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THIS WEEK IN PINBALL
Happy Monday Pinheads!!
https://www.thisweekinpinball.com/this-week-in-pinball-november-25th-2019/
- RAZA Updates
- Interview with Robert Mueller
- New RAZA Video
- Haggis Pinball Updates
- Interview with Damian Hartin
- New Podcast
- Insider: Scott Danesi Second Game Info/Rumors
THIS WEEK IN PINBALL
Happy Monday Pinheads!!
https://www.thisweekinpinball.com/this-week-in-pinball-december-2nd-2019/
- Last day to enter to win ColorDMD, Autographed Translites, and a bunch more!!
- Star Wars Topper Revealed
- American Pinball Game 3 to be at TPF
- Jurassic Park Code Update
- Steve Bowden Interview
- Dutch Pinball Updates
- PINQUEST Contest: Win free Market Trends shirts!
Giveaway Items.gifTHIS WEEK IN PINBALL
Happy Monday Pinheads!!!
https://www.thisweekinpinball.com/this-week-in-pinball-december-9th-2019/
- Spooky Announces Rick and Morty
- Wonka CEs Shipping
- Elvira Shooter Knob and Topper
- IFPA Announces Changes Related to Women’s Pinball
- Code Updates
- Insider: Rick and Morty and Stranger Things and More
- ‘Tis the Season
Wow. deeproot announced what, like 10 games, plus their Houdini ripoff? And now they are becoming “less interested” in pinball.
Happy TWIP Tuesday!!
https://www.thisweekinpinball.com/twip-tuesday-december-10th-2019/
- Chuck Ernst Joins Flip N Out
- Dead Flip Game(s) Updates
- AP Amy Pinn Colorized
- MNF Shows Seattle Pinball Museum
- A Computer Plays Pinball
Read the bit on the computer playing pinball. Sorry... can't help myself. Here's an old video of an early prototype P3 playing itself.
- Gerry
https://www.multimorphic.com
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- Pin Stadium FUSION ($400)
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Quoted from gstellenberg:
Read the bit on the computer playing pinball. Sorry... can't help myself. Here's an old video of an early prototype P3 playing itself.
Six years before - and you didn't even need the backend computing power of Azure to do it!
Read the bit on the computer playing pinball. Sorry... can't help myself. Here's an old video of an early prototype P3 playing itself.
- Gerry
https://www.multimorphic.com
Awesome! That was better than the Microsoft one.
It actually looks like the Microsoft one might just be randomly flipping the flippers. I see the rig that's presumably holding a camera, but the flippers seem to be firing way too often and randomly to convince me they have software doing any tracking-based flip logic.
We've actually been considering enhancing our software development kit to include some AI parameters in each 'mode' (modes in P3 apps are just sections of logic that perform a function. They could be complex modes, like a full multiball or story-mode, or they could just be a subset of that). Those parameters would help the computer decide what are the most valuable shots to hit at any given time so that an auto-playing P3 could choose more advantageous shots to hit and score really well. We could even factor in risk vs reward based on shot-making metrics so that the computer could try to build up multipliers and hurry-up values before cashing in.
I wrote a game called "H-O-R-S-E" for that early proto, where a human and the computer would take turns making defined shots. Even with pretty simple tracking and timing logic, the computer was about 80% accurate (much better than I was). I bet we could dial that in to get close to perfection in single ball play.
Super fun and interesting stuff. Wish there was more time in the day and fewer other priorities! Would love to put together a man-vs-machine challenge!
- Gerry
https://www.multimorphic.com
Would love to put together a man-vs-machine challenge!
No matter who wins, humanity loses. 
If you do add that to the SDK, I'd love to see it (and use it) for some of the more ambitious modes I'm writing.
I think the Microsoft computer playing is trying to showcase one of their Cognitive Service APIs: the vision one I assume. A combination of visual review to try and understand what is happening while the outcomes let the machine "learn" to do better and better at the task.
I actually found very little about the pinball demonstration in any write-ups, though there is a pretty interesting summary of the Vision API and the five core elements that make it up: https://blogs.windows.com/windowsdeveloper/2017/02/13/cognitive-services-apis-vision/
So if the idea is how artificial intelligence can learn to play a physical pinball machine, I'm guessing those seemingly random flipper flips are part of its learning process to figure out when flipping might somehow influence the ball. That or it lost track of it entirely.
