Internet Pinball Machine Database: Stern 'Ripley's Believe It or Not!Ž'

The Internet Pinball Database Presents
Ripley's Believe It or Not!Ž

[ Quick Search ] [ Advanced Search ] [ Game Lists ] [ Archives ] [ Pinball Glossary ] [ Playing Skills ] [ FAQ ] [ Settings ]

Ripley's Believe It or Not!Ž / IPD No. 4917 / March 18, 2004 / 4 Players

[ Submit Changes ]

Average Fun Rating:

8.0/10 (133 ratings/90 comments) [ Add Your Rating! ]

Manufacturer:

Stern Pinball, Incorporated, of Chicago, Illinois,
USA (1999-now) [Trade Name: Stern]

Project Date:

February, 2003

Date Of Manufacture:

March 18, 2004

Model Number:

I-0081

Common Abbreviations:

RBION

MPU:

Stern Whitestar (modified)

Type:

Solid State Electronic (SS)

Serial Number Database:

View at The Internet Pinball Serial Number Database (IPSND.net) (External site)

Theme:

Licensed Theme

Notable Features:

Flippers (3), Pop bumpers (6), Slingshots (2), Standup targets (6), Spinning targets (2), Magnets (2), Ramp diverters (2), Vari-target (1), Up-post (1). 2-, 3-, and 4-ball multiball. Cabinet advertised as 55 inches long, 27 inches wide, and 75 1/2 inches high; 260 lbs.

'Believe it or Not.'Ž feature: This multi-level rule enables the beginning player to achieve some of the game's goals early on, while it allows the more advanced player to extend their opportunities through better play.

The magnet under the shrunken head catches the ball, holds it for a second, then shoots it to the rear. In another mode, the magnet stops the ball and immediately gives it back to the lower playfield. The other magnet is in the Idol feature.

Actual measured weight: 258 lbs (includes legs).

Toys:

A shrunken head is installed over the playfield.

Concept by:

Pat Lawlor

Design by:

Pat Lawlor, Louis Koziarz

Art by:

John Youssi

Dots/Animation by:

Mechanics by:

Music by:

Sound by:

Software by:

Louis Koziarz, Greg Dunlap

Notes:

In the flyer, Stern refers to their Vari-target as a "variable push target".

The up-post on this game is located in the upper right corner of the playfield.

Games exported to the UK had three "skill posts" factory-installed on the playfield to confirm this machine as a game of skill, not a game of chance, for favorable interpretation by UK import tax laws. Each outlane has a mini-post, similar to that found on Williams' 1972 'Super Star', and between the bottom flippers is a large up-post. An extra button is located below each flipper button to temporarily raise these posts. Pressing the left button raises the left outlane post, pressing the right button raises the right outlane post, or pressing both buttons simultaneously raises the center up-post. Reportedly, most operators disabled this Post Save Feature for location play after getting the game through customs, otherwise it would increase playing time.

We are seeking high-resolution images of the three UK playfield posts as well as the sides of the cabinet showing the extra player buttons.

Marketing Slogans:

"Join Robert Ripley's quest across 7 continents for the strange, the bizarre, the unusual!"

Photos in:

The Pinball Compendium 1982 to Present External Link

, page 277

Easter Eggs:

Available at Cows and Easter Eggs (External site)

ROMs:

4 MB

ZIP

English ROMs (release 3.20)

[Stern Pinball, Inc.]

4 MB

ZIP

PinMAME Romset (3.02)

3 MB

ZIP

PinMAME Romset (3.02) France

3 MB

ZIP

PinMAME Romset (3.02) German

3 MB

ZIP

PinMAME Romset (3.02) Italy

3 MB

ZIP

PinMAME Romset (3.02) Spain

70 KB

ZIP

PinMAME Romset (3.10 cpu update)

71 KB

ZIP

PinMAME Romset (3.20 cpu update)

Documentation:

17 MB

PDF

English Manual

[Stern Pinball, Inc.]

521 KB

PDF

Instruction Cards (Multi Language)

[Stern Pinball, Inc.]

485 KB

PDF

Selected Manual Pages 4-7 (switch matrix, lamp matrix, coil chart, lamp chart)

[Stern Pinball, Inc.]

Service Bulletins:

1 MB

PDF

Service Bulletin No. 149 (Potential Ball Trap by the Upper Left Pop Bumper)

[Stern Pinball, Inc.]

923 KB

PDF

Service Bulletin No. 153 - Pinball Software Update (December 15, 2004)

[Stern Pinball, Inc.]

Files:

281 KB

PDF

Stern Website Announcement

[Stern Pinball, Inc.]

Images:
(click to zoom)

Backglass 633x465 [Stern Pinball, Inc.]	Flyer, Front 1024x1308 [Stern Pinball, Inc.]	Flyer, Back 1024x1308 [Stern Pinball, Inc.]	Machine 1024x1792 [Gregor Zimmerer]	Playfield 1024x1249 [Gregor Zimmerer]
Upper Playfield 1024x1041 [Gregor Zimmerer]	Lower Playfield 1024x883 [Gregor Zimmerer]	Playfield 1024x1159	Backbox 1024x768 [Philippe Thibault]	Full View 480x640 [John Gray]
Inside Backbox 480x640 [John Gray]	Backglass - Reverse 640x480 [John Gray]	Under Upper Playfield 480x640 [John Gray]	Inside Cabinet 480x640 [John Gray]	Instruction Card 640x480 [John Gray]
Playfield Detail 480x640 [John Gray]	Playfield Detail 640x480 [John Gray]	Playfield Detail 480x640 [John Gray]	Under Lower Playfield 480x640 [John Gray]	Cabinet - Right 640x480 [John Gray]
Backbox - Right 388x640 [John Gray]	Front 480x640 [John Gray]	Cabinet - Left 640x480 [John Gray]	Backbox - Left 421x639 [John Gray]	Post Up 979x1306 [Miklos Szebenyi]
Post Down 979x1306 [Miklos Szebenyi]	Ramp Diverter Cover Removed 1200x900 [Miklos Szebenyi]	Idol Magnet Opto 1200x900 [Miklos Szebenyi]	Idol Magnet Opto - On 979x1306 [Miklos Szebenyi]	Idol Magnet Opto - Off 979x1306 [Miklos Szebenyi]
Shrunken Head 1200x1223 [Miklos Szebenyi]	Backglass 1200x885 [Jean-Pierre Renault]	Illuminated Full View 671x1178 [Francois Corthesy]

[ Support the IPDB ]
[ Contact Us ]
[ About Us ]

All copyrighted and trademarked Gottlieb® material licensed from Gottlieb Development LLC.
Copyrighted and trademarked material from Planetary Pinball Supply, Inc® used with permission.
All photographs licensed from original photographers, who retain their copyright. Do not use without permission!
Site design, phrasing, and other local content copyright 2004-2024 by The Internet Pinball Database™.
Where appropriate, other trademarks & copyrights remain property of their owners.

[ Database Change Log ]

ipdb.org hosted at pair.com

blank line