| Sample Game Differences
What's a sample game?
A sample game is usually a preproduction version of an upcoming title of a pinball
machine that is about to hit the open market. These preproduction games are usually
designed so that they can be tested on location for playability issues, software bugs and
also to show the amusement industry what the company has up their sleeve for the
weeks/months ahead. Since these games are primarily designed for testing purposes
they are usually produced in small numbers....it is estimated that less
than 200 Cirqus Voltaire samples were produced.
Although not always the case
some sample versions of pinball games exhibit differences than their production run
counterpart. These changes were usually made for reasons of gameplay, cosmetics and even
production cost restraints.
Cirqus Voltaire is a good
example of game that you can clearly see its differences between Sample and production.
Just look at the pictures below to see some of the many differences.
.View the actual differences
by clicking on the hotspots on the image above. Description of the numbers listed on the
image are listed below.
| 1. |
Misprint on Instruction Card |
| 2. |
Changed "CRANK" marvel
to "SPIN", also "Defeat all RINGMASTERS" in sample version is a decal,
as opposed to printed on playfield. |
| 3. |
Changed "Acrobat" and
"Juggler" playfield lamp inserts to "Acrobat Ready" and "Juggler
Ready". These inserts where also changed from yellow to white. |
| 4. |
Added into the production
version the words "Bally Hoo" in front of the yellow targets as well as changed
"Tickle The" to "Defeat The" in front of the Ringmaster. |
| 5. |
Small Ringmaster heads were
changed from decals in the sample version to being printed on the playfield. The word
Multiball is printed in black underneath each of the RingMaster Marvels. |
| 6. |
The most obvious of them all.
The Ringmaster was changed before production from a normal shaped head to a more
cylinderical fat head to help prevent the ball from getting stuck behind him. |
| 7. |
Added the letters S-P-I-N to the
4 blue lamp inserts in front of the spinner. |
|
