Decide my next pinball machine

[snoopy7548]

Inspired by Mayne's thread, I'm buying another pinball machine:

https://forums.anandtech.com/thread...binets-in-your-livingroom-or-mancave.2552801/

I currently have a Black Knight 2000 (as evidenced by my avatar) in my living room. It's in pretty good shape - the playfield plays well but does need some minor touch ups, and there are some scratches on the cabinet itself - but everything works and it plays fast. At some point I'll probably fully restore the entire thing.

Anyways, I've been bitten by the pinball bug again and this time I'm looking to buy a brand new machine. I've settled on the Attack from Mars remake, as the only other brand "new" game that interests me is Medieval Madness. Since I already have a medieval theme, and I've heard that the Medieval Madness remake isn't the best quality (Chicago Games has supposedly learned some lessons and the quality of the Attack from Mars remake is excellent), Attack from Mars seems like the best option for me. Plus I love the alien/50's B-movie theme.

Seems like there's either extremely little or no stock of the limited edition, which interests me for a few reasons:

-Awesome custom topper with moving alien
-LED light shows on mini-saucers
-This one is debatable as there is a kit to add this, but I'm not sure if it's compatible with the special edition
-Martian green trim which would really stand out
-Side mirrors
-Debatable - could just add these myself
-Longer warranty

The special edition is the next step down and roughly $800-1k cheaper. I could live without the topper and probably add LEDs to the mini saucers. It's not that an extra $1k isn't worth it, it's that if I'm spending this much I might as well get the best edition.

I found one place that might have the limited edition so I'll call them tomorrow. Also waiting to hear from another dealer on their stock.

What say you?

 

[lxskllr]

None of the above. I'd have an abbreviated history of pinball collection. Something very early, something from the 50s, and what you already have. If you still have money burn, fill in the blanks.

 

[snoopy7548]

None of the above. I'd have an abbreviated history of pinball collection. Something very early, something from the 50s, and what you already have. If you still have money burn, fill in the blanks.

I considered that, but the older games don't interest me at all. I think the newer mid-90s DMD style game would round out my System 11 game pretty well. If I was going for a third, I'd probably consider an early-90s or another late-80s game.

 

[lxskllr]

Well, since you're set on that machine, I like the special edition. It has more of a classic vibe to it. The "upgrades" on the limited don't appeal to me much, though I might add side mirrors.

 

[shortylickens]

Get a digital pinball machine, with 500 tables.

 

[snoopy7548]

Well, since you're set on that machine, I like the special edition. It has more of a classic vibe to it. The "upgrades" on the limited don't appeal to me much, though I might add side mirrors.

Yeah, the SE is certainly no slouch. If the place in CT has the LE in stock I'll get that over the SE; otherwise, it's SE for me and I won't regret it one bit.

Get a digital pinball machine, with 500 tables.

Yeah right! An emulator is alright for arcade games, but it's just not the same with pinball.

 

[Mayne]

probably the best pinball machine I ever played.

 

[Red Squirrel]

If I had lot of money and space I'd totally have a room with all sorts of machines like that. Pinball and other games. I'm not SUPER into that kind of stuff, but it would definitely be cool to have. Get the limited edition. #YOLO.

 

[kranky]

A friend just bought a new Batman 66 pinball. Got to play a dozen or so games, it's a good machine, and I've played a couple hundred different machines. Actually has a full-color LED display in the backglass that keeps score as well as tells you what mode is active (vs. more common dot-matrix displays) and plays clips from the old Batman TV show. The crane that moves across the playfield is a unique feature.

Though I like many older games also, the newer machines have computerized technology that enables better gameplay.

 

[purbeast0]

If I ever got a pinball machine I'd probably get the 1994 World Cup pinball machine. At least that is the one that I have the fondest memories of, it may suck now a days though lol.

And I agree about the digital pinball stuff. That looks really really stupid.

 

[ImpulsE69]

And I agree about the digital pinball stuff. That looks really really stupid.

Don't knock it until you try it. You'd be amazed at what can be done these days. As I've previously stated, it's not something I would recommend as a replacement, but rather a complement...and you can dump as much money into them as a real pinball machine. They end up being like the equivalent of the racing car sims with moving hydrolics (as a comparison of tech vs reality).

OP - I think it's a matter of taste. I have only played the classic verison, but I do not like the looks of the other two.

 

[snoopy7548]

I think I'm glad I asked. Maybe leaning towards the Classic now, with the HD color upgrade, and at some point maybe upgrading the LEDs and mini-saucers myself. Definitely between that and the Special; I'm pretty sure the Limited was sold out earlier this year. Just need to decide if the larger display, shaker motor, and upgraded sound system are worth the extra $400. Probably is...

