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Author Topic: so whats a good starter pinball to get?  (Read 11610 times)

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Malenko

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so whats a good starter pinball to get?
« on: June 26, 2010, 09:41:42 am »
I'd prefer something fun that wont break and that 5-10 years olds wont get frustrated playing. My uncle has a 1984(?) comet Ive been trying to talk him out of that I think would fit the bill. Im just concerned about something breaking because I am clueless (for now) on fixing them.


Any suggestions? and anyone have something for sale around Newark,Delaware?
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Q*Bert_OP

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Re: so whats a good starter pinball to get?
« Reply #1 on: June 26, 2010, 11:24:53 am »
I'd prefer something fun that wont break

How about a video pinball?  :afro:
WTB: The Grid by Midway (2001), looking for 2 or more complete games, and large marquee

Xiaou2

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Re: so whats a good starter pinball to get?
« Reply #2 on: June 26, 2010, 11:54:18 am »
 You can buy a brand new machine, and something can break on it in a few months of play.
Sadly, Pinball machines are not designed to be durable enough.  Its the reason why Pinball
is just about dead... cause Ops dont have time to fix them... and players dont like putting
money into a broken machine.

 Most all problems will be mechanical, so its not that hard to learn how to fix them.
Electrical issues, you might have to take to a local shop, unless you are good with
diagnosis and electrical knowledge.

 I personally didnt care for Comet too much... but there are a lot of older games that are fun
and affordable.

 Be prepared to spend money on parts, cleaning supplies, tools you might need, etc.

 Check your local Craigslist for Pinball machines.  Ebay auctions.  Ask local pinball
groups / collectors.  Newsgroups as well.

 Video Pinball sucks.  Not even close to the experience a real machine provides.

Q*Bert_OP

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Re: so whats a good starter pinball to get?
« Reply #3 on: June 26, 2010, 12:44:49 pm »
5 of 7 new Sterns I've opened had some minor or major issues out of the box. One of them had a driver board failure too.  :banghead:
WTB: The Grid by Midway (2001), looking for 2 or more complete games, and large marquee

shardian

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Re: so whats a good starter pinball to get?
« Reply #4 on: June 26, 2010, 01:31:24 pm »
They all break.
The only bulletproof game I know of is a shopped out Gottlieb system 1 with a Pascal Pi-x4 board in it.

Comet is a great starter game. It bridges the gap between early solid state and the newer stuff. It has speech, light show, ramps, everything. It is also cheap and pretty reliable once you take care of the GI issues and make sure the fuses are the proper rating.

Malenko

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Re: so whats a good starter pinball to get?
« Reply #5 on: June 26, 2010, 02:01:35 pm »
Basically I like pinball, I can play a game and have fun. Manufacter, rules, modes, complexity,etc dont really mean much to me (yet?) but I'm more concerned being able to hold younger kids attentions right now and truth be told I dont think comet is all that bad especially considering I was 6 years old when it came out. My uncle has had it for like 10 years with few / no issues.   Now I know nothing is bulletproof and anything can break at anytime, I just would like to get a game thats known for working with not many issues.

It does sound like the Comet might be the way to go, but I was just seeing if you guys had any other suggestions.

looked up system 3 heres the ones Ive played and liked:
Title Fight #726 (1990)
Hoops #727 (1991)
Operation Thunder #732 (1992)
Super Mario Bros. #733 (1992)
Street Fighter II #735 (1993)
Gladiators #737 (1993)
World Challenge Soccer #741 (1994)
Barb Wire #748 (1996)

Street Fighter II was my fave (Im sure you guys think it sucks, but I love the theme and the mini car game) but it seems pricey. Im hopin I can talk my uncle down on comet, I think he wants like a grand not sure I can spare the coin
« Last Edit: June 26, 2010, 02:21:35 pm by Malenko »
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Flake

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Re: so whats a good starter pinball to get?
« Reply #6 on: June 27, 2010, 09:54:42 pm »
I would say $1000 for a comet is too much unless it's perfect.  I payed $800 for a nice enough Cyclone (Comets sequal).  The same seller had a Comet that was in real nice shape with a clearcoated playfield for $1000. 

BTW - I think Cyclone is a great game and it's worked perfect since I bought it about 10-12 months ago.

shardian

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Re: so whats a good starter pinball to get?
« Reply #7 on: June 28, 2010, 02:03:31 pm »
Wow, what a family discount...

$1000 is the absolute high-end price for basically a minty fresh game. Even I wouldn't ask $1k for a clearcoated Comet!

FYI, Comet is $500 for a decent unshopped but working game. $800 for a nice, shopped one.

Malenko

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Re: so whats a good starter pinball to get?
« Reply #8 on: February 24, 2017, 09:13:08 am »
6 year bump!

I got that Comet from my uncle, got an SF2 pin (also mentioned in this thread up there) AND just got a Terminator 2
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Mike A

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Re: so whats a good starter pinball to get?
« Reply #9 on: February 24, 2017, 09:15:27 am »
I hate you. ;D

Mike A

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Re: so whats a good starter pinball to get?
« Reply #10 on: February 24, 2017, 09:17:25 am »
I played the crap out of T2 and Dr Who at my local arcade when I was a kid.

Titchgamer

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Re: so whats a good starter pinball to get?
« Reply #11 on: February 24, 2017, 09:17:59 am »
Niceee!
I really want a pin but trying to persuade my Ms we need one in our lives is not at all easy....

