# Stars Pinball Tutorial - Danni Teaches

**Source:** Bug's Scream and Stream  
**Type:** video  
**Published:** 2025-03-17  
**Duration:** 34m 57s  
**Beat:** Pinball

**URL:** https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dbA3XdEMoEE

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## Analysis

Danni and R-to-Dave provide an extensive tutorial and gameplay demonstration of Stern's classic pinball machine 'Stars,' covering core mechanics (drop targets for bonus multipliers, standup targets to light the spinner), strategy tips, and scoring systems. They play multiple games solo and in multiplayer format with Andrew, a newer player, showcasing the game's appeal in tournament settings and casual play.

### Key Claims

- [HIGH] Stars machine has been rebuilt with brand new playfield, backglass, and plastics after being purchased as a worn donor machine from the Netflix show Cowboy Bebop merchandise set. — _R-to-Dave describes purchasing the machine from Cowboy Bebop Netflix show merchandise, initially acquiring it for $300 years ago, then buying it back and completely rebuilding it._
- [HIGH] The Stars machine has had approximately 3,000-4,000 plays since being rebuilt about 3 years ago and has been used regularly in monthly tournaments. — _R-to-Dave states: 'I probably rebuilt it about 3 years ago and I'd say it's yeah probably had 3 4,000 plays since then' and 'this game's had a lot of play cuz a regular game in our in our tournament.'_
- [HIGH] The red dot/special in Stars can be set via computer settings to either award a free game or 100,000 points; tournaments typically set it to 100,000 points. — _Danni explains: 'it's two settings in the computer you can either set it to be a special which is a free game or if you don't want a free game you can set it to 100,000 points so normally in a tournament it's set to 100,000 points.'_
- [HIGH] The best way to drop targets on Stars is with a light touch rather than a full-on hard hit due to the sensitivity of brand new drop target mechanisms. — _Danni advises: 'best way to drop the targets is um with a light glass rather than a full-on whack' while playing with brand new drop targets._
- [HIGH] Stars is called 'Stars' not 'Drops' despite many players focusing on drop target strategy, and the game can play multiple games quickly (10 games in approximately 20 minutes). — _Multiple references throughout: 'I believe the game's called stars and not drops' and 'good thing about this game is that um you can come and play 10 games and only takes 20 minutes.'_

### Notable Quotes

> "never take the buttons off The Flipper till it's down...that's a t-shirt moment"
> — **Danni**, ~48:00
> _Core pinball technique advice about button control during play_

> "this game's called Stars not drops but um drops is very good for depends on the game too because this game is pretty tough"
> — **R-to-Dave**, ~6:30
> _Clarifies game naming convention and acknowledges player strategy preferences_

> "I believe I can fly I believe I can touch this guy get the Stars...I believe I can get the drains"
> — **Danni**, ~40:00
> _Humorous commentary on game difficulty and strategic play_

> "I've only been playing pinball for 6 months...I love it...good Community just love to do something different"
> — **Andrew**, ~20:30
> _Newcomer perspective on pinball community and engagement_

> "Stars is fun like that and you'll just be like two balls like what's going on"
> — **R-to-Dave**, ~23:00
> _Commentary on the challenging nature of Stars and tournament play experience_

### Entities

| Name | Type | Context |
|------|------|---------|
| Stars | game | Classic Stern pinball machine being tutorialized; features drop targets for bonus multipliers and standup targets to light spinner; brand new rebuild with modern playfield components; used in monthly tournaments. |
| Stern | company | Manufacturer of Stars pinball machine being discussed in the tutorial. |
| Danni | person | Host of 'Danni Teachers' tutorial series; primary speaker providing strategy guidance and gameplay demonstration on Stars. |
| R-to-Dave | person | Co-host/guest expert on Stars; owner and maintainer of the specific Stars machine being demonstrated; rebuilt the machine approximately 3 years ago with new playfield and components. |
| Andrew | person | Newcomer pinball player (~6 months experience); partner of R-to-Dave; participates in multiplayer demonstration games; first tournament competitor being mentored. |
| Bug's Scream and Stream | organization | Content creator platform/channel hosting the Stars tutorial video. |
| Cowboy Bebop | product | Netflix show; R-to-Dave's Stars machine was originally sourced from Cowboy Bebop merchandise set/liquidation. |
| Kira | person | Person credited with giving Andrew a fresh haircut before filming; mentioned as contributing to Andrew's confident play. |

