I often played this machine around 1974 at Tokyo Nostalgic! 私は日本人で1974年頃よくこの台で遊びました。 当時の日本では、ボウリング場やデパートにいけば、 だいたいピンボールマシンがおいてありました。 プレイは、1ゲーム20円、3ボールが主流でした。 なつかしい！
I have a Big Shot at the house that I love to play. It's been awhile since I've played it as it's buried in the storage room now. But I think after watching this video it's time to dig it out again. I miss playing it. Thanks for sharing. Best Wishes n Blessings. Keith Noneya
I just played the 1969 version of Pro Pool yesterday at Pinballz in Austin, TX. At least the "for sale" sign said 1969. Pinballz...what a place! Full of EM machines, unfortunately all set for only 1 game, 3 balls, for .50 cents. I told the owner he should set up for 2 games, 5 balls, and .25 like it was back then. He explained the cost & trouble of running & maintaining these machines for public play & I understood. Nearly everything in Pinballz is for sale.
bitchinpinball Whoops! I made a mistake. It was "Target Pool" not Pro Pool. I know the owner is a professional/restorer/collector & probably couldn't get the year wrong so I looked at my video of the machine. It's Target Pool, 1969.
Gotta love that Gordon Morison art on the glass. It's too bad he's gone. I would have loved to have met him and showed him my custom Joker Poker Plastics.
Big Shot and Hot Shot are harder because when you lose a ball, it resets the drop target banks entirely whether they are all down or not. Which makes both of them a lot harder and more frustrating that Pro Pool. Pro Pool only resets the drop target banks if they are fully down when you lose a ball. If you've got partial down, they stay that way if you lose a ball, and you pick up dropping them where you left off. If there is a way to config BigShot/Hotshot to play that way too, let me know.
I guess it's because Big Shot and Hot Shot are multi-player games, and in the electromechanical days, there was no practical way for a pinball machine to save and restore the game state for an individual player. So the only fair way to carry the state of the drop targets through from one ball to the next was for the game to be single-player.
It is high tapped and has orange dot flipper coils. My previous Pro Pool had yellow dot flipper coils which I found to be too powerful, but I generally like the moderately added zip from the orange dot coils on 3-inch flipper games.
I remember the replay versions of this game, and I remember them well, because it seemed like they were designed to be fast drain. Ball after ball, hit a target or two and then straight down the middle, again and again. Like there was a big magnet under the middle of the playfield
I'd like to correct a comment you made, This is NOT the only single player version. There is one more it's called "PLAY POOL" same add a ball table slightly different backglass, same side art. Machine was an Italian made Gottlieb. I know because I have one.
You are correct - thanks. I should have qualified my statement by stating Pro Pool was the only single player version manufactured (and therefore much more available) for North America.
Yes technically (only by a month), but like Stern Pinball today typically produces games in 3 separate levels, Gottlieb typically made different variations of the same game - single player replay & add-a-ball; and 2-player & 4-player multiplayer versions. In this case, Pro Pool was released in Dec 1973 slightly after Hot Shot (2-player) and just before Big Shot (4-player).
I like the artwork on Bigshot and Hotshot better (still dorky ass hell), but the play is a lot easier on Pro Pool and a lot nicer because of that. So I'd rather have a Pro Pool myself... even thought the ball light ups aren't in a triangle, and its a simpler machine with fewer banging servos behind the back glass.. Too bad all the emulators save MAME do bigshot. Mame has a Virtual Pinmame has a version of Pro Pool.
Admittedly not the best gameplay, but I figured it was good enough for a demo. I've had 10 additional years of practice since making this video and ... unfortunately, I'm still not a great player. I have fun though and that's what counts! 🙂
add a ball are garbage...the only games worth playing are the ones with specials....like the ones i played for hours at a time..on a dime...maybe a quarter..which i didnt have much
Played this a lot in my youth! That chingching-chunka-chunka-chunka EM sound is imprinted on my memory forever.
I often played this machine around 1974 at Tokyo
Nostalgic!
私は日本人で1974年頃よくこの台で遊びました。
当時の日本では、ボウリング場やデパートにいけば、
だいたいピンボールマシンがおいてありました。
プレイは、1ゲーム20円、3ボールが主流でした。
なつかしい！
are you murakami haruki san？
This Gottlieb wedge head looks and plays like new. Thanks for the video. I really enjoyed it.
