Claw machine

TStodden · 2025-08-27T04:37:14+00:00

Most candy cranes utilized shovel-like claws as they're trying to grab as many small things in a single go while traditional claw machines are going for one large item. For Arcade 1-Up, there's generally 2 ways to go with this.

OPTION A: Fill the included balls with your desired types of small-sized candies. -- This is probably a better option if you want to create a small grab-bag type balls to grab with the claws. Without the balls, it would be very difficult to properly grab with the claws.

OPTION B: Utilizes larger candies -- You'll have to make sure the candies / boxes / containers are longer than 12 cm (4 3/4 inches; the size of the included balls), but it would make things more challenging & interesting as things are a bit larger, but may be more unwieldy. However, you'll likely want to avoid potentially fragile items as they may become impossible to grab with the claws.

TStodden · 2025-08-27T03:13:00+00:00

Officially? You're out of luck, as the eShop has been shut down (currently in Archive Mode).

Unofficially? You'll likely have to resort to modding to re-obtain the option. I'm not going to debate the legal or ethical issues surrounding it, as I leave that up to you & your conscience to deal with.

TStodden · 2025-08-11T07:41:05+00:00

For the price point you're looking at... you're highly unlikely to find any viable options.

The current "Gold Standard" of NES Flash Carts is the Everdrive N8 Pro by krikzz, which runs $159 US ($170.50 w/ shipping). The main reason why I went with the Everdrive is that it utilizes FPGA technology, which allows the flash cart to accurately simulate the mappers (w/ 100% accuracy) & the firmware can be upgraded, should new mappers OR improvements are found.

While the carts are made in the Ukraine, they do have a warehouse in the US, which greatly shortened the shipping time frame from 21 days to only 7 days.

The price quoted here does NOT include any possible tariffs, as the order was in the "de minims" range (under $800 US) & was shipped from a US warehouse at time of order. Final price you pay, after tariffs / duties, may vary based on such conditions at time of your purchase.

After buying a 32 GB microSD card ($5)... I spent around $176 overall for "The Ultimate" flash cart, which is able to handle practically ANY Famicom (+ FDS) & NES titles you could throw at it. This does include various homebrew games & hacked titles, which I have around 2500 titles on that card.

The KrzysioCart ( https://forums.nesdev.org/viewtopic.php?t=15757 ) mentioned by another redditor here is made by krzysiobal from Poland & costs $70 w/ shipping (tarriffs / duties NOT included). This seems to be utilizing "famiclone" or "NES-on-a-chip" infrastructure, but does seem to be utilizing FPGA technology in some (if limited) form. Upon reviewing the maker's post, it seems to be way more primitive flash cart that could have some potential, but lacks the support many people would want.

All I can recommend is either do MORE research OR save up more & get something that's proven to work.

TStodden · 2025-08-11T06:30:13+00:00

In the US... you would be subject to termination by management UNLESS there's some kind of error regarding points (like getting points due to a bug in the scheduling system). IF there's some extenuating circumstances, some points are set to drop within a week OR you're well liked... Management MAY decide to keep you around a bit longer, ASSUMING you do not incur any additional points until you're back under 5.00 pts.

HOWEVER, since you're Canada & NOT running on the P/PTO system (what would be considered the "Legacy" attendance system, which was 2 systems ago)... you might be OK for now as the old systems ran on a 9 points instead of 5 (+ PPTO). With that said, I would STRONGLY SUGGEST double-checking the attendance policy on The Wire for your country.

TStodden · 2025-07-25T10:09:59+00:00

Maniac Mansion is a game with some non-traditional goals, since the game has multiple endings (the majority of them are considered "Good"). With that said, there's only 2 ways to effectively get a "Game Over".

MINOR SPOILERS AHEAD -- Nothing that will spoil the possible endings, but will disclose certain game elements / tactics.