### Topics

- **Primary:** Game Mechanics & Rules, Strategy & Gameplay Tips
- **Secondary:** Machine Restoration & Maintenance, Tournament Play & Format, Multiplayer Gaming Experience, Newcomer Integration to Pinball Community
- **Mentioned:** Tutorial Content Creation

### Sentiment

**Positive** (0.85) — Content is enthusiastic and encouraging throughout. Hosts maintain upbeat, supportive tone with Andrew (newcomer), celebrate good shots, and frame the game positively despite frequent drains. Humor and camaraderie dominate the tone. Only minor frustration with difficult shots/mechanics, but framed as part of the fun.

### Signals

- **[community_signal]** Stars is actively used in monthly tournaments by the hosts' local community, indicating strong venue integration and player base engagement with the title. (confidence: high) — R-to-Dave: 'this game's had a lot of play cuz a regular game in our in our tournament' and 'I probably rebuilt it about 3 4,000 plays since then so hasn't missed a beat either'
- **[community_signal]** Tutorial content format (Danni Teachers series) demonstrates ongoing community education and accessibility efforts to onboard new players and demonstrate classic titles. (confidence: high) — Structured tutorial with experienced player and newcomer playing alongside, explicit strategy coaching throughout, welcoming tone toward Andrew's first tournament experience.
- **[product_concern]** Brand new playfield components on Stars machine reported to be sensitive/requiring light touch technique, suggesting manufacturing quality control considerations on replacement parts. (confidence: medium) — Danni notes: 'brand new drop targets can be a oh a little bit ropey at the best of times' and recommends 'light glass rather than a full-on whack'
- **[technology_signal]** Stars machine features computer-configurable settings for special targets (free game vs. 100K points), indicating programmable difficulty/reward tuning in classic titles. (confidence: high) — R-to-Dave explains: 'it's two settings in the computer you can either set it to be a special which is a free game or if you don't want a free game you can set it to 100,000 points'

