3D Pinball for Windows: Space Cadet

3D Pinball for Windows: Space Cadet is a Windows game based on the "Space Cadet" table from Full Tilt! Pinball. It was included with many versions of Windows up until Windows XP; from Windows Vista onwards it is no longer included.

Controls
The controls for the game can be changed (by going to and then  or by pressing F8) but there is a default setting.

Target Practice
You must hit the attack bumpers (there are four: cluster of three directly below re-entry lanes and a solitary one to the left of the re-entry lanes) eight times.
 * Event: Bottom Mission Target has been the most recently hit.
 * Award: 500,000

Re-entry Training
You must pass the ball through the re-entry lanes (located at the top of the table) three times.
 * Event: Middle Mission Target has been the most recently hit.
 * Award: 500,000

Launch Training
You must send the ball up the launch ramp (located midway up table; near centre left of table) three times.
 * Event: Top Mission Target has been the most recently hit.
 * Award: 500,000

Science
You must hit nine targets. There are three sets of targets - Booster targets (located midway up the table on the right hand side), Medal targets (located in the centre of the table just above midway) and Field Multiplier targets (located near the top of the table just above left of the cluster of attack bumpers).
 * Event: All three Mission Targets have been lit up - i.e. All Mission targets have been hit. Please note: hitting another mission target will select one of the above missions!
 * Award: 750,000
 * Completing two Science Missions achieves the rank of Ensign, otherwise, a combination of the four missions being successfully completed three times attains the rank of Ensign.

Completing two Science Missions achieves the rank of Ensign Otherwise a combination of the four missions being successfully completed three times attains the rank of Ensign.
 * Promotion

Alien Menace
This is similar to a combination of previous missions; Re-entry Training mission (need to upgrade the attack bumpers by lighting up all three lights of the re-entry lanes) which is done first and then carrying out the Target Practice mission (Hit the attack bumpers eight times) BEFORE the attack bumpers have been downgraded to complete this mission.
 * Event: Bottom Mission Target has been the most recently hit.
 * Award: 750,000

Rescue
You must hit all three booster targets to light up the first booster light. The second part of this mission requires the ball to hit the top of the Hyperspace Chute BEFORE the first booster light has been extinguished to complete this mission.
 * Event: Middle Mission Target has been the most recently hit.
 * Award: 750,000

Bug Hunt
You must hit a combination of targets (Booster targets, Medal targets and Field Multiplier targets (See Science Mission for table locations) which are all drop target features. Mission Targets (located just below mid-table on the left side of the table - set of three lights), Space Warp Target (located just above mid-table on the right side of the table - single light), Hazard Target Bank (two sets of three lights located either side of the cluster of three attack bumpers) and Fuel Target (set of three lights located around the solitary attack bumper) which are spot target features. The second phase of the mission requires the ball to pass over the Space Warp Rollover which will complete the mission.
 * Event: Top Mission Target has been the most recently hit.
 * Award: 750,000

Secret
You must enter all three wormholes in the following order: Yellow Wormhole (located just below the centre of the table on the right hand side), Red Wormhole (located at the top end of the table just below the re-entry lanes on the right hand side) and Green Wormhole (located at the top of the table to the left of the re-entry lanes). Dependent on existing rank will be either: Ensign -> Lieutenant or Lieutenant -> Captain Completing two Secret Missions achieves the rank of Lieutenant/Captain Otherwise a combination of the four missions being successfully completed three times attains the rank of Lieutenant/Captain.
 * Event: All three Mission Targets have been lit up - i.e. All Mission targets have been hit. Please note: hitting another mission target will select one of the above missions!
 * Award: 1,500,000
 * Promotion

Black Hole Threat
You need to upgrade the Launch Bumpers achieved by lighting up all three Launch Lane lights (located in the lower middle left region of the table). Access to this area is gained by putting the ball up the Launch Ramp. The next stage of the mission requires the Black Hole Knockout (located directly below and to the left of the Launch Ramp) to be hit which completes the mission. Should the Launch Bumpers be downgraded to base level then the first part of the mission is required to be completed again.
 * Event: Bottom Mission Target has been the most recently hit.
 * Award: 1,000,000

Space Radiation
You must light up all three of the Left Hazard Target Bank. The next part of the mission requires one of the three Wormholes to be entered allowing this mission to be completed. There are no time constraints for the second part of this mission.
 * Event: Middle Mission Target has been the most recently hit.
 * Award: 1,000,000

