# Episode 45 - Gigi Gameplay

**Source:** For Amusement Only EM and Bingo Pinball Podcast  
**Type:** podcast_episode  
**Published:** 2015-04-25  
**Duration:** 12m 26s  
**Beat:** Pinball

**URL:** https://foramusementonly.libsyn.com/episode-45-gigi-gameplay

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## Analysis

Nick Baldridge presents a detailed gameplay walkthrough and restoration experience of Gigi, a 1960s Gottlieb EM pinball machine. He covers the core mechanics (14 bumpers, chevron completion for special, alternating relay system), scoring methods (replay thresholds, match digit, bonus advances), and shares troubleshooting challenges with coin circuit issues and shooter rod assembly. Despite persistent coin mechanism problems, he expresses enthusiasm for the game's challenging and rewarding gameplay.

### Key Claims

- [HIGH] Gigi uses a manual lift trough system where the plunger lifts the ball to the shooter lane — _Nick Baldridge describing the trough mechanism of Gigi_
- [HIGH] The machine has 14 bumpers, with some combination of seven lit at any time; player must light all seven of one color (yellow or red) to achieve special — _Nick Baldridge explaining core gameplay objective of Gigi_
- [HIGH] Special can only be collected from side lanes, controlled by an alternating relay that switches sides based on target hits — _Nick Baldridge describing special collection mechanics_
- [HIGH] The match digit in EM games like Gigi is predictable and based on switch hits, not randomized, allowing skilled players to potentially game the system — _Nick Baldridge explaining EM match mechanics and player exploitation potential_
- [HIGH] Nick has two Gottlieb EM machines (wedgeheads) and both have coin circuit issues; Gigi's replay button no longer engages despite initial proper function — _Nick Baldridge describing persistent coin circuit problems across his Gottlieb collection_
- [HIGH] Gigi requires an unusually long shooter rod, forcing Nick to cut a barrel spring in half to achieve proper function — _Nick Baldridge describing shooter rod assembly challenge during restoration_
- [MEDIUM] The 2-for-1 coin unit on one of Nick's machines may be responsible for current play-start issues, but he has not yet disassembled it due to complexity of the step unit — _Nick Baldridge speculating on coin unit as the remaining suspect for coin circuit malfunction_

### Notable Quotes

> "I finished tweaking Gigi. I had her working uh... few days ago but uh... needed some adjustments here and there and a little bit of cleaning and a couple of relays I've got her working now and she plays pretty phenomenally well"
> — **Nick Baldridge**, 0:00-0:30
> _Opening statement establishing the episode focus on Gigi restoration and current operational status_

> "Your goal is to light either all seven yellow, or all seven red bumpers in order to achieve special."
> — **Nick Baldridge**, 1:30-2:00
> _Core gameplay objective explanation that drives the entire Gigi experience_

> "This can be frustrating as three of the bumpers out of the fourteen are pops. And so if you make a mistimed shot and accidentally hit one of the pops, it's likely that it's..."
> — **Nick Baldridge**, 4:00-4:30
> _Identifies the difficulty spike when pop bumpers reset the lit bumper state, core gameplay challenge_

> "As this is an EM, the match digit is predictable. It's not randomized. It's based on the number of switch hits. So if I match on digit 9, I can play the game until I'm certain that my score matches and then intentionally lose the ball on the last ball in order to continue playing."
> — **Nick Baldridge**, 7:00-8:00
> _Reveals exploitable mechanic in EM games that skilled players historically abused on location machines_

> "I seem to have or attract trouble with Gottlieb EM coin circuits. I have two wedgeheads now and each one has a different issue with the coin circuits."
> — **Nick Baldridge**, 8:30-9:00
> _Identifies persistent pattern of coin circuit failures across Gottlieb EM machines in his collection_

> "The replay button on the front of the game will not engage. When I first got the machine, that worked fine. I did have to rewire the coin door... Now the game only starts on a coin drop which is kinda weird."
> — **Nick Baldridge**, 9:00-9:30
> _Documents the specific coin circuit failure mode in Gigi that emerged after initial successful operation_

> "I had to cut an old barrel spring in half because Gigi apparently uses a really, really long shooter rod. I don't have another example of a 60's Gottlieb, you know, right here that I can check against."
> — **Nick Baldridge**, 13:00-13:30
> _Reveals non-standard mechanical requirement for Gigi that necessitated creative restoration solution_

> "I'm really enjoying it and at the moment you know can't stop feeding it nickels or else I can't push the start button so if you come across one in your travels I highly suggest you give it a shot"
> — **Nick Baldridge**, 14:00-14:30
> _Personal endorsement of Gigi as a worthwhile EM experience despite its challenges_

