Guests and pinball machines

G

Guest

Guest
Archived from groups: rec.games.pinball (More info?)

Hello all,

another one of those "D'jever notice" questions...

In the majority of cases, when we have houseguests they approach my machines
as if they were fragile, Ming dynasty vases-- "Uh, can we play them?" "Is
it okay to put my drink on the glass?" Okay, no wisecracks about system 80
electronics (oh all right, let's have some), but do your houseguests behave
the same?

Sometimes I will demonstrate how to shake a machine, and the guests just
stare, wide-eyed. Granted, if you do a bang-back on my games you will be
escorted to the door (in my opinion, unnecessary in the home setting,
competition setting is a different matter), but it seems the guests are
barely willing to hit the start button...

Regards,
Dan
 
G

Guest

Guest
Archived from groups: rec.games.pinball (More info?)

Dan -

Absolutely. First they ask if they need quarters (maybe they
should....), then they are afraid to really play them. No nudging, or
shaking... until I go up and tilt one on purpose.

The best is when some of their little kids play, and just constantly
hit the flippers, regardless of where the ball is. The parents freak
out and yell at their kids to be careful. I tell them to just keep
going. Sooner or later the kid will either get tired of nothing
happening and figure it out, or stop playing.

The only thing that bugs me is when they (the kids) start up a four
player game (cause they just keep pressing the START button), then
abandon it, so I have multiple machines sitting there mid-game with
nobody playing them. The older kids usually become the gate-keepers
since they have figured out how they work, and tell the younger ones
how to do it. It's like a power trip for them.

Greg
Clarkston, MI
EMs: Olympic Hockey (72), Star Pool (74), Aztec (76)
SSs: MM, TZ, TAF, TSPP, STNG, FH
Vid: Defender
 
G

Guest

Guest
Archived from groups: rec.games.pinball (More info?)

The only thing I tell my guests is to turn the machine off if they see
smoke or smell anything crispy.
 
G

Guest

Guest
Archived from groups: rec.games.pinball (More info?)

First thing i do w/ anyone who has not been in my house before, is
explain how these machines are my babies, and I protect them as such.
Then I explain about things like banging on the glass, flipping the
flippers non-stop even when the ball is nowhere near (I REALLY hate
that), etc. Then I show them how to 'coin' up credits, start a game,
etc.

But I still keep my ear open for any 'violations'. For the most part,
most folks who see them for the first time think they must be worth a
fortune and they treat them w/ respect. Every now and then however ...

My favorite story was from a couple years ago. My wife's boss was
running for a county seat and we hosted a "Meet MariLou" party for her.
Before anybody came, I cleaned up the pins, and fired them all up.
Later MaryLou and her husband show up early to help set up. After a
little bit, I told her husband to 'go downstairs and take a look".
Didn't say anything else, just that. Took a few minutes but I finally
heard one machine coin up, and then he was hooked. That's one of my
favorite things about having my own pins - the reactions of folks when
they see them for the first time.

steve (cargpb10 - sigh)

Dan Beck wrote:
> Hello all,
>
> another one of those "D'jever notice" questions...
>
> In the majority of cases, when we have houseguests they approach my machines
> as if they were fragile, Ming dynasty vases-- "Uh, can we play them?" "Is
> it okay to put my drink on the glass?" Okay, no wisecracks about system 80
> electronics (oh all right, let's have some), but do your houseguests behave
> the same?
 
G

Guest

Guest
Archived from groups: rec.games.pinball (More info?)

It sounds like your guests are already showing some care and consideration,
good opportunity to guide them along. LTG :)

"Dan Beck" <biscuitbecks@*nospam*cableone.net> wrote in message
news:11fukj3t2ni1t37@corp.supernews.com...
> Hello all,
>
> another one of those "D'jever notice" questions...
>
> In the majority of cases, when we have houseguests they approach my
machines
> as if they were fragile, Ming dynasty vases-- "Uh, can we play them?" "Is
> it okay to put my drink on the glass?" Okay, no wisecracks about system
80
> electronics (oh all right, let's have some), but do your houseguests
behave
> the same?
>
> Sometimes I will demonstrate how to shake a machine, and the guests just
> stare, wide-eyed. Granted, if you do a bang-back on my games you will be
> escorted to the door (in my opinion, unnecessary in the home setting,
> competition setting is a different matter), but it seems the guests are
> barely willing to hit the start button...
>
> Regards,
> Dan
>
>
 

jay

Distinguished
Mar 7, 2001
581
0
18,980
Archived from groups: rec.games.pinball (More info?)

