I'm trying to expand my pin collection and I want to add a great playing 1980's alpha-numeric pin. I've got an early 1970's EM Williams Super Star, a late 1970's SS Bally Star Trek and a late 1970's Game Plan Star Trip cocktail pin. Trying to put together a varied collection in limited space.

Looking to find a 1980's pin that has one or two ramps, a good set of pop bumpers, drop targets, a spinner or two, a kick out hole, and some good music and sounds. Also would like to have at least one of the following features: up-post, kicker lane, detour gate, plunger return. Not really interested in a DMD so that leaves me with finding an alpha-numeric. It also needs to have a great theme and back glass art. Overall I'm looking for a more of a modern electronic pin that plays more like a classic EM.

There are two pins that do fit these criteria that I do really like. The Data East Secret Service and the Bally Atlantis. I would like some suggestions on other pins out there that may be similar and have the features I'm looking for.

Any ideas and suggestions would be greatly appreciated. I do live in Hawaii and the cost of shipping a pin here will be just as much as the pin itself. That's why I need to do a lot of research to make sure the game will be exactly what I want. That's why I'm asking my fellow pinsiders for some help and suggestions.

Thanks in advance!!

I've checked out Pinbot and I really don't like it at all. Does not have that old school feel. No roll over lanes feeding the pop bumpers, playfield basically separated into two halfs which disrupts the ball flow. Pretty much has gameplay that is exactly the opposite of what I'm looking for. Thanks for the suggestions but sorry.

Checked it out. Only one pop bumper?! I don't think that will work. Like I mentioned I like the "old school" gameplay feel and that pretty much means you need to have a couple of rollover lanes feeding the pop bumpers plus a couple of good shots available to get the ball back up to the top of the playfield.

Yes these are pretty good but I'm really looking to have at least one ramp. That seems to have been the next advance in pinball and I need a game that represents that advancement.

Don't really like the second level mini playfield concept. Again I'm more partial to a standard old school playfield with just an addition of a ramp or two.

I did just find another pin that looks promising, a Williams Sorcerer. Old School feel with a ramp and multi-ball. Any thoughts on this Pin?

I really appreciate all the suggestions as I would have not discovered some of these on my own. Sorry for being so particular but again, being in Hawaii, choosing the right pin and then shipping it here is not an easy thing to do. Please keep the ideas and suggestions coming. I know the grail pin is out there for me somewhere - but I must choose wisely!!

Yes I have researched High Speed and I do like it a lot. It has become very popular and a bit more pricey. If I could get one at a good price or if I could find one here in Hawaii I would definitely go for it. If you notice Secret Service has a very similar playfield and that is why I also like it. Plus I really like the spy theme and music that Secret Service offers.

What I really don't like in these two games is how the plunger shot feeds the ball to the center of the play field and not the top to the rollover lanes and pop bumpers as is more standard. But I could live with that!

Please keep 'em coming!!

Just checked out Elvira. Gotta love Elvira and this great theme! Great music too! However the gameplay is too "new school". I have noticed that many of the newer games have gameplay in which you shoot at a target and the ball gets captured. Then there are some flashing lights and sound, you rack up some points, and the ball is released or you are given a new ball. This, to me, is not what pinball is all about. Too much stop and go and wait. To me pinball is all about that ball moving across the field with non stop action and this is what I consider an old school feel.

Thanks for the suggestion as I do love the Elvira theme!!

Yes I did mention that I did also look at Sorcerer. I do like the theme and artwork although it is a bit sinister. Gameplay looks great though. I will definitely keep this one in mind also.

OK, I just checked out Space Shuttle. I will need to study it more in depth. I do like the theme as my dad did work for NASA on the Apollo project back in the 60's. It may be lacking a bit in the sounds and the artwork is strong but not very exciting, interesting, or unique.

Genesis just looks a bit too strange for me!

just checked out Xenon. Nice Art and Sounds but maybe a bit too provocative for the family. Also it seems that the gameplay is not all that good.

Don't really like those double flippers.

Wow, seems interesting. Never really looked at this one before. Again another one for more study. Don't see any drop targets though, only stand ups. Maybe need to watch the movie again.

Dr. Dude - Don't like those crummy pops. Also seems like a ball goes up, ball goes down type of game.
Earthshaker - No, doesn't seem to shake me up at all!