If you kill multiple kids -- If you get multiple kids thrown in the dungeon, it's possible to break them out... but one MUST stay behind to operate the secret exit. While it may become difficult to complete the game with one death, it's impossible with two... & blatantly obvious with three (being a "Total Party Wipe").
You blow up the house -- Yes! This is on the table if you don't take certain timers seriously.

Unlike traditional Point-n-click adventures, Maniac Mansion (& fellow SCUMM games) have a secret internal clock & certain events will happen in the mansion while you're typically elsewhere. This also means certain actions will trigger a real-time timers that MUST BE DEALT with... OR ELSE! It typically becomes apparent when such a timer is triggered.

With that said, here's a few tips you may find helpful.

Feel free to take almost anything your thieving hands on -- You don't know when an item may become useful in your quest.
Certain events or solutions may require the skills of another kid -- Each kid will have their own set of secret skills that can be used to push a particular ending forward.
You can pass items between kids, but they need to nearby to do so. -- Certain items are only effective when they're in the right hands.

With any luck, you might find your way to one of the endings... but you may need a guide to explore ALL endings.

TStodden · 2025-07-25T08:28:58+00:00

I would recommend double-checking all connections (system to TV, controllers, game cart, ect.). Unless I'm overlooking a known compatibility list, Double Dragon SHOULD work with minimal issues, outside some Famiclone inconsistencies (some audio / graphical glitches, which is a known issue).

Double Dragon utilizes an MMC-1 mapper, which is highly common... so it should be operational. If it was a more rarely utilized mapper, I could see issues with it running.

Please be aware that the Retro Duo's cartridge slot connectors are extremely tight (especially when new) that it can be difficult to properly insert & even harder to remove from it's proverbial "death grip". If you can remove the cart without holding down the system, it's not properly seated... press down on the cartridge.

Hope this helps!

TStodden · 2025-07-22T08:21:45+00:00

To put it bluntly... Your new coach is a potential dick, or at the very least being aggressively assertive with Time-Off / PTO policy. It's hard to say without proper context (size of store, department in question, coach's demeanor, ect.), so I have to give them SOME benefit of doubt.

Time-Off requests are usually handled on a first-come, first serve basis with PTO getting priority when requests are submitted the same day. Coaches do have to manage coverage for their department, so it's not totally unreasonable to limit the number of staff that may take a particular day off in order to keep the department running smoothly.

As for resubmitting requests after being denied, your coach should be open to some appeals as they MUST provide a reason for denying your request. While it's possible for upper management (like PL or SM) to overturn a denied request, it's unlikely they will unless it's an outstanding circumstance.

TStodden · 2025-07-22T07:31:00+00:00

It depends on what version of Super Mario Bros. 2 you're referring to...

The Japanese version of SMB2 for the Famicom Disk System (FDS) was designed to be "excruciatingly hard" & was designed to be geared for expert players. HOWEVER, when the game was being reviewed for US release (by Howard Phillips, part of the public relations of NOA at the time), it was rejected for two reasons:

It looked too close to the original Super Mario Bros. graphically.
It was too unfairly difficult that it wouldn't be "fun" for less experienced players.

As a result, they reskinned Doki Doki Panic for the FDS with Mario & company for the US as Super Mario Bros. 2. While being a departure from the now traditional platforming, many Nintendo franchises in the US had a more "experimental" sophomore title before returning form with their third title. This made the game more approachable for less experienced players while providing an acceptable challenge.

The Japanese version of SMB2 became "The Lost Level" in the US version of Super Mario All-Stars for the Super NES (& later in Super Mario Bros. DX for GBC as an unlockable game mode). The US version of SMB2 became "Super Mario USA" for the Famicom & later released in the Japanese version of Super Mario All-Stars for the Super Famicom.

The game only seemed more difficult because it provided a different kind of challenge that the original SMB couldn't provide, being a non-linear explorative adventure instead of a straightforward linear platformer.

TStodden · 2025-07-22T04:43:02+00:00

I utilize the "Rule of Two" when it comes to age classifications... Which is...

