6 replies to this topic

[odometer]

There appears to have been a certain style of scoring on 1950's pinball machines. Apparently, scores were generally 6- or 7-digit numbers, with the last four digits being all zeros. The score was indicated by lighting up numbers on the backglass. Generally, the front of the backglass would show numbers from 100,000 to 900,000 in increments of 100,000. On the rear of the backglass were numbers from 10,000 to 90,000 in increments of 10,000: these would only be visible when lit from behind. "Millions" could be either shown on the front of the backglass, or on the rear and lit from behind.

 

Is there a name for this kind of scoring, or for the kind of machines that used it?

 

It appears that four "dummy zeros" at the end of your score was standard; however, Balls-A-Poppin uses a similar scoring system, but without the dummy zeros. Were any games with this sort of scoring produced with one, two, or three dummy zeros, or five or more dummy zeros?

 

Why did "odometer-style" scoreboards take over, and when they took over, why did the dummy zeros vanish?

[wiesshund]

not sure about most of the answer here, but i imagine mechanical score reels allowed for a larger variety of scoring, and  no use for dummy 0's
since i mechanical reel can score down as low as a single point, and though some did light up something for when you rolled over the score, tapping on more reels is kind of trivial
if you need higher numbers

 

I dont think i have seen a machine like you describe though, and i remember as a kid playing some pretty old ones in the old corner stores and groceries
(we had those when i was a kid, wooden floor, tin ceiling, price gun loaded with purple ink etc)
they were a nickel or a dime to play depending on how old, drug store had one with no flippers, i stunk at it.

 

Bah, now i remember buying 2 pretzel sticks for 2 cents, a red cream soda for 10 cents and still having enough left for 3 or 4 games of pinball
and now i'm hungry, thanks

[Itchigo]

For anyone interested, I have a copy and paste script when I converted PBecker1946's tables to FS. Just make your b2s to match these ID's, then call the sub in the right place. Some games also had points in addition to score.

 

 Sub Showscore()
 Select Case SReelHuns  'Millions

       Case 0:           
          Controller.B2SSetData 71, 0
          Controller.B2SSetData 72, 0
          Controller.B2SSetData 73, 0
          Controller.B2SSetData 74, 0
          Controller.B2SSetData 75, 0
          Controller.B2SSetData 76, 0
          Controller.B2SSetData 77, 0
          Controller.B2SSetData 78, 0
          Controller.B2SSetData 79, 0
       Case 1:
          Controller.B2SSetData 71, 1
       Case 2:
          Controller.B2SSetData 71, 0
          Controller.B2SSetData 72, 1
       Case 3:
          Controller.B2SSetData 72, 0
          Controller.B2SSetData 73, 1
       Case 4:
          Controller.B2SSetData 73, 0
          Controller.B2SSetData 74, 1
       Case 5:
          Controller.B2SSetData 74, 0
          Controller.B2SSetData 75, 1
       Case 6:
          Controller.B2SSetData 75, 0
          Controller.B2SSetData 76, 1
       Case 7:          
          Controller.B2SSetData 76, 0
          Controller.B2SSetData 77, 1
       Case 8:          
          Controller.B2SSetData 77, 0
          Controller.B2SSetData 78, 1
       Case 9:          
          Controller.B2SSetData 78, 0
          Controller.B2SSetData 79, 1
 End Select
 
 Select Case SReelTens  'Hundred Thousands
       Case 0:
          Controller.B2SSetData 61, 0
          Controller.B2SSetData 62, 0
          Controller.B2SSetData 63, 0
          Controller.B2SSetData 64, 0
          Controller.B2SSetData 65, 0
          Controller.B2SSetData 66, 0
          Controller.B2SSetData 67, 0
          Controller.B2SSetData 68, 0
          Controller.B2SSetData 69, 0
 
       Case 1:
          Controller.B2SSetData 61, 1
       Case 2:
          Controller.B2SSetData 61, 0
          Controller.B2SSetData 62, 1
       Case 3:
          Controller.B2SSetData 62, 0
          Controller.B2SSetData 63, 1
       Case 4:
          Controller.B2SSetData 63, 0
          Controller.B2SSetData 64, 1
       Case 5:
          Controller.B2SSetData 64, 0
          Controller.B2SSetData 65, 1
       Case 6:
          Controller.B2SSetData 65, 0
          Controller.B2SSetData 66, 1
       Case 7:          
          Controller.B2SSetData 66, 0
          Controller.B2SSetData 67, 1
       Case 8:
          Controller.B2SSetData 67, 0
          Controller.B2SSetData 68, 1
       Case 9:          
          Controller.B2SSetData 68, 0
          Controller.B2SSetData 69, 1
 End Select
 
