Starship Troopers Pinball Machine - Opinions?

[Flake]

Yes, its another "what do you think about this pin" thread posted by me. 

I have a chance to check out a possibly purchase a Starship Troopers this weekend and was wondering if this is a decent pin or not.  I have never played it and I'll still trying to figure out how to use Visual Pinball so I cant even play it on that right now.

Then artwork from the pictures I've seen at www.ipbd.com doesnt seem too appealing but it would appear that the gameplay is pretty decent.  The guy wants $1400 for it - hopefully that negotiable.

I just dont know if I want a starship troopers themed pin sitting in my basement but maybe it looks better in person.

Any thoughts?

[ChadTower]

I'm with Jim... it's a decent game with a low quality theme.  For a similar theme machine also from Sega I definitely prefer Lost In Space.  IMO $1200 is even pretty high in this market unless it's a super nice machine.

[Flake]

So I'm guessing the fact that it plays like a MM is a good thing?

Hmmm....I'm doubting he goes less than $1200.  He claims its in good shape.....but who knows what that means.

I might just have to hold off till Super Auction comes this April.  If nothing good comes from that then I can pursue CL posted pins.  I having a real hard time committing to a pin. 

I almost pulled the trigger on a Jurassic Park listed on E-bay a week or so ago.  I probably could have got it for $1100 or so but would have had to go to KC to get it (I'm in STL).  It was all shopped out with some cabinet scratches that werent too bad.

Actually, if you are following E-bay deals right now there seem to be some pretty good deals out there if you are close enough to go pickup.  Shipping on those things always sours the deal.

Thanks guys

[JeepMonkey]

If you would consider coming to KC for a pin, you might checkout

http://www.unitedamusement.com/dateslocations.php

They still have the list of games from the last auction.  Lately they have had 10-15 pins per auction.  There is no listing of the next auction date, but the first one is usually March or April, with auctions every two months.  Unfortunately they wait until the night before the auction to post the machines that will be there.  If nothing else, it is a good opertunity to play some games for free.

I have seen what looks like a nice Theatre of Magic floating around KC CL and ebay, but at $3200 it may be more than you are wanting to spend.

[ChadTower]

Have patience and keep your eyes on CL and RGP.  You can do better than those prices and the market is only going to get worse in 2009.

[Flake]

Have patience and keep your eyes on CL and RGP.  You can do better than those prices and the market is only going to get worse in 2009.

What is RBG?

[ChadTower]

What is RBG?

Special monitors for dyslexic people.

[Flake]

Oh for gods sake you took the time to reply about a typo but decided against answering the question.  Nice

[Zero_Hour]

rec.games.pinball on usenet.

Google Groups addy:
http://groups.google.com/group/rec.games.pinball/topics?lnk

[ChadTower]

Oh for gods sake you took the time to reply about a typo but decided against answering the question.  Nice

It's true.  I'm a wiseass but I am much nicer than pinballjim.   

[Flake]

No argument here.

[ChadTower]

He does seem to be particularly unfresh today.

[pinballwizard79]

You are talking about Joey P in NKC & his auction from last week right?.............................Heh, a JP from Mr. JP........ thats nifty!

Its truly doubtful he did an actual "shop job" on the machine but I am sure it worked fine. The scratches could have been a pretty easy to fix & custom match due to the simplicity of the cabinet artwork on JP's................."Paralysis by analysis" faux show!

But, enough over spilled milk......

As far as the Stargate pinball if its minty just pull the trigger! If you decide you no longer want it then just sell it, you are sure to either trade it for something else eventually or add another half dozen to it anyways. Or maybe just like you said go to the SA in 6 weeks, you will end up with a pinball soon regardless.

Dont stop by the Lions Choice out here on your way to/from, its horrible! Go to the one in Cave Springs, its arhgrga-ubly the best lol!

 

[Flake]

Yea I'm sure that was the one in KC.  Yes, yes, I know I just need to pull the trigger but by nature I usually overanalyze cost/benefit to the point its no longer a benefit......if you get my meaning.