I have a Big Shot at the house that I love to play. It's been awhile since I've played it as it's buried in the storage room now. But I think after watching this video it's time to dig it out again. I miss playing it. Thanks for sharing. Best Wishes n Blessings. Keith Noneya
I just played the 1969 version of Pro Pool yesterday at Pinballz in Austin, TX. At least the "for sale" sign said 1969. Pinballz...what a place! Full of EM machines, unfortunately all set for only 1 game, 3 balls, for .50 cents. I told the owner he should set up for 2 games, 5 balls, and .25 like it was back then. He explained the cost & trouble of running & maintaining these machines for public play & I understood. Nearly everything in Pinballz is for sale.
Cool! The seller got the year wrong though.
bitchinpinball Whoops! I made a mistake. It was "Target Pool" not Pro Pool. I know the owner is a professional/restorer/collector & probably couldn't get the year wrong so I looked at my video of the machine. It's Target Pool, 1969.
Nice looking game, looks fun to play.
Gotta love that Gordon Morison art on the glass. It's too bad he's gone. I would have loved to have met him and showed him my custom Joker Poker Plastics.
I have the same one! I have it in my garage and play it often.
looks like brand new! very nice
Koebs had this machine for awhile!
Big Shot and Hot Shot are harder because when you lose a ball, it resets the drop target banks entirely whether they are all down or not. Which makes both of them a lot harder and more frustrating that Pro Pool. Pro Pool only resets the drop target banks if they are fully down when you lose a ball. If you've got partial down, they stay that way if you lose a ball, and you pick up dropping them where you left off. If there is a way to config BigShot/Hotshot to play that way too, let me know.
I guess it's because Big Shot and Hot Shot are multi-player games, and in the electromechanical days, there was no practical way for a pinball machine to save and restore the game state for an individual player. So the only fair way to carry the state of the drop targets through from one ball to the next was for the game to be single-player.
Very good! I played very much in this machine. Great video. Thanks!
I think this one is more fun than the multiplayer versions. Beautiful machine.
It is high tapped and has orange dot flipper coils. My previous Pro Pool had yellow dot flipper coils which I found to be too powerful, but I generally like the moderately added zip from the orange dot coils on 3-inch flipper games.
I remember the replay versions of this game, and I remember them well, because it seemed like they were designed to be fast drain. Ball after ball, hit a target or two and then straight down the middle, again and again. Like there was a big magnet under the middle of the playfield
That's why nudging is vital
I'd like to correct a comment you made, This is NOT the only single player version. There is one more it's called "PLAY POOL" same add a ball table slightly different backglass, same side art. Machine was an Italian made Gottlieb. I know because I have one.
You are correct - thanks. I should have qualified my statement by stating Pro Pool was the only single player version manufactured (and therefore much more available) for North America.
@@bitchinpinball And don't forget Australia..LOL
This game looks like it is in great shape - plays perfect. I also own one, play field is as nice but the backglass is flaking.
Love this video
How reliable are these machines?
Was this a predecessor to Big Shot?
Yes technically (only by a month), but like Stern Pinball today typically produces games in 3 separate levels, Gottlieb typically made different variations of the same game - single player replay & add-a-ball; and 2-player & 4-player multiplayer versions. In this case, Pro Pool was released in Dec 1973 slightly after Hot Shot (2-player) and just before Big Shot (4-player).
@@bitchinpinball on a 2-player or 4-player machine, are there different sets of flipper buttons?
There is a single player Big Shot, as well, I believe.
Big Shot is a two-player game.
I like the artwork on Bigshot and Hotshot better (still dorky ass hell), but the play is a lot easier on Pro Pool and a lot nicer because of that. So I'd rather have a Pro Pool myself... even thought the ball light ups aren't in a triangle, and its a simpler machine with fewer banging servos behind the back glass.. Too bad all the emulators save MAME do bigshot. Mame has a Virtual Pinmame has a version of Pro Pool.
Great demonstration, thanks!
Brilliant Stuff!
Thank you !!
The only pool themed game i have is a Bank-A-Ball.
Those flippers look kind of strong.
nice !
cool
Cool I have Big shot
What a bad player!!!
Admittedly not the best gameplay, but I figured it was good enough for a demo. I've had 10 additional years of practice since making this video and ... unfortunately, I'm still not a great player. I have fun though and that's what counts! 🙂
@@bitchinpinball quiet bro, good fun !!!
add a ball are garbage...the only games worth playing are the ones with specials....like the ones i played for hours at a time..on a dime...maybe a quarter..which i didnt have much
To each his own. Lots of pinheads prefer add-a-ball games in home collections as earning free games (via specials) are typically meaningless.