(Topic ID: 174950)

Its time for a new Back to the Future pinball machine + a DMC-12 LE!

By PanzerFreak

7 years ago


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    Topic poll

    “Would you buy a Back to the Future pinball machine?!”

    • Great Scott! Yes! 42 votes
      71%
    • No 17 votes
      29%

    (59 votes)

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    #1 7 years ago

    I think that the pinball market is primed for a new Back to the Future pinball machine and that JJP could pull it off the best. Yes, there was a Data East Back to the Future pinball machine made 26 years ago but its not fondly remembered and uses far older technology than what is available today. Ghostbusters by Stern is a hit and I think that a Back to the Future trilogy pinball machine could easily be as big of a hit, if not bigger, if done correctly.

    Here are a few ideas I have for creating what I believe would make a great Back to the Future pinball machine.

    1. DMC-12 LE: The original Delorean exterior panels are made out of grade 304 brushed stainless steel. For a DMC-12 LE I would have the legs, side rails, lockdown bar and speaker grill made entirely out of 304 brushed stainless steel, no powder coat, have the armor look exactly like the stainless steel panels on a real Delorean. Next, the side rails would be laser etched with exterior RGB LED lighting (think Star Trek LE armor) that combined with interior RGB LED cabinet lighting (Star Trek LE again) would create the lighting affect that surrounds the Delorean when it's time circuits activate. Honestly, if this could be pulled off I think it would be the coolest light show ever on a pinball machine.

    2. Have 3 ladders of modes, say 6 missions for each film based on scenes from each with a mini wizard mode for completing each ladder and a final wizard mode for completing everything. Keith Johnson mission based ruleset please

    3. Lockdown bar button used to activate time circuits, travel between mode ladders: During the game you build up value to increase the electricity level of the time circuits to travel between each of the 3 films (the mode ladders in the game). Pressing the button kicks off the lighting affect on the cabinet / playfield. Modes can then be played in any order by traveling between the various time periods.

    4. Clocktower toy model with working clock.

    5. Mini digital clock toy for miles per hour (in the movies it sits on the Delorean dash). MPH increase as the electricity level of the "time circuits" is increased.

    Licensing

    I believe the original Data East game encountered an issue with not being able to use Michael J. Fox's likeness. That game was made over 25 years ago so maybe Michael J. Fox would change his mind for a new game. As a gesture of good will the license agreement could include a donation to the Michael J. Fox Foundation for every game sold.

    What are your ideas for a Back to the Future pinball machine? Would you buy one?

    BTTF (resized).jpgBTTF (resized).jpg

    #2 7 years ago

    As an owner of a heavily modified DeLorean, trust me, you would want the stainless steel edges dulled. Within the interior workings of the doors, it is common knowledge amongst owners to duct tape ALL corners and edges before working in there. The edges are quite literal razor blades and I have personally witnessed one fellow owner head to the hospital.

    In the end: make the stainless steel hardware with dull edges and all will be good .

    #3 7 years ago

    Would they be able to use doc browns likeness?

    #4 7 years ago
    Quoted from NPO:

    As an owner of a heavily modified DeLorean, trust me, you would want the stainless steel edges dulled. Within the interior workings of the doors, it is common knowledge amongst owners to duct tape ALL corners and edges before working in there. The edges are quite literal razor blades and I have personally witnessed one fellow owner head to the hospital.
    In the end: make the stainless steel hardware with dull edges and all will be good .

    Good tip! That's awesome you own a Delorean. I regret selling mine but between house projects, pinball and other hobbies I felt that I was stretching myself to thin (especially the hobby budget, lol). The car is a blast to drive and I would like to get one again one day.

    #5 7 years ago
    Quoted from Rondogg:

    Would they be able to use doc browns likeness?

    Maybe. I think it depends on how the license is handled. Christopher Lloyd and Michael J. Fox seem to love Back to the Future, heck they dressed up as their characters on Oct 21st of last year and showed up on Jimmy Kimmel driving a Delorean, lol.

    To help with the license deal I thinking that making a donation to the Michael J. Fox Foundation for every game sold would be a very nice gesture.