So you have experience with this seller in KC?  You by chance werent the one who bid $2700 on the Simpson's Pinball Party today were you?   

[pinballwizard79]

So you pondered the ROI for the JP until it became....................wait for it.................extinct?

There are now 4 prehistoric periods in time: Cretaceous, Jurassic, Triassic & Flakedoesnthaveapinballmachine-assic

LOL 

No I didnt bid on the SPP, I am scared to buy a Stern unless NIB or from a collector who had it since NIB.

Maybe we should PM each other when bidding on anything in a 400 mile radius. It would suck for the two of us to get into a bidding battle & then post pics of the prize. Not because it would sting for the loser to see the machine he lost but it would sting for the winner knowing had we communicated it would have cost one of us far less.......Not to mention if one of us tired of it in 6-12 months & offered it to the other it would cost more, just my opinion.

I have dealt with Joey before yes.

Why dont you pick up a good ol Williams game from the late 80's?

They are built like freakin tanks & simple enough to work on for noobs.

Maybe a Taxi, Tomcat (careful with those tho), High Speed or etc.........

[Flake]

There are now 4 prehistoric periods in time: Cretaceous, Jurassic, Triassic & Flakedoesnthaveapinballmachine-assic

Hahaha now thats funny....

A fan of How I Met Your Mother are you?

I would love to get my hands on a Cyclone.  I've been playing the crap out of it in FP and I love it.  I'm open to all types of SS pins.  If I had my absolute preference, in my price range I would probably opt for a 90's Williams.

I suppose I am expecting the economy to take its toll here in the next couple months so that I'll get some great steal but thats probably wishful thinking.  So that thinking is keeping me from pulling the trigger.  I suppose I could adopt what appears to be your pinball purchase philosophy....why buy one when you can buy two twice the price....joking of course but you sure arent helping the "be patient" mantra I've seemingly adopted contrary to my overwhelming desire to just go out and snatch one.  Admittingly, when I started this search I never even contemplated purchasing more than one but in the next six months but lately I've been thinking two pins would be great.  So I suppose I've been waiting around to see if I can catch a bad themed 90's player and then maybe a 80's pin for as much as I expected to pay for one two months ago.  Probably wishful thinking.  So I wait and watch......a stategy my wife is quite fond of.........

[pinballwizard79]

I have yet to watch more than 30 seconds of that show but now I look like a plagiarizer don't I?

Interbank lending is rising, we printed more fiat paper & said "whatever it takes". Unemployment = the recent spending drop, 8%. Now we save 2% rather than spend 6% more than we earn.............weird how we keep talking about restoring the economy to a borrowed leveraged unsustainable level.

But we will, then we print more fiat paper, been doing it since 1913.

So do this: Divorce the wife, put the house in her name & the assets in yours. Stop making your house payment & save that money....then buy the house via your name at auction for $100k less & then get remarried................afterwards send the money to Highendpins for a dozen beauties.

Its not wrong because the loss will be written off by the lender & purchased by the government who prints fake fiat paper anyway, its victimless I tell you.

Or just get a Starship troopers & cyclone this weekend.

Totally kidding about the semistrawbuying garbage too btw guys, back to the hijacked thread.

[JeepMonkey]

Does Joe P do public auctions, or are you talking about ebay auctions?  There are public arcade auctions in south KC (Grandview).

[Visitor Q]

Never played this one but I like the movie, sequals sucked though. 

[Flake]

Does Joe P do public auctions, or are you talking about ebay auctions?  There are public arcade auctions in south KC (Grandview).

I was talking about E-bay auctions.  I dont remember his sellers name but this guy has several pins for sale usually - at least he does lately.  Claims they are all shopped out - but PinballWizard apparently doubts they are truly fully shopped.  Personally I dont know.

[shardian]

That Starship Troopers pin does look fun. Very colorful and full of toys. I might have to try it our in VP.

[Flake]

I have yet to watch more than 30 seconds of that show but now I look like a plagiarizer don't I?

