The BBC and Master Computer Public Domain Library

PINBALL ARCADE

Professional, Originally Released On Cassette Only

Game Type          : Arcade; Pinball Table Simulation; Built-in Screen Editor

Author             :

Standalone Release(s)   : 1985: PINBALL ARCADE, Kansas, £3.95

Compilation Release(s) : None

Stated compatibility    : Electron

Actual compatibility    : Electron, BBC B, B+ and Master 128

Supplier            : KANSAS CITY SYSTEMS, Unit 3, Sutton Springs Wood,

                    CHESTERFIELD. Tel: 0246 850357.

Disc compatibility     : Unknown

Instructions

Everything in PINBALL ARCADE is achieved by moving the white cross with the Z, X, : and / keys and the space bar.

There is a specimen board on the tape after the main program. Select LOAD and follow instructions to load.

Select PLAY to operate the game using Z and / keys for flippers and space bar to compress the spring. Press P for next ball. ESCAPE returns to the control menu.

Select build to either alter or build a board. Any of the six pages of shapes can be used by selecting the PAGE option. Simply manipulate the cross over the shape required, press the space bar the move to the position at which the shape is required. Press the space bar again to 'drop' the shape into position. To remove a shape, 'drop' into right-hand box.

Select SCORE or BOUNCE to change value, moving cursor to shape and 'fixing' with space bar. Press U or D to change and space bar to release.

Select TILT to alter the tilt of the table, using U or D.

Select FLIP to alter the flippers using U or D to alter the response.

Select SAVE to save your current board to tape, following instructions.

Board Shapes

Page 1 and 2 are Bumpers. Bounce and score can be altered.

Page 3 are Wires.

Page 4 are Slings. Speed of release and score can be changed with bounce and score options.

Page 5 and 6 are Targets. Bumbers in this section light up when all numbers/letters are hit, giving a bonus. Both the score and bounce can be altered for the bumpers. The score of the numbers and the letters can also be altered.

Instructions' Source   : PINBALL ARCADE (Kansas City) Inner Inlay

Review (Electron User)

A computer version of a pinball machine might sound a little boring, but PINBALL ARCADE from Kansas is quite enjoyable, and makes a welcome change from blasting nasties out in space or being chased round a maze.

The interesting part is designing your own pinball machine from the five pages of bumpers, wires, slings and targets provided. When you are satisfied with the board it can be saved on tape, to be loaded and used again. Quite a number of options are available - you can even alter the tilt of the bounce of the ball.

When playing, the only keys are Z and / for the left and right flippers and the space bar to compress the spring.

There are a couple of annoying faults however. Firstly, it will not run with the Plus 1 attached, and I am not going through all the bother of unplugging everything and unscrewing the Plus 1 every time I want to use the program.[1] The reason is simple - part of the code placed in page &D is being overwritten by the operating system, causing a whopping great crash when it is called by the program.

The second fault is the fantastic amount of flicker when the ball moves. Hasn't the author ever heard of *FX 19? The addition of this command would make a world of difference. If Kansas cure these bugs and brighten up the loader a bit then it will be better value.

Roland Waddilove, ELECTRON USER 2. 5