MMRLE is what I am doing. It will be my first NIB (assuming Tron VE isn't around the corner). If I were more patient, I'd wait a year or two and find a nice HUO MMRLE for probably a lot less, but I'm okay with taking the hit in value on this one since I intend to keep it forever, and I've fixed and sold/traded up enough games to cover any losses.

It's color when you first turn it on.

You can pick a color after that

I guess orange is good enough.

I think you will find that same sentiment among the MMRLE owners including myself which could mean a dwindling supply.

I have heard that from a lot of guys as well which would translate to high demand.

If both scenarios hold true, basic economics would dictate that the price would not go down that much and may possibly go up.

It's actually that old DiamondPlate coating that makes them look frosted, because over the years, it turns milky instead of clear.

That's why when you repair a cracked insert in a DP playfield, you have to jump through hoops with rice paper to make the new one look all cloudy like the rest.

When those playfields were new, they did not have that cloudy look.

Yup, heard similar yammering from folks that just couldn't believe that the used price for acdc premium was rising.... A flood of used machines was predicted..... The result? Supply is even tighter, demand is still strong.

Wishes and hopes will lose to simple economics every time.

And I'm enjoying the machine you sold me (thankyouverymuch!) while other suckers are still looking just so they can save a couple hundred bucks. Penny wise and pound foolish.

It does a full color display. It can be full of green color or orange color or purple or thousands of others, as long as you only want to see one at a time ...

I can do that with my color DMD now too.

Possibly. What I should have said was that if I was patient I would wait a year or two for a nice HUO MMRLE or MMR. I believe I read that PPS intends to keep pumping out MMR as long as there is demand. With so little differentiating the LE from the standard, and an assumption that more will be produced as long as there is a market for it, I could only see the game's value lowering. Why pay close to $8k even for a nice HUO MMR if you could order one to your door NIB for about the same?

Not very challenging? So, you are doing Battle for the Kingdom almost every game? If so, widen those outlanes! Game difficulty complaints are seldom valid.

Too right. I have Ruled the Universe plenty but never got anywhere near Battle for the Kingdom let alone beaten it.

I think AFMR if done will be sold at the same price point as MMR. If that happens the price of used ones won't devalue all that much short or long term. With those choices it would be very close but I'd go with AFM. My motto is to buy what I want now and not wait for what might be. Been much happier with the collection since implementing that motto. All great choices you can't go wrong with any of em.

Hopefully by then they will have quality martians and targets.

There can't be enough idiots out there that would actually pay $8000 plus shipping for an AFMr when super nice originals and restored ones are in that same ballpark… actually from what I've seen here the past couple years… there probably are.

AFM

Then do not spend 8,000 on any pinball machine. These are toys, if you are so concerned about the value dropping, I strongly suggest not spending that kind of money in the first place.

I know it's not Politically (Pinsidically) correct ... but I could not help giving that post a thumb up. Made me laugh. Hope you did not take it personally Teekee, but I know you are not PC either!

Back to topic:
If I had $8000 to burn now, I would buy a pin available now. Exit TBL, Hobbit, AFMr. In the Hobbit and TBL case you are past the "early bird" price or incentive, so I see very little reason to order one now. Wait until the game ships.

That would leave us with AFM, MM (player's quality) and MMR. Among the 3, I would probably choose MMr.

But:
- Have you considered WoZ? If not, give it a try. The game is great and most issues are now fixed.
- None of the Stern LE are worth $8k in my mind. On the other hand, with ≈ $9k you could buy two Pro versions. ST + Mustang would be my first choice.
- Another idea is the 3 pins proposal. Guess you could find Dr Who + BSD + a third pin like Road Show or Stargate for around $8k?

Made me laugh as well.

PC sucks! Very difficult to offend me. Being offended is a choice... a choice that many people make for themselves these days and its becoming the death of America today!

Now that's offensive!!

Personally I'd buy either AFM or MM. There's been some problems although perhaps fixed with some MMR's and flippers causing damage. Also remain to be seen if down the line if the repro games will hod their value or not. As to choosing between AFM and MM, love them both and can't really even choose their so close for me in being terrific. Both have humor and fun and are incredibly well done.

The minute they release an AFMR, anyone looking to sell a nice original for a fair price, shoot me a PM. 8K for a remake of that, no way for me.

very hard. You have to destroy 6 castles, become the master of trolls (I believe it is a bunch of troll jackpots during troll madness), Save like 4-5 damsels, win like 4-5 jousts, complete the pensant ramps like 4-5 times, and complete the catapult like 4-5 times. Not sure if you have to do castle MB and Royal madness as well, but those may be requirements too. I have only seen this once in person and it wasn't completed. Not sure what it takes to complete.

AFM has the slight edge for me. I played both on location yesterday for quite a while. I like the gameplay of AFM a bit more. The callouts and art are a bit better on MM, but I'm a gameplay first kind of guy.

I would pick up The Shadow, the most superior Brian Eddy game, and then maybe a used ST pro. That way, you've got two games with good flow, one with a cool gimmick (shadow ramps) and one with a bash toy. Both have great 3rd flipper shots as well!