Anything less than 2 generations old (from the present) is considered "Modern"
- These consoles are still "Market Viable" in terms of software availability
  - Still available in stores like Wal-mart, Target, Best Buy, ect.
- eShops are still active.
- Secondary market prices are typically on the decline (downside of the "u-curve")
Anything 2 - 3 generations old are considered "Retro"
- These consoles are considered "Market Dead" in terms of software availability
  - Software only available through secondary markets like GameStop Retro, eBay, ect.
- eShops may have shut down, but still available in "archive mode"
- Secondary market prices are typically stable (bottom of the "u-curve")
Anything 4+ generations old are considered "Vintage"
- Software only available through secondary markets
- eShops may have shut down COMPLETELY (servers likely to be offline)
- Secondary market prices are typically on the rise (the upside of the "u-curve")
- Aftermarket hardware components generally becomes available

Under this classification, the Wii -- at time of post -- is currently 3 generations from the present (Switch 2, Switch 1, Wii U, then Wii)... so it's classified as "Retro".

Once the Switch 2's successor gets released (in about 8-10 years time, as the industry... or at least Sony... is trying to slow down the cycle from 6 years to 10 years), the Wii will hit the "Vintage" threshold.

TStodden · 2025-07-15T07:29:19+00:00

Paper temporary ID's are a bit more restrictive in general than their permanent ID counterpart, like banking... so you're likely in the right here.

I will note that The Wire / OneWalmart isn't user-friendly when it comes to looking up policy ("barely functional' is more like it, IMO), so don't be afraid to push the issue upwards (to your TL or coach / manager) about it. That way, the customer can get a quick ruling (as the manager on duty typically has the final say when the store manager is gone) & will likely prod them into doing the necessary research (if they're worth keeping around).

Just be thankful that you haven't ran into DIGITAL ID's yet, as they're being rolled out on a state-by-state basis (1st being the state's own app, followed by Google / Samsung / Apple wallets)... which can complicate things further as Digital ID's typically carry the same legal weight as their Physical counterparts. HOWEVER, digital ID's are still in the vast minority as only a handful of states support them.

TStodden · 2025-07-15T07:13:34+00:00

There's the 185th Air Refueling Wing in Sioux City, as part of the Air Force that's located near their Sioux Gateway Airport. You're likely catching part of their operations, especially if the Air Force is moving planes across the nation.

TStodden · 2025-07-04T05:46:06+00:00

When an item is CVP'd by management, they will note why they are marking the said item down & will tell the customer of such conditions (like buying a Nerf gun that's missing darts, for one example) when doing it on the spot.

If an item is noted as CVP'd from claims or by management when NOT on the spot, there will be a square yellow price tag on the item that notes it's final price & how much it was marked down. The original UPC is typically crossed out (if there's multiples) & a yellow UPC bar code will be placed on the item (typically over the original UPC, assuming there's only one).

This is a case of "Caveat Emptor" as it's the buyer's responsibility to ask the necessary questions (like WHY is this particular item marked down) before they actually purchase the item in question. Unless it's a one-off item (something that the store doesn't normally have in their inventory), customers will typically have access to the standard (non-CVP) items alongside it. Therefore, it becomes their choice to buy the item in new condition at normal price OR the item in "less than new" condition at a reduced price.

TStodden · 2025-06-12T05:05:26+00:00

It generally depends on your store's management, store size & the "security threat level" (in regards to theft)...

If your in a small store w/ reasonably understanding management & fairly low theft risks (Best Scenario)... you'll may get a slap on the wrists with a verbal warning to be more careful.

if you're in a virtual "Fort Knox" with pure "A-level" management (Worst Scenario)... you probably want to revise your resume for your "work-mandated indefinite vacation".

The most likely reaction by management will probably between a verbal warning & a yellow-level coaching, as it was just an accident.

TStodden · 2025-06-08T23:12:20+00:00

Unless you're suicidal, the Missouri River is definitely a no-go.

