So if the subject like didn’t already cause a major uproar I would love some feedback on “gasp” video pinball machines. I have seen a couple for sale (mostly on the coasts... like everything else) so I’m hoping to get some decent feedback on what folks think of them.

I get they are not “real” machines and a lot of the feedback you get from the real machines are likely absent from a vid-pin. However, I have four kids (age 4-10) that all love pinball and I’m down to two machines. The for sale market in Iowa is a bit scarce and the prices I’ve been seeing in the last year have gotten to absolutely insane.

So looking for some feedback on what to look for, what the maintenance on the software is and some of the pros/cons are.

If there is an existing thread on this please point me in that direction as I searched quite a bit and didn’t see one.

Thanks gang!

#2 5 years ago

ABC

arakissun

Pinside member

Varna

12y 63,650 1,995

Visual Pinball X if you want to play and STERN titles to SPYKE system.There is no other emulator that can play them.
It's tricky to configurate it but after that is lovely.Perfect/beauty visual style when Brual 4xAA is ON and physics for me.In this emulator you can play Indiana Jones,Demolition Man and other AAA Williams titles that cannot be play on the other emulators.
It need powerful PC like i5,4GB RAM,GTX750Ti to play on 19" not full HD.
If you want full HD you need GTX1050.Tested up to 22"

More easy is to find The Pinball Arcade.The physics is not great but for the kids it will be fine because it's more easy to play.Good visual.Need some quad/dual core from old fashion Q6600 or E8500,4GB RAM,8600GT or little be more if you have.So there PC is cheap.No need of specific configuration.It install like normal program.

The most newest is Pinball FX3,but there not so much tables,I mean if you want real Williams/Bally machines.Pinball FX have their own tables and they are many,but I don't like them.Physics is fine like visual effects too.Don't know what type of machine it need.No need of special configuration again.

#3 5 years ago

LKD

Luckydogg420

Pinside member

Kitchener, ON

11y 115K 5,862 14

They're great. I built one years ago.

https://hyperspin-fe.com/forums/topic/2340-mortal-pinball-kombat-a-build-thread/?tab=comments#comment-60888

The problem I found is that after having access to a couple hundred games, I found the ones I really like and the ones not worth my time. Now when I look to buy a real machine I'm picky with the features it has.

There are some really great digital games that aren't possible in the real world, so that's a bonus.

In the end I sold it off. I think with a 4k TV and newer software it could be an awesome experience but it just wasnt quite as good as I'd like it to be (back then)
I'm sure things have progressed a lot since my build.

#4 5 years ago

JAR

PinballRusch

Pinside member

Cedar Falls, IA

6y 44,050 76 9

Thanks Luckydogg. I read through quite a bit of your build from the link you sent. I think that will be more project than I can get into at this time but the detail you captured in the story is perfect for someone that wants to give it a go. I think I could even make it work if I made it a priority.

So with the couple replies here it sounds like it’s a reasonable option knowing it’s not the “real deal”. I had another localism guy tell me they are prone to problems. As it’s computer based... I have no doubt but did chuckle a bit because I don’t know any pinball machine that is “trouble free”. Would love to try one out sometime.

#5 5 years ago

ABC

arakissun

Pinside member

Varna

12y 63,650 1,995

I builded too my digital pinball,will send you a link,and can tell no problems.Everything is play perfect and everyone that come to see and play it are happy and feel like real machine on 90%.
Everything is to optimization.
Mine is only for pinballs and that's why may be I don't have problems.

#6 5 years ago

ABC

arakissun

Pinside member

Varna

12y 63,650 1,995

https://pinside.com/pinball/forum/topic/my-understanding-for-bartop-pinball

First I made it with Pinball Arcade,but now I'm with Visual Pinball X

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