ROUND 1 - Greatest Pinball Game of All-Time - Tournament Edition 2021

https://pinside.com/pinball/forum/topic/round-2-greatest-pinball-game-of-all-time-tournament-edition-2021#

Round 2 is open for voting:

________________________________________________________________________________________

Hi Everyone,

It's that time of year again - March Madness. Some of you have reached out to me asking if/when I would be create a new "Greatest Pinball Game of All-Time" bracket for 2021. To answer that question, now would be a great time.

For those who aren't familiar with last year's tournament bracket, you can familiarize yourself with the rules here:

https://pinside.com/pinball/forum/topic/greatest-pinball-game-of-all-time-tournament-edition

If you hate clicking on links, don't worry, I have you covered. See below for this year's rules.

- How are the seeds determined? This is decided by today's (3/12/21) Pinside Top 100; we're only using the Top 64 ranked games.

- Who "plays" who? #1 rated pin plays #64, #2 rated pin plays #63, #3 rated pin plays #62, and so on.

- How do we decide a winner? Your voting. There will be 32 matchups to start the first round, which will be cut down 16 next round, and so on. Once this round is complete, I will start a new thread with each round.

- How long is the voting open? Voting for the first round will stay open until 10pm EST/7pm PST Monday. Votes will be tallied and the new round of 32 will start on Tuesday.

- Your voting poll is confusing, how do I know what to do? I have attached a matchup spreadsheet to make it as clear as possible. Also, I have taken a screenshot for sample voting for reference. When you look at the voting poll, you'll see something like this:

1 Guns N Roses (JJP) VS 64 Revenge From Mars

As you can see above, the higher ranked game (which will be on the left) is GnR, who is matching up again the lower ranked game (which will be on the right) Revenge From Mars. Each individual matchup goes left to right. You would vote for one or the other, not both. If you do this right, you have an opportunity to vote 32 times this round.

- In an event there is a tie between the matchup, the higher ranked pin will move on to the next round.

If anyone has any other questions, feel free to post below or send me a PM.

Last but not least, I hope this is fun for all of you as it is for me. There are some great matchups to vote on. Enjoy the tournament!
voting (resized).PNGMatchups_64 (resized).PNGTop Bracket (resized).PNGBottom Bracket (resized).PNG

Post last edited 2 years ago.

#2 2 years ago

MLB

AFM95

Pinside member

Voting is officially open. First round voting will end 10pm EST/7pm PST on Monday evening.

#3 2 years ago

JJH

JJHLH

Inactive member

Fort Worth, TX

7y 67,300 664 2 8

Awesome! Thanks for doing this again! Should be fun!

#4 2 years ago

STV

Doctor6

Pinside member

Roscoe, IL

14y 99,050 3,649 8 58

Oh man. This poll did me dirty pitting twd vs hobbit (my two favorite games). I voted twd, but it was tough.

Ouch. The only game to get zero votes right now is LZ. Not surprised.

#5 2 years ago

SMK

TheLaw

Pinside+ Addict

I love this time of year...always more to argue aboot!

#6 2 years ago

MLB

AFM95

Pinside member

Quoted from Doctor6:
Oh man. This poll did me dirty pitting twd vs hobbit (my two favorite games). I voted twd, but it was tough.
Ouch. The only game to get zero votes right now is LZ. Not surprised.

You should have voted for both of them. It would help clear your conscience.

#7 2 years ago

DAD

MK6PIN

Pinside+ Pro!

Quoted from TheLaw:
I love this time of year...always more to argue aboot!

This was my favorite "which is the best" thread last year. Despite some new shineys, I recall classics battling it out at the end. Thanks to the Op for doing this again....

-1

#8 2 years ago

---

ForceFlow

In the options, it might be helpful to specify editions with multiple editions. Certain games like GOT and AC/DC have significant differences, and that might tip the scales one way or another.

[edit]: Nevermind about the manufacturers. I didn't notice the correlation between the titles and numbers.

#9 2 years ago

???

RonSS

Pinside+ Frequent

6y 89,300 3,605 2

Cool.

Thanks for thanks for doing this.

#10 2 years ago

MLS

MMGB

Pinside+ Frequent

Niwot, CO

10y 57,550 239 22 1

Whirlwind starting strong, could be one of the first big upsets.

