Played A Few

FrizzleFried

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I played 3 pins at the Boise airport a couple days ago while waiting for my bro-in-law. Keep in mind I have only a LITTLE experience with pins... I've not played a lot of them.

These impressions are based on 2 or 3 games of each...

Adams Family - Fun pin. Lots of stuff to shoot at. I enjoyed playing the pin and I am sure once I learned the rule set it would be even better...

Elvira & The Party Monsters - Also seemed like a fun pin. There is a ton of stuff on the playfield... I had a good time keeping the ball alive.

Dr. Who - Absolutely boring. I played this game the most to TRY to like it, but I couldn't get in to it at all. 1/2 the shots taken ended up hitting a post then back down the center to drain. Sure, the machine coming up was cool, but that was about it. I was surprised at how crappy this pin "felt"... perhaps I need more time.

All in all the games played decent... being in an airport... they sounds were turned WAY down on each of them unfortunately.
 
I'd say your experience is pretty normal. I bet if you go to any pin ranking site right now you will find that these three machines are ranked in the same order you have them. Personally I feel you assessment is completely backwards but I haven't played those specific machines and I don't know what, if anything was wrong with them.
 
Dr. Who - Absolutely boring. I played this game the most to TRY to like it, but I couldn't get in to it at all. 1/2 the shots taken ended up hitting a post then back down the center to drain. Sure, the machine coming up was cool, but that was about it. I was surprised at how crappy this pin "felt"... perhaps I need more time.

Dr Who IMHO is an open field mindless ball bashing game. But then again I look at Attack From Mars the same way. I have learned "being new to the pins as well" that I prefer games with several skill shots and toys to bang on verses something like Dr Who.
Addams Family is sweet and is next on my list. Just bought two other pins so next tax season I suppose ;)
 
TAF is a great game that I finally just "got" the other night. Hopefully mine will be delivered to the house tonight so I can get the fliptronics board going and clean it up some before sunday!

EATPM: Played several times and just don't care for the game, but I like SS a lot!

Dr. Who: Haven't played, love theme and music.
 
You know, I just can't click with Dr. Who either. I have some friends that are absolutely enormous fans of the game, but it's not one that has ever impressed me in any way.
 
The multiball soundbite on Addam's is great. I've tired of mine though, so it will be sold on June 9th. I actually like my BSD better than Addam's Family, I also liked WCS94 better than Addam's as well. So "A" list doesn't always mean more fun :) Addam's was fun while it lasted though...never really gave me any problems either, I had to fix the mini flipper and that was about it...
 
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Speaking of Addam's Family I have a NOS swamp scoop assembly and a NOS electric chair scoop assembly for sale. 100bucks U.S. total for both of them, plus shipping of course :) I haven't gotten around to listing them for sale yet..PM me if you want them and they are yours.
 
Dr Who IMHO is an open field mindless ball bashing game. But then again I look at Attack From Mars the same way. I have learned "being new to the pins as well" that I prefer games with several skill shots and toys to bang on verses something like Dr Who.
Addams Family is sweet and is next on my list. Just bought two other pins so next tax season I suppose ;)

Disagree on AFM. The shots are all longer shots, but you have to hit the ramps and orbits/lanes pretty precisely to do well here (Rule the Universe, etc.). It is nothing like a "mindless ball bashing game." at least if you are actually semi-skilled and trying to get high scores.
 
Open playfield games to me are boring and AFM is one of them. The only thing that helps this game is the incredible software and audio package. If you like it great .. just not my cup of tea being semi skilled and all.
 
I used to be confused as to why Attack From Mars was so popular as I just shot the middle over and over when I played that game the first few times I came across it. I kinda forgot about the game and kept building my collection around a mix of unique and fan layouts (though none so open as AFM). After a while games like Lord of the Rings trained me real well to hit combo shots and loops, and the next time I got in front of an Attack From Mars I understood the crazy hype and I had to have one.

I got a Spider-Man and AFM both on the same day. Both are similar in layout, but play differently enough to warrant both. Now I'm a sucker for some of those more wide open games if the rules make the shots fun and satisfying. I still love the unique layouts, but I've learned to appreciate both kinds equally.
 
I used to be confused as to why Attack From Mars was so popular as I just shot the middle over and over when I played that game the first few times I came across it. I kinda forgot about the game and kept building my collection around a mix of unique and fan layouts (though none so open as AFM). After a while games like Lord of the Rings trained me real well to hit combo shots and loops, and the next time I got in front of an Attack From Mars I understood the crazy hype and I had to have one.

I got a Spider-Man and AFM both on the same day. Both are similar in layout, but play differently enough to warrant both. Now I'm a sucker for some of those more wide open games if the rules make the shots fun and satisfying. I still love the unique layouts, but I've learned to appreciate both kinds equally.

Yup, Spidey and AFM (and LotR) have great rules and open playfields with good shots to make. OTOH, unlike most people, I LOATHE Twilight Zone--zero flow, rules and features that are a bit too obtuse and hard to discern during play, and those horrendous pops by the left lanes.
 
I must have pinball schizophrenia, because my favorite game is Twilight Zone and my second favorite is Attack From Mars.
 
One of these days Ill get an AFM, I need to move first and get a basement that I can devote to games and such instead of just a room. I got Spidey though and that should hold me over for awhile until I can get AFM.
 
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