The "Close Encounters of the Third Kind" pinball machine, created by Gottlieb in 1978, is based on the popular sci-fi film of the same name. Designed by Ed Krynski and featuring artwork by Gordon Morison, the game integrates elements from the movie, such as a spinner, drop targets, and the unique roto-target.
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Quickie Version:
Spinner on the left, drop targets on the right.
Go-to Flipper:
Balanced
Risk Index:
High
Full Rules:
Hitting A, B or C increases a roto-target value tenfold: “A” raises the left target of the three visible, B the center target, C the right target. Roto target values are marked; the star roto-target is worth 500 unless multiplied. The lanes also raise the value of the yellow drop targets from 500 to 5K; A the top one, B the center one, C the bottom one. I prefer the B for my skill shot to get some immediate bumper action. Standup targets and lanes add bonus. The star roto-target is worth 500, raises your bonus multiplier, as does completing the drop target 5-bank on the right. Bonus goes up to 20K. On the EM version, the bonus multiplier goes up to 3X; on the more common solid state version, the multiplier goes to 5X for 100K total. The top lanes, return lanes and the left standup target all spin the roto target. The left target also lights the spinner for 1K. The left outlanes scores the value of the left-most visible roto target, the right outlane the right target. Balls heading for the left return lane / outlane area that don’t feed cleanly into the return lane will drain unless you can straighten them out; balls rattling around side to side there almost always drain. Balls coming down the far right lane below the drop targets should feed the right return lane, but when coming very fast may rebound into the outlane. Basic strategy is shoot the left standup target to light the spinner, then spinner all day from the right flipper and drop targets from the left unless one of the visible roto-targets is a star, in which case shoot that.
via Bob's Guide
