Big Show

This is the 2-player version of Circus.

Making the Skill Shot here is critical and will save you having to take risky shots later. Drop the ball into the top center lane to light the six white rollover disks, three on each side of the upper playfield, to advance bonus [by 1K each]. If you go through either side top lane, only the disks on that side will be turned on for advance bonus. If you miss all three top lanes on the plunge, which is not just possible but common since there’s no gate at the top of the right or left orbit, you’ll need to flip the ball back up top to try again or shoot one of the risky stand-up targets below the disks to light them. Unlit, they’re only worth 100 points.

This game is mostly about bonus, with the other major scoring coming from the two top side bumpers once your bonus is maximized at 19,000. Build bonus by hitting any of ten switches: those six white rollovers when lit, plus the two yellow stand-up targets near the middle of the game and the two return lanes. Since both the yellow stand-up bonus advance targets and the “light lanes” stand-ups are risky shots, I prefer UTAD to advance bonus [and to light the disks if I missed them on the plunge].

Bonus is doubled on balls 3 and 5; you can’t double it on the other balls.

Like some games, this has an extra ball feature that is on a bonus value cycle: it lights only when the bonus is at exactly 15000. Take it if you can, but it’s usually turned off for competition.

Since you’ll be going UTAD, the key feeds will be how the ball comes down each side orbit - - you may need to bump the game when the ball gets to the post below the lowest white disk - - and how the ball comes down through the center gap below the bumper. Most of the time it comes down the center gap, it will have traveled along the angled rubber in that section and won’t drain down the middle, but you still may need to nudge to get the ball to come to a flipper rather than hit one of the lower slingshots or drain out the side.

# **Big Star [EM - Williams 1972]

This is the add-a-ball version of Super Star, with different point values.

Not a game I’m thrilled about. It’s got multiple ball protection features that are moderately useful, but not much to shoot at. Let’s start with the protectors: the upper left yellow stand-up raises the rubber post at the left outlane, the upper right target does it at the right outlane. Both posts can have the ball creep past them, but they will save at least half the balls heading their way. The posts are lowered if you hit the middle stand-up target on the same side of the machine, or if you make the center saucer shot.

The two lower outside slingshots raise the center post; the button right above that post lowers it, so it’s only partial protection - - a ball heading SDTM can go over that button, lower the post, and drain. On the other hand, some balls heading towards a center drain will deflect off the edge of the down post button enough for you to save them with a flipper. You can have some long game times if you keep the three posts up and the tilt is liberal.

As for points, see the quickie version: shoot the red rollovers to raise the saucer value, hit the drop target in front of it, shoot the saucer. A well-aimed shot will score all five rollovers on a side in sequence; each advance through number five moves the value of the center saucer up by 10000 points. Bumpers, stand-up targets and slingshots, all are worth diddly squat [10 or 100] compared to the 10000 to 40000 for the center saucer. The “advance” stand-up targets to the sides of the center saucer each advance you a couple of 1-2-3-4-5 numbers towards raising the saucer value (how many is setting-adjustable).

Extra balls and specials may be set to award 100,000 points instead.

The top three SU-P-ER lanes give you 5000 when you get all three of them.