Still, I think it's an interesting use of the AI technology versus the usual object identification/photo ID stuff we're more familiar with seeing.
Quoted from bingopodcast:
Six years before - and you didn't even need the backend computing power of Azure to do it!
Microsoft has been promoting - and failing at - "the power of the cloud" in gaming for YEARS. Crackdown was supposed to have completely destructable environments with realistic demolition and a bunch of other stuff thanks to the "power of the cloud." None of it happened. Lag was the main problem, IMO.
Quoted from DennisK:
So if the idea is how artificial intelligence can learn to play a physical pinball machine, I'm guessing those seemingly random flipper flips are part of its learning process to figure out when flipping might somehow influence the ball. That or it lost track of it entirely.
It's certainly interesting stuff. The metrics for success / improvement determine how effective the learning can be, how long it would take to reach arbitrary success thresholds, and/or how complex the learning algorithms need to become. For instance, if the metric is simply 'score', it could take years and years of constant play for a machine to randomly figure out what results in better scores, even if it watches other people play and tries to decipher what's happening to result in better scores. It's easy for us to watch a video and see what good players do better than pool players, but we have context and fairly in-depth knowledge of what's happening. If instead the metrics are how well the machine is able to hit a specific target given the velocity (speed and direction) of a ball coming towards a flipper, and if the software has some knowledge of the rules, it could probably become really good really quickly.
- Gerry
https://www.multimorphic.com
THIS WEEK IN PINBALL
Happy Monday Pinball People!!
https://www.thisweekinpinball.com/this-week-in-pinball-december-16th-2019/
- Rick and Morty Revealed
- Rick and Morty Teasers and What We Know (you can ignore this part)
- Hot Wheels
- Chuck Ernst Talks Elvira
- Countdown to Stranger Things
- 24 Hour Stream-a-Thon
Happy TWIP Tuesday Pinball People!!
https://www.thisweekinpinball.com/twip-tuesday-december-17th-2019/
- Rick and Morty Sells Out
- Punny Factory
- Updates on JJP Wifi
- Spooky Fang Club Details
- American Pinball Prototypes
- PinballSTAR Bought a Church
- Multimorphic Self Playing
- Bowen Save
THIS WEEK IN PINBALL
Happy Monday everyone!!
https://www.thisweekinpinball.com/this-week-in-pinball-december-23rd-2019/
- Stranger Things Video Leaks
- Rick and Morty New Info
- 24 Hour Stream-a-thon
- deeproot Launch Details
- Multimorphic Updates
- Wonka Topper and Candy Kodes
- R2D2 Topper Gameplay
- Mark Ritchie
- Battle of Pinball Titans
- Clear Coating Tutorial
THIS WEEK IN PINBALL
Happy Monday Pinheads!!
https://www.thisweekinpinball.com/this-week-in-pinball-december-30th-2019/
- Stranger Things Reveal Stream
- Rick and Morty Danesi Lock Details
- Bowen Talks Rick and Morty
- Franchi Talks CGC
- Stern Mandalorian Tease
GUEST POST: Understanding the Italian Bottom by Dennis Kriesel
Dennis is back, check it out!!
https://www.thisweekinpinball.com/understanding-the-italian-bottom/
THIS WEEK IN PINBALL
Happy Monday Pinheads!!
https://www.thisweekinpinball.com/this-week-in-pinball-january-13th-2019/
- Stranger Things Premium Updates
- Scott Danesi Interviews
- CPR Announces Custom Re-Theme Shop
- Arcade1Up Announces Digital Machines
- Bowen Kerins Talks Rick and Morty
Happy TWIP Tuesday!!
https://www.thisweekinpinball.com/twip-tuesday-january-14th-2019/
- INDISC Winner
- Alien Code Update
- Zidware Customers Update
- China Zombies
- NYCPC Announced
- Macho Pinball
Pinball Market Trends: 2018 TWIPY Games Through the 2019 Period by Dennis Kriesel!
https://www.thisweekinpinball.com/market-trends-2018-twipy-games-through-the-2019-period/
New Feature!! First Takes: Stranger Things Premium
https://www.thisweekinpinball.com/first-takes-stranger-things-premium/
This is a two part feature - first will be aggregated ratings of Initial Impressions of Stranger Things Premium from industry employees and hardcore hobbyists. In a few months we'll revisit and do a composite full review of the game from the same people after everyone has had significant time on it. (Note: we're still making a few tweaks to this going forward so consider this to be a beta version.) Check it out!!
