Hi folks,

I'm here in London, UK, where we have very small houses compared to the States and importing NIB pins is quite expensive.

I've got enough room for four pins in my front room (five if we move the sofa). Current pins are Godzilla Prem, Alien Poker, Fish Tales and we've got a TNA 2.0 (on order).

I'm on a loose waiting list for the new run of MMr, but I tend to prefer playing AFM - just can't get hold of one here in the UK. Also, I'm not sure if I'd prefer a modern Stern instead, such as Stern Star Wars (which I enjoy on location) or A:IQ (also like it on location, but two Elwins in one room is probably too many).

So, I wanted some advice...

History-wise:

Our first pin was Fish Tales, which I've got a lot of affection for (I even made a reproduction topper);
We then got a Lord of the Rings (now sold; I found it boring - don't miss it at all);
Then, I bought a Godzilla Prem (love that) and a Flash Gordon (husband doesn't like it so just been sold);
We've also just bought an Alien Poker (like the quirky theme, quirky art and shooting the drops) that I'm going to do up;
I'm swapping the Flash Gordon in part exchange for a PinBot, but suspect that will go to pay for TNA 2.0.

We can't afford multiple new pins each year and we simply don't have the space for more than five pins. Also, it's obvious that I like having different types of pinball machine. So, for example, I played Flash Gordon every day, but stopped completely when Alien Poker (another classic) arrived.

So.... What would you get? Would you get the MMr even though it doesn't mega-excite me on location, but it is a total No.1/2 B/W-era classic? Or would you get a modern Stern?

This is a consideration for us, actually. I like harder pins, despite being not very good at pinball - hence, why I like Fish Tales and TNA. However, we do have neighbours' kids around occasionally and, when I'm ill, I also tend to prefer playing something easier. To no one's surprise, the neighbours' kids just play Godzilla!

So, it does feel that a collection with Fish Tales, TNA 2.0, Alien Poker and Godzilla only has Godzilla adding depth/rules complexity, and there's nothing truly easy either! I did get the impression that Mando and DP were regarded as 'easier' pins though, with STh being a deeper version of MM/AFM.

Yes, I owned a small vPin for about three months and then sold it again, unfortunately. It didn't suit us at all. I just kept playing my physical pins and I only had two at the time.

I'm lucky enough to live in inner London and we have a wealth of pinball cafes, arcades and clubs within cycling distance/a short train journey. So, I've played MM, DP, MB, A:IQ, GZ, AFM, Mando, CCr... you name it, we've played it. It's just incredibly difficult to work out what has staying power day-in-day-out in the house from playing a lineup in an arcade without actually owning the pin.

It's quite fun, Lebowski, especially the rolling carpet. It does remind me of a B/W-era pin. I think the theme is totally lost on me, however, which is slightly unfortunate We do tend to veer towards sci-fi/fantasy-themed pins (and Fish Tales...)

It's the exchange rate for the Sterns that's the killer. I paid £9.5k for my GZ Prem from Pinball Heaven and it would now be £11.5k for a Star Wars Prem. I'm paying ~£11k for a TNA 2.0 WITHOUT shipping (that's a direct import from Spooky) and it'll probably be closer to £13k for a CGC MMr landed, the way things are going. Star Wars also isn't terribly popular here in the UK so, if I buy that, I'm potentially going to take a bath on it if I subsequently want to trade it for something else...

A bit of both... There's a couple of MMs around London. I always play and enjoy them, but never feel I want to come back for multiple plays when there are other pins around. Likewise, I enjoy playing Stranger Things (similar layout) because I like hitting the demigorgon, but it's in the same location as JP2 and I always prefer to play JP2.

I thought, because MM stood the test of time, that it does have staying power. Also, I'm pretty sure I wouldn't enjoy Fish Tales as much as I do if I'd only played it on the Williams Pinball app and on location - it has grown on me through 18 months of ownership. So, I assume(d) MMr would do the same (and it must have layers of gameplay/strategy beyond 'bang the gate').

The thing about the modern Sterns I enjoy, is that I always feel cheated when I have to leave a location because there's so much more to explore. A:IQ, especially, has grown on me over several months as I've learned the rules.

With MM, I just don't have this 'Wow, this is so amazing, I can definitely imagine choosing to play this daily if it's sat in a line-up that also includes Godzilla, Alien Poker, TNA and Fish Tales' feeling about it. I'm just not sure what does...

We have a six year old and a two year old. The six year old gets bored VERY easily. He played Fish Tales constantly when it arrived. Then, he had a long run playing Godzilla multiple times a day, but then stopped bothering. He then didn't play pinball again until Alien Poker arrived and then played that every weekend and after school... so, mostly, he likes having new pinball machines to play and isn't especially bothered which ones.

I really like Heighway Alien! I think there's probably only two in the UK, however, that I'm aware of, and I've not played the Pinball Brothers remake, so hadn't got that in contention.

I’ve definitely considered an EM! I like the idea of Blast Off.

Stranger Things I’ve played a lot of times. There’s a local arcade with seven new Sterns in there (Rush, LZ, Mando, JP2, GZ, The Beatles, TMNT and ST) and, to be honest, the only pins I play in there are JP2, The Beatles and ST (as I already own GZ). That said, I tend to play JP2 in preference with ST as a second choice. But there’s no point in owning JP2 because I *know* I like it less than GZ and, thus, it would never get played!

I’ve already owned one. It lasted four months and is now making someone else very happy

Thanks to everyone who’s posted. It’s been really helpful I’m getting the impression I’m probably better having a ‘rotating’ pin - probably a modern Stern, as they seem easy to swap about in the UK community. My six-year-old son will probably be happy with that too Then, I get the benefit of exploring the complex rulesets at home without feeling obliged to hold the slot closed permanently!