TECHNICAL REPORT – Pinball Table Malfunction
Subject: Analysis of an Algorithm Artificially Limiting Ball Play Time to 60 Seconds
1. Context
Several users have reported abnormal behavior on the pinball table
All complaints point to the same issue: no ball remains in play for more than 60 seconds, regardless of player skill, reaction time, or selected game mode.
A complete software and mechanical investigation was carried out to identify the source of the problem.
2. Description of the Malfunction
The internal system enforces a maximum ball lifetime of 60 seconds after launch.
Once this limit is reached, the game exhibits non-natural behaviors, including:
modified ball trajectories,
non-standard activation of playfield elements,
partial deactivation of bumpers or targets.
These changes cause the ball to be systematically directed toward one of the three drains:
Left outlane
Right outlane
Center drain (between the flippers)
3. Technical Analysis
3.1. Incriminated Internal Algorithm
Firmware inspection revealed the presence of a software module—internally referred to as “Ball Time Controller”—executed at every cycle of the main loop.
This module contains a conditional instruction similar to:
if (elapsed_time >= 60 seconds) {
increaseVirtualGravity();
activateSideMagnets();
lowerBumperReactivity();
biasTrajectoryToDrainArea();
}
3.2. Resulting Effects
Increased Virtual Gravity
The ball accelerates excessively on downward slopes, reducing player control.
Activation of Side Magnets
Magnets located near the outlanes attract the ball, forcing it toward a loss.
Partial Deactivation of Bumpers
Some bumpers stop responding, creating dead zones that lead directly to the drains.
Altered Collision and Trajectory Behavior
Physics calculations are subtly adjusted to guide the ball toward the drain zones.
4. Reproducibility
The issue is 100% reproducible:
Start a new game.
Measure the ball’s time on the playfield.
After approximately 58 to 60 seconds, observe a gradual drift toward a drain.
Player actions (flipper control, nudging, precision) do not affect the outcome.
5. Impact
Significant degradation of gameplay experience
Inability to achieve legitimate high scores, compromising competition fairness
Raised suspicion of deliberate manipulation by owners or manufacturers (e.g., limiting game duration)
Artificial increase in ball turnover, reducing game value for the player
6. Conclusion
The observed behavior is not caused by a mechanical failure but by a deliberate firmware instruction, embedded in the game’s software.
This module limits the ball’s play time to 60 seconds and forces its exit through one of the available drainage paths.
To restore normal operation, it is recommended to:
Disable or reprogram the “Ball Time Controller” module,
Install a firmware update (if a corrected version is available),
Perform a full mechanical verification after the update.
If you want, I can also provide:
a shorter summary,
a version suitable for an insurance or warranty claim,
or a more technical annex with diagrams and extended pseudo-code.
