Edit History

The volcano structure holds locked balls and ejects them upward via its VUK, so it classifies as a ball-holding toy.

gameplay_feature

Gameplay feature

Ball-Holding Toys

Pinside — https://pinside.com/pinball/forum/topic/volcano-blast/page/3 (in the builder's own post)

From there, it can either be fired upwards to "erupt" via the VUK, or that repurposed kickback mech pushes it out of the VUK and into the volcano tunnel scoop

gameplay_feature

Gameplay feature

Shaker Motors

Pinside — https://pinside.com/pinball/forum/topic/volcano-blast/page/3 (in the builder's own post)

the four remaining drivers are used for the Start and Extra Ball button lights, the knocker, and the shaker motor

gameplay_feature

Gameplay feature

Knockers

Pinside — https://pinside.com/pinball/forum/topic/volcano-blast/page/3 (in the builder's own post)

the four remaining drivers are used for the Start and Extra Ball button lights, the knocker, and the shaker motor

gameplay_feature

Gameplay feature

Auto-Launch

Pinside — https://pinside.com/pinball/forum/topic/volcano-blast/page/2 (in the builder's own post)

the autolauncher fork holds the ball and would physically conflict

gameplay_feature

Gameplay feature

Orbits

Pinside — https://pinside.com/pinball/forum/topic/volcano-blast/page/3 (in the builder's own post)

In the top right (top left in the wiring photo, of course), there is a skill shot drop hole in the outer orbit.

gameplay_feature

Gameplay feature

Skill Shot

Pinside — https://pinside.com/pinball/forum/topic/volcano-blast/page/3 (in the builder's own post)

In the top right (top left in the wiring photo, of course), there is a skill shot drop hole in the outer orbit.

gameplay_feature

Gameplay feature

Multiball

Pinside — https://pinside.com/pinball/forum/topic/volcano-blast/page/4 (in the builder's own post)

Not only is it a lot more fun to shoot the elevated loop, there's also the satisfaction of a fully-working lift ramp here as well. I can't wait to start locking balls in the tunnel under the ramp! [...] 3 locks start multiball

gameplay_feature

Gameplay feature

Ball Locks

Pinside — https://pinside.com/pinball/forum/topic/volcano-blast/page/4 (in the builder's own post)

Not only is it a lot more fun to shoot the elevated loop, there's also the satisfaction of a fully-working lift ramp here as well. I can't wait to start locking balls in the tunnel under the ramp!

gameplay_feature

Gameplay feature

Moving Ramps

Pinside — https://pinside.com/pinball/forum/topic/volcano-blast/page/4 (in the builder's own post)

Not only is it a lot more fun to shoot the elevated loop, there's also the satisfaction of a fully-working lift ramp here as well. I can't wait to start locking balls in the tunnel under the ramp!

gameplay_feature

Gameplay feature

Ramp Diverters

Pinside — https://pinside.com/pinball/forum/topic/volcano-blast/page/3 (in the builder's own post)

the ramp diverters and outhole kicker, which are mounted topside

gameplay_feature

Gameplay feature

Ramps

Pinside — https://pinside.com/pinball/forum/topic/volcano-blast/page/4 (in the builder's own post)

With the hallway ramps on both sides in place (more or less), the diverters can finally become useful.

gameplay_feature

Gameplay feature

Subways

Pinside — https://pinside.com/pinball/forum/topic/volcano-blast/page/3 (in the builder's own post)

Yes, there are a couple of subway branches.

gameplay_feature

Gameplay feature

Scoops

Pinside — https://pinside.com/pinball/forum/topic/volcano-blast/page/3 (in the builder's own post)

into the volcano tunnel scoop (also hittable from the playfield, to the right of the ramp), where it makes its way down the longer bent subway and eventually emerges from the left scoop

gameplay_feature

Gameplay feature

Vertical Up-Kickers

Pinside — https://pinside.com/pinball/forum/topic/volcano-blast/page/3 (in the builder's own post)

From there, it can either be fired upwards to "erupt" via the VUK, or that repurposed kickback mech pushes it out of the VUK and into the volcano tunnel scoop

gameplay_feature

Gameplay feature

Standup Targets

Pinside — https://pinside.com/pinball/forum/topic/volcano-blast/page/4 (in the builder's own post)

The light bulbs pictured in this scene sync with the standup target inserts on the playfield.

gameplay_feature

Gameplay feature

Drop Targets

Pinside — https://pinside.com/pinball/forum/topic/volcano-blast/page/3 (in the builder's own post)

How did my five-volt microcontrollers and drop target optos manage to survive the unstoppable onslaught of a twelve-volt assault?

gameplay_feature

Gameplay feature

Slingshots

Pinside — https://pinside.com/pinball/forum/topic/volcano-blast/page/3 (in the builder's own post)

Flippers, slingshots, and bumpers work (might need to double check an issue with the top two jets though)

gameplay_feature

Gameplay feature

Jet Bumpers

Pinside — https://pinside.com/pinball/forum/topic/volcano-blast/page/3 (in the builder's own post)

Flippers, slingshots, and bumpers work (might need to double check an issue with the top two jets though)

gameplay_feature

Gameplay feature

Flippers

Count

3

Pinside — https://pinside.com/pinball/forum/topic/volcano-blast/page/3 (in the builder's own post)

Aside from the flipper switches - which get wired back up to the three flipper drivers on the playfield - everything in the cabinet is controlled by the final aux solenoid driver board.

theme

Theme

Time Travel

Pinside — https://pinside.com/pinball/forum/topic/volcano-blast (in the builder's own post)

Canonically, there could have been any number of time loops between morning and apocalypse, but the game will depict three, one for each anti-volcano plan.

