Have you guys figured out why Earthshaker was set up with a screwed up (literally) left flipper?

http://papa.org/learning-center/directors-guide/?target=game-setup

"To reduce game times, tournament directors can introduce flipper hop by placing a small wad of tape underneath the left flipper rubber. This type of fix is far from ideal, but if Earthshaker must be used and the length of the games to be played is a genuine concern for the format or location, the flipper hop will usually help reduce ball time."

Also note that they appeared to have put some kind of blocker in the 5 hole so that clean shots wouldn't stay in the scoop and feeds to the upper flipper were hard to come by.

I did not enjoy playing this Earthshaker, but I did manage to win my group on it.

Just listened to episode 28, that Buffy story was hilarious.

This may inadvertently fuel your hatred of Amish but I know they don't have to use passports to go into Canada or come back.

I had to laugh at the Stranger Things story and Tommy giving Taylor a hard time about his hamfistedness. "They caress the machine like a fine woman."

Heard some jive about Tommy being a quitter..........come on?!?!

anther great podcast....thanks guys!

Now accepting applications for a new podcast cohost?

Hang in there, Tommy. We're rooting for you.

Tommy - why are dumping the entire collection???? Just saw the Facebook post!

Sorry. The position has been filled.........BY ME!!!

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This is confusing... I've heard of going from 0 to 60.... But this is like going from 6,000 to full on reverse!

Hope it's for happy reasons!

Troll the thread!! I think should Kristen replace Tommy. MUCH better dynamic. Less sexual tension. And now for some sweet punk

Ladies in Punk and Pinball....always be better than me.

Taylor,

Episode 29 was a great show. Kristin has a voice (literally and figuratively) please encourage her to participate more. I've got young kids and really enjoy them being involved. It was nice to hear about your family enjoying pinball.

The part on sexism was well done. I know because parts of it made me uncomfortable to listen. I don't necessarily agree with everything you (Taylor) said, but I get your points. I'm in the deep South, manners and courteous behavior are the norm, but we have plenty of "dicks" also. In some parts of the country people see it as offensive. I personally don't think either point of view is wrong. I do think both points of view should be open to the perspective of the other. I'm talking about things like door opening and "ladies first". I would never allow harassment or "being a dick" as you put it, in my presence or home.

Let's take a quick diversion to an example of something people would easily mis-understand. My wife is a physician, a very busy and talented one. She works with men as colleagues and partners. She can out operate some of them, out earn some of them, and generally draw more patients than some of them. They are still able to work together happily. Some of those same men, pull out her chair and open doors for her. She's not belittled or offended. She not threatened by them nor they by her. It's just a cultural thing. She doesn't need or desire anyone to be offended for her either, because she's a self made, independent and confident woman. Okay sorry and will stop there. I'm just sharing some perspective.

The rest of the show was quite enjoyable as well. I like that you easily transitioned to regular pinball conversations etc. Tommy, I hope to see you back. Great guy and TFP is a great team. I hope I didn't derail your thread too much. I'm a big fan of the show and listen to each episode ASAP when released. You've even got me thinking about doing my own.

Chris

Chris- thanks for the feedback and for listening, I passed along your compliment to Kristen as well.

The sexism segment was a bit long winded, on my part, as I find it a difficult issue to talk about as I too was brought up with manners that may now seem old fashioned, i.e., holding a door for a woman or the courtesy of "ladies first." Southern charm and chivalry were certainly ideas I was brought up under so I do understand how hard it can be to break from that tradition. I think that the hobby's greatest assets are the people that are involved in it, so when I hear that people are made too uncomfortable to participate in certain aspects of it it becomes everyone's loss and has forced me to consider the things I do that may add to that negative experience.

I expect that TFP will get back to normal in the next couple of weeks. Tommy and I have a ton of stuff coming up and with the hobby entering it's peak seasons there will be more than enough to talk about.

Thanks again for listening,
Taylor

I picked up this shirt and patch at the Rocky Mountain Show. I just got it back from my local "patch lady". She does all my scout uniforms. I told her not to pay to much attention to the skulls and stuff.

