************************************************************************** * * * STERN PINBALL, INC. * * (C) COPYRIGHT 2020 STERN PINBALL, INC. * * * ************************************************************************** * * * STRANGER THINGS * * * ************************************************************************** HELP US, HELP YOU! If you have any suggestions, questions, need technical advice, find errors or have comments, contact us through our website: http://www.sternpinball.com/contact.shtml or call 1-800-542-5377. You can also email bug.report@sternpinball.com to report any software problems. This text file and all other documents relating to this product, playfield components, features, rules, programming and operation are subject to change without notice (Service Bulletins, if applicable, available through our website). Installation notice: The code release is in ZIP format. The code download will need to be unzipped before installing on a USB stick. Update instructions: Download the zip file. Unzip the file; this will create a folder that contains file(s). Open the folder, copy the file(s) to the root level of a USB stick. (Do not copy the folder.) Power the game off. Insert the USB stick. Turn the game on. After the game boots up, there will be an option for software update. The volume buttons change options for full or quick update. The enter button selects the option and starts the update. Once the update is completed, turn the game off and remove the USB stick. Turn the game on and the game will be running the new code. PRO V0.88.0 - April 16, 2020 ===================== - Added "Mode Starts to light Extra Ball" instructional speech. - Changed Demogorgon drop target instructional speech to occur less often. - Now Break Out can be completed by making 25 target hits. - Changed the rules for Break Out. Targets score 1M, complete all 7 targets to raise the target score award to 2M, complete again to raise the target score award to 4M. - Scoring for Junk Yard has changed. Now shot score awards increase at each level based upon which shots were made in the previous level. - Added Junk Yard mode completion speech. - Added Junk Yard mode start/award speech. - Changed the rules for Junk Yard. Now 2 shots are lit at a time, complete them to light 2 more shots. Do this 3 times to complete the mode. The 1st threshold scores 1M per shot. - Changed the amount of time the game will wait to compensate a left lane target shot. - Changed outlined fonts on the secondary display to have smaller outlines. - Changed logic to hear narrative speech more frequently. - Added Narrative logic to manage the iconic speech moments that are heard thru out the show. - Now the Left Outlane Ball Save Lit speech is clearer to hear. - Changed the font used for awards in Quarter Hunt to make the text more readable. - Added Left Outlane Ball Save is lit speech and criteria for when it is heard. - Added Mystery instructional speech. - Improved award text on Get Me Out. - Added additional speech to Turn up the Heat. - Removed Demogorgon and Demodog instructional speech that occurred during Skill Shot events. - Improved the 2nd Total Isolation Multiball display text effects. - Improved Hopper speech heard during Operation Mirkwood. - Added Demogorgon drop target instructional speech. - Improved award display text on Total Isolation Multiball jackpots and Super Jackpot. - Added a speech criteria manager to handle instructional game speech. - Added Demodog target instructional speech. - Added Demodog Attack Ready speech. - Added Break Out start speech. - Added "Double Super Jackpot" and "Triple Super Jackpot" speech to Telekinesis Multiball. - Improved award display text on the 4 Telekinesis Multiball jackpot awards. - Changed the scoring for Operation Mirkwood. Now, the 6th/7th/8th/9th/final consecutive shots are worth 6M/7M/8M/9M/20M. Finishing Operation Mirkwood via non-consecutive shots is still worth 10M. - Added speech to Operation Mirkwood to accommodate 2X+ scoring so the speech can match the displayed text whenever possible. - Fixed a bug where, in certain circumstances, collecting a Quarter Hunt threshold award while a Demogorgon mode/multiball was running could cause the game to crash. - Added additional "million" speech callouts for Operation Mirkwood. - removed a non-rendered frame from the start of the Turn up the Heat Final award display effect. - Now the HSTD reset counter is updated when the Standard Adjustment is changed. - Added TARGET_GAME_TIME adjustment, accessible when the BALL_SAVE_TIME adjustment is enabled. TARGET_GAME_TIME enables a multi-use ball saver, whose duration is dynamically calculated for each ball to help