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that was what made me think of it

And it's pretty spot on. But they are all great games. We think so.

so did the train with square wheels!

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Wouldn't this site be boring if we all collected the same 12 games....

Maintenance would be a breeze, though.

We'd probably be modding the heck out of them too.

Please, this is the em hangout, I don't want to be part of the "Bling-a-Ling" crowd

My sarcasm was aiming at you and others staying in Gottlieb land while Odin and I venture into Bally and Williams territories.

You mean the same 24 Gottlieb games? (Just ribbing you guys)

I knew you were joking, I know that the gottlieb crowd can be snobbish when it comes to Williams/bally but I am not one of them
I enjoy all games but decided that the wedgeheads were the sweet spot from the art/game play angle. if I had more room I would have a few of the others. but with limited space choices have to be made.

1. El Dorado
2. Jack in the Box
3. Space Orbit
4. Spanish Eyes

Heat Wave

I have a Sure Shot which is pretty much the same game - I agree it's a game the gets you playing again and again.
I like it and my Ship Ahoy - two nice Wedge games !

Pretty cool that perhaps a majority of the games listed here, I own: Surfer/Surf Champ, Royal Flush/Card Whiz, 300/Top Score, Slick Chick, Jacks Open, Jumping Jack/Jack In The Box, Fast Draw/Quick Draw, Wizard, Domino, Sky Jump, Big Shot, Abra Cadabra, 4MBC, Wizard, etc.

Out of all the games I have, the machine that I might have if I could only have one would probably be a toss up between 4MBC and Card Whiz/Royal Flush. 4MBC is an engineering and artwork masterpiece. Royal Flush is, IMO, the "perfect" pinball machine.

In our club, no EM gets more play than Card Whiz/Royal Flush. It has a very simple ruleset that's easy to grasp, yet extremely difficult to master. It has the perfect balance between requiring great shots and nudging skills, and punishment if you make a mistake.

Easy.

Gigi

i own a really nice one, it doesn't look much to play but i'd have it over fireball any day

Fireball for me

Fire Queen

sorry never mind i have that one.

Royal Guard. Love mine.

Already made this decision, as I (mostly...I can't turn down a good deal) refuse to own more than 1 EM at a time when I can only have 4 games. Crescendo. Bought it for my wife and it really grew on me fast. It's so brutal. It's not deep on features, it's not "nice", or complicated, it's just a pure game of pinball, and one of the few times you'll ever see a bank of drop targets that is not lined up side to side. If you can manage to drop the full bank once on one ball, that's pretty good. If you can do it twice, I'll shake your hand. Three times, I might just grovel at your feet and ask for lessons.

The fact that someone had the balls to put 2 inch flippers on this thing, with no active slings, and 2 pops right near the flippers and outlanes, and then the shots to get back up top are WAY off to the side making them very difficult is genius. Nothing is safe. Good luck trying to shoot back up top through those drops, too.

Always figured I'd be sitting on a game like Atlantis or Kings and Queens....something with a bit more to it, but really....it's just a fast, fun game that's black and white, no BS, and sitting next to three DMDs, it's a perfect fit for me.

Mars Trek.

Gee that was easy.

-mof

I was lucky enough to get a Melody a while ago, and have been playing it non stop since.
I would have to say this is now my #1.

Seriously though.......how can you really just pick one?

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Since it was restored, Freedom prototype is still holding strong as my #1 EM (not just in my collection, but anywhere). Blazing fast, exciting, unpredictable, looks great, and has a huge figure-eight arc of shots due to the wide flipper spread. It's currently "on tour"... after TPF was featured at Let's Play Gaming Expo in Plano and will soon be at the Fort Worth Museum of Science July 22nd-23rd.

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#2 Old Chicago, #3 2001, #4 Dixieland, #5 Skyrocket. After that it keeps changing up... better stop there.

Big Shot.

It seems the last one in is always my favorite. So it would be nearly impossible to choose.

