I don't think you can go wrong with either but I do enjoy AP enough that I own it.
-Mike

i just got done restoring my alien poker. Love it. Love the rules and gameplay. Playing a restored clearcoated one is amazing.

Both of those games are about the same amount of fun. I would say that the looks of Blackout even out the better game play of AP. I would pick the game you can get in better shape.

what about classic stern? Meteor?

I think the biggest question is whether you want a control game or not. Blackout is a game about bashing every target in sight and AP is the opposite

Big fan of each and have owned each. Little more going on in Alien Poker but getting "Blackout" is awesome. I'd pickup whatever you get a better deal on!... Dan

I like Alien Poker. I've played it a lot more recently and now in competition really adds to the way you play. Making the decision about how high you want to get the multiplier before finishing up the cards and collecting.

If you are on the fence here is one more deciding factor. How bright is your game room? I would think you'd kind of lose the effect of the dimming GI in the blackout mode if your game room is well lit.

I own Blackout and have played Alien Poker a bunch. No wrong decision here really. I give the edge to Blackout in the graphics and sound department. My guests seem to really love it to, its one of my most played games by non-pinheads. I would like to own both

Both are great games, you really can't go wrong with either one. Get whichever pops up for sale first.

I have played both and are good but alien poker wins it for me easily
A great risk reward game and need good shots to take the full jackpot but can be very punishing to take those shots

Alien poker

I own Blackout along with some other "newer" games and Blackout is always a family/friend favorite. It's easy enough to explain what to do/aim for, they like the goal/challenge of lighting up and then getting the Blackout, and as silly as this may sound compared to the effects of today, everyone likes when the machine goes into Blackout mode. I also like the artwork on the game. My only negative is while I like most of the sounds, and the early 80s speech is fun, there is one sound that is really annoying and I can't wait to hit another target or something to make it go away.