He’s a pinball fanatic and is heading off to Union College in Schenectady NY. Im looking for something absolutely bulletproof, 2k and something he & his dorm buddies would appreciate. Game protection & security shouldn’t be an issue as he’s 6’3” 310lbs. He’ll be sharing housing with 24 other freshmen.
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Quoted from KozMckPinball:NBAFB? Good luck, my nephew graduated from there last year.
$2k is a tight budget in this market for a working shopped game. What about
Joker Poker
Meteor
Bobby Orr*
Harlem Globetrotters (sports)
Mata Hari
Firepower
Blackout
Many Gottlieb premier games
Taxi
Pinbot
*Sports themed and one was just posted in the Marketplace in the northeast
I'd track down a Sharkey's Shootout ... should be able to get one for ~ $2K, it is simple to learn, great game for parties, eh, to take breaks from studying, and somewhat easy to sell should he get sick of it.
Quoted from gliebig:Playboy.
Yep, that's a no brainer ... forget Sharkeys ... get the Playboy (I'm assuming the Stern one).
Capcom Flipper Football. The ultimate pinball party game and up to 6 can play! Sells for under $2k too.
Otherwise I'd recommend a tornado foosball table. No maintenance worries and it's more fun for 4 players than pinball. When I was in college my roommates and I all chipped in for a table.
Quoted from embryonjohn:Barb Wire is so cheesy it’s creeping to the top of the list
Go to Pinfest as there will be lots of games to choose from and the prices are fair
@ 2k id say breakshot. Classic billiards theme. It’s got some girls on it... and it’s a good shooter.
Honestly, I would go with any gottlieb system 3 game. They are built like tanks, and it would be able to take the physical abuse from a rowdy bunch of college students.
Not the best game but I'm sure the boys will get a kick outta Bride of Pinbot. Balls in the mouth is always funny!
Quoted from PopBumperPete:why bother.
he is moving out, he will discover girls are more fun than an old pinball
I was going to say as well.
Do you want him to get laid? No pinball.
Between girls and studying no time.
Quoted from Ericpinballfan:I was going to say as well.
Do you want him to get laid? No pinball.
Between girls and studying no time.
Having a pinball machine at their house would be pretty fuckin cool and unique. Would imagine that would help chances tbh certainly works well for me
Quoted from ForceFlow:Honestly, I would go with any gottlieb system 3 game. They are built like tanks, and it would be able to take the physical abuse from a rowdy bunch of college students.
Quoted from Dr_Gonzo:Don't put it in a public place. I work at a university and have seen flipped over pool tables, ping pong tables destroyed, etc. If it's in a public place it will disappear or get trashed.
I have to agree that my first suggestion would be no pinball. I just think it would get torn up too easily with drinks and parties.
Are there any barcades nearby?? Give him a monthly pass. That would be my recommendation.
If you must go with a pinball, gottlieb system 3 or williams system 11 would be the best. All built well, many options under 2k, and a bunch of great games to choose from.
They have this strange type of housing at Union College where groups of 20 or so kids live in multiple stand alone houses with 1 big kitchen, 3 baths, BBQ grills outside and a big living room. He wanted my 1069 Chicago Coin Apollo Moon Shot arcade rifle game but the school has a no guns policy. Playboy for a pinball “would be a no” says my son as it’s too “insulting to women”...
If I had the cash I’d spring for a Revenge from Mars cause it’s risqué but not too much.
Quoted from embryonjohn:Chicago Coin Apollo Moon Shot arcade rifle game but the school has a no guns policy. Playboy for a pinball “would be a no” says my son as it’s too “insulting to women”...
Man, are the kids going puritan nowadays? LOL
Second world poker tour in your price range. Lots of drop targets, and you can find them for under $2k pretty easily. Whatever you do, spring for the alternate translite. The stock one is a horror show.
Really the only thing that goes wrong on it is the opto(s) for the jail lockup. Other than that, it's pretty bulletproof and has a really great ruleset (too bad Stern cheaped out on the toys in that era).
Quoted from PinMonk:Second world poker tour in your price range. Lots of drop targets, and you can find them for under $2k pretty easily.
I’ve never seen a wpt for less than $2500, and that one was a player quality cabinet. Almost everyone that I’ve seen has been $3000 or higher in nice condition
Quoted from bluespin:I’ve never seen a wpt for less than $2500, and that one was a player quality cabinet. Almost everyone that I’ve seen has been $3000 or higher in nice condition
I'm assuming they're not opposed to doing a basic shop job on it and replacing a few parts. They're out there if you're looking and willing to do a little work. I passed on a WPT at $1500 because I didn't have time for it, and that one was in okay shape.
The myth that there are no decent pins out there for less than $2500 is just that, a myth. I've SOLD a couple NASCARS for $1800 fully working within the last 18 months.
Unsure of the pricing in the US, but I reckon the look and gameplay of Getaway and WCS will appeal to most young lads, car and sport themes will always be popular. The supercharger and gear shifter will be a big hit and even non pinheads will totally dig shooting goals on WCS, plus the advancing through the tournaments will ring true for any aspiring sportsman.
A pin takes up quite a bit of space for dorm living. Double check that there’s a good space for a machine before you show up with one. Imagine if each kid wanted bring a pin, would there be room in the house?
I think it’s great that you want to give your son a pin while he’s away, but I don’t know if if it’s the right time/place in his life for that. Wait 5 years until he has his own place and graduated. Less concern for keeping the game safe.
I’ve been to enough college parties, to not want anything of mine that’s valuable left in the house.
He might be too busy with the ladies, booze and the books to care very much about pinball.
I wish him the best of luck on a successful 4 years.
Quoted from vwallat99:Having a pinball machine at their house would be pretty fuckin cool and unique. Would imagine that would help chances tbh certainly works well for me
Look, we all know if you want to get some ass there is literally nothing in the world more effective than owning a pinball machine.
So really any old game will do, as the aphrodisiacal power of pinball is simply too strong.
I would seriously recommend a cheaper old game as many have suggested, one that’s been gone through. Any bally or something with new boards and connectors should do the trick. It’s gonna get beat up, have many beers spilled on it, and you will likely never see it again so that’s the way to go.
Game time needs to be a factor.
You want him socializing and playing 4 player games, not sucked in to an epic quest.
Timeless classic Bally games are the key here.
Anyone of them will do. Pick a theme that resonates with him, buy it now and rebuild everything with him during these last few months before he moves out (this is the important part for both you and future him), and then he will have the confidence and pride to keep it running while he is away and when it breaks down.
Bonus points... if this goes like I think it will in my head... then his senior year you can pull the game home and do a full restoration on the game and make it his graduation present in 4 year.
Quoted from PinMonk:I'm assuming they're not opposed to doing a basic shop job on it and replacing a few parts. They're out there if you're looking and willing to do a little work. I passed on a WPT at $1500 because I didn't have time for it, and that one was in okay shape.
The myth that there are no decent pins out there for less than $2500 is just that, a myth. I've SOLD a couple NASCARS for $1800 fully working within the last 18 months.
Let me know if you see any <$2000 Nascar or WPT's, I'm actually looking for both titles, as I really enjoy both of them.
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