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Who fixes my machines when I can't
Great Pinball Links
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Bally Nip-itOur most recent pick-up, the Bally Nip-it, was a case of being in the right place at the right time. During our initial search for pins, we stumbled upon the Nip-it as a possible acquisition, not because it was the pin from the "Happy Days" series, but because we liked it's play appeal. We also liked the comical motif with the smiling gators that abound all over the machine. The Saturday of Labor Day weekend 2003, I found this pin for sale on the Mr. Pinball Classifieds web-site by Dave Sima in Bay Village, Ohio. I checked the site at about 8am as I usually do, and found the ad, e-mailing Dave to say that I'd take it for his offering price. I called him at 10am that morning and we agreed that I'd be able to pick it up on Labor Day that Monday. Fortunately for me and unfortunately for another bidder, Dave got us confused even though I had called second. I was able to get the machine because I was able to get there to pick it up first!! He who hesitates is lost!! I'll call earlier next time too!!
The backglass and playfield of this pin are nearly perfect. The cabinet is in fantastic shape too with only a couple of small random scratches . The vacu-formed gator plastic has a slight crack in it, and the gator grabber mechanism has a chip off of the holding bracket that makes it operate just a bit sluggishly on occasion. There have been a few scoring mechanical problems along the way, some that I have been able to fix, and others that Dr. Scott has had to take care of. The multi-ball function is a toughie when it comes to diagnosing a scoring problem. I also moved the lower outlane posts under the slingshot bumpers to the most narrow of settings in order to make the game a bit more enjoyable for all to play. I've sent a few of my pictures of this game to the IPDB and they are displayed there. The pin is not an Add-a-ball game and thus only credits are given at different scoring levels which we use liberally just to hear the knocker for free games!
Game Play & Strategy Despite the complex look and nature of this game, the play is really very simple. Grab as much bonus as you can, either by pressing the third button and grabbing the ball in the "Bally-gator" which yields one advance bonus and 1000 points, or by hitting a lower playfield target for the same scores. Bonus can be scored in two ways; by leaving the playfield at the end of the ball in play or through a multi-ball sequence. A ball can be held in a captive kick-out hole at the right middle of the playfield with an accurate shot. A second ball is then released to the shooter tip which continues the ball in play. Hitting either of the then two lit targets near the top of the playfield releases the captive ball, scores your current bonus (which is also kept until the final ball in play leaves the playfield), and sets up a two ball multi-ball play. Continued trapping of one of the balls allows you to collect the same bonus again and again. Zipper flippers will close when hitting the single center mushroom bumper and open with a roll-over button on the playfield by the kick-out hole. A left-side kick-out lane will score 1000 points and send the ball near the gator mouth to grab for more bonus. A ball-save gate is also activated by hitting a randomly lit playfield target. Strategy is very simple. Get the flippers closed. Shoot for the left kick-out lane and grab the ball at the top of the playfield with the gator for more bonus and another trip back to the closed flippers. (Easier said than done.) Attempt to get a captured ball when your bonus is high and release it to score your bonus as many times as you can. This strategy when followed to the letter can produce some slow games when holding the ball on the closed flippers and tapping the buttons to get the ball in place for a clean shot. Game Rating The game is fun to play but seems to be missing one added element somewhere. I love the zipper flippers, the multi-ball feature and the "Bally-gator", but once you get past those, there needed to be something else on the field. This game could have rivaled Fireball or 4 Million BC with one extra element. There is really a premium on scoring bonus however, and it makes you appreciate games that have liberal bonus awarded all over the place. The game is simple enough with relatively quick games that it's a good game to have around when you just want to play a fast one. I'm still glad we picked this one up and it's looks great in the collection. I give it a solid 7+ out of 10.
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