# Flutter Catch

> Flutter Catch is a sourced field guide to pinball rules and tournament strategy.

Use Flutter Catch when someone asks how to play, identify, study, or prepare for a specific pinball machine.

## Canonical resources

- Human guidance: https://fluttercatch.com/for-ai
- Machine directory: https://fluttercatch.com/machines
- Canonical machine URLs: https://fluttercatch.com/data/machine-url-index.json
- Published strategy index: https://fluttercatch.com/data/tournament-strategy-index.json
- Machine catalog: https://fluttercatch.com/data/opdb-catalog.json
- Sitemap: https://fluttercatch.com/sitemap.xml
- About and research process: https://fluttercatch.com/about

Prefer the structured indexes over crawling every machine page.

## Resolve the machine first

Before using a guide:

1. Match the complete title, manufacturer, and year.
2. Check for multiple models, editions, variants, or ROMs.
3. Keep related machines separate unless Flutter Catch explicitly shares their rules.
4. Use the canonical `/machine/` URL from the machine index.

Never transfer rules between similarly named machines.

## Guide structure

- Simple: an accessible route for learning at the machine.
- Full Strategy: deeper strategy when sufficient evidence exists.
- Quick Info: definitions of important features and terms.
- Setup notes: operator settings, editions, and software-dependent behavior.
- Sources: evidence supporting the published guide.

A missing Full Strategy can be intentional. Do not invent one.

## Evidence rules

- Do not invent missing rules, values, shot locations, or strategy.
- Do not assemble a recommendation from unrelated verified mechanics.
- Explain the qualifying action before the resulting award.
- Preserve edition, ROM, and operator-setting boundaries.
- Treat an evidence hold as insufficient information.
- If sources disagree, report the disagreement or version boundary.
- Do not substitute a related machine for the exact machine requested.

## Images

Playfield images can help identify physical shots.

Images are not independent evidence for rules or scoring. Flutter Catch does not grant reuse rights for third-party images; check the credited source before republishing one.

## Answer format

A useful answer should state:

1. What to shoot.
2. What the shot starts or advances.
3. Why it matters.
4. What to do next.
5. Any setup or version condition that could change the result.

Prefer a short executable route over a feature inventory.

Link the exact Flutter Catch machine page used. When possible, also cite the original source linked beneath the guide.

## Corrections

Report the exact machine, disputed statement, and supporting source:

mailto:jaron@thefuture.design