-1

#11 2 years ago

SMK

TheLaw

Pinside+ Addict

Quoted from ForceFlow:
For TMNT (#20), I'm assuming DE? [edit: Nope, again stern is linked]

You think the 20th highest rated pinball machine on Pinside is Data East's TMNT?

Seriously?

-1

#12 2 years ago

---

ForceFlow

Quoted from TheLaw:
You think the 20th highest rated pinball machine on Pinside is Data East's TMNT?
Seriously?

Is that what the numbers were for? I didn't even notice the correlation. I thought they were arbitrary.

Nevermind then. I only quickly skimmed the post, so I missed that detail on the first pass through.

#13 2 years ago

PHB

Chisox

Pinside member

Frankfort, IL

8y 129K 4,278 8 37

Quoted from MMGB:
Whirlwind starting strong, could be one of the first big upsets.

Whirlwind seems like it’s always the Xavier (I’m a college basketball nerd) of these brackets. Always underrated and a game the favorites don’t want to be matched up against.

-1

#14 2 years ago

SMK

TheLaw

Pinside+ Addict

Quoted from ForceFlow:
Is that what the numbers were for? I didn't even notice the correlation. I thought they were arbitrary.

I usually read a post/thread before posting all my confusions aboot it.

OP
Quoted from AFM95:
- How are the seeds determined? This is decided by today's (3/12/21) Pinside Top 100; we're only using the Top 64 ranked games.

But that's just me.

#15 2 years ago

---

ForceFlow

Quoted from TheLaw:
I usually read a post/thread before posting all my confusions aboot it.

But that's just me.

I usually try to give people the benefit of the doubt for an honest oversight. Taking a simple "hey, did you notice xyz?" approach would've been a far better approach for a missed detail, rather than trying to instigate something.

#16 2 years ago

LMS

Tranquilize

Pinside member

8y 82,050 3,330 33

WOZ vs. The Shadow is a pretty crazy battle for first round. I say easy Shadow, but clearly others disagree!

-1

#17 2 years ago

SMK

TheLaw

Pinside+ Addict

Quoted from ForceFlow:
I usually try to give people the benefit of the doubt for an honest oversight. Taking a simple "hey, did you notice xyz?" approach would've been a far better approach for a missed detail, rather than trying to instigate something.

You typed out a monstrous multiple paragraph response, which you've since deleted from your post, instead of just reading the OG post.
Do your own work dude.

EDIT: bwa and you were the first to down vote and you keep doing it.

Rough night?

#18 2 years ago

---

ForceFlow

Quoted from TheLaw:
You typed out a monstrous multiple paragraph response, which you've since deleted from your post, instead of just reading the OG post.
Do your own work dude.
EDIT: bwa and you were the first to down vote and you keep doing it.
Rough night?

Between the "monstrous" exaggeration and inaccurate comments, I think you're basically trolling at this point. I see no need to continue here.

Getting back on topic, it looks like AFM vs FT is heading towards a landslide (49-7 so far).

#19 2 years ago

SMK

TheLaw

Pinside+ Addict

Quoted from ForceFlow:
Between the "monstrous" exaggeration and inaccurate comments....

Did you not delete a bunch of your post, where you listed out like 5 head to head listing and your problems with them?

EDIT:

Quoted from ForceFlow: [edit]: Nevermind about the manufacturers. I didn't notice the correlation between the titles and numbers.

Quoted from ForceFlow:
I think you're basically trolling at this point.

Its just a standard Pinside conversion, no need to being mod-talk into it

#20 2 years ago

PHB

Chisox

Pinside member

Frankfort, IL

8y 129K 4,278 8 37

I think Tron v. Whitewater will come down to lawsuits and hanging chads.

#21 2 years ago

SMK

TheLaw

Pinside+ Addict

Quoted from Chisox:
I think Tron v. Whitewater will come down to lawsuits and hanging chads.

That's a tight one indeed

EDIT: personally I think Fathom will be the biggest upset here. 4-61

#22 2 years ago

???

freeplay3

Pinside+ Addict

Waterford Township, MI

6y 113K 1,451 7

Whirlwind gets another tough draw this year. Only a few games I would pick over whirlwind...maiden is one of them. They even sit next to each other in my basement.

