Stern Rollercoaster Tycoon opinions?

timberterror

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UPDATE - Got my first pin!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I am in the market for my first pin. Most of the Stern's I've played I've liked, LOTR, Spiderman, Ironman, POTC, Termintor 3. I have an oppurtunity to pick up what is being described to me as an excellent condition Rollercoaster Tycoon which I've never played.

What is the value of this machine in excellent condition?

If I like the other games listed above, would I like this?

Any opinions would be great as I'd have to make an 8 hour roundtrip to get it and I have an already busy schedule. - Barry
 
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Pass. I've seen these down to $1,600 and even then I don't think they are selling that quickly. It's by far the cheapest newer Stern for a reason.

All those other games you mentioned, the ones that you've played and like, go for those. The only game in that last that's a little worse is T3. Buy any of those other games and you'll be just fine.
 
You can get them pretty inexpensively. I think I bought mine for $900? Dont recall...It was my first pin. It was fun because its relatively new, was rock solid reliable and was fun to play for a while.

I've sinced moved on but dont regret it being my first pin...With that said, I dont miss it.
 
RCT doesn't get much love, but I enjoy the game. It is an "earlier" Stern, which usually means not as good as the later LOTR, SM, IM, etc, but can usually be had on the cheap if you look around enough. One thing that I really like about RCT is that the left side has short shots, where the right side has long, up the playfield shots.

Will you like RCT as much as the newer Sterns you listed, I doubt it. Is it worth it to you to spend $3500 for a newer used Stern, or spend say $2000 on an older Stern like RCT or Monopoly, although not quite as fun but both are good games imo.
 
I sold a HUO mint one about a year ago for $2100. The average condition ones usually sell within the $1200-$1600 range.

Game play: Not a terrible game but not a great game either. It did not have any staying power in my collection of pins. Some people do have lots of love for RCT. I would recommend that you play several games on it and compare it to other titles in the same price range.

As with most Stern games from this period the flippers have that cheap feel compared to the Bally/Williams games.
 
damn, i wish i could find em in the $1200- $1600 range. they seem to fetch $1800- $2200 more often.
if $1200 must be blown otu with broken ramps, targets and beat up elsewhere.
look on the epay boston price link and it proves that they dotn sell that low.
same with any pinball "blue" book.

i sold mine for $1950 2 years back and it was not huo, but was nice and shopped. it sold within a 1 week of the post.

i did miss it and i have another one now.
id never sell it for less than 2k.

yes, its not as hardcore as spidey, potc , etc...but i own all the sterns you mentioned and i like rct as well....
IMO, its best best "new" old stern...from the sega transition...(ie monopoly, playboy, sharkeys, hrc, striker extreme. rct)
 
If I could find one for less than $1600, I'd jump on it. I've only played one a couple of times, and while it wasn't on par with the newer Sterns, that would put it in my price range of attainability. It's amazing what pins become great when they have to fit in a price cap the wife sets.
 
I did some research and it really seems to be a love or hate machine. My other hobby is traveling to amusement/themeparks so the theme is perfect for me.

I decided to make an offer on it. If I can get it for my offer I'll be happy. We'll see but hopefully Friday I'll have my first pin. - Barry
 
Rollercoaster Tycoon

member chiefthunder had one in his shop and let me play it a few times

thought it was pretty fun
loved the loooooooooooooong ramps and other such things the PF had on it

couldnt pull the trigger on it to buy it for some reason, i dont know why

looking back on it i would say its last on my list of machines to get even though it was fun to play
 
I did some research and it really seems to be a love or hate machine. My other hobby is traveling to amusement/themeparks so the theme is perfect for me.

I decided to make an offer on it. If I can get it for my offer I'll be happy. We'll see but hopefully Friday I'll have my first pin. - Barry

Its a fun first machine. Family friendly theme and the ramps and some of the animations are alot of fun.
 
if u get it, if u r a decent pinball player...you may want to raise the outlane posts all the way, turn off extra balls and jack the back legs up...and tighter tilt.
its one of those games that has nice flow and you can play it long if the gaem is shopped and workign correct.

throw white rubber on it too..

many people time out the modes to get to park tycoon.
i play the modes bcuz the better u do in modes, the higher the points are in park tycoon mode.
 
Took a drive down to Portland OR with my good friend Dan last night to pick up my first pin. I ended up with the Rollercoaster Tycoon and it's in excellent condition. The fine gentleman I got it from said it looked to be HUO but he couldn't prove that so he said it was excellent condition.

We picked it up at 9pm. I was happy to see how good of condition it's in. No wear around the flipper buttons, only minor corner blemishes, the playfield is easily 9 out of 10 and the underside is clean enough to eat off. Being my first pin the seller showed me all the things I needed to know. How to open the backbox, fold it down for transport, remove the glass, get the balls out, playfield service positions, diagnostic tests etc. The seller was great and the price was great. Got back home at 1:30 this morning.

Unloaded it into the garage this morning and now just waiting for some help to bring it into the house. Pics to come soon........-Barry
 
Congratulations on your first pin. When you can tie it into another hobby, it's always more of a sweet purchase.

You have the advantage of your first pin being a late model, good working order and low priced pinball. Thats a really nice combination. Since you don't have a frame of reference, you will get to really play the game and explore the rules etc.

My first pin was a stern spiderman. I got my feet wet by getting some plastic protectors and doing some very minor playfield stuff.

My second pin was a garage dirty STTNG! Thats when I got my first soldering iron...

Enjoy
 
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