Stray Comet
You must light up all three of the Right Hazard Target Bank. The next part of the mission requires the ball to go to the top of the Hyperspace Chute to complete this mission. There are no time constraints for the second part of this mission.
 * Event: Top Mission Target has been the most recently hit.
 * Award: 1,000,000

Cosmic Plague
You will need to hit either of the two Flags (First flag is located at the mouth of the Hyperspace Chute; Second flag is located at the top of the Fuel Chute (located near the top of the table on the right hand side). There is a flag hit counter which starts at 75 and counts down to zero. Getting the counter down to zero completes the first part of the mission. You are then required to get the ball to touch the Space Warp Rollover (located below the solitary Attack Bumper) which ensures the mission is successfully completed. Dependent on existing rank will be either: Captain -> Lieutenant Commander or Lieutenant Commander -> Commander. Completing a Cosmic Plague Mission requires only one other mission (can be another Cosmic Plague) to be completed to achieve the rank of Lieutenant Commander/Commander. The order that these mission are carried out does not affect the promotion. Otherwise a combination of the other three missions being successfully completed three times attains the rank of Lieutenant Commander/Commander.
 * Event: All three Mission Targets have been lit up - i.e. All Mission targets have been hit. Please note: hitting another mission target will select one of the above missions!
 * Award: 1,750,000
 * Promotion

Doomsday Machine
You need to pass over the Out Lanes located at either side of the lower region of the table three times. This completes the mission. Potential pit falls making the level of this mission more difficult lies in the simple fact that on entry to either of the Out Lanes causes its gate to be closed which means a future visit to this area will result in the ball being drained. There are two options to resolve this problem: have a replay light activated or you can open the gate for further access by lighting up all three Hazard Taget Bank lights for the side that the closed gate is located.
 * Event: Bottom Mission Target has been the most recently hit.
 * Award: 1,250,000

Recon
You must make 15 lane pases which can be achieved by entering the following lanes on the table: Return Lanes (located behind each of the Rebound Bumpers just above the flippers), Bonus Lane (located below the Launch Bumpers), Out Lanes (located at either side of the lower part of the table); in addition there are also the Launch Lanes (accessed via the Launch Ramp) and the Re-entry Lanes (located at the top centre of the table). Once the 15 lane passes have been achieved the mission is complete.
 * Event: Middle Mission Target has been the most recently hit.
 * Award: 1,250,000

Satellite Retrieval
You must hit the solitary Attack Bumper (located at the top left hand corner of the table) three times. It sounds an easy mission to complete but this area of the table can be difficult to access at times.
 * Event: Top Mission Target has been the most recently hit.
 * Award: 1,250,000

Time Warp
You must make 25 rebound hits. Rebound Bumpers are located in two areas of the table: just above each of the flippers and also to the left and right of the bottommost Attack Bumper. The second part of the mission gives a choice in completing the mission which as the name suggests allow the game to either time warp forward or time warp backwards! Interestingly, both options have their merits at different stages of the game. Lower ranks can gained rapid promotion by going for the time warp forward option and access to more rewarding point scoring missions. Alternatively at the highest rank this mission is the most precarious as it can lead to all your good work being undone by time warping forward into oblivion and not even the merest sniff of your good score being registered on the scoreboard. At the highest rank it is better to time warp backwards and get a demotion of rank. It can also be better to take several demotions this way to be relieved of carrying out the same types of missions again and again and again... To achieve a time warp forward you are required to go over the Launch Ramp; going for a time warp backwards requires you to hit the Hyperspace Chute. Selecting either of these options completes the mission. Dependent on existing rank will be either: Commander -> Commodore or Commodore -> Admiral. Completing two of these missions achieves the rank of Commodore/Admiral Completing the Time Warp Mission by time warping backwards causes the rank to be changed from either Commodore -> Commander or Commander -> Lieutenant Commander.
 * Event: All three Mission Targets have been lit up - i.e. All Mission targets have been hit. Please note: hitting another mission target will select one of the above missions!
 * Award: 1,500,000
 * Promotion
 * Demotion

Time Warp
See mission details in earlier entry (Commander and Commodore Missions).
 * Event: Bottom Mission Target has been the most recently hit.
 * Award: 1,500,000

Secret
See mission details in earlier entry (Ensign and Lieutenant Missions).
 * Event: Middle Mission Target has been the most recently hit.
 * Award: 1,500,000

Cosmic Plague
See mission details in earlier entry (Captain and Lieutenant Commander).
 * Event: Top Mission Target has been the most recently hit.
 * Award: 1,750,000

