Why limit yourself to 12 pins and only $100,000?? Why not buy the entire pinside top 100 list? Or at least pins 1-20.

If I had 100k to spend on pinball machines, I'd buy something other than Pinball machines. Give that a thought.

I think most of us would agree with that. If I only had $100k for a hobby, I would choose a different hobby. It wouldn’t make me feel good knowing I put everything I had into a low end collection. Real pinball collectors start off with $300k, and go up from there.

Everyone likes something different but that list is the typical cookie cutter snooze fest. If you like ACDC and TNA why in the world are you going with a full list of B/W games that all feel similar. They are great games and that would be a nice collection, but I'd sure get tired of playing that list real quick. At least throw in some more stern games an add at least 2 game before 1990.

300k? Lol, that's poors talk. Real collections start at 500K.

We are not here to discuss about the world problems but just about pinball. That’s what we do.

Are you sure?
http://www.collectionneursdeflippers.com/guillaumix#249986

Go with the new games, no remfakes.

I would buy a really fun and fast car and a few pinball machines.. 1932 coupe with a giant engine that just rips the tires apart. then I would get IM, Dialed In, MB, AFM, MM. But that's just me...

Quoted the wrong post. Edited to show irobot post #46

These kind of threads always devolve into people posting their personal preferences, which I don't think is too helpful.

One guy says "I hate Twilight Zone", the other guy says "Twilight Zone is the best game ever." How does that help anyone?

To be useful, a list like this should include the most popular collector pins.

Because instead of representing ONE data point (you), it would represent the entire mass of collectors.

If you picked games that were extremely popular among all collectors, then the statistical probability of a person enjoying the collection would be highest.

Since the OP is a different person from you, the odds of him enjoying the exact same 12 games as you are very slim.

But the odds of him enjoying 12 games that are broadly popular is high.

Same thing with arcade games.

If you wanted the highest probability of a single person enjoying your collection the most, then you would pick games that were very popular across the population, like Ms Pac Man, Centipede, Star Wars, etc.

Since those games are MOST popular, it proves that they have the qualities that are enjoyed by the MOST people. So the probability of the game being liked by a single random person goes up. It's statistics.

Actually, now that I think of it, the idea works for everything.

If you were spinning records like a DJ, the chances of the MOST customers enjoying your record picks would go up if you picked the most popular songs.

If you picked records that were less popular, but better liked by YOU personally, the number of happy customers would statistically go down.

So the question should be rephrased, "What are the most popular pinball machines among pinball fans?"

So essentially you are saying buy the top 12 games from the Top 100 list as they have been ranked by hundreds of people.

Good list but I'd swap AFM, DI ant Totan for Tron LE and Metallica LE and Houdini.

Play some new Stern games and replace about half of your WPC stuff with new Sterns.

You can get a Stern IJ for less than a Williams IJ and the games are basically identical.

Im gonna need to see where you're housing these games before we decide to park 100k worth of pins in there. I would expect a killer bar/gameroom with the kind.of disposable income you have available. If not, you've got some work today.

I’d rather have +/- 100 early 80’s games myself. But that’s me...

Correct. They each have cabinets and playfields made of wood construction, with Indiana Jones themed art on them.

You buy all those games you will still want to buy more games buy 4 games and no more purchases for one year

Pics?

With my limited (newbie) knowledge and preference I'd go:
Medieval Madness
World Cup Soccer 94
Game of Thrones
Star Wars
Star Trek TNG
Addams Family
Fish Tales
Whirlwind
Attack From Mars
The Simpsons Pinball Party
Dialed In
Black Knight 2000

I chose this particular list because there is a wide variety of gameplay styles in there, and I believe replayability.
Medieval madness is a classic and the castle destruction is cool
World Cup soccer has a unique goalie, and little kids seem to really like it if you have family over a lot
Game of Thrones has a fan layout, and seems to play differently from many other machines. Also seems to have replayability.
Star Wars is beloved by kids, and the rule set keeps me coming back
Star Trek TNG has a lot of cool toys and is a fun game.
Adams Family is one of the most fun games in my opinion. May also consider a Twilight Zone or Indiana Jones.
Fish Tales just seems fun to me and plays a little different. This will likely be my first pin.
Whilwind is different and has that cool spinny thing.
Attack From Mars is soo much fun. Similar layout to Medieval Madness, but tons of fun
The Simpsons Pinball Party has a deep rule set and is laid out rather differently. Also attractive to kids.
Dialed In is a new machine with a big screen, plays differently.
Black Knight 2000... I'd go with atleast one machine without a DMD or LCD. This one seems popular and was fun when I played it. Sub for a "Dr. Dude".

This list is likely different from most other peoples', but if you want to have a wide variety of machines, this is my vote.

Have fun with your new toys!

Wish I had $100k of expendable income to put towards a hobby. You should start another thread,
“How to raise $100k after you paid off your mortgage, cars, and other debts”

With all the money this guy has you think he could donate a few bucks to Pinside wouldn't you? That is what I love about people with money - they expect us poor guys to carry all the load while they talk about everything they have. Maybe if you have more money then GOD you should give some to charity or help PHOF with a donation towards expanding or maybe even send Robin here at Pinside a few bucks?

You should be able to purchase two JJP games with that budget.

His money, his prerogative. None of our business.

