Dialed In! (pinball)

''Dialed In!'' is a 2017 pinball machine manufactured by Jersey Jack Pinball. It was the third machine released, after ''The Wizard of Oz'' and ''The Hobbit''. Unlike its predecessors it is not based on a third-party license, and is in a standard size cabinet. It innovatively blends special effects using an illusion, and a smartphone screen to create a disaster-themed pinball table with links to many of Pat Lawlor's previous tables.

Overview

Designed nearly 10 years after Pat Lawlor's previous machine, ''Shrek'' (for Stern) this is his first design for Jersey Jack pinball. It was initially unveiled at the 32nd annual pinball expo in Chicago. Jack Guarnieri, the founder of the company, stated at the time "This machine embodies our company-wide mission to bring premium, no-compromise games to our fans, with features that have never been seen before in a pinball game."

Before full release a prototype was shown at several locations, with its European launch in Germany in February 2017. This is the first game to use a swinging mount for the 27" 1080p LCD screen in the backbox to allow access to the electronics behind it. Unlike earlier games this is where the computer controlling the game is located. The game is the first production pinball machine to include a digital camera, which is located at the bottom of the backbox. This employs face recognition technology to capture portraits of the player for the high score leaderboard, and an innovative ‘selfie mode’ also showcases the game camera. It is also the first pinball machine to feature bluetooth connectivity, which enabled control of the game using a mobile phone app, but support for this app was removed from game code version 1.75 onwards in 2021. It is also the first pinball machine to use 3 screens.

The idea of putting a camera on a pinball machine was first conceived by Jack Guarnieri when working as an operator in 1977. He wanted to put a Polaroid camera on a game to take the player's picture for a high score as a keepsake of a great game.

RGB-LED playfield lightning is used which change colour to indicate various shots and modes as the game is played. There is a 5 speaker 2.1 stereo surround sound system.

Three versions were released: a standard version, a limited version with a maximum of 2,500 units, and a time limited collector's version.

The original working title for this machine was "killer app"; another employee at Jersey Jack, Keith Johnson, thought of the name "Dialed In".

Layout

The game has 3 flippers, including mid-field flipper on the right. It has a double inlane on the left side and a single inlane on the right side. Low on the left side are B-O-B standup targets, and a little above these is a trap-door. In an elevated position is a physical ball-lock mechanism based on a train station; this can be reached with a shot from the upper flipper. The left outlane has a kickback.

The crossed hashlines extending from the flippers up most of the playfield were first conceived for the prototype of ''Wizard Blocks'', the cancelled Williams Pinball 2000 game. Above where these cross in the middle of the playfield is a moving QED character target. There are 3 magnets underneath the playfield in this area which are used in some modes; in earlier design iterations of the machine there was a lightning bolt insert to indicate when these were on, but was removed due to lack of space underneath the playfield in this area.

The Quantum reality theatre is in the centre of the game, towards the back of the playfield. The ball can either be held by a magnet, or continue through. This theatre is an assembly containing a 4.3" LCD hidden at the top which reflects an image off a mirror reflector. Using Pepper's ghost illusion technique in an innovative way this makes various objects appear in the path of the ball. In combination with the magnet, virtual drop-targets are used in one mode.

There is an illuminated cityscape back panel, near this at the back right are 3 pop bumpers. Above these is a Betty mechanic sculpture assembly which is used as a diverter by blocking the ball on an adjacent wireform. The design of Betty was inspired by one of the Uniroyal gals which held a tire, similar to the one in Blackwood.

Towards the right is a "smartphone", with a scoop just below it. The smartphone is made from a 4.3" LCD screen with a driver board and RGB LED board contained in a housing resembling a smartphone. Its operation is controlled by the games computer.

Across from the upper flipper is the SIM card scoop.

Lower down on the right are 3 drones, each with 4 propellers that can spin. These have no affect on gameplay, which instead uses a magnet and a red stand-up target underneath them.

Variations in editions

All versions have the same cabinet and backbox artwork; all versions include a shaker motor.

The limited edition has Quantum mist blue clear coat body armor, invisiglass, 3D etched emblem on the quantum reality theatre, headphone jack, lights on the left ramp, and a numbered plaque. The collector's version also has Quantum haze blue clear coat body armor, laser cut side armour, a topper, mirrored back panel, radcals on the cabinet, and is signed by Pat Lawlor, Jack Guarnieri, and John Youssi. The collector's edition also has a special attract mode.

Gameplay

Gameplay is the same between all versions of the table. The game is set in Quantum City which is shown on the main monitor in the backbox. There is a SimCity vibe, with a range of disasters hitting it. The in-game phone receives calls from residents of the city when a disaster strikes. A comic was released which shows as a prelude to the game the player buying a phone from Crazy Bob that is revealed to be a prototype from Dialed In Electronics, and that the phone is capable of generating disasters.

The game begins with a skill shot that can give one of 6 awards, and a super skill shot or super duper skill shot can then be attempted.

There are 3 crazy Bob modes, including a novel mode called "crazy lottery frenzy" which involves hitting a shot and then waving at the camera to rub off a lottery ticket. There are also 3 quick multiball modes - one each based on the drones, QED target, and Betty mechanic. There are 2 main multiballs; under attack multiball where the flippers come under attack and can be briefly disabled, and quantum theatre multiball.

There are 11 main modes, called disaster modes. These can all be started at the phone after charging it by hitting the QED target, and scoring in these modes depends on the level of the phones charge. The modes are alien invasion, eruption, tidal wave, whirl wind, EMP strike, flash fires, sinkholes, meteor storm, earth shaker, acid rain, and singularity. A mini-wizard mode, Chaos in Quantum City can be played after 6 disaster modes have been played, and Armageddon can be played after all 11 main disaster modes have been played.

As the game is played, SIM cards can be collected which upgrade the phone for higher scores. After 8 cards have been collected for D-I-A-L-E-D-I-N the wizard mode called showdown can be started, which involves a multiball with unlimited ballsaves until either the player or their opponent, the head of Dialed In Electronics (D.I.E.), is defeated.

At the end of a game, a QR code was shown to tweet the score, but this feature was deprecated in a 2025 update to the code.

Heritage

There are numerous references to Pat Lawlor's previous games designed at Williams. Also Crazy Bob features prominently and was in several other Williams games. In this game the voicework for Crazy Bob was done by Joe Katz.

Whirl Wind disaster mode is named after ''Whirlwind''. After winning the mode "all clear, return to your home" audio from that game is played. Earth Shaker disaster mode is named after ''Earthshaker!''

The phone call for the Sink Holes disaster mode is made by Ted, from ''Red & Ted's Road Show''. In the same mode is the phrase "You think it was gophers?" which refers to ''No Good Gofers''.

During drone multiball Fester's chair from ''The Addams Family'' and the gumball machine from '' Twilight Zone'' are shown. The inverted triangle with an eye used as the logo of D.I.E. between the flippers and on the phone has similarities to the pyramid with an eye used on the Powerfield in ''Twilight Zone''.

The voice actress for MANDI (machine assistant) in this game is the same as for CANDY in ''Safe Cracker''. Two callouts from ''FunHouse'' are in the game.

The crossed hashlines extending from the flippers were first conceived for the prototype of ''Wizard Blocks''.

References

External links

''Dialed In!'' standard edition
at the Internet pinball database

''Dialed In!'' limited edition
at the Internet pinball database

''Dialed In!'' collector's edition
at the Internet pinball database
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{{Pat Lawlor
Jersey Jack pinball machines
2017 pinball machines