Flipper size? Era? Drop targets? Multi-player? Lots of options...what are you interested in?

I think the AAB games offer a different dimension too.
faz

Mibs is a good game. Same layout as Rack-A-Ball and Bowling Queen. $400 COULD be a good price depending on condition.

Get the MIBS, put sleeves in Play field coils,re-build the pop bumpers and get all the lights working.Then you will decide to take it further.

MiBs has backbox animation which is cool...I haven't heard a lot of love for the gameplay but have never tried it myself.

I like boobs in my ems

and in my house, in my life, in my dreams...

Jungle Princess/Queen
Gottlieb Ed Krynski designed drop target fun fest.It got me hooked at age 9.its hot

If you like drop targets, and you're new to EMs, then you would be better off with a single player. First, the ruleset on a single player drop target game is superior to a multi player. Multiplayers will reset the targets after every ball. You basically play three, or five, single games. Basically you will carry over your score and nothing else.

That's not even including that multi players are a bit more complex and as an EM beginner, that might not be the best option.

If you want to play against others, then of course the multi player is the choice. But just for pure EM experience, IMO, single players are superior. And if you like drop targets, Gottlieb probably is your best bet. Williams and Bally made great games, even during the drop target era, but I think Gottlieb had the lead there when it comes to drop target games. I never have believed they were superior overall, but for that particular game feature, I think they were.

There was a time when Williams was the only choice for drop target games.

Hard to go wrong with any of them.

I like my Space Mission. There aren't any drop targets, but plenty of other fun stuff.

I'm going to revive this old thread.

As someone mentioned on this discussion already, single players can be a little more "complex" with game-rules, scoring, etc. Also, they are "easier" to fix and not as complex mechanics-wise.

I'm a newbie to EM's - I LOVE the artwork and the idea of "stepping it down" a notch or two from the "rip roarin'" ramps and animated DMD's. BUT, the only exposure I've had so far are to pins set-up at conventions where the playfield is almost flat, and the flippers are weak - they have played ssssllllooowwww and immediately lost my attention.

I like drop targets/spinners and the idea of having to have a strategy to get the most points, and the "bonus collect" idea. Theme doesn't matter.

So far I have trolled some threads and seen a lot of comments on some multi-player games - it looks like Surfer/Champ is a lot of fun amongst some others.

Volley looks like a really fun machine and is in my crosshairs. Jungle Princess/Queen looks fun but I hate that the targets don't reset until the ball drains.

So what would some game titles be that would win me over???

So that's a good one 'eh EM-Pinman - now to locate one! There was one on Kentucky Craigs List - a beauty! Oh well...........

Quick Draw/Fast Draw is as good or better. You'd be equally as happy with it if you happen to find it sooner.

Thanks, I'm looking around............

Sounds like with a wide open mind, which will should get you the best
quick overall deal (without shipping).. I'd say once you have a machine on the
hook with a price, you can pretty much count on getting spot on advice here
if you should reel her in or not..

Appreciate all the help. I want to like the EM experience, I really do. All I've played are sssllloow with practically no angle and weak flippers.

Once I locate a few I'll be sure to ask about them.

-Nate

If you think EM's are slow, play one of the mid-1970's & up Williams or Bally pins with DC pop bumpers & slingshots.
Williams Aztec would be a good example --- the addition of DC really makes these snappy.

Dasvis,

Thanks for the recommendation - I will be sure to do that.

I guess I'm just a product of the late70's early 80's machine days!!!

-N

Playing/play testing an EM that's not fast and snappy would be like playing a DMD with half its lights out and the ramps missing. I think a nice example of a particular title needs to be played to get the true 'fun factor' rating.

I went to a show once where one of my favorite pins I owned was for sale. I played it, and thought afterward, 'if this would've been my first pinball experience I might not of been interested in ever playing another'.

presqueisle;

Totally agree. My exposure so far hasn't been under the best of conditions.....

Williams Grand Prix. It's all there. High score productions.....

image-19 (resized).jpg

O-din, thanks for your input. Will do some research on this one. I like the looks of those tricky kick-out holes with no "borders" around them!!

Like I said, it's all there. Spinners, drop targets, kickout holes, in ball and after ball bonus, DC pops and slings. A literal fast playing, scorefest of a machine. But be careful as those inlanes are a little tricky.

Oh

Hell

Yes.

This just proves you can't have only one. You've got the some great spinner action games on one side, and some target shooters on the other.

You got to buy at least 3 machines a year to keep it interesting. Start out by buying a machine with a nice playfield and original cabinet paint. Single players are easier to work on.

Wowza, now the recommendations are coming in. Glad for them as Allentown is just around the corner.

I read that Grand Prix is kind of complicated mechanics-wise, plus being a four-player game. I think I would want a fully-working EM for my first go-round.

yeah, is that a GAP in those "in" lanes - sneaky!!?!!

Don't have the space for 3 at a time, but once I get one, I figure it would be great to start trading so I could try others.

Thanks guys.

Grand Prix is packed full. Not complicated but full. Gave mine a tune up when I got it and fixed a couple small things and it ran like a Formula 1 car.

