The only remotely appealing prices to me for TPA/Stern on Switch is the "upgrade" LE pack pricing which gives you two full sets of tables. I'm pretty happy with having AC/DC, Star Trek, Mustang and GB for the grand total of ~$25AUD.I love the concept of Pinball Arcade, but don't know why their prices are so off putting to me. Zen Pinball in comparison has better prices, or to Word it diferently, goes to sale more frequently
I love the concept of Pinball Arcade, but don't know why their prices are so off putting to me. Zen Pinball in comparison has better prices, or to Word it diferently, goes to sale more frequently
The only remotely appealing prices to me for TPA/Stern on Switch is the "upgrade" LE pack pricing which gives you two full sets of tables. I'm pretty happy with having AC/DC, Star Trek, Mustang and GB for the grand total of ~$25AUD.
Curious to see what the price will be of the main TPA will be, given that if they put all their finalised tables in the physical release it could wind up to be at least 50 or so machines (at a guess).
Yeah, this. I've bought lots of tables in TPA and have easily gotten 10x the value back on each one. Even if I price a game at $0.25 I still come out ahead.The prices seems high but a good pinball table could give you a hundred hours of play over time.
Yeah I'm doing ghostbusters/mustang for 10$. Note I have the three zen boards and Frankenstein's of course. Otherwise I'm waiting for pinball arcade and sw/marvel on zen
Well I'll check out some of his when TPA comes if they are available I just really enjoy the ghostbusters theme. Now if it was a Star Trek tos table there'd be no hesitation. I love classic shows like get smart, all 5 trek shows, Batman 66.Intersting thing SPA did, they divided the 4 new tables by designer. Mustang & Ghostbusters are John Trudeau tables and Star Trek & AC/DC are Steve Ritchie games.
Personally, I'm more of a Ritchie guy.
I just realised that, never bought any of the games physically with the exception of Williams Pinball Arcade (or whatever it was called) for PC. Shame they couldn't just include a massive amount of packs all in the one package, or at least a deal where you can buy multiple seasons for a discount.They're at 79 tables now and if they do a physical release it will only be Season 1 & 2 and we're on Season 7.
I had the option to purchase both a Theater of Magic and Twilight Zone pins (both in kept up state) for good prices many years ago.
I still regret not doing it.
I eye good condition Dr. Dude pins from time to time as well. Sigh.
As a game designer, I'm jealous of good Pinball machines, honestly. The blend of mechanical and game logic / system design is masterful in a well crafted table.
Not to be negative, but I just can't get into the Zen tables at all. They're ridiculously easy and generous, to the point where I feel like I have to intentionally try to get a ball to drain. The ramps also seem to have no pretense of reality, where the ball just travels as if on rails as soon as it gets into contact. I mean, I suppose they're fun in the way Pokemon Pinball is fun, but I always expect a Pinball Arcade-style realism when I play a Zen table and invariably end up disappointed.
IMO this is frequently an overestimated problem with owning pinball machines (with the exception of bespoke parts like plastics and unique mechs). When I first got my High Speed I didn't even know how to remove the lockdown bar, but soon learned and would now consider myself fairly competent with fixing a pinball machine.I'd regret it, too!
But pinball requires constant upkeep, you have to know how to fix them game, which will break and often, and find parts.
IMO this is frequently an overestimated problem with owning pinball machines (with the exception of bespoke parts like plastics and unique mechs). When I first got my High Speed I didn't even know how to remove the lockdown bar, but soon learned and would now consider myself fairly competent with fixing a pinball machine.
People just need to not be afraid to get their hands dirty, but I guess it depends on what you want it for, whether it's solely to play or if it's to tinker with as well.
You don't have one? What the hell, man? Just pony up and buy something cheap like a High Speed. Good table to learn the ropes on, very basic, open layout and not too tricky to fix. Even if you just get a good player's table, you should find one fairly easily.
You don't have one? What the hell, man? Just pony up and buy something cheap like a High Speed. Good table to learn the ropes on, very basic, open layout and not too tricky to fix. Even if you just get a good player's table, you should find one fairly easily.
But pinball requires constant upkeep, you have to know how to fix them game, which will break and often, and find parts.
IMO this is frequently an overestimated problem with owning pinball machines (with the exception of bespoke parts like plastics and unique mechs). When I first got my High Speed I didn't even know how to remove the lockdown bar, but soon learned and would now consider myself fairly competent with fixing a pinball machine.
Totally agreed! Bad (underpowered) flippers or an unwaxed table can make pinball a very, very bad experience. I'm fortunate that I worked in an arcade for a while during college years. It was a small operation where we serviced the games ourselves, including waxing tables and replacing worn components, so I got really familiar with pinball mechanics, wiring custom harnesses and JAMMA adaptors, CRT degaussing and servicing, etc.
