Must...Resist...Urge...To...Go...Pin-Only...

Fatsquatch

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...or not?

I have to tell ya, I'm a few months in as a pin collector, and I'm still playing my pins (even my first one) nearly every day. On days that I don't fire up a table, it's because work prevents me from having the time to do so, or because it's too late to be making so much noise playing the silver ball. Meanwhile, my 5 remaining vids continue to go month after month of just sitting there -- despite them being some of the most beloved pieces I've ever had. As has been the case with so many vids I've had in my collection over the last decade, it seems like I enjoy owning them FAR more than I do playing them.

I can't help but think that if the right deal came along to do another vids-for-pins trade, I'd likely just close the vid-collecting chapter of my life, and spend my remaining days as a bonafide pinhead.

Looking back on how much effort was put into collecting vids over the years, it's funny to me how it may all actually end up like that.
 
My mame cab does a great job taking care of my video needs. Plus you can use it to test out games on Future pinball and Visual Pinball and it doubles as a nice jukebox for the gameroom as well. I'd get rid of the vids and never look back :) Pinball is alot better when you have people over as well. They don't need to be good to have fun..and kids love em too.
 
...or not?

I have to tell ya, I'm a few months in as a pin collector, and I'm still playing my pins (even my first one) nearly every day. On days that I don't fire up a table, it's because work prevents me from having the time to do so, or because it's too late to be making so much noise playing the silver ball. Meanwhile, my 5 remaining vids continue to go month after month of just sitting there -- despite them being some of the most beloved pieces I've ever had. As has been the case with so many vids I've had in my collection over the last decade, it seems like I enjoy owning them FAR more than I do playing them.

I can't help but think that if the right deal came along to do another vids-for-pins trade, I'd likely just close the vid-collecting chapter of my life, and spend my remaining days as a bonafide pinhead.

Looking back on how much effort was put into collecting vids over the years, it's funny to me how it may all actually end up like that.

Come on over to the dark side, it is great over here ;) ..... My mame pretty much lets me get my fix of any arcade needs I have (along with all my consoles).... I grew up in the arcade days of the fighter anyways (like MK, KI, etc.), so having specific games because of controls really isn't an issue with me (Like 720 or Paperboy, etc.)

Pinball is great because it is different every single time you play it....
 
i've got something in the works now for my 2nd and 3rd pins....probably be in the market for my 4th pin early next year. i'm not sure exactly how many i can fit....depending upon what we wind up doing with regards to expanding the arcade into the larger game room, i may be able to get 6 or 7 eventually. probably capped at 4 for now.

already got 1, maybe 2, of my vids on the fast track out the door. i won't sell my 4 player cabinet, my golden tee/silver strike, my carnival king, my daytona, or my multicade, but i can see getting rid of up to 3 of my cabs. i can also see getting rid of my foosball table (or at least moving it to the garage) in order to free up more room for pins.




i've definitely been bitten by the pinball bug.
 
Homey, I am right there with you. I bought TAF about a month ago and am already scheming for another. I just ordered TOP's dvd set. I moon over the lists at ipdb. Hoo boy.

See the sig? There are 3 categories for my vids : games that I would sell today (KC, RB), games I feel like I enjoy having but rarely play and probably wouldn't miss (SW, Pac), and games I have a hard time imagining letting go (Paperboy, DK, Qbert).

My prediction: in 2 years I'll have 5 games and 10 pins.
 
...or not?

I have to tell ya, I'm a few months in as a pin collector, and I'm still playing my pins (even my first one) nearly every day. On days that I don't fire up a table, it's because work prevents me from having the time to do so, or because it's too late to be making so much noise playing the silver ball. Meanwhile, my 5 remaining vids continue to go month after month of just sitting there -- despite them being some of the most beloved pieces I've ever had. As has been the case with so many vids I've had in my collection over the last decade, it seems like I enjoy owning them FAR more than I do playing them.

I can't help but think that if the right deal came along to do another vids-for-pins trade, I'd likely just close the vid-collecting chapter of my life, and spend my remaining days as a bonafide pinhead.

Looking back on how much effort was put into collecting vids over the years, it's funny to me how it may all actually end up like that.

There are a few select pieces that will never leave me, but I'm the same way. If the right deal came along, "almost" all of my vids are expendable.
 
I love my vids, i have 1 pin Black Knight and it's ok but when i have people over only the guys over 50 play the pinball and the kids play Galaga, Pacman, Starwars, etc... I had Black Hole, Pinbot, and Highspeed as well (each to their own) but i find Pinball boring. Although i like Revenge from Mars!
 
Pinball is just a phase for you too. :) So don't let go of your favorite vids or you'll probably end up buying them again down the road too. Pinball is a lot of fun, and it's great to have the variety in a gameroom. But having nothing but pins sounds boring. It would be like having a room full of 1980's video games that have nothing but a single joystick and a vertical 19" monitor.

