**Apologies for any inaccuracies - this is reproduced from memory; please correct any errors on this NG.**

Well, after all the wait, I've seen it. Played it. Could hardly keep off it. P2k was unveiled to distributors last night and to the general public today. To me - 1240pm.

To start off, don't be misled by the photo on the web site; only when you *play* it can you satisfy any curiosities. It's smaller than an 'old' pin ('old'? What, as in 'Cactus Canyon' old? I mean *technologically*) and 3" shorter than a normal playfield. This seems a little odd at first - you do notice this apparent short difference, but there is still plenty of room for toys, ramps, saucers etc. . Dare I say the words "it's cute"?

Before going into the game (RFM) itself - some facts.

Full colour monitor mounted above playfield, out of sight; a sheet of gradient-tinted glass over the pf acts as a (near-perfect) mirror at the upper end (because of this tint) , reflecting the monitor display over the top 1/5 (approx.) of the playfield - it works damn well - very clever idea. The monitor itself displays the score (obv) but has a very neat trick - it displays animated (as animated as you can get - CGI) targets which overlay in perfect alignment (and standing aside from the central axis of the pinball doesn't worsen this effect) real physical 'hollow' targets for the ball to hit or traverse through. This works very well - now when you hit a target (as in the case of RFM) the target will *instantaneously* respond - animations of resolution nowhere near possible on the DMD. This is not pure eye candy - the anims serve a purpose but are beautiful too. This 1/5 (approx.) playfield display is not obtrusive to the gameplay; nor does it obscure the path of the ball.

Crisp, clear, stereo sound including right speaker to left speaker (and vice versa) effects during *ball movement*.

I extra button above each flipper - called an action button - used to select items whilst at the same time using the flipper buttons to control the ball during play. Buttons are not obtrusive.

Behind the backglass is the equivalent of a P200 MMX PC running WMS's own OS. Makes you wonder as to what we will be playing with faster and faster PCs in the future (assuming Moore's law holds true)…

Complete pinball system is configurable using monitor display (or laptop) and software. New software can be downloaded from WMS's site. LED system under the pf indicates (by lack of illumination) any problems. During one of the hourly demonstrations the pf was changed and re-connected (by George Gomez) in 45s…

The game - excellent. In the style of AFM - much humour. 3 coloured zones (red, green, orange) each with 3 modes. Only centre set (green) can be accessed once other 6 completed. *Modes start automatically* - no "start mode" shot to hit. As soon as a number of relevant shots have been hit the centre ramp raises - shoot it and the ball lands in a tray , triggering the "mode complete" animation - which are a real visual treat - hats off to the animators. The next mode then starts immediately. Lose your ball? The mode continues where you left off next ball - interesting idea, that.

Each mode not dissimilar from normal pin pf style - if it is lit, shoot it. Combos heavily supported - actual white combo arrows illuminate the pf when appropriate. The pf is beautiful - the colours and attract mode light formations are hypnotic. Stunning.

A lot of the targets are animated as monitor overlay targets - works well. *Very* responsive targets - destroyed/removed/replaced as hit.

Not sure of the purpose of the 6 side pf targets. No kickback. Ball saver as expected.

3 bumpers, 2 score multiplier rollover lanes above. Action buttons toggle target types during some modes. E.g. toggle 2X multiplier between left target, middle target and right target. Once shot made, 2X multiplier is replaced with another useful feature (which varies) - works well.

Couldn't find *anything* bad to say against this new technology. WMS have done a wonderful job. I came down to London this week a little apprehensive having read speculation on rgp. After all, one can argue that the future of the industry rests on p2k (but not necessarily RFM). The *only* thing I could find to say against the design of p2k was that, being 6' 3" tall, I had to bend down to see my score now and again. And if that is my only gripe you know it's good stuff.

Last night, at the premiere to the distributors, the WMS team members (including Lyman Sheats Jr., George Gomez, Br. Eddy - others were present - lost in my memory I am afraid) received a standing ovation. And rightly so. In 18 months WMS have designed a wonderful new technology, successfully blending the technologies of both video and pinball, and exploiting both of their strengths to superb effect. P2k looks, sounds and 'feels right' - right down to the textured hard plastic lock down bar. Cactus Canyon, which stood alongside RFM at the Nova stand, looks positively old in comparison. Don't get me wrong - I played CC for the first time today also but once I had tried p2k I was taken. CC is great. RFM is greater. Throughout.

