We love our acdc. If you like a shooting style game, think about a hobbit for something completely different than the sterns. As for SM, I like the Ve as I don't care to see the movie graphics over real art.

Acdc is a really fun game but not exactly point and shoot at all..

Not sure which particular quality issues you are concerned with. Bought SMVE nib in April. The sandman Vuk causes a ball indent. Put some additional Mylar on and kept playing. Mylar will help but fast steel ball vs play field, play field will always lose. I have one insert with a small amount of ghosting.

Compared to the virgin play field, it has dimples from playing. It's pinball. I'll keep playing and eventually I'll have a 100% dimpled re-leveled field.

That's it.

The SMVE reinforcements (sandman area, Vuk stainless vs plastic on SM, etc) seem to be doing their job.

Rules are the same as original although some of the names have changed.

For me always regretted not buying a production run original spidey when I had the chance. Happy with my machine. For me it's a keeper.

I've written this before- look for a SM modded if you are worried and can inspect it first. But compared to the the price delta of a SMVE, and your time involved in tracking down a SM for sale, you see it's relatively small premium if you place value on having a new machine and the time involved in searching.

It's a mechanical machine, things are going to wear. Yes, it can be disappointing if there are perceived flaws when buying new. You can also try to go to a show and try to buy a NIB demo machine used for the show. That way you can inspect it and get a low play "new" machine.

Good luck. You'll enjoy either the SM or SMVE.

AC/DC is also fun. I'd like to have one someday but my choice would still be for a SM version first

Just realized you're in sterling. I'm down there often at my friends to play his pins. If you get up to the Baltimore area, you can come look at my SMVE if you want to see a machine that is a couple of months old.

Don't Go black, I heard there is no going back.

Buy a TRON

If you're unsure about a Spider-Man, then I'd suggest buying a nice original one. Then if you don't like it you can sell it for what you paid for it.
If you buy a SMVE and don't like it you are going to lose money.

Spider-Man is a great game by the way. I'm loving mine and have just put a ColorDMD in it.

AC DC premium for a rock experience, and more user controlled game experience.
From, for an addictive speed demon
Game.
SM, any version, for a well rounded
game for everyone, and kinda in the middle, with enough of all things to make
It a top game in the `absolute fun` category.

Acdc = one of the fastest pins alive! ... so you probably won't like it.

If you like Trap n shoot style games then go for TWD, Metallica or LOTR.

As for SM; it's a great flow style game but not too fast. It does have a lot of aim and shoot qualities about the layout and code. This would be a great choice.

I'm fortunate enough to own ToM, Metallica Pro, ACDC Pro, and Sopranos. Ranking by speed: Met, ACDC, Sopranos then ToM. SM is a good choice if you don't want a super fast game with good shots. Not a big fan of TWD but I haven't played since release. Love SM VE.

I'd check out LOTR. It's very deep with lots of shots. A friend of mine has similar tastes and like LOTR the best.

I'd go somewhere that has the machines you're considering and play them. If it costs a couple of hundred and a road trip, it's worth it to me.

Interesting observations slcorrado.

TSSP - fun but nut my style
TOM - not my style
MMr - MM owner here and love it.

I've owned SM, ACDC Prem and Tron LE. All are gone now. Of those, only Tron will stay gone. I'll get ACDC back one day. It's got a great combo of music and play. Original SM is my favorite. I love the JK Simmons callouts. Tron is fine but I can't listen to daft punk for long. I'm clearly in the minority on Tron.

Take it off the list? If you are a acdc fan and are an above avg. player than get one. It kicks some serious ass!

I agree with this. Acdc is probably the best music integrated pin alive! It is fast and difficult though. and ironically, my wife and guests miss this pin the most out of all the pins I've ever had. So even though it's a fast and difficult game, guests and non pinheads still enjoy it.

Yeah. Before I bought my ACDC pinsider Rai explained to me that ACDC is like 12 mini games within one pin. Each song puts you in one of those games. ACDC did not click for me off the bat and does not with a bunch of folks, but when it does - off the charts WOW! If you like or love the band like I do it will be a cornerstone of your collection.

Simple rules for me are to pick a song and rotate the songs so you did not get broken record play, hit the targets to complete the challenge of the song to light up the playfield and start to build the jackpots, don't forget to hit that bell to get 2x and 3x scoring especially before you start a multiball, hit the bell with the cannon shot also if the jackpots are smaller to achieve or get close to 2x scoring for a gun shot also, flip away at multiball and once that ball loads in the cannon you better make that jackpot shot and better not have forgot about the bell for multipliers! Then Boom 20 million, 30 Million+ jackpots get your blood pumping! Fist pump when you start multi ball and yell when you get a Jackpot also like I do for fun.

So don't rule out ACDC.

Since when did collecting pinballs have anything to do with logic ?

If you go SM VE, you will need to wait until August to get one...

Tron sucks. Original SM is the right choice here.

We have 2 SMVE's NIB is stock. Great game. ACDC is a great pin too. I prefer Metallica over ACDC. If I had to choose SMVE or ACDC, Id go SMVE. But in the end its your choice. Hard to pick a pin without playing it first. But The SMVE seems to fit you more.