I see the primary benefit of WiFi to connect to a leader board, or an ongoing virtual tournament. It's been debated fairly extensively that there's no foolproof way to compare scores on different machines on different days, or even different times of day, so adding the technology to do so would be the key. For example you register with the machine, and it automatically adjusts to tournament settings including specific outline gaps, slope, verify that the glass is on, etc

Even for the home, the ability to have a game automatically adjust settings for casual vs pro players would be a benefit, as everyone acknowledges it's far too much effort to change leveling, slope, outlane gaps, and software settings between games to make it fun for everyone. In fact the ability to switch these between balls is a great way to promote competitive handicaps in a multi-player match.

This is a common thought on Pinside but it's actually a cop-out. Lets say a NIB pinball machine costs $1000 and earns $1/day, and Flappy Bird costs $8000 but makes $80/day. If you were an operator which would you buy?

The point is, pinball needs something to draw people in, but it's been a stagnant platform for 20 years... so this is a good thread to discuss what can change on-location earnings, not how to make the same stagnant platform cheaper.

I don't agree with this. Step into a modern arcade or gambling hall and tell me which games don't have large and prominent advertising signs/backboxes? Arcade games, redemptions, slot machines, and video poker already upright screens for attract-mode advertising but they tend to add big advertising signs on top of that. Imagine walking into such an arcade, visually scan the area, and try to find the pinball machine without a backbox. Not visible=no earnings.

The point of the backbox is to make the game identifiable in an arcade. If you think pinball should be 100% in people's basements, or pinball should only be in exclusively-pinball locations, I suppose your point is valid. If not that that, your point is completely ridiculous. Arcade games are tall, have big flashy signs, even toppers... the point is to attract people to come over and play them. Without a backbox a pinball machine is an unidentifiable table from afar.

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