TRON LE or MEDIEVAL MADNESS

[Rob T]

Wow, way to go all out in Vegas

Actually, this is a smart man. 75 cents a play on Tron for 4 days straight or lose money in a casino? I would rather play Tron!

That's the way I look at it. I've been to Vegas a ton of times, and I've probably gambled a grand total of $300.00. Just not my thing.

And no, I wasn't at the PHOF the whole time. We got plenty of other activities in as well. Of course, none of those other activities were as fun as PHOF.

 

[khabbi]

Well, I own both a Tron LE and MM, and if I had to sell one or the other, I don't know which one I'd sell. Probably Tron LE, because it took me so damn long to find my fully restored MM.

Right now, MM is one of the top pins and has been regarded as such for a LONG TIME, while the Tron LE is new and hasn't stood the test that MM has as being a big hit. If you want faster game play, and the latest and greatest thing to hit the market, Tron LE is your choice. If you want a timeless classic that will always be fun and popular, MM should be your choice.

Really your question is not worth asking a forum of people, as peoples tastes are so different, it's just like asking which pizza people think is best. It all comes down to which one YOU like the best. I've never based my pinball purchases on what others liked better or thought was better, as I'm going to be the one playing the game 99% of the time.

Attack from Mars is also a very fun game, I love mine! But I would place it third behind my MM and Tron LE personally. I know several guys that own AFM's, but only 2 that own MM's, they are also much harder to come by (and Tron LE only has 400 produced).

Good luck!

 

[LeeB99]

I think that it will be a *WHILE* before another new pin will come along with as much buzz as the Tron LE. It has broad appeal because many people are fans of the franchise, and there was never a Tron themed pinball released before now, 28 years after the release of the original movie. The fact that the LE APPEARS to be so much more desirable, coupled with the high price and exclusivity of only 400 units being produced, I can't imagine it NOT being considered on the same level as MM or AFM moving forward. How many of THOSE machines were made? I bet it was more than 400 units, to be sure...

Lee

 

[vincent]

Wow. Thanks for all the great replies. I've got AFM and love it. Was at ocean city board walk playing MM but it was in such bad shape it wasn't even fun. Played a nice one at the Allentown show and it was a blast. Have yet to play Tron. Sounds like I have too though.

 

[Farb]

Coincidentally, I have Tron LE and MM sitting right next to each other in a corner (and they're both my newest additions) so I've been jumping back and forth between them the past couple of weeks. They are both very different pins.

MM has a lot of fun shots and interesting toys but is a much slower game. You can't beat the enjoyment of busting through castles and the humorous voice-work is top notch. I feel there are more things to do (e.g. goals to achieve) in MM and I think the machine has way more personality than Tron. I recently had a friend over who rarely plays pinball (and hadn't played Tron or MM before) and he spent most of his time on MM taking an occasional break to play Tron. I used to be in the same boat as others with regards to MM and thought it was way overhyped and overpriced. It wasn't until I spent some serious time with one at the Rocky Mountain Pinball Showdown that I started to succumb to its charms. It wasn't long before I picked one up and restored it.

Tron, on the other hand, is an awesome theme that's extremely fast and furious and gets your adrenaline pumping. I can play 4 or 5 games of Tron in the time it takes me to get through one game of MM. In fact, after playing a few games of Tron and then going to MM I start to feel sleepy ;-) The Tron LE lighting looks way cooler and modern... it makes MM look like a relic next to it (and I've installed LEDs in all MM playfield inserts). The spinning disc is cool but I don't think it's cooler than MM's castle. Tron's music is awesome but the rest of the sounds are average -- you can't really compare a bunch of cobbled together movie voice clip's to MM's all original voice-work. I think Tron's DMD work is a bit lacking but, frankly, I rarely have time to look at it or I lose my ball.

I think both pins have "just one more game" appeal. Keep in mind I'm not a great pinball player (my best MM and Tron scores so far are about the same: 65M or so). I also have a ST:TNG, Twilight Zone, Bride of Pinbot (and just recently sold my T2) so that gives you an idea of my points of reference.

They are both still too new to decide which (if either) would go first. I'm having too much fun with both of them right now

 

[jackal2001]

There's a DMD in Tron LE??? Hum, never took notice to it as you can't look up in that direction while playing. ;-)

 

[Freezepop]

I've never played tron, but MM is the reason why i started this hobby of collecting pins and machines. the first pin/machine i ever started looking for was MM till i saw the price on it.
I played MM at a local arcade all the time and was the only pin i played besides Junk Yard. My opinion its fun great theme and humor. would i go pay what ppl are asking for? Hell No!!! if i have to the choice between a new stern or MM im MM all the way.

 

[WadeLanham]

I think MM would probably be better investment-wise. Tron is sure to drop in value relative to MM. As far as gameplay, I dunno, I haven't played Tron yet.

Wade

 

[JeepMonkey]

Wow. Thanks for all the great replies. I've got AFM and love it. Was at ocean city board walk playing MM but it was in such bad shape it wasn't even fun. Played a nice one at the Allentown show and it was a blast. Have yet to play Tron. Sounds like I have too though.

