Chronological from left to right has always been my preference.

We used to have them in chronological order...but we have since diversified them into pretty much whatever fits where!! We do have a lineup of LEs...but other wise we kinda have them set according to where they fit ...games with toppers go in higher ceiling areas and we have kinda just recently started putting them by backbox height...like 1 newer "taller" title and then 1 older early SS with a shorter backbox lather rinse repeat. We do still have our EMs in the basement but we have added a couple system 11s and system 9 down there along with a WPC and most of the early SS system 6 and 7s. The dining room is still the system 11 room. The most diversified area is the new addition...that's where we have the LE row on 1 wall and then all the others by the height of their backboxes...Since we're likely going to be hanging around home for the foreseeable future, we might decide to re-arrange them again...or we might get a couple more put back together after restoring them and get them in the line up but we'll have to see how things progress in the next week or so!!

Phoebe

I've been trying to group some together. JJP games on the front row. Remakes on the South wall. The rest don't move much. Some remain in the same spot or close to it, when they came in new, on the North wall or back wall.

LTG : )

I’m a man of symmetry, so I like to have my DMD games next to each other, in no particular order, followed by my System 11 games (since they have a similar cabinet).

My Gottlieb alphanumeric games sit side by side, again, because they have similar cabs.

My wedgeheads are all in a row, and my outlier games are slanted on a diagonal to break things up.
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set them up as one goes out the door , the incoming goes in that spot

I try to mix all styles together. If I have a group of people over, don't want them to all bunch in one area, etc.

I place them based on how they need to be accessed for servicing. Gottliebs to the right side of the room as the backbox opens rightwards. Williams games to the left side of the room as the backbox opens leftwards. EMs in the centre of the room so I can access the rear panel.

Ah! That’s a lab sheet from work. Obviously attached in error. I’m trying to delete, but I’m stuck on mobile and it’s not letting me...

My 9 year old son asked me why I didn't put Iron Man and Iron Maiden side by side...

I have them set up where the best looking cabinet art is on the outside. Also dependent on ceiling height as I have some spots that only certain games will fit.

I have mine grouped close together by manufacturer (4 Sterns, 7 Bally/Williams, 2 Data East).

Munsters on the right end of the Stern line so I can get at the ON/OFF button under the back box.

I have a row of 7 that are "keeper" games. Of course they rotate out occasionally. I have another wall that fits 2 or 3, those are the fixer games, or games I know won't last long. I have much better repair access and it's next to the exit door. I've thought about arranging the row of 7, but it's too much work as it changes too frequently. I also have a dedicated repair spot, but right now it's an overflow spot because I'm so far behind on projects.

Same here.

Jeff

Gotta match sizes, 4 sterns together, 2 William's, 1 Gottlieb by itself

This is my favorite thing on the Internet ever...

OCD, I suppose. I like to see the progression of technology over time when they are chronological. Makes me feel like a real “collector”. Haha!

Mine are lined up in the order I bought them. The last slot is always easiest to rotate out, and as most of the lineup are keepers... that latest one keeps changing.

The ones that are working are close the door. The ones that are not working are shoved to the back of the room. There is a lot of rotation going on

Best Artwork on the Outside Edges where they can be seen on approach. Worst artwork on inside. Favorite theme (of wife's) facing laundry room (Star Trek: The Next Generation).

They are across a few walls, but arranged chronologically as best fits within the given space makes sense. Can see the evolution this way whilst still maintaining diversity in a small collection

Chronological (except I couldn't bring myself to put RollerGames on the end in place of Elviria).

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Mine kinda get lined up as I get them. No rhyme or reason. As someone else pointed out, the mix gets people spread out while playing.

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I have a few that are strategically placed depending on their potential servicing needs. Haunted House can go anywhere as the backglass comes out, Black Hole has a swinging door that will extend into the space of another pin so has an end spot.

Not much rhyme or reason here. I did place Star Wars and Star Trek on the side of the gameroom where we watch TV because it matches with that room "theme". In the bar area, I just line them up and if one goes out, the new one goes right there.
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I generally have them grouped by manufacturer so that the backboxes will be similar. Within that, my PITA games are on the ends to make working on them easier.

My game room has a door that opens outside and that door has multiple windows in it. The deck shades this door pretty well but I still put my most faded cabinet next to the door (Road Show) as a bit of a sacrificial lamb. Then I have Maiden Premium/Metallica Premium/AFMrSE (they don't require much maintenance) with EBD on the end as it requires the most work and is easiest to access from the end.

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For a multi-era collection, I like setting them up so they alternate between EMs (or early SS) and DMD machines. That way, the machines with speech and a lot of sounds (DMD/LCD) aren't right next to each other and you don't hear the other DMD machines while you are playing. It probably bugs people who like all the heads or playfield glasses to be at the same height, but I like it.
Kevin at Lyons Classic Pinball gave me the idea. Most his shop is set up that way generally. It's more of a PAPA-style arrangement IMO. If you play your way down a row, you cover several different eras of machines.
Pinball 2000s go on the end of a row nicely and tuck in out of the way.
I make sure all my EMs can be accessed from behind without moving the machines.

Sieve analysis of particle sizes for a soil classification. I’m a geologist at an engineering firm, and we run tests like that to determine how suitable soil is for bearing certain loads.

(Also, thanks mods for the delete! Much appreciated!)

Hi,

To answer the initial question:
I try lining up by brand... but...
One room for GTB80
One room for Bally80
One Bally pinball/arcade in the entrance corridor
Two EM in the living room

My EMs are arranged chronologically. I was originally going to do my basement as a “history of pinball” from the 30’s onward. I scrapped that idea but liked the idea of seeing the historical progression of the games.

When we decided to design the main arcade around a Star Trek theme, STLE was anchored as the focal point when you entered the room. Now on that side I have all three Elvira games together. The other side started out mostly chronological newest to oldest but keeping RFM on the far left because of cabinet size, though that didn’t last long because I wanted games together by designer or just aesthetics. We looked at changing the order of the lineup after getting Elvira but decided it was just way too much work.
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Star Trek LE has by far the best side view and light show of any game .

Medieval Madness moved in last night and Demolition Man demoted to the workshop. Aerosmith replaced Maverick last Friday.

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Well shit, more re-arranging to do.

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Better pull Baywatch and bring it to Middletown NY tomorrow. Seems like perfect spot for AFM.

My lineup is complete Thunderdome after swapping out my AFM today. Trade is temp with a friend so i just slide the new one in the old spot. Normally i would rearrange and re level everything to keep the order chronological.

I remember the day i added HS to my system 11 row. That was my 11th at the time and i had to move them all over one place...

I was trying for chronological by manufacturer. I was doing well, till the collection tripled in a year. Now, it's too much work to relevel after shifting the row down 1 or 2 when they are added. 3 in the garage right now til I can move the last of my arcade games out. Anyone wanna buy some arcade game? 10 set up right now and 100% working (knock wood) and 2 that await playfield swaps.

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