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Welcome back Tommy - great to hear you again and in positive spirits after such a rough month for you!

I've only had a chance to listen to the first half hour so far, but wow - quite the forthcoming episode. Good for you man! Looking forward to listening to the remainder of your and Taylor's discussion of recent pinball happenings.

As always - thanks to you guys for an entertaining, informative, and sometimes dramatic podcast!

Same! Good to hear you back on the 'cast, Tommy! Good to know you couldn't be bothered with listening to the episode recorded in your absence.

Yeah right. Wtf?

great to have you back Tommy and team Flippin Podcast - 1 hr in and enjoying keep up the good work.

Hey Flippin' 'Casters,

To quote a fellow podcast...

I kid, I kid...I know you've been goin' through some stuff, my man.

Anyhow, I finally made it all the way through TFP30. (Only able to listen in about 20 minute increments on the way to work...so, you know, one episode tends to last me all month.)

Just wanted to say thanks for the mention of my work (alongside a bunch of other great artists). Really appreciate it. In case anyone is interested, here's all my pinball art:

http://www.ElephantEater.com/10761

Also, I've never heard of Jonas Sandilands that Taylor mentioned, but when I tried to find his website based on Taylors spelling, it didn't turn up anything. Maybe Tay-tay could shoot me that URL (when he's sobered-up).

Also, was happy to hear mention of Brian Holderman's design of the Kickback Cafe. Nick Baldridge and I paid a visit there with our families this past summer...

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...and it was UN-BE-LIEVABLE!!!

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Complete with under-lit floor inserts:

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Of course I had to get the Scared Stiff:

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Anyhow, just had to share and give props out to Holderman for an awe-inspiring job on the Kickback Cafe. I was drooling over every surface of that place. SO well conceived.

Alright, guys, I'm off to go post a pic on your facebook page in a vain attempt at a freebie grab.

Great to have you both back,
Ryan

Ryan- sobered up but now on pain meds from dental work. Yay!

http://www.jonosandilands.com

Wow. Very heavy episode.

Tommy, I commend you for the strength to talk about your situation in public and taking responsibility. I have the kind of personality that I would have just retreated and never spoken of it again. It's kind of inspirational and a positive example of how to deal with mistakes in one's life.

It kind of sounds like you're thinking of staying in the Lafayette area. I'm not sure how the pinball scene would be there if you moved. You seem to be an important piece for that area.

Inspirational may have been the wrong word but I think you understood what I meant. People deserve second chances in life if they are repentant and humble.

Looking forward to seeing you this weekend at the tournament.

Thanks for the custom bingo shout-out guys. Always much appreciated.

Taylor, I look forward to seeing you at York if not before! Gotta get you to try this monstrosity.

Tommy, glad you're back on the pinball wagon.

Love the show, keep it up! You'll catch me in episode count before you know it.

Also: the Kickback Cafe was a fantastic spot for some pinball with the families while we were on vacation. Beautiful atmosphere, great machines - always nice to see an EM in the lineup...

I am a pathetic friend to have not gotten over to your place yet. Once September is over my life will settle down a little.

Looking forward to York.

Plenty of time, it's not going anywhere.

I'm pretty proud of it and I think you'll like it when you get to try it.

I just popped by to say the same thing.

Too often, people won't "man up" and take responsibility for their actions, and try and blame others to try and shift the blame and weasel out of it.

I'd like to commend you for coming forward and doing the right thing, as painful as the experience was.

Happy flipping!

rd

JFC people, WHAT ABOUT ME?!

I mean come the FUKC on! I have feelings too...buried deep down behind my blackened heart. Bwahahahahaha!

Recording Wednesday....I think.

hit up our FB page for even more feelings
https://www.facebook.com/thisflippinpodcast/

Hey - I mentioned you in my post Tyler. ( )

Looking forward to you guys having Angelina Jolie as a future podcast guest!

I hear Gary is a listener too, and has some thoughts to share with us.

