Jakks Pinball TV Game "FAQ" Available

[onmode-ky]

If anyone is interested in the Classic Arcade Pinball TV Game from Jakks Pacific, I have written an FAQ documenting everything I know about the 3 pinball tables on it (which are proprietary, not remakes of actual tables; they're named "Paleolithic Pete," "Super Star Strike," and "Skate Scene Pinball"). Click here to see the document. As you can tell by the amount of detail in it, the tables are pretty rich in scoring depth; these tables are not just child's play. I wrote the file because I couldn't find anything like it on the Web, so I decided to just write down everything I knew (and some things I learned while playing for research). Turned out to be quite a lot of information.

 

It's called an FAQ, but there are no explicit questions being answered. I just thought "FAQ" made more sense than "walkthrough," since, well, how could a pinball table have a walkthrough?

 

At the end of the file, I also added mini-reviews/overviews of 2 of the 3 games on the Dragonball Z TV Game, one of which is a pinball, albeit one that didn't quite grab me.

 

Admittedly, the audience for this document is likely very small, but if this helps just a handful of players enjoy the tables more, then it will have been worth the time I spent writing and researching.

 

onmode-ky

[Lucky Man]

I just picked up one of these. It is pretty damn fun, although I'm a little worried how long that little plastic plunger is going to last.

 

I was wondering if these were based on actual classic pinball tables or new. Thanks for answering my question.

[rockman_x_2002]

I've had one of these for about a year. It's actually a fun little thing, for a plug-n-play game. I like it, though mine has flaky sound at times (of course, I bought it on clearance for cheap so...). My only real complaint is that bumping the table is a bit difficult to get your hands around, but once you learn how the game responds to bumping the controller, that becomes easier.

[Lucky Man]

I've had one of these for about a year. It's actually a fun little thing, for a plug-n-play game. I like it, though mine has flaky sound at times (of course, I bought it on clearance for cheap so...). My only real complaint is that bumping the table is a bit difficult to get your hands around, but once you learn how the game responds to bumping the controller, that becomes easier.

The unit I have also nudges the ball when I smack the buttons too hard. So, occasionally, when there are several balls are on the table it will tilt because of all my frenzied button pressing. It doesn't seem to do that if I use the flipper buttons on the back of the unit, but it just doesn't feel like real pinball that way.

[Albert]

That's cool, I'll need to look around for one of these.

 

Thanks for the FAQ!

 

..Al

[Lucky Man]

Al...

 

I didn't realize you had a weakness for these Plug & Plays too... or are you just an old Pinball Wizard?

[onmode-ky]

Good to see there are others out there who enjoy the pinball TV Game, too. I'm curious about whether anyone has actually found my FAQ helpful or not.

 

While we're at it, here are my high scores (format is "Table : Difficulty Mode : Score":

 

Super Star Strike : arcade : 7387000

 

Super Star Strike : wizard: 4105300

 

Paleolithic Pete : arcade : 4265800

 

Paleolithic Pete : wizard : 2446200

 

Skate Scene Pinball : arcade : 2902700

 

Skate Scene Pinball : wizard : 18265100

 

The last one is not a typo. My wizard-mode high score there really is several times the arcade-mode high. I think it's because I stopped playing the arcade mode, since the wizard mode is more fun.

 

onmode-ky

 

04/19/2008 Update: Updated high scores:

 

Super Star Strike : wizard: 7492900 - achieved 04/19/2008, succeeding 4173200 - achieved 05/27/2007

 

Paleolithic Pete : wizard : 3652600 - achieved 04/19/2008, succeeding 2484500 - achieved 05/27/2007

 

10/10/2009 Update: Reformatted for easier reading:

 

Super Star Strike

arcade

< 06/24/2006: 7,387,000

 

wizard

< 06/24/2006: 4,105,300

= 05/27/2007: 4,173,200

= 04/19/2008: 7,492,900

 

Paleolithic Pete

arcade

< 06/24/2006: 4,265,800

 

wizard

< 06/24/2006: 2,446,200

= 05/27/2007: 2,484,500

= 04/19/2008: 3,652,600

 

Skate Scene Pinball

arcade

< 06/24/2006: 2,902,700

= 06/21/2010: 4,682,000

= 07/08/2010: 12,124,100

 

wizard

< 06/24/2006: 18,265,100

Edited July 9, 2010 by onmode-ky

[Lucky Man]

onmode-ky, you're obviously much better at these than I am. I'm particularly surprised at your score on Skate Scene Pinball. That table eats balls like a mofo!

 

Regarding your FAQ... it was interesting to see all of the features of the tables (some of which I haven't activated yet). I didn't want to study it too hard as it's fun to find them on my own.

[geosteve]

I bought one of those last year but wasn't much impressed by it so I gave it to my nephews. it would be worth a budget price (under $20) if you can find one.

[onmode-ky]

Since GeoCities is closing down soon, I thought I should move my "Classic Arcade Pinball TV Game FAQ" HTML file to somewhere where it would remain accessible after the Great Collapse. So, I figured I'd just attach it to AtariAge directly. It's never been reachable from anywhere else anyway, I don't think.

 

Even I haven't played my pinball TV Game in a while, but it's still good pinball, and the FAQ still applies. So, though its audience may be small, the file needs a new online home.

 

onmode-ky

tvg_pinball_faq.html

[atarilovesyou]

Since GeoCities is closing down soon, I thought I should move my "Classic Arcade Pinball TV Game FAQ" HTML file to somewhere where it would remain accessible after the Great Collapse. So, I figured I'd just attach it to AtariAge directly. It's never been reachable from anywhere else anyway, I don't think.

 

Even I haven't played my pinball TV Game in a while, but it's still good pinball, and the FAQ still applies. So, though its audience may be small, the file needs a new online home.

 

onmode-ky

 

I had one of these, but I brought it back because I didn't really find the games, graphics, theme or sound very good. But it was worth a try...I found the same with the portable Golden Tee, with it's own cool lil trackball...unfortunately, same issues. Just wasn't worth the money, so I took it back. Cool FAQ though, and if these games were better, I'd buy one.