Ground Kontrol. Where's the Pinballs?

gozer5454

Volunteer: Google SketchUp Guru
Joined
Jan 2, 2009
Messages
6,833
Reaction score
307
Location
Salem, Oregon
Yes, I realize the pins are upstairs. But has anyone else been in to Ground Kontrol in Portland lately? One main problem (to me it's a problem) is the fact that the pinballs are too recent. I remember going in there last year and they seemed to have more 80's SS stuff. But now, all but one EM and Black Knight were newer pins with Dot Matrix stuff going on. I was a little dissapointed not to be able to play games like Firepower, Space Invaders, or any early Wiliams stuff. Oh well.

While I'm ranting, a couple of the games were fudged up too. Space Invaders ate my quarters and had a glitch and the joys on tetris were getting stuck. But hey, I still loved the game selection. Guess I can't bitch too much on that one.
 
there weren't many older pinballs when i was there last year; mostly DMD stuff. of course, some of the most popular DMD tables are 15+ years old now and i'm sure the maintenance is a concern. if people aren't pumping enough quarters into 'em, they don't stay. if they did, i'm sure they would.

did they get rid of Haunted House? that would be a shame.
 
no, I guess you're right, HH was there, I just forgot about it. But you get the point right? 25ish pins or so and pretty much all the DM stuff. Not a bad thing, but not what I was hoping for.
 
i totally agree with you. many of my favorite tables are pre-DMD SS machines (especially those mid-to-late-80's Williams,) and i was really happy to be able to play Police Force and Big Guns and some others while visiting Crab Towne USA last week. but GK is going to go with whatever people put the most quarters into and if Cyclone or Earthshaker aren't getting the plays then they aren't going to stick around.

the website says they just got in a Bride Of Pinbot which should also be pre-DMD.
 
I actually didn't even see that one. Of course, I was probably just scanning to fast.

Another thing that bugged me a little was some of the art on the games (or lack of). I understand that there is noooo waaaaaaaay that an arcade can afford to keep minty, restored looking cabs in the place. And in some instances, art is even too big of an issue. Take for instance a generic conversion cab with some fighter or platformer in it. No a big deal, just keep it clean and plain, whatever, i get it. But when a game like simpsons doesn't have its arts, I gotta wonder about that. Games like that almost need all the arts (or atleast something on the damn cpo) before I want to shove my quarters in it.
 
Is the Bally Star Trek SS still there? I loved it so much I had to buy one...

I love going to Ground Kontrol and any time I can make an excuse to swing by there I do! I wish they had something like that around Seattle other than my house! :p
 
Is the Bally Star Trek SS still there? I loved it so much I had to buy one...

I love going to Ground Kontrol and any time I can make an excuse to swing by there I do! I wish they had something like that around Seattle other than my house! :p

negative, no Star Trek. And you'd think after the new movie, right?....
 
you should just be thankful you have a decent arcade within driving distance........a lot of us do not have that luxury.



dammit.
 
you should just be thankful you have a decent arcade within driving distance........a lot of us do not have that luxury.



dammit.

yup. If I didn't have one nearby, I'd bitch about it.
I DO have one nearby, and I STILL bitch about it.

Its the circle of life man. :)
 
When I was there a year or two ago, about half the pins has issues (flipper not working, not coining up, etc.).

On top of that it was way too hot upstairs to stay up there very long...
 
Back
Top Bottom