Again I want to thank you all for the great suggestions. Need to get some diner and then will continue checking out more of your suggestions. Definitely finding some good new possibilities! Keep them coming!

The three pins I have I bought in Los Angeles 4 years ago when I was spending some time there at my Fiancee's house. We just sold her house a few months ago and I was able to ship my pins here to Hawaii with some of our other stuffs. I did just run a WTB Pinball add in Craigslist and did get a few responses from a couple of guys that basically did the same as I. Brought their games here when they moved here. I've been offered a Future Spa, Superman, Lady Luck, and Fireball Classic. All of them not working. They are all basically 80's pins but none of them have the ramps and the slightly more modern game play that I'm looking for.

Hawaii is pretty much the Black Hole of pinball. Haven't seen any pins anywhere for at least 20 years or more. If you were at South Point on the Big Island you were pretty close to me. I'm in Captain Cook and I run a vacation rental. Check out my place at www.halemalu.com . Too bad you could have spent a few nights here!

Thanks for all the great responses. I will look at all the games you all have mentioned as they deserve my attention since you all were so kind to bring them up. Some of these I had not considered before so it is helping a lot.

Thanks! I will continue shortly.

No drop targets. I really like to have at least one bank of drop targets to shoot down. Also I have noticed that many of these 80's pins have kind of a split top half like this one. Usually some type of "special" on one side and a condensed roll over pop bumper grouping on the other. Don't particularly like that setup.

A bit too strange. Don't like the cluttered artwork and again those one sided clustered pops.

Yes no pops and don't like the min I playfield up on top. Has a nice look though.

Yes same thing. No pops.

Yes the classic Taxi. Very popular and thus a bit pricey. Don't really like the theme that much. Would consider it if it popped up locally.

No drop targets. No music or audio interaction. Just needs more pizazz.

No pops and don't like the mini playfield.

Yes no ramps and too similar to what I already have.

Great concept! Poor execution!! Playfield art is way too busy and the music and "radio singers" would drive me nuts after awhile! And why the chimes during multi-ball?? Not much multi-ball back in the 50's!

Interesting. Hadn't seen this one before. A real retro feel in a modern game. I don't like the theme much. Also, don't like those plastic ramps.

OK, I think I got them all covered that were mentioned so far. Still leaning toward Secret Service or Atlantis and possibly Sorcerer. Need to look more into Space Shuttle and Robocop. And if High Speed or Taxi pop up locally might go for those.

I'm sure there are more suggestions out there so please continue to offer them up. This has really helped me tremendously and I highly appreciate all your help.

Thanks!!

OK some more! Great!!

Pretty cool, I can see why it would win an award. But it's a bit too flashy for me and the rock music is not quite to my taste. I am a musician but I'm more into classical electronic and jazz styles. Also a bit pricey.

Yes this seems to be another one of the classics that everyone likes. But no drops and only one pop. Not quite what I'm looking for.

Nice game but not sure I want to deal with the complicated nature of that back box playfield. And like you said it may be pricey.

Thanks again and I'll be watching for more!

If I didn't already have 3 pins and was starting with zero I'm sure I wouldn't be so picky. Also if I can find something here at a good price I will also not be so picky. But if I have to basically pay double for a machine because of the shipping cost which I estimate will be $700-$1000 you're dam right I'm going to be picky!! And that's the exact purpose of this thread!

Not sure that I really like this theme. Animals policing the law of the jungle?! Watched a few youtubes and it just didn't do it for me.

I see that this pin is highly rated and thusly a bit more pricey. Watched the PAPA gameplay video. A lot of just repeatedly shooting the ramp. Also not that much into the 50's theme with a bunch of diners shouting at you and radio singers singing.

Yes, and that's why it is one of the pins I originally chose.

I am a bit more drawn to the sci-fi fantasy themes but don't really like things too dark or too violent. These have been all great suggestions and I have really enjoyed researching them all. Let's see what else we all can come up with!

Thanks!

Riverboat Gambler: Great execution of theme. Never really liked the card/gambling themes but I may need to take a closer look at this pin. Very unique!

Radical: Not too thrilled with the theme or playfield layout.

Jokerz: Interesting whimsical theme. Not sure if I could endure that carnival music for very long. Will study it a bit more.

Thanks for the suggestions!

Another one I've never seen before. Great theme, jungle sounds, and art work. Would be pretty cool here in Hawaii. Just not sure about the game play. most comments are that it's not very good.

