Would you rather bring friends to a classic arcade with 300 pinball machines or 300 classic video games?

Would you rather bring friends to a classic arcade w/ 300 pinball machines or 300 classic videogames


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mclemore

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Would you rather bring friends to a classic arcade with 300 pinball machines from the 1980s through present or 300 classic video games from the 1970s and 1980s?

I intentionally left off an option that might have allowed someone to select a mix of both?
 
Video games as this is the Killer list of Video Games group, and not the porn fest of Pinball. (aka Pinside) :)
All joking aside, a mix of like 275 Arcade and 25 pins would be more ideal.

So we are a tad biased here, and Pinside in the other direction. I'm very curious how the public at large might respond, so very subtly asked not 'where would you rather go', but 'where would you rather bring friends.

And while 275/25 sounds like a nice ratio, I didn't want to make the question that easy. Also, while many might like classic video games better, I'm curious if pinball might have extra appeal since large collections of them are rare outside of Las Vegas, while there are many classic arcades with 30+ of them...
 
In general I can get the spectator action that pinballs bring. But like with my friends they would be drawn to the arcade games because many if not most are multiplayer
 
Not a huge fan of pinball games in general. It's just a metal ball bouncing off of rubber and hitting targets/riding ramps. It's kinda neat, but not the unlimited wackiness that vids can present you with.

Pinball is more like a sport or skill to me. Like billiards, ping pong, shuffleboard. It's a neat activity, but that's about it.

And they cost way too damn much.
 
So we are a tad biased here, and Pinside in the other direction. I'm very curious how the public at large might respond, so very subtly asked not 'where would you rather go', but 'where would you rather bring friends.

And while 275/25 sounds like a nice ratio, I didn't want to make the question that easy. Also, while many might like classic video games better, I'm curious if pinball might have extra appeal since large collections of them are rare outside of Las Vegas, while there are many classic arcades with 30+ of them...
Crabtowne USA, near BWI airport in MD, has a really nice mix of pins and video cabs.
 
There will soon be a different thread or another way to praise all the places that are still open. This thread was intended to be more of a tribute to the places that have left us...
 
I made my vote. I was at Fun Spot for 3 days this week.

I must admit that I love both pinball and arcade games. But there are maybe 30 or 40 pins that I don't own and really want to play. Whereas there are easily 200+ arcade games that I really want to play. Partially because the variety is so huge (paperboy vs. 4p sports games vs. all the color vectors vs. all the great obscure games.... vs. zaxxon) and as much as some pins are sooo fun and so great and others really aren't... they're all still buttons controlling flippers (and magna-save). So 300 pins doesn't do it for me. There just weren't enough unique designs like Orbitor 1, Hyperball, Joust, Pinball Circus and yeah, I'll say it, Hercules.
 
I enjoy them both. When company comes over, the pinballs get played. I really don't play any of them. I always seem to find a project to work on and that chews up all of my free time.
 
The issue with having one or the other is right now pinball is beyond and above classic arcade currently. Not to say classics are not popular but the "same old games" are tiring even after 10+ years of barcades being a thing.

Pinball machines are being made and are fresh and are different everytime you play them.

Now if there were "new" classic games out there, I would say people would be fine with it but you have an infinitely better chance of people coming back in droves with pinball machines.

I run one of the largest daily locations in the country and we have 300 physical arcade and 155 physical pinball. Many more actual "games" in the arcade if you count PlayChoices, Neo Geos, multicades, etc etc.

The classics aren't played as much as the 90s stuff and pin stuff. Right now I would even go as far as saying the top 25 classics are still always of interest for people and a slew more 90s games for people to get into.
 
Yup... the question of one or another was specifically drafted to make the poll...and the follow-up thoughts interesting.

I'm loving the comments and discussion on these poll threads this week. I'm glad I have 'reply' turned on for these polls...

Besides the pin vs vid question, there are more and more comments and ancillary evidence that 90s games may be growing in popularity in general vs 80s games. I figure this is partly a generational shift... I'm sure an operator such as @DreamTR could expound.
 
I like the multiplayer aspects of pinball over classic vids, so if I'm taking friends and want to actually play against/with them, then pinballs for sure. I usually go to the local barcades specifically for the pins because many of my friends are going to be there playing already. We also have little mini pop-up tournaments once or twice a week for the competitive / practice / learning aspects, since so much about pinball is understanding the different rulesets and how to best take advantage of certain situations.

Out of our group, I'm one of the few who breaks off for Galaga or Arkanoid from time to time. A few of the others like the various 90's fighters. All of us enjoy the drinks.
 
Vids, all day. I love pins deeply too but vids are the first love and hold the most allure for me to share with friends.
 
Pinball machines are being made and are fresh and are different everytime you play them.
That's probably the most interesting thing that stands out to me with all the new pins coming out. You look at a pin from 1975 and the ruleset is like "hit these three letters in sequence and drop the targets to unlock a special bonus, then start over." Fast forward ~20 years and look at a ruleset for something like AC/DC or The Simpson Pinball Party, it's like reading a D&D book.
 
So we are a tad biased here, and Pinside in the other direction. I'm very curious how the public at large might respond, so very subtly asked not 'where would you rather go', but 'where would you rather bring friends.
Well I can tell you this - and only from my own experience. Not tooting no horn or nothing like that, but I am pretty popular and I know/hangout with/use to hang out with/etc.. a massive amount of people compared to the average person (I think)... and well all through out school when we first started playing arcades, I know for sure me and everyone I knew and even came across all liked Video Arcade games better. But of course played a pinball or two.

As we grew, circle of friends grew/changed and = same thing - video games over pinball, with still a respect for pinball. During our sessions I'd average a 3hr arcade fest would equal about 2 pinball games and the rest video arcades.

That kept steady and now, I am old - and well, same thing. lol Matter fact here is the only place I see people going on and on about pinballs. Curious if its more about collecting them cause they look so neat and all that glass rather than playing them ? IDK ? But thats my experience on the subject -

Now I will get into why - and this is only a assumption. But it might be due to the pace. Video games just has a undeniable pace to them that pinball doesn't. Like the difference between baseball and basketball - One has a lot more faster pace to it to watch... take a guess. haha Baseball might used to have been the "American Pass Time" - but now a days, I think basketball is the clear winner in excitement. Especially once Michael Jordan got on board. But then the transition lasted till about Steph Curry came on board and yea.. now its just over the top exciting. Does anyone even watch baseball still ? lol

Great poll btw -
 
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