The school is the titular Obsidian High; the characters are its students.

theme

Theme

High School

Pinside — https://pinside.com/pinball/forum/topic/volcano-blast (in the builder's own post)

So each of them has a plan to try to save the school from the volcano using various strategies, supplies, and magical abilities.

Pinside — https://pinside.com/pinball/forum/topic/volcano-blast/page/4 (in the builder's own post)

a vertical airball shield featuring classmate Katashi who is just now realizing he's not getting the calm day of studying he expected

theme

Theme

Magic

Obsidian High — https://obsidianhigh.com/

a tale of magic, heroism, and despair

Pinside — https://pinside.com/pinball/forum/topic/volcano-blast/page/4 (in the builder's own post)

illustrations of the moments that each main character's magic powers awaken

theme

Theme

Volcanoes

Pinside — https://pinside.com/pinball/forum/topic/volcano-blast (in the builder's own post)

So each of them has a plan to try to save the school from the volcano using various strategies, supplies, and magical abilities.

theme

Theme

Anime

Pinside — https://pinside.com/pinball/forum/topic/volcano-blast (in the builder's own post)

The new design, art, and story will be heavily anime-inspired.

cabinet

Floor

Pinside — https://pinside.com/pinball/forum/topic/volcano-blast/page/2 (in the builder's own post)

Tomorrow I will be bracing the cabinet with 90-degree corner brackets and standard leg plates, assembling the neck and attaching it to the lower cab, and most likely test-fitting it with legs and trim.

display_type

LCD Screen

Pinside — https://pinside.com/pinball/forum/topic/volcano-blast/page/2 (in the builder's own post)

27" monitors. [...] I do think this JJP-size screen will catch a lot of eyes once it's showing off visual novel art and anime girls.

technology_subgeneration

PC-Based

Pinside — https://pinside.com/pinball/forum/topic/volcano-blast/page/3 (in the builder's own post)

this relay was connected to one of the ATX 5v lines, so when the computer comes on, so does the playfield

technology_generation

Solid State

Pinside — https://pinside.com/pinball/forum/topic/volcano-blast/page/2 (in the builder's own post)

The Teensy has a built-in USB board, which straightforwardly solves upstream communication to and from the PC with code I can directly reuse from UT.

game_format

Pinball

Pinside — https://pinside.com/pinball/forum/topic/volcano-blast (in the builder's own post)

Back in 2008, I really wanted to build a pinball machine, and a significant lack of knowledge and funding didn't stop me from trying.

The builder posts as Elliemechanical; the footer of her own site, obsidianhigh.com, names her Ellie Corcoran.

credit

Person

Ellie Corcoran

Role

Sound

Pinside — https://pinside.com/pinball/forum/topic/volcano-blast/page/4 (in the builder's own post)

here's a look at a handful of sound effects as well as some VERY Sys11-esque bonus counting. I'm going to spend more time on SFX this week

The builder posts as Elliemechanical; the footer of her own site, obsidianhigh.com, names her Ellie Corcoran.

credit

Person

Ellie Corcoran

Role

Mechanics

Pinside — https://pinside.com/pinball/forum/topic/volcano-blast (in the builder's own post)

I'm fairly confident I can engineer a hidden ramp to accomplish the same task

The builder posts as Elliemechanical; the footer of her own site, obsidianhigh.com, names her Ellie Corcoran.

credit

Person

Ellie Corcoran

Role

Software

Pinside — https://pinside.com/pinball/forum/topic/volcano-blast/page/3 (in the builder's own post)

immediately wrote up some basic firmware to at least let me test out the new flippers

The builder posts as Elliemechanical; the footer of her own site, obsidianhigh.com, names her Ellie Corcoran.

credit

Person

Ellie Corcoran

Role

Art

Pinside — https://pinside.com/pinball/forum/topic/volcano-blast/page/4 (in the builder's own post)

I drew everything here except the hair and uniforms of the three main characters

The builder posts as Elliemechanical; the footer of her own site, obsidianhigh.com, names her Ellie Corcoran.

credit

Person

Ellie Corcoran

Role

Design

Pinside — https://pinside.com/pinball/forum/topic/volcano-blast (in the builder's own post)

Tweaked my design a bit last night and will be doing more tonight.

The builder posts as Elliemechanical; her own site, obsidianhigh.com, names her Ellie Corcoran. The story the game adapts is her own work.

credit

Person

Ellie Corcoran

Role

Concept

Obsidian High — https://obsidianhigh.com/

THE FIERY END OF OBSIDIAN HIGH copyright © 2019-2025 by Ellie Corcoran.

corporate_entity

UP Pinball Collective

name

The Fiery End of Obsidian High

production_year

2026

slug

the-fiery-end-of-obsidian-high

status

active

title

The Fiery End of Obsidian High