Rules & Strategies
NOTE: --Page under construction-- The following is based on my particular game set to replay mode with factory recommended adjustments for a 5 ball game. Results may vary.
Skillshot: There are two features at the top of the playfield that can be made with a good skillshot. First, at the top of the arch is a spread of four small rollover buttons, each with an associated light insert. Each of the four rollovers buttons corresponds to each of the four drop targets. One button will be blinking. Hitting any button scores 1,000 points. Hitting the blinking button scores 500 additional points and knocks down the corresponding drop target. Below the rollover buttons is the top kickout saucer. Rebound rubbers funnel the ball toward the saucer, so with some good nudging, the saucer is not difficult to make. A perfect skillshot will hit the blinking rollover button and find its way to the kickout saucer. The rebound switches score 30 points and toggle other playfield features.
Top Kickout Saucer and Multiball: Xenon is the first Bally solid state game with multiball (2-ball). The top kickout saucer is located near the top center of the playfield. The saucer is accessible via the shooter lane, the thumper bumpers and the left spinner orbit. The left orbit is the best way to get to the saucer during gameplay. Each time the ball lands in the saucer, 10,000 points are scored, the Xenon bonus is advanced, and an X symbol is awarded. The Xenon bonus is displayed between the flippers. The X symbols are displayed below the middle thumper bumper. Collecting three X symbols lites the tube shot to lock a ball. The X symbols reset at the beginning of each ball. Thus, three X symbols must be collected with the same ball. However, once the lock is lit, it remains lit until a ball is locked. Shooting the tube locks the ball in the left kickout saucer and serves the second ball. Three more X symbols are required to start 2-ball multiball. Again, the X symbols must be collected with the same ball. Note, however, that the second two X symbols can be collected before locking the first ball. That is, five X symbols could be collected before locking the first ball. In that case, only one more X symbol is needed to commence multiball. But if the second ball is lost without collecting the last X symbol, the X symbols reset and all three would need to be re-collected to start multiball.
If three X symbols are collected during multiball, the outlanes are alternately lit for special. A special is awarded each additional time three X symbols are collected during multiball. The spinner is also lit for 1,000 points during multiball and remains lit until both balls are lost. Any X symbols collected during multiball can count toward reliting the lock lite (so long as both balls are not lost).
Thumper Bumpers: Xenon has a somewhat unusual arrangement of four thumper bumpers in the upper-center of the playfield. All four bumpers are always lit and always score 100 points.
Spinner: The spinner is located at the entrance to the left orbit and is worth 10 points. During multiball the spinner is lit for 1,000 points. Once lit, the spinner remains lit until both balls are lost.
Tube Shot and Exit Chamber: The elevated tube shot is the most prominent playfield feature and transports the ball from the middle-right side of the playfield to the middle-left side of the playfield. The tube directs the ball to the "Exit Chamber", which is the middle-left kickout saucer. The ball is ejected toward the right slingshot. Each time the ball passes through the Exit Chamber, the exit value is collected and advanced. The exit value is indicated in front of the Exit Chamber. Exit values range from 5,000 points to 90,000 points and the value is cumulative from ball to ball. This is a huge (if repetitive) scoring opportunity. Following the 90,000 points, the Exit Chamber is lit for the "MOTA Special". If a special is awarded, the feature resets back to 5,000 points. I have no idea toward what the word "MOTA" refers. The Exit Chamber also serves as the ball lock as noted above.
Drop Targets: A four target drop target bank is at the middle-right side of the playfield. Each drop target scores ___ points plus an additional ____ points if flashing. When a complete bank of four targets is knocked down, ____ points are scored, the inlanes alternate for 10,000 points, the lit drop target award is collected and advanced and the drop target bank resets. Drop target awards include 2X (Xenon bonus), 4X (Xenon bonus), 25,000 points, extra ball and special. The drop target awards reset at the beginning of each ball, however, the position of the four targets is retained from ball to ball. Drops targets can also be knocked down via the rollover buttons as noted above.
Stationary Targets: There are two yellow stationary targets at the middle-left side of the playfield. Each target has an associated yellow arrow. A third arrow is on the right side of the playfield by the drop targets. The lower left arrow is lit at the beginning of each ball. Hitting that target advances the Xenon bonus and lites the upper left arrow. Hitting that target advances the Xenon bons and lites the right arrow. Hitting any one drop target advances the Xenon bonus, re-lites the lower left arrow and starts the whole process over. Each target hit also scores ____ points.
Xenon Bonus: The end-of-ball bonus is called the Xenon bonus and can range from 2,000 to ,000 points.
Slingshots: The slingshots are of the usual shape and location and score 30 points per hit and toggle other game features.
Inlanes: The inlanes score 1,000 points or 10,000 points when lit (see drop target feature above).
Outlanes: The outlanes score 1,000 points and a special when lit (see multiball feature above).
Flippers: There are two flippers in the usual location.
Extra Balls: Only one extra ball may be earned per ball in play. Extra balls are earned by way of the trop target bank as described above.
Specials: Specials are awarded by way of the top kickout saucer and outlanes as described above. Specials are awarded by way of the drop target banks as described above.
Xenon Vocabulary; (M) = Male voice; (F) = Female voice:
"Enter Xenon"(M) - start of game
"Welcome to Xenon"(F) - 1st X symbol
"Xenon two"(F) - 2nd X symbol
"Try tube shot"(F) - 3rd X symbol; lock lit
"Ahh"(F) - lock
"Xenon; Exit one; Exit two"(F) - begin multiball
"Xeeeeenon"(F) - tube shot
"Ahh"(F) "Aow"(M) "Ahh"(F) "Aow"(M) - bumper action
"Xenon"(M) - Xenon bonus
"Try Xeeeeenon"(F) - attract