Quoted from shacklersrevenge:Just some of my thoughts about the show...
Houdini looked incredible, but I felt it played a bit too tight. I couldn't hit the ramp to save my life, and other shots just seemed frustrating, when I was hoping for more of a ''flowy'' game.
Dialed in. This thing played great, I was very impressed. The theme is still eh, but man, it plays so well.
Alien. I saw a lot of frustration with players, but I found the flow and really lit this thing up. It has a boat load of shots, I never felt like I didn't have some shot to try for, I enjoyed this game.
AFM remake. Flippers were not lined up correctly, but the game played like an AFM (go figure, right?) At that starting price point, it's a solid deal imo.
I picked up a Stern Rolling Stones on Thursday night that was for sale in a vendor spot. Couldn't be happier with it, love the game. Also bought side blades for it, which are awesome- that vendor was great. We were able to play on Thursday in our room at The Holiday Inn next to Comfort Suites, but it wasn't happening Friday night, as someone kept calling the front desk- and we hadn't even turned it on yet. Next year it's comfort suites all the way where everyone staying there is a pinhead, we're all set getting threatened with ''next time we're calling the cops''
My Bally Rolling Stones in the free play area had a rough cab and average at best playfield, but I tweaked it before bringing it to the show and it played like a champ without issue for the 2 days until I broke it down for home at 6pm. A players machine at best, it had 7 digit displays and alltek mpu, along with a new sound board. I was okay with bringing it home without a $1250 buyer.
Which brings me to my final discussion. Without naming names, I went through the rows and played random games. One of them was a Gold Wings for $900- $900 for a Gold Wings? It played like dog shit. Sorry, but it really did.
There seemed to be no shortage of games with terrible backglasses, worn playfields, features broken or not working and inflated prices to match. I get it, you want to get in for free, but put a little effort into making your game play well at least. I totally get something breaking down or whatever, but any time I've brought a game, I go into it thinking ''this thing has to play like I want it to play'' Other than that, there were also a ton of excellent playing games, and I really enjoyed playing them.
I played Eric Bundy's Maverick, a game I never really have before and I thought it was a lot of fun, played great.
Thank you to whoever brought the Varkon, that was a treat to see and play. What a beauty.
Played a fun Silver Slugger. I can't believe someone lugged a Hercules to the show. Whoever brought the ID4, your game made the highlight of the trip with a friend and I. We'd never really played or paid attention to this game and we were blown away by the ''feature'' on the center of the playfield. Let's just say, it looks a helluva a lot like certain private parts. We howled in laughter about this for two days straight.
The show was super great, lots of flea picking, great vendors, the games stayed until 6pm, the security was fair, except I think I was chased down by the lady ''guard'' several times. I'm not forgettable, so I don't know why she needed to check my band every time I went in and out all day.
Oh, and lastly...I can't believe how many of you know who I am and either yell out ''Shackler!'' or greet me with ''hey, you're shackler huh?'' I don't know who most of you are, lol, but it's cool.
Until next year, James (on to Pintastic!)
Ottawa, ON
Langhorne, PA
(and maybe some furniture)
tonyd2084