#23 2 years ago

MIS

Lhyrgoif

Pinside member

4y 106K 5,794 41

Fun!

#24 2 years ago

JAM

NPO

Pinside+ Frequent

11y 131K 7,265 4 17

I'll save everyone the trouble and state it is AFM. I say this because it's my most expensive game and I have to pump my investment to make sure it maintains its value so when I go to oversell it here I feel justified for everything down to the #6 T-nuts and every single last frosted dual-LED bulb.

#25 2 years ago

zaki

Pinside member

Aurora, OH

7y 73,300 943 8 41

Quoted from NPO:
I'll save everyone the trouble and state it is AFM. I say this because it's my most expensive game and I have to pump my investment to make sure it maintains its value so when I go to oversell it here I feel justified for everything down to the #6 T-nuts and every single last frosted dual-LED bulb.

yup. i think afm will again.

#26 2 years ago

MLB

AFM95

Pinside member

Quoted from ForceFlow:
In the options, it might be helpful to specify editions with multiple editions. Certain games like GOT and AC/DC have significant differences, and that might tip the scales one way or another.
[edit]: Nevermind about the manufacturers. I didn't notice the correlation between the titles and numbers.

You make a good point about editions. However, it would be tough to clarify in the voting poll. I assume people will vote for which game they like better in general, not dependent on models (CE, LE, Pro, etc.).

#27 2 years ago

MEH

ThePinballCo-op

The Pinball Co-op

8y 110K 1,659 40 1

Quoted from Tranquilize:
WOZ vs. The Shadow is a pretty crazy battle for first round. I say easy Shadow, but clearly others disagree!

I chose WoZ, which is a game-changer pin imo. It forced the entire industry to re-evaluate what's needed and wanted in a pinball machine.

Mostly I chose games that I'd rather play, which I did here as well, but there was more to WoZ for me when I voted for it.

#28 2 years ago

DAD

MK6PIN

Pinside+ Pro!

Staggering matchups, even in the first round!!!!!

It does show how wonky the ratings are, as some formidable games will fall early. Suspect voting will be easier for me as things thin a bit.

The show of support for "underdogs" speaks volumes......finally, a fun thread to debate about around here!!!!

#29 2 years ago

???

RonSS

Pinside+ Frequent

6y 89,300 3,605 2

Spidey vs Creech is a barn burner!

#30 2 years ago

PAL

haveaniceswim

Pinside member

Marietta, GA

2y 38,050 113 4 28

CGC and PPS should take note. CC is getting trounced because nobody has ever played it. They should be remaking TOM, CV, TOTAN or WH2O. Classics that people love because they have played them!

#31 2 years ago

TKM

Daditude

Rockwall, TX

4y 262K 9,297 22 271

The big lebowski and iron man are tied at 62. I have to believe many simply havent played TBL. It is amazing.

#32 2 years ago

MLB

AFM95

Pinside member

The cream typically rises to the top in the end. However, we have some potential upsets in the making:

(19) Spider-Man vs. (46) Creature of the Black Lagoon - 67/62 votes

(20) Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (Stern) vs. (45) FunHouse - 51/75 votes

(21) The Big Lebowski vs. (44) Iron Man - 62/62 votes

(22) Wizard of Oz vs. (43) The Shadow - 67/65 votes

(28) Dialed In vs. (37) Ghostbusters - 68/58 votes

(30) TRON vs. (35) White Water - 56/72 votes

(31) Led Zeppelin vs. (34) Cirqus Voltaire - 35/89 votes

(32) Rick and Morty vs. (33) Scared Stiff - 55/69 votes

#33 2 years ago

MLB

AFM95

Pinside member

Saturday afternoon bump for more votes.

#34 2 years ago

LMS

Tranquilize

Pinside member

8y 82,050 3,330 33

Quoted from ThePinballCo-op:
I chose WoZ, which is a game-changer pin imo. It forced the entire industry to re-evaluate what's needed and wanted in a pinball machine.
Mostly I chose games that I'd rather play, which I did here as well, but there was more to WoZ for me when I voted for it.

I hear ya. WOZ is important historically and a great game. Problem is that Shadow is one of the best ever made. On a different level. God status.