Interbank lending is rising, we printed more fiat paper & said "whatever it takes". Unemployment = the recent spending drop, 8%. Now we save 2% rather than spend 6% more than we earn.............weird how we keep talking about restoring the economy to a borrowed leveraged unsustainable level.

But we will, then we print more fiat paper, been doing it since 1913.

So do this: Divorce the wife, put the house in her name & the assets in yours. Stop making your house payment & save that money....then buy the house via your name at auction for $100k less & then get remarried................afterwards send the money to Highendpins for a dozen beauties.

Its not wrong because the loss will be written off by the lender & purchased by the government who prints fake fiat paper anyway, its victimless I tell you.

Or just get a Starship troopers & cyclone this weekend.

Totally kidding about the semistrawbuying garbage too btw guys, back to the hijacked thread.

So your a banker huh?  Commerical lending?

If I divorce my wife am I required to remarry?  If so I will have to renegotiate a new marital agreement that allows for unlimited access to funds for coin-op goodies.

[Flake]

That Starship Troopers pin does look fun. Very colorful and full of toys. I might have to try it our in VP.

Thats one of the reasons I want to get VP up and running.  I tried again last night with no success.  Hell I cant even get the search function to work.  I keep getting errors.

I installed the VIP pack in the getting started section and then downloaded a few tables.  I get errors regarding the WBS.VBS file telling me to make sure I have it in the same folder as my table files.  This is weird because its there - I can see it.  Then VP crashes on me.  Its all messed up.

[JeepMonkey]

Did you see these listing on STL CL?

http://stlouis.craigslist.org/bfs/1043309326.html

They have a STTNG and X Files for sale.  It does not say if they would break up the group.


This guy has a JP in the background, maybe he would sell?

http://stlouis.craigslist.org/tag/1052197991.html

[Flake]

I did see that but I didnt think he would break up the group.  Maybe I should ask.  I didnt notice that JP.  He has like 8 pins listed so I assume if he is selling the JP he would list it.  I think I'll inquire though, thanks.

[JeepMonkey]

Never hurts to ask, if you are interested in any of them.

[Flake]

What about a Stern High Roller?  There is one around here in really good shape for $1750.  The reviews on ipbd arent that great but it looks like a cool game.....

[Flake]

I havent seen a Monopoly go for anywhere close to this.  Where do you get your market information anyway, you seem to have a cheap source for pins.  Care to share?

[ChadTower]

Games are always cheaper when you can fix them and people know you're both a serious buyer and someone who buys AS IS without a hassle after the fact.  There is value in someone being able to just call you and say "I have game X at price Y come look at it" and it either sells to you or does not but they know you won't ---smurfette--- at them for 3 months because there is an issue with the driver board.

[Flake]

I didnt realize pins came with tech support.  Whatever and from whomever I buy I never had any intention of calling them back down the road to help fix any problems.  I always assumed you bought these things as is.  I'm not looking for any "warranty".  Besides, no one has ever offered to sell me their machine for less than their asking price if I just took it as is.  Maybe I need to develop some reputation first or something.....hell I dont know....

[ChadTower]

I didnt realize pins came with tech support.  Whatever and from whomever I buy I never had any intention of calling them back down the road to help fix any problems.  I always assumed you bought these things as is.  I'm not looking for any "warranty".  Besides, no one has ever offered to sell me their machine for less than their asking price if I just took it as is.  Maybe I need to develop some reputation first or something.....hell I dont know....

People buying their first machine are notoriously difficult about expecting support.  Not always, but it's very common, for them to harrass the seller for months over tiny stuff like a bulb going out.

[JeepMonkey]

FWIW - I saw a Monopoly at Palmentere's (North KC) around two months ago that looked to be in good shape for $2300.  I can't remember if it was CL or ebay.

There was a Ripley's posted a couple days ago on Topeka CL in "very nice" condition for $2200.

*edit* I am only putting these out there b/c they are relatively close to STL.

[Flake]

That seems to be more in line with prices I've noted.  But still more than I want to pay.  For now I probably have an overall budget of $1500 or so.

