Hello Pinsiders!

I’ve been working in the pinball “scene” as it were for the past several years. I’ve worked on some really cool projects, like Demolition Man 2000, TNA, Wizard Blocks, Kingpin, Pinball Circus, RM, Titan Pinball’s Kits Database and the P3 just to name a few. I firmly believe that part of the fun in owning/playing games is to make them your own.

Enter Twilight Zone. It’s a great game. It’s warped, it has several Rube Goldberg elements and it keeps me entertained. It occurred to me one day that the majority of the backsplash/backboard space is completely unused.

So, to address that, I’ve created the Interactive Backboard Display system with Twilight Zone being the first title. This system introduces a fully immersive, fully interactive 15” display that occupies most of the backboard space. This is not some stop-frame animation gimmick, this is rich video at over 30 frames per second!

This is not a Color DMD alternative, but is designed to interactively change the backboard artwork depending on the game modes that are active or completed. This display is fully interactive, and knows the game’s state!

Out of the box, the display comes with custom artwork and animations pre-programmed for the over 12 modes (plus a few extras!)

• Game introductions after pressing start
• Camera awards
• Hitchikers
• Super Skill Shot
• Greed
• Clock Chaos
• Clock Millions
• Battle the Power
• Super Slot
• The Spiral
• Fast Lock
• Town Square Madness

***Fully Customizable***
Now, I know that what comes out the box might not appeal to everyone, so the system does allow you to take the SD card, load it onto your PC and replace the existing graphics or videos with ones of your choosing. Create a display package for yourself, or share your setup with others, it’s up to you!

Each kit comes with the following:

• Display Controller & Game Sensing Card
• 15” ruggedized display panel inset into a 23” wooden back panel (matched to original specs)
• Easy-mount brackets that utilize existing backboard mounting holes
• Display power, HDMI and data cables
• Fully loaded/preconfigured SD card with graphics and videos ready-to-go

***Pricing***
The projected price here is $449 for the entire kit

***Availability & How to Get One***
I’ve ordered enough parts to assemble, test and ship 20 units. Display panels are in stock and the remaining parts should be arriving over the next few weeks.

Subsequent runs will be based on demand, but the idea is to always have a few in stock so that those who want one can get one.

Please show interest in this thread or send me a DM.

Once the assembly of these units is nearing completion, I’ll coordinate shipping and payment with the first batch directly. I don’t want any money from you until I’m sure things are good to go.

***Future Work***
I’m starting out with Twilight Zone because it was the first game I designed this mod for, but I can say that I have three other titles in the works right now.

***Demo & Pictures***

Feel free to ask any questions you like!

-- Jimmy
spiral (resized).pngbattle_power (resized).pngclock_chaos (resized).pngclock_millions (resized).pngfastlock_funhouse (resized).pngfastlock_taf (resized).pngfastlock_whirlwind (resized).pnggame_start (resized).pnggreed (resized).pngpowerball (resized).pngsuper_skill (resized).pngsuperslot (resized).pngtownsqmadness (resized).pngIMG_20200912_191540 (resized).jpg

Thank you kindly, and thank you for all you do in the business!

Fear not, for at least one game in your collection is an upcoming title for this mod

Thank you all very much for the kind words. My goal is to make this as tasteful as possible, so any ideas are welcome!

Thank you kindly . Aren't there already like 3-4 of those out there?

Well that saddens me! I think it's a great idea and a great product. The creech holo mod I know was discontinued originally (the MikeD mod?). Though I think Stephen? in Germany was going to do another version of it and got busy. When I get near the end of this initial run and testing, if they reach out to me, I'm happy to help. Otherwise I can take a stab at it. I think a 7" display and my current control system would fit perfectly.

And stupid Marsha gets all the boys! Thanks Frank Love your work!

TZ is actually a fun game. I know several friends despise it, but I love the theme and execution of it all. It certainly kicks my ass (as evidenced in the video).

Thanks! I had a LOT of fun designing this. I'm putting together installation instructions/video for all of that. Basically the gist is as follows:

1. Plug the controller card we ship with the unit into the sound board in the backbox (with supplied mounting screws and cable)
2. Remove your existing backboard assembly using 5 screws at the rear of the playfield
3. Install the new Interactive Backboard assembly using the 2 existing screw holes on the end with supplied bracket and screws. (You can optionally install the brackets first, then lower the playfield and screw the backboard display to the brackets separately)
4. Plug the given power supply into the service outlet or external wall outlet. I am testing a dedicated 12V solution, but I insist on running extended tests to make sure we're not over-taxing the game's 12V system. If these tests are positive, I'll ship everyone a supply harness.
5. Connect the display/power harness to both the display and the controller board in the backbox
6. Light it up!

Thanks Art! I definitely want to survey all sorts of ways we can keep mods interactive and on the playfield wherever possible. Anyone thinking of making something of that sort, I'm always happy to help.

Hope you're living it up post-Comet. Love your stuff, even if we were friendly competitors between Titan and Comet You did this industry a big solid.

-- Jimmy

Good question:

We're going to cut some PETG sheets and counter-sink the display at an angle a bit more to get an airgap. This helps with two things:
- Viewing angle for those over 6ft
- Protection from errant balls

I'm not that worried with TZ in particular because the plastic protector on the left ramp and the angle of the right ramp wall have never sent anything back there on my games (or others with appropriately spec'd flipper coils). Though, as we all know, things happen.

Other titles I'm testing on definitely will need some protection, so we're designing it in from the start.

Also, your name was bothering me and I finally remember where I saw it! You did the combo shooter mod for RFM/SW:E1. Great work! I could've definitely used it on my Wizard Blocks.

-- Jimmy

Oh, all of the success of Titan is in the hands of Eric and Heather (and formerly Matt and Eve). They do the hard stuff, I just push the bits across the wire where they need to be. I remember when Matt was thinking of moving onto his next gig, you were one of the top of the list just with the way you ran things and how people loved your brand, then we found out you were retiring, haha. Great times.

Additional output ports as in display ports? What are you thinking? There's not, but there are ways we can achieve that, or I can potentially design an upgrade with an added HDMI port.

You crazy TZ people and your gadgets! Interesting, we could definitely make a topper, or at least empower you to make your own if you want to tinker. We can achieve that through a couple of different ways, either splitting at the cable or by extending the hardware outputs to push the pixels to the top display if you want some different types of interaction. Though simply splitting the signal would probably satisfy 90% of the world and much less cost.

Wicked cool!

The backboard is specific to the particular game. For example, the TZ backboard is exactly 23" and the display mounts are inset so that everything is exactly aligned to where I want it for TZ. Though if I make different backboards, I suppose I could just sell the backboard and you could transfer the display and controller over.

The software side would just be a different asset package for the most part. So yeah, largely transferrable.

I assume you want some pictures with the glass on, or you mean the actual backglass/translite? Happy to take some. It works best with a DMD deflector (Bent Plastic from Pinball Life for $8, or your glare guard variety).

You are too kind! Probably the most remarkable bit was that it was super fun to design. Hope everyone gets some enjoyment out of it! Also can't wait to see people create their own video packages.

Ooooh, intriguing.... Lots of open space there...

Gotcha.

You're in like Flynn.

You're in, and you got the last one too.

I'll see what I can do to expand this batch build based on the demand.

Thank you kindly I really appreciate the kind words.

TAF, ToM, CFTBL, TNA, STTNG are games that have been requested or are either in active development. Demand definitely drives that priority there. I think I'll do a poll thread to get a bit more info if you guys and girls want.