Starting to look for an 80's pinball, suggestions please...

[elfyhead]

have a look at the list at: http://pinside.com/pinball/top-100/bangforbuck

the ones in the "Machines before 1991" list (aside from johnny mnemonic). that will give you an idea of what highly rated machines there are from that era, and most of them are in your price range.

i echo the recommendation to try them out before buying. if you can't find a machine to try, and you have a console system, try one of the emulators. i had both the williams and gottlieb collections on my Wii, and that was extremely helpful in deciding what kinds of machines i might like. even if they don't have the exact machine, there will often be one that will be similar enough that you'll understand the feel of the game.

 

[OldTymeToys]

have a look at the list at: http://pinside.com/pinball/top-100/bangforbuck

the ones in the "Machines before 1991" list (aside from johnny mnemonic). that will give you an idea of what highly rated machines there are from that era, and most of them are in your price range.

i echo the recommendation to try them out before buying. if you can't find a machine to try, and you have a console system, try one of the emulators. i had both the williams and gottlieb collections on my Wii, and that was extremely helpful in deciding what kinds of machines i might like. even if they don't have the exact machine, there will often be one that will be similar enough that you'll understand the feel of the game.

Awesome resource- thanks!

Anyone have an opinion on the Bally X's & O's for $425 in my area?

 

[Silverunicorn]

have a look at the list at: http://pinside.com/pinball/top-100/bangforbuck

the ones in the "Machines before 1991" list (aside from johnny mnemonic). that will give you an idea of what highly rated machines there are from that era, and most of them are in your price range.

I will take all the $700 working Johnny Mnemonic machines that they want to sell me! Many prices seem to be in line, but there are some that seem WAY off on that list.

But then, no "guide" is perfect.


Chris

 

[elfyhead]

I will take all the $700 working Johnny Mnemonic machines that they want to sell me! Many prices seem to be in line, but there are some that seem WAY off on that list.

But then, no "guide" is perfect.


Chris

yeah, that was why i singled out johnny mnemonic, though i didn't quite phrase it right. what i meant was to not think that it was in his price range. boston pinball shows it as ~1100.

but i think the pre-1991 list is a good one for him, and the prices aren't too far off for most. as you say, no guide is perfect, and as others have stressed on this forum for a long time, geography (supply and demand) makes all the difference in the world! ...

 

[VectorInvadr]

Flight 2000 because Steve Richie aproves
Pinbot because I approve
Black Knight because it's Black Knight
Xenon because it's sexyness will drag you in.....(when your kids or older )

 

[jdubb350]

I agree with everybody else, try before you buy! A couple of months ago I had never even heard of Wipeout before and 2 weeks ago it became my 2nd pin. I played it at the MI Pinball Expo and everybody that was with me loved it too. It's one I never would have put on my list before playing, as I am not too fond of the backglass, but the gameplay is excellent. It isn't the medieval theme you are looking for, but if you get a chence to try it out it's a fun game around the $800 price range and it's a DMD to boot. It has a cool feature with a ski lift that lifts a ball from the playfield up to a raised ramp, and from there the ball goes down a mountain that is set up like a slalom. Lots of stuff to shoot for all over the playfield as well. Just got mine 2 weeks ago for $825.

 

[cspacefan]

Awesome resource- thanks!

Anyone have an opinion on the Bally X's & O's for $425 in my area?

I have only played that game in an emulator but I really like it. The sounds are very cool, I like the tic-tac-toe board in the middle of the screen, I'm not sure how the real thing plays in comparison but for that price tag I think it's a good choice.

 

[OldTymeToys]

I have only played that game in an emulator but I really like it. The sounds are very cool, I like the tic-tac-toe board in the middle of the screen, I'm not sure how the real thing plays in comparison but for that price tag I think it's a good choice.

I got an email from the guy and he still has it along with 30 other pins. I think I'll be headed his way to play a few!

 

[KAPSIG1]

I picked up a 90's Shaq Attaq DMD pin for my first.
Its not as popular so I got it cheeper than others of the same era.
The artwork is its biggest flaw.
Its a fun machine to play.
I would keep all your options open.

