Meet Todd & Kim!

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Todd has 1 arm. They both played last week as a Team in our Monterey Flipper Pinball League. It was a bit of a shocker to me when he showed up to League. As the pair was willing to play together, I was absolutely willing to let them play as a Team.

Turns out Todd isn't just some random guy that found our League on Meetup.com - he owns Pinballs. He custom routed and added an extra flipper to the right side of all of his games, so that he can play 2 flippers with his right arm.

During League we discussed a mechanical solution to give Todd the ability to flip both flippers from the right side of the machine. Something that could be slapped onto all games he might play out in the wild.

Now, any thoughts on a mechanical solution?

Input would be Great!

I'll give a shout out to the LL Foundation - that is a great idea! Thanks.

I guess, as it was discussed at League with Todd and Fred, I could share some of the notes.

- Flipper buttons could stick out from the cabinet, and could be staggered.
- It should probably be a metal bar that extends across the width of the top of the cab, so that it can be placed onto any game he plays, and to conceal the mechanics within.

I think we all want Todd to be able to play as naturally as possible, so I keep considering lag and the additional ways in which he'd have to adapt. No doubt about it, he appears Extremely Capable of adapting!

Awesome is input enough!

It was super cool to play with Todd and Kim. They have great attitudes and are great additions to the League.

Now to get them each flipping two flippers - on their own games!

I was not expecting so many responses! I woke up figuring I'd need to bump this topic, but these responses are great!

I've contacted the LL Foundation through the webpage, but between the active thinkers in League and here on Pinside, we have a pretty great starting place.

I'm going to review this information and whatever else may (hopefully) pop up here with Todd tonight. A lot of viable solutions already - we may have the ability for Todd to effectively enter his own IFPA score This Season!

Thank you Pinsiders for such conscious thought!

WOW! Zaza, you are Rad!

I'm going to holler at Todd Right Now! He's got to see this! I think we can pull off a very similar effect for League tonight - I've got tons of metal and such laying around.

Only problem with wiring, as you noted Aurich, is that it can't be slapped onto Route Games on the spot - especially when we don't generally have the keys. I'd really like Todd to be able to play in our League, other Leagues or Tournaments, or on Route in general.

Hilarious!

As has been noted by all - this is a great option for Everyone, not just those that need it. Although, now that I think of it, sometimes I Need a beer while playing

Not much info, because I wasn't able to fashion the 'Zaza Device' before the last League night. However Todd was thrilled by the topic having such favorable results.

Todd said, 'the Zaza Device is worth a shot, it'd be weird to use the thumb, [he'd] want to try it out.'

He invited me to come over and try some ideas. I haven't had the time yet, but before Monday we will have results.

BTW, Andrei Massenkoff came by to play with MFP this past week. He was telling me about how there is effort being put in by various groups (Project Pinball and Pinball Outreach Project) to bring games to Children's Hospitals. There's talk of modifying the games for all sorts of disabilities.

Apparently Chritopher Reeve had a pinball modified so that he could roll his wheelchair into the cabinet. Word.

So, I didn't make it over to hang with Todd and his machines, but I did manage to build up a first version of the Zaza Device for use during League this week.

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It was a little bit of rad. Whoever played with Todd tonight had to play one game with the ZD. I played a few games earlier with it, I dug into it - I could catch, backflip, control shots - surprisingly playable.

There will be a few modifications required to improve its playability. Make it adjustable in length, the soft side of that Velcro tape on the underside to protect the games, and make a couple spacers/stops to keep the ZD from moving about.

He seemed pretty psyched, and took it home to practice.

I didn't bring this up during League, but I have been thinking - the Zaza Device may not be the best name. I can only imagine that Zaza has many devices, and this is probably not the first nor the last.

As this was designed live on a forum , might I suggest naming it '+1'.

Too funny, Zaza! She actually played her own matches, and beat up on the boys pretty good.

Cheers!

Whysnow, that'd be great! Heck, if anybody can improve on a design..

Ps, I love it Zaza! I should be able to recreate some version of the suction cup, rod and spring. I'll try to get on it before next Monday.

I also realize I didn't snap any close-ups of our crude first version, I'll do so this coming week as well.

Heck PM'd.

We are ready and waiting! Next Day Air isn't fast enough - I should have sported the extra $$ for you to fly out with it!

Thank you, Mr. Heckerdorn!! A true American Hero.

Oh my gosh, Kim! I hadn't seen your post - seriously, tears at the workplace! Tears of Joy for a change

BOOM!

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I should probably take it out of my collection until it's back together and playing! Ha!

Rodel is the best!

This has been an awesome progression with assistance at many levels and in many ways. I watched the video this morning on one of my screens. It was really neat to see in '1, 2, 3D'.

We will be working with Ben to showcase Todd using the rig.

I would guess a yes and a yes.

Paging Mr. Heck.

Is he in my parking lot?!

Here are the first flips from Todd using the Heckinarm, http://mfpinball.org/heckinarm/todd.mov

Also, here is a text thread with Todd - I think it is neat to see Todd's specific comment.

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He has now played with it a number of times on a number of different games. Fitting to various sized machines is interesting and requires minor adjustments (which can be made!); some might be permanent adjustments (like sanding down to fit the differences found on a Stern machine, for a snugger fit with the buttons). Also, for quick changeover, like in a multiplayer game, it'd be nice if it folded up or had a quicker means of attaching to the machines. The buttons could probably be closer. Responsiveness would be nice if improved, but as Mr. Heck mentioned in his video there is some 'hair trigger manipulation' that can be made.

I played with it, and it is really quite functional. Unfortunate for Todd, he has to play my F'd up machines, so he's having to calibrate to hard games and using his new Heckinarm.

I keep calling it Heckinarm, I am not positive that is what it is called, but I will continue to call it such until I'm told otherwise

http://mfpinball.org/pinside/heckinarm/todd.mov

Here is a short clip of me using the rig. The video is bouncy and small, but you can see that it gives plenty of control.

http://mfpinball.org/heckinarm/cary.mov

http://mfpinball.org/pinside/heckinarm/cary.mov

A quick update on the progress with Todd and his Heckenarm..

Todd has been playing with the device in League every Monday. We had to go back to remedial suction cup school, and by cleaning the playfield glass and making sure they are properly moist, the device is extremely stable - yes, this took us weeks to 'master'. There is still the issue of taking it on and off between players, but we have adapted to the time as a group to facilitate use of the Heckenarm.

Todd has also leaped from getting 4th place out of 4 players to taking 2nd places and winning games! He is continuing to be more comfortable, and his control is getting crazy good.

This coming Monday, for our 5th League night of our MFP Season, Todd will be interviewing with Ben Heck over Skype, as a follow up to the Prototype and the progression of the device.

Lastly, those going to Pin-A-Go-Go should come find Todd and see the Heckenarm in action! Todd is also bringing his custom Black Rose with 2 flipper buttons on the right side of the cab - 1 Armed Pinball for everyone!

For those that haven't seen the video of Ben designing the Heckenarm, please check it out! http://www.element14.com/community/docs/DOC-75135/l/episode-176-ben-heck-s-single-handed-pinball-mod-episode

Later!

A new article about Todd!

https://www.facebook.com/MFPinball/posts/887350014699281

One of our MFP League Members decided to try and improve on the device made by Ben Heck. Calling on yonkiman to show us what he's built.

He literally just texted us all the other day with info on his new device.

It appears many others can use something of the sort.

Videos are up on our League site: http://mfpinball.org/pinside/yonkiarm