204 lines
6.8 KiB
Plaintext
204 lines
6.8 KiB
Plaintext
=AN ASCII ILLUSTRATED GUIDE TO THE ART OF THE DEATHSAVE=
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21/10/01
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By besideyou
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BACKGROUND
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On the whole, I feel qualified to give out the information below. The
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information is literally obtained by a year of high school time squandered
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in front of pinball machines. The ironic part is knowing I skipped school
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inside school to play. An special mixture of poor administrative judgement
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and my even poorer self-control.
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I enjoyed, savored and lived around the tactile interaction with the
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machines, And the company of people around them. Until my ability to
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deathsave on one of our favorite machines (Twilight zone) severed the
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multiplayer aspect. Then it became a one-person show. An hour a game was
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common and the afternoon's pinball could be easily sustained by a dollar.
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Afterward when the machines were uninstalled (due to gross abuse by
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students, The details would bring you to tears!). I left the lounge, a year
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behind in my studies. But with many cherished memories, I wish you the same.
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INTRODUCTION
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A deathsave (or bangback) is a move used in pinball to reclaim balls lost
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down the outlanes. An
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outlane [fig 1.1] is for those unfamiliar with the terminology, the
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outermost lanes on the side of each flipper from which balls escape. Simply,
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a deathsave is done by striking the face of the machine at a particular
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time, angle and body position to eject the balls upward onto the flipper and
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back into play. Despite the initial mysteriousness and perhaps difficulty of
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the technique, It's quite easy to perform.
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=| @ @@@*
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=| @ @@@=
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=| @ -@@%
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=| .@@@. @@:
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=| +@@@ @* *+*=
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#%@@ #@+@# =++*
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#@@@@- -#=++++: :#=
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:@@@@= =#+=#=-
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:@@@@=
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:@@@@=
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-@@@@*
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.@@
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.@
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%:
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[Figure 1.1 - Outlanes] *
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METHOD
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Deathsaving has two different methods of recovery, one for each outlane. The
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left
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outlane demands that you.
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1: Take one step to the left.
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2: Make sure you are holding the left flipper upright (so the ball has an
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open entry).
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3: Have your right hand free to apply the force needed.
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When the ball arrives at this point [fig 1.2] Deliver a straight sharp blow
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with your palm directly below the ball ** well above the coin box and just
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beneath the metal frame of the glass casing **. The form your hand should be
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taking to do this is the "stop" gesture (hand rigidly flat) so force is
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transfered with your palm.
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-| | =@@@%
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-| | .@@@+
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-| | +@@@ .###%@@-
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-| @@: +*%- -###+#= @
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-| +@@@ @@@+ +#%#
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-| @@@* @@ .+##+
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=@@. @@@ -@ ##+#=
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%@@@@: -@*#@@#.
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#@@@@
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%@@@@:
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+@@@#. @@@@@
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%@@@@: @@@@@@
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%@%_*@@@#
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-=@@:
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%@@
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@
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-@
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%%
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[Figure 1.2 - Ideal deathsave point] @.
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Right outlanes are dealt with compariably awkward movements. But the actions
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become increasingly natural and well-timed with practice. Here is the
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outline of steps when encountered with a right side drain.
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1: Stay in front of the machine.
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2: Remove your left hand from the left flipper.
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3: Place your free left hand on the right flipper (so the ball has an open
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entry).
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4: Have your right hand free to apply the force needed.
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Again the key is to strike the machine in the direct path of the ball [fig
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1.3] at about the same position as the ball in fig 1.1 this time on the
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opposite side.
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+@@@. | |=
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#@- :@@@= | |=
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% :**+%+#- *@@# | |=
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*@* .+##@@- @@@+ |=
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=#++= ::@@ @@@@ |-
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.*%+= @@ #@@% |=
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*+%@#@@%. =@@@@-
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:@@@@+
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=@@@@*
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+@@@@ =@@@@+
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:@@@@@@ -@@@@*
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@@@% @@@@#
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.*-_ @=
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@@ /|\
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@ / | \
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@ / | \
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@ |
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. | [Figure 1.3]
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___________________________________________
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*An essential part of hitting the machine is to remember even a mild strike,
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given cleanly is more effective then a Herculean smash. (Strange but true!).
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*
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LOCATIONS
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Initially you should find a suitable area to practice, As Deathsaving can be
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very noisy and often concerning to those paid to maintain a business/arcade.
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Either a large unsupervised place (Bowling alleys, "Family oriented"
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recreation centers. etc) or any other place with indifferent employees
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should suffice.
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MACHINES
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Speaking from experience alone a number of machines are able to be
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deathsaved. But unfortunately the majority are not. The tilt-sensitivity,
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brand and physical location of the machine are all factors that can limit
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(or improve) your capabilities. The last is really the only condition you
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can control, Before playing move the machine at least a foot from any walls
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or anything else that would reinforce the machine.
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A comprehensive list of "working" machines wouldn't be of much use, taking
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into consideration all the variables that may prohibit it on some machines.
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I suggest you test the machines and find out for yourself, Afterall there's
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little else you can do.
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Also if you've played pinball on occasions, you'll notice some are
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constructed with little metallic barriers below the flippers. These are put
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there to hamper your deathsaving. But aren't an unbreachable obstacle, They
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are able to and have been deathsaved over.
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SAFETY
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While I've been able to perform the move for several years without serious
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injury. I have suspected it may be possible to get a wrist injury, (judging
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by minor pains). This is merely articulating common sense, Striking any
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solid object can lead to injury. Remind yourself that directed meekness is
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the best way to deathsave. But do take a rest if your wrists/hands are sore.
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AFTERWORD
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Enjoy and don't be discouraged by any setbacks. The move is well worth an
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ounce of patience and a few dollars. The skill truly is learn once learn
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forever (such as bicycling or swimming).
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