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(Topic ID: 66167)

Ritchie vs. Lawlor lets discuss

By Smurrill1

10 years ago

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12 posts
11 Pinsiders participating
Latest reply 10 years ago by Craig
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#1 10 years ago

???

I searched through the threads and couldn't find a discussion based on the two heaviest hitters of the modern era. Both are innovators that introduced pinball ideas that instantly became standards. Ritchie has a longer career and could probably be considered to have had greater influence over the years, but Lawlor seemingly has a mad scientist mentality and brings ideas to pinball that your average person just couldn't conceive of. They are kind of like the Edison and Tesla of pinball. I only own one game (T2) and can appreciate Ritchie's sense of flow and pacing, but Lawlors pins seem more fun to just explore. I was wondering what you guys think especially if you've owned pins by both at the same time and contrast directly. Side topic: Popadiuk vs Nordman

#2 10 years ago

NFK

Pinside member

KÃ¶ln

11y 27,900 206 2 8

George Gomez!

#3 10 years ago

JOE

JoeinNJ

Pinside member

11y 84,300 405

Truthfully I think that each designer has made there impact on pinball. This includes all the designers that have been lucky enough to work in the field. I'm waiting to see what the new young blood designer comes up with if ever given a shot. This maybe come from one of smaller companies that have started in the last few years. Just my 2 cents

#4 10 years ago

CDF

Collin

Pinside member

Columbus, OH

11y 116K 5,271 29 82

They're really polar opposites; Steve Ritchie designs games with fast flowing shots that seem to want to make the player keep the ball rolling. Lawlor games usually are played by focusing on capturing the ball after each shot.

#5 10 years ago

CDF

Collin

Pinside member

Columbus, OH

11y 116K 5,271 29 82

In the battle of Nordman vs. JPop, I would take Trudeau or Oursler.

-1

#6 10 years ago

JFK

Clawhammer

Inactive member

Denver, CO

10y 15,900 167 7

The games they design are very different- Lawlor generally more stop-and-go, complex, stacking etc. with Ritchie all about speed and flow. I'm much more of a Lawlor fan myself but I understand what draws people to SR games.

#7 10 years ago

D T

dinot

Pinside+ Frequent

Eldersburg, MD

20y 77,300 733 8 25

This is sooooo subjective.
I personally never could get into any Lawlor pin. I love speed and flow. So for me:
Ritchie, Gomez, JPop rule

#8 10 years ago

RYE

Pimp77

Pinside member

20y 92,650 6,275 78

Nordman is the best designer simply because every game he puts out is an entirely new design. Ritchie and Lawlor reuse, recycle, and rearrange their same designs over and over.

#9 10 years ago

TAM

tamoore

Pinside member

Grayling, MI

11y 123K 6,661 37 58

I like speed and flow, so this is an easy choice for me.... Not so much a fan of Lawlor pins as keepers, but I do have a Whirlwind on my wish list.....

#10 10 years ago

MJG

cranie

Pinside member

New Bedford, MA

12y 32,150 268

I'm a Sys 11 fan and also really gravitate towards Lawlor titles. It is true that Pat used a lot of his ideas over and over. ES is a mirror image of WW in a lot of ways and the upper flipper to side ramp and "Lawlor Loop" is in most of them.
I'm just now getting into more Richie titles so I can't comment on his much.

#11 10 years ago

SCO

scooter

Pinside member

Louisville, KY

15y 96,900 3,615 1 205

#12 10 years ago

CRG

Craig

Pinside+ Frequent

Durham, NC

11y 70,900 4,543 11

Why choose? Variety is the spice of life.

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