Ep 13 - We Can't Wait!

Jersey Jack Pinball Podcast·podcast_episode·22m 49s·analyzed·Oct 17, 2022

Analysis

claude-haiku-4-5-20251001 · $0.020

TL;DR

Slow-Mo Guys technical breakdown of pinball mechanics using Willy Wonka machine

Summary

Slow-Mo Guys' Gav provides an extensive technical deep-dive into how pinball machines work, using a Jersey Jack Willy Wonka machine as the primary subject. The episode combines gameplay footage with high-speed cinematography to demonstrate solenoids, switches, flippers, bumpers, and multiball mechanics, offering both entertainment and educational value about pinball's mechanical systems.

Key Claims

Pinball playfield components have remained largely unchanged for decades despite advances in scoring systems
high confidence · Narrator explicitly states: 'even though we live in the future now well beyond the days of electromechanical scoring the actual playfield itself uses components unchanged for decades'
Without the glass cover, pinball machines are significantly louder due to sound dampening from the cover
high confidence · Narrator notes: 'without the glass something that i wasn't expecting this machine is now incredibly loud there's a i guess a huge sound dampening effect with the glass cover'
Willy Wonka Standard edition uses virtual locks for multiball while Limited Edition/Collector's Edition has physical locks
high confidence · Narrator explains: 'in the limited edition collectors edition this is a physical lock that sits at the back there and it will physically store your balls before dumping them back onto the playfield'
Pop bumpers activate 8 times per second when a ball is bouncing between them
high confidence · Narrator states: 'i counted here that the ball went back and forth eight times in less than half a second'
Flipper mechanisms have two separate electrical circuits: high-power for initial movement and lower-power for holding position
high confidence · Technical explanation: 'there's a circuit for the initial high power burst of current which is needed to move it and then a separate lower power circuit to hold the flipper in place'
Flippers experience rubber deformation/rippling that occurs in approximately 0.1 seconds and may extend the window for live catch techniques
medium confidence · Narrator observes: 'the rubber completely comes away in my quest to become better at pinball... maybe the rubber whipping away from the plastic on the flipper actually extends the possible window of a live catch'
Tilt mechanism uses a bob suspended in a ring that triggers warnings after three impacts and results in ball loss on third strike
high confidence · Narrator explains: 'if the bob hits the ring three times you'll get a tilt you'll lose your current ball and lose your bonus'

Notable Quotes

“i'm actually phenomenal at pinball i'm really good at from this flipper hitting it so that it bounces off this target here and drains about 165 miles an hour that's probably my specialty”
Gav (Slow-Mo Guys) @ early gameplay section — Humorous self-deprecation about pinball skills; sets tone for viewer as pinball novice
“multiball still freaks me out even if i know what i'm supposed to be aiming at just the fact that there's so many balls in the playfield and you still have to keep your eye on when a ball is about to hit the upper flippers and the lower flippers it's a lot to look at”
Gav (Slow-Mo Guys) @ multiball section — Captures the cognitive complexity and appeal of multiball modes
“i honestly found that so interesting just shoving the camera in different spots and learning how each piece worked just from the footage alone found it fascinating i really enjoyed that one”
Gav (Slow-Mo Guys) @ conclusion section — Reflects on the educational and entertainment value of technical analysis
“big fat thanks to jersey jack pinball for supplying this wonderful machine and honestly supplying me with a new hobby i've been in here almost every day for the last month”
Gav (Slow-Mo Guys) @ closing remarks — Demonstrates genuine enthusiasm and engagement with pinball; validates Jersey Jack's product appeal
“it's an easy game to sort of get going on but it's a lot deeper than you think there's actually a ton to do and uh i'm really just scraping the surface on it”
Gav (Slow-Mo Guys) @ final commentary — Characterizes Willy Wonka as accessible but strategically deep

Entities

Jersey Jack PinballcompanySlow-Mo GuysorganizationGavpersonEdpersonWilly WonkagamePhantomproductSkillsharecompany

