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I Hacked My Way Into Lost in the Zone Wizard Mode on Twilight Zone Pinball

Pinball Shenanigans·video·14m 57s·analyzed·May 28, 2026
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Analysis

claude-haiku-4-5-20251001 · $0.016

TL;DR

Twilight Zone restoration progresses with capacitor replacement and accidental wizard mode discovery.

Summary

Mike Dus continues restoration work on his Twilight Zone pinball machine, replacing tantalum capacitors with electrolytic alternatives on the soundboard after upgrading sound ROMs to L2 version. He documents show-and-tell items from YagPin and Ontario Pinfest, performs a playtest, accidentally discovers the 'Hold My Beer' feature, and stumbles into the Lost in the Zone wizard mode while testing the machine's functionality.

Key Claims

  • Tantalum capacitors in pinball soundboards can be safely replaced with electrolytic capacitors

    medium confidence · Mike Dus, discussing capacitor replacement on Twilight Zone soundboard; noted as new learning for him

  • Electrolytic capacitors are easier to source than tantalum capacitors for pinball repairs

    medium confidence · Mike Dus, during soundboard repair segment

  • A remote battery pack installation resolved intermittent diagnostic mode issues on Twilight Zone

    medium confidence · Mike Dus, summarizing restoration work from previous and current episodes

  • The L1 and L2 sound ROM packages for Twilight Zone produce no noticeable difference in audio

    low confidence · Mike Dus, after playtest; he expresses uncertainty and invites community feedback

  • Ontario Pinfest is scheduled to begin on Saturday (from Tuesday broadcast date)

    high confidence · Mike Dus, discussing tournament merchandise and timing

Notable Quotes

  • “I just cheated to the wizard mode.”

    Mike Dus@ 0:15 — Accidentally triggered Lost in the Zone wizard mode while testing the machine, demonstrating successful restoration progress

  • “I held this button with that button and this is a I can go take a beer break. How cool is that?”

    Mike Dus@ 12:13 — Discovery of the 'Hold My Beer' feature on Twilight Zone, a novelty mode allowing extended pause

  • “You put them together and you got this.”

    Mike Dus@ 1:14 — Introducing custom coin display stands, showing collectible pinball tokens

  • “Pat Waller, man, he is the man.”

    Mike Dus@ 13:42 — Praise for Twilight Zone designer/composer during Lost in the Zone mode gameplay

  • “So, between this episode and the last episode, the brief summary is that I removed the MPU, cleaned up the corrosion, and installed a remote battery pack”

    Mike Dus@ 7:11 — Summary of major restoration milestones addressing battery acid damage and diagnostic issues

Entities

Mike DuspersonTwilight ZonegamePinball ShenanigansorganizationYagPineventOntario PinfesteventRush to the NortheventChris McKinleypersonJulian Shiny BoypersonJeff TuspersonPat Wallerperson

Signals

  • ?

    restoration_signal: Discovery that electrolytic capacitors can substitute for tantalum capacitors in pinball soundboards, with potential sourcing advantages

    medium · Mike replaced failed tantalum capacitors with 1µF 50V electrolytic units; noted this was a new learning and that they're easier to source

  • ?

    restoration_signal: Remote battery pack installation successfully resolved intermittent diagnostic mode issues caused by battery acid corrosion on MPU

    medium · Mike summarized that removing MPU, cleaning corrosion, and installing remote battery pack remedied the diagnostic button issue and random beeping in attract mode

  • ?

    gameplay_signal: Hold My Beer feature and Lost in the Zone wizard mode confirmed functional on Twilight Zone during playtest

    high · Mike accidentally triggered wizard mode; successfully activated Hold My Beer feature by holding extra ball button with flipper button combination

  • ?

    product_concern: Multiple switch issues identified on Twilight Zone: sticky diverter, intermittent inlane switch, fatigued target backing switch, gumball entrance switch acting up, extra ball button non-functional

    high · Mike documented list of switch issues during playtest; noted some beyond cleaning and requiring replacement

  • ?

    product_concern: Right ramp occasionally launches ball into orbit; clock board non-functional; high voltage setting doesn't disable flippers when coin door opens

    high · Observed and verbalized during playtest; added to to-do list for future episodes

Transcript

youtube_auto_sub · $0.000

0:01
That's pretty cool. >> You have come to the end of your
0:03
You have come to the end of your
0:03
You have come to the end of your journey. >> Lost in the zone.
0:04
Lost in the zone.
0:04
Lost in the zone. >> Survival is
0:05
Survival is
0:05
Stranger Things
game
  • ?

    restoration_signal: Color DMD installation planned as significant upgrade to Twilight Zone; anticipated to enhance gameplay experience

    high · Mike mentioned color DMD multiple times during playtest as upcoming modification

  • ?

    community_signal: Mike Dus actively engaged with pinball tournament scene despite health limitations; sponsored Rush to the North warm-up event

    high · Received sponsorship merchandise from Ontario Pinfest; sponsored Rush to the North; participated in YagPin community despite not attending in person