ensure the player has a guaranteed amount of play time per game. TARGET_GAME_TIME has a range of 1m 30s to 3m 00s and defaults to NO_TARGET_TIME (disabled). When disabled a traditional single-use BALL_SAVE_TIME ball saver will be used for each ball in play. When enabled the first ball of play will have a multi-use ball saver of BALL_SAVE_TIME sec. The second ball will have a multi-use ball saver which is 25% of (TARGET_GAME_TIME - player_game_time). The third and beyond will have a multi-use ball saver which is 50% of (TARGET_GAME_TIME - player_game_time). PRO V0.87.0 - April 2, 2020 ===================== - Added speech to the Turn up the Heat advance/final shot awards. - Removed an instance of a green screen during Break Out that was displayed instead of the mode total. - Fixed a display effect transition glitch that occurred at the end of Operation Mirkwood if the mode was completed, i.e. the alphabet wall was visible for a few frames - Added logic to reset the Demodog targets after BreakOut is finished running. - Added Operation Mirkwood mode completed speech to sync with visuals. - Improved how long the Quarter Hunt "switch values grow" display effect runs. - Fixed a problem with the blink rate of the 2nd Total Isolation Multiball start lamp effect lamps. - Fixed a problem in the 2nd Total Isolation Multiball where the shot arrows did not show completed progress correctly. - Now you are able to advance Burn it Back while Double Scoring is active. - Now Double Scoring time can no longer be extended via a shot to the left eject. - Now the left eject pauses the ball save timer during the Super Skill Shot presentation. - Fixed Where's Barb speech, i.e. Hopper should not be talking. - Added speech to the Quarter Hunt threshold and Switch Value Grows awards. - Changed Story Mode background artwork to reduce any load time hitches - Added an adjustment for the number of "Spotted" Demodog Attack starts that are allowed via a shot to the left eject. Default = 1. - Changed the default number of "Spotted" mode starts that are allowed via the left lane target. Default = 2. - Now the spinner contributes more to awarded switch closures during Morse Code. - Added a new display/sound/lamp effect to Quarter Hunt for shooting the left/right ramp. Each shot to the left/right ramp raises the value of each switch closure by 25K. - Added threshold score awards to Quarter Hunt. Now 25 switch hits score = 1 Million, the next 25 switch hits score 2.5 Million, the next 25 switch hits score 5 Million, and the last 25 switch hits score 10M. - Removed an instance of a green screen in an Operation Mirkwood display effect. - Changed the logic that determines which mode start shot is spotted via a shot to the left lane target. - Added an adjustment for the number for "spotted" mode starts that are allowed via a shot to the left lane target. - Added speech to the Lure Dart progress/completed awards. - Raised the volume of the Operation Mirkwood start speech. - Removed a black frame that occurred on the display during Operation Mirkwood when making alternating ramps shots. - Added speech to Operation Mirkwood. - Changed the scoring for Operation Mirkwood. Now scoring increases based upon making consecutive combo shots. Finishing the mode scores 10M. - Added lamp logic to Operation Mirkwood to temporarily flash the lit combo shots faster. - Added Telekinesis Multiball progress to instant info. - Added logic to allow the left lane target to spot/advance a mode start shot. - Added logic to keep the "Bust Out" and "What's That" strobing center lamps on longer when other modes/multiballs are active - Fix a problem with the "What's That" strobing lamp sequence where a lamp in the sequence was not being lit. - Added logic to allow the left eject to spot/award a lit Demodog target. - Fixed a bug that caused the ball to sit at the left post for 55 seconds while the Mystery Spell of Protection display effect ran. - Fixed a problem with the What's That center arrow lamp. The arrow lamp used during this mode might obfuscate the same lamp being used during a Multiball, Story mode or Demodog mode. Now, the lit arrow lamp will illuminate for any number of modes/multiballs that are running concurrently. - Fixed a problem with the Bust Out center arrow lamp. The arrow lamp used during this mode might obfuscate the same lamp being used during a multiball, Story mode or Demodog mode. Now, the lit arrow lamp will illuminate for any number of modes/multiballs that are running concurrently. - Fixed a bug where a shot into the Demogorgon's mouth did not compensate/score the center lane award for "It's a Trap". - Fixed a bug during Telekinesis Multiball where the 2X/3X lock