Took a half day...played LOTS of machines (list inside)

jar155

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Took a half day...played LOTS of machines (list inside)

So yesterday I had a meeting about an hour away from my office, and rather than heading back to work after, I decided to take the rest of the day to hit up some local operators and locations to play some pinball. Here's what I played, all in one day!

- 24
- CSI
- The Dark Knight
- NBA
- Indiana Jones (Stern)
- Dale Jr.
- South Park (what a dud)
- Wheel of Fortune
- Lord of the Rings
- Monte Carlo
- Police Force
- Monopoly
- The Addams Family
- Star Trek: The Next Generation
- Road Show
- Space Invaders
- Who Dunnit
- High Speed
- Jackbot
- High Speed II: The Getaway
- The Simpsons Pinball Party
- Star Trek 25th Anniversary
- Hook
- Black Knight


The ones in bold are all from a single arcade. The rest are a split between two different operators from what they had out on their show floor. I might try to get that Lord of the Rings, but the operator had WAY WAY WAY overpriced it. He knows he's asking too much though, so we'll see if he comes down on it.

I'm actually warming up to the Stern machines more and more as I give them a better chance. I think that some of them aren't too hot, but honestly there seems to be some pretty imaginative stuff going on with many of them.
 
Nice - no ops around here will touch CSI, 24, or NBA ....so, who knows if I'll ever get to try them! :(

No need to dis Sterns - most of the WMS/Bally snobs have conceded that TSPP, LOTR, Family Guy, and Spidey are stellar (they're all designed/coded by WMS best, so why wouldn't they be awesome). WoF and Batman are fun but are hampered by unfinished software.
 
So how did you like The Simpsons Pinball Party?

I can't find one locally to try out. I've only played it on Pinmame and seems to be a fun game. I'm thinking about getting either that or Addams family next?

Steve
 
I've played The Simpsons Pinball Party quite a bit. I think it's a good game, but ball times are VERY long. I guess that's not too bad of a thing in a home machine, but it feels like you need to have those really long ball times to get up to a high score. The modes are a lot of fun though, and the game was tons of hidden depth. The first few times I played it I thought it was mostly about the toys and theme, but the game does sport a pretty strong rule set.

Having played both yesterday, I'd still lean towards Addams Family if the option was there.
 
I've played The Simpsons Pinball Party quite a bit. I think it's a good game, but ball times are VERY long. I guess that's not too bad of a thing in a home machine, but it feels like you need to have those really long ball times to get up to a high score. The modes are a lot of fun though, and the game was tons of hidden depth. The first few times I played it I thought it was mostly about the toys and theme, but the game does sport a pretty strong rule set.

Having played both yesterday, I'd still lean towards Addams Family if the option was there.

There is so much in the game, you NEED to have long ball times. Not to say it's an easy game...most newbies never get anywhere on it....but its a game you can get good at and grow with, get good to the point where you can play long - and STILL never see all the shit in the game! I think that makes it a great home game....there's always something to accomplish, and it will probably take you years to ever do it.
 
No need to dis Sterns - most of the WMS/Bally snobs have conceded that TSPP, LOTR, Family Guy, and Spidey are stellar (they're all designed/coded by WMS best, so why wouldn't they be awesome). WoF and Batman are fun but are hampered by unfinished software.

The biggest reason Sterns get dissed is not the design or coding, as much as them looking, playing, and feeling like cheap chinese toys. Oh... and the horrible licenses!

There are a few of them I really like, and their average machine isn't too bad. But there is a definitely difference in quality and feel with Sterns. That's what most people are fussing about.

Wade
 
Must be nice, we have basically 0 pins in our town. Besides the ones in my house hahah..seriously.

I played the new NBA at the Seattle show and thought it was a great game. It was probably one of the most popular titles there with the mid 20's crowd.

I own Addams and Getaway so of course I love them both. Getaway has great speed and the supercharger never gets old. Addam's has some great modes, sounds, lights and little bit of everything.

