What are consider "B" Games, "C" Games?

crassmage

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What are consider "B" Games, "C" Games?

I have heard mention of this but dont really know what qualifies a game to be an A game (I assume MM, TAF etc) But what are games considered B, C, or even D if that exists? Just curious......
 
Everything that will be posted in this thread will be nothing but opinions.....

I'm trying to think hard of what a "D" game would be, lol...

Actually, I lie. IMO, Stern NBA is a "D" game, because you'd have to PAY ME to make space for that POS.
 
Yeah, never played that one but never cared to either, just seeing what everyones opinions would be. More interested in said "D" and "C" titles so I dont end up owning too many in the future.
 
I think the difference between A and B games is mainly price and demand. There are many "B-list" games that are just as good as "A-list" games in terms of play, rules, depth, design, theme, etc. From there the difference between B, C and everything else is gameplay.
 
Yeah, never played that one but never cared to either, just seeing what everyones opinions would be. More interested in said "D" and "C" titles so I dont end up owning too many in the future.


totally don't get this point of view. and you're not alone....plenty of self-described pinheads would totally agree with you.


call me crazy, but i don't give a flying fart what other people think of my pins. i collect ones that i like playing...me...that's what matters. if you like a pin, who gives a damn if it's considered A or D by a bunch of self righteous, overweight, balding men who never grew up??? (i kid...but then again...)

i own a who dunnit pin. it's considered B at best...probably C by some. i wouldn't sell it for anything. i absolutely LOVE that pin. white water? it lasted less than a year, and it's a pin-grail to a lot of folks. gilligan's island? i had it, sold it, and immediately regretted it...wanna know what i gave to get it back? my white water (got gilligan plus cash). why? because i hated the shit out of white water and i absolutely LOVED gilligan.

but it's a D pin. yeah. i care. :/




play and collect what's fun for you. i'm not saying that everyone should own a shaq attaq (lol...i actually think that pin is kinda fun...but worst music in pinball), but just because someone else ranks a game as a C or D don't dismiss it without giving it a shot.



<two pennies>
 
agreed, I guess I am trying to see what people think are the real "STINKERS". Kinda for fun and kinda for my own benefit like I said above. I have only a Gorgar and an Alien Poker at the moment. My family LOVES the Alien Poker but dont care as much for the Gorgar. I think the Gorgar is better. Theses are both probably considered "C" titles. I have played alot of pins(not enough of them though) and have started to get a feel for what I like. I think the early to mid 80s are more of my Sweet Spot but enjoy some of the newer ones for a game or two. I for one dont like Road Show or Whirlwind so I get what you are saying. I despise Black Knight but that is just my opinion. So thanks for the 2 cents ;) And I always wanted to give gilligan a try myself.......
 
Here's the deal as best I can figure it.
A list games: Games that are classic, hold both their value and popularity indefinitely. Mind you, an A list game does not guarantee that you will like it once you get it as many pins just don't appeal to the casual player. But an A list game pretty much ensures that you will be able to trade it towards another A list title that you might. And an A list game usually goes for a minimum of 1500 but most are 2800+++ if you know what I mean.

B list games: Are the other 70-90 percent of pins out there. They are good fun pinballs that most regular collectors end up with. Prices are usually 800-1500 depending on the titles. They are higher production numbers and often are made by the less popular companies like Data East, Stern, Sega and include older Bally/Williams like system 11 and older. They are good pins, and affordable, and usually within the regular collectors grasp.

C and D list games: Mostly, I would think this would be more a statement about the condition of the pin itself. You could have a B list title with horrible play wear, missing art/playfield parts, bullet holes in the side of the cabinet....You get the idea. Its not impossible to restore or repair, but its not going to be cost effective and the battle will be uphill all the way. That's not to say its impossible to find one of these pins that's both playable and fun. Maybe its just missing the back glass, but the rest of the game is fine. But then again, who would want to look at a light box blinding you while your trying to play. Then again, maybe its just a filler like an old pre system 11 pin, or even a bingo pin or "bad" EM pin. Not wanting to get in an argument over how awesome "some" EM pins are. I am sure they are some great ones, but I am equally sure that some are slow and boring, and simplistic ones that are probably a pain in the arse to maintain. Think 300 bucks for an average price.

