What's your favourite pinball machine?

in college we had an Addams Family that would give you free games if you kicked in exactly the right spot, so I like that one cause I'm REALLY good at it

Rudy is a bastard.

Williams machines are the best!

Glastonbury was like 28 Days Later?

Umberto Eco to thread!

(does anyone else remember the passage from Foucault's Pendulum about the importance of using your groin when playing a pinball machine?)

The middle three (and a game called Whirlwind), were designed by Pat Lawlor, whose new game is Rollercoaster Tycoon, which I was pleased to find in that place with the 15,000 song mp3 jukebox in New York.

That's all I know about pinball, except that my friend in Boston has The Twilight Zone in his guest bedroom and it rocks long and hard.

BLACK

KNIGHT

WILL

PLAY

YOU

HAHAHAHAHAHA!

Star Trek: Next Generation is really good.

No Fear.

http://www.sandsmuseum.com/coinop/games/ritz/index.html

But then Pete would have hated it.

http://www.pinthugs.com/funhouse/justface.jpg

re what Colin said about jacking off in public: probably, but no more so than playing electric guitar.

Also good: ELVIRA "ooh, would you like another ball? groovy!! *wolf howl*"

The Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom game was hard as fuck.

Most of the action film ones - Die Hard, Terminator, etc. - are terrible.

Medieval Madness was the only pin I got a replay from on first ever play.

Also, the (new-ish) Sopranos is good.

There's a kick-ass new(?) Elvis one about. Looooads of insane ramp shit and a hip-shaking Elvis doll. They've got it on of the sketchy Oxford St arcades...

"Ride the Comet!"
"Ride the Ferris Wheel!"
"Ride the Cyclone!"
"Hey, you with the face!"

"Dispatch this is 504, suspect running a red light, over"
"Pull over!"

Two separate friends in the last week have dropped unrelated mentions of The Addams Family pinball game, awakening the most wonderful nostalgia in me. I spent hours and hundreds of dollars in quarters on that game in the early 90s. Wikipedia says over 20,000 units were produced, so I should be able to find a venue with one nearby. But I don't even know where to look in 2009 for pinball. Wah! :(

where in the world are you, there are databases for people like you. i would try bars, rollerrinks, laundromats etc

On the Florida coast... most of the bars around here just have trivia machines and fake slots... or billiards. And I think the last roller rink just closed.

I know the bowling alley has some games, but no pinball.

BLACK KNIGHT!

For any pinball fans who are also Nintendo Wii owners, I highly recommend Pinball Hall of Fame: The Williams Collection.

It is easily my favorite Wii game.

It has spot-on reproductions of
Gorgar
Taxi
Pinbot
Funhouse
Space Shuttle
Black Knight
Whirlwind
Firepower
Sorcerer
Jive Time

yeah they're getting harder and harder to find--i would try the google chat board pinball group and ask around. there were enough of those damn TAF games made that it shouldn't be too hard to find one

Ohh, I don't have Wii but would love to see that.

I dunno pinball is so tactile, I can't really see getting into a digital recreation

yeah i would like to play that for laughs, but it seems kind of lame. i would play it to make fun of it, though

I usually have to wait once a year for this to satisfy my pinball jones. Spent most of my time at the Sopranos game last month, cuz I'd never seen that before.

Sopranos is surprisingly fun!

Holy shit! That's almost worth a plane ticket to California.

it was great that it was in a swanky hotel this year (as opposed to the San Jose convention ctr) cuz you could play some games, then go out to the bar and grab some booze and food and take a break, rinse and repeat, etc. Unfortunately I only got to spend like 3 hours there, could've easily stayed all night if we'd had the time (it was open til 2am!)

florida coast could be anywhere, but you could look at this blog or email the guy and ask him, depending on where you live

http://pinballavenue.blogspot.com/

cuz you could play some games, then go out to the bar and grab some booze and food and take a break, rinse and repeat, etc.

that was the biggest problem i had with the Pinball Hall of Fame in Vegas--it's kind of out of the way and I didn't know vegas that well and i needed to take breaks but didn't know where to go to grab a bite or anything. i ended up just going to in and outs and coffee shops and stuff

thx, Que. I may have to email him.

