(Topic ID: 241548)

Why do all Sterns have three pop bumpers?

By Mizzou0103

4 years ago


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    There are 115 posts in this topic. You are on page 1 of 3.
    #1 4 years ago

    Just curious why Stern always has three pop bumpers. It seems to have effect on a designers’ creativity, when you always have to save room for pops. Thoughts?

    #2 4 years ago

    I’ve got a Star Wars premium- it has 2- innovation!

    #3 4 years ago

    Kiss has 4 I think?

    I assume it's a directive from the top or something :/

    #4 4 years ago
    Quoted from zacaj:

    Kiss has 4 I think?
    I assume it's a directive from the top or something :/

    Exactly so.

    Gary Stern is a big believer in odd numbers of pop bumpers (whenever possible) being good feng shui, and that good feng shui leads to good fortune.

    #5 4 years ago

    Williams did it.

    10
    #6 4 years ago

    Least important thing to me in a pin, infact u could get rid of them all together and I wouldn't mind. Now put one in the middle of the PF somewhere that interacts with the gameplay ok but otherwise.

    #7 4 years ago

    Flippers, slings, and pops......not going anywhere anytime soon.

    17
    #8 4 years ago
    Quoted from Hazoff:

    Least important thing to me in a pin, infact u could get rid of them all together and I wouldn't mind.

    I have always said its the reason that The Shadow is such a great game. No need for them in every game.

    #9 4 years ago

    It took me an embarrassingly long time to notice my No Fear didn't have them. Great game there, no pops at all.

    #10 4 years ago

    Don’t like them, they do nothing for me, and always can’t wait till the ball comes out from the pops.

    #11 4 years ago

    I think it depends on how they're utilized. I agree that usually they are a simple time killer....take a drink while the ball bounces around. They're even more boring when they only have one exit. I like the way GB uses them as a "slot machine" to award the mystery. It's a great spin on the traditional "mystery lit" scoop shot.

    #12 4 years ago

    Monopoly has 6.

    #13 4 years ago

    There are a few games that have no pop bumpers. What are they?

    #14 4 years ago

    F14 uses one to great effect.

    #15 4 years ago
    Quoted from TechnicalSteam:

    There are a few games that have no pop bumpers. What are they?

    Sof

    #16 4 years ago
    Quoted from TechnicalSteam:

    There are a few games that have no pop bumpers. What are they?

    Fire! Big Guns!

    #17 4 years ago

    No pops in Swords of Fury, Junkyard, Shadow

    #18 4 years ago

    Ripleys has 6?

    #19 4 years ago

    I didn’t realize that. Not usually a fan of them, but I definitely applaud the non traditional approach.

    #20 4 years ago
    Quoted from tilted81:

    Ripleys has 6?

    Whirlwind 6, Addams 5.
    Truck Stop has none.

    #21 4 years ago

    Jungle Lord, Solar Fire, Pharaoh, Elecktra, Champion Pub, lightening, Blackwater 100, Grand Lizard, Arena, Car Hop, BMX, No Fear, Judge Dredd

    #22 4 years ago

    No pops in Judge Dredd or No Fear. Can’t think of any Sterns that have none tho.

    #23 4 years ago

    This is the single biggest issue for me regarding Sterns and probably explains why many collectors say their designs are all the same. Their foolish “pop bumper” design rule holds back their creativity. My favorite layout is Shadow and that has no pop bumpers.

    #24 4 years ago

    I think pops are mainly used to let the player know a ball is in play and get ready for it to come down the playfield. Thats especially when the ball is launched.

    I've heard that pops are there to randomise the ball direction, though the pops only usually feed out in one or two exits which is hardy random.

    A spinning disc does the same job. I think f14 firepower and rob zombie make good use of pops. If your shooting is off your going to lose ball control big time.

    #25 4 years ago
    Quoted from thedarkknight77:

    My favorite layout is Shadow and that has no pop bumpers.

    So has Street Fighter!

    (I actually want that game. )

    #26 4 years ago
    Quoted from fugus:

    I think pops are mainly used to let the player know a ball is in play and get ready for it to come down the playfield. Thats especially when the ball is launched.
    I've heard that pops are there to randomise the ball direction, though the pops only usually feed out in one or two exits which is hardy random.
    A spinning disc does the same job. I think f14 firepower and rob zombie make good use of pops. If your shooting is off your going to lose ball control big time.