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## Transcript

hello and welcome back to another Danny teachers today we're here with Sterns old game stars now stars is such a fun little machine it's got two things you can do you can either hit down the drop targets to increase your bonus multiplier only to double or triple not that fancy or you can hit the standup targets to light your spinner and then shoot the spinner now I've got a special guest here with me today to show off this lovely game it is the wonderful R to dayve wow nobody surprised at this point but we love to have a multiplayer game cuz pinball is what more fun when you have more than one person so I've already got the game loaded up let's jump in now aside so obviously I said you can get the standups to like your spinner but the thing for me is that if I get the five stand ups then special lights and I like to get the special because the special gives you 100,000 points depending on how it's set up of course not every Stars will give you 100K for a special but why not you know shoot it and find out if you're not sure on your local Stars so where's going for so I've got my double oh bonus X there wa and a scary little oh thing going on there um so as you can see I just like to kind of flick it around I don't like to like try and trap up and control the ball too much cuz this game is not designed for that got my triple bonus multiplier there and my special ISL if I can get all of the drop targets down there whoop There we go oh oh oh one set of oh drop targets down let's see if we can get the other drop targets down so I was talking about who oh okay we got there so but as I was saying the standups can like the special if you get all five standups but if you get your triple bonus then if you get both down you can get special as well so there's two ways to get special there all right R to Dave sorry I put up quite the score there for my first ball that's not too bad on this game so yeah to clarify what Danny was saying there you got the two things to go for the drop targets or the stand-ups and the standup give you Stars some people say the game is called Stars not drops but um drops is very good for depends on the game too because this game is pretty tough this game's got brand new Playfield the drop targets are brand new the whole game's pretty much brand new I built it from a a rick machine I got from the offer set of cowboy bbot the the Netflix show so yeah when I got it it wasn't uh there wasn't much left of it it was just a um a painted red cabinet a piece of plexiglass at the back and a very worn Playfield ironically I'd actually sold the game this game um years and years a ago I bought it for 300 bucks and then I ended up buying it back and it's had a brand new Playfield uh back glass Plastics the whole works so our painted cabinet which you can't really see but all 2K cabinet and everything so came up pretty neat I'm sure D will share some photos of it later yeah this game's uh oh this game's had a lot of play cuz a regular game in our in our tournament so I probably rebuilt it about 3 years ago and I'd say it's yeah probably had 3 4,000 plays since then so hasn't missed a beat either so it's really oh we take that so I've got three stars yeah so when you get the um you can see one two 3 four five the other ones one on each shot of the pop up there once you get the five stars that'll like the Red Dot which roams around the Playfield and the Red Dot is Set uh it's two settings in the computer you can either set it to be a special which is a free game or if you don't want a free game you can set it to 100,000 points so normally in a tournament it's set to 100,000 points so every time this red dots lit up around the Playfield if you spank it you'll get 100,000 points which is um stars um that's what I'm looking for stars Extravaganza stars or you just hit nothing all right some double bonus action there it's always good to get double bonus because I've already got 10,000 so that's 20,000 so if I get a triple bonus which why not do that of course brand new drop brand new drop targets can be a oh a little bit ropey at the best of times so as you can see there actually best way to drop the targets is um with a light glass rather than a full-on whack so I've only got two more stars to go so get now I've only got one star to go so I'm getting pretty happy with that oops that wasn't a good shot and I got ripped off by that stand up there so one more star to get so we'll go for that star if we can get it on the right flipper here we go okay so this star to get and then that'll be the I can rip the spinner for some good points or I can uh I'll put it all on black and go for the star and miss it terribly so probably the intelligent play was there just to keep on ripping the spinner but hey you only live once exactly that's what we like to do here in the pick it's a good look game very nice huh so uh yeah let's go for some more drops that's why I like to get some bonus X built up is it's like at least if you've got your bonus X built up then you'll have some points on the table um and you get points for every drop Target you shoot down oh oh did John Youssi that David yes you are RI there we go nice very cool ah so you do get some other perks by going for the drop targets and if you don't get all sweep the three targets down at once you get some other perks so right now you will see wa so many oh I can't even talk