Buffalo Pinball — gameplay & strategy
A useful physical-machine session that demonstrates the rules, Multiball progression,
Park Tycoon, and how the scoring actually develops over a full game.
Stern•
2002•
Whitestar•
4 players
RollerCoaster Tycoon
Build and open rides, attract guests, lock balls, collect coaster jackpots, and eventually cash your entire park through Park Tycoon. Pat Lawlor's amusement-park game is packed with ramps, wireforms, a moving dunk-tank dummy, and one of the most literal “build the park” progressions in early-2000s Stern pinball.
Amusement Park
Roller Coasters
Multiball
FUN Modes
Park Tycoon
The game at a glance
Build the rides. Fill the park. Become the Tycoon.
RollerCoaster Tycoon revolves around four coaster rides: Chicago Loop, Flying Ghost, Flying Turns, and The Rocket. Build and open enough rides to qualify locks and Multiball, complete FUN modes to fill your park, then convert your accumulated guest count into high-value Park Tycoon jackpots.
Why it works
The rules are much easier to follow once you think of the game as park management: open rides, attract guests, use Multiball to cash rides, and use the six FUN modes to work toward closing out the park.
Signature personality
Three large wireform coasters dominate the playfield, while Scrambled Eggs spins on the left, the mini-DMD information kiosk reports park status, and the infamous Dunk the Dummy character heckles you from his tank.
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Main objective
Open rides and collect guests, play Multiball for ride jackpots, complete all six FUN modes,
then use Park Tycoon to convert a well-built park into the game's biggest scoring opportunity.
New player guide
How to play in five steps
Build and open coaster rides.
Shoot the ride ramps to advance them from construction toward open. The four main rides are Chicago Loop, Flying Ghost, Flying Turns, and The Rocket. The ADD RIDE drop targets can also bring additional rides under construction.
Shoot the ride ramps to advance them from construction toward open. The four main rides are Chicago Loop, Flying Ghost, Flying Turns, and The Rocket. The ADD RIDE drop targets can also bring additional rides under construction.
Get enough rides open for Multiball.
The first main Multiball requires two open coasters. Later Multiballs require more open rides, eventually all four. Locks are collected through Chicago Loop or The Rocket once the proper rides are open.
The first main Multiball requires two open coasters. Later Multiballs require more open rides, eventually all four. Locks are collected through Chicago Loop or The Rocket once the proper rides are open.
Lock two balls, then start Multiball.
After two balls are locked, shoot the lit start shot — typically Flying Turns / the appropriate lit ride — to launch the main 3-ball Multiball.
After two balls are locked, shoot the lit start shot — typically Flying Turns / the appropriate lit ride — to launch the main 3-ball Multiball.
Collect every lit ride Jackpot.
During Multiball, shoot each lit ride for a Jackpot. After all required ride Jackpots are collected, The Rocket lights for the Super Jackpot.
During Multiball, shoot each lit ride for a Jackpot. After all required ride Jackpots are collected, The Rocket lights for the Super Jackpot.
Complete FUN modes and build guest count.
Start FUN modes through the Handyman / FUN loop area. Finish all six modes to qualify Park Tycoon. More guests in the park mean larger Park Tycoon Jackpot values.
Start FUN modes through the Handyman / FUN loop area. Finish all six modes to qualify Park Tycoon. More guests in the park mean larger Park Tycoon Jackpot values.
Rules & scoring
What actually matters
Rides & Multiball
- Four coasters: Chicago Loop, Flying Ghost, Flying Turns, and The Rocket.
- Open rides: repeated ride shots advance each coaster toward open status.
- Locks: once enough rides are open, lock balls through Chicago Loop or The Rocket.
- Main Multiball: after two locks, start the 3-ball mode and shoot the lit rides for Jackpots.
- Super Jackpot: after collecting the required ride Jackpots, The Rocket lights for a 1M Super Jackpot.
- Quick Multiball: an unusual 2-ball Multiball can occur if a second ball reaches the lock/diverter unexpectedly before the first locked ball is released.
FUN modes & Park Tycoon
- Six FUN modes: Dunk the Dummy, Super Dunk, Power Ride, Toss Your Cookies, Dancing Digits, and Spin & Bump.
- Power Ride: a 2-ball Multiball FUN mode built around repeated coaster shots and guest collection.
- Guests: many modes and ride shots increase the number of visitors in your park.
- Park Tycoon: becomes available after all six FUN modes are completed.
- Tycoon Jackpots: open and ride Scrambled Eggs, Chicago Loop, Flying Ghost, and Flying Turns to collect their Park Tycoon Jackpots.
- Tycoon Super Jackpot: The Rocket collects the Super Jackpot; collecting more ride Jackpots first increases its multiplier.
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Do not rush Park Tycoon
You can reach Park Tycoon by simply surviving or timing out FUN modes, but the Park Tycoon Jackpot values
are tied to how many guests you built before closing the park. A healthy park is worth much more than an empty one.
Competitive play
Tournament tips
Multiball is your stable scoring route
- Open the required rides first. Do not waste dangerous lock attempts before the machine is ready to qualify them.
- Get the two locks efficiently. Chicago Loop and Rocket progress are central to repeatable Multiball play.
- Collect all lit Jackpots before Rocket. The Super Jackpot is the payoff for completing the ride sequence.
- Finish Multiball before becoming Park Tycoon if you are already close. Completing the park resets that park's Multiball progression.
FUN modes are about guests, not just points
- Power Ride is especially useful. Its two-ball protection and repeatable coaster shots can add points and guests together.
- Do not intentionally time out everything. Park Tycoon with a weak guest count has a much lower ceiling.
- Know your machine's difficulty settings. Harder setups require more deliberate ride and FUN qualification.
- Be cautious around Scrambled Eggs and awkward feeds. This game has several setup-dependent returns that can punish loose shooting.
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Simple tournament plan
Open two rides, lock two balls, play Multiball for the ride Jackpots and Rocket Super Jackpot,
then use your safest FUN modes — especially Power Ride — to build guests while progressing toward Park Tycoon.
Locally hosted media
Photo gallery
These paths are local on purpose — no third-party image hotlinking.
RollerCoaster Tycoon — full machine
Machine
RollerCoaster Tycoon — cabinet angle
Machine
Full playfield
Playfield
Coaster ramps
Playfield
Dunk the Dummy
Playfield
Backglass artwork
Artwork
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Watch & learn
Video tutorials & gameplay
Quick RollerCoaster Tycoon how-to
A concise visual rules guide that is useful for reviewing the game's major shots and objectives.
Resources & community