Signals

?
community_signal: Popular mainstream content creator (Slow-Mo Guys with significant YouTube audience) producing educational technical content about pinball machines, potentially introducing new audience segments to the hobby
high · Gav's repeated statements about becoming a pinball enthusiast and playing daily; Jersey Jack's decision to sponsor/provide machine for this content
?
design_philosophy: Willy Wonka uses accessible entry point (easy to get going) combined with strategic depth (multiball complexity, various lock types) as design approach
high · Narrator's description of multiball freaking him out despite understanding mechanics, combined with game depth assessment
$
market_signal: Jersey Jack strategically providing machine to mainstream entertainment creator to reach new potential customers outside traditional pinball community
high · Jersey Jack sponsor credit and machine provision; Slow-Mo Guys' massive audience reach with technical content format
?
product_strategy: Willy Wonka edition tiers differentiated by physical vs virtual lock systems; LE/Collector's Edition includes wonkavator physical lock feature absent from Standard
high · Narrator explicitly explains: 'in the limited edition collectors edition this is a physical lock that sits at the back there... standard version is a virtual lock'
?
product_concern: Jersey Jack Willy Wonka machine demonstrates mechanical depth and appeal that sustains engagement from novice players
high · Gav states: 'i've been in here almost every day for the last month... it's an easy game to sort of get going on but it's a lot deeper than you think'

Topics

Pinball machine mechanical systems and componentsprimarySolenoids and switches: electrical activation of pinball mechanicsprimaryFlipper mechanics, technique, and physicsprimaryMultiball modes and lock systemsprimaryJersey Jack Willy Wonka game features and designprimaryHigh-speed cinematography applied to pinball analysissecondaryPinball skill development and learning curvesecondarySound engineering in pinball machinesmentioned

Sentiment

positive(0.92)— Overwhelmingly enthusiastic about pinball as both technical subject and new hobby. Genuine appreciation for Jersey Jack's product and the educational opportunity. Self-deprecating humor maintains accessibility while celebrating the game's complexity. No criticism or negative sentiment detected.