Maelstrom
You are tested to use the various pieces of information acquired to this point to carry out this mission. It is both challenging and rewarding. There are multiple stages to this mission:
 * Event: All three Mission Targets have been lit up - i.e. All Mission targets have been hit. Please note: hitting another mission target will select one of the above missions!
 * Award: 5,000,000

First you have to hit three Drop Targets (Similar to the Science mission)

Second you have to hit three Spot Targets (Similar to task in Bug Hunt mission)

Third you have to make five lane passes (Similar task required in Recon mission)

Fourth you have to make the ball pass through the Fuel Chute (Similar task required in Cosmic Plaque mission)

Fifth you have to hit the Launch Ramp (Similar task required to Launch a mission)

Sixth you have to hit the Flags (Similar task required in Cosmic Plaque mission)

Seventh you have to enter one of the Wormholes (Similar to task activity in the Secret mission)

Finally you have to hit the top of the Hyperlaunch Chute to complete the mission and receive your rewards... The ultimate promotion sees your rank change from Admiral -> Fleet Admiral Completing two missions at this level (exception time warping backwards) achieves the rank of Fleet Admiral Completing the Time Warp Mission by time warping backwards causes the rank to be changed from either Fleet Admiral -> Admiral or Admiral -> Commodore
 * Promotion
 * Demotion

Game Play and Strategies
Enjoy playing the game - nobody dies (thankfully)!

In no particular order and most definitely open to extending; here are a few tricks to add to your locker:

Hyperlaunch Chute shot - Gets some points; causes the centre post to be raised if achieved three times in quick succession. There is the opportunity to gain an extra ball if you manage a fourth time. There are two main instances: Left Flipper direct to top of Hyperlaunch Chute or as the ball is expelled from the Hyperlaunch Chute to send it straight back using the Left Flipper.

Launch Ramp Chute shot - Gets you started on a mission at the very least; options using both flippers direct.

Yellow Wormhole shot - Gain a replay ball; left flipper direct to Yellow Wormhole.

Red Wormhole shot - Gain a replay ball; right flipper direct to Red Wormhole.

Black Hole shot - Use left flipper to go directly to Black Hole; can just sneak in the side door.

Booster Target shot - Use right flipper to go directly to Booster Target area. Hopefully downing a solitary standing target and allowing a booster light to be lit. Getting three booster lights lit can be VERY good...

Long Shot - Ability to get the ball to the top half of table. Buys time and may assist in current mission. Gain ability using either flipper.

Using a nudge...

On expelling ball from Hyperlaunch Chute a Left Nudge should ensure the ball finds its way up and over the Launch Ramp. Potentially the start of a mission.

A Left or Right Nudge as the ball drops from the rightmost Re-entry Lane could influence the ball going into the Red Wormhole for a chance of a replay ball.

As ball is expelled from Left Out Lane a Left Nudge should ensure the ball reaches the top centremost part of table and the chance of passing through Re-entry Lanes.

Using Left or Right Nudge to alter the angle it comes off the Rebound Bumpers (above the flippers) ensuring a better chance of not being directed towards either of the Out Lanes. This can also affect the potential mission that will be selected as it could hit one of the mission spot targets. Likewise it could hit the Booster Drop Targets getting you a little closer to three booster lights being lit.

A Left or Right Nudge with the ball in the area of the three Attack Bumpers could allow either set of Hazard Target Bank lights to be lit and the appropriate gate being opened - causing the Out Lane for that side of the table to not be an imminent threat - if it was closed.

Consider using a nudge in conjunction with the Centre Post being up - this can be a better option that using a flipper that is just out of reach of the ball.

Either left or right nudge to direct the ball in the direction of the other flipper - this would be in preparation for a shot at the Hyperlanch Chute/Launch Ramp.

Getting a Tilt...

It is normally NEVER a good idea to get a tilt as the ball is lost. HOWEVER, there is ONE unique instance where this is recommended. At the highest rank of Fleet Admiral carrying out a Time Warp mission and accidently completing the mission with a Time Warp Forward a hasty and frenetic use of EVERY nudge available will ensure that you do not time warp into oblivion and just get a tilt instead!

High Scores...

Sadly it has to be mentioned here... There are three types of high scores to be achieved playing this game:

Going round the clock which means exceeding 1,000,000,000 points. This will take a VERY long time.

Gaining promotion to the rank of Fleet Admiral - you have mastered the missions that the game has thrown at you.

Just beating your own personal best! Reaching six figures does it for me!

Should anyone ask you what your highest score is, I recommend you reply by simply stating its not HIGH enough!

There will ALWAYS be someone claiming to have done it BIGGER FASTER GREATER than you could ever possibly do. Please see my ambition for my best score!