I tell kids to finish the game they started before walking away or
moving on to another game. That way, my EM Gottlieb's aren't sitting
there with their ball trough coils energized once everyone is called to
dinner.

:)
 
G

Guest

Guest
Archived from groups: rec.games.pinball (More info?)

What sort of "Guides" do you use to educate your guests Lloyd?

I know casino security used to use about 3 foot of rubber hose...

bogart
www.pinrestore.com



Lloyd Olson wrote:
> It sounds like your guests are already showing some care and consideration,
> good opportunity to guide them along. LTG :)
>
> "Dan Beck" <biscuitbecks@*nospam*cableone.net> wrote in message
> news:11fukj3t2ni1t37@corp.supernews.com...
>
>>Hello all,
>>
>>another one of those "D'jever notice" questions...
>>
>>In the majority of cases, when we have houseguests they approach my
>
> machines
>
>>as if they were fragile, Ming dynasty vases-- "Uh, can we play them?" "Is
>>it okay to put my drink on the glass?" Okay, no wisecracks about system
>
> 80
>
>>electronics (oh all right, let's have some), but do your houseguests
>
> behave
>
>>the same?
>>
>>Sometimes I will demonstrate how to shake a machine, and the guests just
>>stare, wide-eyed. Granted, if you do a bang-back on my games you will be
>>escorted to the door (in my opinion, unnecessary in the home setting,
>>competition setting is a different matter), but it seems the guests are
>>barely willing to hit the start button...
>>
>>Regards,
>>Dan
>>
>>
>
>
>
 
G

Guest

Guest
Archived from groups: rec.games.pinball (More info?)

I am a people person, so I tend to go with the ninja/pit bull approach. LTG
:)

"bogart" <pinrestore@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:SJNLe.6077$WD.2699@newsread1.news.pas.earthlink.net...
> What sort of "Guides" do you use to educate your guests Lloyd?
>
> I know casino security used to use about 3 foot of rubber hose...
>
> bogart
> www.pinrestore.com
 
G

Guest

Guest
Archived from groups: rec.games.pinball (More info?)

Only problem I ever had was with a 2 year old kid who could only reach the
keys, we had to hunt the whole house for them.

GRY

"Lloyd Olson" <ltg@ssbilliards.com> wrote in message
news:geKdnVfc3YO4N2LfRVnyjg@skypoint.com...
>I am a people person, so I tend to go with the ninja/pit bull approach. LTG
> :)
>
> "bogart" <pinrestore@gmail.com> wrote in message
> news:SJNLe.6077$WD.2699@newsread1.news.pas.earthlink.net...
>> What sort of "Guides" do you use to educate your guests Lloyd?
>>
>> I know casino security used to use about 3 foot of rubber hose...
>>
>> bogart
>> www.pinrestore.com
>
>
 

steve

Distinguished
Sep 10, 2003
2,366
0
19,780
Archived from groups: rec.games.pinball (More info?)

Greg,
I've had the same experience with kid and adults that have never
played pinball before. They just keep htting the flippers. Drives me
nuts! I've found a way to teach them how to play fast. Offer to
play a game with them where they control one flipper, and I'll
control the other. Doesn't take long for them to figure it out.

Steve
 
G

Guest

Guest
Archived from groups: rec.games.pinball (More info?)

If somebody asked me about putting a drink of the glass, I'd have to laugh
and say not to try it because the outcome will not be pleasant. :)

Bill

> Hello all,
>
> another one of those "D'jever notice" questions...
>
> In the majority of cases, when we have houseguests they approach my
machines
> as if they were fragile, Ming dynasty vases-- "Uh, can we play them?" "Is
> it okay to put my drink on the glass?" Okay, no wisecracks about system
80
> electronics (oh all right, let's have some), but do your houseguests
behave
> the same?
>
> Sometimes I will demonstrate how to shake a machine, and the guests just
> stare, wide-eyed. Granted, if you do a bang-back on my games you will be
> escorted to the door (in my opinion, unnecessary in the home setting,
> competition setting is a different matter), but it seems the guests are
> barely willing to hit the start button...
>
> Regards,
> Dan
>
>