Phoenix

This is a game that pretty much requires you to take risky shots to get a good score. There’s a typical bonus set-up for games of the era: 29K max base, 5X max multiplier for 145,000 total possible. Base bonus is built up with lanes and targets. Bonus multiplier is advanced by completing either 4-bank of drop targets, hence the risk factor.

The two center drop targets, “A” and “B,” are the most valuable, each scoring 10,000 and a bonus advance. Once hit, though, they stay down until you trip one of the designated lanes to relight them. Good points, but you need to go up top to re-enable them unless you get a return lane feed. [Top lane \#2 and the left return lane relight “A”, top \#4 and the right return lane relight “B”.”]

The Phoenix bullseye target is worth 3K plus a bonus advance until you have completed the 1 through 5 lanes. Besides the top five lanes, you can get the 2 and 4 from the return lanes and the 3 and 5 from the top stand-up targets. After that, it’s worth the value shown by how many letters you have in P-H-O-E-N-I-X; each 1-5 completion adds a letter. This shot can be drainy, though, so try to find out in practice or by watching others if it’s worth shooting.

Observe that the return from bullseye shots will differ depending on whether or not you’ve cleared the uppermost left drop target; if it’s still standing, it may deflect the ball rebounding off of the bullseye. If either situation yields consistently safer returns than the other, try to get that top target first, or last, as appropriate.

The spinner is lit when your base bonus is between 10K and 20K; odd bit of programming there.

Phoenix can be very drainy and have super-short games, so keep that in mind if you have a choice of games with Phoenix in the bank.

# **Pinball [EM & SS – Stern, 1977]

Like the quickie version says, UTAD. You want to build your bonus to 100K and double it or triple it. The tiny red rollover buttons advance bonus, but just let them happen. The upper right saucer has alternating values; lites top center hole is best, since if you then score that hole your bonus is tripled. Double bonus is next best, then the 50,000. Extra ball beats them all if allowed, but in tournaments will likely be turned off. Lites spinner is useful, too, but the spinners on these aren’t usually too juicy.

Yes, there are 5 drop targets on the game, but ignore them completely. You’ll get the upper four eventually from balls coming down around the hole. Completing them is only worth 10K, not worth the risk of shooting the bottom left one.