How long ago were you in Ocean City? That is just down the road from where I am staying in Rehoboth. Was it really in that bad of condition?

 

[coinopguy]

How long ago were you in Ocean City? That is just down the road from where I am staying in Rehoboth. Was it really in that bad of condition?

I'm guessing he was in Ocean City New Jersey at Jillys (half of Philly goes to the Jersey shore on the weekends). Nice pin lineup and still 25 cents a game. Downside is that the pins are in terrible shape.

Phil

 

[jonathan1138]

I think that it will be a *WHILE* before another new pin will come along with as much buzz as the Tron LE. It has broad appeal because many people are fans of the franchise, and there was never a Tron themed pinball released before now, 28 years after the release of the original movie. The fact that the LE APPEARS to be so much more desirable, coupled with the high price and exclusivity of only 400 units being produced, I can't imagine it NOT being considered on the same level as MM or AFM moving forward. How many of THOSE machines were made? I bet it was more than 400 units, to be sure...

Lee

Transformers looks like it is gaining ALOT of interest. Its gonna be interesting to see the buzz and sales on that one.

I do agree with your points. Tron is a strong franchise. The arcade media from 20+ years ago does very well still - EDOT commands +2500 easily, and nice Trons around 1500+ (high prices for arcade machines). Add to that the Legacy film was actually good, and another is in talks.

Stern did a great job with the Pin, i cant see how the LE version doesn't appreciate in the (distant) future.

AFM produced around 3400 or so machines. MM less than that, 1500 - 2k maybe?

 

[Rob T]

Transformers looks like it is gaining ALOT of interest. Its gonna be interesting to see the buzz and sales on that one.

I do agree with your points. Tron is a strong franchise. The arcade media from 20+ years ago does very well still - EDOT commands +2500 easily, and nice Trons around 1500+ (high prices for arcade machines). Add to that the Legacy film was actually good, and another is in talks.

Stern did a great job with the Pin, i cant see how the LE version doesn't appreciate in the (distant) future.

AFM produced around 3400 or so machines. MM less than that, 1500 - 2k maybe?

Actually MM was over 4k units.

 

[pudluther]

Actually MM was over 4k units.

wow. that's crazy. i've never seen one in person (only played it virtually...and liked it).

 

[taylor34]

wow. that's crazy. i've never seen one in person (only played it virtually...and liked it).

In about 10 years it will probably be pretty hard to find a lot of these Stern games being produced right now...the production runs are probably only 1000 to 2000 on most, 3k on the best games (like Spiderman). I think some of the earlier ones (POTC, LOTR, TSPP) got into the 5k range, but after Spiderman I don't think anything has gotten very high at all. I think I heard that CSI was only like 600. I'm guessing that Tron and Iron Man are probably 1500 to 2k at most, and they're the most popular games from the past 2 years.

 

[Rob T]

In about 10 years it will probably be pretty hard to find a lot of these Stern games being produced right now...the production runs are probably only 1000 to 2000 on most, 3k on the best games (like Spiderman). I think some of the earlier ones (POTC, LOTR, TSPP) got into the 5k range, but after Spiderman I don't think anything has gotten very high at all. I think I heard that CSI was only like 600. I'm guessing that Tron and Iron Man are probably 1500 to 2k at most, and they're the most popular games from the past 2 years.

Tron LE at 400 units, plus very high ratings, makes it a pin that is likely to be worth a decent some of money in the future imo.

 

[vincent]

I'm guessing he was in Ocean City New Jersey at Jillys (half of Philly goes to the Jersey shore on the weekends). Nice pin lineup and still 25 cents a game. Downside is that the pins are in terrible shape.

Phil

It was Jillys in Ocean City New Jersey. Its true great lineup terrible shape.

They have a Monster Bash too. Played that with my brother for a couple of hours till 1:00am last night. I must say I really enjoyed that one also. I have an Attack from Mars and it got me thinking MM is so similar maybe I should look for a Monster Bash too and pick up what ever I find first.

I'm going back tomorrow to play some more.

 

[THE COUNT]

I think I heard that CSI was only like 600.

Then that was 600 too many I've played CSI and I still have nightmares about the artwork.

But seriously Tron and MM are two totally different games. If the OP has the money/opportunity to buy either one, then he should go play both of them and see which he likes more. Tron is alot of fun. The layout is nice, artwork is decent, theme is great and gameplay is fast and fun. MM is alot of fun too though. It isn't as fast of play as Tron, but then neither are alot of the A list games. There is a reason MM is demanding as high of prices as it is, because it's a ton of fun. IMO it is still overpriced, but so are alot of other games. Again it comes down to what you will enjoy more, and the only way to find that out is to play them both.

 

[WadeLanham]

I don't think Tron will appreciate for the same reason that TSPP hasn't appreciated. If there is enough demand for a game, Stern will just re-run it (forever). Didn't they re-run TSPP for 8-10 years?

Wade

 

[Rob T]

I don't think Tron will appreciate for the same reason that TSPP hasn't appreciated. If there is enough demand for a game, Stern will just re-run it (forever). Didn't they re-run TSPP for 8-10 years?

Wade

True enough regarding the pro version of Tron, but there won't be any re-runs of the LE. 400 is it.