I don't know what came over me, but I just could not turn this game down. Pretty decent given it's age. Some anticipated insert wear etc. but overall I think it is great project material for a game this age.

Topper works. Displays are really quite good. Strong flips and everything looks to be there and working, including the diagnostic keypad and an aftermarket metal partical separator guide still in the box.

I really am interested in shopping it, but I have to go away for a month. That and the fact I will have to sell something if I do keep it to have room for it. Yes I may part with a WPC just to add variety to my collection.

If I don't do it I will pass on my deal to someone I know will take good care of it.






Shot at 2008-04-08

Shot at 2008-04-08

Shot at 2008-04-08

Strange Science, definitely something different. Congrats!!

Selling a WPC in order to keep it? Not sure I believe you on that. But if you do  , let me know!

I am sure it was partly inspired by the 1985 film. 1985 Weird Science is released. 1986 Strange Science. Both have themes of experimentation on women. Coincidence?

Doubt this theme would fly today.

Quoted from necro_nemesis

I am sure it was partly inspired by the 1985 film. 1985 Weird Science is released. 1986 Strange Science. Both have themes of experimentation on women. Coincidence?

Doubt this theme would fly today.

Mad scientist theme... sure.... MB.  

Trivia tidbit for Strange Science not many people seem to know... The scientist on the backglass was based on the face of actor Lance LeGault, best known for his role as Col.Decker on the A-Team.

Fantastic machine... awesome sounds.

Quoted from Sparky

Fantastic machine... awesome sounds.

Kind of reminds me of the sound effects on Forbidden Planet for some reason.

Found this. The flyer was a comic book. Pretty good scan site.

http://www.tilt.it/flipper_pinball_flyers.htm

So you're the one that nabbed that off Kijiji!  Very cool looking machine.. I was surprised at how old it is, it looks like a newer game.  Pretty good art on it, and a very cool topper.

congrats!

Quoted from machine.slave

So you're the one that nabbed that off Kijiji!  Very cool looking machine.. I was surprised at how old it is, it looks like a newer game.  Pretty good art on it, and a very cool topper.

congrats!

It's all MrHide's fault. He made me go get it.

In all seriousness. I have looked at this title for years and turned one down promptly that I saw offered locally for $1200 about 3 years ago in pretty rough shape. Being one of the resident 80's pin experts, I asked Phil about it, price etc. and he was interested too. So in the end I figured I would take it because I have yet to see a decent one come up for a decent price. So this way it gets an oddball machine into the group.

If I don't shop it, it goes to Phil, unless he isn't in a position at the time.

What's with the cabinet art? Was it originally that generic? Or is it some kind of generic decal replacement?

The game looks WICKED though, I'm super jealous. I'm a science nerd, so I'd totally go for that. I'll add it to my 'list'.

Allot of bally machines of the time had that.
Like lady luck moterdome off the top of my head.
I guess it saved money before selling not sure

Yep, that's the original artwork.

Quoted from jonny_eh

What's with the cabinet art? Was it originally that generic?

Yes it was dark days for Bally, just before selling out to Williams. Several interesting machines used the generic cabinet including Party Animal and Hardbody. These cabinets were cheaply constructed with particle board and t-molding instead of plywood (pray it never gets wet...).

Quoted from jonny_eh

What's with the cabinet art? Was it originally that generic? Or is it some kind of generic decal replacement?

The game looks WICKED though, I'm super jealous. I'm a science nerd, so I'd totally go for that. I'll add it to my 'list'.

Once Midway purchased Bally in late 1983, one of the first things they did was implement many cost-cutting measures. Using MDF on their cabs was one... some generic art was another, and so was not using any art at all in front of the machine around the coindoor.

The generic Bally/Midway cabinet art was introduced with Beat The Clock in late 1985 but was phased out gradually on Heavy Metal Meltdown (which explains why a few HMM have dedicated art, and most don't) due to huge complaints from distributors and operators of their lack of ''curb-appeal''(structural integrity issues came up MUCH later...), thus not attracting many players to the machines. It was a very lousy move of Bally to do that, considering that one of the golden rules of advertising is that your product sale depends initially on visual appeal. It really is the first impression...

Quoted from tinyrodent

Yes it was dark days for Bally, just before selling out to Williams. Several interesting machines used the generic cabinet including Party Animal and Hardbody. These cabinets were cheaply constructed with particle board and t-molding instead of plywood (pray it never gets wet...).

