Mastering Pinball: Patience, Control, and Competitive Conduct
TL;DR
- Mastering pinball requires patience to execute the "dead flip" and cradle the ball, enabling controlled shots rather than frantic bashing, which prevents losing the ball prematurely.
- The "tilt" mechanism punishes excessive table movement, forcing players to develop finesse and understand the game's cadence to avoid disqualification and maintain control.
- Competitive pinball leagues utilize a match play format where players accumulate points over multiple games, rewarding consistent performance rather than a single high score.
- While generally discouraged, subtle table nudges are permissible to save a ball, but operators can intervene if a player's actions are deemed disruptive or excessive.
- Pinball trash talk is acceptable within limits, focusing on playful banter rather than malicious intent, with tournament directors empowered to issue warnings or bans for misconduct.
- The "big stupid ramp" on some machines, like the earlier Simpsons pinball, is often criticized in competitive play for returning the ball directly to the flippers, reducing strategic challenge.
- A player's favorite competition game, "Royal Flush," relies on making poker hands via stand-up targets, a simple yet beguiling mechanic that challenges even skilled players.
Deep Dive
Derek from Mountain View, California, a commissioner for the San Francisco Pinball Department, shared his passion for pinball and offered insights into the competitive scene. His role involves managing a league of 100 players who compete at a print shop with 50 machines, employing a match play style where points are awarded for game placements.
The core of Derek's advice for improving at pinball centers on patience and control, directly countering the common instinct to "bash" the machine. He introduced the concept of the "dead flip," where a player lets the ball strike the flipper without activating it, allowing for a controlled cradle or a slower, more precise shot. This technique, he explained, enables players to manage the pace of the game and avoid the random outcomes often associated with casual play. Furthermore, Derek clarified that while excessive table movement can lead to a "tilt" and disqualification, controlled nudges are permissible and crucial for saving a ball heading down the center. This skill, he implied, differentiates casual players from those who excel in competitive environments.
Derek highlighted that the pinball community has its own set of conduct rules, with tournament directors having discretion to warn or ban players for unsportsmanlike behavior, such as distracting opponents. While "trash talk" is present, it is generally kept within bounds, with directors intervening if it becomes malicious. He also touched upon game adulteration, noting that tampering with machines is difficult and often self-defeating, as it impacts subsequent players. Derek expressed a preference for older games like "Royal Flush" for competition due to their strategic depth and simpler rule sets, while his personal favorite is the more recent "Jim Henson's Labyrinth" due to its theme. His discussion of his wife's "blessing" for his pinball obsessions and the need for therapy to balance his many hobbies, including pinball, video games, and karaoke, suggests a broader implication: that engaging deeply in niche hobbies can require conscious effort to maintain personal relationships and well-being.
The conversation concluded with Derek pitching Chicago's pinball manufacturing scene as a potential destination for Conan's "Conan Must Go" series and proposing the idea of a Conan O'Brien-themed pinball machine. His insistence on a feature where he would physically emerge from the machine to greet winners underscores the deeply personal and often humorous connection enthusiasts have with the game. This desire for an interactive, almost celebrity-embodied experience in a pinball machine suggests that the appeal of pinball extends beyond gameplay to a form of immersive entertainment and fandom.
Action Items
- Audit pinball machine mechanics: Test 5 key flipper and bumper mechanisms for consistent ball return and tilt sensitivity.
- Develop "dead flip" training module: Create a 3-step guide with video examples for 10 league members to improve ball control.
- Measure pinball league engagement: Track participation for 100 members across 5 tournaments to identify engagement drivers.
- Analyze game rule sets: For 3 popular pinball machines, document common "big stupid ramp" exploits and their impact on competition scores.
- Design "Team Coco" pinball machine concept: Outline 5 core features, including a physical Conan figure emergence, for a potential licensing pitch.
Key Quotes
"I don't know why I said that pervy each serving has six grams of protein and zero grams of regret so go ahead don't hold back grab a bag of wonderful pistachios check out wonderfulpistachios com to learn more"
The speaker is promoting Wonderful Pistachios, highlighting their protein content and flavors. The speaker uses humor and a slightly self-deprecating tone to make the product seem more approachable and enjoyable. This suggests that the brand aims to position its product as a guilt-free, satisfying snack.