timer would prematurely count down during award presentations. - Changed the volume of the Operation Mirkwood start sound F/X so it can be heard during the Operation Mirkwood start speech event. - Improved how Lure Dart art assets are displayed. - Changed the volume of the Follow the Compass start sound F/X so it can be heard during the Follow the Compass start speech event. - Added speech call outs to the "Follow the Compass" mode. - Fixed a bug where the wrong Follow the Compass sound F/X and Display F/X were being activated. - Added speech call outs of Nancy that are heard during the "Where's Barb" mode awards. - Added speech call outs of Jonathan and Nancy that are heard during "Get Me Out" mode awards. - Fixed a problem with Junk Yard, It's a Trap, and Demogorgon Ready arrow lamp resources. The arrow lamps used during these modes might obfuscate the same arrow lamps being used during a multiball or story mode. Now, a lit lamp arrow will illuminate for any number of modes/multiballs that are running concurrently. - Now the Demodog mode's target/shot lamps strobe faster. - Added the Left Eject to the list of available shots to award during It's A Trap. - Improved the graphics in It's a Trap to eliminate display glitches. - Improved the award text effect in It's a Trap. - Fixed a bug where a Demogorgon mode/multiball would start prematurely upon awarding the last shot of Monster Hunting or Get me Out. - Fixed a problem with the size of the Get Me Out Video Awards that under certain circumstances could cause the game to crash. - Fixed a problem where Pop Bumper hits would cause a momentary display hitch as a Pop Bumper background video starts to run. - Fixed a problem where the game took a long pause before displaying the Quarter Hunt mode start graphics. - Fixed a problem where the score frame boarder and text were not appearing if the accompanying background video was taking too long to load. - Added/Reorganized/Renamed game play audits. - Changed the minimum/max range for the AUTO light extra ball feature awarded via Burn it Back. When set to AUTO the game periodically adjusts the number of required burn it back shots needed to light extra ball. The default setting is 11 shots and the AUTO range is now from 1-25 shots. - Added Season 1 and Season 2 mode audits for completing a mode. - Updated to node board firmware v0.58.0 PRO V0.86.0 - March 2, 2020 ===================== - Added Season 1 and Season 2 mode audits for starting a mode and collecting a mode award. - Fixed a bug in Monster Hunting where, upon making the last shot, the game would wait too long before kicking the ball back into play. - Fixed a bug in Turn Up The Heat where 1 frame of green appears on the screen as the mode ends. - Fixed a display effect bug in Turn up the Heat, Morse Code and Break Out that could cause the game to crash as the mode ends. - Fixed text on an Attract mode display effect where the text showed the player scores from the previous game with the wrong outline. The credits and credit pricing text also appeared incorrectly on this display effect. - Fixed a display effect in Breakout where 1 frame of green appears on the screen as the mode ends. - Changed the default Demogorgon rule difficulty settings, i.e. Default = EASY. Now the first Demogorgon Battle is qualified by completing one set of drop targets (spell RUN!) - Now, during the attract mode, the center ramp is in the down position. PRO V0.85.0 - February 19, 2020 ===================== - Added logic to hold up balls from being kicked out of the trough while the center ramp is being lowered. This helps with balls getting temporarily stuck under the ramp. - Raised the priority of Bust Out and What's That background display effects. Now, starting a chapter mode with Bust Out or What's That active will result in Bust Out or What's That being the primary background display/music. - Changed the criteria for when Demodog Targets are allowed to advance the Demodog Attack feature. - Added audits to the Demogorgon modes/multiball for KILLING a Demogorgon via a body bash/hit. - Added a Demogorgon mouth entrance switch closure audit. - Changed the rules/shots for What Mama Says. Now the center shot/arrow is no longer available. Instead, shoot ramps, orbits or inner lanes. A blinking arrow still indicates a shot's score award is doubled. - Added a UV lamp test which is accessible in Diagnostics via the menu Diag->Lamp->UV Test. This test is available when the adjustment "UV Kit Installed" = YES. - Fixed a bug in Turn up the Heat and Break Out that could cause the game to reset when the mode prematurely ended via draining into the trough. - Changed some text in Sound Test to match the speech being