 Select Case SReelUnits  'Ten Thousands
       Case 0:
          Controller.B2SSetData 51, 0
          Controller.B2SSetData 52, 0
          Controller.B2SSetData 53, 0
          Controller.B2SSetData 54, 0
          Controller.B2SSetData 55, 0
          Controller.B2SSetData 56, 0
          Controller.B2SSetData 57, 0
          Controller.B2SSetData 58, 0
          Controller.B2SSetData 59, 0
 
       Case 1:
          Controller.B2SSetData 51, 1
       Case 2:
          Controller.B2SSetData 51, 0
          Controller.B2SSetData 52, 1
       Case 3:
          Controller.B2SSetData 52, 0
          Controller.B2SSetData 53, 1
:      Case 4:
          Controller.B2SSetData 53, 0
          Controller.B2SSetData 54, 1
       Case 5:
          Controller.B2SSetData 54, 0
          Controller.B2SSetData 55, 1
       Case 6:
          Controller.B2SSetData 55, 0
          Controller.B2SSetData 56, 1
       Case 7:          
          Controller.B2SSetData 56, 0
          Controller.B2SSetData 57, 1
       Case 8:
          Controller.B2SSetData 57, 0
          Controller.B2SSetData 58, 1
       Case 9:          
          Controller.B2SSetData 58, 0
          Controller.B2SSetData 59, 1
 End Select
 
 End Sub


Sub Pointslights()
          Controller.B2SSetData 1, 0
          Controller.B2SSetData 2, 0
          Controller.B2SSetData 3, 0
          Controller.B2SSetData 4, 0
          Controller.B2SSetData 5, 0
          Controller.B2SSetData 6, 0
          Controller.B2SSetData 7, 0
          Controller.B2SSetData 8, 0
          Controller.B2SSetData 9, 0
          Controller.B2SSetData 10, 0
          Controller.B2SSetData 20, 0
          Controller.B2SSetData 30, 0
          Controller.B2SSetData 40, 0
          Controller.B2SSetData 50, 0
Select Case Points
Case 1:   Controller.B2SSetData 1, 1
Case 2:   Controller.B2SSetData 2, 1
Case 3:   Controller.B2SSetData 3, 1
Case 4:   Controller.B2SSetData 4, 1
Case 5:   Controller.B2SSetData 5, 1
Case 6:   Controller.B2SSetData 6, 1
Case 7:   Controller.B2SSetData 7, 1
Case 8:   Controller.B2SSetData 8, 1
Case 9:   Controller.B2SSetData 9, 1
Case 10:   Controller.B2SSetData 10, 1
Case 11:   Controller.B2SSetData 10, 1
           Controller.B2SSetData 1, 1
Case 12:   Controller.B2SSetData 10, 1
           Controller.B2SSetData 2, 1
Case 13:   Controller.B2SSetData 10, 1
           Controller.B2SSetData 3, 1
Case 14:   Controller.B2SSetData 10, 1
           Controller.B2SSetData 4, 1
Case 15:   Controller.B2SSetData 10, 1
           Controller.B2SSetData 5, 1
Case 16:   Controller.B2SSetData 10, 1
           Controller.B2SSetData 6, 1
Case 17:   Controller.B2SSetData 10, 1
           Controller.B2SSetData 7, 0
Case 18:   Controller.B2SSetData 10, 1
           Controller.B2SSetData 8, 1
Case 19:   Controller.B2SSetData 10, 1
           Controller.B2SSetData 9, 1
Case 20:   Controller.B2SSetData 20, 1
Case 21:   Controller.B2SSetData 20, 1
           Controller.B2SSetData 1, 1
Case 22:   Controller.B2SSetData 20, 1
           Controller.B2SSetData 2, 1
Case 23:   Controller.B2SSetData 20, 1
           Controller.B2SSetData 3, 1
Case 24:   Controller.B2SSetData 20, 1
           Controller.B2SSetData 4, 1
Case 25:   Controller.B2SSetData 20, 1
           Controller.B2SSetData 5, 1
Case 26:   Controller.B2SSetData 20, 1
           Controller.B2SSetData 6, 1
Case 27:   Controller.B2SSetData 20, 1
           Controller.B2SSetData 7, 0
Case 28:   Controller.B2SSetData 20, 1
           Controller.B2SSetData 8, 1
Case 29:   Controller.B2SSetData 20, 1
           Controller.B2SSetData 9, 1
Case 30:   Controller.B2SSetData 30, 1
Case 31:   Controller.B2SSetData 30, 1
           Controller.B2SSetData 1, 1
Case 32:   Controller.B2SSetData 30, 1
           Controller.B2SSetData 2, 1
Case 33:   Controller.B2SSetData 30, 1
           Controller.B2SSetData 3, 1
Case 34:   Controller.B2SSetData 30, 1
           Controller.B2SSetData 4, 1
Case 35:   Controller.B2SSetData 30, 1
           Controller.B2SSetData 5, 1
Case 36:   Controller.B2SSetData 30, 1
           Controller.B2SSetData 6, 1
Case 37:   Controller.B2SSetData 30, 1
           Controller.B2SSetData 7, 0
Case 38:   Controller.B2SSetData 30, 1
           Controller.B2SSetData 8, 1
Case 39:   Controller.B2SSetData 30, 1
           Controller.B2SSetData 9, 1
Case 40:   Controller.B2SSetData 40, 1
Case 41:   Controller.B2SSetData 40, 1
           Controller.B2SSetData 1, 1
Case 42:   Controller.B2SSetData 40, 1
           Controller.B2SSetData 2, 1
Case 43:   Controller.B2SSetData 40, 1
           Controller.B2SSetData 3, 1
Case 44:   Controller.B2SSetData 40, 1
           Controller.B2SSetData 4, 1
Case 45:   Controller.B2SSetData 40, 1
           Controller.B2SSetData 5, 1
Case 46:   Controller.B2SSetData 40, 1
           Controller.B2SSetData 6, 1
Case 47:   Controller.B2SSetData 40, 1
           Controller.B2SSetData 7, 0
Case 48:   Controller.B2SSetData 40, 1
           Controller.B2SSetData 8, 1
Case 49:   Controller.B2SSetData 40, 1
           Controller.B2SSetData 9, 1
Case 50:   Controller.B2SSetData 50, 1
Case 51:   Controller.B2SSetData 50, 1
           Controller.B2SSetData 1, 1
Case 52:   Controller.B2SSetData 50, 1
           Controller.B2SSetData 2, 1
Case 53:   Controller.B2SSetData 50, 1
           Controller.B2SSetData 3, 1
Case 54:   Controller.B2SSetData 50, 1
           Controller.B2SSetData 4, 1
Case 55:   Controller.B2SSetData 50, 1
           Controller.B2SSetData 5, 1
Case 56:   Controller.B2SSetData 50, 1
           Controller.B2SSetData 6, 1
Case 57:   Controller.B2SSetData 50, 1
           Controller.B2SSetData 7, 0
Case 58:   Controller.B2SSetData 50, 1
           Controller.B2SSetData 8, 1
Case 59:   Controller.B2SSetData 50, 1
           Controller.B2SSetData 9, 1
 End Select
 End Sub