yeah you gotta give your feet (and wrists and fingers) a rest - but the San Jose convention ctr doesn't have a goddamn thing nearby, and of course no food or drink is allowed in the game room, etc. But at the hotel there's y'know, a swanky lobby with couches and all kinds of amenities, so you don't have to leave the building and waste time walking (or driving) around aimlessly

x-post

I dunno pinball is so tactile, I can't really see getting into a digital recreation

― girlish in the worst sense of that term (Shakey Mo Collier), Friday, July 24, 2009 1:43 PM (1 hour ago) Bookmark Suggest Ban Permalink
yeah i would like to play that for laughs, but it seems kind of lame. i would play it to make fun of it, though

― Mr. Que, Friday, July 24, 2009 1:44 PM (1 hour ago) Bookmark Suggest Ban Permalink

True, it doesn't take the place of a real pinball table. But for an inexpensive home videogame re-creation of famous pinball tables, it is incredibly good. It is miles better than any other pinball video game I have ever played.

One of my favorite features is that you can hold the two wii controllers on either side of your body in a way that is very similar to how you'd position your hands on a table, then you can nudge the controllers just like you'd nudge the table to get a little extra push on the ball when you need it.

There was a pinball machine I played a lot in the late 80s that had a poker or gin rummy theme, basically had a playing card design. I think it might have been a split-level table. Does anyone remember the name of that one?

Jokerz

http://www.ipdb.org/machine.cgi?gid=1308

Yes! That game is bad ass! I love the dual ramps on either side plus the little ramp that raises up in the middle. Sweet!

Kind of curious about PinMAME now, probably isn't quite as cool as Wii Pinball.

That Wii pinball game is surprisingly fun and addictive. Maybe it's not quite tactile, but it seems faithful enough. For instance, the pinballs just feel heavier on that goddamned Jive Time board than they do on Whirlwind.

Jive Time is such a pain in the ass - I love it!

I think the physics of the game are very lifelike - I definitely feel like I'm playing pinball rather than a videogame of pinball.

I was just taking a peek at the other pinball thread - that Circus game looks nuts! Now I need to track it down and play it.

Jive Time = hell

that Circus game looks nuts! Now I need to track it down and play it.

The Pinball Circus? There were only two made. The only public version of the game is at the Pinball Hall of Fame in Vegas.

I guess I didn't realize this was an actual place, I thought it was a one-time or once-a-year event or something.

That settles it: I'm going to Vegas!

Also planning a trip to New Hampshire to visit that vintage videogame arcade featured in the King of Kong film.

i don't know, the NH the place doesn't have that many pinball machines. their list is pretty weak. i would HIGHLY suggest a trip to vegas though.

Addams Family
Cyclone
Freddy
FunHouse
Jokerz
Monopoly
Whitewater

^^^PHOF has all of these except Whitewater, and Whitewater kinda sucks

Oh, I meant I'd go for the video games. I love classic pinball and classic video games too!

One of the greatest tragedies in my life is the loss of Paragon Park in Hull, MA and the classic arcade that they had.

There used to be a huge arcade connected to the amusement park that feature tons of ancient pinball tables and other oddities including some of the earliest video games which have probably completely disappeared from the face of the Earth since they closed.

So seeing arcades that are dedicated to preserving some of these games warms my heart. I defnitely need to visit them soon!

there's a fairly large arcade on the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk (Neptune's Kingdom) that is still open and has tons of old school games, both video and pinball

I Dj at a retro-arcade and my favorite pinball machine is this one. Your ball drops down into that weird basement/oubliette and all of a sudden the flippers are backwards and your mind has to react.

http://www.basementarcade.com/arcade/auction/Pw2006/Haunted%20House.jpg

http://www.bmigaming.com/Images/shaq_attaq-1995-f-2.jpg

I did my first tilt save last night.

I fucking love pinball. I am soooooooooo addicted right now. I got three replays in a row on creature last night. There is a BBQ joint in town that has creature, whirlwind, funhouse and star wars. pretty amazing. I am driving to Lyons today to go to the pinball museum.

I am hoping to meet a rich millionaire pinball wizard who has like, a collection. So I can come over and play for free. Also maybe he'll be like a secret pinball hustler and he can take me under his wing. It'll be like Color of Money. Except with pinball. And have more acne, of course.

http://articles.baltimoresun.com/2011-09-15/entertainment/bs-ae-pinball-0915-20110915_1_national-pinball-museum-pay-to-play-area-vintage-machines

no lord of the rings or theatre of magic but at least they have addams family. your loss, d.c.!