Transcript

youtube_mirror_subs · $0.000

hey we've got merch again and new merch and there's more coming soon don't tell anyone go to slowmoguys.shop links in the description hello there i'm gav welcome to the slow-mo guys video all about how a pinball machine works firstly i want to say thanks to jersey jack pinball for providing the machine for this video it's a willy wonka machine it's very nice very colorful i've been fascinated by pinball for quite a long time i was introduced to a real pinball machine by a canadian man named ed before that my entire experience with pinball was the significant percentage of my childhood taken up by this and even though we live in the future now well beyond the days of electromechanical scoring the actual playfield itself uses components unchanged for decades it's still very mechanical and not only that very fast moving so why don't we whip out the phantom and play a little game of pinball since i got this machine i've played a lot of wonka pinball and i've determined some areas of the playfield that i want to feature but it's going to be an extremely fiddly job so i've got the flex 4k with the probe lens on and i'm going to use that with this extremely bright light to to really get in there okay the glass is off i think we should start with me just playing a cheeky game of pinball just you can see everything that moves and then we'll get in there for the slo-mo replays the game is fully functional without the glass and now there's no glare for filming however i'm slightly worried about taking a pinball to the chin because they do go flying in multiball especially and also without the glass something that i wasn't expecting this machine is now incredibly loud there's a i guess a huge sound dampening effect with the glass cover so get ready for some clangs and clunks i'm not sure if you knew this about me but i'm actually phenomenal at pinball i'm really good at from this flipper hitting it so that it bounces off this target here and drains about 165 miles an hour that's probably my specialty all right high score coming up in all seriousness i'm a total pinball novice so apologies in advance for my sorry display of skills and potential incorrect terminology starting with a gobstopper if you hit it once it will spin around revealing a hole and then you can hit a ball in locking it for multiball it's actually a virtual lock it's not keeping the balls physically it pops them back out into the shooter lane just there but one of the ways to build multiballs is to activate various locks now we're in the pot bumpers at the top i'm sure you've seen these on a pinball machine extremely fast moving extremely loud down here if the pink light is lit the kickback will prevent the ball from draining on the outer lane there when it's not lit you lose the ball locked another ball for multiple there in the gobstopper when the yellow light in the center middle is lit the ball will be diverted from the gobstopper ramp down onto a magnet to be hit through the spinner and when the super lock light is lit that will lock a ball for the one curvature multiball which as this machine is the standard version is a virtual lock on the limited edition collectors edition this is a physical lock that sits at the back there and it will physically store your balls before dumping them back onto the playfield as you can see now i'm in what i like to call slingshot hell where my ball is just bouncing back and forth between the slingshots finally gain control started gobstopper multiball locked three balls and all three are now auto plunged back onto the playfield multiball still freaks me out even if i know what i'm supposed to be aiming at just the fact that there's so many balls in the playfield and you still have to keep your eye on when a ball is about to hit the upper flippers and the lower flippers it's a lot to look at and it didn't help here that i actually started a second multiball the kid multiball within the gobstopper multiball which caused all six balls to be on the playfield at the same time there's a lot going on this is actually a a montage of several different moments from the same play session but there are bits cut just to show different stuff happening a lot quicker so we can get to the slow motion if you get the high score when you submit your name it'll take a picture of your face and you'll hear a little thunk inside the machine which we'll get to later to fully show how this machine works i'm going to need to film underneath the playfield and thankfully you can just pull it out like this and everything is still fully functional i can activate pretty much everything you're also able to push it up fully the most common way for something to move on the pinball machine is through switches and solenoids you can see a few of them here uh this empty gap in the bottom left that's where the the wonkavator ball lock would be if i had that version of the game a solenoid is basically very tightly coiled wire which when a current passes through will create a magnetic field pulling the metal rod through the center this one is the flipper and this one is the vertical up kicker in the ball trough responsible for deploying balls and they work very quickly so why don't we get straight into slow mo starting with the vertical up kicker of the ball trough pressing the start button hits this switch which activates the vertical up kicker in the ball trough firing a ball straight up into the shooter lane where it'll roll down and it's ready to be plunged by the plunger [Music] on a full plunge the ball will go right round the top straight into the pot bumpers this was the part of the machine i was most excited to see just because the ball so quickly bounces back and forth between these multiple times per second you can see the way it works is when the ball rolls over the white plastic the rod connected to the metal ring above is pulled down by a solenoid inside so when it rolls over the white plastic this leaf switch completes the circuit activating the solenoid that pulls this rod down and that is connected to the ring above on the top of the playfield and the way the ring is angled causes the ball to be ejected out from any angle that it approaches the pop bumper you can see it's now activating the switch rod pulls down ball fires back out it bounces seriously fast i counted here that the ball went back and forth eight times in less than half a second absolutely insane now heading down to the flippers classic area of a pinball machine as you can see press the button flipper moves hits the ball away it's a very strong mechanism and there are actually two circuits regarding the flipper it's a solenoid once again actuating this arm there's a circuit for the initial high power burst of current which is needed to move it and then a separate lower power circuit to hold the flipper in place if you want to hold it up just so you're not running high current through it constantly the spring will return it to its resting position when you physically press the flipper button a little piece of plastic is pushing