Wcs94 shoot for the goaaaaaal

Just had a couple of non-pinheads over yesterday. I've found the best way to introduce
people that are not into the hobby is to start with basic machines and include some
history. Played these machines in this order; 1932 Mills Official, 1934 Big Broadcast,
1940 Formation, 1958 Turf Champ, 1969 Target Pool, 1976 Aztec & Capt Fantasic,
1978 Sinbad, Black Hole, DE Simpsons and finally ST:TNG. They were over for a
couple of hours and seemed to enjoy themselves.
Steve

Scared Stiff and had some guys over the other night and they loved Dr Who.

In my house, AC/DC and Attack From Mars always do the trick. My cousin's husband never liked pinball, but I think he logged darn near 100 plays on Attack From Mars over the weekend that they visited. AC/DC also is a real crowd pleaser with casual or generally disinterested people.

I've also seen Monster Bash, The Simpsons, and Lord of the Rings get non-pinheads excited, both kids and adults.

kiss.

many people remember seeing the machine somewhere over the years. people just remember it and bally made quite a few of them

I'll agree with Kiss, actually. My bosses have asked me to get a pinball machine for the office, and that's one that all three remember and have put into the pool of games to seek out.

TOTAN tends to get a lot of love from non-pinheads.

Goldeneye, most people loke Bond stuff

Metallica.. great PF visually

ToM... fun for chicks and newb's alike

An easyish,busy and faster EM, with cool art...

Early multiball SS games with speach and sound, with cool art..

T2 is another that newbs gravitate twords

I find that older machines with simple rule sets really help non-pinheads...most people dont realize there are ANY rules except don't lose the ball...but when you can get them used to an easy set of rules, they will appreciate the more complex ones.

RFM and Joust. "Altering the perception" of people is pretty extreme, so it takes something with real surprise and wow-factor to pull this off.

As far as simply engaging non-pinheads, Super Mario Bros and Stargate do that more than my Bally/Williams titles.

Great Sterns with recognizable themes like LOTR, SM, TSPP will be hit or miss depending on the person.

I think the greatest thing to draw new people in is to explain that there are actually rules to the games. Most people have the perception that pinball is just keeping the ball in play, and that the longer you do that, the higher your score will be.

It's surprising to most people that games have complex rule sets. Once people start to understand and follow the lights, lock balls, increase multipliers etc etc, ALL games start to have more appeal.

I find, just a few suggestions about what to shoot for goes a long way. The number of times I've heard, "Wait, you're actually AIMING for certain things??!" Is astounding to me.

I've been having mostly non pinheads over a lot lately. Everybody is having a blast. We've been playing their 3 combined scores against my one. It's pretty fun actually.

I've got one on the hunt for a SM now. That's progress!

ToM is a favorite for new folks as is Diner.

metallica for my group. We are mid 30's so for them this is really one of the first they could really relate to.

Family Guy gets a lot of interest from non-pinheads

If they like the Tron...it would do the trick, with Eli's mod for sure

Baby Pacman

I say Fishtales becuase it gave me the bug, as a child I was more of a hit both flippers and keep the ball alive player.

I will second Fishtales. My motherinlaw was totally addicted to that game before I sold it...she would never really play any of the other pins I've ever owned...

Royal Rumble Draws them in also...

I had a couple of non-pinheads over a couple of days ago. The most memorable quote of the night was "wow, I haven't played or even seen a pinball machine in over twenty years." That being said, they were more drawn to the themes and gravitated specifically to TAF, STLE, and POTC. Needless to say, everyone had a blast.

This!!

The OP is looking for "perception-altering" pins that could turn someone from negative/meh to then becoming interested in the hobby.

Most suggestions here are just fun games that an already open-minded person might like, but that probably aren't going to alter a non-pinhead's perception.

Funhouse. Way back in the day it drew in a lot of people, simply from Rudy. Even now, when friends ask what games I have, EVERYONE remembers playing funhouse. Simply one of the greatest toys ever stuck into a game. (if not the greatest, and certainly was at that point in time!)

NBA Fastbreak is a perfect example. The concept of shooting baskets with a pinball is immediately clear, and the scoring reflects standard basketball scores. The NBAFB I keep at my office has absolutely hooked more than a few non-pinball players. It may not be the most well-regarded pin within the pinhead circle, but it's a crowd pleaser and a joy to play.

They first see pac man and that draws them in then they are intrigued by the whole pinball part of it and it is a machine anyone can play and have fun. It always draws them in.

My brother loves Star Trek (Stern) and The Avengers because of the machines' theme. He now plays them (along with TAF occasionally) every time we are at Lanes & Games.

Girls love TOTAN. That's what I've found.

Non-pinheads like Champion Pub a lot. All the gimmicks in that game are appealing.

Now, if I was trying to teach someone to appreciate pinball because there are actually rules and it's more than just keeping the ball from draining, I start on Gorgar or a similar straightforward and relatively simple pin. People love TAF, but that game is pretty unforgiving and can quickly frustrate people.

Since non-pinheads are atttracted to video:
WOZ, RFM, SWE1, Baby Pacman, and Hyperpin.

I have a small collection but POTC is the first game everyone plays.

Games like MM, MB, and PoTC get new players engaged. Also, early solid state games like KISS and Evel Knievel seem to pull people in based on the theme and simple layouts.

People really liked my EBD when I had it. It got more play by non pinheads than my more flashy & newer titles did. I could never fully explain why this was. Easy objectives I guess, that are clearly laid out in front of you.

LOTR. People like the theme, see the Balrog, and want to play.

TAF