played. - Now Dart Pop animations stay visible longer before fading out. - Fixed a problem where the bulbs on the Alphabet Wall were not blinking. - Added new Dart artwork to the pop bumpers. - Updated 10 band graphic EQ to have 15 slider settings (was 120) above/below the neutral center line. - Renamed Util->Volume->Speaker Balance to Speaker Fade. This adjusts the volume levels of the cabinet (front) and backbox (back) speakers. The term Balance was misleading and implied adjusting the level of the left and right backbox speakers. PRO V0.84.0 - February 12, 2020 ===================== - Now the 2X scoring lamp insert is disabled during 2X scoring. Instead, only the 2X Playfield Multiplier lamp is active. - Fixed a bug where, during Telekinesis Multiball, the left ramp up post switch didn't recognize when a new ball arrived behind a locked ball. - Fixed a bug where the Demogorgon Roar light FX at the start of Demogorgon modes and multiballs were being obfuscated. - Added UV lamp FX to the 5 Demogorgon mode/multiball Start, Bash and Award events. - Added Demogorgon shaking FX to the 5 Demogorgon mode/multiball Start events. - Changed the scoring for Bust Out and What's That. Killing the Demogorgon via a shot into the head with no misses multiplies the score award by 1.5X. Killing the Demogorgon via bashing gives an award worth .5X. - Changed the scoring for Trap'Em, Run Will and Can't Stop This. The Hurry Up Award is worth 1.5X if the Demogorgon is killed via a shot into the head with no misses, and worth .5X if the Demogorgon is defeated via bashing. The Super Jackpot Hurry Up award is not multiplied as the above examples, i.e. the value is already lowered over time when not shot/scored. - Added a damage Progress Bar to Bust Out, Trap'Em, What's That, Run Will and Can't Stop This. It appears when the player has an opportunity to bash/kill a Demogorgon during these modes/multiballs, i.e. when the center ramp is down. - Fixed a bug in Run Will where the Double Jackpot text was not being displayed. - Fixed a bug in Run Will and Can't Stop This where bashing the Demogorgon didn't eventually result in a kill. - Extended the grace period of the moving arrow drop target award during Skill shot. - Now the Skill Shot arrows blink faster to draw attention to the sweeping lights. - Added logic to the Skill Shot rule which disallows the left lane target and left lane switch from prematurely stopping the drop target skill shot. - Added Demogorgon Bashing to the "Trap'Em", "Run Will" and "Can't Stop This" rules. Now the Demogorgon can be killed by bashing it several times in addition to shooting the ball into the Demogorgon's head. - Added an adjustment that allows the operator to change the number of hits/bashes that are required to kill a Demogorgon. - Added Demogorgon Bashing to the "Bust Out" and "What's That" rules. Now the Demogorgon can be killed by bashing it several times in addition to shooting the ball into the Demogorgon's head. - Removed a display glitch at the start of the spinners overlay display effect. - Fixed a Quarter Hunt startup display effect glitch. - Added logic to remove phantom left ramp awards. - Added audits to Bust Out, Trap'Em, What's That, Run Will and Can't Stop This that tracks the number of times the Demogorgon was hit (and the ball did not go into the Demogorgon's Head). - Changed the rules for Turn up the Heat. Now the inner Left/Right lane shots are worth more, i.e. 8 degrees for each made shot. Also, once the thermometer reaches 98 degrees the game stops lowering the temperature. - Now the Turn up the Heat inner lane shot arrows blink (instead of being on solid) to indicate that those shots are more valuable. - Added outlines to the Attract mode text effects to make them more readable. - Added audits to Bust Out, Trap'Em, What's That, Run Will and Can't Stop This to track the number of awards given for shooting the ball into the Demogorgon's head. - Fixed a problem where the Demodog Ready display effect was active when it should not have been. - Added an adjustment to let the game know if a UV light kit has been installed. - Added UV light effects to the Upside Down Hurry Up rule (Start, Background, Award, Incomplete, Completed). - Added an Upside Down Hurry Up Incomplete sound FX. - Now the Season 1 mode(s) start display effects, when started via the left ramp at the same time Telekinesis Multiball is started, are shown after the Telekinesis Multiball display effect presentation has finished. - Fixed a problem where the Lure Dart background display animation would not run. - Now Operation Mirkwood awards are allowed to interrupt each other. - Added Quarter Hunt Ramp award effect that was not