And as always, the best way to decide if you like a game is to go find one and play it!
Quoted from pin2d:
New Feature!! First Takes: Stranger Things Premium
https://www.thisweekinpinball.com/first-takes-stranger-things-premium/
This is a two part feature - first will be aggregated ratings of Initial Impressions of Stranger Things Premium from industry employees and hardcore hobbyists. In a few months we'll revisit and do a composite full review of the game from the same people after everyone has had significant time on it. (Note: we're still making a few tweaks to this going forward so consider this to be a beta version.) Check it out!!
And as always, the best way to decide if you like a game is to go find one and play it!
Wow great review so far. Finding it easy to use the links to navigate. Hoping there may be a single row table added to show summary scores and final. It would be helpful to see each category defined someplace as a framework. Also would like to know if you are averaging category scores or use a weighting system.
Happy TWIP Tuesday!!
https://www.thisweekinpinball.com/twip-tuesday-january-28th-2020/
- Stranger Things LEs on the Line
- North American Pinball Championship
- ColorDMD Now Available for All Bally Williams DMD Titles
- Super Awesome Teaser
- Zombie Yeti and Franchi Artwork
- Pinball Birthday Cake
THIS WEEK IN PINBALL
Happy Monday Pinheads!!
https://www.thisweekinpinball.com/this-week-in-pinball-february-3rd-2020/
- Interview with Joe Kaminkow
- Rick and Morty Production Updates
- Mini Interview with Charlie Emery
- Escape Nublar Challenge
- Iron Man Vault Rerun
Happy TWIP Tuesday!!
https://www.thisweekinpinball.com/twip-tuesday-february-4th-2020/
- Jim Patla Joins American Pinball
- Monday Night Pinball with Mike Vinikour
- Hurry Up Pinball Tutorials
- Sharpeshooting with the Pros
- Pinball Tattoos
Happy TWIP Tuesday!!
https://www.thisweekinpinball.com/twip-tuesday-february-4th-2020/
- Jim Patla Joins American Pinball
- Monday Night Pinball with Mike Vinikour
- Hurry Up Pinball Tutorials
- Sharpeshooting with the Pros
- Pinball Tattoos
Sharpeshooting with the Pros is not available with the free version of Stern Insider, FYI.
Quoted from stevevt:
Sharpeshooting with the Pros is not available with the free version of Stern Insider, FYI.
Yup. Looks cool, but I'm not paying for JP tips from the same company I paid for the game.
Sharpeshooting with the Pros is not available with the free version of Stern Insider, FYI.
Quoted from yancy:
Yup. Looks cool, but I'm not paying for JP tips from the same company I paid for the game.
My mistake, I thought it was with the free version - I fixed it. Thanks for the heads up!
Old hosts quitting is the best thing that ever happened to your podcast. New format is great, concise segments with different voices for each. Easy to tune out the same voice(s) if you hear them for too long a stretch. It's almost like the evening news, "and now to Jane for the weather."
Some of the news stuff is a bit redundant if you've already read the website, but it's nice when (with Harry Potter for instance) you put a personal spin on it, just not reading the site verbatim. Beginner segment isn't for me, but that's fine, I can fast forward. Dwight's pinball secrets segment is AWESOME. I'd listen to that religiously as its own 5-minute podcast. Even after 20+ years in the hobby I expect to learn some cool stuff from it.
For what it's worth, your voice is easy on the ears, NPR-esque. Some pinball podcasters are extremely grating to me, just based on like, accents and/or speech patterns. Sonically off-putting.
Gotta hand it to you, I'm eating my words. After one episode TWIP is already on my (very) short list of worthwhile podcasts.
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Enter free by emailing your name and address to thisweekinpinball@gmail.com, or be automatically entered every month by supporting TWIP with a small monthly donation: https://www.patreon.com/TWIP
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- Pin Stadium FUSION ($400)
- PinSound Gift Card ($100)
- Comet Pinball Gift Card ($50)
- Titan Pinball Universal Silicone Ring Kit in Your Choice of Color ($41)
- Stern Jurassic Park Translite – autographed by designer Keith Elwin
- Silverball Swag Gift Card ($30)
- Hooked on Pinball Gift Card ($25)
- PINQUEST Hat ($20)
- Pinball Life PinGulp ($12)
- Multimorphic, Inc Cannon Lagoon Translite
- This Week in Pinball T-Shirt
- This Week in Pinball Keychain
- This Week in Pinball Lapel Pin
Yup. Looks cool, but I'm not paying for JP tips from the same company I paid for the game.
