I am the author of this rulesheet, but all copyrights pertaining to the game itself belong to Fisher-Price, a division of Hasbro.

1. Rulesheet History
2. Description
3. Playfield Layout
4. Rules
5. Strategy
6. Easter Eggs
7. Scoring
8. Conclusion

Rulesheet History

Version 1.1 6/9/97 - Reveals strategy for completing Red Monkey & Blue Hippo Targets. Corrects some typos. Adds archive URL.

Version 1.0 3/6/96 - First attempt

Description

Pop 'n Pinball is the answer to a question that has raged here on r.g.p. for some time now. What about the newbie? By firmly targeting this game at the 3-7 year old set, Fisher-Price has taken a bold step towards introducing younger players to pinball.

The game cabinet is noticeably smaller than standard machines. In fact, the machine has no legs. In fact, it's 10 inches long by 8 1/2 inches wide by 2 inches thick. Consider it laptop pinball.

The flipper buttons ore oversized, about the size of a golfball cut in half. Additionally, they are positioned on the top of the machine, where one would normally find a lockdown bar. I believe the idea for Demolition Man's handles may have started here.

A great advance has been made in power supply engineering. This may actually be the only machine you can play in a blackout, as it derives all its juice from 2 C cell batteries.

Playfield Layout

Starting at the right outlane, and working clockwise: Total playfield size 5 1/2" long by 6 1/2" wide.

Right Outlane

Well, there is no right outlane.

Right flipper

Far from standard. 2 inches from tip to base It's directly linked to the flipper button. It will activate when the machine is turned off.

Center drain

No center drain

Left flipper

same as right.

Left Slingshot

1 1/2 inches long. Rubber, no kicker

Twirling Parrot

A spinner with two paddles that is designed to impede shots. The paddles are about 3/4 of an inch across.

Upper Left Slingshot

Same as lower.

Animal Popper Stand ups

Three stand up targets that, when hit, make the plastic target animals pop out of the top of the machine. They are, left to right: Red Monkey, Yellow Lion, Blue Hippo

Upper Right Slingshot

Same as left

Twirling Toucan

Same as Parrot, but with a Toucan

Right Slingshot

Same as left

Right Outlane

Again, no outlane. In fact, there is no way for the ball (which is the size of a Hyperball ball,) to leave the playfield, This is a great attraction to the Newbie.

Monkey Spinner

In the center of the playfield is the Monkey Spinner, a twirling disc, similar to the Pizza on TMNT. It features two 1/2 inch posts, that again, impede shots to the Animal Popper Stand ups

Rules

Press red Start button, located next to left flipper button. This activates the Twirling Parrot, Toucan, and the Monkey Spinner. You now have 90 seconds in which to hit all three Animal Popper Stand-ups. If you do, you will hear an electronic victory theme, and the game ends. If you fail to complete the stand-ups in the allotted time, the game ends.

To reset game, depress the Animal Poppers, and push Start.

Strategy

Due to the unique flipper structure, holding one flipper up and then shooting the ball with the other flipper is a guaranteed way to score a perfect hit on the Yellow Lion stand up, providing you achieve the proper timing on the Monkey Spinner. Of course, the electronic noise generated by holding the flipper may drive you crazy, but that's pinball.

<NEW>Holding the right flipper up *slightly* and depressing the left flipper sharply is the fastest way to hit the Blue Hippo. Conversely, holding the left flipper *slightly* and depressing the right flipper sharply is the best technique for the Red Monkey. Of course, as with the Yellow Lion, you must time the Monkey Spinner properly.

Despite the COMPLETE lack of a tilt mechanism, it is not considered good form to pick the machine up and then roll the ball into the stand ups.

Easter Eggs

I'm sure a child would adore finding this in an Easter basket, next to all the eggs & candy.

Scoring

In a dramatic departure from tradition, there is NO scoring. You either complete the game, or you do not. This could be a trend.

Conclusion

Parenthood will drive you to do some pretty strange things, including writing a rulesheet for a Fisher Price Toy Pinball machine.

Scott Piehler (RSP)- Atlanta, GA

Editor's Notes

• HTML added by David Gersic dgersic_@_niu.edu
• E-mail addresses have been expunged to prevent web-bot spamming, and Web links have been updated where possible.