You are trying to create a cookie cutter "hey look at me collection". People that buy pins based on lists and prices instead of gameplay. Is this just a troll thread? It would be kind of funny, the shallow vapidity of it all. I doubt you will play them much but everyone will know what games you have. My advice, actually play lots of different games from all eras. These top 100 lists are far from definitive, pinball by its very nature is a subjective experience.

I'd love to see a pic of your significant other holding this list with a thumbs up. That would be amazing.
20180810_073742 (resized).jpg

No true collection is complete without a truly imamaculate pin.

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Replace SS with BSD. Replace TOM or TOTAN with Iron Maiden . The rest of the list is solid.

Hey OP, are there any particular themes that you are into? You could do a collection or part of a collection around an interest (SCI-Fi, Aquatic, etc).

My list is below. Has a little bit for everybody and has different styles of play.

AFM
MB
TOM
Fathom
Spider-man
HS (1 or 2)
Metallica
IMDN or Deadpool (both if you want)
TAF
Eight Ball Deluxe
Black Knight 2000
Jurassic Park

I mean with 100K and what sounds like a medium-sized basement space you could probably manufacture your own pinball machines. Why make your dreams and imagination conform to what others have created. Start your own company and start taking pre-orders now!

Buy all the system 11’s, met,twd, and imdn then spend the remaking 60k elsewhere

That’ll give ya all the play variability you could hope for, and leave you with enough cash do do something else awesome with

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Hard to know what to recommend ... what is it you want? A collection that is fun to play (for you? for casual and beginning players? for sake of nostalgia?)? Fun to look at? Fitting a theme? Expected to make money from people in public?

I'm a big fan of System 11s, and I would be more than happy with a collection of just 12 of those and the left-over 80K. Similar systems, parts, wouldn't be a maintenance nightmare, etc.

BK2K
Diner
Dr. Dude
Earthshaker
Elvira ATPM
Grand Lizard
Mousin Around
Pin Bot
Radical
Swords of Fury
Transporter: The Rescue
Whirlwind

In a dream world, I'd probably diversify by manufacturer and time period, and not considering maintenance headaches and parts sourcing. This is a crude example, but

1-2 EMs
2-3 early SS games
2-3 System 11s
2-3 WPCs
2-3 current companies

and then rotate stuff out as it got boring to me.

Interesting thought experiment!

We had more or less the same thought simultaneously LOL

Yea dude, system 11’s are where it’s at. At the vfw show I spent essentially all my time in the system11 area.The themes are varied and fun, and you can’t beat the value.

Definitely more bang for the buck. Some of my all time favorites are system 11 games.

Taxi? Cant believe I left that off my list

I would buy a couple pins and save or spend the rest on something else or put it all into an different hobby

Collecting and playing is fun but it’s gotten to the point IMO it’s very overrated and overpriced for the average collector

Great list of great games.

Shouldn’t cost 100k

Shocked at the pin opinions of 2018...shitting on B/W games and recommending unplayed games like Pirates or new Sterns over the bonafide classics from the greatest era of pinball design? We’re in the bizzaro era of this hobby. If the collectors of a decade ago saw people saying to ditch B/W for Sterns, they’d laugh their ass off.
Now look, I like plenty of Sterns and many are excellent, but none of them take away from how great the B/W 90’s games are.

Meh, you can only play them so many times. Stern games are fresh and different.

Every game offers a finite experience. The amount of times you want to play them is subjective. If this guy has never owned these games, they’re new to him. The B/W games have proven themselves to be mostly perfect combinations of design, art, sound and rules that have stood the test of time. That’s why they’re still played, collected, and remade.

As for “fresh and different”...Most Sterns have similar designs as previous games, lack of interesting mechs and interactive toys or wacky ramps of the 90’s games. Some of the math-chess rulesets are different, but divisive. I’d rather play any B/W game for 10 years straight than ever touch SW, GOT or GB ever again. I’d rather play any B/W game than listen to the boballee bobo monologues of GOTG. I own 7 Sterns...but nothing made after Metallica could replace a B/W game. The OP’s got LOTR on the list. That’s a great Stern.

The B/W snobs from 10 yrs ago? Good riddance to them. I deaf ear those guys. That brand/era was undeniably great, but the way look down at everything else is a joke.

Some of the people are collectors from 10 years ago. Many of the B/W games are really fun and I'd recommend a few in every collection. But they are starting to look and feel dated and they cannot offer the code experience of newer games. I always have 3-5 of them in my collection. That is plenty for me though as they do not have the replay appeal of some of my other games. I also do not get the great art comments. Some are very good, but many are pretty horrible to look at. Most of the recent games have much better art then any of the 90's games.

all I want to know is, where did I go wrong in life. I wouldn't or couldn't fathom on spending 100k on pins. heck, I didn't even pay 100k for my house!! so where did I go wrong in not being able to have that kind of money to "play" with?

Op,
If you really want help in knowing what is good to get, pm me. I have the largest pin history on pinside not even including most of the numerous duplicates. I know the must haves.

Best, James

Agree to disagree on the greatness of games like TWD and IMDN. For me, they are up there without a doubt.

i would get these

Monster bash remake
Medieval Madness remake
simpsons-stern
Indiana Jones williams
Houdini, game of thrones, or wizard of oz
star wars pro or guardians of the galaxy pro
aerosmith or metallica
LOTR
Iron Maiden
Batman 66 or spiderman vault
circus Voltaire
monopoly