Sorry I am a newbie to the hobby, but which games are supposed to have the post between the flippers? Are they on all the system 11 games? I also have seen the on the newer sterns as well. I don't recall seeing this post on any of the early DMD games though
Not all system 11's for sure. Diner, Funhouse and Taxi do not have the post.
The post is supposed to help but it actually changes play quite significantly. I find that it makes the games a little harder, because you have to not flip if the ball is coming SDTM. Judging when you'll get the post save and when you won't is an art all in itself.
Quoted from Capper96:So these "center posts" are part of the game design?
Yes, they are intentional. My buddy has a older stern meteor, and i love the center post on that. I have a sys. 11 BK2K and it does not have a post as well.
High speed does not. I believe Rollergames does tho. I love the looks on my family's faces when that sdtm ball is comming and I do nothing and save it. They don't get it
DE Simpsons has one, and I love having the restraint to watch that ball head right down the center without doing anything, and then seeing the ball bounce up and to the left or right on to a flipper rubber. It's awesome and satisfying!
Conversely, misjudging and watching the ball head down the center and then just glancing off the post and down the drain without doing anything, sucks. Badly. 
I recall reading something about how the (or a) European market required them and so many games found over there or reimported to the US will have them installed.
Quoted from GoneFishinLvMsg:What WOF has is something different altogether I think.
I could have sworn that WoF just had a standard post and rubber between the flippers. I know it has a funky dual lane configuration, though.
Quoted from gweempose:I could have sworn that WoF just had a standard post and rubber between the flippers. I know it has a funky dual lane configuration, though.
Maybe. I haven't played one in a while and I'm too lazy to look up photos. I just remember it being goofy.
Personally, I hate the center post on any game. Might as well put rubber bands over the outlane entrances too.
Quoted from robertmee:Remember the older Bally (I think) games that had the large plastic post that would pop-up between the flippers based on hitting some combination of achievements? What are some examples of those games?
Big Guns system 11
Quoted from pinwillie:Big Guns system 11
Yeah, that's the one...I remember them being more prominent on the late EM, early SS games. Didn't realize they survived to system 11 era. Anything more recent than that still have one?
Quoted from gweempose:Does anyone know what the last game to have one is? I know WoF has one.
Quoted from playboywillis:Oh I also noticed IM had a hole for it as well. Don't know if it comes with one or aftermarket option.
I heard these were installed for international markets? I don't know for sure...
Quoted from mojozone:I like the FREDDY claw as well, for a save post.
It's a really cool idea until the blades break lol
Quoted from accidental:I recall reading something about how the (or a) European market required them and so many games found over there or reimported to the US will have them installed.
This is true. In the Uk this is known as a 'skill post'. Due to the fact that some pins (historically) were payout machines, pins in the UK were regarded as gambling machines. This meant that they had to comply with gambling laws and taxes. The introduction of the 'skill pin' (in the eyes of UK law) changes the game from one of chance/ gambling to one of skill, meaning that they are no longer classified as gambling machines. Bizarre, but true.
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