My TZ plays pretty dang fast. It's all how you set it up. It blows the snot out of most TAF's I've played with how fast it is. I was thinking about adjusting the playfield and the flipper coils to kind of "reel it in", but I'm diggin' the fast TZ. I will agree that there is some stop and go(like when you get door panels awarded), but you kind of need it to plan out what you're going to go for next.

All I know is this: If I had bought a pin that wasn't one of my grail pins first, I would not be as happy as I am now. Oh, it'd satiate my appetite for pinball, but it wouldn't be the "flavor" I truly wanted. Therefore, I've effectively skipped a step in my pinball collecting. Now that I've got one of my grail pins, I can go get whatever I want that's NOT one of my grail pins(currently a WH20), and still be happy that no matter what, I'll always have my TZ.

Just my humble opinion......

So..... unless my math is wrong, TZ and TFTC are two games.

I don't think so. But it all depends on what you start with.

If it's your grail pin then get it. My first was my grail (pinball - women, not so much!).

Just like any pin - depends on exactly how well it's gone through and how you treat it.

If you or someone else goes through it, updating parts that break often and fixing little issues, it shouldn't have much needed in the way of repairs. Get one held together just barely, and it's a nightmare... just like just about any other DMD era game.

Not so much. Here are the specific issues that you can see with a Twilight Zone. I see several TZ's a month (based on a high population more than them being a high maintenance machine, as such I see more TAF's )

#1 issue is resets
#2 is the clock board
#3 GI connectors
#4 Leaking batteries destroys battery holder
#5 is trough board opto issues
#6 is the slot machine target and weldment
#7 is the proximity boards

Now #1 , #3 #4 #5 are the 4 problems in all of the other WPC and later games.

The biggest problematic game that I run into is STTNG. With the 2 cannons and 3 VUKs and their individual troughs with opto switches and the two under pf diverters and the drop target mech there are so many ways that the machine will fail in a way that makes the game unplayable

Reread my ad. None of these will be a problem. The game has been gone through and these items were repaired or replaced as preventative maintenance. I warranty my games and the last thing I want to do is to go out on warranty repair calls, so I make sure they work correctly before they leave.

TZ is my first and only, I've had it for 2.5 weeks. Mine is in great shape, but it definitely came with some issues. I've had to replace a header on the power driver board, several bulbs were missing, and the hardest to track down, two switches were wired incorrectly with missing diodes. I'm willing to chalk most of that up to the cost of ownership, but the switches were frustrating since was due to someone else's ineptitude. Oh well, it was a good learning experience.

Gameplay wise, TZ is my grail, so I'm happy with it, but I know it won't be my only pin and I'll end up with something that plays faster before long.

Wow, sounds like we bought the same pin at the same time. I've had my TZ for 2.5 weeks as well and have fixed the trough sensor, the lock ramp bounce-out issue, a weird sound board/DMD animation issue, and am now facing a prior owner's hack job on the coin door. But, like you, it's one of my grail pins, so I love it. My TZ plays very fast. So fast in fact that I've had some slot machine air balls fly from the target and hit the left wall, falling into the outlane, WITHOUT hitting the glass! The game's got some power!

if you like tz, then get one... i got 21 machines in my lineup and its not one of them.

Honest first impression. Are you choosing theme first and them gameplay? If you can take The Simpsons, play TSPP. I found it similar enought to TZ, but the shots are more rewarding. Actually a little more flow than the scoop stops of TZ.

tftc is pretty fast if you pitch it well, rebuild the flippers, make the slings sensitive as they should be, and wax the playfield. Tz is a pretty stop and go experience. I own Tz and a lot of my friends hate it. Have you played ripleys? Similar theme, same designer as Tz, a bit cheaper, and pretty fast moving with a lot of flow.

If your heart is set on a Tz then get one. You can always sell it later. Tz + TFTC is a decent combo for some variety.

If you're stuck in the middle on one of the most polorizing games , that would be a sure sign to me that this games not for you .

I think I understand where you're actually coming from now. I've always wanted a TAF. I've been casually looking for the past 3 years. When I say "casually", I mean checking CL every month or so at best and seeing only TAF's that were really nice and/or restored going for wayyyy more than I wanted to spend. Last year, I decided to really get into looking for one hardcore. I searched CL every day statewide, had it as a saved search on eBay, searched online classifieds, everything on an almost daily basis.

Then I found Pinside. I lurked for a while just gaining knowledge upon knowledge upon knowledge. Things to look for, errors and how to fix them, known trouble spots with TAF's; you name it, I either knew about it already, or had at least heard the terminology before. Then, hoping to find one for sale, I went to Pin-A-Go-Go in Dixon in May. My first pinball show. There was only one there, but it was a nice one! It wasn't for sale, but I talked to the owner for a while and even he commented on how much I knew for someone who had never owned a TAF, let alone a pin. Thank you Pinside!

While I was there, I played many, many other pins. I was able to relive a lot of memories with a lot of pins I hadn't played in at least 20 years. It was awesome to get reacquainted some old friends, if you know what I mean. I even got to play a Kingpin! The one pin I had almost completely forgotten about was TZ. I played one of the three that were there and it was amazing how the sounds and actions woke up places in my brain that were long dormant. I remembered fondly how much I used to play and love TZ. Same thing happened with FH, too. After PAGG, I decided to expand my list of grail pins to three: TAF, TZ, and FH. I figured, first and foremost, I want a TAF. Then, I'd get a FH because they're cheaper than a TZ, then later on, because of the price, I'd get a TZ, and a really super nice one, too. It made sense to me to do it in that order because of my level of fandom for them and for financial reasons. Fast forward to a month and half ago.....

I see an ad on my LOCAL craigslist for a TZ for sale at an almost unheard of price in California. After much calling and playing phone tag(and much anguish over whether or not I might have JUST missed out on a superb deal by mere minutes), I was able to secure a time to see it and subsequently bought it. I could not be happier with my purchase(well, I COULD if it were cheaper, wink wink) and I'm glad I got the most expensive one out of the way for a price less than what my first choice normally sells for.

Moral of the story:

Always look for all the pins you want, all the time. You never know when one will show up at a great(or even crazy cheap) price right in you own back yard(my TZ was two blocks from where I work, in the same industrial complex!). Don't be afraid to abandon your "plans" when a great deal comes along. You may regret it later....

Hope this helps!

Maybe someone put too high of flipper coils in there, because I never had a problem with airballs on mine.

Nah, it's just the slot target that's bent back a little bit. It's a common TZ thing. It's how most TZ's end up with broken "Magna Flip" sign plastics. When I get the new target set, the slot and clock targets will be the new reinforced versions.

This is how I feel. Of course I try to buy games that I think I will love and keep forever but over the past 12 years of doing this, the longest I've kept a game is five years (small collection of 3-4 games at a time). Like Wes said, buy games at a decent price and if you don't like one after a while then sell it and move on. It's pretty easy to sell games especially if they are the more popular titles.

Don't think too hard or you'll never buy a game.

yea, that was one of the first mods I had to do when I bought mine. That and have the scoop rewelded due to the target letting the ball hit the edge.

TZ is my first and only pin. Well worth the trouble, learned a lot about repairing pinballs! Had the driver board reboot issue, various sensors and switches going bad, a flasher stuck on and melted a plastic, plus some mods. It will keep you busy, and there will always be something to fix, adjust, add, enhance, etc......

Great pin to have as a first.