 

[OldTymeToys]

I picked up a 90's Shaq Attaq DMD pin for my first.
Its not as popular so I got it cheeper than others of the same era.
The artwork is its biggest flaw.
Its a fun machine to play.
I would keep all your options open.

This is my short list, but I am keeping my options open. I going to see a Bally X's & O's this weekend!

 

[herbertsmart]

Medusa, but the art work might not jive for your kids

 

[DMilo]

I agree with everybody else, try before you buy! A couple of months ago I had never even heard of Wipeout before and 2 weeks ago it became my 2nd pin. I played it at the MI Pinball Expo and everybody that was with me loved it too. It's one I never would have put on my list before playing, as I am not too fond of the backglass, but the gameplay is excellent. It isn't the medieval theme you are looking for, but if you get a chence to try it out it's a fun game around the $800 price range and it's a DMD to boot. It has a cool feature with a ski lift that lifts a ball from the playfield up to a raised ramp, and from there the ball goes down a mountain that is set up like a slalom. Lots of stuff to shoot for all over the playfield as well. Just got mine 2 weeks ago for $825.

That was my Wipe Out at the MI Pinball Expo. Wipe Out was my first DMD and I had a lot of fun with it. The kids loved it because of all the insults the game throws at you.

It was fun, I was sad to see it go.

Don

 

[R3LL1K]

have a look at the list at: http://pinside.com/pinball/top-100/bangforbuck

I wish I could find those pins at those prices. I mean c'mon a Taxi for $900?

I think you could get a decent Williams System 6 for $400 - $650 and System 9-11 for $600-$800. Time Warp is a cool kid friendly game and can be found for $400-$500 in decent shape.

 

[elfyhead]

I wish I could find those pins at those prices. I mean c'mon a Taxi for $900?

you can pick some out of the list that are off, but that's not one of them. boston pinball lists $933 as the average. maybe houston is just whacked on prices. albuquerque certainly is - i looked at a taxi 6 months ago - it was thrashed and the seller wanted $1300 (came down to $1100 when he relisted on CL) - i passed...

 

[jdubb350]

That was my Wipe Out at the MI Pinball Expo. Wipe Out was my first DMD and I had a lot of fun with it. The kids loved it because of all the insults the game throws at you.

It was fun, I was sad to see it go.

Don

That's cool that you started posting here Don. I actually spoke with you about it on the last day of the show. I was very disappointed when you said it was pending pickup and you had a couple of other people in line for it. I did end up finding mine, but I had to drive all the way to the west side of MI for it and my wife got a speeding ticket along the way.

 

[Dr_Gonzo]

I wish I could find those pins at those prices. I mean c'mon a Taxi for $900?

I think you could get a decent Williams System 6 for $400 - $650 and System 9-11 for $600-$800. Time Warp is a cool kid friendly game and can be found for $400-$500 in decent shape.

They're around. How about $600?

http://denver.craigslist.org/tag/2416962629.html

 

[R3LL1K]

They're around. How about $600?

http://denver.craigslist.org/tag/2416962629.html

That wouldn't last 5 mins here in Houston.

 

[OldTymeToys]

Medusa, but the art work might not jive for your kids

Medusa looks pretty cool. I don't think the backglass is too scary. Might work.

With everyone's help, here is my short list:

- Sorcerer
- Grand Lizard
- Black Knight
- Escape from the Lost World
- Fireball II
- Big Guns
- Medusa
- Vector
- Time Machine

 

[trickman]

I love my Space Shuttle. Has the original topper too. Only way I'd part w/ it would be for a working, good condition grail of mine, Berzerk. Then I could talk turkey.

 

[jcasetnl]

After digging into the above, the first pin that caught my eye was Grand Lizard.

All suggestions and critiques welcome…

Here's some Grand Lizard vids from CAX 2010.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=84u46hTs4f4
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JvKw9IQse2I

Very dark theme. A good player. It doesn't strike me as medieval, though. It reminds me of Conan.