# Roadshow Pinball Multiball Awesomeness Gameplay **Source:** Straight Down the Middle **Type:** video **Published:** 2017-06-15 **Duration:** 11m 30s **Beat:** Pinball **URL:** https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hnuayDF3IFM --- ## Analysis Straight Down the Middle presents an extended gameplay showcase of Pat Lawlor's Roadshow pinball machine, focusing on multiball mechanics and overall game design. The host demonstrates the unique ball-locking system, animated 'Red' character head mechanic, and mode structure while offering commentary on game fun factor and mechanical condition requirements. ### Key Claims - [HIGH] Roadshow is designed by Pat Lawlor — _Host states this directly at the beginning of the video_ - [MEDIUM] Roadshow gameplay incorporates design elements from Lawlor's other games like Whirlwind, Twilight Zone, and Addams Family — _Host claims 'a lot of stuff you'll see from this game has come from some of his other games'_ - [HIGH] The game requires mechanical heads to be in good working condition or maintenance becomes 'a freaking nightmare' — _Host notes finding a machine in nice condition and states 'if you're going to mess with those mechanical heads up there, it can be a freaking nightmare'_ - [HIGH] Roadshow features a unique ball-locking mechanism requiring players to hit a specific shot to lock balls for multiball — _Host demonstrates the mechanics repeatedly throughout gameplay_ - [HIGH] The animated 'Red' character head is a central mechanic that can malfunction by eating balls — _Host experiences the ball being caught in the character's mouth and comments 'She ate my freaking ball, Red'_ ### Notable Quotes > "Let's Rift Some Road! Let's Rift Some Road! It's a Pat Lawlor designed game. A lot of cool stuff to do, a lot of modes." > — **Host (Straight Down the Middle)**, Opening > _Establishes the game as a Pat Lawlor design and sets expectations for complex gameplay_ > "Take this ball and try to shoot it right into his mouth to start that multi ball." > — **Host**, Mid-gameplay > _Describes the unique animated character mechanic central to the game's design_ > "What the hell? This is not like Funhouse. Oh, there she goes. She didn't want to let it go." > — **Host**, During ball-eating incident > _Shows frustration with mechanical malfunction and compares to another Lawlor design_ > "if you don't, or if you're going to mess with those mechanical heads up there, it can be a freaking nightmare. It really can." > — **Host**, End-game summary > _Key operational/maintenance insight about the machine's mechanical complexity_ > "when I'm not making progress, I don't care much. Because it's just a fun shooting game." > — **Host**, Late gameplay > _Positive assessment of game's core fun factor despite rule complexity_ ### Entities | Name | Type | Context | |------|------|---------| | Pat Lawlor | person | Legendary pinball designer credited with designing Roadshow and referenced as designer of Whirlwind, Twilight Zone, and Addams Family | | Red & Ted's Road Show | game | Full title of the machine being played; features animated 'Red' character and ball-locking multiball mechanics | | Roadshow | game | Commonly referenced shorter title for Red & Ted's Road Show | | Whirlwind | game | Pat Lawlor design mentioned as having design elements that influenced Roadshow | | Twilight Zone | game | Pat Lawlor design mentioned as having design elements that influenced Roadshow | | Addams Family | game | Pat Lawlor design mentioned as having design elements that influenced Roadshow | | Funhouse | game | Pinball machine referenced for comparison when discussing the animated character mechanic | | Zach Sharpe | person | Mentioned as ball save provider; unclear if this is the host or someone else present | | Straight Down the Middle | organization | YouTube content creator channel producing the gameplay video | ### Topics - **Primary:** Multiball mechanics and design, Animated character mechanics in pinball, Ball-locking systems and progression - **Secondary:** Pat Lawlor design philosophy and influence, Machine maintenance and mechanical reliability, Game fun factor vs rule complexity ### Sentiment **Positive** (0.78) — Host expresses genuine enjoyment of the machine's gameplay and multiball mechanics despite occasional frustration with malfunctions and rule complexity. Strong positive closing recommendation. Some minor complaints about specific rules but offset by repeated praise of game's fun factor. ### Signals - **[community_signal]** Straight Down the Middle produces detailed gameplay showcase videos with both main gameplay and dedicated review content for pinball titles (confidence: high) — Host references 'Check out the other SDTM videos' and 'if you haven't seen our review of Roadshow go check that out now too' - **[design_philosophy]** Pat Lawlor design incorporates elements and mechanics from his previous games (Whirlwind, Twilight Zone, Addams Family) demonstrating consistent design language across his portfolio (confidence: medium) — Host commentary: 'a lot of stuff you'll see from this game has come from some of his other games' - **[product_concern]** Animated 'Red' character head prone to mechanical malfunction (ball-eating incidents); mechanical heads require pristine condition for reliable play (confidence: high) — Host experiences ball being stuck in character mouth; notes machine 'can be a freaking nightmare' if mechanical heads need repair --- ## Transcript Let's Rift Some Road! Let's Rift Some Road! Let's Rift Some Road guys with a little road show. It's a Pat Lawler designed game. A lot of cool stuff to do, a lot of modes. And a lot of stuff you'll see from this game has come from some of his other games. Like Whirlwind, Twilight Zone, Adam's Family. What I'd like to show you guys tonight is the multiball. So I think it's just unique, it's really fun. So what you do is, what