(Topic ID: 213668)

Popeye or Stargate

By mrossman5

5 years ago


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Topic Stats

  • 81 posts
  • 33 Pinsiders participating
  • Latest reply 5 years ago by mrossman5
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Linked Games

Topic poll

“PE or SG”

  • Popeye 34 votes
    26%
  • Stargate 82 votes
    63%
  • I don’t care for either. (Leave your recommendation in the thread) 14 votes
    11%

(130 votes)

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There are 81 posts in this topic. You are on page 1 of 2.
#1 5 years ago

Sorry for all the Popeye threads lately, just really on the fence about getting one. One of my buying partners tells me that they would rather have a stargate but I know that wpc dmds are way better than sys 3s, although stargate is a highly regarded game and Popeye really isn’t. I think they are around the same price. Is it worth it for a better system and brand?

#2 5 years ago

Stargate all day over Popeye.

If you have played both titles in great shape this is an easy choice for me.

#3 5 years ago

Stargate is way better IMO

#4 5 years ago

Amazingly I have never played Popeye but I can't think of a DMD game other than Barb Wire that I'd want less than Stargate

#5 5 years ago

I have owned both, but I sold Stargate and still have Popeye.

I know, I'm weird.

RM

#6 5 years ago
Quoted from RussMyers:

I have owned both, but I sold Stargate and still have Popeye.
I know, I'm weird.
RM

Lol. It all comes down to what you like personally. There is no wrong answer

#7 5 years ago
Quoted from TheLaw:

Amazingly I have never played Popeye but I can't think of a DMD game other than Barb Wire that I'd want less than Stargate

Really? What don’t you like about Stargate?

#8 5 years ago
Quoted from mrossman5:

Really? What don’t you like about Stargate?

Shoot the Pyramid!
Shoot the Pyramid!
Shoot the Pyramid!
Shoot the Pyramid!
Shoot the Pyramid!
Shoot the Pyramid!

That really got under my skin after a few months.

Again, just my opinion.

RM

#9 5 years ago
Quoted from RussMyers:

Shoot the Pyramid!
Shoot the Pyramid!
Shoot the Pyramid!
Shoot the Pyramid!
Shoot the Pyramid!
Shoot the Pyramid!
That really got under my skin after a few months.
Again, just my opinion.
RM

I do agree with that! Do you think Popeye would last longer in a small collection like mine? I tend to get annoyed when the game tells me the same damn things more than 10 times each game.

-1
#10 5 years ago
Quoted from mrossman5:

Really? What don’t you like about Stargate?

There's nothing I like about startgate other than the theme. Layout, sound, looks, Flippers... Just a depressing game.

#11 5 years ago

I love them both. The layouts and feel are quite different though. Both have good rules but Stargate is deeper. Popeye on the other hand has better sounds and animations.

The only real solution is to play each and decide. Enjoyment of pinball is completely subjective which is why a poll is useless to me. These threads are helpful though when they point out details and nuances of the game you may not have been aware of previously.

#12 5 years ago
Quoted from SeymorGoldfarbJr:

I love them both. The layouts and feel are quite different though. Both have good rules but Stargate is deeper. Popeye on the other hand has better sounds and animations.
The only real solution is to play each and decide. Enjoyment of pinball is completely subjective which is why a poll is useless to me. These threads are helpful though when they point out details and nuances of the game you may not have been aware of previously.

Well said. I didn’t get much time on either so I didn’t really get deep into the code. I plan to keep either game for a little while so “deepness” matters to me. I just assumed Stargate was all mode based like most other sys 3 games so I thought it could get stale quickly. Popeye (to me) seems like it had more to offer but then again I didn’t get much time on it. How deep is Popeye and do you think it would get stale in a very small collection like mine with an tight budget?

#13 5 years ago

Love Popeye. The theme is a bit weird but it feels like watching the show. Great bang for your buck pin

#14 5 years ago

I've never owned either for a reason. Bought & sold over 200 pinballs.

#15 5 years ago

Small collection Stargate

Large collection Popeye

#16 5 years ago

Both suck. Popeyes sucks most.

#17 5 years ago

I understand the roots of the code (sorta), but not completely familiar with it. Could someone please explain the code in depth to me?

#18 5 years ago
Quoted from RussMyers:

Shoot the Pyramid!
Shoot the Pyramid!
Shoot the Pyramid!
Shoot the Pyramid!
Shoot the Pyramid!
Shoot the Pyramid!
That really got under my skin after a few months.
Again, just my opinion.
RM

You do realize there is a rom upgrade they sell that takes the "shoot the pyramid" out of the game right?

#19 5 years ago
Quoted from jake35:

Both suck. Popeyes sucks most.

I am just really not grasping what is so wrong with either game. Popeye seems to get a LOT of hate. Is it the theme?

#20 5 years ago

All of the repetitive callouts on Stargate can be turned off at the beginning of each ball by holding in both flippers.

Every time I see people dig this game cause of the repetitive sounds I laugh cause it’s so easy to eliminate them.

#21 5 years ago

I would get neither of those games but if you are trying to choose from those two I vote Stargate.

