Poll - What's the most iconic / classic machine

Quoted from PopBumperPete:
Gottlieb Quick Draw

Added

#4 5 years ago

CGE

too-many-pins

Pinside member

Carlisle, PA

11y 97,800 4,485

I vote for Space Shuttle - Great Backglass, Good Gameplay, Historical, etc. Even though I don't currently own one Space Shuttle is one on my favorite all around machines. A theme everyone can relate to, game play that is simple enough for even non pinball people to enjoy, and a great looking mirrored backglass. What more could you ask for in a "classic" machine.

#5 5 years ago

BTO

brett

Pinside+ Frequent

Snohomish, WA

8y 103K 627 24 98

Twilight Zone

#6 5 years ago

PGR

PhilGreg

Quoted from brett:
Twilight Zone

Added

#7 5 years ago

BBB

oldskool1969

Pinside member

Gilligan's Island

10y 134K 3,652 12

Apart from your list I would have said Fish Tales as it seems everyone either HAS, WANTS or WANTS ONE AGAIN.

#8 5 years ago

PGR

PhilGreg

Quoted from oldskool1969:
Apart from your list I would have said Fish Tales as it seems everyone either HAS, WANTS or WANTS ONE AGAIN.

Added.

#9 5 years ago

RNS

Electrocute

Pinside member

9y 104K 4,876 16

What's the most?

#10 5 years ago

JIM

Captive_Ball

Pinside+ Frequent

Cypress, TX

11y 128K 7,186 17 86

Sure EBD should get a mention...unless Eight Ball is what the list means

#11 5 years ago

DJB

delt31

Pinside+ Frequent

Pittsburgh, PA

8y 159K 12,575 13 7 1

I don't understand - besides adding in joke machines that is already occurring this is basically asking what pinball machine do you like the most.....

#12 5 years ago

PGR

PhilGreg

Quoted from Captive_Ball:
Sure EBD should get a mention...unless Eight Ball is what the list means

Yes! Totally forgot about that one.
Added.

#13 5 years ago

PGR

PhilGreg

Quoted from delt31:
I don't understand - besides adding in joke machines that is already occurring this is basically asking what pinball machine do you like the most.....

Pinbot's far from my favorite machine but I voted for it. Love DI but I don't think anybody would argue it is anywhere near a classic yet.
I guess you could say "iconic" too.

#14 5 years ago

S V

solarvalue

Pinside member

11y 107K 3,514 8

I think most "classic" would have to be an EM, most ordinary people would think of chimes when they think of pinball. In most movies, if a pinball machine makes an appearance, they will dub in EM pinball sounds, even if a SS machine is being played. Fireball probably has the most iconic pinball artwork, if you look at cartoons with pinball machines in them, the game invariably looks like Fireball.

#15 5 years ago

PGR

PhilGreg

Quoted from solarvalue:
I think most "classic" would have to be an EM, most ordinary people would think of chimes when they think of pinball. In most movies, if a pinball machine makes an appearance, they will dub in EM pinball sounds, even if a SS machine is being played. Fireball probably has the most iconic pinball artwork, if you look at cartoons with pinball machines in them, the game invariably looks like Fireball.

Makes sense. I have a hard time see any DMDs besides MM and maybe Addams, but I think there's a few good SS candidates. I voted Pinbot but I could see Space Shuttle, EBD, Eight Ball. FunHouse too in the pre-DMD era.
I'm sure I forgetting some valid EM candidates too...

#16 5 years ago

???

gpa_joe

Pinside member

Allentown, PA

10y 33,400 72

Gorgar Speaks

#17 5 years ago

PGR

PhilGreg

Looks like I can't edit the poll anymore.
I'll see if anything else pops up that stands a chance against whatever comes out on top in this list and if necessary I'll do a round two...

#18 5 years ago

MCB

EricHadley

Inactive member

8y 110K 4,839

I think it depends a lot on your age and what games you remember as a kid......

#19 5 years ago

---

ForceFlow

Pinside Moderator

9y 238K 31,358 268 14

TAF is iconic. For a good many years, it could be found just about everywhere.

For sounds, the chimes of an EM are almost instantly recognizable, and are still used in films & tv shows when pins appear on screen--even though what appears might actually be a solid state or DMD game.

#20 5 years ago

KAP

NY2Colorado

Pinside member

12y 62,550 1,384 15

TAF. There is no 2nd.

