YOLO

For DMD games I use my virtual pinball set up to get a feel for things before buying

New sterns I go by reviews/feedback/my gut

At the end of the day I can always sell so I don’t stress about it much

i've got more money than i can spend in 5 lifetimes. I'd buy everyone on here a pin but I dont have your addresses to send them to.

Inbox will explode in 3.....2......1......................

if I can't play it first, I don't buy it. this is why I never have a Stern LE.

Unfortunately this day and age, if you want an LE NIB and you like the theme, you just close your eyes and click buy

You dont like it, dont worry , just list it on pinside.

I look at the designer, coder and theme. I also check out the lay out and see what kind of modes it has.

I have basically bought all my games without playing them.

There were some games like monster bash, I wanted but played it and it was not for me.

I have got pretty lucky in my choices but I haven’t really got caught up in the recent LE hype train. It seems for every decent release there is a stranger things.

Going forward I will just wait things out and if a pin is truly amazing I will just pay the premium of waiting down the road.

I also don’t mind premiums compared LEs

The only game I've bought that I hadn't played was R&M. I don't live in a pinball metropolis so I don't want to deal with having to unload a game I don't like. It make me much pickier and set in my decision. I'm not a 'rotate' in and out person either so I want to know I'll be happy with what I have.

I don't care if a game is NiB or not. I have no problem buying used, in fact I'd actually prefer it but hard to get used games around here too these days with prices going up before they even ship.

Mostly all my pins have been gut.

Not regretted any of them.. only letting them go. A couple - TAF, DH, CFTBL, LOTR I had a couple of times.

Wonka CE has made way for Godzilla LE..

Will see if that is the right choice!

I have played every game before buying and would not normally break this rule except for certain circumstances. Only broke it once and that was for Kiss LE but I am a huge Kiss fan so it was a must have.
I don’t advise buying sight unseen if you have a small collection and limited budget. But if there is something special you connect with as a theme I wouldn’t tell anyone not to get it.
A lot of people buy in advance on theme and have the money to take the risk. Then there are the flippers that buy on speculation they can flip it for profit. But it’s crazy when people say it’s a dream theme and they don’t even collect memorabilia of that theme…..it’s a theme you like at that point. Lately every theme has been a “dream theme” for some. I feel it’s mostly FOMO and people with money that can buy them as they don’t want to miss out on a hit that appreciates- Like JJP POTC….who wouldn’t spend 10-12K to sell it for 20-30K.

This is pinball and meant to be fun….too much stress worrying about missing out on a game so I don’t worry about being the first on the block to have the next shiny new toy. If I want something I will pick one up down the road.

I’ve never once done this unless it was a game that was free or basically free. Okay before buying. And before you say it’s not possible, it always is.

If you’re buying an LE or want one, okay the pro first and see if you like the game. Then get the LE. If that’s not possible. Pass on the LE and pick one up later if you really want it.

I always play before buying.

Having said that, I feel that if you know what your style of pins are, and you are able to watch gameplay, read reviews, and read about the rules...you can pretty much know if you will like it or not.

At the end of the day you could always sell it trade it down the line too.

I'll just drop by and grab one you have in stock

I've bought a lot of games without playing. Only time I really regretted it was on RZ. For me almost any game is fun for a while, and you don't loose much selling stuff in the current market. With Sterns and JJP it is hard to go wrong, and recently with LE or CE models you pretty much missed the boat(at least for NIB at MSRP) if you want to wait until you play it.

I have bought games BECAUSE I had never played them. Sometimes it’s the only way to try out a game you are interested in. 8 of the 25ish pins I’ve rotated through my basement have been pins I’d never played before. None (excepting Rick and Morty) were NIB. I have had good luck at buying pins, playing them a few months, fixing them up a bit, and then selling them at or for a little more than I paid for them so there is very little risk in it for me. I am lucky and live in a heavy pinball area.

I have been slowly accepting favorable trades regardless of liking the title for the last year on one pin, and am about to pick up another pin I’ve never played before with the proceeds… Indiana Jones. If I hate it, I can use it as trade bait for whatever I want so what is the risk?

Games I bought without playing first and reasoning for buying them below:

Jurassic Park (Data East)- It looked so cool! The Dinosaur Eats the ball… love the theme! No local examples to play.
ST:TNG- Dream theme by favorite designer. No local examples to play.
Champion Pub- Looked cool. No local examples… Hated it.
Hobbit- Looked amazing, sounded amazing, no local examples to play. I hated this pin, but made a good trade on its way out.
Last Action Hero- No local examples to play, got in package deal at discount with ST:TNG. Great fun and highly recommended. It’s loaded and a great bang for the buck.
White Water- Looked really cool, no local examples to play. Got a fixer upper (TNT bargain basement example)
Whirlwind- Hadn’t played it since the early 90s. Great game by a safe designer. No local examples.
Taxi- Great game by a safe designer. No local examples. Was offered this and High Speed in a favorable trade.
Black Knight: Looked cool. Favorite Designer. No local examples to play.
Dredd: Hadn’t played since the 90s. Was offered in a favorable trade. Hated it, but got money back out of it.
Robocop: Got it in a package deal. Freaking awesome game I hated to see go. No local examples
El Dorado: To be fair I had played the 4 player Solar city version of this. Fun game, but just not an E.M. guy.

Out of all this the only games I ever got in a trade or bought blind that I hated were Hobbit, Champion Pub, and Judge Dredd. Got my money back or more out of all of them.