-1

#35 2 years ago

DOC

Davidus56

Pinside+ Addict

9y 72,650 360 59

Some of the comparison’ s are not very fair. Star Trek vs Dracula. Not even the same genre. Star Trek is one of the best games ever made, but against Dracula!? I have to go with Dracula.
Rock and Morty vs Scared Stiff? Ridiculous. SS all day long.

#36 2 years ago

DAD

MK6PIN

Pinside+ Pro!

SM vs Creech locked!!!

#37 2 years ago

MLB

AFM95

Pinside member

Sunday morning bump - 180 voters so far. Poll closes tomorrow evening.

#38 2 years ago

STV

Doctor6

Pinside member

Roscoe, IL

14y 99,050 3,649 8 58

I feel bad for Aerosmith in this poll. I really like that game.

#39 2 years ago

MLB

AFM95

Pinside member

I didn't have too much time yesterday to add matchup information, or a full bracket. However, I just added them to the original post.

The bracket will show you who faces off with who in later rounds.

#40 2 years ago

DJQ

DanQverymuch

Pinside+ Addict

Neenah, WI

11y 96,550 4,315

Quoted from Davidus56:
R[i]ck and Morty vs Scared Stiff? Ridiculous. SS all day long.

What is so ridiculous about it? Both games have hilarious callouts. Meanwhile, R&M kicks your ass, while SS is much, much, much, MUCH too easy.

R&M is the far superior game. As evidenced by the fact that while there are six times or so as many SS's out there as R&M's, and they have been around over ten times as long, so WAY more people have even played it, R&M is holding its own in a close race. So those who have played R&M are obviously mostly voting for it. That should tell you something.

But for its limited exposure, R&M would have a shot at taking it all! (And the updates keep coming! It keeps getting better!)

#41 2 years ago

DAD

MK6PIN

Pinside+ Pro!

Starting in elite 8 is where things are going to get frisky. Can easily see GnR vs TZ and POTC vs AFM being deadly matches, only for the winners to face each other in the final 4........fun!!!!

#42 2 years ago

JCW

LOTR_breath

Pinside member

Fultondale, AL

10y 124K 5,474 9 96

I have to say this, because I own both. LZ vs. CV. Led Zeppelin is the FAR superior game. It just won't get the votes because most haven't played it yet.

Better shots, better rules, better lighting, better music.

CV has better toys and call outs, but that's about it.

#43 2 years ago

MKK

drummermike

Pinside+ Frequent

7y 110K 2,177 9 38

Quoted from LOTR_breath:
I have to say this, because I own both. LZ vs. CV. Led Zeppelin is the FAR superior game. It just won't get the votes because most haven't played it yet.
Better shots, better rules, better lighting, better music.
CV has better toys and call outs, but that's about it.

I have both also and totally agree with your assessment.

#44 2 years ago

PGR

VALIS666

Pinside+ Frequent

3y 106K 975 234 1

I'd say Creature is going to be the dark horse of this tournament, but it'll likely pull Indiana Jones next and that's a death sentence. Wiz vs. Shadow is the best battle of round 1.

#45 2 years ago

TOM

SLAMT1LT

Inactive member

13y 67,550 1,097

I pity the fool that takes on MM. King of the Castle for sure. These contests are a fun distraction though.

#46 2 years ago

MLB

AFM95

Pinside member

Final day to vote for the first round. Ends at 10pm EST/7pm PST.

#47 2 years ago

DAD

MK6PIN

Pinside+ Pro!

Quoted from SLAMT1LT:
I pity the fool that takes on MM. King of the Castle for sure. These contests are a fun distraction though.

I've only gotten to truly appreciate this game after finally breaking down and buying one for the home lineup. Playing in the wild was always fun, but now......very evident why this one has stood the test of time. Just a great game!!!

#48 2 years ago

MLB

AFM95

Pinside member

A few more hours until the polls close. Get your votes in!

#49 2 years ago

MLB

AFM95

Pinside member

Poll has been closed. Voting for next round will start no later than 12pm EST/9am PST tomorrow.

I will also have updated matchups and brackets ready to go.

#50 2 years ago

DAD

MK6PIN

Pinside+ Pro!