Have you played LOTR, RBION, POTC, TSPP? Those are all pretty solid, too. Some more than others.

Try RS and see what you think. I have to agree, I want a SM also

Tron LE baby!

Their hit and miss ratio isn’t that far off from b/w. They have made some superior games, don’t be so quick to judge.

I played a bunch of games on WoF today. I still think it's one of the most original and fun playfields I've ever seen. Talk about thinking outside the box.

SM, TSPP, LOTR, FG, POTC...all top notch pins. I just don't care for Tron.

That's what I've heard (although I haven't yet had the pleasure).

DarkNight: TSPP & FGY are also Killer Games.

He'll be back to hating after playing RS!!!

stern machines are so light! I feel like i will push them over each time i play! is it the leg design or something?

Ball times are super long too, I still wouldn't turn one down at the right price though!

POTC, SM, LOTR, IM, BDK an TRON all rock. A tip of the hat to WOF, TSPP and TF as well. Stern has produced many solid titles that IMO are on par or above some B/WMS titles. Different flavors are all yummy.

LOTR > TAF and many other 90s wms games baby

The Four Perfect Sterns:

Spidey
L Rings
Tron
Simpsons

absolutely!

Stern makes a lot of good pins. mostly they receive undeserved hate.. mostly..

Yes! I totally agree with this.. I think it's the legs, as the pins themselves still feel pretty heavy to move (although they're no STTNG)

I must be the only pinsider who was completely underwhelmed by SM. LOTR and POTC are solid (though NOT > TAF, TZ, MM, etc). I think I would like TSPP and RBION a lot if I could ever find them, because of their themes. I'm not a Stern hater, but the theme is important to me for the pins I own and most Sterns have crappy themes.

#1 lotr
#2 sm
#3 rbion
#4 potc
#5 fg

same here. I am not really into SM that much

SM is overrated, but still a good pin.

TSPP is awesome. So is LOTR.

I still don't get Tron. I really didn't like that machine when I played it.

SM is such a top notch pin and my favorite of all time without question. I really enjoy LOTR, BDK, and RBION as well so fun. Glad to hear you played them with an open mind and had some fun!

LOTR and SM 1 and 1A for me..
TSPP next

Me no likee TSPP at all, always feels like a chore to play. I do like POTC and Shrek, both good games, although I prefer games with shorter ball times, which most Sterns do not accommodate. I will say that IM had VERY short ball times, but that could be to me being terrible.

TF LE continues to blow me away and I just ordered a second NIB Tron LE to replace the one I sold too quickly.

Don't forget BBH

Agree with you. We are the minority but that's ok.

Nice move Coaster. Really fun game.

That's why we have opinions. Not everyone has to like the same games. One of my favorite Sterns is Sopranos and I don't care for TSPP at all while others feel it's Stern's best. Different strokes for different folks.

great analogy.
I'll keep this in mind when trying to get new people into pinball.

Yeah, Spider Man is not all that. Family Guy is not so great either. LOTR, TSPP are their two best efforts by far. I am really enjoying Tron LE currently. But I don't think any of the Stern's compare to TZ, MM, AFM, and TAF.

The backboxes are genuinely a LOT lighter than WMS, they're not as deep and contain less wire and electronics, no backboard for GI, knocker hardware etc.

Yeah, but they need to go back to hardware for the knocker, that Stern noise is the worst EVER!!

I agree with this, but need more time on SM. I have been to a dealer about 5 times in the last couple years, determined to by a SM NIB, and after playing for a bit in the showroom, always left thinking - meh - I'd rather hold out for something else. I always come back though, as so many really like it, but never bought it

You can't really compare good new Sterns to b/w, as Stern has pushed the limit and raised the bar in rules, due to the shift in home use games in the 2000s.

As I said, there are many winners for both companies, and many losers. You can't clump winners or losers into a category for either company alone is my point.

There is a a history of originality in the Stern>DE linage.

Take a look at Orbiter 1 or Viper and remember that Data East were first with stereo sound, solid state flippers and dot matrix displays.

As for Orbitor 1 - that is a game that can be forgotten. As for originality, Stern/DE did nothing but steal complete board designs and PF designs/ideas. I like many of their machines, but Gary Stern was sued constantly for not being original.

Stern's better pins like LOTR and SM and some others are a step up in fun and technology over even the best B/W games!The next generation of JJP an Stern will be even more innovative.

Have you played tron?

I think Orbiter 1 is too cool to be forgotten.

The "saves" are great, the sounds are great.

Anytime someone is playing it, you hear lots of excited squealing and laughter. Totally fun game.

I really didn't like my TSPP till I mastered the couch shot. Game became a lot more fun at that point (but longer ).

But you're right, ball times can be long on this title but at least there's a lot of laughs during your play.

Was completely underwhelmed by SM when I played it. Maybe I need more time on it.

The Best

1. LOTR
2. SM
3. Tron

The Worst

1. BBH
2. RS

I have played tron quite a bit and just couldn't really get into it. Never played the LE version though.

One thing that is unusual about this forum is that we are all PINBALL enthusiasts. Not Stern enthusiasts, Williams, Data East...etc,

Not particular GAME enthusiasts, TZ or RBION or SM or GnR or Haunted House etc...

this makes the forum so different from say a Pontiac Grand Prix GXP forum where all the people love pretty much the exact same product and can only compare what mods they have made or some other thing done to ONE product.

The diversity is what makes this awesome. We cover many games, many nations, mod lovers, mod haters, players, collectors, repair geniuses, repair clueless (me?)

Diversity of opinion should be welcomed, particularly when our data base is so broad.

Though I am not as impressed with the last few Sterns, I have loved many of their games, too. I am not a Stern/Williams/DE/Zaccaria etc lover or hater. I love pinball.

Ummm...sermon is over, i guess.

HAPPY NEW YEAR, YA'LL!!!!!!! Gonna go play some silver ball now..

I used to hate sterns and i still do think they "feel cheap" but i can get past that. Game play is right up there with some of the williams/bally greats but i'm not ready to say that i prefer stern's best over w/b's best.

I've only played the LE (jarjar's). I just love that game. It also "feels like a williams" but that's not why i like it.

+1 Except I put SM 1B!

Great job on those Stern!

It just doesn't seem like pinballl to me.

By the way, you all know that "RS" is Roadshow, not Rolling Stones, right

1. LOTR
2. Transformers LE. This would be number one but the Megatron shot is a bit unforgiving and I just lose the ball a bit too easily. Otherwise, I am in love.
3. Family Guy. I love this machine.

When MM came out, players were complaining that there were just too many toys and it was "not pinball". Now the game is worshiped like the second coming.

Orbiter 1 is cool - but I'll give you that it was not that big of an earner when it was introduced. Maybe because it was not "pinball" enough.

Just played TF for the first time and it is my clear #1 Stern now. The fact that it is unforgiving is the reason I like it. Too many Sterns have super long ball times and I get bored. No such problem with TF - it kicked my ass!

I may start looking for deals on a NIB one once WOZ and AC/DC come out.

Never really bothered me either way, I hate hardware knockers - it's a loud, annoying sound. This saves me unplugging them in the backbox, just turn it off in the menu