From the king :-)
http://www.pinballnews.com/games/startrek/index4.htmlLooks like lots of good things planned
Steve Ritchie:
Great job so far, Martin. Your thoroughness amazes me.
Some comments, tips, & suggestions for your readers:
The ST Warp Ramp exit is easily adjustable at the exit end on all models. There is a fixing screw with washers pinching the plastic ramp between them. A lateral slot has been designed into the ramp, and with the playfield pulled forward so that the "feet" of the playfield support brackets safely parked in the front molding tray, one can grasp and adjust the Warp Ramp exit with the left hand while loosening and tightening can be achieved with a long-ish #2 Phillips screwdriver with the right hand. There is an access port cut into the Beta Ramp edge and plastic just for this use.
While the ball is wild and speeds vary along the Warp Ramp, every ST model can be adjusted so that a nice feed to the upper right flipper can largely be attained. Some ST games need the adjustment and some don't.
I don't recommend the use of post sleeves on the mini posts in place of the rubber donuts. Sleeves have too little rebound for my tastes, and they don't belong on ST. "Says who?" Says The King! You can use sleeves, but I will laugh and jeer like the Black Knight when I see your game.
There are some great new urethane post, mini post and flipper rubbers (Super Bands) available from Marco that are super durable and provide great rebound. They are manufactured by C.U.E. led by Joe Scalleta, and come in a full range of colors and styles. I wish I knew about them and not sure they were even available before ST production; I would have specified them on all models. They show no wear at all after hundreds of fun plays in my testing.
The "Matter" targets are actually called "Red Matter" targets from the liquid used in Star Trek 2009 by Nero to destroy Spock's home planet, Vulcan. It should be used sparingly, a little goes a long way! You can see droplets of the dangerous liquid near all Red Matter targets.
There is no skill shot in the Beam-Me-Up lanes because there was never any skill involved other than changing lanes, which should, by now, be second nature to all that have played pinball in the last 35 years. I am tired of lane "skill shots".
Here is an AUTHENTIC "secret" skill shot for your readers: Hold the right flipper button in while depressing the "Punch It!" button when the ball is first launched. The game will keep the right electric gate open for a left gate rebound feed to the upper right flipper. Shoot the Warp Ramp and see what you get! Depressing the left flipper button while launching a ball out of the shooter enables a skill shot as well. Find it! There may be even more skill shots available.
There are new adjustments in the diagnostics to adjust kicker power for sling shots and the left eject.
If the Kickback "Rescue" kicker misses sometimes, don't adjust it physically. There is new software coming VERY soon that makes the Kickback kick the ball back up the playfield nearly 100% of the time.
I say nearly, because when playing ST, the ball is speedy wild, and anything can happen!
The same goes for the Warp Ramp sequencing lights which don't always chase the ball on every Warp Ramp shot. Don't adjust your optos or anything physical, they are likely working fine. The software fix will be grouped with the kickback fix, and again, issued VERY soon.
There are also more ST software updates coming, including Karl Urban ("Bones") speech and more. Questions will be answered and rules expanded.
Star Trek was designed to be a Battle Game which is a challenge for every player of every skill level. I like how skillful players are torn between cradling the ball and making careful shots vs. flipping for the combo bonuses on the fly!
To players everywhere I say Fight Back! Enjoy the flow and shoot those skillful shots with a Vengeance! (ugh!) And do be careful!
Steve Ritchie
Jonathan (Pinball Magazine):
Excellent review of the play field (as always)!
