 10 seconds then the mode would just end. Nothing on the display. No indication of what was achieved. This left the player confused. As you can see above, I have it set so now when the mode ends, it will display the dinosaur chasing car animation and flash the score achieved.

Bottom line, this mode will now only flash the scores achieved and will always flash the scores achieved. This should help the player better understand what is happening.

The reason why I didn't go with the other scoring ideas is because once you actually find out how this mode works, you realize that it is a pretty fair mode and not over powered. The modification I have made is in the spirit of the original rules and only helps clarify what is happening.

I am going to also add this information to my JP Rules update thread.