I am going to Pinball Madness in Banning, CA this weekend and wondering if some people who know about EM machines can tell me a few things.
I am looking for EM machines to play considering this is a good opportunity to check them out.

My questions:

Which EM machines would you recommend for me to try out?
Which EM machines have unique features for that time period that is worth a look?

Some knowledge for other Pinheads would make me appreciate the machines that I will be playing this weekend.

FYI, I have only played a handful of EM machines in the past. The only one that comes to mind is "Abra Ca Dabra".

Thanks in Advance!!

#2 5 years ago

ZAC

zacaj

RPC

Rochester, NY

11y 158K 10,387 85 122 1

Doodle Bug, Old Chicago. Something with zipper flippers. Spanish Eyes.

#3 5 years ago

ADS

EalaDubhSidhe

Pinside member

Merthyr Tydfil

11y 58,050 1,214

4 Million BC or Fireball, both are zipper flipper games with a skill shot, outline kickback and multiball. Way ahead of their time.

I'd also add Wizard for its flip-flag features, I never pass up a chance to play this one. And if there are any single-player Zaccarias from the late 70s, those are always worth a shot with a distinct kind of feel.

#4 5 years ago

SYD

Eightball88

Pinside+ Frequent

Ottawa, ON

6y 60,550 628 6

A lot of good advice already here! Single player Gottliebs from the 70s are fun (Abra ca dabra is one). The best ones make you choose between two strategies....shoot for points or shoot for specials. You can tell right away why they are called wedgeheads.

If you can, also try some older games with the really funky flipper arrangements for something different.

#5 5 years ago

HRG

poppapin

Pinside member

12y 135K 11,332 6 7 1

All Gottlieb wedgeheads...

#6 5 years ago

ADS

EalaDubhSidhe

Pinside member

Merthyr Tydfil

11y 58,050 1,214

Quoted from poppapin:
All Gottlieb wedgeheads...

Particularly the rare last few - Centigrade 37, Gemini, Hit The Deck, Blue Note, Strange World, TKO.

#7 5 years ago

SBS

o-din

Pinside+ Addict

11y 158K 58,804

Williams reverse wedgeheads.

Most are extremely challenging, and pretty much the only games from the 60s, beside the Williams multiplayers, to feature drop targets and swinging targets.

Pit Stop if you can find one. Crowd favorite here.

#8 5 years ago

SBS

o-din

Pinside+ Addict

11y 158K 58,804

Another unique feature would be the disappearing jet bumper found on Wms. Gusher, Sea Wolf, and Music Man.

Williams Nags has a rotating platter with six jet bumpers on it.

Not sure if this place has a diverse enough collection to include any of these though.

#9 5 years ago

ZOR

zermeno68

Pinside+ Addict

Ridgecrest, CA

12y 86,050 1,309 5

Thanks everyone for input as I used this for reference as I walked around.

Day 1 at Banning, CA allowed me to play a LOT of these games!! Concur, Great selection...

Who cares all the new STERN machines are lined up with people, these games

Quoted from poppapin:
All Gottlieb wedgeheads...

Amen!!! I actually liked most Gottlieb games so far... Just sad that some were not fully maintained (flipper response was weak).

Quoted from Eightball88:
really funky flipper arrangements for something different.

So agree with this comment! Comparing these different positioned flipper arrangements to the "re-skinned" STERN standard 2/3 flipper arrangements really made me like classic games.

#10 5 years ago

SBS

o-din

Pinside+ Addict

11y 158K 58,804

Beside flipper arrangements did you find any other unique features?

I've never been there but am also curious which reverse wedgehead Wms they do have.

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