    -1
    #6 7 years ago

    Is there some reason BTTF is going to be on anyone's Radar

    Ghostbusters had a boost because of the new movie, but before that the franchise was fairly dead

    #7 7 years ago
    Quoted from PanzerFreak:

    Good tip! That's awesome you own a Delorean. I regret selling mine but between house projects, pinball and other hobbies I felt that I was stretching myself to thin (especially the hobby budget, lol). The car is a blast to drive and I would like to get one again one day.

    Oh trust me, when you swap the engine, it is WAY more fun to drive....! Swapped it with a turbo'd VR6 from VW. Man, the difference is night and day.

    I'm done humble bragging .

    #8 7 years ago

    A new BTTF game would be the first NIB Game I would buy sight unseen! Did anyone else watch Big Bang Theory tonight?

    #9 7 years ago
    Quoted from PanzerFreak:

    I think that the pinball market is primed for a new Back to the Future pinball machine and that JJP could pull it off the best.

    If one is to be done, it will not be JJP. Jack stated he will not do what has been done before.

    #10 7 years ago
    Quoted from NPO:

    Oh trust me, when you swap the engine, it is WAY more fun to drive....! Swapped it with a turbo'd VR6 from VW. Man, the difference is night and day.

    I saw a vette engine swap a month ago. Sounds like it's super fast, but the weight means understeering. Also cooling was an issue until he added a big aluminum radiator and giant fans. I'd be curious if there's any issues with the VW engine swap?

    Quoted from Pincrazy:

    A new BTTF game would be the first NIB Game I would buy sight unseen! Did anyone else watch Big Bang Theory tonight?

    yes.. he seemed to be more with it than the kimmel appearance, but maybe that's because he could read queue cards on a show vs live?

    Quoted from PopBumperPete:

    Is there some reason BTTF is going to be on anyone's Radar

    The price of the data east machine has skyrocketed in the past couple years because of the 30th anniversary, and will likely continue to climb until someone makes a new version.

    #12 7 years ago

    The greatest Trilogy of all time deserves WOZ-like treatment.

    2 months later
    #13 7 years ago

    Seriously...Alien is 30 years old and just got a hell of a great new game. Can you imagine BTTF with a 27" LCD screen on the backbox and LCDs in the playfield? This game would sell like hotcakes. Only a few titles that have so much pop culture cache that the title would sell the game....Jaws, BTTF, Ghostbusters....are notable examples. We saw what Ghostbusters did.

    And for those of you pessimists who say we already had a BTTF game. How many people are foaming for a possible Elivra 3? No offense to Elivira, but she doesn't touch the popularity of BTTF.

    #14 7 years ago

    Since I picked up my bttf 6 weeks ago, I've seen at least 6-7 wanted to buy ads (pinside, facebook, craigslist, etc). Most of the ads state they don't care the condition, they just want one.

    This title has been hot since the 30th anniversary in 2015, and it seems to be steadily getting worse. Either Stern already has the license and kaminkow is working on a layout right now (since he did the original), or SOMEONE is going to pickup this title soon.. I don't think there's a hotter license right now.

    #15 7 years ago
    Quoted from PopBumperPete:

    Is there some reason BTTF is going to be on anyone's Radar
    Ghostbusters had a boost because of the new movie, but before that the franchise was fairly dead

    The new movie had zero to do with the release of GB pinball. GB pinball was in planning before the dreadful remake was announced. That movie didn't help the success of the pin at all either. The pinball was a success because GB has a HUGE fanbase. A large majority of that fanbase despises the new movie. The GB pin owes literally NOTHING to that abomination. The franchise was nowhere near dead, if anything it was bigger than ever.

    BTTF has a huge fanbase just like Ghostbusters. It would be a huge hit if somebody made a new BTTF pin. For me BTTF done right is a dream theme for me, just as GB was.

    -7
    #16 7 years ago
    Quoted from Haymaker:

    BTTF has a huge fanbase just like Ghostbusters.

    There are 8 billion other franchises that have a huge fan base that have never had a pinball themed after them. Nothing special here. BTTF has already been done.

    #17 7 years ago
    Quoted from o-din:

    There are 8 billion other franchises that have a huge fan base that have never had a pinball themed after them. Nothing special here. BTTF has already been done.

    Name one other theme that would be more desirable to middle aged white guys with money than BTTF. All of them (except maybe Rocky) have already been done.