#21 5 years ago

DJB

delt31

Pinside+ Frequent

Pittsburgh, PA

8y 159K 12,575 13 7 1

OK I guess I understand. If that's the case, it's the answer above. TAF. No doubt about it. Biggest seller by far.

#22 5 years ago

SDS

whthrs166

Pinside member

Arvada, CO

10y 93,050 4,526 12

Vacation America!

#23 5 years ago

RWH

Pinside member

Norwood, OH

13y 132K 9,925 2 10

Black Hole and Circus come to mind.

#24 5 years ago

PGR

PhilGreg

I guess there's two ways to look at it - I wasn't clear when I started the thread because I wasn't really clear about it in my head either...

1. What most represents a pinball machine to knowledgeable people and thus should be put in the time capsule -> it's looking like TAF's gonna win and I think that's a really good choice
2. If you told the word "pinball" to the general public, what machine is the most likely to be close to what they had pictured in their head. I think solarvalue's explanation of why he went with Fireball fits that description too.

In both cases WackyBrakke's comment is valid too, that would probably be dependent on your age.

#25 5 years ago

DOC

TractorDoc

DPS

Ashland, OH

7y 245K 2,923 33 106

OP
Quoted from PhilGreg:
If you told the word "pinball" to the general public, what machine is the most likely to be close to what they had pictured in their head.

Not necessarily a classic, but a lot of the general public might envision this:

pasted_image (resized).png

#26 5 years ago

DAD

seeburg220

Inactive member

12y 58,300 540

Capn Fantastic and here's why: If it's in a time capsule, then one can only assume that Man has been eliminated, either by the Zombie Apocalypse, or just your run of the mill Nuclear Apocalypse. If it's the latter, then any digital pin will have been a waste, because all of the electronics will have been fried by the EMP, just like all modern cars. So, EM it is.

#27 5 years ago

PGR

PhilGreg

Quoted from seeburg220:
Capn Fantastic and here's why: If it's in a time capsule, then one can only assume that Man has been eliminated, either by the Zombie Apocalypse, or just your run of the mill Nuclear Apocalypse. If it's the latter, then any digital pin will have been a waste, because all of the electronics will have been fried by the EMP, just like all modern cars. So, EM it is.

Good point! Reminds me of the South Park episode where Cartman gets himself frozen so he doesn't have to wait for the Wii to come out but he gets thawed too far in the future and can't find a TV to plug it in

#28 5 years ago

PGR

PhilGreg

Quoted from TractorDoc:
Not necessarily a classic, but a lot of the general public might envision this:
[quoted image]

Good point!
Maybe Spooky should get the license and they'd have a hit! Actually I'm surprised nobody ever tried a custom build of it!

#29 5 years ago

PGR

PhilGreg

Quoted from seeburg220:
Capn Fantastic and here's why: If it's in a time capsule, then one can only assume that Man has been eliminated, either by the Zombie Apocalypse, or just your run of the mill Nuclear Apocalypse. If it's the latter, then any digital pin will have been a waste, because all of the electronics will have been fried by the EMP, just like all modern cars. So, EM it is.

From Craigslist3000:
"0 plays since 2020, was stored in a time capsule since then. I'm pretty sure this was working before we put it in there, but now it won't start. Probably just needs a fuse or something. Can't locate legs. Asking 4000 Bitcoin."

#30 5 years ago

AVH

AVH7401

Inactive member

7y 38,800 303 1

When I think of classic pinball machines, Black Knight is the first that comes to mind. Pinbot is a close second.

#31 5 years ago

???

phil-lee

Pinside member

8y 91,550 4,213

Fireball. Though the crowd that appreciated how radical the machine was when it came out is waning.
Eight Ball. Every guy wanted to be playing this machine when the girls walked in.
Wizard. Though play is wanting the word wizard and song/movie connection inherently Pinball.
I still consider TAF, TZ and others of the period "Modern", not Classic in the truest sense.

#32 5 years ago

JQH

jhanley

Pinside member

Elko, NV

12y 80,900 2,311 2 8

I would call Whirlwind a classic. Best system 11 game ever.

#33 5 years ago

RWH

Pinside member

Norwood, OH

13y 132K 9,925 2 10

Evel Knievel would reach a lot of old and new pinballers. Really it all comes down to the era you lived it.

Post last edited 5 years ago: “Evil came out in all caps”

#34 5 years ago

PGR

PhilGreg