Fun topic guys. It's really interesting to think about exactly what elements in one game make it a more complete "world under glass" than another game.
I think a lot of people focus on playfield "toys" or molded pieces that try to evoke a 3D representation of the theme such as IJ's ruins + Idol + planes, WW mountains, ramps, and Bigfoot, etc.
In my own collecting experience I've kind of gone from being drawn to the 90's B/W games with lots of this type of stuff to where sometimes now I find it a bit off-putting for some reason.
For example, the new JJPPOTC game is by all measures and amazing achievment in this regard, but the game just leaves me flat. The molded rocking ship is cool for sure, but then I notice the slingshot plastics look (frankly) terrible.
So I kind of have a love/hate relationship with this stuff now. I actually dislike figurines on the playfield a lot but went ahead and upgraded the ones on my IMDN LE since it already had them and the ones it came with were pretty middling. I even thought about just installing the flat plastics instead at one point.
I guess what I'm saying is that sometime's I feel like this stuff is like putting custom Ferrari body-molding on a Fiero.
fieroferrari (resized).jpg
...it can really cheapen the feel of a game.
I'm gaining a new appreciation for the simplicity and often beauty of an EM or SS game with amazing art and subtle lighting that keep it classy and use the artwork and lighting to present a more artisitic & timeless presentation vs. something that looks like a cheap dollar store toy.
There's a fine line between "World Under Glass" and cheezball.