#22 5 years ago
Quoted from mrossman5:

I understand the roots of the code (sorta), but not completely familiar with it. Could someone please explain the code in depth to me?

Stargate rules:
http://pinball.org/rules/stargate.html

Popeye rules:
http://pinball.org/rules/popeye.html

#23 5 years ago

Stargate is a great game. Great multiball modes and rules. Uber challenging to try and complete. Fun shots and tons of really cool toys!
Great sounds, theme, and animations.

I have never understood the stargate hate from some that just never give it a chance because it is a GTB. Stargate is seriously a fantastic game with lots of replay value for the long term. Besure the flippers are rebuilt and strong so you can make the ramps with ease.

#25 5 years ago
Quoted from mrossman5:

I am just really not grasping what is so wrong with either game. Popeye seems to get a LOT of hate. Is it the theme?

General Python weirdness, lack of playfield visibility with that giant boat Bow taking up most of the visible area. With a ColorDMD, though, the game is a revelation, IMO.

#26 5 years ago

People hate on this era Gottlieb. Most system 3's are 25% better than people give them credit for and it is an incredibly reliable system. I wouldn't choose a random WPC just because. It's really a non-issue. That being said, both games have mechs, toys, and hardware galore so either choice will get your hands dirty tech wise. Stargate has great shots and a sh!t ton of multiball, if that's your thing. Popeye has Bluto and blind spots. Stargate is an easier resale too. Great game for what they usually go for.

#27 5 years ago

Does stargate have a color dmd?

#28 5 years ago
Quoted from mrossman5:

Does stargate have a color dmd?

Hopefully soon...

#29 5 years ago
Quoted from Whysnow:

Hopefully soon...

It’d be HUGE for that game. Can’t even imagine what they could do with it.

#30 5 years ago
Quoted from Frippertron:

People hate on this era Gottlieb. Most system 3's are 25% better than people give them credit for and it is an incredibly reliable system.

Gottlieb's crappy GAL chip setup is the single worst idea in modern pinball. Literally EVERY Gottlieb I've gotten in to rehab has had this chip blown, and it's WAY too easy to blow one. Gottlieb earned the hate in this era with design choices like the GAL chip and their clunky mechs, IMO. I've worked on plenty and I dislike pretty much all of them. Freddy, Rescue 911, Cue Ball Wizard, Street Fighter II, Waterworld (did a new PF swap on that turd), Stargate...maybe a couple others I can't remember working on, too.

#31 5 years ago

Get both!! I see you have ads for both. Since they’re not too expensive, I’d pick up both of them.

#32 5 years ago

Stargate is a fantastic game. Double wizard modes, lots of multiball (like 8 different ones), another mini-wizard mode, etc. There are a lot of different ways to get high scores on it.

#33 5 years ago
Quoted from Coz:

Get both!! I see you have ads for both. Since they’re not too expensive, I’d pick up both of them.

I wish man! Nobody seems to have anything good around these parts.

#34 5 years ago
Quoted from mrossman5:

I wish man! Nobody seems to have anything good around these parts.

What "parts" are you in?

#35 5 years ago

Battle of the turds

#36 5 years ago
Quoted from PinMonk:

What "parts" are you in?

Northwest PA. About an hour from Erie. Nothing is ever there. Allentown and Philly are about 7 hours away. Buffalo and Pittsburgh are the cities probably closest to me.

#37 5 years ago
Quoted from kermit24:

Battle of the turds

What other games should I look at around the same price?

#38 5 years ago
Quoted from mrossman5:

What other games should I look at around the same price?

I think Johnny Mnemonic is underrated and should be in a similar price range. It also has one of the coolest Midnight Madness modes that makes sense in the context of the pin story.

If you have any Casinos around, check out and see if any are running their own game room for the kiddies (i.e. no outside operator or vendor involved). Make friends with the manager of that dept and lots of times you can get pins there that have broken with relatively easy things to fix they don't know how to fix or won't bother with. I got a mint Spiderman Red for $1000 from one. Replaced a few blown transistors and did a teardown cleaning and it looked HUO. That is not an isolated score, either.

#39 5 years ago

stargate. I had popeye and sold it. rocky and bullwinkle is better than popeye

#40 5 years ago
Quoted from mrossman5:

What other games should I look at around the same price?

Does it have to be a DMD? Never could understand why pass up some great alpha numeric games.

Some recommendations for DMD:

World Cup Soccer
No Fear
Baywatch

What about awesome system 11 like High Speed?

#41 5 years ago
Quoted from kermit24:

Does it have to be a DMD? Never could understand why pass up some great alpha numeric games.
Some recommendations for DMD:
World Cup Soccer
No Fear
Baywatch
What about awesome system 11 like High Speed?

Yeah, I already have a Riverboat Gambler and have had a High Speed for over 2 years. Just sold it. Just so used to alpha numeric. I’d love to have a game with a color dmd.

#42 5 years ago
Quoted from mrossman5:

Yeah, I already have a Riverboat Gambler and have had a High Speed for over 2 years. Just sold it. Just so used to alpha numeric. I’d love to have a game with a color dmd.

