I acquired my own Revenge from Mars a bit over 2 weeks ago and I've been having a blast with it. It is, perhaps, the pin I've enjoyed most right away after bringing a pin home.

Since RFM is a somewhat polarizing game (aren't a lot of them?), and some people seem to indicate the video aspect takes away from the classic pinball experience, or that it doesn't have a classic experience underpinning it, I decided to try something. I played several games with the glass removed. This was my approach to disabling video (alternatively i could have disconnected the video cable or other approaches).

Even without the video, I had a ball playing RFM! It's fun even without the video!

I decided to play some more with the glass removed and take a video to show others what RFM looks like without "video". IMHO, it looks like a cool traditional pin. Now, this video isn't intended to show any great gameplay (and it doesn't)... but it shows a representative sample.

Here is the YouTube link to some 9 minutes of RFM gameplay without video / glass (not a complete game).

Who has played RFM without the video and what are your thoughts? I think it further proves it's a great game.

... Altan

(More about RFM @ www.aaarpinball.com/RFM/RFM.htm)

Cool!

FWIW, it appears the YouTube is taking forever to process this video. It currently is playing back in some super low resolution (should be 720p) and doesn't have a thumbnail graphic.

Update: Looks like YouTube finished processing and it's available in 720p now...

With RFM you can absolutely see the shots. The video animations and/or characters are very will integrated into the shot, never obscuring them. What RFM does "hide" is the physical trail that the ball takes once it passes "into" the video realm.

MustangPaul, drop me a note if you have any video amp questions... Or ask in a thread so others can read and chime in.

I know it's silly, but I was playing without glass some more (tweaking the up/down ramp) and it's really fun. I'm not saying it's better without the glass (no!), but I believe this supports RFM being a great game.

I think the Samsung is one of the potential tubes used by the WG monitor. I'm away from my RFM right now but can look later (when back) to see what tube I have.

In the mean time, check out the monitor adjustment board that is behind the translate. If the model starts with DS, you have Ducksan... If it starts with WG, you have Well-Gardner. At least I THINK that's the case

Glad you got that figured out. I didn't look closely at the Ducksan approach, but I believe you need to cut the H/V sync trace on the video amp and make sure you wire bot H and V sync to the monitor. FWIW, as my web site says, I tried this approach with the WG ... Thinking that H/V sync would be better than composite sync. I couldn't get the WG to work this way so I ended up adding the trace back.

Ducksan and Wells-Gardner design the circuit board that inputs the video signals and controls the electron means. The tube, which fluoresces (or whatever the right word is) when struck by the electron beam is made by various other companies (such as Samsung).

(This is a spacer)

So... Back onto the original topic. Anyone enjoy playing RFM without the video? Or does anyone have an opinion about RFM's gameplay without the video and how the video (perhaps) improves it?

Probably this:

Change "Capture M.B. Light Lock Loops" to On
Change "Loop Dead Scene Shots" on On

Best adjustments you can make!

I agree!

What I'm saying is that RFM is great without video. If it wasn't pin2k it would still be a good game. It's even better with the video!

Yes, it should go to the pops sometimes.

Regarding Dead Scene shot, I've not read a formal statement of its functionality either. However, my best guess is that if the orbit isn't used by the mode, or you have achieve that orbit goal, the ball will continue around and exit the other orbit side. This is opposed to falling down into the roll over lane
(from my RFM page http://www.aaarpinball.com/RFM/RFM.htm)