I think a lot of people that buy a pin underestimate the work that goes into upkeep, especially any of them with complicated mechanical parts - the Addam's Family Thing hand, and Chuckie's face in Funhouse were big headaches when they started acting up. Things like High Speed - both a good table (crazy when newly waxed!) and relatively simple mechanically - are always nice to find.
I was wondering where the Pinball thread was, and I don't have thread creating privileges yet, so I couldn't create it myself. Thanks.
Indy 500 and High Speed II are my favorites, love 'em and I'm glad they're both in TPA.
Do suggest if anyone ever makes their way to the Jersey Shore, specifically in the Asbury Park area to go and check out The Silverball Museum. Got roughly 6000 machines from the 50s to modern tables. Every time I go down there for a concert at the legendary Stone Pony I'll stop by after a few drinks and play a couple of the machines.
Say are there any good pinball places in the greater Dallas area? Specially on the south side, would be cool to hit one up, specially if my dad visits
More like major brainfart. 200 machines is what I meant to say. Edited.
Are there any other current pinball manufacturers besides Stern and Jersey Jack?
Pinside says the designer is Joe BalcerIsn't Houdini a Popadiuk table? I seem to recall that Theater of Magic was originally intended to have a Houdini theme.
yoooooo~!!!! I had that! I may actually still have it, if I search hard enough in my parent's house.
Any articles about this sudden upsurge in pinball manufacturers? Just a few years ago, people were legitimately afraid that pinball would die as Stern was basically the only group left after Williams shutdown their pinball operations after their Pinball 2000 initiative failed.
Any articles about this sudden upsurge in pinball manufacturers? Just a few years ago, people were legitimately afraid that pinball would die as Stern was basically the only group left after Williams shutdown their pinball operations after their Pinball 2000 initiative failed.
For my money, the advent of digital remakes of classic tables also helps out since it allows people to experience Pinball's history for the most part without having to find where machines are still working.
I've half-jokingly suggested that My Little Pony should get the pinball treatment, just to appeal to a demographic beyond the "older male fortysomethings" that most tables target these days. The show has enough characters and villains for numerous objectives and wizard modes; throw in animated clips on a color LCD screen and you're set.
Yeah, I know. It's a meta-issue I ponder from time-to-time, how to make pinball themes that appeal to a wider market while satisfying the home collectors that drive most of the sales.While more kid-targeted tables would be cool, so much of the market is male private collectors in there 40+ years and I don't know that there's a lot of Brony cross-over, lol.
Still waiting for an Iron Maiden pinball machine.
Crazy there has never been one considering the source material possibilities and the demographic overlap.
That's totally still possible, IMO. AC/DC, Metallica & Aerosmith were all made in just the last 5 years. Spooky's Rob Zombie game was 2016 and their Alice Cooper table will be shipping in a few months.
I could definitely see someone, if not necessarily those two companies, picking up the license.
I hope so. Maiden's been going a lot harder into merchandising too with their mobile game and comics. They got someone specifically handling their interactive endeavors now. (and he said he would love Eddie in a fighting game) *cough* Ishmae1 *cough*
I'm gonna have to check out that Alice Cooper one if any barcades near me get it.
Heh. Noted.(and he said he would love Eddie in a fighting game) *cough* Ishmae1 *cough*
Showing my age here, but I'd love to see a pin based on "The Prisoner"
I mean c'mon escaping the island missions, a white rover ball, messing up #2's constant plans to get the info in #6's head... it's all right there.
Heh. Noted.
I was wondering why virtually every single new pinball machine is tied to a license. In the past, you could easily find tables that were wholly original, but not so anymore.
This Fortune article says that, for Stern, 50% of all games are exported overseas, and 70% of all domestic purchases are for collectors. For any owners of newer pinballs here, were you swayed to purchase your machine due to the quality of the machine, and the way it played, or by the face on the side art?
When I go play at an arcade, or museum, I tend to go to non-licensed machines, or ones that are lauded as playing well. Show me a, say, Transformers table, however, and I will stay away. So, Stern paid good money, and it acted as a repellent.
Are non-licensed machines infeasible in the current market?
The beautiful part is that you can give the game a completely incomprehensible ruleset, and it'd be justified!Showing my age here, but I'd love to see a pin based on "The Prisoner"
I mean c'mon escaping the island missions, a white rover ball, messing up #2's constant plans to get the info in #6's head... it's all right there.
Not to my knowledge.My question is was there ever a pinball machine based off the original get smart tv show
Showing my age here, but I'd love to see a pin based on "The Prisoner"
I mean c'mon escaping the island missions, a white rover ball, messing up #2's constant plans to get the info in #6's head... it's all right there.