Got a decent amount of play on Lord of the Rings. Seems like it would be a great machine for home play as there are a ton of things to do. Too bad the playfield artwork is so bad. It looks like a bad photoshop job haha..cheapo Stern..

CSi was another popular one at the show. Seemed like an awesome game from the little bit I got to play it.

Monopoly sucks IMO, the layout seems horrible and clunky.

Road show is a blast, I wouldn't mind owning one. We got a chance to play it at Floyd's by the Seattle center. Great widebody, tons to do.

Lastly I wasn't a huge fan of the Simpsons, I really thought I'd love it but it just doesn't do it for me. I did however love playing attack from mars. Great game, easy to figure out, funny quotes etc..

Anyhow that's my 2 cents..on a few of these machines that I've had some decent playtime with..
 
Got a decent amount of play on Lord of the Rings. Seems like it would be a great machine for home play as there are a ton of things to do. Too bad the playfield artwork is so bad. It looks like a bad photoshop job haha..cheapo Stern..

Funny, most people see my LOTR and comment on how beautiful it looks. I'll concede that many sterns have cheap Photoshoping ...Austin Powers, Batman, and even Spider-Man (which I love, despite some cheap art). LOTR has a nice looking playfield. Sure, it's not the flat hand drawn art you're used to from 90's games...but it's not bad. It's very rich looking. Perhaps you saw one that was printed badly, which has happened. Fortunately my playfield is very rich w/ deep nice colors.
 
Ya if you look closely enough at the playfield it looks photoshopped compared to the older 90's pins that I love. It's not terrible, I just wish it was as good as the oldies ;)

I'd definately consider buying one for my house for sure. Loved the gameplay.
 
Ya if you look closely enough at the playfield it looks photoshopped compared to the older 90's pins that I love. It's not terrible, I just wish it was as good as the oldies ;)

I'd definately consider buying one for my house for sure. Loved the gameplay.

The difference is how the art is applied. Older games are screened.

the supercharger never gets old

Have to disagree with this one... I found it got old pretty much instantly.
 
Ya if you look closely enough at the playfield it looks photoshopped compared to the older 90's pins that I love. It's not terrible, I just wish it was as good as the oldies ;)

I'd definately consider buying one for my house for sure. Loved the gameplay.

Of course it's Photoshop, all commercial art now is Photoshop. I don't have to look closely, I know the characters on the playfield are pictures of the actors and not drawings. However, if done right, it's not a bad thing. LOTR looks nice.
 
A pin is a pin is a pin... Stern's quality though has been consistently dropping. Batman for instance is incredibly cheaply made. Most of the 'toys' are simply tacked together pieces of plastic. Need I remind you of the pathetic Heartbreak Hotel on Elvis too? Well they took that ball and ran like hell with it this time around.

They even scrimped on any piece of wire form metal they could. The local one I play consistently drops your ball in the outlane off the right return ramp since Stern decided to cut out an 'unneccessary' 5" piece of wireform.
 
Sure they screen it ...how else would it get on the wood?

Technically they're both screened (new and old games) but the process used is quite different.

Stern games use a 4 color halftoning process:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Halftone

Older games use dedicated inks for each color on the playfield in what could be considered a more conventional screening process and typically have a more "cartoony" look to them. There are advantages to each method. The biggest advantage to the 4 color process for Stern is it's cheaper.
 
Do you mind PM'ing me where these ones are?
- 24
- CSI
- The Dark Knight
- NBA
- Indiana Jones (Stern)
- Dale Jr.
- Wheel of Fortune
- Lord of the Rings
- Monte Carlo
- Police Force
Assuming they are on locations of course! I have never played any of them and would love to play them all!
 
The majority of those you named were at Mountain Coin on State St. in Salt Lake and the others were at Struve on 100 South in Salt Lake. Just go in and tell them you're a pin collector and want to see what they have. They'll walk you to the pins and you'll be left alone to check things out for as long as you'd like.
 
Nice, might work better if I looked like I was out of college and had any money haha!
 
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