Data East Simpsons... Q:what the newb should look for. A. a Stern TSPP

I think you're being excessive looking for things like amateur soldering, but that's just my opinion.

When I get a machine I just assume I'm going to have to:

1) Re-pin the GI connector
2) Re-flow solder joints on any light boards
3) Rebuild flippers/replace some coil sleeves

I've had a DE Simpsons before, in fact it was one of my first machines, and I can tell you what I would look for in that game specifically:

1) Broken plastics (this is a really destructive game. The ball bounces off the drops and frequently lands on plastics)
2) Burnt GI connector (or more importantly, just the boards in general)
3) Broken nuclear tower covers
3) Wear around the upper right moe part of the playfield and by the kickback

Truthfully though, these things are deal breakers by any means. If the game works, and it's in your price range, just buy it. Eventually, like all machines, it will break and you will have to learn how to fix it anyway.

Might I ask why you are picking DE Simpsons as a machine? I personally couldn't stand the thing, and I love the Simpsons.

Not sure if anyone has written a tutorial (probably exists) but at least let me get you inside the machine.

Power OFF!
Put the key in the lock on the coin door on the front of the game, unlock door. Confirm they have the key ahead of time- No Key? Search the forum for what to do. Or bring the universal key set (Drill and a selection of sharp bits-guts of the lock are brass)
Open door. Inside the door frame, upper right area, is a spring loaded lever. Pull it and it and it unlatches the lock bar (where your hands rest when playing).
Lift off the lock bar, it may take a bit of fiddling, but you should not need tools. Put lock bar somewhere safe.
Stand in front of game, place palms on glass and pull towards yourself- glass should start to slide out. When close to 1/2 out, move hands to edges of glass, hold tight and continue to slide out. It's heavy and awkward. Place the glass somewhere safe, leaning against something solid. Cushion the floor where the glass rests- NEVER put that glass edge directly on concrete.
Get all the balls out - reach inside and find the lever that puts the balls into the shooter lane. Move it by hand, and as the balls appear, remove them, and store safely.
All balls out, put fingers of one hand under the apron and lift gently. It's heavy. When the edge is up above the cabinet, grab the front of the playfield with the other hand. You may have to hold that spring loaded lever out while starting to lift - I can't remember.
Lift the playfield to about 60 degrees, hold up w/ left hand. Reach inside cabinet on right side and swing prop stick up. Put tip of prop into countersink in underside of play field to hold up playfield. Be sure all is stable before letting go.
If you have the headroom, you can ignore the prop; carefully pull the playfield towards you about 6 inches or so, and swing the playfield all the way up until the playfield is resting against the top of the backbox. Make sure it is stable- pull the playfield a little further out if the playfield is too 'straight up and down' so that it is leaning securely back against the top of the backbox.

Reassembly is the reverse. You may have to hold the spring loaded lever to get the playfield all the way down, and i know you must hold the spring loaded lever to re-insert the lock bar. Put the balls back in!

It's a good game, considered by some to be too simple for serious players long term in a small collection. I suck at playing so i can't beat it consistently, and I have 18 games set up right now. I also own a TSSP (across the aisle from the DE Simpsons). Still like the DE version and play it regularly.

Let us know how the whole "I'm only going to have one" thing works out. It never has for the rest of us.

Good luck!

Don C.

No comparing the two, its like apples and oranges, I have a DE Simpsons and while I do like it, it gets boring, Sterns tspp is known for having the most rules in a pinball machine while the data east there's not much there, if your only going to buy one game you might want to save for the Stern

Might be good to find a local collector willing to go over a few things with you - like how to open a machine, etc. - and give you some tips on what to look for that are common to all pins. It's a machine, and it will need maintenance and repair at some point so getting to know someone who could assist is not a bad thing either.

Do some homework on values so you don't end up overpaying - and remember the word 'restored' is often over-used and abused in this hobby.

The DE Simpsons machine is like the Simpsons machine for someone who isn't a Simpsons fan.

It's got audio from season 1. That's it. If you want to hear "thank you come again" and "eat my shorts" for a thousand bucks, go for it.

But it's a destructive game. The more you play any machine the more it breaks down, but with DE Simpsons you shoot 3 drop targets to light locks. I found that it constantly bounced around off of those and hit plastics and destroyed them, and then the ball would get stuck, and Id have to take the glass off and get it out.

It sucked. I bought an F14 tomcat at the same time as the simpsons, and F14 got played hundreds of times for every 1 time I played the Simpsons, and it's no deeper game, nor more expensive.

If you want it just because it looks cool, you won't be disappointed. But that's the only way you'll enjoy it.

Why would this be your one and only pin? I don't think many here would support DE simpsons as their one pin. Wondering your reasons for stating such.

That's good info and why I asked. If you want to point to your collection and say "look I even have a Simpsons pinball machine", get the DE for the price point. If you want a pinball for your Simpsons collection that's also regarded as one of the best pins out there and one with great replay value, get TSPP.