### Entities

| Name | Type | Context |
|------|------|---------|
| Nick Baldridge | person | Host of For Amusement Only EM and Bingo Pinball Podcast; collector and restorer of EM pinball machines; primary speaker sharing gameplay analysis and restoration experiences |
| Gigi | game | 1960s Gottlieb EM pinball machine; subject of episode gameplay walkthrough and restoration; features 14 bumpers, alternating relay system, and manual lift trough |
| Gottlieb | company | Vintage pinball manufacturer; produced Gigi in the 1960s; Nick notes recurring coin circuit issues across his Gottlieb EM machines |
| For Amusement Only | organization | EM and Bingo Pinball Podcast hosted by Nick Baldridge; focused on electromechanical and bingo pinball content |
| wedgehead | product | Gottlieb EM machine type; Nick owns two wedgeheads, both experiencing coin circuit issues |

### Topics

- **Primary:** EM Pinball Gameplay Mechanics, Machine Restoration and Troubleshooting, Gottlieb EM Coin Circuit Issues
- **Secondary:** Alternating Relay Systems, Match Digit Predictability in EM Games, Shooter Rod Assembly and Customization
- **Mentioned:** Bell Sounds and Audio Design in EM Pinball

### Sentiment

**Positive** (0.75) — Nick expresses enthusiasm about Gigi's gameplay despite frustration with coin circuit issues. His tone is appreciative of the machine's challenge and design, with problems framed as restoration puzzles rather than fundamental flaws. Closing endorsement reinforces positive sentiment.

### Signals

- **[restoration_signal]** Nick modified Gigi's shooter rod by cutting a barrel spring in half to accommodate the machine's unusually long rod, indicating non-standard mechanical requirements for 1960s Gottlieb machines (confidence: high) — I had to cut an old barrel spring in half because Gigi apparently uses a really, really long shooter rod.
- **[product_concern]** Pattern of coin circuit failures across Nick's Gottlieb EM collection; Gigi specifically lost replay button functionality and now requires coin drop to start games (confidence: high) — I seem to have or attract trouble with Gottlieb EM coin circuits. I have two wedgeheads now and each one has a different issue with the coin circuits.
- **[gameplay_signal]** Gigi's alternating relay system creates frustration mechanic where pop bumper hits unlit the target bumpers needed for special, forcing players to adapt mid-game strategy (confidence: high) — This can be frustrating as three of the bumpers out of the fourteen are pops. And so if you make a mistimed shot and accidentally hit one of the pops, it's likely that it's [reset]
- **[gameplay_signal]** EM match digits are predictable and based on switch hits rather than randomized, allowing skilled players to intentionally manipulate final scores to earn replays, historically abused on location machines (confidence: high) — As this is an EM, the match digit is predictable. It's not randomized. It's based on the number of switch hits.
- **[restoration_signal]** Nick rewired Gigi's coin door due to loose wires but issue persists; suspects 2-for-1 coin unit requiring disassembly but has not yet completed diagnosis (confidence: medium) — I did have to rewire the coin door. There were a bunch of loose wires... The only thing I haven't done is disassembled the 2-for-1 coin unit and cleaned and checked gapping
- **[content_signal]** Episode 45 focuses on detailed gameplay walkthrough of specific EM machine with hands-on restoration anecdotes, providing educational content for EM pinball enthusiasts (confidence: high) — I thought I'd go over what's involved in the gameplay when you start the game... I'm really enjoying it and at the moment you know can't stop feeding it nickels

