I was playing pinball the other day, on same <unnamed> game that had a LOUSY center shot, and I just thought -- "Dang, that's one shot you can't mess up in pinball. It has to be designed to be very satisfying."

What's your favorite and least favorite center shot in pinball?

Post1:
1. What center shot/title you like the most?
2. Why do you think it's your most favorite?

Post2:
1. What center shot/title you like the least?
2. Why do you think it's your least favorite?

Let's have some fun here!
More important, I'd like to learn what the range of center shot types are and get a sense of why people like/dislike them: Please clearly mention what "TYPE" of center shot you are referring to.

A. Lane
B. Ramp
C. Scoop
D. Spinner
E. Target bank
F. Toy (bash)
G. Toy (other)
H. ???

After a few pages of favorites, I'll put a poll together. How will I do this? I'll take the posts with the most thumbs up... Do your best to earn them...

a. BE sure and read the thread, and vote a thumbs up on the posts you agree with. Cast a few thumbs down on the ones you strongly disagree with.

b. MAKE TWO POSTS IF YOU WANT THE MOST VOTES. One for your favorite and one for your least favorite. WHY??? Because that way people are not voting on (X and Y) being agreeable or disagreeable for them. Two posts ! This will greatly increase your chances of picking up votes.
c. Go ahead and link your post up above. If you find it's already been linked, you might want to re-read the posts and see if your most/least favorite center shot has already been declared by someone else.

Have fun!
mof

Current Poll Candidates based on thumbs ups for best center shot:

1. ACDC (toy)
2. LOTR (ramp+magnet)
3. MM (toy)
4. Scared Stiff (toy)
5. Iron Man (?)
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.

Current list is toy-heavy. Let's balance it up. I'm looking forward to more contributions/votes from people more in the "flow camp" who prefer flow action: (ramps/spinners/lanes) over toys.

My favorite center shot in pinball would be in Space Shuttle.
It's a ramp.
It's my fave since it's used for multiball, and I like that I don't have to look up from the flippers to make the shot from BOTH flippers. AND. The shot does not spoon-feed back to the flippers.

-mof

One of my least favorite center shots is in any shot that travels the full distance of the playfield from flippers to rear of the machine (or near the rear). Then if the shot misses, the time spent waiting for the ball to travel up there, and then fail, then dink donk it's way back to the flippers or travel SDTM is a waste of my time.

PinBot, and Woz fit this category, but thankfully in these cases, the dead center spot is a post or target that divides the two shots, so I won't count them. But I'm not a fan of the design of either one.

I'd pick AFM as my "second least" favorite center shot with a target on it. I hate making a perfect dead center shot in AFM, and my reward is a SDTM ball return. I just find it bizarre that a great shot is rewarded with a drain. The endless stop 'n go in the game, when you actually do make the shot only adds to the misery.

I prefer much prefer a ramp dead center, where the velocity is the risk factor (not the angle of the shot). If you make the shot perfectly, but it's not strong enough, you drain, and you learn to watch your velocity on the shot.

-mof

_{Post edited by mof: Found a worse shot (Whirlwind -- a few posts down)}

http://www.ipdb.org/showpic.pl?id=242&picno=230
And those are some tiny flippers!!! Yikes. That game would take <guts> to play.

-mof

Is it a bash toy, or does it swing freely, and move with the impact of the ball?
-mof

Nice, I wasn't able to ascertain why you dislike the shot...
-mof

Yeah, I remember liking that shot, it's unique. How does the ball get fed back after you make it?
-mof

Can you widen the shot a hair to make it more enjoyable? I did that with the scoop on the left of my Cyclone, and the game is much more fun...

-mof

Oh cool, something to look for now -- I have never been compelled to play it. I need an enthusiast to give me a tour some day.
-mof

That's my point. I've shot dead center on that drop, nailed it, and drained SDTM. I think it's a bizarre design decision.

-mof

That's good to know, thanks!
-mof

I already posted AFM as my least favorite center shot, but I'm actually going to RECALL that post. I went through my collection and found the most wasted center shot of all time -- and it's actually a RULE mistake, not a design liability.

Whirlwind. The shot JUST left and right of center are great (sweep drops) and a (single drop)... But this stationary target is UNSATISFYING compared to all the other shots, and it has no importance to the game. I'm afraid this is the worst of all time (in a game I consider the best desert island pin of all time...)

-mof
wasted-shot.jpg

LOL -- when does the damn thing ever light up???
-mof

Thanks for showing us this. I think you made this a better day for all pinball -- because of this post. What a nutty shot. (get it?)
-mof

A lot of praise for LOTR. I'll have to get some more plays in on that pin some time soon.
Glad to hear some props for a center spinner shot (Viking / Harlem Globetrotters)
-mof

Nice, how does it get returned to the flippers if you make the shot?
-mof

Isn't it a captive ball, like Embryon? I love the captive ball in Embryon. LOVE.
-mof

As you review the choices in this thread, be sure and be generous with your thumbs up/dn so we can know which "ideas" have the most consensus.

TIP: Post one idea per thread, or else when people thumbs DOWN you -- you'll have no idea why.

-mof