Chrono Trigger™ Pinball Game

[GenesisOne]

I've played my share of awe inspiring pinball games (lots of them based off of summer blockbusters).  So I figured, why aren't there more pinball games based of highly praised video games like Chrono Trigger?

For the past several weeks, I've been working out different details of a potential Chrono Trigger pinball game.  This includes elements of the playfield (ramps, orbits, out-lanes, and so on), element-triggered sound-bites featuring lines from the CT game, and different playing modes and end-ball bonuses.  I will gladly post a list of those details for those who wish to comment on or add to it.

Yeah, lots of lingo from the pinball enthusiast.  Moving on...

I haven't gotten to the more difficult elements such as playfield and backboard art, DMD (Dot Matrix Display) sequences, and so on.  There are online programs out there (Visual PinMAME) where experts can code different sequences and triggers for gameplay.  This, however, has proven to be too difficult for me to do since the coding itself is complicated.

The question, however, stands: if you were on the Game Design Team at Stern Pinball (currently the last operating pinball manufacturing company in the world) for the upcoming Chrono Trigger™ Pinball Game, what game-play elements would you add?

[Zephira]

A Black Hole "spell" that swallows your pinballs. If enough pinballs survive, you get lots of points. It'd have to play this evil laugh when the play mode starts
Maybe other character themed spells for different play modes or powerups. I don't really know how pinball works.

[Acacia Sgt]

Well, how about using Gates to bring the pinball from one place to another. Like how those are usually holes in a regular pinball, but instead using Gates to be Chrono related.

[utunnels]

Gato will punch it start.

[IAmSerge]

No, it starts by the ball shooting out of a gate!

And the track would be dynamic, in a way that there are certain areas of it that can flip, invert, or twist around to give the gameplay a feel of different eras.

And something about Zeal too.

[Truthordeal]

Maybe shooting the ball into one of the slots a certain number of times destroys Zeal?

[mav]

Well, how about using Gates to bring the pinball from one place to another. Like how those are usually holes in a regular pinball, but instead using Gates to be Chrono related.

Brilliant. I'm also a fan of Gato punching it to start (or at least being on there somewhere). I haven't played pinball in a while, so I'm gonna need to go take a look before I come up with any wacky ideas.

This is a great idea though--I'm sure people would have a pretty fun time playing it, especially if you have some CT music playing in the background.

[GenesisOne]

As a pinball enthusiast myself, I can easily decipher people's ideas for additions to the game itself.

I can see what you're getting at, Zephira.  Pinball machines utilize a device called a hole or a scoop . Basically, it "sucks up" the zooming silver orb in question, awards the points, and send another silver orb flying out of a different scoop on the playfield.

Acacia Sgt. and mav, pinball lingo coming your way.  A gate is a blocking mechanism that will allow the silver orb in question to come through one way but will block the ball from going the other way.

To help get an idea of what different pinball terms mean and polish your ideas, I'd say visit here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glossary_of_pinball_terms

The general consensus states that we'd like to Gato punching the ball to start a three-ball game.  In that case, the plunger will be an automatic (which eliminates any possibility of skill shots) with a Gato prop toy mounting behind the entry lane and in front of the launch trigger.  By the way, what prop would you like to see being using for the launch trigger?

Later on, I'll be posting a chart of different soundbite features and their correlation with different in-game events.  In the meantime, does anyone has any ideas for Backglass art?

Finally, to get your creative juices flowing on what the Chrono Trigger™ Pinball Game can look like, go to this page: http://pinballnews.com/games/batman/index.html for The Dark Knight™ Pinball Game. Have fun.

[Zephira]

For the background art: http://fc04.deviantart.com/fs21/f/2007/242/d/a/Chrono_Trigger_Fan_Art_by_XGoldenboyX.jpg
Probably better to find something with all the characters, but this is awesome enough on its own.

Are you really going to make this game?

[IAmSerge]

As a pinball enthusiast myself, I can easily decipher people's ideas for additions to the game itself.

