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Twilight Zone [Model 50020]

Pinball published 31 years ago by Midway Mfg. Co.

Listed in MAME

Twilight Zone © 1993 Midway.

TECHNICAL

Midway WPC (Fliptronics II)
Model Number : 50020

Main CPU : Motorola M6809 (@ 2 Mhz)
Sound CPU : Motorola M6809 (@ 2 Mhz)
Sound Chips : Yamaha YM2151 (@ 3.57945 Mhz), DAC, HC55516

TRIVIA

Released in April 1993.

Coming off from his huge success from "The Addams Family" pinball game (which would go on to sell over 20,000 units), Midway gave designer Pat Lawlor complete creative control over "The Twilight Zone" (based on the classic TV series), which would be described to as "the most complex pinball game ever designed".

Among its noted features include a real analog clock that tells time until a game begins (during which it will act as an event timer), a gumball machine that dispenses balls, the Powerfield (a small separate play-field where the ball is propelled by magnets rather than flippers), and the 'Powerball', a special blue ceramic ball that is lighter and faster than a normal pinball.

This game features the song, 'Twilight Zone' (performed by Golden Earring) as its theme song. Also, during the Fast Lock mode, the music used are those from Lawlor's previous games.

Quotes from older Pat Lawlor pins are heard during "Fast Lock", in reverse chronological order :
The Addams Family : Cousin It blabbing. Hitting lock: Cousin It: "Aaaah!".
Funhouse : "Hey, it's only pinball!". Hitting lock: Rudy: "Gulp...ptooey!".
Whirlwind : "Return to your homes!". Hitting lock: "Do not panic".
Earthshaker : "It's sunny drive time!". Hitting lock: "Ooh, Gimme shelter!".
Banzai Run : "Welcome race fans!". Hitting lock: "Go for the hill!".

This game was originally supposed to be the first game to Williams / Midway's DCS Sound System, but due to time constraints, it used the Yamaha YM2151 / Harris CVSD audio board.

This game was part of WMS' SuperPin series.

15,235 units were produced.

UPDATES

Version 9.4CH - Changes from revision 9.2 :
- Added a new adjustment : LITZ CHEAT OK. When set to YES, this allows the player to hold in the buy-in button during game play to enable Lost in the Zone. The next shot to the Slot Machine or Piano will start a LITZ 'practice round'. The player is not able to enter intials for LITZ champ if the cheat has been performed.
- Implemented 'Mute & Pause' mode. Pressing buy-in Button while holding a flipper will kill music and keep flipper held. Pressing buy-in again will resume regular play. This feature can be disabled by adjustment (MUTE & PAUSE OK). The game resumes automatically after 15 minutes.
- Added a magnet ball-catching effect at the beginning of multball. This will catch the balls on the magnets if all of these conditions are in effect :
3 magnets installed, and all 3 work
Adjustment for the effect is ON
0 or 1 balls in the lockup
White ball is in the gumball machine
- Added an adjustment that allows white ball detection during multiball (M.B. P.B. DETECT OK). With this adjustment turned ON (default) the game behaves as before. With it OFF, then the game can no longer be fooled into thinking the white ball is in play by a quick 1-2 shot into the piano and slot machine. Use of this adjustment is recommended only if all of the proximity sensors are correctly functioning.
- Added a preset (INSTALL #pinball) for home adjustments desired by group of silly Twilight Zone owners.
- Fixed a Powerball/Multiball bug where the Powerball was not detected when it was the 2nd ball served from the trough for Multiball start.
- Fixed Super Skill Shot bug where a completely missed shot would end the ball and give Super Skill Shot to the next player up.
- Added ball search to the ball recycling at the end of Lost in the Zone.
- Enhanced the ball-type detection logic on the magnets.
- Fixed a bug with Bonus X lamp after Bonus X awarded.
- Added/enhanced a few lamp effects.
- Improved the grace period logic at the end of Battle the Power timeout.
- Added a grace period timer for the end of multiball that indicates the Powerball was in play. This enables Powerball jackpots during the jackpot grace period.
- Added code in attract mode to page through the a-mode pages by using a flipper button.

TIPS AND TRICKS

During the Attract Mode, press the following flipper buttons in order to see the names of the Twilight Zone design team : 5R, 1L, 1R, 1L, 5R, 1L.

STAFF
SOURCES

Game's ROM.