Remember those call in cheat lines in the back of video games back in the day?
THIS WEEK IN PINBALL
Happy Monday Pinheads!!
https://www.thisweekinpinball.com/this-week-in-pinball-february-10th-2020/
- Rick and Morty Gameplay
- Haggis Hammer Time
- Interview with Damian Hartin
- New Code Drops
- Dutch Pinball Updates
Happy TWIP Tuesday!!
https://www.thisweekinpinball.com/twip-tuesday-february-11th-2020/
- Ben Heck Interview
- Stern Pro Circuit Championship
- No Good Gofers New Code
- Rick and Morty Narrator
- Pinball at the Super Bowl
- Pinball Musical
- Cheeseballs Pinball Story
Thank you TWIP Supporters! For those of you that contribute at least 5/month, your thank you gifts are going to be on their way very shortly!
You all are the reason TWIP can keep going and I truly appreciate the support!!
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IMG_3132 (resized).JPGThank you TWIP Supporters! For those of you that contribute at least 5/month, your thank you gifts are going to be on their way very shortly!
You all are the reason TWIP can keep going and I truly appreciate the support!!
https://www.patreon.com/TWIP[quoted image][quoted image][quoted image][quoted image][quoted image][quoted image]
Free wuhan virus in each bag?
Quoted from vireland:
Free wuhan virus in each bag?
Not unless the virus came from California or North Carolina! (that's where these were made)
Not unless the virus came from California or North Carolina! (that's where these were made)
Are you SURE those pins came from the US? Most companies that sell them at a price that's not ridiculously expensive are just fronting Chinese factories in my experience.
Doesn't matter, though. Throwaway topical joke...
Are shirts the same size? If so, I’d think Large would fit most people, but have seen people wearing 5XL at pinball shows
Big news if true .... is TWIP still planning to give away 1 of each Deeproot title? Hoping so but time may have changed things.
Are you SURE those pins came from the US? Most companies that sell them at a price that's not ridiculously expensive are just fronting Chinese factories in my experience.
Doesn't matter, though. Throwaway topical joke...
Oh the pins are definitely from China, I forgot about that pic, I was thinking of the shirts. But no worries the pins were ordered last year, so the bags will not have any airborne viruses! Maybe smog though.
THIS WEEK IN PINBALL
Happy Monday Pinheads!!
https://www.thisweekinpinball.com/this-week-in-pinball-february-17th-2020/
- Rick and Morty Stream
- Stranger Things UV Lighting Kit
- Interview with Riot Pinball
- Interview with Damian Hartin
- Code Updates
Happy TWIP Tuesday!!
https://www.thisweekinpinball.com/twip-tuesday-february-18th-2020/
- Interview with Morgan and Kayte Emery
- Dutch Pinball Update
- Pinburgh Tickets
- Homepin Moves
- The Pinball Network
- Multimorphic Updates
- Bowen Kerins on Who Wants to Be a Millionaire
- Demogorgon Decor
THIS WEEK IN PINBALL
Happy Monday Pinheads!!
https://www.thisweekinpinball.com/this-week-in-pinball-february-24th-2020/
- Interview with Keith Elwin
- Interview with Scott Danesi
- Interview with Johnny Crap
- Heavy Metal Pinball
- Rick and Morty Shipping, Adventure Details
Happy TWIP Tuesday!!
https://www.thisweekinpinball.com/twip-tuesday-february-25th-2020/
- Pinburgh sells out in two seconds
- New Code: Jurassic Park and Stranger Things
- MyBookie New Odds
- Stern Pro Circuit
- Stern Toy Fair
- Arnold Schwarzenegger
- Billion Dollar Babies
FIRST TAKES: Rick and Morty Pinball!!
Initial Impressions of Rick and Morty Pinball from industry employees and hardcore hobbyists
https://www.thisweekinpinball.com/first-takes-rick-and-morty-pinball/
THIS WEEK IN PINBALL
Happy Monday Pinheads!!!
https://www.thisweekinpinball.com/this-week-in-pinball-march-2nd-2020/
- Jersey Jack Pinball Moves Manufacturing to Illinois
- Mini-Interview with Jack Guarnieri
- Kingpin Remake Update
- Black Knight Topper Now Available
- Heavy Metal Pinball Artwork
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