After experiencing Shorty's in Seattle, WA and getting involved
in the community in Jacksonville, FL and hearing so many others
here want some form of pinball arcade it gets me to question.
What 10 Machines deserve to be in this arcade?
Give me your 10 game list folks...
Twilight Zone
The Addams Family
Black Knight 2000
Haunted House
High Speed
Pinbot
Eight Ball Deluxe
Earthshaker
No Good Gofers
Rollergames
... yes, I like the 1980s and early 1990s games, particularly the Lawlors and S. Ritchies, why do you ask? 
Goals are...
earnings
games people drinking alcohol could enjoy
games pinball enthusiasts could enjoy
games people would come back again to play
Lets say the budget is about $30k-40k
Honestly, I'd go for 'a bunch of Sterns' and a few WMS games which were made in large numbers like TAF and AFM - at the end of the day if they're being operated you want them to be easy to fix, or to soak up the punishment without needing too much other than cleaning. Put a Tron and Transformers in there, they're relevant to younger people who know the films.
You need variety of games, that's what makes shorty's cool and unique.
A classic EM like.....Centigrade 37
An early SS pin from the 70s like.....Countdown
An early 80s bally classic like.....Paragon
A mid 80s Stern wide body like....Split Second
A double leveled classic like.....Solar Fire
A Pat Lawlor system 11 like.....Funhouse
A dose of Ritchie flow like.....Star Trek: TNG
A glimpse of the Brian Eddy factor like.....Attack From Mars
A introduction to the master Nordman like.....White Water
And top it off with a modern classic like.....Tron LE
I would definitely go for earnings. If the pins are earning, then people are playing them, which is the whole point IMO. No sense putting an old pin in there just because it is old. It would have to be a good title to earn its space.
Variety is good. And good pins from each era like GuyMontag described. It's also obvious that there are A-list EM's out there. Em's are hugely underrated right now. Going to Seattle in 2 weeks, I'll try to check that place out.
Also, there are hot Sterns and cold Sterns. Pick the hot ones!
I don't think 10x mid-90's WMS would make a place jump.
If talking about making money from people at bars and not your normal pin players/collectors id go with these. I'd also avoid putting in the high priced A listers cause I'm sure they would get beat to hell & probably drinks spilled on them.
GnR
RFM (might be more intrigued by pin 2k then most us collectors)
Harley Davidson
SS
T2 or T3
Rolling Stones
IJ
CP
HSII
DH
Not many i'd want in my long term collection but each of these might appeal to someone at a bar who isnt a pinhead.
Not a huge fan but it seems to be a good earner. It's not a game WE love, it's a game the people that put quarters in seem to love. Same as what "SMASSA" is saying.
Quoted from HighProtein:Transformers for me is a certainty.
Attack from Mars is pretty much a certainty as well.
Based on the goals (broad appeal, earnings, fun with beers, etc.), well, TF would definitely NOT be a 'certainty,' much less a viable option. Limited (but avid) fan base, and the premium cost of a new release subtracts from those earnings. Best bet is to go for classic, "bang for the buck" games with broad appeal. This also rules out some great games like MB, AFM, etc.
I do see lots of good choices here. Tought to list just 10, but here goes:
Fishtales
Addams Family
A DE game (Last Action Hero or WWF or Tales from the Crypt or Rocky&Bullwinkle)
Spiderman (best bar game of the recent Sterns imo)
Big Buck Hunter (bar appeal)
A classic Stern like Big Game
An EM game, 2-4 player, with spinners and/or drop targets (Mars Trek, a poker-themed game, etc.)
Countdown (agree with Guy--love this old SS game!)
World Poker Tour (very addictive and fun when set up well; open pf is not intimidating)
A fast bang-for-the-buck game like Johnny Mnemonic, Jurassic Park, Maverick, etc.
This is pretty random, but I do agree with some others here that a mix of game types is preferable, esp. with a 10-game lineup. Something beyond the recent Sterns and 90's BLY/WMS stuff.
