Catch 'Em Mode[edit]
Catch 'Em Mode is where a Pokémon can be caught. To activate it, send the ball through the Right Loop two or three times (Sending the ball through the loop three times allows for a rarer Pokémon to be available for capture). Then send the ball into the Sharpedo (on Ruby Field) or the Wailmer (on Sapphire Field) to start the mode.
After this mode is activated, the Pokémon Panel shows the silouhette of the Pokémon available to be captured and the stopwatch starts at two minutes. Send the ball up to the bumpers. If the ball hits any of the bumpers three times, the Pokémon will appear out of the panel. Hit it three times to capture it. If the clock runs out or the ball is lost, the mode is over and you miss the Pokémon.
Should a catch be successful, one Poké Ball out of three will light up under the silhouette window.
Egg Mode[edit]
Egg mode is where a Pokémon hatches from an egg. It is activated by hitting Cyndaquil four times (on the Ruby Field) or by hitting it through the Egg Loop four time (which is between the Right Loop and the Wailmer on the Sapphire Field). The Pokémon will hatch from the egg and there is a set (but hidden) time limit.
The Pokémon will crawl across the bottom of the board. Hit it with the ball two times before it goes back to the cave (on the Ruby Field) or the shop (on the Sapphire Field). If the catch is successful, another Poké Ball lights up under the silhouette window.
Evolution Mode[edit]
Evolution Mode (or Evo Mode) is where a Pokémon that was previously captured can be evolved into another Pokémon. Unlike in the original Pokémon Pinball, Evolution Mode is only available when there is a Pokémon that is capable of evolving.
To start Evo Mode, send the ball through the Left Loop three times. Then hit the ball into the Poké Mart (the Mart does not have to be opened by any other way). Choose the Pokémon that you would like to evolve, so as to start the mode.
The Pokémon that is trying to evolve appears and the clock is set at two minutes. A small evolution item will appear somewhere on the board. Hit it with the ball and repeat two more times. Then the Center Hole will open. Hit the ball into the hole to complete the evolution. If you lose the ball or the time runs out, the evolution will not happen.
When an evolution is successful, you get not one, but two more Poké Balls lighted under the silhouette window. As there are three balls under the window, there will be no carrying over of lighted Poké Balls should two balls have already been lit up and another two are added.
Travel mode[edit]
When the game begins, one of seven areas is selected. Each area is home to a unique set of Pokémon that can be captured in Catch 'Em Mode. Travel Mode allows for that area to change. To trigger this mode on the Ruby Field, hit the Chikorita Switch, then hit the Linoone on the left side, and repeat two more times. To activate the mode on the Sapphire Field, hit the Seedot Switch, which is next to a basket, on the left side of the board, and repeat two more times. When activated, the timer is turned on for one minute.
Send the ball through either the Left Loop or the Right Loop and then hit it into the Center Hole. Then you are given the option of whether you want to travel or not. If you travel, the area is changed.
Sending the ball through the Left Loop will advance you by one area. Sending the ball through the Right will earn you two. If you go trough the Left Loop, going through the Left Loop next time will earn two areas, and through the Right, three.
If you Travel six times, you will go to the Ruins. Pokémon up for Capture are the rare Regirock, Regice, Registeel, Beldum, and Jirachi (through Roulette), and can be caught easily by using two or three Capture Arrows.