against metal leaf switches inside when one piece of metal knocks into another it completes the connection you may be wondering why is there three you can actually press just the first one that activates the lower flipper when the first piece pushes the second piece of metal into the third piece the entire circuit is complete and the upper flipper goes as well usually both flippers go at the same time because you're really smashing those things this is the slingshot slightly above the lower flip as you'll notice two leaf switches sat either side of this kicker also powered by a solenoid inside when the ball approaches from either side of that thing it will complete the circuit causing the ball to be kicked out often straight into the other one which causes a nice back and forth between them this is the gobstopper hole when a ball goes in as i mentioned before the ball is locked but it's actually just returned to you through this plastic channel underneath and then using another vertical up kicker is shot straight back up and that is the ball that you continue playing with comes out just slightly higher up the shooter lane than where the ball starts originally when multiball starts the game will just launch balls onto the playfield for you using the auto plunger this piece of metal is shaped to come out either side of the normal plunger whacking the ball at full speed back up the shooter lane when you hit the ball up the gobstopper ramp the ball can either continue straight through depending on where you are in the game or if the yellow light is lit on the left there once the ball is detected using the optical sensors this diverter piece of metal will come down from the top slowing the ball down enough for it to just drop through this hole in the side if the ball's traveling full speed it never falls down there the ball will then fall down onto a magnet where it's ready to be hit by the upper left flipper into the spinner for usually some mad points because every full rotation it activates this leaf switch on the right here so you can see if you hit it through there and it spins 40 times this switch will be pressed 40 times which could mean 41k bars if you've got super spinner activated now we're into some multiball i'm honestly so surprised at how often the ball just leaps into the air sometimes it will hit the glass when you're playing up here in the center is the captive ball which operates exactly like a newton's cradle you have to hit the ball hard enough for it to send the fireball into the target basically just a target you have to hit pretty high now one of these balls is going to drain out of the left outer lane which is the one that has the kickback which when lit if the ball rolls over this metal rollover switch is automatically bashed straight back out and your ball is saved i spent a lot of time filming this machine but one of the most fascinating parts of it to me was something i noticed when i was filming the flippers the ball is rarely hit just once the first impact almost stops the flipper and the ball and then as it catches up it then does a secondary push or a secondary hit to the ball and not only that without a ball the flippers decelerate so fast that it ripples the rubber away from the plastic this all occurs in around 0.1 of a second so incredibly difficult to see with the naked eye first i thought something was wrong until i noticed this behavior on every single flipper even the upper one here such force the rubber completely comes away in my quest to become better at pinball i was learning about a move called a live catch where you sort of meet the ball right as it lands in the flipper and they sort of both cancel out each other's momentum it's i guess like the closest to a real life frame perfect trick that there is in pinball so i was thinking maybe the rubber whipping away from the plastic on the flipper actually extends the possible window of a live catch because it's literally extending the flipper itself and cushioning all around the ball it's actually not a good example of a live catch because the ball uh still just rolled off the flipper usually it's gonna just stop dead on the flipper and then you have it caught now let's move on to the tilt bob it sits inside this machine on the left as you can see it's swinging loosely and it's got a ring surrounding it so you can see here when i nudged the machine and gave a little tilt to try and save the ball it gave me a warning because it detected that the tilt bob had hit the ring and it's a big part of the game to sort of smack the machine around but if the bob hits the ring three times you'll get a tilt you'll lose your current ball and lose your bonus finally we have the knocker it sits in the backbox so i've got to take this part off and it's the thing you hear when you get high score or if you roll over the special and it's just a solenoid with a plastic tip rod that thumps a piece of mail incredibly simple well there we have it i honestly found that so interesting just shoving the camera in different spots and learning how each piece worked just from the footage alone found it fascinating i really enjoyed that one hopefully you enjoyed it too even if you're not into pinball maybe you found it interesting anyway big fat thanks to jersey jack pinball for supplying this wonderful machine and honestly supplying me with a new hobby i've been in here almost every day for the last month uh just trying to get into wonka's office haven't done it yet it's actually it's an easy game to sort of get going on but it's a lot deeper than you think there's actually a ton to do and uh i'm really just scraping the surface on it okey dokey thank you very much for watching this video make sure you share it with someone who likes pinball and now i'm going to briefly talk about the sponsor of this video this video is sponsored by skill this video this video is sponsored by skillshare skillshare is an online learning community with thousands of inspiring classes so you can pick up a new skill or broaden your existing passions if you're a regular viewer of the slo-mo guys channel you may be interested in plenty of topics on skillshare varying from film and video production to photography uh entry level and more advanced skills one skillshare class that currently interests me is this one on lighting most of our videos honestly have been lit by the sun outdoors and i'm really interested in learning about different types of lights in a studio environment and i feel like this will be the perfect place to get that info then i'm probably going to buy some lights skillshare is learning focus there's no distractions like ads and there's new premium classes added all the time it's less than ten dollars a month if you choose an annual subscription and you can get your hands on it by going into the description of this video the first 1000 people who sign up will get a free trial of skillshare premium membership thank you very much for watching this video make sure you subscribe if you like it and kick the old bell in the face i'll see you in the next one