If a previous owner happened to register it here, you might be able to reach them somehow. http://www.ipsnd.net/ Otherwise you probably won't find out much as a general rule.

IPSND or various owner's lists that are scattered around. Operator stickers sometimes indicate ownership as well.

But, not all game serial numbers have a recorded history.

Probably a lot of reasons. Many games are pretty old and have changed hands many times. Not too many people actually register them in the IPSND. It would be cool if it was used more just for compiling more data about games, or to help someone find there exact old game and try and get it back if they want.

Another reason is that they don't have to be registered like cars, so the serial # just isn't that important. (unless you have a proto or something, which MIGHT add value)

I have a specific game and specific S/N that's been 'bogarted' by someone else for years now at ipsnd.net.

So how do you change that, would the site admin actually reply to an email of 'It's mine, not his?'
Meantime, I know I'm good - I still have the game (for the year he claims), with the clean S/N decal to match.

Thoughts?
Thanks.

maybe? I don't know. Have you tried contacting the guy? Have you tried registering the game and providing a photo of the serial #?

Sometimes a serial number can be hard to read. Maybe an 8 looks like a 9 due to wear, or something like that.

This. A good, clear photo is hard to refute.

One other possibility--sometimes manufacturers jumped around with serial numbers. I wouldn't be surprised if one was accidently reused by mistake.

Is it a possibility that he owned the game before you and the serial is still in the database? I changed my email address to a different provider and can no longer log in to remove a few I place there many moons ago.

You should have record the Serial Numbers of all of the valuables in your home. Pins, Watches, Bicycles Computers, TV's.

Finding the previous owners that might have entered the Serial numbers in the data base is kind of interesting. But the data base is either unknown to most owners, or they do not want to let other people know what they own.

I bought a pin, looked it up and luckily it was there. It was from a Pinsider in the USA.

If your pinball machines are at another location, like in an unattached garage, or building, certainly photograph the game, with the serial number, incase they are stolen. No one is going to break into your home to steal a pin, the games are too heavy. However it does happen.