My most recent and playable game is Majorettes. Playing the heck out of it right now and really enjoying it. Before that Hot Line. I don't think I could ever get sick of that one. Before that Teacher's Pet. Also a blast. Dancing Dolls is in the project stage and could be my next favorite. Until the next one...

Nice!
I have a regular Freedom EM and it continues to be a favorite in our household.

I would love to play one like yours sometime!

Another way of asking the question, for me anyway, is if you could have a NIB EM, any game, any era, what would it be?

And as a game to keep so value irrelevant.

That would be an real tough choice!

I think if I could only have 1 EM (my desert island pin) I would have to go with Williams 4 Roses.

Why, pray... you may ask??

You know, typically... on any title, I feel after I play the game for awhile, get a feel for the game, I can become better and better as I play it more. But 4 Roses is a game that just seems to defy this, no matter 'how' much I play it. I mean, sure... I have gotten better at it but not as good as I feel I 'should' be, after playing as many games as I have done. And I can win games on specials and points here and there but it's very, very hard to have a 'breakout game'. That is, a game where you can really rack up the replays on any single 5 ball game. But 'because' it is so hard to do this, I find myself playing it all the time, trying to do this very thing.

Gottlieb Central is another game it takes forever to have a breakout game.

I would go with Joker Poker or Fire Queen.... yes,I do have Fire Queen.

Royal Flush, which I would love to buy if anyone will sell.
After reading this thread, I'm gonna go out right now and play Grand Prix and Freedom EM, cause they are both available to play here in Boise.

I hear ya, Vic!

Central Park is a game that I have 'never' had a breakout game. In fact, BREAKOUT GAME?? I'm lucky if I can win 'any' games on this particular title. All that machine ever does, is kick my ass on a regular basis. But I am going to remedy that, when it goes up again in rotation... I 'will' become a better Central Park player, I don't care 'how' long it takes!! At least with 4 Roses... I 'have' had a breakout game, just not very many... hate to say it.

...and if it has a middle-pop, take pics! And then immediately text me the number of the business where you saw it so I can call STI for pickup. :p

4 Roses... tough ol' girl. Promises you the moon, gives you the drain. But you'll be back again before long.

Best score I've managed is around 1350. Ever rolled it? *gasp*

Nip It gotta feed that Bally Gator!

I have not.

Got ridiculously close one time, so close I remember thinking... REALLY??

Like nineteen hundred and eighty some points.

Got in that ball park 'one' other time... but not quite as close.

I need to get a chalkboard to record high scores and high number of specials collected.

I'm still pretty young, so I didn't really grow up with EMs. I have owned a few and played a bunch. My favorite is Gottlieb's World Series. It is too hard for me to separate art/theme from game play. If I don't like the art, the gameplay doesn't seem to matter much. I am also pretty partial to Old Chicago. Those are the only two keepers in my collection right now.

Pinball inspired adventure last night after reading this thread.
There's nothing quite like hitting an EM spinner.

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Was Freedom set to 3-ball or 5-ball?

In 3-ball mode, if you light the spinners, they are worth 1000 per spin. Rat-a-tat-a-tat-tat-tat and you're up 15,000.

So satisfying.

In my opinion, Freedom is a grossly underrated game.

Nailing those spinners when lit is oh so satisfying!

Freedom was set to 3-ball

Jumping Jack. Jacks open is a better game rule set wise, but gotta have a 2 player. And I love the pops at the bottom.

Williams Klondike. After restoring one and playing the snot out of it still not bored.Unpredictable is the key word.I don't think you could ever master this thing.

I love my Williams Apollo! Countdown to launch and backglass bagatelle.

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You know I've always said Surf Champ...but now Snow Derby is giving it a run for it's money. Definitely a sleeper title. So, Shhhh!

+1 for Surfer / Surf Champ

Quite surprised to see people getting it down to 4 or less even though the topic is just one em. I can't even see this as a option to many good em's yes i don't currently have one but i have a list going of machines to look for and its around 10 to 12 machines at this point but continuing to look and see if more need to be added to the list.