Pinball Picker
Pinball Picker
Name balls fall through a long course with bumpers and moving obstacles. The finish order decides the result, and the first winner is highlighted while the rest continue to finish.
Pinball guide
- Enter 1 to use the first ball to finish as the result.
- Enter the last number to watch the last-place ball.
- The course is previewed first, then the camera follows the target-rank candidate.
The course includes moving bars, rotating obstacles, and bounce pads that kick balls upward.
Starting positions
Long pinball course
Start pinball to preview the long course, then follow the target-rank ball.
Purpose
Add tension to a random order or rank decision by showing a longer game-like reveal.
How to use
- Enter names or items.
- Choose the target rank if needed.
- Shuffle starting positions if desired.
- Start the pinball course and watch the finish order.
A physics simulation with a fair outcome
The balls bouncing off obstacles are driven by a real physics engine. Starting positions and initial velocities come from unbiased randomness, and everything after that follows deterministic physics, so no colour starts from a structurally better spot.
The course is laid out with obstacles and boosters, which flips the standings repeatedly. A ball in front can miss a booster and fall back, or the reverse, which is what makes the result genuinely uncertain until the end.
Why the speed matches on desktop and mobile
Stepping a physics simulation once per drawn frame makes it run twice as fast on a 120Hz device as on a 60Hz one. It is a common reason the same tool finishes at different speeds on different devices.
This tool accumulates real elapsed time and advances the physics only in fixed increments. However often frames are drawn, the simulation moves at the same rate, so a phone and a desktop feel identical.
You can choose the speed
Slow, normal, and fast are all available. Slow suits a classroom or a stream where the process itself is the point and you want reactions along the way. Fast suits getting to the result quickly.
Changing speed does not affect fairness. Only the rate at which the simulation advances changes; the same physics is computed either way.
How many entries stay readable
Too many balls overlap and become impossible to follow. When a group is watching and cheering, around eight is where individual balls stay distinguishable.
With a larger group, use it to pick the top few rather than ranking everyone. If you need a full ordering, the order picker is far quicker.
Going full screen
The course is tall, so balls look small at normal size. Full screen mode scales the course to use the whole display, which keeps the balls distinguishable from the back of a room.
For projecting in a classroom or meeting room, full screen combined with the slow speed setting is the best pairing.
Examples
- Choose a winner
- Create a suspenseful order
- Pick a penalty target
- Run a classroom activity
Notes
- The tool uses a browser physics engine, so motion can vary slightly by device.
- Keep the item count within the tool limit for a clear view.
- For formal draws, use a separate verification process.
FAQ
Does the finish order decide the result?
Yes. The order is based on when each ball reaches the finish area.