I'm shooker okay let's just pause so as you can see on both sets of drop targets now I have hit down the red star without completing the bank that's lit the left spinner there for an extra 400 points so every time you don't get down both Banks of drop targets but you get the red star down you will get a plus 400 to your left spinner score the other thing you can do is that if you hit both blue targets down and leave the red stand up there then once you hit the red stand up down to finish the three bank then it'll give you 7,000 points for hitting that red target so a lot of points secret points on the side of the uh oh oh bonus exit oh disappointing lame stars is like stop explaining me mate just play me right what are we looking at scores are good even game here sometimes you can walk away from stars and you'll have no stars upon th you'll only have pain upon th quotes from the great Dr Zeus book The sneakes Who whoa don't be one of them don't be one of those stars on snitchers we right right so some drops right here we go here we go holding on for dear life here let's go some stars and haven't to much hot spinner action yet right where are we at so we've got 6,000 bonus double bonus couple two more over there oh a horrendous Miss there right let's uh let's hit no targets just have the ball just bounce off them in a hard fashion so what do we got got two more two more stars to get as well so you're always keeping that at the back of your mind drops are cool at the end of the day I believe the game's called stars and not drops so uh right we've got four and Le's we can see if we can get a good spinner up here oh wasn't much of a spinner the idea was there and there she goes that was good double bonus and some good Stars they not bad take that got to take it where you can get it so as Deo said before this has been used in our monthly tournaments we have there which is the best game format so you can whoa play the game as much as you like while qualifying is on oh oh what a sweep um accidental sweep uh and this game honestly everyone would be playing it like five times in a row trying to get a good score on it and you know what that's the fun of stars Ah that's not the fun of stars oh but great game for a this game always yeah so this game yeah it's had thousands and thousands of play since I rebuilt it like Danny says in one night of um best game qualifying I'd say it would get play probably two or 300 times everyone just beating it and getting beaten quite a few surprisingly good scores some of the some of the locals got pretty pretty good at it probably because they were having about 80 goes at it so if you play something 80 times you're bound to pull a couple of good ones out of the back right oh why don't I do that in tournaments hot Stars action uhoh There She Goes big rainbow very nice happy with that anything over 100,000 on this game so thankful you're thankful for very true especially Our Stars anything over 100 that's where you want to be well there we have it so more hot action more hot action yeah but we'll have pause shall we get an extra member of the family in in between games I've got a very extra special guest so now we'll do a three-play game with my partner and Andrew and here now Andrew my beloved Andrew has he's only been playing pinball for 6 months yeah about 6 months did I force you into it like I never played it before we met but yeah yeah and how have you been enjoying it I love it it's good fun uh good Community just love to do something different you know I love it now how many times have you played Stars before like four times cool so this is going to be really interesting to see how this goes D's still here we'll jump into a three player do you want to go second or third I'll go second I love it there we go all right go stand with d and we'll get you up I'll go first again not there you go I like it all right three players are in let's go um am I going to just keep going for drops and not the spinner like always probably oh oh did John Youssi that did John Youssi that save amazing save amazing well I've actually got three stars lit so I'm tempted I'm tended to do spinner for once but I can never actually hit the spinner top secret that's why I never go for it because then stuff like that happens just not lose it all right Andrew and here beat me m and's here Andy's here uh my tactic is uh just to try and do whatever I can and smack the camera I'll just I'll just move it back over it's all right oh Andy's here and's gone Andy's gone Andy's gone right how we're looking thank you for that Andrew that was great rude yay spinner uh-oh here his face pained into concentration as he tries to battle the starters and just set the ball aimlessly up the field oh uh oh brother so least got some bonus and at least we had some good first games you know not hey you're doing it okay this is it's fine we'll get back on the board on the ship on the board something um see I just I'm very anti- spinner on stars and I know it's Stars not drops but I just can't you know I'm not not there it's called it's called Stars not drains hey hey hey not me hey Andy I I won't kick Thea and here what are you aing for Andrew uh I'll try go for some drains it says click bonus here but that you don't want to do that later not at the start that's um that's not a good tactic try and delay that as long as possible is what I would say yeah man I've been doing this for a long time I know my a I