NBA

[Level42]

Well, I played NBA about two weeks ago and I must say it was a game I really enjoyed. Of course I will get the usual bashing because of liking a new Stern pinball, but I don't give a ---Cleveland steamer---.

After 24 (TERRIBLE) and CSI (mwahhhhh) this is the first one I enjoyed playing.

Stern captured the basketball them very nicely. Even so much that the balls seem to  be up in the air a LOT of times, and not only because of the (fun) mechanism that clamps the ball and _always_ throws it in the basket....
The ball seems to be launched from various points on the playfield, so this one will see some damage soon I expect.

The spinning disc is of course not new, but I enjoyed it anyway. I have to say that only after a couple of plays the covering of the disc already had a small damage. And yes, of course the translite is once again photoshopped pictures but I guess we'll have to live with it.

Anyway, I like NBA much more than 24 and CSI, but not as much as Batman.

[Ginsu Victim]

Wow, that basket shot feature is cool, though you're right, it will tear it up eventually.
1:18 and 1:23 you can see the shots. Not sure where else (haven't watched the whole video)

[pinballwizard79]

I too played NBA.

Gotta say these Sterns are growing on me. Its no doubt they are smaller, lighter, thinner, built cheaper & more "toy-ish" in feel but man are they fast & glossy with deep rules (this one is pretty simple tho).

NBA seemed to have a nice contrast in color vs the ball....it was kind of classic looking I must admit (the pics just cannot convey what I am talking about).

The ball hitting the magnet hoop is sweet, the TMNT spinner is a familiar gimmick but it works well.

Long story short I like it.

Also, 24 has some super hot pop bumpers I noticed.

[Jeff AMN]

I played NBA for like 2 hours straight not too long ago and I really enjoyed it. It has BY FAR the best spinner ever in a game. It doesn't just nudge the direction of the ball, it sends it off across the playfield quickly and in a totally random fashion. The basket is a really fun toy whether you're making the ramp shot or having the kicker shoot for you.

There isn't a lot of stuff that slows the flow of the game, so you're doing far more flipping than watching.

[Visitor Q]

Space Jam 2.0

I really wish Stern would offer some better themes. 

[Jeff AMN]

Stern's themes are an issue simply because they have to stick to what's popular with the general population. Pinball doesn't just draw people in anymore for the sake of pinball, but a theme friendly to the average passerby has potential to entice people to play.

[Visitor Q]

I don't own a Stern game and currently the only one I would consider owning is Family Guy. With that said, I'm sure that theme would get old fast and in a few years people are going to say, Family Guy?

[Jeff AMN]

What's wrong with the other Stern games? Why do you only like Family Guy? Lord of the Rings and Spider-Man are both fantastic licenses with great gameplay.

[Visitor Q]

What's wrong with the other Stern games? Why do you only like Family Guy? Lord of the Rings and Spider-Man are both fantastic licenses with great gameplay.

SM I have seen but not played, not much on the theme.

LOTR is fun I guess, the theme is ok.

With that said, that does not mean there is not a million other people who love those themes... I mean ticket sales for those movies says it all.

However...

I prefer timeless themes in pinball machines which is why I own Monster Bash and Attack From Mars to name just a single reason.

I'm sure there are people who don't care for those too.

All opinions. 

[Ginsu Victim]

I don't give a ---fudgesicle--- about the theme as long as it's fun to play.

[Jeff AMN]

What's wrong with the other Stern games? Why do you only like Family Guy? Lord of the Rings and Spider-Man are both fantastic licenses with great gameplay.

SM I have seen but not played, not much on the theme.

LOTR is fun I guess, the theme is ok.

With that said, that does not mean there is not a million other people who love those themes... I mean ticket sales for those movies says it all.

However...

I prefer timeless themes in pinball machines which is why I own Monster Bash and Attack From Mars to name just a single reason.

I'm sure there are people who don't care for those too.

All opinions. 

Opinions, sure. I would just think that both Spider-Man and Lord of the Rings are iconic enough to be considered timeless themes in their own right. Now, I can see how something like Big Buck Hunter (Stern's next game) could be a passing fad or a product of its time.

I just don't like people dumping on Stern because it's Stern. Same goes for Data East. So many people pass up on good games because of the company that made them, not because they're not actually good games.

[Visitor Q]

It's all what you like. I am thankful that Stern is still making pins but I can name about 20 games from Bally/ Williams that I would rather have before I came back to Stern.

[RayB]

Played NBA last week at a Toronto pinball tournament. I liked it. The basket shot really surprised me. After a while though, there's isn't that much going on in this one.  I'm not a "conaisseur" of pinball so my opinion doesn't carry much weight....

Gary Stern was at the tourney and I heard via other sources who talked to him that future pins are going to be "simpler", and I think NBA is the first example of a simpler (AKA: cheaper to manufacture) pin.