playing. - Improved the resolution of the score frame scores. - Fixed an issue with the player's score when it reached the billions in a 4 player game, i.e. it would overflow the bounds of the score frame box. - Modified Get Me Out to play the next background movie when the Get Me Out foreground display effect ends. - Fixed an animation glitch that occurred at the end of the Break Out award display effect. - Added Get Me Out background videos to the LCD display. - Fixed an issue where the background videos weren't being played in proper order. PRO V0.83.0 - January 22, 2020 ===================== - Only LE/PRE changes. PRO V0.82.0 - January 22, 2020 ===================== - Added Demogorgon roar FX to Bust Out, Trap'Em, What's That, Run Will and Can't Stop This. - Fixed a bug where the Demogorgon Ready display effect's priority was too high. - Fixed a bug that occurred when the left ramp awards were given via a timeout. - Added a Demogorgon ready display effect. - Fixed a problem where the 48V power disabled display message was being shown during the powering up sequence. - Fixed a problem where the Bonus Sequence was taking too long to end. - Now Chapter modes contribute 10% of their score towards bonus. - Modified code to only allow games released as Stranger Things LE/PRE to have an HDMI signal. - Now the Upside Down HurryUp rule will no longer start if Monster Hunting is running. PRO V0.81.0 - January 8, 2020 ===================== - Added Game Pricing and Credits to the attract mode display effects. - Added logic to force the screen ramp to the lowered position during a Demogorgon Kill sequence. - Fixed a bug where the player scores display overlay would temporarily not be drawn. - Now Telekinesis Multiball is disallowed from starting whenever a wizard mode is ready to start, i.e. Total Isolation Multiball(s), Send it Back, Light the Fire and Final Showdown. - Added adjustments to change the power to the Left & Right Flipper. - Reorganized the order of game adjustments. - Renamed the lockdown bar button adjustments. - Changed the criteria for when Upside Down HurryUp starts. - Changed Chapter modes score contribution to bonus. - Added lamp effects for hitting/killing a Demogorgon. - Added shaker motor FX for killing a Demogorgon. - Fixed Lure Dart award lightshows. - Fixed a display glitch that appears on the first frame of the Follow the Compass background display effect. - Improved animation speed of Alphabet Wall letters. - Fixed Monster Hunting Total text. - Removed unused audits. - Updated audit text for Trap'Em. - Fixed a bug where the Follow the Compass and Lure Dart background display effects stopped playing overlaid display effects. - Updated Title Text on the Send it Back Intro display effect. - Updated to node board firmware v0.55.0 - Added UTIL->VOL Adjustment "SELECT AUDIO FILTER". Values are: "NONE", "HIGH/LOW SHELF", and "10 BAND EQ". Default value is "HIGH/LOW SHELF". "NONE": No filtering will be performed on the audio output. Useful when using the Line Out as input for an external device. "HIGH/LOW SHELF": A High/Low Shelf Filter is applied to the audio output. The Bass Frequency can be set to: 125Hz, 250Hz, or Disabled. The Treble Frequency can be set to: 4KHz, 8KHz, or Disabled. The Gain can be set to -12dB .. +12dB On Spike 2 the Shelf Frequency and Gain can be set independently for the Back Box and Cabinet speakers. "10 BAND EQ": A full 10 Band EQ is applied to the audio output. Sliders are used to adjust the Gain of a specific range of frequencies. The Frequencies are: 31Hz, 62Hz, 125Hz, 250Hz, 500Hz, 1KHz, 2KHz, 4KHz, 8KHz, 16KHz. The Gain curve has a 60dB dynamic range across the -120 .. +120 Slider settings. On Spike2 the Gain can be set independently for the Back Box and Cabinet speakers. PRO V0.75.0 - December 30, 2019 ===================== - Changing revision number to sync with LE/PRE rev level. - Added new Demogorgon Kill SFX to Bust Out. - Added new Demogorgon Kill SFX to Trap'Em, Trap'Em Super Jackpot. - Added new Demogorgon Kill SFX to What's That. - Added new Demogorgon Kill SFX to Run Will, Run Will Super Jackpot. - Added new Demogorgon Kill SFX to Can't Stop This, Can't Stop This Super Jackpot. - Added Send it Back Intro SFX. - Added Light the Fire Intro SFX. - Added new Send it Back Intro display effect. - Added new Light the Fire Intro display effect. - Added new Final Showdown Intro display effect. - Added Bullies award speech. - Changed the volume of the Bullies award SFX. - Changed/Raised the speech volume for all speech .wav files. - Added speech for finishing Morse Code. - Added Progress meter to Quarter Hunt. PRO V0.64.0 - December 26, 2019 ===================== - Notes coming soon.