Yeah, and Im not trying to be snarky, and I apologize if I came off that way! I just want to be as blunt as possible about it (as I wish someone would have been with me before I bought mine).

I spent my snark money on pinball parts. Seriously, if you find a DE Simpsons at a fair price, buy it, enjoy it and maybe someday trade for some other game.

The wife and I are also Simpsons collectors. When I told her years ago that another Simpsons pin was coming, without hesitation she said "we are going to get one from the factory, right?"

So we got our TSPP as a NIB: never in a box. Right off the end of the line and into my truck. Can't do that anymore. A great pinball day!

Don C.

I picked one up a few months ago and have been restoring it. Personally, I prefer it to TSPP as I'm much more a fan of the earlier Simpsons seasons, before they graduated to computer graphics. Big plus is a mirrored backglass for the DE version. Check the entrance to the ramp carefully, you're likely to find cracks on the left side, or worse a big missing section of plastic. The original's nuclear tower bumper caps are better looking but cheaply made like absolute crap, you'll probably have to replace them with Stern red caps for $49 a set of three (from Marco) plus $1.25 each for the decals (from PBR).

I like my DE Simpsons. I play it as much as my DMD games.

I must say, my Twilight Zone is the first machine I purchased. I said the same thing...this will be my ONLY one!!! Within 10 months, a 2nd machine showed up. That was 2008. I USED to be able to park in my garage. Not since early 2012 have I been able to. I now have 38, which 4 are on loan at this time since I don't have room for them. It is hard letting go once you get some.

Once you get hooked, it will be hard not to get at least one more. You'll find a way to squeeze in a 2nd one in the garage.

I just got a TSPP about two weeks ago and I just had to give you my two cents.
Save your money and get Sterns TSSP. You will not regret it for one minute. It's not cheap but it is by far the better machine for many reasons.
I had played both the DE and Stern versions a decent amount in both public and private settings and while I liked both of them for nostalgia'a sake the DE game always left me feeling like it was missing the soul of the show. Now that I have had TSPP at home for a couple weeks I am convinced that any true fan of the show or fan of pinball.
And you mentioned Star Wars as a theme you like. I do too but I traded my nice Data East Star Wars for my Simpsons Pinball Party and I don't regret it for a minute. TSPP is just that much better. It will grow with your skill level and even if you get to pinball wizard status you will still find it satisfying.
Rant over. Do whatever makes you happy and whatever you can afford. Keep asking questions and be patient.

Seriously though...... You really won't regret getting the Stern one. It's a much better option for an only pin.
Cheers and good luck!

Oh, I would look in the backbox at the boards for any burns on the power supply (top left board) and the PPB board (bottom left board). And look at the MPU (top right board) for any battery acid damage under the battery pack and look over the rest of the MPU if there are any burns.

Pretty much not much to worry about under the playfield when you go look at a machine to buy.
You don't really want to hang out a long time at someone's house.

Look at all the rubbers on top side of the playfield. If they are very dirty, the machine was not cleaned. You can even see under many of the plastics to tell if the whole machine may have been cleaned or not.

How much is the seller asking?

Microwaves can make popcorn too, and they take up a lot less space.

Since it has been for sale since January that should tell you something about the price. If it were truly a 9/10 machine it would maybe bring $1500-$1700 maybe a little more if you found someone desperate for one.

With that much work supposedly done though I would bet good money it isn't close to 9/10. Why do you think there aren't any close up photos? These games took a beating on route. LEDs aren't a selling point either, they are so much a matter of personal taste as far as what looks good and cheap enough that it is something you should do yourself if you really want to and should never pay extra for.

ok, so which one of you are going to sell me your TSPP?
Looking for one, just seem to be missing out on them by weeks. Good information!

That guy did you a favor for not taking $1,900. Keep your eyes open one will surface for a fair price.

Yep, that fool is me! (but I didn't pick up the machine until after the show so all that wanted to, could have a chance to play it.)

Kurt's a great guy and does excellent work. He always wants to ensure that you're happy beyond the initial purchase. I'm a repeat customer of his and am very happy with my purchases. On a different note, I bought Kurt's Simpsons because his was in better condition than my other DE Simpson's. Very shortly, I plan to place my 1st machine for sale as I don't need two of the same title.

Hell yea man. I have owned both and after a couple of months I couldn't wait to get rid of the DE Simpsons. Still enjoy my TSPP every time I play it.

In a small or one pin collection DE Simpsons just doesn't hold up. Real fun at first but just gets old fast. If I had unlimited room I would have kept it to sit next to TSPP but not as an only pin. TSPP will keep you entertained for years and even improve your pinball skills.

Looks good, Mark! Your homework assignment is to research the history of the "Lyman" that's written on the play field near the apron.

That wall can have at least two more Pins on it lol

Congrats on your new pin! TSPP really is a lot of fun. Enjoy!

You got the right game. congrats