Arcade Collecting > Pinball
Pinball, where to start?
Dazz:
Ok, I'll probably get slammed with this, but... You might want to consider building a digital pin. Having real pins is wonderful if you have the space to dedicate to multiple machines. Having one machine will get boring pretty quickly and then you'll start looking to trade/sell it for another and keep that cycle going.
You already have a MAME cabinet, so you know the basics of a digital pin already. Build a custom cabinet, drop in a PC and a couple LCD screens and you can have as many tables you want all in the space it takes to have 1 pinball cabinet. With a digital table there is little maintenance where as real pins may require much more. Digital pins may not play exactly like a real pin, but they are getting pretty damn close once you start tossing in flashers, shaker motors and solenoids. I have had real pins as well as my digital pin and I get just as much, if not more, enjoyment from the digital pin since I can easily switch to another table or add another to the 150+ nice quality re-creations.
If you have the money and the space go with a couple nice real pins, but I wouldn't frown upon a digital machine.
ChadTower:
I'm starting to think there really needs to be one in my house, too. If I ever get through my project queue that is going to be next.
Rando:
--- Quote from: Dazz on February 15, 2011, 05:49:59 am ---Ok, I'll probably get slammed with this, but... You might want to consider building a digital pin. Having real pins is wonderful if you have the space to dedicate to multiple machines. Having one machine will get boring pretty quickly and then you'll start looking to trade/sell it for another and keep that cycle going.
--- End quote ---
Thanks Dazz,
The concept of a Digital Pin sounds really cool to me, I hadn't even heard of the option before I first came to this site a few months ago. I pitched it to my wife (she is the one pushing for Pinball) early on and she is very against the idea. I'd have to have her actually try one out somewhere before I could get her to move on it I think.
The Pinball research has been good though, and I appreciate all the insight above. This has helped to keep me focused while waiting for Fedex to locate my missing Cabinet pieces. :angry:
Right now I'm talking with a fairly local dealer to see if I can package two machines for around $1500: One old 70's machine for $500ish and a second 80's or 90's machine for around $1000. I'm not in a hurry though so I'll see where the conversation goes and definitely try anything before I buy.
garnerb350:
Im craving a pinball machine myself and from reading this thread has been helpful...
Rando, Dazz has a good point... soon as i find the time and funds, I plan on making a virtual pin...
I eventually want to get an actual pinball machine and with me playing Visual Pinball on the PC, its helped me with picking out what games i like and dont like...its even showed me games i never knew...
I myself love Attack from Mars, Circus Voltaire, GunsRoses, Elvira, Tales/Crypt to name a few...
Cenobyte:
I'm also searching for my first pinball machine. Yesterday I went to see someone that rebuilds these machines and sells them and he had some 15 machines there to try out. :notworthy:
It's my first machine and I don't plan on collecting them (ahem...) so I want this machine to be perfect. I read reviews, checked out the Top 100 and watched Youtube video's of pinballs until my wife actually thought I owned one, but actually touching, seeing and playing one is the best test. I want a pin that plays nice, holds it's game fun as good as possible, but is also a nice looker and has an appealing theme. I played Road Show and found it to be a very nice game, but I hate the looks of this machine. The two heads make me think of the Chucky movies and I think it's creapy :laugh2:
I also played Terminator 3 and that was a very nice machine to look at, perfect theme, but a less entertaining game. I really like the flashing lights going around the table. Twister was a very nice pin too, but a game that is too fast for my taste. LotR was both attractive and fun to play, but was out of my league moneywise :D
I ended up with Star Trek The Next Generation getting the most points on all fronts (for me). Very entertaining game, appealing theme for me and quite a nice looker too, although I miss the real flashing lights action and the "cool looks" that T3 has. I also wanted to try out Twilight Zone, but he did not have it there. In the next couple of days I hope to make a decision on which machine to buy! :applaud:
Look, feel and play. That is the only way to find your taste in pinballs. It's hard though, because I don't know many people that have (a) pinball machine(s) and are willing to let you play them.
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