How to Win at Pinball - Kings of Steel (Bally 1984)

 Minneapolis, MN

How To Win At Kings of Steel

Today we introduce a new type of blog.  We will dig deep into the rulesets of pinball machines to learn how to master them for optimal tournament play.  Now I'm not saying I can succeed at these strategies every time, but knowing what to do to win is the first step to winning.  

Kings of Steel, Bally, 1984

Kings of Steel is a card themed pinball table made by Bally in 1984.  2900 units were made so it isn't considered a rare machine but I have only seen it at 56 Brewing here in Minneapolis so if you plan on visiting and playing in a tournament, you need to really understand the deep ruleset for this machine.  Greg Kmiec designed this gem of a table and probably put his blood, sweat, and tears into getting this machine to market.  

Fig. A

After you plunge the ball and get it in the upper saucer or not, you want to get the ball on your left flipper.  Your first shot is to the stand up target at the end of the dead end ramp.  This will start your bonus points at 20K,

Fig. B

Your 2nd shot is to the stand up target at the end of the dead end ramp. This can also be done via backhand from the tight flipper.  It's a tight shot that needs to bank off of the left entrance to the dead end.  If you hit the stand up target you will be awarded 40k points.

Fig. C

If you have trouble hitting the stand up target at the end of the dead end ramp with the right flipper via backhand, you can post pass by quickly flipping the ball into the bottom post of the right sling.  It will bounce over to the left flipper and then you can hit the stand up target at the end of the dead end ramp for 60k points.

Fig. D

This is where the ruleset gets complex.  For your next 20 to 30 shots hit the stand up target at the end of the dead end ramp.  Scores awarded will be 80k, 100k, 140k, 160k, Light Special, and 200k.  Just keep hitting the stand up target at the end of the dead end ramp.

Fig. E

Eventually you will miss your shot whether it be from fatigue, boredom, dehydration, or any combination of these.  The ball will probably hit a post and head straight back down the middle.  Do not be alarmed, this happens to everyone.  The next steps separate the winners from the losers.  Get a sip of water, have a light meal to sustain you, and get back at it starting at Fig. A.  Just keep doing this until you have no balls left and you might end up winning your round.

I hope you enjoyed this new installment.  Keep checking back for more "How To Win at Pinball posts in the future.

If you missed, MN Summer is in Full Swing, check it out.  It won't help you win at pinball but you might be entertained.

MN Summer Is In Full Swing

 Rochester, MN

The Olmsted County Fair

The other day Google surfaced a blog to me.  A blogger ranked the Minnesota County Fairs from 1st to worst so I took note and we added some of them to our list of things to do.  Last year we visited 2 county fairs here and loved them and they weren't even in the top 25 so this list of top 10 fairs must be amazing right?  

Our idea of a good fair is good food, seeing animals, and other weird stuff.  We aren't into the rides or the concerts so maybe the top ranked fairs aren't ranked for our tastes.

The fair complex also featured 4 hockey rinks.

What would be your snacking hat trick?  I think mine would be corn dog, hot dog, and popcorn.

We also got to visit the Rochester Hockey Hall of Fame for the price of admission, which was free.  It looks like the Stuart Family has had some success in hockey.

I didn't know animals could read.

We got to see medium sized goats

Tiny goats

This Jazzercize Goat

We got to see beavers cosplaying as rabbits.

Here you can see what the inside of a rabbit looks like.

This rabbit looks like they had been drinking all night and fell asleep leaning on the toilet.

We also got to see chickens.  They had crayons so you could color your own image of a chicken.

We visited the Olmsted County Milk Association.  So Milk!

We bought milk and saw a giant corn on the cob

We also saw lemonade.  I went around the corner to see if they had fudge but they did not.

This cabbage won grand champion.  It's a good looking cabbage.

These bell peppers won Reserve Champion just incase the cabbage can't fulfill it's duties.

Orange you Gladiola I didn't say Banana?

Someone won a ribbon for picking flowers.

Cow!

Donna and I saw some evidence of hoof performance enhancing going on.

We got to meet Nelson, the Underbite Champion of Olmsted County

I learned that there is an alpaca that grows acrylic fibers.

My milkshake brings all the milkers to the yard.

Donna got to meet a baby chick born a couple of days ago.

These facts fail to mention the part about them being invisible!

Donna also got to pet the tiniest baby goat.

This kid was indeed born yesterday.

The fair was a lot of fun but it wasn't exponentially more fun than the fairs I wrote about last year.  Here and Here.  

Torchlight Parade

Later that evening we walked outside to see The Torchlight Parade.  It's a part of the whole Aquatennial celebration here in Minneapolis.  The parade was right outside our front door so we had the stamina to watch it.  

We could see the parade staging from the elevator.

And out of our lobby.

We saw a few dance and drum corps which were the highlight for us.  These kids were so enthusiastic.

This group behind me was giving me a contact high.

The parade is a big advertisement for other county and city celebrations.  I guess Anoka County is known for its Halloween Parade.

Minneapolis is incredibly diverse.  We got to enjoy the Brazilian Dancers.

And the Dragon Dance.

This person went with the Back to the Future II car.  Bold choice!

Woodbury didn't bury the lead at all, Visit Woodbury Days says it all.

We got to see a Loon Mascot because Minnesota!

The Whiz Bang Days name is a bit dated but we might go.

There were also art cars associated with the parade.  This one had 2 working fountains.

That's it for today.  If you missed, Becoming a Pinball Tech, check it out.  I fix the flipper on our Tommy Pinball Table.