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Alright dudes, my data cycle just reset, so I'm gonna give this a whirl.

I was sad to see Tommy not doing well, and want to hear the story! Is that terrible, or good?

When you listen to a bunch of these things, you start to feel like you're actually friends. But, you're not, and that's weird!

You guys both seem like rad people, and I am very grateful for your podcast!

Peace - Scott

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JFC Scott, getting me all weepy. In all seriousness, pinball is pretty much the only thing I've done were I felt like a part of it and not just looking from the outside in. Most of my friends are pinheads and most of my time, outside of family stuff, is taken up with making rails, working on or servicing games and playing pinball. I'm not sure how it got to this point but it is and I'm fine with that.

Tommy and I both started podcasting through the One and Done Podcast, which was such a great idea and I wish more had taken part, and the idea was to just share our story. I think it naturally evolved because we are both so deep into the hobby that This Flippin Podcast is just those stories continued. I've met so many people in this hobby and feel a kinship to them no matter who they are, pinball is a great equalizer and when you have people that speak a common language, like pinheads do, I think it is natural to develop friendships quickly. I have always been social at shows and tourneys so meeting new people that listen to the podcast just gives the friendship a jump start. Hope that makes sense.

Cheers. Now go fix your game.

Listened,

Good on you for owning up to being shitty.
I've been there before, different circumstance.
The positive is that there are no kids involved!

Therapy/counseling is awesome for understanding yourself. I was a psych major

First partner came out, after we had a kid. I had a great therapist, got me out of my nuttiness.

Sounds like Taylor's mouth is Gottlieb's Volcano.

Hoping to meet up with you guys eventually at a pinball show, if I can grab a solo vacation eventually.

Take care!

I was kind of surprised to hear how much Taylor HATES ("I HAAAATE IT!") The Walking Dead given his skill level and his preference for games to be set up to play hard.

I can somewhat empathize as I used to pretty much hate it too when it first came out and I've never really been a big fan of the show. However, once the rules set jelled and I familiarized myself with its features more, I came to appreciate its different playfield layout and challenging gameplay. It can still be mean with a higher than average frequency of cruel drains, but it has a lot of fun satisfying shots (when I can make them) and the atmosphere it generates when you get things clicking is very immersive!

If you only have ever played one on route that forks you every time it comes out of the pops, it's the worst game ever. If it goes to the left flipper like it's supposed to, it's actually a pretty fair game with respect to that feed. The outlanes are terrible no matter what. A game shouldn't have to be set up "just right" to not hose you like TWD does on the pop feed. But, again, when it feeds properly it can be an exciting challenge.

That got me thinking ... and honestly I'd probably take my TWDpro over all of those, as good as they are.

When I first played a TWDLE, I thought it was crap. Lifting ramp was clunky, the heads looked ludicrous, the pop drain Lane.

But I got offered a used pro at a good price just as the new code came out, so I grabbed it. Boy what a game. The pops drain Lane still heads SDTM probably 1/5th of the time so you need to keep on your toes there. But the adrenaline rush I get from playing well on this game is unlike any of my other machines.

rd

Yeah - not to turn this into a TWD thread, but this may be part of Taylor's apparent frustration with the game. As a rule, being able to set up my own games the way I like them greatly increases my playing enjoyment. This is especially true with TWD as mine has really benefited from some extra tweaking.

I know my frustration is all about the way the ball feeds out of the pop nest. I played a beautiful premium at SFGE in the tournament and it was dialed in and played great.

I am of the mind, as others have said, that if a game has to be set up perfectly to play well it has a design flaw. I've seen that on GBs
on location that feed SDTM out of the left scoop. I'm now dealing with that issue on my game and it is driving me nuts..still don't hate GB but have uses some choice words when it has happened.

Set the left scoop power low. I think mine is on 22 or 23. Delivers to the left flipper perfectly. Trying to get it to the right flipper is miserable because it won't feed that spot every time.

The scoop on my game was not tight and I think that slop allowed for the ball to sometimes go SDTM. I've tightened it and is seems to be hitting the right flipper consistently now.