Well hey I can understand the frustration of newbies buying pins then harassing the seller at the first sight of trouble.  This has never been my expectation.  My original goal - and still is probably - is to find something nice enough so that it works well for a time as I become famaliar with it.  I want to learn about them and be able to fix them myself eventually, but my more immediate need is just play one and enjoy it.

[Flake]

Well lately STL has been up and down, weeks go by with nothing really but then BAM there is like 15 ads posted in a two day period.  I've tried purchasing a few I've found from there but they either misrepresented the condition of the pin or someone else beat me to it.  I'm still a little bitter about the Pinbot I let escape. 

I have inquired about dozens of pins and frankly I many are asking more than I'm willing to pay for the title.  I'm so guarded against buyer's remorse its almost paralyzing in a sense.  I suppose also with the upcoming auction I am hesitant to blow my wad now in case there are deals to be had there.

Thats a neat trick on the e-bay search, never thought of that.  I'll set it up.  Either way, its been nice to get feedback from this forum on value/playability and such.  Valuable info to be sure.

[JeepMonkey]

This is what I have seen lately in this area.

You can get machines such as JP, Demo Man, Johnny Mnemonic, maybe Simpsons, and a handful of similar titles for $900-$1200.  

Then there is a gap for Nightmare On Elm Street, Last action Hero, quality machines for $1500.

Then you get to $2000-$2200 starts at themes like No Good Gofers, Teed Off, earlier "New" Sterns.

Lastly you have nice classics such as Addams, Theater of Magic, and Sterns from the last 2-4 years.

I have saved up some cash to buy a real nice pin, but what I have found is that I am really looking at the $800-$1200 machines as fun, but not over the top, or a nice high end pin like Theatre of Magic.  To me, there is a void of pins that I am interested in at the $1400-$2000 range.

[pinballwizard79]

Flake: I am not in the finance industry, anymore.

As for JoeyP, not saying he is a bad seller or anything, just saying its crazy to fully trust ANYONE who sells pins & vids for a living. I will STILL buy from him with confidence though, but I do so knowing "shoped" talk is cheap in the pinball world.

To me it seems collectors who just want to break even on one machine to clear up space for a replacement are better. Collectors are not looking at every coil sleeve, bulb & clip replaced as a liability, its more of a necessity & pride in their baby.

Of course there are times their items sell at a fair price so my previous statement can be disproved.

FYI: There are two sellers in KC (using the same name) to stay away from however.

[Flake]

There's no deals to be had on pinballs at live auctions.


The sellers shill them up to make sure they don't lose $50 and the games sell for above E-bay prices.

Generally speaking I understand and probably agree with that.  However, its only 5 weeks away and probably worth checking out.  I noticed a very steep decline the pinball prices between the last two auctions.  I'm sure most of the them were just purchased back by the sellers but who knows.  There are some members on here who have claimed to score some good deals on pins from auctions.  

Wow Jeep Monkey those prices on DM, JP and Simpsons are at least $200-300 less than what I'm seeing here.  Very nice....

God I just e-mailed a guy about an Operation Wolf game around here and he wants $550.  That seems about $300 too high.  For Gods Sake, someone must be buying these things.....and I'd wish they'd quit.

[ChadTower]

There's no deals to be had on pinballs at live auctions.

That's not so much true right now.  The auction I went to in Dec had games going for really good prices.  The quite nice Shadow went $750... a decent Congo $700... some older games anywhere from $400-700 but on average $200 lower than they would have a year ago.

[Flake]

There's no deals to be had on pinballs at live auctions.

That's not so much true right now.  The auction I went to in Dec had games going for really good prices.  The quite nice Shadow went $750... a decent Congo $700... some older games anywhere from $400-700 but on average $200 lower than they would have a year ago.

Thats what I'm talking about baby!   

[JeepMonkey]

God I just e-mailed a guy about an Operation Wolf game around here and he wants $550.  That seems about $300 too high.  For Gods Sake, someone must be buying these things.....and I'd wish they'd quit.

I just bought a mostly working Operation Wolf as it is one of my grails.  Everything worked except for the trigger (I know, it is pretty important) at an auction back in October for $75.  If I ever get home I will have to get it working.