I can see what you're getting at, Zephira.  Pinball machines utilize a device called a hole or a scoop . Basically, it "sucks up" the zooming silver orb in question, awards the points, and send another silver orb flying out of a different scoop on the playfield.

Acacia Sgt. and mav, pinball lingo coming your way.  A gate is a blocking mechanism that will allow the silver orb in question to come through one way but will block the ball from going the other way.

To help get an idea of what different pinball terms mean and polish your ideas, I'd say visit here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glossary_of_pinball_terms

The general consensus states that we'd like to Gato punching the ball to start a three-ball game.  In that case, the plunger will be an automatic (which eliminates any possibility of skill shots) with a Gato prop toy mounting behind the entry lane and in front of the launch trigger.  By the way, what prop would you like to see being using for the launch trigger?

Later on, I'll be posting a chart of different soundbite features and their correlation with different in-game events.  In the meantime, does anyone has any ideas for Backglass art?

Finally, to get your creative juices flowing on what the Chrono Trigger™ Pinball Game can look like, go to this page: http://pinballnews.com/games/batman/index.html for The Dark Knight™ Pinball Game. Have fun.

Skillshots are a must though...

...could you just put gato there and attach one of his arms to the plunger to make it look like he hits it?

...and I think, G1, That when everyone else was talking about gates, they meant Chrono Trigger blue time gates...

[Mr Bekkler]

You need a Lavos mouth that spits the ball straight down the middle toward you, so you can't hit it with the bumpers. At the same time it should make the lavos squeal.

[kid123]

How about Lavos as attack bumper? Meanwhile, imitated its shell, inner Lavos and Lavos core as the rank of attack bumper. The attack bumper need to be cumulatively hit to reach each rank, and each rank distinctively differ in score accumulation. Although I assume this is basic stuff >_>

In addition, apply a randomly generated spot (whether hidden or exposed doesn't matter for this suggestion) which when stroked will activate bonus round or minigames.

Chrono related suggestion: Silver point as the score rates, tech skills and items as powerups or advantageous instance, and Roly Bomber as the ball and Imp as the kicker/launcher  ,and any kind of weapon as flippers.

[GenesisOne]

I now present to you the features of the brainchild that is the fabled Chrono Trigger™ Pinball Game:

Features

“Gato” manual plunger toy (timed skill shot on the entry lane gate)

Skill shot awards (randomized): Super Bumpers, Advance “Epoch” Letter, Advance “Lavos” Letter, Random Character Award, and “Extra Ball” Lit  

Crono Ramp (ends behind “Time Gate” Lanes)
Marle Ramp (ends at left inlane)
Lucca Ramp (ends at right inlane)

Mystic Monster Bumpers

Left and Right “Robo” and "Frog" Orbits (respectively)

“T-I-M-E Gate” Lanes (Light letters to get random character award; details to come)

“Mini-Quest Mode” Drop Hole (Detailed index to come)

Time-Egg Mystery Scoop (Mystery Award Index to come)

“Epoch” Drop Targets (Epoch prop mounted over drop hole; barrier covers the drop hole; each letter advances to lower the barrier; shoot drop hole to start “Epoch Multi-ball”; details to come)

“Dark Matter” Center Field Magnet (depends on “Mode”)

L-A-V-O-S Lock (Lavos prop; Barrier covers mouth opening; completing a Mini-Quest lights a letter and lowers the barrier; shoot the lock to raise the barrier and trap a ball; repeat for other letters to start “Lavos” Wizard mode; details to come)

*     *     *     *     *     *

The challenge here is to house all these features (for the skeptics out there, it's very possible) within a standard Stern™ pinball machine.  Concept art and blueprints are gladly accepted.

Any comments, additions (if possible), or modifications to this list?  I worked it out as hard as I could.

[KillaGouge]

So this would be a physical table, I thought you where talking about something in Visual Pinball.  I think the first would be rather hard to do without SE's permission.  The other however, would be totally awesome

[GenesisOne]

Well, yes, a physical table.  But it's only a concept at this point.  If it can be done in Visual Pinball, I'd like to see it.  On the other hand, it would be awesome to see a physical table eventually made.