If you're willing to drive, use a national or regional craigslist search (like adhuntr, etc). Good deals pop up in strange places. There was a guy in Atlanta (too far for you, but an example) that had a Teed Off, Slugfest, and Maverick for only $2900 total. You could easily double your money fixing and reselling those, and suddenly you're shopping for a brand new Stern Pro machine with the proceeds from your $2900 investment. Or you could sell the first two, recouping your money completely and a little more, then keep Maverick as your DMD for free.

#43 5 years ago
Quoted from PinMonk:

If you're willing to drive, use a national or regional craigslist search (like adhuntr, etc). Good deals pop up in strange places. There was a guy in Atlanta (too far for you, but an example) that had a Teed Off, Slugfest, and Maverick for only $2900 total. You could easily double your money fixing and reselling those, and suddenly you're shopping for a brand new Stern Pro machine with the proceeds from your $2900 investment. Or you could sell the first two, recouping your money completely and a little more, then keep Maverick as your DMD for free.

Great advice man. I’ll look into that.

#44 5 years ago

I had a Stargate for a few months and I traded a players Black Rose for it. I don’t regret the trade but I feel like most Stargates have a lot of playfield wear, I looked at several, that B/W wouldn’t have. I think Stargate was a great game but it just never clicked for me. It’s a game without flow and I think for some, that can be a dealbreaker. I like cradle separations and post passes and you don’t really get that with those Gottlieb flippers. For me, I think it just comes down to how it shoots. I loved everything about Stargate except that. I didn’t even mind the shoot the pyramid call out. It also sold pretty quickly for a good price so I think it was worth owning for a few months. The Stargate club is very passionate and knowledgeable and you could be one of those people that say, “It’s bolted to the floor.” But I do agree that there are better DMD games in this price bracket.

#45 5 years ago
Quoted from IceMaster:

I had a Stargate for a few months and I traded a players Black Rose for it. I don’t regret the trade but I feel like most Stargates have a lot of playfield wear, I looked at several, that B/W wouldn’t have. I think Stargate was a great game but it just never clicked for me. It’s a game without flow and I think for some, that can be a dealbreaker. I like cradle separations and post passes and you don’t really get that with those Gottlieb flippers. For me, I think it just comes down to how it shoots. I loved everything about Stargate except that. I didn’t even mind the shoot the pyramid call out. It also sold pretty quickly for a good price so I think it was worth owning for a few months. The Stargate club is very passionate and knowledgeable and you could be one of those people that say, “It’s bolted to the floor.” But I do agree that there are better DMD games in this price bracket.

I agree. It seems like all of those Gottlieb games have the same feel that I don’t really care for. Do you have any experience with Popeye?

#46 5 years ago

There are some real nuggets of info in the reviews for both pins....granted some will be bias, or extremely negative......but you can find very honest reviews for both. Also, youtube is your best friend

#47 5 years ago
Quoted from mrossman5:

I agree. It seems like all of those Gottlieb games have the same feel that I don’t really care for. Do you have any experience with Popeye?

Never played one. I don’t really like the theme and I don’t want lightning flippers unless it’s BSD. I do feel like owning a Gottlieb game was at least worth the experience. I used to think I only wanted to own and work on B/W games, then I got a DE, then a Gottlieb, then a Sega. I feel like people avoid certain games as if they’re going to be stuck with them forever. I couldn’t sell my Black Rose for $2300 for months, which is another top 100 game and my rough Stargate sold in two weeks for $2500. If you can play both beforehand, do that. If you don’t like the one you pick, sell it and get another game. I know pinball machines are expensive and it seems like a big commitment when you get one but there will always be someone there to buy your game when you want to sell it.

#48 5 years ago
Quoted from IceMaster:

Never played one. I don’t really like the theme and I don’t want lightning flippers unless it’s BSD. I do feel like owning a Gottlieb game was at least worth the experience. I used to think I only wanted to own and work on B/W games, then I got a DE, then a Gottlieb, then a Sega. I feel like people avoid certain games as if they’re going to be stuck with them forever. I couldn’t sell my Black Rose for $2300 for months, which is another top 100 game and my rough Stargate sold in two weeks for $2500. If you can play both beforehand, do that. If you don’t like the one you pick, sell it and get another game. I know pinball machines are expensive and it seems like a big commitment when you get one but there will always be someone there to buy your game when you want to sell it.

Very well said. For me, it is quite a commitment to get a machine because it is a pain in the ass to get it through my doors. I have already had a sys 3, Gladiators, and got rid of it quick. I know stargate is better, but I am scared the same thing will happen with stargate that happened with Gladiators. Boy that game got old quick.

#49 5 years ago

Stargate never got old for me. There is a lot to do and it’s challenging. I didn’t enjoy selling it but I wanted another game that is a little polarizing too, Baywatch. I just never felt the connection to it. You could just wait and see what else comes along. A space is my collection does make me impatient so I get why you want a game soon but it’s the 3rd choice and potentially the best one.

#50 5 years ago

I have a Stargate that was taken apart cleaned, tweaked and put back together by Eddie Cramer. He documented what he did to it on his FB page. Came out amazing. The game is in Little Falls NJ. LMK if interested.
Allen

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