Dark indeed. I love the one light bulb in the back to light the glass. I can only think of one other manufacturer that.... I digress.

I think production numbers say it all. I believe without my book to reference, this game was only a run of around 2000 machines.

Quoted from necro_nemesis

I can only think of one other manufacturer that.... I digress.

    , You never miss an opportunity.


2350 units were produced according to IPDB.

At least that "other manufacturer" uses fluorescent... a lot less likely to damage the translite. Presumably you'll put a CF in this one?

It's a shame that animated backboxes went out of style. Even simple CPU controlled lights and flashers up there can add quite a bit to a game (eg. Sorcerer). I was really impressed with the Scared Stiff backbox: multi-layered, mechanically animated, cool lighting and artwork. Was there ever a better one?

Quoted from tinyrodent

At least that "other manufacturer" uses fluorescent... a lot less likely to damage the translite. Presumably you'll put a CF in this one?

Absolutely. Fortunately it doesn't appear the incandecent one did any damage. It's a pretty small bulb and sits a fair ways back from the glass.

Watch the backglass with someone else playing ToM. With the GI string being CPU dimmed it is probably one of the best arguments to abandon the single lamp.

Quoted from necro_nemesis

Absolutely. Fortunately it doesn't appear the incandecent one did any damage. It's a pretty small bulb and sits a fair ways back from the glass.

Watch the backglass with someone else playing ToM. With the GI string being CPU dimmed it is probably one of the best arguments to abandon the single lamp.

I just change them to spiral flourescents... not much heat off of those. Less power = more eco-pin!!!

I had that game once, all be it a pretty rtough one, The Backglass and the Neon are Awesome, the rest... Well, it's Not here anymore. I have never seen a game with Less Flow than Strange Science. I think I have some Flipper Coils here if you need them, let me know.

Dave

i was really thinking of getting that machine, because it looks so cool and has a neat theme,
but unfortunatly i'm full up at the inn right now, and no more room for pins

Eric

I shot a short clip, just for those of you that have never seen or heard one in action.

It has a lot of sound effects which sound like Forbidden Planet type serious Sci Fi stuff but then once and awhile there are these.... singing monkey?? type sounds thrown in that just make you laugh.

To be honest I have played a few Sys 11 games that don't have as involved rules as this does. I agree it is a stop and go game, but for some reason it seems to work for me because your really trying to make specific shots.

Oh yes, I stand corrected. The BB actually has four bulbs in it vice one. 3 flashers, the main bulb and the Jacob's ladder neon. If you watch the video, the way they sequence them is actually a pretty decent effect.

Wow! Didn't know this pin before, it's fun when people talk about new pin

Great pin!!!! I saw this pin in Gerry game room and it was very fun!!!

Ok, I just figured out what the guy gave me NIB for this. It turns out Cliffy made a couple of items to fix a couple problem areas. What it was is a fix for the Anti Gravity ramp. So I installed it and it fits great.

After only a few games (maybe 100+... yeah a few) I finally got all five balls in the Atom Smasher.

Now for those of you who don't know what it is, it is a ball lock for 5 balls but is quite unique in that it can be unloaded one ball at a time, so keeping 5 in is a bit of a challenge and the shot to get them there, pretty hard.

Anyway, it was well worth it. In this game for every ball in play for multiball the pf values go up by multiples. 5 ball play, 12X pf.

It did a little sequence ala TAF "Showtime" and launched them. I think I had 5 in play for about 3 seconds.

It was one of those pinball magical moments.

I am going through the electronics, just for my own knowledge.

This is probably an obvious question but, whats the difference between a squawk and talk and a squeak board?

Quoted from necro_nemesis

This is probably an obvious question but, whats the difference between a squawk and talk and a squeak board?

Just different versions of sound boards. The AS-2518-81 Squawk & Talk board was introduced in 1979 with Kiss but was used to it's full potential with Flash Gordon in 1981.

When Bally was bought by Midway, they developed the AS-2518-45 "Cheap Squeak" board which had no speech capability. They then started using the Turbo Cheap Squeak (which is what you have... SS was actually the last Bally with this board) with more sound capability and some speech capability, and then the last generation of sound board prior to the Williams buy-out, the Sounds Deluxe, with much better speech capability.