 

[odometer]

For anyone interested, I have a copy and paste script when I converted PBecker1946's tables to FS. Just make your b2s to match these ID's, then call the sub in the right place. Some games also had points in addition to score.

Wow, that's a long script! Is there a reason that you didn't just use arithmetic? I mean, something like this:

If SReelUnits >= 2 Then Controller.B2SSetData (49 + SReelUnits), 0
If SReelUnits >= 1 Then Controller.B2SSetData (50 + SReelUnits), 1

By the way, your "Points" script appears bugged for 17, 27, 37, 47, and 57 points.
 

[Itchigo]

 

For anyone interested, I have a copy and paste script when I converted PBecker1946's tables to FS. Just make your b2s to match these ID's, then call the sub in the right place. Some games also had points in addition to score.

Wow, that's a long script! Is there a reason that you didn't just use arithmetic? I mean, something like this:

If SReelUnits >= 2 Then Controller.B2SSetData (49 + SReelUnits), 0
If SReelUnits >= 1 Then Controller.B2SSetData (50 + SReelUnits), 1

By the way, your "Points" script appears bugged for 17, 27, 37, 47, and 57 points.
 

 

I wrote it a long time ago, I've been using it forever. I do have a shorter version though. I figured the longer one would be easier to understand. I may have a bug in there I keep fixing in playtesting, and never fixed in the master script... But it works well for tables like this.

 

 

Sub Showscore()
    Dim N1                    ' Define Local Temp Variable
    For N1=71 to 77
          Controller.B2SSetData N1, 0        ' Set All Millions Lights Off
    Next
    If SReelHuns > 0 Then
          Controller.B2SSetData 70+SReelHuns, 1    ' Set Correct Millions Light On
    End If
    For N1=61 to 69
          Controller.B2SSetData N1, 0        ' Set All Hundred Thousand Lights Off
    Next
    If SReelTens > 0 Then
          Controller.B2SSetData 60+SReelTens, 1 'Set Correct Hundred Thousand Light On
    End If
    For N1=51 to 59
          Controller.B2SSetData N1, 0        ' Set All Ten Thousand Lights Off
    Next
    If SReelUnits > 0 Then
          Controller.B2SSetData 50+SReelUnits, 1 ' Set Correct Ten Thousand Light On
    End If
End Sub

 

[odometer]

What game is that in the picture? (with the score of 3910000 points) Where can I download it?

[wiesshund]

What game is that in the picture? (with the score of 3910000 points) Where can I download it?

 

Williams C.O.D