I didn't know about this when it was in DC, but I'll be anticipating its move to Baltimore. Not long ago, my kid revealed that he didn't know what pinball was. Time for a field trip.

Recently played Addams Family again for the first time in years. It is pretty much the best pinball machine ever, although Cyclone is also an old favorite.

And Elvira:

http://www.boomersamusements.com/103-0349_IMG%20opt.jpg

dudes Addams Family sux

also speaking of theatre of magic

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xn7r9Yvzjh8

oooh that's a great Elvira game.

Riverboat Gambler, with its Louis Armstrong style theme song.
Jokerz.
Tee'd Off, with a shit-talking gopher.

(xpost) Elvira says stuff like "How about another... ball?" And it has some crazy rubber monsters that hop up and down. I played it a ton on my first drunken trip to New Orleans.

dudes Addams Family sux

Gonna hafta respectfully disagree on this. The Thing hand that takes the extra ball, the "Thing flips" feature, the soundbites -- "The MAMUSHKA!!" -- all A+++ to me.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Pk1mICX8HI

Music starts at 0:20, singing at 0:53.

I didn't know about this when it was in DC, but I'll be anticipating its move to Baltimore. Not long ago, my kid revealed that he didn't know what pinball was. Time for a field trip.

― rustic italian flatbread, Friday, September 16, 2011 3:08 PM

i didn't know about it in dc because it was inside a yuppie mall in georgetown

dudes Addams Family sux

― Mr. Que, Friday, September 16, 2011 3:14 PM

YOU sux

stoked for twilight zone

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c5SmHI-vXzc

yeah i went to that dude's exhibit when it was at the Smithsonian, he is a hardcore pinball guy, glad he found the space.

am0n there was a twilight zone at crabtown, do you know about that place? it's in glen burnie i believe

no! i don't go to glem burning rly. mt royal tavern used to have elvira i think, now they have one of those dumb golf games

http://www.ipdb.org/images/5618/image-1.jpg

this was sorta helpful when i lived in that area

http://www.fspazone.org/ladb/ladb.pl

Not pinball, but obscurely awesome coin-op game. I might have posted about this somewhere else: vintage fire truck machine that squirts real water. I played this in the Indianapolis airport years ago.

http://flyers.arcade-museum.com/flyers_arcade/americoin/115000201.jpg

i went to ground kontrol when i was in portland, that place rules

thx que, i didn't know there was a LOTR so close by although..

Balrog Bash does not function on LOTR.

:[

I like LOTR pinball and what do you mean Balrog bash doesn't work?

bummerz

it means Balrog doesn't work

Avatar game was at the entrance to CA Extreme this year. nobody I know played it.

crabtowne looks awesome, i might have to go there tomorrow

http://www.pinballnews.com/games/lotr/IMG_0457.jpg

^balrog

am0n beware, the crabtowne machines are usually in crappy, horrible shape

you should go to volleyball house, if that place is still around

IIrc, you hit Balrog three (four?) times and he clears the central ramp for you to shoot down the middle.

hmm ok

what is this all about? "private collection" "invite"?

Greggs Place

Directions & Other Information:

Private collection located near White Marsh Mall. Email for info and invite ggiblinATcomcastDOTnet

IIrc, you hit Balrog three (four?) times and he clears the central ramp for you to shoot down the middle.

― em vee equals pea queue (Michael White), Friday, September 16, 2011 3:59 PM

i was quoting someone's comment about the machine at that location i.e. that part of the game isn't functioning

what is this all about? "private collection" "invite"?

it's some dude's garage/rec room and you email him to ask him to play his machines. ahem. i never did this--seems kinda crazy but fun i bet.

but what if he touches me in the ~bad place~

The flipper?

just don't let him near your plunger ;)

TILT

nudge the balls

maybe if you bring a friend you can get multiball

i googled his email and there's a gamesforum post

Crabtown USA, save your time and money IMO. I live right north of
Baltimore right off 95 and have 8 games if you want to stop by. email
me at ggib✧✧✧@comc✧✧✧.n✧✧.

