IMO I slightly like Sorcerer better for long time use. The pin is more challenging than SS. However, if your buying it for the family, I would purchase SS. SS has a nicer family attraction appeal (flashing & sounds) that will keep novices playing. My 10 year old and I play Sorceror along with SS at the Allentown Pinfest every year and he just loves SS and has been begging me to buy one. The art work on Sorceror is awesome IMO, however, it's much harder to keep a ball in play for a while for a novice. Hope that helps you, good luck in your decision.

Pretty sure both have hinged backboxes. I know for a fact sorcerer does. It is an internal hinge, unlike later externals. You still will have to unbolt it. Both are hard to find in nice shape, yet Space Shuttle recently had the PF remade. Sorcerer is a different story. PF's are being done by direct ink, and are not quite the same quality as screened. A true screened playfield if being reproduced by CPR is at least a few years out at this point.

I think I would go with sorcerer.

I think they are both awesome, wires are the same so that's a pointless part. If your limited on pin collection sorc. Is the way to go if you like the art.
They are each way cool games In their own right.

Space Shuttle is a good game, but Sorcerer is a GREAT game. Great artwork, trick ramp shot, and to me, the best sound FX on any machine.

I personally would choose Sorcerer for the art and sound.

I'd take either one in great shape.

But, while PF, plastics, ramps, cab stencils (and BG on the way) are available for Space Shuttle, you won't find that kind of support for Sorcerer.

So if the Sorcerer is not in really great shape, better to buy the game that saved pinball.

I have a sorcerer and love it!
And I too had to remove the backbox to get it downstairs. Very easy to do and as long as you label the connections it's a piece of cake to put back together.
I do love space shuttle as well but they are much easier to find so if you can get a decent sorcerer DO IT!
They only made a small number of them and most were played to death.
Just my two cents.

Sorcerer plastics are just recently available from Planetary.
Good thing because that center one always breaks!

I've had my Sorcerer almost for almost a year and still love it. The challenge keeps me coming back. I was just thinking earlier this morning that if I ever found a Space Shuttle near me, I'd definitely pick it up. If I had to pick one, it'd be Sorcerer.

If your after a system 9 there are only 3
Comet
Sorcerer
Space shuttle
Or you could go to early system 11
You could get high speed
Grand lizard
Or system 11a b or c

Once you've done it a few times, it only takes a few minutes to remove any backbox.

Sometimes I'll deliver a "fold down" to a customer, but it wont fit through the basement door.

It's never a worry. 5 minutes latter the game is reassembled.

Don't let it concern you one bit.

"feel my power !!!"

IIRC High Speed and Pin*Bot are both the same style backbox as the Sys. 9s... They were some of the first Sys. 11s and have the same backbox style as the 9s...
As far as your decision...TOUGH call!! I have all 3 of the sys. 9s and I love Space Shuttle and Sorcerer...I say go for BOTH!!!

Phoebe

I have never heard anyone pick a game on backbox connections. Seriously it's 5 min once you get good at it. It's super easy.

Many people disconnect all the board connectors, but, on most sys3-9 games there is a large black connector and a large white connector further down the playfield harness that disconnects everything at once.

Depending on the the game there may also be a ground strap, speaker plug and GI plug, but nothing that would take you more than a minute to disconnect.

NOTE: Do not mix up the black and white playfield connectors upon reassembly. The right flipper will instantly energize, informing you of a long CPU board repair in front of you....

I'm having a Sorcerer get a high end restore job right now, and am really pumped up about it. Just such an awesome looking game in general. I'm totally biased based on my excitement level for the Sorcerer, but in my biased view go for the Sorcerer.

Sorcerer is better, at least to me. Awesome game!

Doesn't every Williams game after 1977 have the big wiring harness disconnects?

People are not really pulling all those little connectors off of the CPU and driver boards, are they??

The obvious answer is both. I've had 2 different Sorcerer's and will never sell my Space Shuttle.

Gotta go with Space Shuttle!

Close airlock!!!

Yeah.... what he said.

Sold my Space Shuttle. Sorcerer is a keeper.

I have a Sorcerer that I'm fixing the backbox on. The bottom of the backbox has cracked and separated from the back, which causes the whole thing to wobble precariously. I'm fixing the crack and adding two System 11-style latches on the back of the backbox just to be sure.

I think, though, that if I had to choose between Sorcerer and Space Shuttle, I'd choose Space Shuttle. It was the machine that saved Williams from bankruptcy in the early 80s, and it's still big fun to play.

I have both and love them both, but if I was forced to pick one I would pick Sorcerer. You can't go wrong either way. These two are usualy blownout because of the lack of clear coat, there are good options for getting them fixed up so that is a big plus.

I vote/have a Sorcerer

I've got a Space Shuttle right now and really like it a lot.. Never played Sorcerer..

I think Sorcerer is a better game then Space Shuttle. I used to own a Sorcerer and love the challenge and great flow and game play for 1985! Space Shuttle is definitely a better game for the family though if you have smaller children playing. I remember my 5 year old son telling me the backglass on Sorcerer was kinda scary.

Get both if you can both are awesome games, but if I had to choose one Sorcerer would be it, as I like it enough to own . Also I am waiting for a nice CPR playfield.

Doesn't every Williams game after 1977 have the big wiring harness disconnects?
People are not really pulling all those little connectors off of the CPU and driver boards, are they??

DSC01025.JPG

I vote sorceror or comet

I like both games If I could find both for good prices I would make room for both.

I lean slightly too SS but good old fashion fun.

Yank all the plugs pull the nuts on the elbow hinge thing. Takes 5min.
Pitting it back could take 7min I will give you that.. Wanna be careful putting the backbox onto the game and all.. All connections are keyed ..and they all share same - similar wire color .. You just get good at it.

chocky

The only way you get better at doing things like this is to do it over and over. Take a deep breath, take your time and just do it.

Nah, it just takes experience. Once you do it 10 times, it's easy. I have actually removed a pinball head blindfolded (in the pitch black dark). However, I would not attempt to assemble one in the dark.

Not all, I think after system 11 that stopped.

I have both a Space Shuttle and a Comet. Both are family friendly if kids are involved. My SS was just restored with LED's and a new playfield. All new plastics, shuttle decals, spinners and ramps. It looks awesome!!! Everyone fights over playing it when we have get togethers.

Did you do the work yourself? Care to post pics?

im not far from you (relative to the global speaking of this forum) and am currently ass deep in a 100% restore.. welcome to come visit or just hit me up email we can chat pinball

Here are a few pics.

Here are a few pics.
Someone else did the work.
IMG_20130418_191757_741.jpg IMG_20130418_191836_946.jpg IMG_20130418_192007_568.jpg

OMG, did you use a cigar box pinhole camera to take those first two shots? They are very bad!