was that? You hit his guard shot up there to get through the Friday. And once you get the Friday, it locks your lip. Now you've got to hit that left. It's like an orbit, but it's rather a scoop. Oh my, did you see that? There it is. Locked the ball. Ball one locked. Let's party! Shoots another ball into the trough for you there. And again, ball two is locked, so we're gonna try to, ah, we started a mode, which is fine, but I can't lock that ball now. Nice stereotypical slur there. We're in New York City, and I think it's trying to hit switches, I believe. Let's see. No, yeah. No, you're trying to hit handle. That's right. All right, so that mode's over. Trying to catch it here. Oh, thanks. Try to get into that left scoop up there. Ball two is lit. So how cool is this? Watch this. So he goes to sleep, mouth is open, guard is up. Take this ball and try to shoot it right into his mouth to start that multiball. Like that. Uh oh. Now his, the barrier goes up. Now his, the barrier goes up and down there, you try to hit it into it. Oh, that was a good start. And if you can, start a funky little song. Here we go. I love it. Now I'm trying to hit red. Miserable. And I'm trying to hit red. And that's good. Now, multiball is over. But I can, I believe... I think I got so much time to start the multiball over Don I I thought I did I thought that restarted it but I guess it didn I just love this song. I'll get that extra ball, don't you worry about red. Boom! How cool is that, you guys? Come on, that's awesome. Tuesday, and you blow it. So now I can either try to get through another multi-bowl, get some of my extras up there, my mystery shots or whatever, or I can go through my modes. All right, let's try this extra ball. I'm going to try a short plunge right into the skill shot there, and I failed miserably. Oh, maybe I got it. No. Started to lane up. I have to shoot the blast zone over here. To turn the mode. Get up. I got it. So. Sweet. That didn't hurt a bit. So now. So. Ready to get that multiball going again. Oh, she ate it. I don't know if that's normal. Did you guys see that? It went into her mouth. And now like a little goblin, she's going to keep it. Wow, that's never happened. At least it's on video, so you guys get to see it. You're going to be shooting me. You just ate my freaking ball, Red. What the hell? This is not like Funhouse. Oh, there she goes. Okay. She didn't want to let it go. Wow, that went right down the drain, didn't it? That's okay. Sorry for the hold up there. Red is being an ass. All right, so it's Friday. I'm going to try to lock the balls again. Let's get it going, Zach. Oh, Zach. Ball saved me. Ball save. Thank you. Missed it, didn't I? There we go. So I locked the ball. But since I've already started a multiball, your second ball here to lock, you're going to have to go through Monday to Friday again, which I think is nice, clever, balanced. A little scoring. I like that So we running from the police in Ohio I guess Is it the ramp Get away from him This game just has a little bit of everything in it. It's very neat. Oh, wow. Son of a... Alright, I'm back guys. Oh boy, what are we on? Ball three? Get out of there. Boom! Flying rocks. Let's do some flying rocks. You guys ready? Ready for some flying rocks? Okay. Boom! What are we going for? Let's try to go for his head. Nope, not that one. That's a million. Extra ball is lit. Oh, I wanted it. I'm trying. Thank you. Thank you, thank you. Bam. Isn't this game fun, guys? Come on. Uh-oh. I'm down. Wednesday. Stay out of there. I knew that shit was going to happen. Alright, so that's Roadshow, guys. A very unique layout. Some cool rules. Some other rules make me mad, but no, we got one more. But overall, just a really fun game if you guys get a chance to find one in good condition, because this game I luckily found one in really nice condition here. That's it. I'll ball serve. But if you don't, or if you've got a mess with those mechanical heads up there, it can be a freaking nightmare. It really can. But this one worked perfect. Playfield is spotless. So, I love it. Bam! Bam, bam, bam! Here we go. Let's get that corny, ugly little song that I love so much going. I missed it! I didn't get it. I will. I'll try to anyway. Bam! Restarting multiball. And an extra bomb. Hot damn, that's fun. Look at that. Come on. Awesome as that Really Damn you are a mean little monster right now No shit Red Missed everything. No shit. I don't want a souvenir. I don't understand souvenirs. Alright, so we could try to go through some more modes here if we don't blow it. Boom Shakalaka! Who remembers that reference? Hit the radio target to change the station. Radio target's right there. So it's a two ball multiball mode. And it's a one ball multiball mode. How horrible is that? I'm playing shardy. Some shardy playing here. It's all right. Red, Ted, you guys suck. You guys freaking suck. I'll take another ball. Calm it down like that. Calm, calm, calm. You son of a bitch. How many extra balls am I going to get in this thing, Jay? I feel like I'm playing horrible and getting extra balls. Which is not good. I don't even know why I tried to blow Jay. Extra ball, 14. With all these balls, I still... I'm not being able to do shit. But it's crazy because, again, this is a game that, when I'm not making progress, I don't care much. Because it's just a fun shooting game. So we're shooting totals now. No. You guys didn't see that because that was freaking pathetic. Alright, so now that's Roadshow. Check out the other SDTM videos. and if you haven't seen our review of Roadshow go check that out now too I love the light show at the end of the day oh my gosh today's high woo woo today's high three score seven How are we doing guys? _(Acquisition: youtube_groq_whisper, Enrichment: v3)_ --- *Exported from Journalist Tool on 2026-04-13 | Item ID: 700cb536-0bd5-4431-a4f0-aa3c7cca275a*