Vertical pinball?

[browne92]

Interesting machine:

Techball Pinball Machine Glow in The Dark with Wireless Remote New in Box B | eBay

Having a hard time getting a decent picture, but this should do.

[Card Shark]

Interesting. If it stays cheap enough I think I will try to snag it just to see what it is all about.

[browne92]

There's two listed. Let me know which one you are bidding on and I won't bid against you.

[Card Shark]

Weird, looks like the one you posted ended.

This is the one I am watching now...

Techball Pinball Machine Glow in The Dark with Wireless Remote New in Box B | eBay

[mxfaiman]

I'd check prices on amazon before bidding. That is new enough that they probably still make them. Very typical for things on eBay to be above retail price.

[browne92]

Amazon doesn't have it listed, and QVC has it listed as "no longer available".

You watch that one and I'll watch this one:

Techball Pinball Machine Glow in The Dark with Wireless Remote New in Box A | eBay

There was a third one that was different, but I like this color scheme better.

[mxfaiman]

Never mind. I didn't look at the ebay auction because I was viewing from my phone.

Here is a solid listing for a similar one. The Remote Controlled Upright Pinball Game - Hammacher Schlemmer So there is your top dollar. Don't overspend.

[browne92]

That looks like the 3rd one listed on ebay. It's been on there for awhile at $25 with $15 shipping. I know I won't be going $60.

[Card Shark]

I think I will keep an eye on the auction but not sure how high I would go on this.

Here is a video of one in action...

Techball Upright Radio Control Pinball Machine - YouTube

[emmadog]

I don't know about those things. Look like they're destined for the toy graveyard.

[heima]

Thats a rather strange game. It seems to drain fairly easy. Are the flippers strong enough to get the ball to the top? I understand why it is remote control, but that aspect of the game seems to take some of the fun out of playing.

The narrow trajectories (because it is vertical) seemed to make game play too fast and removed an element of skill (timing a flipper just right). Because pachinko has a pseudo-random trajectory and slower game play, it works well as a vertical playfield.

Could you imagine a nearly horizontal pachinko? It would take forever to play.

[Card Shark]

I was thinking of experimenting with the angle of the machine to change the speed of play. Either way if it is cheap enough and it obviously would not take up much space it might be interesting to play with.

[hanabi]

Don't really know much about these. except that I see them on eBay from time to time

Not sure when they were first made, but they were talked about here around 2004 / 2005 and looks like one member bought one, but don't think we got a review?

They were on eBay and also sold through Amazon.com and somewhere called 'Sharper Image' where a refurbed one was retailing for around $25 back then? (2005)

[browne92]

Like Card Shark, I thought if I got it cheap enough, it would be fun to play with. And if I decided to tear it apart and modify it, I wouldn't really be losing anything. Might even pull a CarlW on it and spruce it up with some LED's.

Hanabi, your time line sounds about right. Sharper Image is a gadget/gift store. Reminds me of the Sky Mall catalogs you find in the airplane seat pocket. Usually pretty spendy, but stuff you won't find just anywhere. They're still around.

[Card Shark]

We have a Sharper Image store here in Richmond. Neat little gadget store but usually not very high quality gadgets, just pricey.