"I do I do I'm one of the commissioners of the san francisco pinball department sfpd wow okay so it's so it's a little bit north of me 'cause i'm in mountain view of san francisco is about you know 38 miles north"
Derek explains his official role as a commissioner for the San Francisco Pinball Department. He clarifies his location in Mountain View, California, and its distance from San Francisco. This establishes his credibility and connection to the organized pinball community.
"Well I think the biggest thing I think the one one of the biggest things that I tell people sort of you know to try to break down pinball into I think what is a key element is patience and I think one of the things that a lot of people do you know for for most people it is a very random thing right you play pinball you put your money in the ball goes it kind of goes where it goes you're just sort of at the whim of physics"
The speaker, Derek, identifies patience as a crucial element in playing pinball effectively. He contrasts this with the common experience of players feeling at the mercy of random chance and physics. Derek suggests that a more strategic approach, rather than just reacting randomly, is key to improving one's game.
"Well no well not necessarily so so and this is something I also wanted to talk about is you know a lot of people think that you are not allowed like that it's cheating to move the table right not not um and not against the rules you can you can do stuff to the table I thought it said tilt tilt and you were disqualified so that's the natural consequence if you move it too much"
Derek clarifies a common misconception about pinball rules, stating that moving the table is permissible. He explains that while excessive movement can lead to disqualification via the "tilt" mechanism, controlled adjustments are part of skillful play. This insight challenges the idea that pinball is purely about passive reaction.
"Well and there's plenty of great leagues in la as well and also this is something I know about darcy just from previous conversations we've had um that she's from the bay area originally so this would be a natural for you to go to this place play this game you have the patience I'm I'm not a patient man right right right I'm just going to say that I'm not a patient man and I'm a rough person I bash things I smash them like a gorilla with a samsonite suitcase in an ad in 1966 that's me"
Conan contrasts his own impatient and aggressive style of playing pinball with Darcy's potential suitability for the game. He humorously describes his own approach as "rough" and compares it to a 1966 advertisement. Conan implies that his personality is not well-suited to the strategic patience required for competitive pinball.
"So so I guess I guess let me let me answer it in two ways one is that I actually have a favorite game for competition play and a favorite game that I own and so for competition play there's actually a very old game it's from I think the mid 60s it's called royal flush and it is a game where basically the main the main thing is there's these uh stand up targets you as you hit them you make poker hands and then you collect points as you go along there"
Derek distinguishes between his preferred game for competition and his personal favorite. For competition, he favors "Royal Flush," a mid-60s game that involves hitting targets to form poker hands. Derek explains that this game's simplicity and his confidence in playing it contribute to a higher winning percentage for him.
Resources
External Resources
Books
- "Limp Paddle" by Conan O'Brien - Mentioned as the title of the podcast episode.
Websites & Online Resources
- teamcoco.com/apply - Mentioned as the submission link for listeners to talk to Conan.
- wonderfulpistachios.com - Mentioned to learn more about Wonderful Pistachios.
- alienware.com/deals - Mentioned for holiday savings on Alienware PCs and accessories.
- teamcoco.com/callconan - Mentioned as the website for fans to talk to Conan.
- millerlight.com/conan - Mentioned to find delivery options for Miller Lite.
Organizations & Institutions
- San Francisco Pinball Department (SFPD) - Derek is a commissioner for this department.
- Stern Pinball - Mentioned as the well-regarded current manufacturer of The Simpsons Pinball Party.
- Data East - Mentioned as a predecessor manufacturer of an earlier Simpsons pinball machine.
Other Resources
- The Simpsons Pinball Party - Mentioned as a well-liked game in the community with references to Homer's garage and the Montreal.
- The Simpsons Pinball Machine (earlier version) - Mentioned as having great artwork and call-outs but a disliked rule set due to the "big stupid ramp."
- Royal Flush - Mentioned as Derek's favorite game for competition play, a simple game from the mid-60s where hitting targets makes poker hands.
- Jim Henson's Labyrinth - Mentioned as the theme of a recent pinball game that Derek owns.
- Tetris - Mentioned as a game Derek dreams about and is a top player of.
- Conan Must Go (US) - Mentioned as a potential future event that Derek suggests Conan visit Chicago for.
- Miller Time - Mentioned as a slogan associated with Miller Lite, particularly during the holidays.