    #18 7 years ago
    Quoted from o-din:

    There are 8 billion other franchises that have a huge fan base that have never had a pinball themed after them. Nothing special here. BTTF has already been done.

    The existing BTTF pin is not that great...A new BTTF pin would sell as well as Ghostbusters if not better.

    There are a lot of popular movie themes out there but only so many of them remain relevant today after 30+ years. Ghostbusters and Back to the Future are still extremely popular today.

    #19 7 years ago
    Quoted from o-din:

    There are 8 billion other franchises that have a huge fan base that have never had a pinball themed after them. Nothing special here. BTTF has already been done.

    80's nostalgia is gigantic right now. There's not too many bigger 80's franchises that have huge mass appeal that I can think of besides ghostbusters and BTTF. Maybe Star Wars if you count that (I do). Why do you think so many people were tripping over themselves to get a Predator machine? Stick to your EM's Odin.

    Quoted from Rondogg:

    Name one other theme that would be more desirable to middle aged white guys with money than BTTF. All of them (except maybe Rocky) have already been done.

    Batman 66, Munsters, Jetsons, Television news channel, other dumb old man themes.

    Somewhat joking aside, I'm sure BTTF would appeal to many in the older crowd as well, but I think a lot of people here are failing to realize one of the biggest growing segments of not only collecting but playing is the early 30's-mid 40's guys (ok I guess thats technically middle aged lol). I'm 31 myself. Many of us are finally finding ourselves to be in positions to start collecting games, and many many more are being catered to in the Barcade scene. Back to the Future is a behemoth of a franchise, and if you don't realize it, you're probably too old and out of touch, or you're just naive. I seriously sat here trying to think of a theme with more mass appeal in the main pinball age groups and besides Star Wars, I can't.

    #20 7 years ago

    .

    #21 7 years ago

    What if we had a community effort to convert the BTTF to the p-roc platform in order to (i) change the rules to be more modern and take advantage of the movies for modes, multiballs, wizard modes etc., and (ii) include video and audio from the movie on a Stern-sized LCD?

    I see what was done by EPTHEGEEK in his Iron Man conversion and what the possibilities are for BTTF.

    Unfortunately, I know that there is no way I could get this done myself. However, could we get a group of people together to tackle this in a non-commercial manner to avoid intellectual property issues?

    #22 7 years ago
    Quoted from PanzerFreak:

    The existing BTTF pin is not that great...A new BTTF pin would sell as well as Ghostbusters if not better.

    Well, get your guys over at Jersey Jack all over it then. While I petition Stern for Death Wish.

    #23 7 years ago
    Quoted from Haymaker:

    Stick to your EM's Odin.

    #24 7 years ago
    Quoted from adamgacek:

    What if we had a community effort to convert the BTTF to the p-roc platform in order to (i) change the rules to be more modern and take advantage of the movies for modes, multiballs, wizard modes etc., and (ii) include video and audio from the movie on a Stern-sized LCD?

    Nah, its too plain. I mean don't get me wrong, I'd love to own one, but even with better rules it wouldn't be anywhere near what a new machine could be.

    Quoted from o-din:

    Well, get your guys over at Jersey Jack all over it then. While I petition Stern for Death Wish.

    Lol I think a Death Wish pinball would be awesome. You get an angry Charles Bronson pointing a gun at you on the backglass. Different shots around the table to take out all the baddies. OK, I take back the mean things I said, you have some good ideas after all.

    #25 7 years ago

    Thank you, my good man.

    th (resized).jpgth (resized).jpg

    #26 7 years ago

    They made 5 Death Wish movies?

    Wanting a pinball machine made on that series has to be a joke, right?

    #27 7 years ago
    Quoted from Rondogg:

    Wanting a pinball machine made on that series has to be a joke, right?

    I could say the same thing about BTTF or any number of pinsiders "Dream themes"

    The biggest hurdle you will have with this one is I believe Michael J Fox wanted nothing to do with the first BTTF pinball machine, so what makes you think he will now? I suppose it really wouldn't need him though....

    #28 7 years ago
    Quoted from Haymaker:

    80's nostalgia is gigantic right now. There's not too many bigger 80's franchises that have huge mass appeal that I can think of besides ghostbusters and BTTF. Maybe Star Wars if you count that (I do). Why do you think so many people were tripping over themselves to get a Predator machine? Stick to your EM's Odin.