Interesting pin and another that I never heard of before. Game play is a bit simple and basic though. And as you said may be hard to find and keep serviced.

From studying all of these various machines it seems that they kind of fall into 3 categories regarding ramps and how they are used in the game play. Some of these games play very old school and the ramp usually just diverts the ball to a different location. There is no "story" within the gameplay that needs to be completed. If the ramp wasn't there it would not make much difference to the game.

Some others use the ramps as more of a loop shot that can be repeated over and over to rack up points. Kind of boring.

The third category uses the ramp mostly to act as a ball capture feature to set up the multi-ball. These games usually have a story and a set combination of shots to achieve to release the balls. This is more of the new school approach and is kind of what I'm looking for as long as it is combined with some of the old school features such as upper roll over lanes that feed pop bumpers and the use of drop targets.

Again I'm looking to have variation in my small collection and a basic game with a story is what I'm looking for. I do not want to get into the more modern games that have very deep story plots and heavy rule sets.

Thanks again for all the contributions!!

Just took a look at space station. Another very popular game but it seems it's popular because it plays differently from other games. Not sure if that's what I want. Lot's of standups but only a few poorly placed drops. Ball is not fed to the upper lanes. Heavy emphasis on getting multi ball. I may need to do more research on this one along with Space Shuttle.

Don't like the violent war theme.

No ramps. Way too dark theme.

Thanks!!

Already covered Diner. Medusa has no ramps. Remember I'm looking for an 80's machine that is the next step above the last EM's or the first SS's. Should have some "story" play with at least one ramp but still play like a late EM or early SS with pop bumpers, etc.. Still want the randomness of the earlier style pins with a little more involved rule set.

Already covered Earthshaker. Whirlwind is another very popular title and thus a bit more pricey. Another one to research some more.

Thanks!

You got a deal!! You can stay at my vacation rental for free!! Check it out at www.halemalu.com !!

I'm not kidding. If anyone has a pin that I may be interested I would easily trade 2 weeks free at my place here in Hawaii!! Contact me and we can work out the details! Right now I'm still favoring the following pins but let me know what you got!

Secret Service (Data East)
Atlantis (Bally)
High Speed (Williams)
Whirlwind (Williams)
Road Kings (Williams)

Thanks!

OK, I think I may have found another pin that I like but was not yet mentioned. Road Kings by Williams. It is a system 11 pin like many of the others. Although it has no spinners and may be short on drop targets it does have 4 bumpers with 2 lanes feeding them from the plunger shot and left side loop. A great left outlane return kicker. The ramps are also pretty cool. Simple ball locks for the 2 ball multiball. Lock the balls a second time during multiball and you get a special multiball round with an added secret lock under a raised ramp. Not easy to get but looks like a challenge to work for. Theme is OK too.

What I like about this pin is that it does not have a bunch of obnoxious callouts happening all the time. A pretty simple ruleset with a bit of a special multiball. It definitely plays like an old school machine. I also like the Moog synthesizer lead soundtrack! Definitely a transitional machine between the old and new school play.

Anyone play this game that can leave some comments?

Thanks!

I'm adding it to the list above!

No ramps.

Thanks!

Update to this thread. I've started a few other threads since this one asking for pins with more specific features. Learned a lot from those threads. Also I was able to pick up a Data East Back to the Future here locally at a really good price. FREE!! Needed new MPU and Display boards and a complete shop job but I've got it up and running at 100%. The BTTF is a fun pin but is very "New School" in it's play. Good to have in the collection but I'm still looking for something that is more "Middle School". "New School" features with "Old School" play.

A pin that was mentioned in one of my other threads and still did not come up in this thread is a Gottlieb Robo-War. I'm liking what I see in this pin as it was based on Sinbad which is an "Old School" pin but has the addition of a ramp, multiball and a great sound package. It has a heavy emphasis on drop targets and getting the ball up to the roll over lanes up on top. Great interaction with the pops and targets also. Any one have any comments about Robo-War?? Any other suggestions!

Thanks for all the input so far. It's been a great thread!

Yes I really wish I could simply take a trip and just go somewhere and try a bunch of different pins. But for the cost of the trip I could probably buy and have a pin shipped here! I do appreciate your pin suggestions though and I have researched all those titles. Between watching the videos available and playing them on Pinmame I can get a pretty good feel for the game.

The search continues!

Thanks!