My Pinball Wish list

[takethecastle57]

I guess some folks have money to throw away

[kkentert]

I have a friend that just got a Varkon. She said she bought it from a guy that had 2 and she also knows another guy that has 2. It's pretty strange that she knows where 4 of the only 90 made machines are.

I played it a few times...it's defiantly different. When you look inside the cabinet the playfield is reflected up. So the playfiels looks straight up and down (like a pachinko machine) but since it actually only angled 6 or 7 degrees it puts off a strange optical illusion that the pinball is kind of floating and not falling nearly as fast as it should.

If anyone doesn't know what this machine is or is interested in seeing what i'm talking about here is a link:

Wow- varkon is crazy.
looks cool!

[bob5150]

I recently had a chance to play several new and 90's-era pins down in Rohoboth Beach, DE. Amazing what a selection of pins were out there in the arcades. I hate to say it because I looked into picking up some "B" and "C" list titles a while back (Freddy, Who Dunnit, Secret Service, etc) but the "A" listers are absolutely awesome. I got a chance to play Attack from Mars, Addams Family, Medieval Madness, "New" Indy, just to name a few and the gameplay on the big-ticket games was light years ahead of the rest.
Whats the point??? Save for an A-lister.
Unless you're independently wealthy, in which case buy as many as you want..God bless ya.

[kkentert]

I recently had a chance to play several new and 90's-era pins down in Rohoboth Beach, DE. Amazing what a selection of pins were out there in the arcades. I hate to say it because I looked into picking up some "B" and "C" list titles a while back (Freddy, Who Dunnit, Secret Service, etc) but the "A" listers are absolutely awesome. I got a chance to play Attack from Mars, Addams Family, Medieval Madness, "New" Indy, just to name a few and the gameplay on the big-ticket games was light years ahead of the rest.
Whats the point??? Save for an A-lister.
Unless you're independently wealthy, in which case buy as many as you want..God bless ya.

See..this is where I'm torn! I've wanted a pinball most of my life, but I can't justify spending a TON of money on one. $1500 is really my comfortable MAX...though I'd prefer 700-1000. I've thought about saving up for family guy, but it's still going to be close to $4,000...and I can't justify spending that on a game. :-( What's a guy to do!!!

Alas, a lovely local guy told me about an auction the last sunday of this month. i think i'm going to hold out and see what i can pick up there. I hope they have some good stuff!

[Moparformances]

with the economy the way it is there might be a few deals

lucky dog luck to ya

[mark1120]

See..this is where I'm torn! I've wanted a pinball most of my life, but I can't justify spending a TON of money on one. $1500 is really my comfortable MAX...though I'd prefer 700-1000. I've thought about saving up for family guy, but it's still going to be close to $4,000...and I can't justify spending that on a game. :-( What's a guy to do!!!

Alas, a lovely local guy told me about an auction the last sunday of this month. i think i'm going to hold out and see what i can pick up there. I hope they have some good stuff!

Maybe this website will help with your decision. It lists the top 100 pinball machines of all time and the top bang for your buck pinball machines.

The Pinside.com "Bang for your Buck list" - Pinside.com

For what its worth, I've picked up 3 pinball machines within the past year - Star Trek Next Generation, Goldeneye, and Star Wars (Data East). I had a friends and family party recently and the Star Wars machine was the most popular by far. I think that's because everyone had seen the Star Wars movies so everyone could relate to the theme and characters. None of my guests were "pinball enthusiasts" and I don't consider myself to be an "avid" pinball enthusiast either, so I felt I was getting more bang for my buck going with "B" machines vs. the price of an "A" machine...no one that I have over will really notice the difference. I could be wrong, but I also thought it would be easier for me to sell a "B" machine for close to my purchase price if I ever tired of it. Could I sell my Goldeneye for $1,200???probably...would I be able to sell an Addams Family for $3,000+???who knows.

[kkentert]

None of my guests were "pinball enthusiasts" and I don't consider myself to be an "avid" pinball enthusiast either, so I felt I was getting more bang for my buck going with "B" machines vs. the price of an "A" machine...no one that I have over will really notice the difference. I could be wrong, but I also thought it would be easier for me to sell a "B" machine for close to my purchase price if I ever tired of it. Could I sell my Goldeneye for $1,200???probably...would I be able to sell an Addams Family for $3,000+???who knows.

This is the same situation I'm in. i like pinball enough to want to buy a machine, but honestly, haven't played in years! I'm certainly not a pinball wizard, (or pinball servant for that matter) which is why I take the things I read on IPBD with a grain of salt. The critics there are HARSH. I won't ever put as much thought into the machines as those people-mainly because i won't have anything to compare it to. Why do I have my eye on Family guy? not because everyone says it's an AMAZING pinball, but because I love family guy. Why will I probably not buy it? - Exactly what you said. i'll buy it with $4500 I don't have and only be able to sell it for $1500.

I'm going to go check out the bang for your buck link, and I'll probably take it to the arcade auction. :-) thanks!

[luckydog]

1996 with ramps this would be one I would like

BARB WIRE PINBALL MACHINE MINT CONDITION - eBay (item 120450266066 end time Aug-19-09 10:21:23 PDT)

50 miles away, but, no money or way to get it, then there is the no room for it thing either!!

[kkentert]

And of course there is more to go wrong with the pinball 2000 because of the computer system used in them, I must admit that really worried me, having two of the PB2K's to maintain, but there is now the NuCore system that will enable them to live on!!

Hey Hanabi,
How much do the NuCore systems cost? I checked it out on their site, but there is no pricing. Do you have that number?

[dishpan]

The NuCore's are being sold by Pinball Life.

Nucore Base Package: pinballlife.com

I received mine from the first production batch as insurance for my machines.

[hanabi]

If you register with them at

bigguyspinball.com

and subscribe to the threads, you will get emails when they are updated,

at the moment I think they have shipped / are shipping the version for those with technical knowledge to install

They are working on the final details for the easy 'drop in' (cased) version, which is the one I would end up going for myself, so not sure what the final price of that one would be yet, as they only showed the prototype of the case last week

I can't see myself ever wanting to part with either of my P2K's, so Nucore will be the way forward if / when my computers fail, unless it's just a part or board that I can obtain at the time...

[kkentert]

The Auction is tomorrow! Wish me luck!!!

[hanabi]

The Auction is tomorrow! Wish me luck!!!

Good Luck!!

[John]

Depending upon what they have listed, I might be there too. *grins*

[MrGneiss]

Good luck!!

[kkentert]

I did it!!!

And I couldn't be happier with the pin I got...It's an "Elvira & the Party Monsters" Probably not the best pinball ever made, but I LOVE the theme. I'm a big Elvira fan, and have a huge Halloween party every year. I think this was the game I was supposed to get!

[luckydog]

Internet Pinball Machine Database: Midway 'Elvira and the Party Monsters'
______________________________________________________
now you need to look for its mate

Internet Pinball Machine Database: Midway 'Scared Stiff' Images

[pinball wizard]

yes,you need the other elvira too.congrats on your purchase.

[kkentert]

But the other elvira is SOOOOOO much $$$$$$$$$$.

I'll keep an eye out. Maybe I'll get lucky. Pins are expensive though. This one needs some more work than I originally thought. I downloaded the manual, and I'm going to get the book that ironworkerdalton recommended.

I've been playing it for a half hour. I LOVE it.

[hanabi]

Congratulations!!

I'm pleased you finally got a Pinball

and I'm sure it will be fun working on it too