I don't like the look of the speakers on the Special, but I could probably just put a grille over them or disable the LEDs.

Mayne, the Indiana Jones pinball looks awesome but it's really hard to find. If I ever buy one I'll invite you over!

Don't knock it until you try it. You'd be amazed at what can be done these days. As I've previously stated, it's not something I would recommend as a replacement, but rather a complement...and you can dump as much money into them as a real pinball machine. They end up being like the equivalent of the racing car sims with moving hydrolics (as a comparison of tech vs reality).

OP - I think it's a matter of taste. I have only played the classic verison, but I do not like the looks of the other two.

How did you like it? Any complaints or did it feel like the original?

 

[ImpulsE69]

BTW I want a BK2K so bad

 

[ImpulsE69]

How did you like it? Any complaints or did it feel like the original?

Sorry, no I haven't played the remake, I just meant I've played the game (and it would have been the original) and I do not like the changes they made to the higher versions. I wasn't even aware they were doing remakes. I would imagine it is going to feel 'cheaper' than the original, much like how the newer Stern games have a 'lighter/cheaper/plasticy' feel.

 

[gorcorps]

Get the special. The jump from classic to special includes things that would be harder to mod in yourself down the road, where the only thing I'd argue that would be hard to find and install on the limited would be the topper... and I'm not sure how big of a deal that would be anyway.

 

[dasherHampton]

I think there are still working Caveman machines out there. It was one of the first attempts to combine pinball with video games.

I played one about 12 years ago. It's neat.

Definitely a slice of pinball history.

 

[snoopy7548]

So far the "Neither, pinball sucks" option is winning.

Thanks for the insight. After getting some quotes I've decided to go with the SE. I'll post pics when I get it.

BTW I want a BK2K so bad

It's such a shallow game but the music takes it to a solid 8/10, IMO. When the ball comes down from the upper playfield and hits the flipper just right so you shoot it up the skyway and do a couple of loops with the guitar riffs blaring, oh man.

 

[ImpulsE69]

I've been having the itch for a new game lately. I recently found out this came out:

Unfortunately it was a new company that crowdsourced it and it went south and they went out of business. They did manage to put out 100 machines, but I guess the quality on them is pretty low, so it just isn't worth getting even though everything I can find from people who have played it say it is really good.

 

[snoopy7548]

I just watched parts of a video and the gameplay looks awesome. I love the ramps. The major thing I don't like, and this is something I don't like in a lot of newer machines, is how LCDs are taking up so much space, especially when the backglass is reduced or eliminated. Just sort of makes it feel cheap, and you're rarely going to be looking up there while playing.

 

[NuclearNed]

I always wanted a completely restored Haunted House

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Haunted_House_(pinball)

 

[ImpulsE69]

I always wanted a completely restored Haunted House

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Haunted_House_(pinball)

I own one. It's a bit slower from a play perspective but the 3 levels (bottom level being backwards play) and artwork/theme are awesome.

 

[Mayne]

I think I'm glad I asked. Maybe leaning towards the Classic now, with the HD color upgrade, and at some point maybe upgrading the LEDs and mini-saucers myself. Definitely between that and the Special; I'm pretty sure the Limited was sold out earlier this year. Just need to decide if the larger display, shaker motor, and upgraded sound system are worth the extra $400. Probably is...

I don't like the look of the speakers on the Special, but I could probably just put a grille over them or disable the LEDs.

Mayne, the Indiana Jones pinball looks awesome but it's really hard to find. If I ever buy one I'll invite you over!



How did you like it? Any complaints or did it feel like the original?

I was curious about the pinball machine and did some googling. 10000 dollars...holy jumping jesus!

 

[Scarpozzi]

Obviously Farfalla from Zaccaria.

 

[snoopy7548]

Obviously Farfalla from Zaccaria.

That does look pretty sweet. I'm lucky enough to live somewhat close to Funspot, so I can drive up and play like 30 different vintage pinball machines, but I don't think they have that one.

BTW, there's a machine I just cannot remember the name of or find. Hopefully somebody here can help. Growing up, my friend's dad was in the vending machine business so he would sometimes have a game or two at his house. One was a pinball machine with what I'm pretty sure was a sea-creature theme, like a sea dragon or something, and I remember a ship being wrecked on the backglass. This was around the mid-90s but the machine could have been slightly older. I think I remember it either having a DMD or alphanumeric display, likely alphanumeric. I've been wanting to find more about it since I remember it being a lot of fun, but back then any game was fun. Any ideas?

 

[MrSquished]

Neither. Get a pinball machine called Whitewater