already got that one that was like what tilt pretty tight too but oh well points are on the board ah well it's good that you're you know actually getting points in this game d someone's go yeah I know it's fine you know it's all good that's is fine you can get them there we see actually got some drops actually got some flipper action this time my favorite thing about seeing people play this in tournament was like they'd get 3,000 on two balls and then give me this look of like please help I'm like girl I can't help I'm trying I seen Good Vibes and they' normally bring it back but it was always like stars is fun like that and you'll just be like two balls like what's going on okay it would be good to actually give it oh did John Youssi it finally okay oh look at that good juic draining action come on Andrew Andrew's up now Andy want you to tell the people what's it being like playing a tournament are you enjoying it oh yeah nervous at first but I love it um it's just good to you know get involved and give it my best and you know drain along the way but it's it's good fun nice well good news is fun to compete exactly it is more fun to compete 100% love it uh now you've got a nice little head start because one of the drop targets didn't reset so you only got to get two to get your double bonus I got to get two so at least go Andrew show them how it's done let's do my best a and's not here he did his best radio here we go see if we can get some hot Stars actually ah St oop drain well that was cool well chalk that one up we'll do another one shall we yes we'll reverse order this time is Andy here Andy still here Andy still here W okay so I'll go first this time then Andy then Danny right let's rock and roll oh wow oh faulty rebuilding wow didn't it itself that's years of he's holding on holding on for dear life D's here D's here D's got three stars and uh double bonus and uh just hit one of them bricky targets and get no uhoh spinner yeah thank you a no starus though oh see of a misc there right here we go here we go oh see you missc again up you go buddy oop oh no couple of miscues and down the gishy goes all right oh Danny's up I'll jump up next good work try and actually show you how it's done not what whatever rubbish set well I was showing before you know the uh get my head back in the game you know ah one would hope I have my head back in the game but doesn't look like it there we go Little Star there Le go let's go let's hit the thing ah Andrew Andy's here star and here and's here May the Stars gone shine on you the Stars [Music] gone Andy's here Andy's there the uh good thing about this game is that um you can come and play 10 games and only takes 20 minutes right here we go up you go buddy two stars in the bank three stars oopsy oh here we go hold on feel like don't you go down there oh no got laid on the flippers who Le go here we'll take that thank you a rip dinging another star one more star please oh no thank you what do we got we haven't got any double bonus yet so let's do that let's do that one more ah double 16 that's 32 when I went to school so very good D trying off those mathematical prowess there um all right let's try and get some points on board a so many Star so many Star so many not Star had four stars lit and I did nothing with it let's go Andy Andy's here let's go Andy woo Andy Andy that was that was bad that cut that one out all right here we go last ball oh that was up M cute that was good Andy just goes to goes to show hard this game is most mortal people can't play it as I just showed Denny's here Denny's here yeah let go all right can I actually get do anything this time let's find out yeah oh why do I just shoot it into the middle of nowhere again oh this is this is bad at least you're the first game all right let's see what happens behind o hot save oo that course feels good man did he R see that cuz I will not be doing that again a h saves H [Music] action wow congrats Annie high five give me AO oh all right shall we do another one then another three player shall I go first again finish us up okay I believe this is going to be a 300K game here everybody I believe I believe I can fly I believe I can touch this guy get the Stars a I believe I can get the drains I believe I can hit no settle it down bro what a shambles time for Andy to show us how it's done let's go Andy let's go boys oh got the 7,000 drop Target let's go Andy go let go Andy a that was pretty good so good Andy showing off the 7K targets Sweet let's go very good Andy proud of you thanks mate been training you up since day one I'm kidding Andy's done it all himself no no good mour couple of good M the good mour is Dave not me ah yes my mom has been a great mentor to oh here we go this got sorry to the score camera you're get a bit shaky up in here all right finally back on the heat back on back on boil let's go a few M drops but we're okay oh come come on leash go triple bonus leash go oo oh did John Youssi that little like dig out there quite nice quite nice can we get the special I believe ah I Believe by hitting the wrong side of the drops Le go oh damn it we were close but hey got some Stars got some drops I'll take board good bonus let go G very nice oh looks like the mechanic's got to fix that one target oh oh dang oh it's been a long day what time is it it is like late that's very light oh straight to the double straight to the double Andy right and he's hereo oh Andy's here oh we