Thinking about pins to purchase

[HaRuMaN]

Not likely I'll ever get my hands on a MM, so...

What's a decent, relatively inexpensive SS pin with good replay value? 

Trying to find something fun that's not gonna break the bank.  What would you suggest keeping my eyes out for?

[pinballwizard79]

I hear good things about Stargate, even from the hater known as PBJ so buy one & let me know how you like it.

What is your budget?

[HaRuMaN]

I hear good things about Stargate, even from the hater known as PBJ so buy one & let me know how you like it.

What is your budget?

No particular budget in mind yet, just thinking about an SS to round out the gameroom.  Already have an EM. 

If I had to put a figure, I would say ideally $1000 or less. 

[Jeff AMN]

If you can chip in another $200 or so, Judge Dredd is a good one. It has a few very unique things on it. Others that might come in at $1,200 or under that would be good games for a first pin...

- Jurassic Park (fun game, big time crowd pleaser)
- Dr. Who (not my favorite, but gets a lot of love by others)
- Terminator 2
- World Cup Soccer '94 (price has been coming up on this, but maybe you could get lucky)
- Demolition Man
- The Simpsons (Data East version)
- F-14 Tomcat
- Pinbot
- High Speed
- Whirlwind

[Jeff AMN]

I got my WCS '94 for $1,200 and it had zero playfield wear. The only issue was a busted up shooter housing, but that was a cheap and easy fix. I loved my Jurassic Park, and the only issue I had was that very common diode issue on the mode start shot.

I agree with Terminator 2, but it's not a bad entry pin. I don't find it all that entertaining, but many do. Figured I'd throw it out there.

If I were to rank my list and give a top 5, I'd say...

1. World Cup Soccer '94 (if it falls into that sweet spot for price)
2. Jurassic Park
3. The Simpsons
4. Whirlwind
5. Pinbot

[pinballwizard79]

I have had a JP for prolly 5 years.

So far the only thing to go wrong was the left/right motor & some bracket that stops the plunger.

I wouldnt fear a JP, mine has held up pretty well (well for saying that I am asking for a problem...)

PBJ what went wrong with yours?

[Q*Bert_OP]

Also note that with early JP software revisions kill the T-REX's gearboxes!

[pinballwizard79]

Haha PBJ you bought a lemon. Subways & jaws breaking, ftw dude!

I snagged mine in minty condition from Treasure Cove about 5+ years ago so perhaps I've just been lucky.

Qbert... thats good info & prolly explains why I had to replace the left/right motor on my dino.

HaRuMaN have you thought about a Starship troopers or BOP?

[Vigo]

What make WC 94 such a awesome pin? Obviously not the theme.....

[HaRuMaN]

I really liked Road Kings back in the day.  There was one at the local greasy spoon diner we used to go to.  So that one holds some nostalgia for me.

Haven't played it since I was a kid, so I don't remember how good it actually was.

[yotsuya]

When I was in high school I used to work at the airport with my buddies, and after work we'd go to the airport arcade and spend our tips on Tetris, Pinbot, and a basketball game (the kind with the moving hoops). I'd love to get my hands on a Pinbot, since I play the crap out of Tetris on my MAME cab.

[Jeff AMN]

What make WC 94 such a awesome pin? Obviously not the theme.....

It's the one Papaduik game that isn't overhyped and too expensive. The game may be easy to complete, but it's tons of fun to play. Can't say the same about CV, TOTAN, or ToM.

I'll second that Bride of Pinbot recommendation. Great game!

[HaRuMaN]

It's not bad, but it doesn't really stand out in that era.  

What's a stand out from that era, then?

[Xiaou2]

BOP is pretty fun.

 Another good one is Space Station.

(not space shuttle. ive not played that one)

 A buddy of mine had one, and I really should have bought it from him.  It has a fantastic light show, great sounds, fun and challenging play.

 Jokerz was cool too, but the constant laughing gets a bit old.

 BK2K - great pin for 1200, if you find a trashed one thats restorable.
The original BK is great too, but the sounds are too grating for my ears.

 I once played a Medusa at a show that was about $1200 i believe.  I really liked it. Fun flow, interesting slide-flippers, great backglass art, cool theme and art + awesome back-lit translucent red flippers.

[Jeff AMN]

Xiaou2 makes some good suggestions too, but I don't agree with Jokerz! I find that to be a terrible game. It has some nice concepts, but ultimately I felt that there weren't any satisfying or challenging shots.

[smartbomb2084]

It has some nice concepts, but ultimately I felt that there weren't any satisfying or challenging shots.

Does that include the 'Double Your Score' shot on the last ball?

[HaRuMaN]

Gold Wings any good?

[yotsuya]

Gold Wings any good?

I saw that one last night on Craigslist. Looks like it's in good shape.

[HaRuMaN]

Gold Wings any good?

I saw that one last night on Craigslist. Looks like it's in good shape.

Feedback on the web seems to be generally positive about it.

[HaRuMaN]

"Working, in good condition, with topper" for $500.

http://phoenix.craigslist.org/wvl/vgm/2674954705.html

[Xiaou2]

played gold wings at a show once. wasnt good enough to own, imo. poor flow, cramped field with odd split layout. pretty slow.

i dont agree with pretty much anything PBJ lists, hes got very strange taste imo.  Most particularly, he owns a Spy Hunter pin.  I love the arcade game, and wanted to like the pin, but it just was a total downer.

 As for Bk2k, we have 2 collectors here locally that have entire basements filled with all the Top pins... over +20pins each.  Both have a Bk2k as well, both had sold off them at one point, but missed it, and now both have it again.  Its certainly not the top pin to have, but its a fast and fun flow game, with awesome soundtrack, theme, and lightshow.

 If you play it like a stop-n-shot game, yeah, it would probably be boring. But if you let the ball whiz around at mach5 without stopping it, its a blast.