--
Gregg in Baltimore

only 8? pfft

museum in baltimore is open now

I somehow wound up with the owner's manual for the KISS pinball machine made in the late '70s, though I've never played that particular table.

I was a total pinball addict in my early teens, even though video games were taking over the arcades by that time.

wowwwwwwwww way upthread, that theatre of magic promo video is awesome. Makes the game seem way more boring than it is - I haven't played that table in six years but I remember it vividly, all time favorite easy. I like all the gimmicked-out tables of that post-Addams-Family era - - Medieval Madness was another great one.

http://flyers.arcade-museum.com/flyers_pinball/deco/13002302.jpg

i went to the nat'l pinball museum here. the exhibit portion is pretty weak unless you like reading tons of placards. you're not supposed to take photos but i snuck some anyway. the "gallery" on the 2nd floor has ~35 games to play. i paid the 2hr. admission which i think could be a little cheaper if they want to bring people in. mostly played twilight zone and avatar (lol). my wrists hurt for days after from all the flipping.

http://www.pinballarcade.com/

Did you see any Rock N' Roll Pinball ?

oh yeah they have the guns n roses machine at the museum but i forgot to play it

GnR game is kinda lame imho

would be funnier if the goal of the game was to replace as many bandmembers as possible

GNR and the Who were pretty good pinball games.

I'm trying to think of a band that could earn the honor of being to pinball what Journey was to home video games.

hmmm

now I'm wishing there was a Beach Boys pinball game

http://rockbrat.files.wordpress.com/2011/08/nuge_pinball1.jpg

Gonna put this one in at the deer lodge.

http://rockbrat.files.wordpress.com/2011/08/rolling_stones_1.jpg

I remember seeing this one when it was out, having only a vague idea of who the Stones were. I knew enough to be freaked out a little bit by it sitting in a mirrored corner by iteslf, black plastic ashtray sitting on its glass.

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_nFAGnx0hN1U/TCHw6UrYDmI/AAAAAAAABgg/UY1CHQwTLUw/s1600/iPhone+Screenshot+2.jpeg

got excited about this one until I learned that it's a SPOILER.

http://a1.ec-images.myspacecdn.com/images02/69/deb48711f5164e4bb7ff400a3f613f3f/l.jpg

Hahahaha, next.

I've seen that Nugent one but never played it. Stones one is creeeeepy

Could rattle off a bunch of creepy pinball games that I still see in my dreams every once in awhile. That Stones one. The Space Invaders one with the lights all around it. Xenon, the robot girl who wanted you to hit her bumpers.

http://www.stickycarpet.com/pinx/_images/pinglow.jpg

Going back to play Donkey Kong, thanks anyway!

oh I've played a lot of Xenon

wtf that Space Invaders is such an Alien knockoff! never seen that

I don't what know what you're talking about; it looks just like the video game, can't you see?

There's a laundromat 'round these parts that has:

Indiana Jones
Funhouse
Whitewater
Tales of the Arabian Nights
Theater of Magic
Medieval Magic
Addams Family
and one of the Pinbot games, maybe Jackbot

...AND I saw Circus Voltaire and ST:TNG being serviced by the owner. Man. It's a little out of my way but I can see that becoming a serious regular detour and quarter-drainer. Dude has taste in tables.

Wow yeah those are all solid, especially ToM and MM.

Teed Off!

? I dont know that one

A gopher talks shit to you while you play, kind of a cross between Funhouse (the machine) and Caddyshack (the movie).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RC74TQMNJtc

That is some quality gopher action

Never seen Teed Off before! Not sure I could deal with that gopher. But that reminds me, he also has a World Cup Soccer table. Really a gold mine over there.

this place in the Bay Area rules, $15 for unlimited play all afternoon/night, four rooms, rotating selection: http://pacificpinball.org/

this is also very useful in the US: http://pinballmap.com/

Oh, WOW. That looks really, really promising. I wanted to start something like that in 2005 or 6 but all I knew how to do was basic HTML via FrontPage, so it just was a kind of review index of the tables in Athens, whether they were fun to play/out of order or not...

^^^ along the way, it became an app, and a darn handy one at that. i don't play nearly as much as i once did, but I still do enjoy a session here and there.