(Link to video)
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Table of contents

Introduction

Pinball is one of the first games for the NES. In this movie, I programmed JaffarPlus to find the quickest way to reach the bonus stage, where you get a chance to rescue Pauline (our damsel in distress) for a hefty bonus. I used JaffarPlus once again there to find the solution with the earliest last input that results in rescuing Pauline.
This movie is almost half as fast as the current RTA WR by ShesChardcore
Enjoy!

Software + Hardware

Rom Information 

Name: Pinball
ROM: Pinball (JU) [!].nes
SHA1: D2F25A027E390A0337BED7E0DC98D2D1D187D230
MD5: 838B3043AF802E70A855560433A6FCA3

Routing Bot

  • Bot: JaffarPlus
  • Routing Core: QuickerNES
  • Platform:
    • AMD Epyc 9965 (192 cores, 384 threads) + 1536Gb RAM
    • Exploration Rate: ~4 Mstates/s
DrD2k9: Claiming for judging.
DrD2k9: In the past, the site has treated the NES release and the Arcade Vs. release of Pinball as the same game. After discussion among staff, the concensus opinion was that the two systems present different representations of the same general game, but can (and should) be considered separate games for our site purposes; much as we do with Myst, where we've accepted numerous versions of the same game with relatively minor differences between the various system ports and still consider them separate games.
Thus we shouldn't allow the existence of [4697] Arcade VS. Pinball by DrD2k9 & ShesChardcore in 00:13.36 (which is shorter by time) to prevent acceptance of this run.
Further, the NES port does offer two modes: "Game A" and "Game B." The former mimics a lighter/slower ball that is more floating in its movement, where the later mode has a heavier/faster ball that is seems less floaty or more realistic in it's movement. These variations in ball physics present different play challenges and warrant separate TASes, in my opinion.
As such, I feel it is appropriate to accept this run with the "game A" goal.
As I don't (yet) know how to adjust the game catalog to split the two versions currently listed under VS. Pinball into separate games, I wll be getting help with this from other staff. I'd recommend delaying publication until the NES and Arcade Vs. versions are split. EDIT: Catalog has been updated.
inconsistent: Processing...

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Posted: 1/1/2026 12:33 PM
TASVideoAgent
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This topic is for the purpose of discussing #10128: eien86's NES Pinball "Game A" in 00:17.554
Posted: 1/1/2026 4:28 PM
SelflessVanity
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Nice and simple, yes vote!
SMB2U is the best NES Mario game.
Posted: 1/1/2026 5:37 PM
Twisted_Eye
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I was thinking to myself, don't we already have a TAS of this? But that's the Arcade Vs. rom. Which is a few seconds faster, and from watching your run, I just couldn't help but think, something's slow about this. Figured it out: You're playing Game A. Select Game B and the faster ball movement will let you start sooner and get in the bonus hole faster. Totally changes how the bonus room plays out though, so it's not some quick fix solution. Here's something I found pretty quick that's 140 frames faster but I'm wondering if your bot could beat that if it begins from this hotter start. https://tasvideos.org/UserFiles/Info/639028855930525986
Posted: 1/3/2026 12:20 AM
nymx
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Exotic platforms TASer of 2025 Exotic platforms TASer of 2024 TASer of 2023 Atari TASer of 2023 Exotic platforms TASer of 2023
I usually don't comment on submissions, but this was worth a comment. This is shocking to see how much time was saved, considering you are going for early input ending. Nice!
I recently discovered that if you haven't reached a level of frustration with TASing any game, then you haven't done your due diligence. ---- SOYZA: Are you playing a game? NYMX: I'm not playing a game, I'm TASing. SOYZA: Oh...so its not a game...Its for real? ---- Anybody got a Quantum computer I can borrow for 20 minutes? Nevermind...eien's 64 core machine will do. :) ---- BOTing will be the end of all games. --NYMX
Posted: 1/21/2026 12:30 AM
Post subject: Movie published
TASVideoAgent
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This movie has been published. The posts before this message apply to the submission, and posts after this message apply to the published movie. ---- [6951] NES Pinball "Game A" by eien86 in 00:17.554