I have been wanting to do a custom pinball for so long and was torn between a Surfing pinball and a Dukes of Hazzard (DoH) pinball for a few years now, but decided to commit to a cool theme custom pinball.
To me it is one of those games that I always wondered why it was never done but lends itself to be a very cool and fun game. As like my other mod projects I like to include people in the process, get ideas, thoughts, rules etc to make this a cool game.
I have doodled a rough layout for the game as well as some rough rules but want to do some hopefully new and interesting stuff with the game. I grew up watching the Dukes all the time and enjoyed the movie as well (yes not the original actors) but still fun.
I have the CAD and 3D modelling experience and do alot of 3D printing and dabble in art (already have a few illustrator files ready for this game) but my biggest challenge will be programming and has been my biggest form of procrastination for a few years now. But from what I read Mission Pinball Framework looks like a great tool for programming (unless I can find a team mate to help me and we build 2 pinballs) and really keen to learn more about the Fast board set as well.
I won't get this finished in a year as will be a few year project amongst mods and life but have much of the cabinet designed in cad, and doing playfield mech models amongst mods now.
Thinking the game will have:
- the duke farm / barn
- cooters garage
- boars nest and boss hoggs office
- 2 ramps (one being a jump ramp)
- 3 flippers
- 1-2 single drops as road blocks or barricades to knock down
- was also thinking a animated backglass of general lee doing a jump, spell "Dukes" to launch off the bridge, spell "of" to get mid way of the jump and "Hazzard" to complete the jump - possibly spell "LEE" in the top lanes once to spell a letter and slowly complete the game name to collect a mega bonus.
- other rules can be stacked and others slowly collect through a game
- have an idea of a 3rd sling shot in the back of the playfield so that it can be used with the flipper to kick the ball down a very hard lane to get to to simulate hiding in the bushes from Roscoe
Game rules to include
- gather the crew cars, cooter, general lee and diasy's car
- delivering moon shine (with multiball police chases)
- save the farm
- car race (with multiball)
- as well as bar fight
- cop chase
I do have an idea to have coloured balls to identify police and the general lee but unknown if I go down this path.
So putting it out there and open for ideas, rules, tips and please urge me if I start to slacken off with progress reports.
I had a thought with adding the dixie air horn and popping out of the bottom, great to scare the crap out of people for a laugh.
below is the concept art for the cabinet but will be far from the final just something to associate with the game, rails will have button guards with 4 stars from the flag and the federation flag on top of the back box for something different