Single player games have less parts to keep going, but there is only one machine that I know of that has both spinners and drop targets.

And you'd have to be very patriotic to own one.

http://www.ipdb.org/showpic.pl?id=557&picno=39015

Old Chicago has a spinner & drops

Single player games have less parts to keep going, but there is only one machine that I know of that has both spinners and drop targets.

Drops?? Didn't see any on Conquest 2000.

I see there's a Grand Prix for sale - but $1000???

Yes, I hear "Old Chicago" mentioned a lot - want to play that one.

Enjoying the conversation -

Nate

I was thinking the same thing, but maybe spinner and not spinners make the difference..
I can't think of any off hand, but seems there has to be another machine with a couple
spinners and drops..
Regardless difficulty or not, Grand Prix is a good one to pick up if one pops up local, and
quite a few other titles also. I think he stated like a $600.00 game. The key here is, picking
one up with no shipping.. (T)

Man, I don't know. Grand Prix is a pretty complicated pin to repair for a newbie... a lot going on there.

Yes, that is true... And Grand Prix wasn't my first game, but it was my first pin and to be truthful,
it was a piece of cake compared to my first machine..
Back in the Swap Sheet days, I was looking for a ping pong table and ended up with a 1956
United puck bowler that was apart in boxes. I remember when I was like 10, my older brother
bought a shuffle bowler (now I know it was United's Regulation) that looked very much like this
Handicap. I was determined and dozens of hours later I was shuffling. Oh yes, on top of it all,
it had a burned out transformer (someone put a fuse in both the High and Low lines) but it did
come with another one for me to install..
But getting back, I probably left a couple sentences out. My mistake. If a Grand Prix shows up (or any
other decent player) for a good price within driving distance, I say pick it up. Unlike back in the 90s
with my small Pennysaver wanted ads, these opportunities aren't so plentiful..
I still (and imagine) will always have the Grand Prix, and despite that there's many more machines set up
than what's pictured, it still gets its share amount of play during gatherings..
But all in all, I'm sure what ever he does happen to pick up, he'll be getting much support from you guys.. (T)

IMG_0718 (resized).JPG

Oh yes, still have the Handicap, and it's not in bad shape, although I had two
others in much better condition, and still have another nice one stored, but we had
too much fun with this particular one when there was just a pool table, ping pong,
and the Handicap too ever let it leave.. (T)

IMG_0716 (resized).JPG

Mopar:

That Sound Stage has great/tacky art!!! Wowsa.

I see a Surfer too!!

Ya, Sound Stage does have the Hips working a bit, and some just ignore C.C. pins,
but Sounds Stage to me is good enough to keep set up, plus this one's in pretty
good shape..
I once had a Surf Champ that was near mint, but back then, I wasn't too fond
of Gottlieb Multi-Players and traded it. Then from a Pennysaver wanted ad a Surfer
and Triple Strike popped up and after a 3 hour travel, I said I'll take the Surfer for
the $100.00, and she said take them both for that. They're just in the way..
Had the Surfer statched away for years but did go through the Triple Strike
to use as a trading piece and I'll tell you, I was surprised that it was actually
not a bad player, but did let it go..
After years stored, I periodically kept hearing how Surf Champ was a (from good
to super player), so I went through it and had to agree, it's a machine worth keeping in
a line up and then realized being near mint, trading the Surf Champ wasn't the best trading
move I've made, but the Surfer's in decent shape.
The Gottlieb Strikes and Spares is now in the other room, and after pushing the
Sound Stage over in that spot, EM Joker Poker sits next to the Surfer..
Oh, I remember Hokus Pokus was another one that revealed long legs, and kinda wish
I kept it. That machine had the fastest and long lasting spinner I've ever played..

Mopar, love the stories!

Thanks Nate. Busy last couple days (actually month, no kidding) but when I kick back,
I check in..
One time while playing a Buddy on Hokus Pokus, off the Flipper I fired a strong shot through
the center spinner and then it quickly drained. After it switched over to player 2, (I was 1) that spin
shot was still adding up points for player 2. Any good shot and that spinner flew, but draining
so quickly made it possible to see something happen that I had never experienced..
I keep forgetting this topic's not really for stories, but a least we got the word out that Sound
Stage and Hokus Pokus would be okay for starters..

I was referring to single player games. If you can come up with another I'd like to hear about it. In my collection of mostly short flipper games from the 60s, I've got drop targets on a lot of my Williams games and the only one with a spinner is Gottlieb Fun Park.

In the 70s both companies combined each others innovations so you could get both on a one machine, but from what I can tell, they are almost all multiplayers including Bally's Old Chicago.

It's those two round targets next to the spinners.

Gotcha, thanks.

Abracadabra? Looks fun hitting the target to re-set drops.....

Abra is a fun game IMO.

A very simple rule set, with the unpredictable low pop bumpers, the roving bonus light on the drop targets, and the ability to reset the targets in-ball.

And great artwork all around

Hi-Deal??

imo just ok at best

Was thinking that - too bad because I LOVE the art - wish it had drops like HangGlider does..............

Evel K looks fun, and I can "fudge" the EM experience by picking up the SS version!!