    Batman 66, Munsters, Jetsons, Television news channel, other dumb old man themes.
    Somewhat joking aside, I'm sure BTTF would appeal to many in the older crowd as well, but I think a lot of people here are failing to realize one of the biggest growing segments of not only collecting but playing is the early 30's-mid 40's guys (ok I guess thats technically middle aged lol). I'm 31 myself. Many of us are finally finding ourselves to be in positions to start collecting games, and many many more are being catered to in the Barcade scene. Back to the Future is a behemoth of a franchise, and if you don't realize it, you're probably too old and out of touch, or you're just naive. I seriously sat here trying to think of a theme with more mass appeal in the main pinball age groups and besides Star Wars, I can't.

    Absolutely! My 14 year old students know what BTTF is. Their 40 something parents have passed it down to the next generation. And they love it. Even though the movie was released and is set in 1985, it just doesn't feel old at all.

    #29 7 years ago

    As someone who has very recently purchased a BTTF I think the biggest appeal is the relatively low price point to everything else out there for a game that anyone can immediately identify with and has very high nostalgia for most 80s kids. I don't think you'll have this enthusiasm for an $6k pro, 8K LE, $12K super-duper LE. Those prices alone will keep me far away from new pinball machines regardless of the theme.

    #30 7 years ago
    Quoted from ypurchn:

    As someone who has very recently purchased a BTTF I think the biggest appeal is the relatively low price point to everything else out there for a game that anyone can immediately identify with and has very high nostalgia for most 80s kids. I don't think you'll have this enthusiasm for an $6k pro, 8K LE, $12K super-duper LE. Those prices alone will keep me far away from new pinball machines regardless of the theme.

    Tell that to the people who made Ghostbusters the fastest selling stern pinball of all time

    #31 7 years ago
    Quoted from PanzerFreak:

    I think that the pinball market is primed for a new Back to the Future pinball machine and that JJP could pull it off the best. Yes, there was a Data East Back to the Future pinball machine made 26 years ago but its not fondly remembered and uses far older technology than what is available today. Ghostbusters by Stern is a hit and I think that a Back to the Future trilogy pinball machine could easily be as big of a hit, if not bigger, if done correctly.
    Here are a few ideas I have for creating what I believe would make a great Back to the Future pinball machine.
    1. DMC-12 LE: The original Delorean exterior panels are made out of grade 304 brushed stainless steel. For a DMC-12 LE I would have the legs, side rails, lockdown bar and speaker grill made entirely out of 304 brushed stainless steel, no powder coat, have the armor look exactly like the stainless steel panels on a real Delorean. Next, the side rails would be laser etched with exterior RGB LED lighting (think Star Trek LE armor) that combined with interior RGB LED cabinet lighting (Star Trek LE again) would create the lighting affect that surrounds the Delorean when it's time circuits activate. Honestly, if this could be pulled off I think it would be the coolest light show ever on a pinball machine.
    2. Have 3 ladders of modes, say 6 missions for each film based on scenes from each with a mini wizard mode for completing each ladder and a final wizard mode for completing everything. Keith Johnson mission based ruleset please
    3. Lockdown bar button used to activate time circuits, travel between mode ladders: During the game you build up value to increase the electricity level of the time circuits to travel between each of the 3 films (the mode ladders in the game). Pressing the button kicks off the lighting affect on the cabinet / playfield. Modes can then be played in any order by traveling between the various time periods.
    4. Clocktower toy model with working clock.
    5. Mini digital clock toy for miles per hour (in the movies it sits on the Delorean dash). MPH increase as the electricity level of the "time circuits" is increased.
    Licensing
    I believe the original Data East game encountered an issue with not being able to use Michael J. Fox's likeness. That game was made over 25 years ago so maybe Michael J. Fox would change his mind for a new game. As a gesture of good will the license agreement could include a donation to the Michael J. Fox Foundation for every game sold.
    What are your ideas for a Back to the Future pinball machine? Would you buy one?

    Hell yeah!!

    #32 7 years ago
    Quoted from o-din:

    The biggest hurdle you will have with this one is I believe Michael J Fox wanted nothing to do with the first BTTF pinball machine, so what makes you think he will now?

