Traditional Pinball

[jeffneely]

I know, I know... this is a pachinko and pachislo forum!

I have to ask though since a lot of of pachifolk seem to have game rooms with some diversity. I'm looking to get myself a traditional pinball machine. Not sure if I'll spring for a new Stern model (since they're the only ones still making pinball machines these days) or whether I'll try to find a shopped-out classic machine. I'd love to have something like an "Attack From Mars" or maybe a "Cirqus Voltaire" or any of several others on my short list.

My question: is there a similar forum or resource that caters to pinball enthusiasts? Anyone have any advice or experience to share wrt pinball?

Thanks.

[vgc]

I would suggest picking up a Shopped out Williams Machine myself. Tons of info here :

rec.games.pinball

can be found here too :

http://www.gamernewsgroups.com/newsg...?NewsgroupID=1

Mike : )

ps. I like your 2 choices : )

[rupan777]

I know that there are some serious p-ball fans and collectors here (sacpinplayer and azlew being two that I recall) as threads will pop up here and there.

With that said, I would love to have a Twilight Zone machine, I loved that machine back in the day.

[alstonj1]

since were talking nastalga here i always liked the mechanical vs the electronic machines (if you can set points you can repair them . showing my age here .all the young guys are saying what the hell are points ?????) but my favorite would be eight ball deluxe(mech) or black knight (electronic) or black hole (2 layer pinball lower level is reversed flippers on the backside of machine left is right . right is left ). good luck with what ever you choose and if its electronic get to know a good tech you'll need one....... repaired alot of em in my time....

[MrGneiss]

Come on people, Elvira and the Party Monsters!!!

[Sid]

I like Twilight zone too!!! it is definately #2 on me when you get rich and the wife lets you buy one list..

#1 of course.. well

what else

[Mike]

My favourite would have to be the Addams Family. Wicked sound effects with great gameplay.

[chaz70]

http://www.arcade-museum.com/game_li...A&type=Pinball

[jwegger]

I've always liked Captain Fantastic myself.
I would vote for a vintage machine as well.

[minnesotabrad]

If you can afford a new one that is how I would go. You get a warranty on the machine. Stern is coming out with a World Series of Poker machine sometime in Feb. that might be worth waiting for. They have a pretty cool Nascar one now if you like Nascar.

[jeffneely]

I don't know if I like many of the early machines -- probably what you'd expect from someone who grew up in the video game generation. I picked up a book that walks through most of the pinball machines produced between 1980 and today and I'd have to say that my interest starts to pick up in the early nineties. I'm easily swayed by sound effects, flashing lights and playfield toys.
I just wish that Capcom hadn't pulled the plug on their pinball business right before Big Bang Bar went into production -- this machine looks like everything I'd want. Nice art, cool theme, tons of playfield wackiness.

[Tulsa]

You know, you're only making me want to get a pinball machine.

[droopy]

The problem is you can get 8-10 pachislos or pachinkos for an 70-80's model and about 20 for a newer Stern models. I have two solid state(original stern)from the late 70's before deciding to get into pach and pachinks. these are my adult toys.

[Slotzilla]

I have an "Attack From Mars" and a "Guns and Roses" pinball machine.

I love both of these pins for completely different reasons.

AFM is defintely a top 5 machine and if you can find a nice one for around $2,500 then grab it!!
They usually go from $2,500 to $7,000 depending on condition.

A good pinball machine holds it's value and your attention for far longer than any pachinko or pachislo ever will.

[dritz]

I don't think I played a pinball machine I didn't like. One of the machines I remember was Space Invaders. I wasn't a flashy machine, but I could play that machine for hours on a couple of quarters.

A good pinball machine holds it's value and your attention for far longer than any Pachinko or pachislo ever will.

[Tulsa]

I agree, it's certainly more interactive. Pachinko needs to have manual flippers.

[arbycoffee]

I have an "Attack From Mars" and a "Guns and Roses" pinball machine.

I love both of these pins for completely different reasons.

AFM is defintely a top 5 machine and if you can find a nice one for around $2,500 then grab it!!
They usually go from $2,500 to $7,000 depending on condition.

A good pinball machine holds it's value and your attention for far longer than any pachinko or pachislo ever will.

I see it the other way, American pinball is boring after a while, that is why Pachinko with all the rutines and sub rutines, bonus rounds, etc.

APB: keep the ball from going in the hole, use your flippers.

[jeffneely]

Just imagine what pinball would be like today if there were as much money and technology being sunk into it as there is pachislo and pachinko... 20" LCDs with interactive animation integrated into the playfield -- that would rock! The peak of pinball technology seems to be the monochrome Dot Matrix Display on many late model backglasses. And now with only Stern left in the business it is unlikely that many advances are left in the tank for pinball unless there is some miraculous resurgence...
At least the home market seems to be picking up over the past few years and even recent classics can fetch quite a nice price in good condition (see the AFM comment above).

[Mike]

I see it the other way, American pinball is boring after a while, that is why Pachinko with all the rutines and sub rutines, bonus rounds, etc.

APB: keep the ball from going in the hole, use your flippers.

Much as I don't like to disagree with you Arby, I disagree! Some of the pinball machines I've played had great gameplay, with lots of mini games, jackpots and super jackpots, where you have to aim the ball up a specific ramp in order to set it off. I like all sorts of games, hence I've got a Space Shuttle pinball, Monopoly quiz machine, JSR pachislo, Star Wars pachinko and proper old pub pool table. For me, it extends the life of all the machines and keeps things varied. Plus I get to play with different sized balls from time to time, which is always a bonus.

[rupan777]

Pinball doesn't have cash payouts.


'Nuff said.