Discussion on:

Awesome tricks for 3D Pinball in Windows XP

I have always wondered if there were hidden codes. First time I've ever made it past Lt. Well, now I need a new game. Thanks for the tip.

the game originally came with Plus for Windows 95 and for some reason didn't come with Win98 - if it did I never found out how to make that work - but in Win2k and XP, the game has a different "feel". It is as if the ball is heavier and goes slower. I always liked it much better in Windows 95. I think on Win2K server it played faster like in Win95. I wish I knew how to make the game play in XP with the same "feel" as it had in Win95. I would rather know how to do that than cheat; I used to run up some pretty nice totals on the old Win95 game. Not that I don't like these tips - I haven't played the game in a long time and this will give me a reason to try it again sometime. It's one of the best if not the best PC pinball game ever.

It isn't just different versions of Windows, I've noticed a difference between processors and machines. With the dual Zeon I'm running now it also makes a difference what and how many other programs are running. Oddly, when I am streaming audio I get that "zip" you remember from Win 95. I had it with Win 2000 also after I made some now forgotten adjustments to the system.

Awesome, I'm off to try these codes!

Sounds good to me...

231136250 in 15 min. that totally kills my previous high score.

Now, does anybody know how to get a Minesweeper window bigger than 24x30?

Hmm, I always assumed when I set it for 40x40 that's what I was getting. Now I see I've been cheated!
BTW, this was the best way to set it up for the kids when they were young - 24x30 with only 10 mines. They usually win with 2 clicks.

When you're running 24 x 30 with 150 mines or more.

from Windows 3.1. It used to be x y z z y Shift+Enter Enter (without the spaces) and would activate a single pixel in the top left corner of the Windows desktop as a mine detector white=safe, black=mine was a great way to baffle friends and coworkers. Anyone know if the current version has a similar cheat?

This still works, tried it now on XP

It seems to not work for me on XP. Are there any other cheats like these for the other Microsoft games?

3D Pinball works in Vista. Simply copy the executable file. The cheats work, too.

I meant to say for Minesweeper on XP.

Wow, I have been an avid fan of this game since its introduction. At last some tricks but being able to play the game for real is still awesome.

this is great for the kids and lets them have more fun....thanks

I use Pinball to test computers, especially the weird intermittent problems. Pinball really stresses the computer and it uses a lot of resources. In Win2K, Pinball uses so much resources that task manager has to pause until some resources are freed up.

The conditions I am testing are intermittent lockup, BSOD and memory/graphics problems. Start Pinball and select demo mode and let the game run over night and if there is a problem, then this should help find it.

Years ago, I had heard that Solitaire was a good memory test, but only if you win. It was something about the leaping cards when you win.

Nice game. Where does one type these tips?

There is no text box or any special pplace that you type the codes, you just type them.

while the Pinball window is active. There is no text box for entry.

Oh, and by "active", this means that the title bar at the very top of the window is blue or whatever, that it is not "greyed-out" like when you have more than one window open. The active window title bar will have the "active" color, all other windows will have a different color than the active one (usually grey). The colors may be different than blue and grey if you have a color scheme or theme other than windows default.

Again, just type from the keyboard, there is no text entry box where you will see what you typed.

Before retiring I used to measure system performance by clocking the time it took to boot Pinball. Several years ago the ranges were from 4 to 14 seconds.

How fast does it take to boot pinball now with current hardware?

The outfit that did 3D Pinball for Microsoft put out a whole series of different tables with some really weird special effects. You had to buy them but I ran across them a few years back on a mark down table at Compusa or Best Buy. I think each set of three tables cost me $10. I bought a couple of sets for the grandkids and of course myself. I was going through some boxes of old computer stuff a few months back and ran across a set of them. Most of the other tables were a lot more challenging than the one in Windows.

3D Pinball is OK, but I much prefer Future Pinball, from http://www.futurepinball.com/ .
Both it and tons of tables are free to download. The graphics can be configured like a 'real' video game, to fully take advantage of that new 8800 GT card you just bought.

Download the hungry dead table and get addicted.

YOU GOT MY ATTENTION, BUDDY, I'LL BE PLAYING PINBALL AND WINNING FOREVER, THANKS

Ahahaha. I love it esp the hidden test.hehehe

its a good blog

hidden test?

I am unable to do this, when I try, i keep getting the "high scores" dialog box...

keep going you have only seen the half of it wait till you kick in to second geer. that is when the pro becomes clear... come on look. you've got to add mit. it to see it works.. best hands on eye say hand on eye corordination the spell is no wear to be found but you know its there just out of sight. see it say's so! c more bells and whistles when you get to that level playing field. corny sew say I,so I've bean Told.. Turn it over the proof is in the points did you c it check it out tips are there for you to be taken inn c.told yah!

So, no challenge anymore.
I notice to often that ppl need to cheat, pity.
"If you dont have a skill, use cheats".
Maybe fun to fool around a little but for the rest...

hidden test has clik donde sea y moveras la vola y no se va a caer si la sueltas se cae

Cool, Thanks Greg! i'll actually play som pinall again tonight. A few years back, I bought a clarance sale copy of Pinball Arcade (around $4) which has real classic games on it, including the ANCIENT baseball. but my favorite table they have is Spirit of '76. I remember skippign school and hittign teh pool hall to play that for hours! Ah, the classic memories.

Has anyone ever come across cheat codes for MS Pinball Arcade? I'd just be happy with one that turns off the tilt function. Also, a way to display the high scores list. I got this game when win95 and win98 were new. Higscores displayed on them. With w2k and xp the high score list still displays but you can't see the scores.