Quoted from Coyote:To fill in on the Lock, for those who are really anal about it, or may want to change how their game operates..
There are several lock settings that adjust how a player can start multiball:
A.2 10 - 1st Hard Lock: This setting defaults to '2'. It is easily confused with A.2 13, but is regarding the 'GUM' and 'BALL' lamps/ramp shots. Since default is '2', this means that the 1st Multiball is 'not hard'. Okay, so, this is the multiball # that you have to shoot the ramps to spell 'GUMBALL' before you can lock your second ball, OR, depending on A.2 13, get your release!
A.2 11 - 1st Hard Release: This setting indicates the first time the player has to spell 'GUM' and 'BALL' before the multiball start is ready. By default, this is the 3rd multiball. What this means is, assuming A.2 10 is set to default ('2'), and you just completed your 1st multiball. The second multiball you have to spell 'GUM' and 'BALL' once to lock ball 1. Then again to lock ball 2. Then, LOCK will be solid - no need to shoot the ramps to spell 'GUM' and 'BALL' again. Now, you start and lose multiball, and you swear you're going to get that effin' jackpot. So, you then, to get the 3rd multiball, have to spell 'GUM' and 'BALL' for lock 1, lock 2, and then *again* for the release.
A.2 12 - Last Ramp Release: This setting is the *last* (not first, like the ones above) multiball you can shoot up the Ramp (and around to the Autolauncher) to start Multiball. By default, this is '1', as the first multiball is the only one you won't have to shoot the lock to start.
A.2 13 - Last Easy Release: This setting is the *last* multiball that will allow it to start after only ONE ball is locked.
Because I've seen a lot of confusion between A.2 10 and A.2 13, here's an example of shots required to start 1st and second multiball on a game:
With the game set to defaults, and at the start of a game, you can get the first multiball by:
- Light 'GUM' and 'BALL'.
- Shoot the LOCK. (Ball 1 locked.)
- Shoot the LOCK or Main Ramp, start Multiball.
- Multiball over.
- Light 'GUM' and 'BALL'.
- Shoot the LOCK. (Ball 1 locked.)
- Shoot the LOCK. (Ball 2 locked.)
- Shoot the LOCK. (Multiball start.)
Say you change A.2 10 to '1' (1st Multiball is 'Hard Lock'), then, THIS is what you have to do:
- Light 'GUM' and 'BALL'.
- Shoot the LOCK.
- Light 'GUM' and 'BALL' again.
- Shoot the LOCK or Main Ramp, start Multiball.
- Multiball over.
- Light 'GUM' and 'BALL'.
- Shoot the LOCK. (Ball 1 locked.)
- Shoot the LOCK. (Ball 2 locked.)
- Shoot the LOCK. (Multiball start.)
Now, taking the above into play, let's say you change A.2 12 from default of 1 to 2 (Last Ramp Release):
- Light 'GUM' and 'BALL'.
- Shoot the LOCK.
- Light 'GUM' and 'BALL' again.
- Shoot the LOCK or Main Ramp, start Multiball.
- Multiball over.
- Light 'GUM' and 'BALL'.
- Shoot the LOCK. (Ball 1 locked.)
- Shoot the LOCK. (Ball 2 locked.)
- Shoot the LOCK or Main Ramp, start Multiball.
Now, taking the above, change A.2 11 from 3 to 2. (1st hard release.):
- Light 'GUM' and 'BALL'.
- Shoot the LOCK.
- Light 'GUM' and 'BALL' again.
- Shoot the LOCK or Main Ramp, start Multiball.
- Multiball over.
- Light 'GUM' and 'BALL'.
- Shoot the LOCK. (Ball 1 locked.)
- Shoot the LOCK. (Ball 2 locked.)
- Light 'GUM' and 'BALL' again.
- Shoot the LOCK or Main Ramp, start Multiball.
So, with these 4 settings, you can really give a little nuance to how you can start Multiball.
I gotta print this and hang beside my pin!