should given him a war up til no bonus no bonus feels bad man am I play one yeah that's right you play one oh going to drain it out anyway Sor my sorry no we were all overwhelmed by the tilt of Andy bonus that was that was uh dis disappointing all right all right that's okay you've done really well Andy and I'm proud of you thanks I must say Andrew did not warm up before I just was just like do you want to come film and he did come and film so uh good on Andy for coming down and showing off yeah yeah showing off the skills he just got back from get hair cat too so you know he's feeling fresh Le do it feeling fresh feeling Cy here we go nice love a little double in Lane moment there whoop who oh what am I doing what am I doing that's not a that's not an unlet star ah sweet sweet drops sweet drops what hey points are abound I don't even care where they're coming from oh four stars four stars four stars oh can't shoot the spinner for you know what though oh oh my gosh hot action on the Stars today woo wo [Music] you know nothing's even a d on Danny teachers I tell you that for free oh my gosh all right W do you love how I've gotten four stars and not shot the spinner A missed it missed it with a fury that's why I don't go for spinner cuz I miss it but I still got over 100k we're happy that's very good well not really no spinner could be better but it's still very good points are on the board 132 versus nothing my worst uh show of the night oh here we go oh even though this game's had plenty of uh plays on it still really plays quite swery like a like a brand new play Taking oh that was Andy's here least it's not a winner take that's right that is true I only do that when I'm losing dou M mate what's going on Andy it's too tight too tight too tight even though D you I got to put it back and D's nice little save there that he did now that is us for today I think we've had do one more one more when it takes all one it takes all who's starting what's the what's the score so far I think it's I've won three and Danny's won one is that right yeah so when it takes all okay come handshaking the come handshaking frame when it takes all when it takes all when it takes all Andrew when it takes all yeah sure Winer takes all Winer takes all all right am I starting this up I'll have a red bll okay cool Will it give you wings yeah to fly up and get the Stars hilarious all right I'll start something all right come on boys let go anything would be good cuz Winner Takes all is serious in this house W never have you seen so many Lazarus and one Danny teachers w w w w w love a good lazarous moment now that's a good learning I tell you whenever you're in tournament or casual like you never take the buttons off The Flipper till it's down the never take the buttons off The Flipper never take the buttons off The [Music] Flipper that's a t-shirt moment never take the buttons off The Flipper one pays for the sort of advice normally up you go a how can that didn't drop oh I'm feeling I'm feeling ripped ah that was just a plain Miss who extra points for pops Andy and here so Andy on the flippers I'll try not to tilt don't leave the butt and hit the flippers or something yeah I won't take the buttons off the oh and's here hey L going let's go let's go to the Drone once you're on the board all right Andy might take all don't laugh Andy you're doing good you know Str things have happened I can tell me oh Andy's got to take all day we got to beat him we got to get him can't let the newcomer can't let can't let the young Pretender come and steal our Glory oh here we go oh what what sort of mup can I do here still a grab defeat from the jaws of victory take the buttons off the flippers here we go Stars oh come on Andy all right let's go boys Ang gos Ang gos and's here Dr targets hey I'll take a t bricks it's on a t-shirt drop targets t as bricks T bricks take your flippers off buttons off the flippers on it I don't know okay can I actually oh let's get let's get a special going shall we let's get 100K really uh nuke you know the Winer takes all ah there we go straight into oh baby a triple oh oh and I still don't tilt it Andy you not tilt because I'm I'm dainty you're big muscles you know it really shook it too hard Andy on the board on the board oh get dead last better put something on Winner Takes all # fail right here we life h on not getting any stars up there stars Gods against me in this game here we go there going for Andy they know that stars Gods know that Andy is here oh Andy must be here a no Andy is no I'm don't take the buttons off the floppers Andy I'll do my best oh we just a few things almost there go Andy go go Andy get it oh there we go Le go oh po Victory left no Victory laps but you did it Andy proud of you Andy oh three-way handshake donke oh very good very good now i' would like to thank my special guest for tonight Andy Winer take all Winer take feel good Grand success my first win wow W wo ever it's because of the fresh haircut thanks to Kira thank you k for giving him a lovely haircut looking sve looking fresh and thanks D for beating me on almost all the games great to be with you curse you Stars thanks for being the owner and you know maintainer of this game and that's it for Danny teachers this week and we will see you in the next one bye-bye bye

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*Exported from Journalist Tool on 2026-04-13 | Item ID: 78f75a19-7d4a-4c9e-8c30-a9ccaaf6b636*