Opnions on Capcom Pinbal Magic?

Neat game. This was the first Capcom Pinball machine so they were really trying to make a big splash. All of the toys had separate patents which shows how unique it was.

Things to look for:

Usual playfield and plastic damage
Bad power driver board repairs. The capacitors were huge on the driver board and they actually pulled themselves off the board when moved (over time). I've seen a ton of bad repairs on these boards.

The CPU board is unique to this game so you want to check it as well.

Gameplay is pretty linear, but I'll never pass on the chance to play one.

Good Luck,

-Al-
 
I have the opportunity to get one in a trade and i've never played one.

thanks

I have owned 3 of them over the years, and one of them was even a prototype (proto #7). Pinball Magic has some cool toys on it and an excellent skill shot. I wish I would have kept one of the PM's that I had. Game is a low production game and now getting hard to find. I paid $600-$1100 for all the PM's that I had but now hard to find for under $1800-$2000.

PM is Capcom's first game and has more patents than Twilight Zone. Capcom's have a very solid feel to them (like Williams). Capcom even has a software adjustment so you can play with the flipper strengths (weaker, stronger, etc). Lots of Pinball Magics have broken plastics because someone increased the flipper power a little too much.

Negatives: Very linear game play. You need to get the modes in the same order every time (not random). Parts are now hard to find. IPB (Illinois Pinball) had plastics sets, flipper parts, etc but sold all of them or used some of the generic Capcom parts to build BBB (Big Bang Bar).
 
The CPU board is unique to this game ...

CPU board unique to this game? I have tested Big Bang Bar and Airborne boards in my Pinball Magic and they all work. I know there is a revision CPU board that does not work in BBB but all the boards I have swapped out in my PM have worked fine.

BS (Capcom's last game) uses a totally different board set.
 
I seem to remember that there was some reason that you couldn't put BBB ROMs on a PM board, but you could put them on an Airborne. Something about one of the chips being different. Maybe you could put PM ROMs on the newer board and they work but not the other way around.

And as usual - we have the same opinion of Capcom games! Cool!
 
Breakshot has different boards.

Pinball Magic boards are same in Airborne, Flipper Football, Big Bang Bar and King Pin.

Big Bang Bar has an small extra board, and Flipper Football may have a different DMD driver.

Almost every Pinball Magic I've seen : the moving magic wand - has a connector with two wires into one spot, and it is common for those two to not be making a good connection with each other, one is stripped and one isn't. If you wand stops moving check that first.

LTG :)
 
Poor man's Theater of Magic!

Heh, I think Pinball Magic kicks ass.. Wish I'd played one a while back, as a few have popped up on CL locally for decent cash.. Didn't know anything about it and passed.. :(
 
Poor man's Theater of Magic!

I would have to disagree here. I think the better description would be...smart man's Theater of Magic

Pinball Magic is as good, if not better than TOM (in my opinion) for usually much less in cost.

If I may be so bold, Mystery Castle is the smart man's Addams Family (ducks for cover).


Chris
 
Wow that looks cool. Dismembered hand creeps me out.
 
I bought a project Pinball Magic from Expo a couple of years ago. I think it is a really neat game and a steal for the price I bought it for. The first and only Capcom that I have owned, everything else I have is Williams/Bally. I like the feel of the game more than most of my other games. The Flippers are definitely stronger and more reactive than any game I have ever played.

One of the big things to watch is that there are 2 cranks (arms) that are attached to motors. The arms operate the wand assembly and the levitating ball on the game. They are made out of plastic and break pretty easy (plastic and age = no good). Both of them in mine were actually broken when I got it. You cannot buy the part anywhere (You could buy the motor/crank assembly for $179 from Australia at on time). I had a friend that has a machine shop make some for me out of metal.

Most of the plastic can still be found (from Australia), but I am having problems finding the apron sticker for mine.
 
Since there are guys that are familiar with Capcom pins in this post... Do they all have that big wad of splices under the center of the playfield, or did I witness a hack repair?

Sorry for the sidetrack. I looked at a Street Fighter 2, and it appeared like it would have been a nightmare to troubleshoot.
 
Since there are guys that are familiar with Capcom pins in this post... Do they all have that big wad of splices under the center of the playfield, or did I witness a hack repair?

Sorry for the sidetrack. I looked at a Street Fighter 2, and it appeared like it would have been a nightmare to troubleshoot.

Well, that is a Gottlieb machine, not a capcom. SF2 was a capcom video game, but Gottlieb (Premier) made the pinball. Go figure.

None of the Capcom games I have look like a mig mass of spliced wires. I can take some pics if you'd like me to :)

Chris
 
Pinball Magic is brilliant.

Great gameplay (the linear argument has never held any water with me), great toys, fantastic computer-controlled lights, nice art, Williams-like feel, and the best flippers I've ever come across. Oh yeah, and the sound and DMD animations aren't too shabby either.

I've had several (good) offers thrown my way for mine, but still can't see ever parting with it.
 
In my opinion, pinball magic is a keeper. It was my first game and I doubt I'll ever let it go. I love the toys. Gameplay is linear and some shots aren't easy. But it is a fun and rewarding game. When guests play it for the first time and see the ball levitate on the wand, they go nuts. It's one of the best "oh wow" features in all of pinball.

The wires beneath the play field are too small so expect to see a bunch of breaks. No big deal. Just a little soldering. But that's really it for drawbacks. My machine has been super easy to maintain. And parts aren't that rare. I picked up a bunch of spare plastics over the years. They come up on eBay every so often.

I'd highly recommend it. Awesome game.
 
The wires beneath the play field are too small so expect to see a bunch of breaks. No big deal. Just a little soldering. But that's really it for drawbacks.

Agreed. Light duty wire with pretty much no slack...the only real complaint I have with the game.
 
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