A beautiful, thorough, accomplished piece of work from a company who have clearly demonstrated their maturity and experience here at the show today. WMS have something to celebrate here. Sincere congratulations to them - pinball has never looked so good.

Thanks for reading.

Andrew

PS Second p2k game >50% complete (according to chat to WMS rep - that's all I could gleam)

Go to the WPR p2k page...

NewsWire Report

Las Vegas' Coney Island Debuts the Country's First Pinball 2000; Classic Coin-

Operated Game Revolutionized with Cutting-Edge Technology

LAS VEGAS, March 12 /PRNewswire/ -- Pinball, one of the most enduring forms of entertainment worldwide, is revived this week with the arrival of Pinball 2000. Coney Island Emporium inside the New York-New York Hotel & Casino is proud to announce a two-week exclusive of Pinball 2000, giving game players their first opportunity to experience this revolutionary hybrid of state-of-the-art computer and video technology and classic pinball elements.

Kicking off the premiere of Pinball 2000 today are members of the Las Vegas Pinball Collector's Club, who are competing in a Pinball 2000 Marathon. Tim Arnold, local member and collector of more than 1,000 pinball machines, said there is a buzz in the industry about Pinball 2000. "The insider scoop is that Pinball 2000 is the most remarkable effort by a game manufacturer to revolutionize a classic. Pinball needed something to wake it up because it has lost its appeal in the last five to ten years because of changing demographics and technology."

Michael Getlan, Owner and Director of Enthusiasm & Opportunity at Coney Island Emporium said that Coney Island is one of the few venues in town who buys pinball machines. "We are serious about the fun business and being the place for all players to play. That means operating classics that have always been favorites among amusement park goers as well as debuting the newest and most technologically-advanced games," said Getlan.

Developed by Williams Electronics Games in Chicago, Pinball 2000 combines classic pinball elements with state-of-the-art computer and video technology. The result is a totally immersive pinball experience that takes the familiar silver ball and flippers to a whole new level of interactive entertainment.

"Pinball 2000 showcases the latest in computer technology," said Larry DeMar, Director of Pinball Engineering for Williams. "Our designers have utilized a cutting-edge technology to create a new generation of pinball machines with a dynamic, interactive video display that directly interfaces with the silver ball on the playfield."

While Pinball 2000 shares some of the architecture of traditional pinball games-the long playfield with a backbox on top and two flippers on the side -- players will immediately notice the difference as they approach the game to drop their first coin. A computer processor and video monitor is housed in the backbox, with the signal from the monitor projected directly onto the playfield. The video signal creates "virtual" gameplay elements-from ramps and bumpers to enemies and targets. Players are now aiming at vivid, 3-dimensional animated video targets rather than plastic playfield "toys" that previous pinball games featured.

"We've been able to do some very creative things with mechanical toys," said Pinball 2000 designer George Gomez, but there was always a limit. We were only able to include a few mechanical toys in each game, and each toy could only occupy so much space on the playfield. We could only challenge players with a limited number of shots and variations. With the powerful processor and advanced video in Pinball 2000, we have no limits on the challenges we can provide. We can now create hundreds of different targets and move them all over the playfield."

The first Pinball 2000 game is Revenge from Mars, a sequel to Attack from Mars, a 1995 Bally release that has established itself as one of the most popular pinball games of the modern era. In Revenge from Mars, players battle evil Martians through nine terror and laughter-filled waves. Each wave provides players with very unique Martian confrontation, combining humor, special effects and challenging shots to create entertainment unlike any previous pinball or video game.

"You've got to see it to believe it," said DeMar. "From Aliens stealing cars and cigars from the White House to Martians bowling, it's clear that this advanced technology has allowed our designers to expand into new areas of creativity."

Owned and operated by Amusement Consultants Ltd., Coney Island Emporium is a 32,000 square-foot family entertainment center located on the second level of the New York-New York Hotel & Casino. The venue features 165 coin-operated amusement and redemption games, 22 midway-style games, Virtual Reality and multi-player driving simulator, 3,000 square-foot NY-NY Laser Patrol laser tag arena, Gridlock Alert bumper cabs and redemption counter.

Photography of Pinball 2000 can be obtained by contacting Dana Pretner at 702-862-4800.

SOURCE Coney Island Emporium of Amusement Consultants Ltd.

CO: Coney Island Emporium of Amusement Consultants Ltd.; Williams

Electronics Games

ST: Nevada

IN: CNO CPR

SU:

03/12/99 13:20 ESThttp://www.prnewswire.com

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