  • ?

    content_signal: Pinball Shenanigans maintaining consistent production schedule with sequential restoration episodes

    high · Episode references previous episode work; promises future episodes to address remaining issues

    • Survival is >> what?
    0:07
    what?
    0:07
    what? How did that happen? That's not what I meant to do. I just cheated to the wizard mode. I'm Mike Dus and this is Pinball Shenanigans.
    0:27
    All right, I am back in the basement for another episode of random shenanigans. In the last episode, I was working on this soundboard, just changing the sound ROMs to the updated L2 version. I had L1 in there, and I noticed that this tanelum capacitor had exploded, and I had to basically end the video there cuz I didn't have any of these in stock. But what I did discover afterwards is that you can replace those with electrolytic capacitors, believe it or not, and I do have these in stock. So now I can continue. But before we do any of that, we're going to do some more show and tell. All right. First thing, we've got this and this. What is that? Well, you put them together and you got this. And what is that? So, these are an awesome way to display cool coins like my perfect round at Yag Pin token and this really cool Texas Pinball Festival 2020 token that was given to me by fellow shenanigander Chris McKinley. And uh how freaking cool is that? This one shelf is getting a little tight, but these guys can live here. Speaking of Yagpin, although I was not able to go this year due to my back, I did still come away with some merch. So, let's check it out. Got a little tag here. This is uh thanks to Julian Shny Boy who uh brought home my goods. I would have been hardcore if I went. That was the $500 bundle. And uh let's see what I get for 500 bucks. Well, this I actually paid separately, but this is freaking cool. I love the egg pin hoodie this year. I love the colors. This mustard yellow is great. Might have to wear this this weekend. Actually, it might be too warm for that for the uh Ontario pinfest which is coming up in a couple days. It's Tuesday and that starts on Saturday, so it is coming up. And then I was a sponsor for the Rush to the North event, which was the warm-up tournament run by Jeff Tus on the Wednesday. And that got me an entry into the tournament and my logo on the back as well as many other cool logos. Just check them all out. And you can see me right here. This shirt I feel like it's about 2 ft too long and it might fit like a dress, but we'll see. Maybe I can shrink it. What else do we got in the bag? We've got egg pin cloth. I thought it was napkins for a second. Archangel sticker. I got one of those last year. a lanyard. It's pretty freaking cool, actually. And then we have a lanyard with my pass on it.
    3:50
    Very cool. I will hang that with my lanyards. Although, this will be one with little asterisks cuz I didn't go. And then look what we have here. What is it? What is it? Egg pin. Yaggy. Very cool. All right, I think that is it for the egg pin goodie bag. Okay, I think we're about done with showand tell except for I went and got myself a kids meal cuz it is dollar drink days and for $7.50 I get a large diet coke, four chicken nuggets, small fries, a yogurt, a water, and a kids toy. So, I haven't looked at this yet. And obviously, Stranger Things is awesome. And I own the pinball machine. And it's '8s action, which is even more awesomer. Let's try not to break this too much. Okay, there we go. Let's get in here. Do not want to mess with its integrity. Oh, neat. It's like What is it? I don't know.
    5:05
    We'll have to figure it out. It's like a mystery box. Oh, wait. Hold on. You got to turn it a certain way. It's like a secret box. Oh, and then you got a little character. How cute. All right. I put him up here with the rest of my kids mules toys. Some are pinball themed, like turtles. Sonic is now pinball themed. And then now Stranger Things. All right, show and tell is over. It is time to change out this tanelum capacitor for an electrolytic one. And I am going with a 1 UF50 volt. I believe these are normally or originally 35V, but it is okay to go up in voltage. Okay, so I ended up replacing the neighboring tanelum capacitor because it was also looking a little toasty, but that is done. In a perfect world, now would be the time to replace all of the tandem capacitors, but I only had two in stock, so that's all it's going to get for now. We're going to plug it in, turn it on, and see if uh any more want to explode. Okay, I got the soundboard installed. Let's see if the sound still works. and if we get any explosions, cuz if there are going to be any, it'll happen right now.
    6:33
    So far so good. I think if it was going to blow, it would have done it already.
    6:42
    And we don't Oh, there's our bong. All right, there's our sound. Excellent. And I can turn the volume down one and it should go to six.
    6:58