    Tell him you'll donate a portion of the proceeds to his Parkinsons Foundation. That oughta do it.

    #33 7 years ago
    Quoted from Miguel351:

    Tell him you'll donate a portion of the proceeds to his Parkinsons Foundation. That oughta do it.

    Stern made their own customers pay for their 30th anniversary party, what makes you think they are going to donate anything to charity?

    #34 7 years ago
    Quoted from Miguel351:

    Tell him you'll donate a portion of the proceeds to his Parkinsons Foundation. That oughta do it.

    images (resized).jpgimages (resized).jpg

    #35 7 years ago
    Quoted from Rondogg:

    Stern made their own customers pay for their 30th anniversary party, what makes you think they are going to donate anything to charity?

    Who said Stern has to make this game?

    Spooky's been churning out games pretty quick, including one that had a charitable portion built into the price.

    I'm sure JJP would love to do a theme with a huge installed fan base and do the charitable contribution, too. All good PR.

    #36 7 years ago
    Quoted from Miguel351:

    Tell him you'll donate a portion of the proceeds to his Parkinsons Foundation. That oughta do it.

    that seems to motivate MJF to do anything these days. Him endorsing the nike bttf shoes with a portion going to charity made him sign right up. Of course how much money could any pinball company really afford per machine? I suppose if you could build 2,000 machine, at $50 per machine for license that's still $100k. Not a bad chunk of change.

    #37 7 years ago
    Quoted from Haymaker:

    Tell that to the people who made Ghostbusters the fastest selling stern pinball of all time

    That's a good point. I've been on a 15 year hiatus from pinball so I had no idea GB was that big of a hit - all I see on pinside are people bitching about jacked up playfields and a wide flipper gap. I can't speak for everyone but I now that I'd rather have 2-3 $2-3K pins over 1 $6-8K pin regardless of theme. That was BTTF's appeal to me. I have every Metalica album ever made and just paid a premium for 6 tickets to see them play in Atlanta in July but even pro model pricing is outside what I'm willing to pay for a pinball machine...

    #38 7 years ago
    Quoted from Miguel351:

    Tell him you'll donate a portion of the proceeds to his Parkinsons Foundation. That oughta do it.

    It's entirely likely that the decision not to be included on the pin back in the day was not even brought to MJF, and that his agent decide it wasn't a good move, because at the time they wanted to move in a new direction (agents! See The Rock's ultimate dominance of public awareness for how to do this and make a ton of money)

    MJF's focus is on other things these days (seems legit...) but he's not an asshole- he gets it. The game better be hella better than the current one though.

    1 month later
    #39 7 years ago

    Maybe AP would be in the mix on this now that they're a player? I might start a homebrew version and see where it goes. I'm ready to save the clock tower. Anybody with me?

    #40 7 years ago

    A Back to the Future pinball by AP would be awesome. If done right a BTTF pin could be a huge seller, as big as a hit as GB if not bigger.

    #41 7 years ago
    Quoted from PanzerFreak:

    If done right a BTTF pin could be a huge seller, as big as a hit as GB if not bigger.

    I'm with you...despite what some others said above. I think it would be way bigger. If I sit down in front of the TV, I would much rather watch the first BTTF as opposed to the first GB movie. Doesn't even compare.

    #42 7 years ago

    Universal and U Drive Joint Venture appear to be the two entities which have the current licensing from my brief research. I'm going to reach out to them for a current status / info. Not playing around here. This movie is so iconic and deserves a great pin. And I'm even thinking wide-body like TZ or BF.

    1 year later
    #43 5 years ago

    Posted this is another thread, interesting stuff. This game needs to get made!

    Incase anyone is wondering whether or not kids in their early 20's know what Back to the Future is the answer is a resounding yes. Check out the video below where college students are asked if they know what movie the posters are from, starts at BTTF section. Every single person asked recognized the Back to the Future poster. In close second were The Goonies and Beetlejuice. Everyone also knew Karate Kid but I don't see that being a good theme for a pin.

    The company that makes a new Back to the Future trilogy pinball machine, if done right, will have a title that will print them money. The theme has a ton of content to pull from across the 3 films which would make for unique and deep rules and above all its FUN!

    BTTF (resized).JPGBTTF (resized).JPG

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