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## Transcript

 What's that sound? Its 4amusementonly the EM and Bingo pinball podcast. Welcome back to 4amusementonly, this is Nicholas Baldridge. I finished tweaking Gigi. I had her working uh... few days ago but uh... needed some adjustments here and there and a little bit of cleaning and a couple of relays I've got her working now and she plays pretty phenomenally well so today I thought I'd go over what's involved in the gameplay when you start the game all the balls are released from the trough manual lift game, so you push in the plunger on the bottom right and it will lift the ball to the shooter lane. From there, if you take a moment to look at the playfield, you'll notice that there are 14 different bumpers and some combination of seven of them will be lit. Your goal is to light either all seven The first thing you need to do is to get all seven yellow, or all seven red bumpers in order to achieve special. Once you've lit special, you can only collect it from one of the side lanes. Now this is tied to an alternating relay, so depending on which targets you hit on the playfield, it will switch sides. D Know that the spinners are56 The bonus only tickss up at the end of the game. And depending on the number of times that you have completed a chevron in the game up to five, it will award you different point and replay awards. territories that win the fucking competitionument 연습, in Re dads, Magnifyingge and Anyone in their own way can play that game better and become a master and die. Bowl pleasures 10 innovations 150 objects 25 scenes counts theater 12 points Whole price Question Summary If you manage to shoot the ball appropriately you can collect a special over and over again on a single ball In practice this is incredibly difficult Not to mention that once you drain, the game will light bumpers in the opposite chevron to give you a challenge. So, as each bumper is lit in one chevron, it is unlit or turned off in the other chevron. So this can be frustrating as three of the bumpers out of the fourteen are pops. And so if you make a mistimed shot and accidentally hit one of the pops, it's likely that it's Oh пог 쉬inalsube, Locker unbubble ahí, se la animate qüe and the game is a game of the game. Interesting in this regard is that there's also alternating lit stand-up targets on the left and right upper playfield. If you manage to hit one of those you get fifty points when it's lit. You only get five if it's unlit. And because it's tied to the alternating relay This means that for every switch that you hit, it's going to move back and forth. The game uses bell sounds and there are two different bells. Sound great. I think as per usual, the bell sounds are tied in well with the gameplay. uh... it doesn't get grating or annoying, you know, to hear the bells chiming another interesting thing about the game this is a replay game, not an add-a-ball so your goal is to earn replays you can do this with various point thresholds so similarly to most other EM's you can select the replay level and once you've crossed that threshold you'll get an automatic replay on top of that at the end of the game after you receive your bonus from your advances there's a match and if the last digit in your score matches the number that the machine comes up to you get a replay So far I earned a replay in each way that is possible So I've gotten it from the advances at the end of the game, I've received it from special, and I've received it from match. As this is an EM, the match digit is predictable. It's not randomized. It's based on the number of switch hits. So if I match on digit 9, I can play the game until I'm certain that my score matches and then intentionally lose the ball on the last ball in order to continue playing. This requires some quick on-the-fly math of which I'm not capable, at least on this game, so it's unlikely to be abused. I've heard stories of people playing EMs on location that would do this. I seem to have or attract trouble with Gottlieb EM coin circuits. I have two wedgeheads now and each one has a different issue with the coin circuits. The replay button on the front of the game will not engage. When I first got the machine, that worked fine. I did have to rewire the coin door. There were a bunch of loose wires. Made certain everything was right on the schematic. Fired right up, everything was great. Ticked down the replay number on the credit wheel and started a game just as you'd expect. Now the game only starts on a coin drop which is kinda weird. I've been in the backbox and checked the credit unit switches, double checked the wiring on the schematic. Everything's appropriate, everything tones out. Joan's plug is clean for the coin door and yet this problem is going on. My pop-it card had been hacked by the operator before they sold it to some home collector years ago to work on free play. How they did this is a bit of a mystery to me. As I've mentioned before, there's no obvious hacking that hasn't been reversed. There are no extra switches on the coin door, which is a typical way that an attaball is There are no extra wires on any of the relays All the Wiring checks out on the schematic for the coin switch onwards That game has a special feature where you can get two plays for a quarter, which I have enabled. So it lights a light on the apron to let you know that you're able to push the start button again and play another game. and the on you can still push the start button and keep going, so I'm not sure what's going on there the only thing I haven't done is disassembled the 2-for-1 coin unit and cleaned and checked gapping and all that kind stuff it's one of those continuous step units The game has four levels which are in this case use the tiny gear with tiny nylon ummm.. levers and they're kind of a pain to disassemble so, haven't done that yet. That's the only suspect that I have so, one day when it bugs me enough I'll get that done. I've played it at least a dozen times tonight since getting the shooter rod straight. That was another adventure. I had to cut an old barrel spring in half because Gigi apparently uses a really, really long shooter rod. I don't have another example of a 60's Gottlieb, you know, right here that I can check against. So thankfully I have a bunch of spare shooter rods of various lengths and the longest one that I have worked well enough with half of a barrel spring so that's all good. I'm really enjoying it and at the moment you know can't stop feeding it nickels or else I can't push the start button so if you come across one in your travels I highly suggest you give it a shot it's incredibly challenging and frustrating in a good way when that one bumper that you need is turned off from underneath you well thank you for joining me my My name again is Nicholas Baldridge. You can reach me at 4amusementonlypodcast at gmail.com. You can find us online at 4amusementonly.libsyn.com and you can listen to us on iTunes, Stitcher, Pocket Casts, on our website, via RSS, and via Facebook. Thanks for joining me and I'll talk to you next time.

_(Acquisition: groq_whisper, Enrichment: v3)_

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*Exported from Journalist Tool on 2026-04-13 | Item ID: ebdf7750-a16d-488a-923a-c341071d5e9b*