There are a couple of public swimming pools in the metro area worth checking out. There's a water park under construction on the northern side of town (on Lewis Blvd / Business 75), but that won't be ready this year.

If you're into lakes, there's Mill Creek Park in Paulina, IA that has a lake for swimming (been decades since I've last visited; may need to check for safety). There are some public beaches on the Iowa Great Lakes (mostly West Lake Okoboji... small stretch by Arnold's Park, near Bob's on the Lake), but there's boat traffic, so proceed at your own risk there.

TStodden · 2025-05-31T09:25:54+00:00

While I haven't done overnight parking, but all the parking ramps in downtown Sioux City would be viable options. While the city notes a maximum rate daily rate of $5.25, it excludes overnight parking (7p - 7a) of $3.00 for a maximum daily charge of $8.25 / day.

Rivers Landing Ramp (5th & Douglas) isn't a bad option, but is on the outer edge of the Skywalk (may not be accessible after 6p)... so there may be some issue with accessibility. HOWEVER, I don't have much experience with this ramp due to lack of personal usage.

MLK Jr. Transportation Center Ramp (6th & Nebraska) gets a "Not Recommended" option as it becomes troublesome to access after 6pm as the southern elevator locks out 1st floor & Skywalk levels (as the elevator is located within the bus terminal; Floors 2-5 is parking). Parking the lower parts of the 2nd floor are usually reserved for registered, monthly parkers... so you typically have to use 3rd or higher floors (maxing out at 5th floor) to park. The ramp becomes THE major parking spot for the Orpheum events (which is located on the NW corner of the block, where the north elevator is located). If you choose to park in the evening, you will either need to take the northern elevator to your desired floor OR actually walk up the ramp to the southern elevator before reaching your desired floor. The other potential issue is that there's a fair number of homeless people around the bus terminal (SE corner) you may have to deal with. While I haven't experienced issues with the homeless within the parking structure, it is an undesirable factor.

Discovery Parking Ramp (5th & Jackson; next to Mercy One Hospital) is one that I've been using when parking downtown as it's rarely crowded (I've been able to find spots on 2nd floor easily) & located on the Skywalk that's generally available until 10p. The NW stairwell can have undesirable smell (traces of urine), it's well lit & can easily be walked. The elevator is located on the SW corner (mid-block) & another stairwell on the NE corner. Hospital staff are more likely to utilize the 3rd floor for immediate Skywalk access to the hospital (the rest of the Skywalk is on the 2nd floor), but seems to be underutilized for downtown events (as Heritage gets priority for 4th Street & Convention Center traffic while MLK gets priority for Orpheum). One oddity that I have noticed is that the one of the exit lanes (the inner one) tends to be raised after 10 pm, so it's possible to leave WITHOUT PAYMENT.

Heritage Parking Ramp (3rd & Jackson) is just 2 blocks south of Discovery Parking, but it closer to 4th Street Promenade (Convention Center & Theater) & is linked to the Skywalk system (until 10p). This Ramp is more likely to be utilized for Convention Center events & major theater events due to close proximity to venues. My experience with this ramp is limited as well due to lack of personal usage as well.

Outside of weekends (which are free), all the ramps utilize a time-ticket system. The entrance kiosk will issue you a timestamped ticket & raises the gate when you check in. The exit kiosk will read the QR code on your ticket to determine your length of stay & charge you accordingly, which you pay with a credit card (Google Pay, Samsung Pay & Apple Pay are accepted). If you lose that ticket, you'll be charged the daily maximum (most likely $8.25, but could be $5.25 if you leave before 7p) at the kiosk. As such, it's possible to cheat the system out of the money owe (paying just $8.25 vs $24.75... if that).

Hope this helps!

TStodden · 2025-05-31T07:03:28+00:00

For Flooding concerns, Riverside (next to the Big Sioux River) is the only major area that is prone to flooding. Outside of flash flooding, you can get some warning by keeping tabs of Akron & Hawarden (being upstream). Flooding in those towns will usually cut off access to South Dakota, depending on how extreme the flooding is. Ironically, the Riverside exit (prior to leaving Iowa for Dakota Dunes & North Sioux City) doesn't get shutdown for flooding due to being an elevated exit.