Ever since videogames were invented, most gamerooms have had far more videogames than pinball machines. In my opinion, that's the ideal ratio. Maybe 1 pin for every 5-10 vids.

I would also argue that having one MAME to satisfy your videogame needs would be the same as having one Ultrapin/Hyperpin cabinet to satisfy your pinball needs.

Wade
 
Mame VS Ultrapin is not the same whatsoever. Pinball can not be emulated properly, whereas the majority of video games can.

I hear people all the time saying that their video games just collect dust, whereas pinball IMO stays fresher longer as it's more random and different everytime. I love video games too, and if I had a massive basement I would devote more room for some vids, but as it stands I'd rather save my minimal space for pins.

I can play robotron, burgertime, donkey kong, pacman, etcetc on the mamecab and they pretty damn close to the real thing. Ultrapin, futurepinball, visual pinball etc are nothing like real pinball.
 
I play my shadow and getaway daily, sometime I go for several days without even turning on my vids
I love them both but play the pins more because each game is unique
 
I play my shadow and getaway daily, sometime I go for several days without even turning on my vids
I love them both but play the pins more because each game is unique

I don't believe I've spent more than 10 minutes playing any of my vids since getting my first pin 7-and-a-half months ago.

I guess that speaks volumes, eh?
 
...or not?

I have to tell ya, I'm a few months in as a pin collector, and I'm still playing my pins (even my first one) nearly every day. On days that I don't fire up a table, it's because work prevents me from having the time to do so, or because it's too late to be making so much noise playing the silver ball. Meanwhile, my 5 remaining vids continue to go month after month of just sitting there -- despite them being some of the most beloved pieces I've ever had. As has been the case with so many vids I've had in my collection over the last decade, it seems like I enjoy owning them FAR more than I do playing them.

I can't help but think that if the right deal came along to do another vids-for-pins trade, I'd likely just close the vid-collecting chapter of my life, and spend my remaining days as a bonafide pinhead.

Looking back on how much effort was put into collecting vids over the years, it's funny to me how it may all actually end up like that.
Don't resist. I have a couple of vids ,but for me it's pinball I have about 20 mostly EM's & Early SS



Glennon
 
I love pins, but I still like to have the vids around. I definitely play the pins more, and for longer while they are on.

Variety is the spice of life. I've found my sweet spot is 2-3 pins, 1-2 standard vids, a special controls vid, a driver, and a shooter. Then the rest of the room be devoted to other gameroom things. I couldn't imagine having a bunch of single joystick 19" games. That would definitely be boring. My 48/1 is a staple to cover all of those bases.
 
I went through this same experience when I picked up my first ... I have 2 pins now and 7 vids + 1 mame. Mame only gets played by guests... I pretty much play everything although the pins are getting way more love by everyone at this point. My wife and I both love the pinball machines and truth be told the pins actually got her playing some of the vids!!!! They really add to the whole game room experience\fun.

I'll probably pick up one more pin at some point but I'm over the "dump the vids for pins" emotions. There are a few vids that are just plain cool from cab/artwork/game perspective that I will always want to have.
 
I think a gameroom should have a balance of both pins and vids. I have both, and both get about the same amount of play from me. I seem to go in phases, one month I'm always playing vids, the next is pins. Gotta have variety!
-Mark
 
5 vids - I haven't touched in ~6 months (Just sold off 2 others)
1 MAME - Just rebuilt it with newer hardware and Win7 - same as above pretty much used by guests only
1 pin soon to be 3 - the one pin I do own gets the hell played out of it by everyone including myself. Ms Pac cocktail was usually the one always getting played but since I got the pin even all the women say the pin is much more fun than their beloved Ms Pac.

I'm not a vid Nazi but I do have to say I would gladly keep two vids and dump the rest for pins.
 
I can play robotron, burgertime, donkey kong, pacman, etcetc on the mamecab and they pretty damn close to the real thing. Ultrapin, futurepinball, visual pinball etc are nothing like real pinball.

I agree wrt pins. Disagree wrt Robotron. If you like Robotron (Joust, Defender/Stargate, etc.) the only way to go is the jrok WMS multiboard (jamma). These 80's WMS games don't play quite right when emulated. And timing/feel is critical on them!
 
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Hmmm.... I'm (only slightly) going the other way.

I've got several pins (www.aaarpinball.com), but I'm looking for another vid or two. I'd like Marble Madness or original vector Star Wars.

I do believe that you can get 95% there for most vids with MAME. However, for a title you really like, for a vector game, or one with unique controls, MAME doesn't cut it.

... Altan
www.aaarpinball
 
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