Ballys, the slot machine maker, has won approval for a new slot machine. It is the same popcorn brained video slot as all of the others. But when you hit the bonus round, things change.

On the bonus round, you have to clear the cobwebs out of your brain and earn your money. It turns into the classic Atari Pong game. You have to use hand/eye coordination to win. You get 45 seconds to beat the machine with skill. The amount of your winnings is obviously based on how well you play.

The game should be out in Detroit casinos within a month or so and be in Las Vegas within a year.

oh nooooooooooo!

Something that might actually get my husband to sit down at a slot machine!

Can you say "let's get the baby boomers!"

It sounds like addictive fun. I can just see telling yourself well, that bonus round I got in some practice - I'll keep playing, cause i will do MUCH better in the next bonus round!

It's a lot of "slot mentality" for 45 seconds of Pong. And what a contrast from simplistic repetitive button pushing to hand eye coordination in control of the winnings.

If it's a step into getting David out here, that's a plus.

Does it use a track-ball or right/left buttons?

I believe I saw a rotary dial.