Play Meter

a right side gate leading into the
flipper to extra ball and specials . As
for other memory the bonus build -up
goes the route of 20 ,000 - 30 ,000 -
40,000 from one ball to the next for
an over 200,000 point out-hole
bonus capability on any given turn.
The bottom offers a double left side
flipper and a singleton on the right ,
with the two left flippers being
complemented by only a kicker and
no wire form .
ANALYSIS : On this signature
post and backglass G .K . and G .F .
effort , Bally has a winning combina -
tion with a variety of full court shots .
In fact. Harlem Globetrotters ' main
appeal is going to be its center
spinners and the accessibility and
better use of the in -line targets . It's a
neat package that returns to good
basic pinball with left to right and top
to bottom continuity that even allows
for some excellent reverses from
either side .
The recessed target at the right is
trouble at times when you want it and
a piece of cake when you don't , but
the options for getting back to the top
and away for a breather are many
and spelling out G -L -O -B -E on top
for its extra point value and ultimate
special possibility, make the effort
back to the top worth the try .
The left side, however, is going to
be an alluring feature for players
along with the in -lines on the right
three spinner delight of build -up
value with the left side spinner,
something Stern has had good
success with , and those center two
spinners for getting out -hole bonus
values increased .
GRAPHICS : The startup music is
enough to get anyone whistling; and
the likes of Curly Neal and the rest of
the late Saperstein's wonders (who
are recognizable the world over) is a
tribute to Bally's insight into what is a
marketable commodity in pinball
tie -ins .
These goodwill ambassadors are
stunningly represented here in a
backglass that can only be described
as being yet another marvel in the
long line of artistic giants from this
company . It looks super and the
playfield is a star-studded extrava -
ganza as well with the return of red,
white , and blue , along with some
yellow to keep that home court
advantage.
PLAY : For three-ball , extra ball
play you might want to try Harlem
Globetrotter at a 150,000 point ,
300 ,000, and 500,000 set-up . On
free play, increase these limits by
about 75 ,000 points depending
upon your location. For five -ball
play, which this machine can take -
although with the carryover in super
bonus values you 're talking about
some big score possibilities - you
PLAY M ETER, October, 1979
might be able to get away with a
300 ,000 point start followed by
500 ,000 and 750 ,000 for free play
areas , with a decrease of about
50,000 to each limit for extra ball
play .
RATING :
11##11
That's a look at three biggies for
this time around, games which have
a lot going for them with sound ,
graphics , and play appeal - enough
for anyone. But if you think these are
good , wait until next time when
you 'll read about the likes of a comic
book hero turned hit TV series
pinball machine and an upcoming
blockbuster movie/ pinball tie-in top -
ping the list. And it these efforts trom
Gottlieb and Stern aren't enough to
whet the appetite, there'll be more as
usual, plus my annual picks of places
to go and where to eat in the one and
only Windy City in the A MOA
preview for November .
A final note is an update of the
Sharpshooter ratings game and
comment feedback report which
continues to please me on a personal
level. The response has been great
with few negatives thrown my way
regarding the design of the game and
its play appeal as well as earning
potential . Some negatives have been
regarding the absence of a knocker
for specials and the dynamite
explosion in its place .
Another area of response has
been to the speed of the game and
the fact that some players are just
finding it too tough to beat . On the
brighter side , and in the majority ,
some comments include the follow-
ing from an East Coast operator who
told me that he had only doubled up
on one other machine , Flash, but felt
he would also get a second
Sharpshooter since it was so success-
ful in his location .
Almost everyone has given favor -
able responses as to how well the
game is holding up and the fact that
the sound is simply great with its
tie -in to the theme : the gun shots and
galloping hooves seem to be making
this game something special.
For the second installment , the
ratings read as follows:
11111111
111111
1111
II
33
12
6
4
And that folks is it for this time
around . Keep your games clean, talk
to your players to see what they like
or don 't like about certain machines,
and check out the games before you
put them on location and , as always ,
be well and prosper .
P . S . For what it's worth , the Cubs
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won a doubleheader.
73