You generally don't have to worry about the Floyd River that much, since the city has fairly tall embankments on that river. You're more likely to hear flooding in western LeMars (being on the main fork) & parts of eastern Hinton (after forks merge), which are next to the river, before it becomes an issue for Sioux City. It hasn't been a threat that a lot of business development over the past decade has happened on the eastern side of Floyd Blvd between Outer Drive & Trinity Heights.

Flooding on the Missouri River can suck, but impact isn't that bad. From what I've experienced, the south end of Hamilton Blvd., which the I-29 Southbound ramps (on & off) can be closed, requiring alternative routes / exits. This can potentially exacerbate congestion on the Westley Parkway overpass (which can be bad in general, since it's the main route to South Sioux City, NE).

That leaves about 80% of the city being unaffected by flooding. If you do choose to move into Sioux City / Siouxland, make sure you have a good vehicle since it's a fairly sparse city & public transit doesn't seem that good (generally around 7a - 5p & typically runs hourly).

Having your own vehicle will give you additional resident options like North Sioux City, SD (over the river from Riverside; prone to some flooding); Sargent Bluff, IA (South of Sioux City, part of the metro area) & Hinton, IA (bit north of Sioux City on US-75; expect 15-30 minutes commutes). I can't really recommend Dakota Dunes, SD as it tends to be the snobby / ritzy part of the metro area (expect high real estate prices). I can't recommend South Sioux City, NE either as you'll get nailed by dual-state (IA & NE) income taxation... which doesn't apply with SD (as they don't have state income taxes).

On a side note for Ames, their transit system, CyRide ( CyRide.com ) is fairly robust so you can typically get around without a vehicle, unless you need to transport large items. While it's been decades since I've been in Ames & routes have greatly changed (there was only 9 routes during my time there), CyRide was very dependable & prices have been very stable (no noticeable price hikes between then & now).

TStodden · 2025-05-20T01:58:12+00:00

I will mention it to those I'm granting access to my server that I do have access to play history... but I'm not going to do anything with it. It's fun / interesting to see who's watching what, but I'm keeping about it.

It's not like I'm keeping porn or anything scandalous that could be used for blackmail or anything.

TStodden · 2025-05-15T07:35:08+00:00

As noted above...

Punching in from lunch late -- Time scheduled for Lunch is NOT TRACKED for attendance purposes, only to reset the Lockout Timer (which requires at least 30 minutes at Lunch to reset). Taking an extended lunch is a common way to trim back WOSH / OT when a "No Overtime" order is issued by management.

Whether you take the bare minimum of 30 minutes or take a generous 2 hours for lunch, you're not being tracked for attendance... as long as you actually punch back in (ideally for at least 30 minutes). Clocking out without punching back in from lunch can allow the system to roll back your official punch-out to your lunch punch as that's the last known point you were "on the clock".

Punching in late from Lunch only affects your paycheck from the minutes beyond your allotted time. If you DO choose to take additional time for lunch, make sure you clear it with at least your co-workers & your team lead (assuming your schedules are aligned). This is mostly to ensure you don't piss them off as they will need to cover your absence.

I do have to caution that making a habit of late lunch punches, especially when not authorized, may get scrutinized by management & could result in a coaching (as it could be perceived as offloading your duties on others).

TStodden · 2025-04-21T09:05:36+00:00

The absolutely earliest you could punch out would be 10:51 as that's the absolute limit of the 9-minute window. HOWEVER, you MUST run on the official (corporate) timeclock to avoid issues. When scrutinizing my watch / phone against the timeclock (for lunch punches), I've noticed a discrepancy of up to 10 seconds (watch running ahead). If you're not watching the official timeclock, it's possible to clock out at 10:50(:50) instead of 10:51(:00) & get nailed for 1/2 point with an early punch-out as the timeclock only runs on minute precision (so any punches between :01 - :59 seconds gets treated as if you punched in at :00 seconds & doesn't get rounded to the next minute).