I've bought quite a few sterns before playing, I feel comfortable with their games and quality. I ordered halloween ce, but after seeing the stream it didn't interest me anymore so I got a refund from nitro and they sold it same day. So nitro and I both came out ok.

It is super easy in this day and age to sell quickly, so it’s much less risky to buy without a test drive than it once was.

That being said, I personally never buy without playing because I really don’t enjoy the process of selling at all. Selling in order to make room for a new game has an obvious built-in reward in the end and is worth the hassle, but selling in order to mitigate disappointment resulting from a lack of due diligence before buying is really no fun at all!

Liar. =P

I'm willing to believe the 5 lifetimes part, as I'm sure there's several people on here like that....but not this.

What kind of hobbyist are you? You're supposed to list your pre order spot,after adding on a 2,000 profit for your troubles. Maybe your DNA is lacking in the GREED gene?

Well, it cost me $100 fee to return Halloween. So happy to pay that to get out. I hope it is great for those who want it. I've never bought with intent to flip, only themes that I really like.

I can buy used (never buy NIB) without playing if the price is good. Then I know I can play it fora while and if I don't enjoy it, I can sell and at least break even and have played it for free.

Trading a game for something I've never played, I'm a bit more cautious. Had no problem make a trade for AIQ or JP because they were overwhelming positively reviewed and they seemed like my style of game.

But recently was offered a Hot Wheels in a trade and I couldn't pull the trigger. That is exactly the type of game I need to play a bit first before deciding.

So for me, just a case by case basis.

Theme. Manufacturer. Then Designer. Then Lead Software. Most importantly current bank account balance. Ironically too much gameplay video before I play it myself can ruin it, rather discover some of it myself.

Most of my collection I bought before playing. It’s like an arranged marriage. You just make it work.

Is it new? Buy buy buy!

90% played first - then bought
8% never played - then bought
2% played & hated - but bought because of peer pressure "What do you mean you hate it? It's totally awesome! You'll miss out yada yada !"

Side note: In the end, I've sold everyone of the 2%, but to this day I continue to buy hated games...

Theme

Theme, designer, playfield, art. I am a Godzilla nut. Had to have it.

Isn't much risk on pro/prem...well before this newest price hike anyway.
LE i don't care about and wouldn't buy

I bought Aerosmith without playing. The LCD, toy box, and art sold me. Got a good deal through a show.. Bought Mandelorian on theme, art, designer and playfield layout. Bought Godzilla on theme, designer, playfield layout, assets, music, sounds, call outs. Bought Special Forces on theme, price and layout. Bought Pinball Pool on price, art, layout. Bought Dragon on price and art. Bought Middle Earth on price, art, and layout. Bought Caribbean Cruise on deal and reputation. Bought Sunset on deal. I was going to buy a Guardians on theme, happened upon one before pulling the trigger and would not have been happy, but many people are happy with it. Knock on wood, every machine I have bought before getting a chance to play, I have liked. I hope Godzilla shoots well for me.

But if its a theme you really want then why not buy the best for 1500 more? I never really think of resale when I buy because its a hobby, not an income producing biz. So the added features in an le, for this theme , to me , made it easy to get an le. Now, just gotta convince my wife that this logic is right !!

To like a pin I need....
A dark room
The volume cranked way up
No other pins being played.

That's the only way I find out for sure if I'll enjoy the machine.

Turn on the lights, volume low, people in line behind me....not so much.

So basically I research what others are saying, and buy what I think will be exciting and hope for the best.

I generally don't, but I have a few times:

Transformers: It was a "dream theme", designed by Gomez, it was hyped up as having a "transforming playfield". Even though I played it a ton while I had it, it was ultimately a letdown & sold.

X-Men LE: We were all on a "Borg high" from Tron, there was no Premium, hand drawn art was awesome....what could go wrong? Everything. SOLD.

Metallica LE: Still had faith in Borg with Lyman attached, art was awesome, love the band...what could go wrong? Not much, really. Early code was missing a lot, but it was still a ton of fun -and once Lyman got done with it, it was a masterpiece. Still have it.

Goatf***ers: Dream theme + Yeti = instant sale. Thankfully I played it before it shipped (not to mention insert-gate)...cancelled & got refund before it shipped.

Rick & Morty: I love everything about TNA & what Scott Danesi brings to the table, and I love the show. Boom, ordered without playing. I got my R&M last year, and it's been my go-to game. Love everything about it. I know many units needed a lot of tweaking - mine plays phenomenally & I've barely done anything to it. Killer game, bolted to floor.

Ultraman: Sticking with my newfound Spooky love & love for Japanese pop-culture and campiness...took the plunge. Like GB, I have played it before delivery...unlike GB, I'm hanging in there. Code is early, but it's gorgeous & plays nice...potential is there for code to make it great.

Godzilla LE: I'm officially in the Cult of Elwin. I love JP Prem, I'm buying a AIQ this weekend...everything about Godzilla looks amazing to me...I'm in.

Because I don't see the LE as "the best."

Ok

If you live where there is very little location play, it may be the only option.

There’s always the option to travel to somewhere that has the game. No ideal sure, but you have options.

I live in Alaska, so not always feasible.

It's strange, but I actually have no problem doing this. I like discovering for the first time and it enhances the honeymoon phase for me. Because I have a small collection, even my favorite games get old eventually and end up on the chopping block. When I realized no game needs to be forever, I got over trying to pick the "perfect" one that will never leave. Oddly enough, I'm still very selective about what titles I bring (read lots of reviews, watch gameplay, consider theme carefully).