Mike A

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Re: so whats a good starter pinball to get?
« Reply #12 on: February 24, 2017, 09:21:07 am »
I have said it before. It is easier to ask forgiveness than to get permission. ;)

Malenko

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Re: so whats a good starter pinball to get?
« Reply #13 on: February 24, 2017, 09:32:40 am »
I bought my wife an LV bag , then she was much more open to me picking up a few pins.
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yotsuya

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Re: so whats a good starter pinball to get?
« Reply #14 on: February 24, 2017, 09:33:32 am »
Niceee!
I really want a pin but trying to persuade my Ms we need one in our lives is not at all easy....
***Build what you dig, bro. Build what you dig.***

Titchgamer

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Re: so whats a good starter pinball to get?
« Reply #15 on: February 24, 2017, 09:38:43 am »
LOL you aint met my Ms ;)
Shes a fiery welsh lass!
She keeps telling me I dont need one and I have nowhere to put it.
I say Ime a man and have needs, Ile find a place to put it ;)

She then gives me "that look"

Admittedly the space thing is a problem but I never admit that to her of course LOL

I am rather fond of the Spiderman pin which I have had loads of fun on.
Sadly though pins are even harder to find over here than cades so I just gota keep on hunting and then sweet talk her when I find one.

One day.... one day it will be mine...

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Re: so whats a good starter pinball to get?
« Reply #16 on: February 24, 2017, 09:40:07 am »
Whip It, Titch! Whip it! Whip it real good!
***Build what you dig, bro. Build what you dig.***

pbj

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Re: so whats a good starter pinball to get?
« Reply #17 on: February 24, 2017, 09:49:14 am »
That's a pretty solid lineup.  I've owned Comet and SF2 and liked them both a lot.


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Re: so whats a good starter pinball to get?
« Reply #18 on: February 24, 2017, 11:26:22 am »
Whip It, Titch! Whip it! Whip it real good!

I might get banned from here if I posted the meme I want to LOL

BorgDog

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Re: so whats a good starter pinball to get?
« Reply #19 on: March 02, 2017, 12:37:14 pm »
Nice lineup Mal.  Just over a year ago I had 0 pins, now I have 6 and another that came and went in that time.  I'm more old school though, so price is less.  Fortunately the better half is very supportive and we even have one temporarily in the living room until the snow melts and I can get it to the cabin.

Attached is a few with the vp cab.

My Projects:
MisSpent Youth a Vigolix bartop,  Little Bastard a rotating tablet/display bartop,
Pin-Dog a mini pin-cab on vpforums.org  Star Wars a wedgehead pincab on vpinball.com

pbj

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Re: so whats a good starter pinball to get?
« Reply #20 on: March 02, 2017, 03:11:58 pm »
Unfortunate visual pinball cabinet aside, that is a pinballjim approved lineup.

 :cheers:

Dawgz Rule

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Re: so whats a good starter pinball to get?
« Reply #21 on: March 02, 2017, 05:56:38 pm »
Nice collection.

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Re: so whats a good starter pinball to get?
« Reply #22 on: March 23, 2017, 10:49:30 am »
@Borg, nice JP :)  I'm currently restoring one, i have a CPR playfield and backglass for it.  Currently stripping the cabinet down to repaint it as i have a full stencil kit for it as well. So it'll be brand new.

I've owned a number of Gottlieb System 1 games and with the Pascal board they are bulletproof and very good games for the price. 

My current lineup is Medieval Madness, Stargate and Sinbad.  Joker Poker is torn apart for the restore. 

Everyone has their own opinions, so my advice is to play one and buy what you like, don't go based on what someone else says. 

pbj

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Re: so whats a good starter pinball to get?
« Reply #23 on: March 23, 2017, 10:55:15 am »
There are not that many un-fun pinball machines, in my opinion.  Never really cared for Dirty Harry, Junkyard, or World Poker Tour but those are the only three that spring to mind as games I never want to play again.


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Re: so whats a good starter pinball to get?
« Reply #24 on: March 23, 2017, 11:19:13 am »
Agreed.  Some I don't think are as fun or deserve the ratings they have.  Adams Family for example is highly rated, but i just don't care for it, neither does my buddy who has some machines and plays a ton as well.  Then again i know some people don't like MM, but it's a fantastic game to me and most people who have played it at my house. 

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Re: so whats a good starter pinball to get?
« Reply #25 on: March 23, 2017, 12:13:33 pm »
I think the Addam's Family and Medieval Madness machines are worthy of the hype.  Medieval loses me on the humor, though.  Those jokes were stale 20 years ago.  I prefer LOTR, but do kind of cringe that movie artwork is so prominent.  Reminds me of The Shadow in that regard.  Stern seems to mostly stick to themes that have been around forever, which is nice.











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Re: so whats a good starter pinball to get?
« Reply #26 on: March 25, 2017, 09:23:02 am »
TAF... Meh. MM... fun every once in a while. I'm a big fan of the early to mid 80's Williams machines. Only really love a handful of DMD era pins. The 90's were so awkward...
%Bartop

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Re: so whats a good starter pinball to get?
« Reply #27 on: March 25, 2017, 04:38:20 pm »
My faves are still the EM pins. Especially Gottlieb. As long as you do some basic maintenance they last. Gotta really know what you're doing to fix em when things go wrong though
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