I do believe that there are probably some exceptions to these generalizations. Some DMD pins that are just bad enough that most collectors would not like to own them. The one that comes to my mind personally is "Dale Jr." and maybe "Nascar" by extension. And from what I have heard, Transformers may end up on this list if they don't fix the programming bugs. Not played it myself, but I have heard its lacking. But it will still probably keep its value. Shaq Attack maybe fits the bill. Look up Gottlieb street level pins. They would probably have a few titles in the D list.

That's not to say a D list pin can't find a home. But it could be better to part out if its truly in rough shape.
 
"A" list pins are typically trophies. They aren't necessarily great examples of great playing games. They're just limited-production games. typically with certain types of themes that people in the market with money want to have to impress similar collectors.

I agree. I could care less if I ever own a Medieval Madness. I think the game is highly overrated. I also feel the same way about Whitewater and I own one. And Who?Dunnit is so much better than either game, I'm happy that not enough people know how good a game that is so it can still float around among the community without turning into some kind of trailer-queen holy grail that the MM and BBB collectors "must have."

There is not always much logic to what makes and "A" verses "B" game. When KISS goes for $2000 and Royal Flush can be had for $500, there's no accounting for taste when it comes to pricing.
 
couldnt agree more, go to hear opinions like this, I do like MM but would never consider buying one because I could get 3-4 good games for the same price. Thanks for all the input and perspective guys. So it really boils down to gameplay I think. EM to me are dreadfull for the most part but i am 30 and didnt grow up around them so I guess there is always the nostalgia angle too. I grew up playing the earlier SS games so that is what I find more "comfortable". The newer ones have WAAAAY too many rules for me to get into.
 
I have heard mention of this but dont really know what qualifies a game to be an A game (I assume MM, TAF etc) But what are games considered B, C, or even D if that exists? Just curious......

It is imho that the grading is purely based on the price the machine will fetch, and has nothing to do with game play.

For example, TAF good and clean 100% good needs nothing realistically is an easy sale for $3500. People will buy that machine for that price and not think twice. makes it a A lister.
If that machine realistically sold for $1500 all day and thats all it could fetch, then it would be a B title.

the ipdb ratings are so arbitrary and almost meaningless.
 
EM to me are dreadfull for the most part but i am 30 and didnt grow up around them so I guess there is always the nostalgia angle too.

EMs are simpler machines, but just as much creativity and ingenuity can go into an EM machine as a SS or DMD. Most of them are designed for short ball times and they are loaded with "sucker shots". If you ever want to get really good at any pinball game, start on EMs, which will force you to be more diligent with ball control and shot placement, the two most important aspects to playing pinball well.

The fact that EM prices have not gone up in the last 10 years at all, to me, is a sign that the pinball market overall is shrinking, and younger people are not getting into the games. Eventually solid state and DMD games will probably also hit some kind of "price floor" but the holy grail-type machines will always command a premium.
 
the ipdb ratings are so arbitrary and almost meaningless.

Pretty much the only thing I use the ratings on IPDB for are if there have ben multiple negative reviews on a game about a specific issue. Mostly people rate games down because of the dumbest reasons, and just like movies, it is all personal choice.

I'd suggest just using them to see if a game has a common problem such as power issues, or a lamely positioned ramp etc
 
Any game that isn't something the Status Symbol crowd in this hobby has/wants, is a B list or worse title.

It's all a price correlation...

Fine by me to a degree, keeps the "cheaper" pins cheaper...
 
Any game that isn't something the Status Symbol crowd in this hobby has/wants, is a B list or worse title.

It's all a price correlation...

Fine by me to a degree, keeps the "cheaper" pins cheaper...
+1

TZ and MM are probably the two most over-rated pins, imho. Stop-n-go and boring.

I think it is only fair to note that many of those particularly interested in categorizing/valuating these supposed A-list pins tend to completely ignore non-DMD pins, as though EMs or SS' don't even exist. Nonsense and ignorance. There are great examples of pinball in all eras of pinball history that certainly deserve equal recognition ... but they don't really need to be labelled.

... and none of them need LEDs ... imho.
 
Kev the worst part about those collectors, is they think DMD pins are a totally separate category of pin. A DMD pin IS an SS pin...it just has a DMD instead of alpha-numeric/numeric displays.

I don't care for what is in the head of my games, I'm looking at the playfield when I play...

As for TZ...I really enjoy it, I'd like to own one some day, but I'm NOT paying $4kish for ANY game, EVER.
 
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