You could look into renting a pin, there are places that do it. Then when you get bored, you can swap it for another one.

Virtual Pins are great, but there is a steep learning curve if you aren't great with computers. I would definitely try a high end one before you buy. Expect to spend almost as much as a NIB for a good one.

If I could only have 1 pin I'd go with something with a deep rule set.

Simpson's Pinball Party
LotR
Metallica
AC/DC

hope that helps.

By the way. Pretty much anyone who posts about a virtual pinball knows they are not a real pin, I don't think I've ever once seen someone argue this point and I don't know why every time someone mentions a virtual pin that someone has to say "It's not Pinball" etc.

A Virtual Pinball is perfect for a situation like this. Limited space. If you can get past the "It's not pinball" stigma and enjoy playing the tables as games then it would be a great choice. Then you can do all your "real" pinball playing on location and at shows. It lets you have multiple games in the space of a single pin and it get's you out of the house supporting location pinball.

They are fine with Players, as players want to learn. They are not popular with purists and most collectors because I honestly think that somehow they believe virtual pinball could somehow replace pinball. They see them as a threat, but that's just my opinion.

You can say all you want about Virtual Pinball not being real pinball but this is totally incorrect. There is a HUGE difference between playing on a dedicated cabinet vs. a tablet or desktop PC.

A quality(NIB equivalent) VPin cab should have:
A separate playfield and backbox
A DMD in the backbox (real or LCD)
Premium Sound System with Sub
Real Arcade buttons and controls
Analog Plunger
Force Feedback - These are real solenoids or industrial contactors, relay's, shaker motor's etc that the simulator triggers to mimic bumper, flippers, kickouts, score reels etc.
Analog nudging used to nudge the simulated table in both direction and intensity.
LED Flashers and RGB Lamps, these are also tied into the force feedback system.

Anyway, there is a big difference between playing the game on a screen and playing it on a built out cabinet.

No, the ones you have played blow. Farsight's Pinball Arcade blows. Ipad/Tablet pinball blow's (unless you are on the crapper ). A real VPin, while admittedly is not real pinball, does not blow.

That's not the point I'm arguing. People get so down on virtual pins because they haven't played quality examples of one and their only exposure is the ones on their iPads or some crappy cab, when done right they are awesome.

If I could only have 1 pinball machine, and a VPin was a choice and could be built out with all the features you can buy for the price of a NIB, yes, I would. without question.

Luckily I don't have that much of a restriction, but I'm still building one because I want to be able to learn the rules of competitive games and create my own tables. Another advantage is that if you live in an apartment you can turn off the force feedback, throw some headphones on and play all night without bothering anyone.

That right there is sound advice. It's harder if you live in place with no pins. Either way, what we think doesn't matter because it's a matter of preference and even if you are trying to make an informed decision it's still all opinion.

Btw, I'm not saying he should get a vpin, I'm just saying vpins are't the devil and done well, they do t suck. Easily the best ever dedicated arcade game, after all, it's still pinball

Don't forget multimorphic pinball, same concept of swappable playfield.

or you can get a Zizzle and store it under your other pin