    So that means that my batteries are actually still saving that I installed on the last episode. So that is good. Okay. So uh I think we have success. Okay. So, between this episode and the last episode, the brief summary is that I removed the MPU, cleaned up the corrosion, and installed a remote battery pack to prevent any further corrosion or alkaline damage or acid damage or whatever you want to call it. And that seemed to have remedied my diagnostic button that stopped working. And also hopefully it resolved my machine randomly beeping at me like it's going into diagnostics while sitting in a track mode. But I won't really know that for sure until I let this thing sit in a track mode for like 20 minutes or half an hour. But I'm hoping and like to think that that is resolved. Also removed the soundboard, replaced the sound ROMs with the updated L2 ROMs and replaced a couple Tanelm capacitors with electrolytic capacitors, which is something I learned. This is uh new to me, so that's good to know. And also they are probably a little easier to source. So now let's just have a quick little play test game. Maybe turn up the volume a little bit here so we can really get into the action. Oh, and let's also try not to slam tilt. Okay, I believe um there's a few other bugs that I'm going to have to solve here eventually. That'll be for another episode. Do you like the light on or off? That or that? That or that? It's hard to tell, especially without glasses. But there are a few minor things that I have to work on. This diverter here is sometimes a little sticky. The inlane switch micro switch there probably needs to be replaced. Dutch cleaned it, but it uh is beyond cleaning. I think it is being intermittent. The right ramp sometimes launches the ball into orbit. And my clock doesn't work, but that's be we knew that. That needs a new clock board. And let's see if there's anything else to add to the to-do list. Also, color DMD that's going to get installed. >> Unlock this door with the key of
    9:25
    Unlock this door with the key of
    9:25
    Unlock this door with the key of imagination. >> So, maybe we will tackle all of those
    9:29
    So, maybe we will tackle all of those
    9:30
    So, maybe we will tackle all of those things in a future episode. Also, gumball enter switch is acting up. So,
    9:44
    Got a few things. Oh, also the switch.
    9:50
    It's kind of loud. It's kind of loud. I
    9:50
    It's kind of loud. It's kind of loud. I might have to turn that down. Wow. Okay. While you're in the piano, you can't kick the ball out. Or you can. Never mind. High voltage thing doesn't disable.
    10:09
    doesn't disable the flippers when you open the coin door. That's fine. Uh, okay. So, what was I going to say? Uh, this switch here right next to the scoop, it's h kind of bent back. It's got a reinforced target backing on there, but they fatigue over the years, so I think I need a new one.
    10:34
    Here, we can hear a little bit better now. I don't have to yell. Oh, wow.
    10:46
    Yeah, Color DMD will really amp this up to the next level for sure.
    10:59
    Oh, I'm already on ball three. That's right. I was just looking to do a quick little play test here. The sounds seem to be working fine. I don't notice any difference between the L1 and the L2 sound package. If you know the difference, then let me know. Also, isn't there, since this is the home run, isn't there like a hold my beer option? Let's try and do that. I I think it's on the left flipper. And I don't really know how to do it, but we can mess with things and see if we can figure it out. Okay, so what if I if I hold the start button? Is that going to do it? Start. And the door. >> No, that just resets the game. Okay,
    11:47
    No, that just resets the game. Okay,
    11:47
    No, that just resets the game. Okay, that's not it. What if we hold Oh, add this to the list. The uh extra ball button on the front of the cabinet. That is also um out. I need to Oh, what's happening here? >> Are you ready to battle?
    12:05
    Are you ready to battle?
    12:05
    Are you ready to battle? >> Ah, I did it.
    12:06
    Ah, I did it.
    12:06
    Ah, I did it. >> Look at that. I held this button with
    12:09
    Look at that. I held this button with
    12:10
    Look at that. I held this button with that button and this is a I can go take a beer break. How cool is that? All right, so now how do I get back into the action? I've never done that in my life. That is so cool. All right. So, I'm guessing let's just hit the left flipper button. See if it comes out. No. Maybe I got to hold the uh extra ball button down. Yes, you do. You just press it. You don't even need to hold it. That's pretty cool. >> You have come to the end of your
    12:39
    You have come to the end of your
    12:39
    You have come to the end of your journey. >> Lost in the zone.
    12:40
    Lost in the zone.
    12:40
    Lost in the zone. >> Survival is
    12:41
    Survival is
    12:41
    Survival is >> What?
    12:43
    What?
    12:43
    What? How did that happen? That's not what I meant to do. I just cheated to the wizard mode. Okay.
    12:58
    Well, that's also cool. I didn't mean to do that, but I'll play Lost in the Zone. Oh, get back here, Powerball. I don't even I might have played this once in my life. I don't really know. Is it unlimited balls for uh so many seconds? Where' my power ball go?
    13:24
    Whoa. Did you see that? That was like some serious juggling. Oh, this is cool. Animations I've never really seen or heard before.
    13:38
    Don't nudge, silly. And even the tune is really cool. Pat Waller, man, he is the man.
    13:50
    Lost in the zone completed. Player one, standby. What? Completed as in finished. I don't feel like I like I think my timer ran out more than I did all the things that need to be did in in the mode. Unless it's just literally like 30 seconds of unlimited balls and then you're done.
    14:17
    Player one is up. Okay, I'm I'm here. I'm ready. Oh, you're missing a ball. Oh, maybe that's my power ball. Or maybe that has something to do with my gumball entrance switch. I kind of hear some activity around my gumball machine. So, uh, all right. Well, that was fun. That's the end of this video. Hope you enjoyed. I'll add this to the list, of course, as well. What are you trying to tell me? What?
    14:53
    Oh, okay. Don't jump in there. You might get lost in the zone