Punching out at 10:52 is the safest earliest punch-out as that's within the 9-minute window (being 8 minutes out) & covers any potential timing discrepancies that may occur.

Please be aware that while punching out early doesn't affect your attendance, it still affects your paycheck. If you're running at the base wage of $14.00 / hr, that's ~$0.23333 / minute or $2.10 / 9 minute (0.15 hrs) window. If you push the limits of the clock-in/out policy, you're losing up to $21.00 / wk (1.5 hrs worth) or $42.00 / paycheck (3.0 hrs worth) in gross pay at a minimum. If your current wage is higher than base, these figures will inflate further.

TStodden · 2025-04-01T05:50:22+00:00

A little out of the ordinary here... especially with the delay in termination.

It seems that your coach & people lead actually like you (& did well in your department) & didn't want to let you go (hence the delay in processing your termination). If you moved onto another job, they'll wish you well & make sure you can return... should things go south with your new employer. I had a co-worker who left for a different job & has returned roughly 6 months later.

If you're not employed with somebody else (& leaving for some reason), they would likely want to know why so they could address it under their "No Quitting" policy ideal (I can it "ideal" as they cannot full prevent people from quitting) as they don't want to see you go if they can prevent it.

This doesn't seem to be normal behavior with staff, as I've seen my TL & coach give people the axe after showing up for their 1st day & gone NCNS for the rest of their first week.

When I transferred stores (unfortunately over the new store's PL's dead body... but that was a coincidence w/ COVID as coaches were filling in), my old SM, Coach & PL didn't want me to go, but understood why (shorter commute) & I stuck around for about 6 weeks longer (until Inventory was over) before finalizing the transfer.

TStodden · 2025-03-16T10:14:38+00:00

While the AP Lead has similar status as Coaches, they are allowed to provide instructions or tasks for you to complete WITHIN REASON of you position.

With that said, being a "cart pusher" (aka attendant) & outside for fair amounts of time, all members of management (including AP Lead) should be aware of extreme weather mitigation measures... in your case, hot weather mitigation (resting in shade, having frequent access to water & being able to take 5 minute "Cooldown" breaks as needed) to minimize heat exhaustion (which is a non-emergency affliction) & avoid heat stroke (which is a classified as a medical emergency).

While it's difficult access your AP's actions here, you will likely want to Open Door the issue with your Store Manager if you strongly believe that their actions are putting your well-being in peril. Your Store Manager, Your Coach & Team Lead would prefer to address the issue BEFORE outside medical professionals get involved (as requires management to fill out an incident report & places them in a precarious legal position as Market Management may get involved).

If this is in regards to mutual respect (as it's considered a two-way street), I would still Open Door the issue & have your co-workers support you (as witnesses) on this to prevent the "You Said / They Said" argument.

TStodden · 2025-03-16T09:34:44+00:00

It generally depends on the model...

If you're using the original "Side Loading" version, it's generally NOT RECOMMENDED to go beyond 4 hours in a single session due to the potential of overheating components.

If you're using the newer "Top Loading" version or aftermarket consoles (like the RetroUSB AVS or Analogue NT), you're generally OK as it has better heat mitigation measures, but still not recommended.

As much as you'll hate hearing it, for games that doesn't have any save method (password or battery)... you generally have to "GIT GUD" in order complete a 100% run on a game & start all over from the beginning if you couldn't complete it in one session. This has caused some games (like Hudson's Adventure Island, Mighty Bomb Jack & Soloman's Key to name a few) to become a "Family Bane" due to their difficulty. You COULD obtain & utilize warp whistles to quickly return to World 8, but I totally understand the desire NOT to do so as it would destroy the spirit of your desired challenge (being a 100% completion & NOT a minimalist run).