Not to mention there is barnyard multiball.

At least 9 tasks to perfom in the game, with the 10th being battle for the kingdom.

I have a lot less time on AFM but from what I can tell the rules are super similar to MM. Not sure there is any less repetition there for its wizard mode.

Several months ago I was in the same situation you were. I think a lot of this choice depends on what price/condition of each is available in your area. Initially I wasn't happy with the quality/price ratio of any of the MM or AFM that were available to me. I eventually preordered a MMR but would have been happy to buy a MM if I could have found one in great condition for $9K or less. For me the only downside of the MMR relative to a MM is the waiting an uncertain delivery time. Then just recently while still waiting on the MMR I bought an AFM after I found the right deal, but it took me a while to find the right combination of price and condition.

Every game gets repetitive eventually. Some people dislike MM, but most really enjoy it. It's not crazy deep or mode-based, but it has a good balance of stuff to do and is just fun to play. Battle for the Kingdom is the wizard mode and is not easy to reach, much less beat. I'd say personally for me, reaching Final Battle on The Shadow is an easier task than reaching BFTK. Guests love MM too because they can easily/quickly be rewarded by bashing the castle. There certainly is a lot "more" to do on ST, but it's not nearly as fun doing it. YMMV.

I had close to $4k (above the core purchase price) in a full MM DIY restoration with all of the above plus a number of mods, and that was excluding my time which was over 240hours.

Searchtempest finds you a no wait MMr for sale:

detroit.craigslist.org link

WOZ

His email says he sold two others at the same price.

For those who do not want to wait, I guess.

If you don't want to wait its simple… buy an original. That's where the smart money is going. The rest will be wasted.

good to know that vid will believe anything…

I love Medieval, but if if you are willing to spend $8k, get the nicest AFM you can find. Despite MMR, it seems that MM prices are still high relative to similar condition AFMs. From a gameplay standpoint, both are similar, though AFM is somewhat faster.

I was a big supporter of MMR early on. I love the idea that they are here, but question whether CGC really has the drive/desire to be in the home collector pinball market long term and whether the problems with MMR are just expected new-project, new-game glitches or indications of poor planning and mismanagement. Jury is still out on the electronics long-term.

MMRs will be available for quite some time. If that's your decision, wait and buy a late(r) production model NIB (unless the NIB experience and/or warranty aren't worth it to you - then wait for the inevitable HUO sales and save at least $1k). I would say the same for AFMR (tail end of production late 2016/early 2017 if it is the next remake?).

Neither MM, AFM, nor MB are worth 8K IMO. Maybe 5 years ago, but will all the new games out the past few years and those on the way - there is much more fun to be had out there for a much cheaper price.

So wait.

You are of the opinion that someone should only buy an original MM and restore it?

I just want to make sure I understand your position in these matters.

I don't call anyone a liar unless I have reason to.

If someone shows me a pic of 3 MMr, and it does not look Photoshopped, what reason would I have to doubt him?

Why not? But you wouldn't have to restore it. Plenty of nice originals out there. Restore if you want perfect or enjoy it the way it is. Why wait another 6 months just to lose big bucks opening the box.

Because no one is paying over market for MMr's… just a myth that MMr owners would love to believe.

I always liked AFM more than MM, personally. More speed and a better theme for me. I've had mine for about 7 years and still love it. And while I'm not sure how a remake of AFM for $8k would be successful, it wouldn't phase me if it did happen because I doubt I'll be parting with my original for as long as I'm still in this hobby.

If they are, I sincerely hope the folks making that call are not the people that are doing the car buying negotiations in their family.

"I got $50 off of the sticker price. Woo Hoo!"

"Extended warranty? How could I go wrong on that??"

Hey Darren,
Come over and try my Afm and MM.
Right now I give the edge to Afm as well.
We might need a replacement for the upcoming tournament,you can join in

Prior to the MMr announcement, AFMs in good condition were closer to $10k machines. So you could argue that the assumption that there will be an AFMr has already discounted the price.

It's not that the games are not worth the 8K value wise - but in playing wise. They all get old IMO - much more value orientated games out there to grab.

Great games have been released in the past five years, fully agree on that. But which of those is a light hearted game "based" mainly on humor. I'm a sucker for campy humor, also got a LotR, Shadow, TZ...but I always, each and every time I'm in the gameroom, play a game of MB before i leave. MB was my first pin many years ago. It's always a relaxing and fun experience, it shoots great, you can always achieve at least something even on a bad day, it has great toys and the callouts make me smile over and over again (same with the callouts in AFM).

If I didn't already have a MB but wanted to buy an accessible, humor based, great for guests of all ages, colorful & fun, fast shooting game that pulls off a great show - which one if the last 5 years should i choose?

Actually, after thinking about it analytically, with every new machine coming out that has complicated rulesets and "serious" themes the likeliness that there will be more humor-based light hearted games in the future decreases...making MM, AFM & MB even more unique and valuable gameplay wise and in $.
Why do you think MMR, being the 20 year old machine it is, is selling well even at 8K?