We have a growing pinball community, dave and busters makes me sick! and most bars are generic sports bars, ugh...
Spiderman (Stern) Super hero / movie
Family Guy (Stern) Animated / TV show
Jurassic Park (DE) Dinosaur / movie
White Water (Williams) Original concept / outdoors
The Simpsons (Stern) Animated / TV show
Funhouse (Williams) Original concept / carnival
Monster Bash (Williams) Universal monsters / music
Tron LE (Stern) Science fiction / movie
Star Wars (DE) Science fiction / movie
Theater of Magic (Bally) Original concept / magic
I could easily add ten more. AFM, MM, TF, TZ, TAF, SS,.......
IMO make sure you have a variety of pricing. My son and I love to go out and play in the wild but need pricing to match. Have some older titles for 50 cents and some newer games for a $1. We also like value pricing $5 gets you a 6 credits kind of thing.
Quoted from Makers_Mark:IMO make sure you have a variety of pricing. My son and I love to go out and play in the wild but need pricing to match. Have some older titles for 50 cents and some newer games for a $1. We also like value pricing $5 gets you a 6 credits kind of thing.
Not to get this thread off track, but ops actually charge a dollar a game in WI? That's outrageous!!! It's hard to convert new players with that kinda price point. Should be 50 cents/game for Williams/Bally Classics and Sterns, and MAYBE have the brand new Stern be 75 cents/game. Maybe.
System 11s and older SS games and EMs should run on quarter play. Charge less, people will play more, eventually you will make more money because you are appealing to both the hardcore pinhead, and the curious novice.
Realisticly.
At least 4 Stern themed of recent movie titles to attract the crowd.
Pirates Of The Caribbean
Spiderman
Lord Of The Rings
Batman Dark Knight
Throw in Williams "classics" assumed to still be attractive and good earners.
The Addams Family
Attack From Mars
White Water
Indianna Jones
Terminator 2
Throw in solid alpha num value for money fun. Also use as alternatives for above if budget is not allowing those.
Whirlwind
Funhouse
High Speed
Taxi
Add up nostalgia early SS or even EM.
Black Knight
Don't be greedy on match and replay. Arrange tournaments and fun nights. Have fun.
Quoted from guymontag451:Not to get this thread off track, but ops actually charge a dollar a game in WI?
I've never seen that in WI but in MN there were a few places where the new sterns were priced $1 a game. I kept my plays to a minimum on those games.
Quoted from soren:Throw in Williams "classics" assumed to still be attractive and good earners.
The Addams Family
Attack from Mars
White Water
Indianna Jones
Terminator 2
That's a fact, not an assumption. From what i hear, TAF AFM MB & MM are still top earners. I tried trading a SM (that i didn't yet own) for a completely trashed MB and the guy didn't even respond to that offer.
Here's my list. I'm keeping the prices realistic as if I was investing. I don't think a MM would ever turn $10k in enough time to be profitable.
T2 - great beginner game and easy to pick up and play. Plus, just fun to always play. Good drunk game.
TAF - One of the best titles ever made and easy to find. Plus, a game people will seek out.
Pinbot/Firepower/Space Shuttle - I think a classic SS Williams is necessary. Plus, these are titles people are familiar with from the PHOF collection
BOP - Just a fun game that is fun to play and has a very grown up feel to it.
Iron Man - good theme, nice and bright game (when kept in good shape), fast and fun to play. Definitely will attract players.
Family Guy/TSPP - Newer game with attractive licenses. Both have indepth gameplay.
Tommy - You need a music game that will get people interested. IMO, Tommy can't be beat on gameplay and price.
Eight Ball Deluxe - Good, classic Bally pin that's a perfect bar/parlor game.
Royal Flush/Time Zone/Big Shot - One signature EM that will give the older crowd (and those of us that love EMs) something to play.
Black Hole/Haunted House - don't count out the odd factor. Those bottom playfield Gottliebs just have a certain magic to them that attract players that sometimes wouldn't look twice at pins.
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