    TZ too I think

    #27 4 years ago

    Stern Stars and Nine Ball each only have one.

    #28 4 years ago
    Quoted from fugus:

    I think f14 firepower and rob zombie make good use of pops.

    It’s the only good thing about RZ.

    #29 4 years ago

    I like the pop bumpers' locations and action on JJP Pirates.

    #30 4 years ago
    Quoted from Tuna_Delight:

    I like the pop bumpers' locations and action on JJP Pirates.

    The spinning one drives me nuts.

    #31 4 years ago

    Judge Dredd! No pops and its great!

    Pops are fun, but having them in every game make them lose their luster. I understand flippers, slings and italian bottoms. Those probably aren't going anywhere, but pops can be used much more creatively when they are not always used, and and not always in nests of 3!

    #32 4 years ago

    Love Star Trek and Spider-Man layouts EXCEPT for the pop bumper areas which are irrelevant to game play as they just come out that one exit and do so almost the same way each time. Seems like wasted space and no randomization at all.

    #33 4 years ago

    Maiden made Stern pops matter again.

    -4
    #34 4 years ago

    No pops in Stern's Transformers

    #35 4 years ago
    Quoted from woodrailwizard:

    No pops in Stern's Transformers

    Wait, what?

    #36 4 years ago

    Mustang has 4

    #37 4 years ago

    I recently ran into a Transformers machine in a local pizza shop. I didn't get to play it but gave it a good long look. I don't remember seeing any pops. Am I wrong?

    #38 4 years ago
    Quoted from woodrailwizard:

    I recently ran into a Transformers machine in a local pizza shop. I didn't get to play it but gave it a good long look. I don't remember seeing any pops. Am I wrong?

    I just checked the gallery for it. Looks like there’s three in the upper left corner.

    #39 4 years ago
    Quoted from Ericpinballfan:

    The spinning one drives me nuts.

    Not me. I like it.

    Easily remedied though.

    #40 4 years ago

    It's the holy trinity. For maximum ball action you need at least three.

    #41 4 years ago

    The answers you seek to "What makes pinball fun?", have *nothing* to do with pop quantity, and have everything to do with the quality of the layout of the pops (or the removal of them altogether).
    -mof

    #42 4 years ago
    Quoted from cody_chunn:

    It's the holy trinity. For maximum ball action you need at least three.

    " Because Three, is a Magic number"
    - School House Rock.

    #43 4 years ago

    You're wrong. Three pops in upper left corner.

    #44 4 years ago

    Old Chicago has 5. The lower two are a couple of the most brutal pops ever.

    #45 4 years ago
    Quoted from phoenixpin:

    Love Star Trek and Spider-Man layouts EXCEPT for the pop bumper areas which are irrelevant to game play

    What????On my ST,the bumpers give you a lot of points while you go from completing stage 1 and so on!!!

    #46 4 years ago
    Quoted from Vino:

    Maiden made Stern pops matter again.

    Well Kiss and Aerosmith both had exposed pop bumpers, and both of them had 4.

    #47 4 years ago

    Sheesh!!! Don't point it out! Next in their tier system the Pro will have 3 and the LE will have none, and we'll be paying less for more - OR - they'll see it as "you want innovation...you're paying for it...!"

    #48 4 years ago
    Quoted from hawkmoon:

    What????On my ST,the bumpers give you a lot of points while you go from completing stage 1 and so on!!!

    You’re right, I’m sorry. It is relevant to gameplay as far as code. I meant it is irrelevant in terms of the effect on the motion of the ball as it comes out the only exit.

    #49 4 years ago

    I enjoy pops with consistent enough action to get repeated rollover completions, and/or when they are open enough to the playfield to introduce a lot of randomness and the occasional loss of ball. This junk with them always leading to a single lane exit for a dribbling safe return from the pops every time is lame though...

    #50 4 years ago
    Quoted from woodrailwizard:

    No pops in Stern's Transformers

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    There are 115 posts in this topic. You are on page 1 of 3.

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