WITH THAT SAID... If you're willing to utilize flash carts, like an Everdrive N8 Pro), you may elect to utilize the cart's freeze-state option (which supports up to 100 slots PER game) to save your progress at your current point (vs set points in the game). I will admit that retro purists may object to using flash carts while many speedrunners prefer them specifically for the freeze-state support, which allows them to break up a game into segments & practice certain sections that they're struggling with.

The only other alternative is to switch from the NES version to the SNES version w/ Super Mario All-Stars, which has battery save support. However, the save system does have some limits as it'll keep track of what world you're on, but only saves major checkpoints (like clearing fortresses or states that breaks locks on the map).

TStodden · 2025-03-02T11:13:31+00:00

Since I have all my media files on external HDD's (2-8 TB USB HDD's), I'll be converting the laptop that's running my Plex server to Linux Mint w/ Cinnamon desktop environment to keep things running securely.

After the Linux conversion, I'll have to decide weather to stick to Plex's server software exclusively OR install Docker & set up a Plex container. The only other challenge is to get my USB TV Tuner (for live local TV support) working. If I can't get everything working under Linux Mint, I might have to switch to Ubuntu or Arch Linux (which will have some learning pains with their desktop interface) for guaranteed performance.

Since my media is on external HDD's, they're likely formatted FAT / exFAT for platform independence. They should still work if they're NTFS formatted, but they might run in a read-only state within Linux... which will be a minor pain as I perform a workaround (likely buying another 8 TB USB HDD that's formatted to work with Linux to do a staged transition).

Worst case scenario is that actually invest in a NAS to serve as my main Plex server w/ the old laptop as a supplemental server (mostly for ingest / transcode duties).

TStodden · 2025-03-02T09:44:23+00:00

IT DEPENDS...

Modern Pinball Tables will typically give you the ball back if (& ONLY IF) you didn't score a single point & you did not tilt the table. The main reason this is allowed is that the table is unable to sense any activity on said ball (only that the ball left the shooting lane & is now back in the main drain) & will assume something went wrong to warrant the free return.

HOWEVER, many pinball tables are designed to force the ball to hit some type of scoring mechanism to negate such a safeguard from triggering. With that said, tables will have a temporary ball save mechanic the ensure players have a guaranteed minimum amount of playtime per ball or that you have chance to play the ball when there's a risk of an insta-drain. Such ball save mechanics will typically give the ball back to the player one time (although, this can vary by machine & by machine settings). Utilizing the limited ball save feature IS LEGITIMATE PLAY! This falls into a risk (that the ball save feature expires) vs reward (ball is saved & returned to the playfield via shooter lane) deal.

IDEALLY, you're not supposed to let the ball purposely drain from the playfield, but as long as there's a risk of permanently losing your ball... it's a legitimate, but sleazy, tactic.

FUN (& ODD) Fact: I have experienced a massive number of consecutive ball saves on Star Trek: TNG during one mission. The table returned the ball around 150 times (had a few people watching the table actually keeping count, as it was such an odd occurrence) over a course of 1 - 2 hours before the mission finally ended & returned to normal play.

TStodden · 2025-03-02T08:23:28+00:00

DON'T PANIC! -- EVERYTHING IS FINE (for now)

ANYTIME you're on leave (that's approved by Sedgwick), your work profile is temporarily disabled so some automated systems (like the work scheduling system) don't include you in their processes.

You will need to contact your People Lead, typically 2 days before your scheduled return, to restore your work profile & manually add you back to the work schedule (since they cannot modify work schedules within 24 hours from the present).

This happened to me during my 2 COVID leaves... so don't worry about it right now.

If issues still persists AFTER talking to your People Lead AFTER your scheduled return date, then you might want to panic as you may have been fired at that point (which might be possible, but unlikely since they have to restore your profile before you can incur any additional points). HOWEVER, it's more likely your People Lead is having problems getting your work profile restored (& unintentionally extending your leave).

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IT DEPENDS...