Preliminary indicators based on a previous press release by Chicago Gaming point to an imminent re-make of Bally's THEATER OF MAGIC. Though nothing has really been confirmed, the statement posed the term "likely." Which of Popadiuk's three big pinball masterpieces from the 90's do YOU think CGC should tackle FIRST? I believe it should be the aesthetically gorgeous and addictive CIRQUS VOLTAIRE, with the nearly equally sublime and wonderfully-themed TALES OF THE ARABIAN NIGHTS a close second. For my taste TOM is a distant third, perhaps even behind Popadiuk's underrated World Cup Soccer machine. I'm curious to see how the Popadiuk votes goes here if you'd be so kind to indulge. Thank you. (I do LIKE TOM, if not on the level of the others.)

Cirqus-Voltaire-Pinball-Machine (resized).jpg

Thank you so much for responding "luvthatapex2." We certainly have MB and CC coming and probably in that order so I am with you there passionately. I am also hog wild about BBB which could well be third. However, obviously we are not in agreement on the Popadiuk games, which I count as pinball masterpieces, and I am hoping TAF, TZ and IJ are done AFTER them. But fair enough, and I thank you.

Mop, though I am a long time pinball enthusiast at age 63 (with five pinball loving children), I am fairly new to pinside membership and am not sure how to post a formal poll. I thought I'd just add up the votes cast in this comment section, short of that.

Hmmm. And yet CV, TOTAN and TOM are hugely popular as can be ascertained from talking to legions of pinball fans and looking right now at the Pinside Top 100 where each sits in enviable rankings. We could virtually take down every single machine with this kind of analysis. I know several veteran pinball techs who count them as masterpieces and loads of sustained fun, but I asked for your vote and commentary and you gave it. Thank you.

And again I ask then WHY oh WHY does the pinball community at large and this very Top 100 dispute this opinion? I do NOT find John Popadiuk overrated at all and believe the re-makes will sell big, but I do understand some resentment connected to other matters. I wish myself to give this man his due, and his work speaks for itself. Thank you so much for the commentary.

"This is true. The only good one in the bunch is WCS and no point in reproing a lower value game. And even that gets old."

Every last machine "gets old." Every one. Without exception. MM gets old. MB gets old. TZ gets old. IJ gets old. AFM gets old. There is not a single machine that escapes that sighing final judgement. But we must decide which we want most in our midst with a glowing a sublime sense of permanency.

I'm appreciating the comments, votes and frank discussion, though it is presenting the "other side of the coin" from the actual ratings en masse of CV, TOTAN and TOM which present a far, far more glowing picture of each. I find nothing simple or tiring with the rule sets, at least in direct comparison with the most vaunted machines. What I do see here at PINSIDE are TOTAN, CV and TOM sitting quite pretty numerically with corresponding ratings that elaborate euphorically.

Levi, certainly no more seriously than any comment YOU or I or anyone else make on this thread and others. hahaha. If you look at the ratings and the ensuing comments you will find many gave it their observational, analytical and passionate all in assessing their positions. So yes, in a fair sense I can afford each each pinsider their due.

Vireland, I see CV as consistently the most expensive of the three at Mr. Pinball, E bay and other outlets. We are talking semantics with 6K, 7K and 8K (or higher), as basically all THREE MACHINES are well within the CGC re-make wheelhouse if they decide to move forward. CONDITION dictates just how high each machine will go.

Exactly, and my contention remains that a collector's condition CV, TOTAN and TOM are right now in the 8K range at least. Hence according to CGC's mission each of the three qualifies for a re-make at the present time, what with their projected commitment to at least six more.

Hahahahaha this is hysterical!!!!

Pinside #14 Tales of the Arabian Nights
Pinside #16 Theatre of Magic
Pinside #23 Cirqus Voltaire

With hundreds/thousands of passionate pinsiders offering their informed views, well I'll choose to just laugh!! Average or below average?! Tell that to the pinsiders.

Collectors and players are in a sense interchangeable. Impassioned players in large measure collect and collectors are mostly players albeit in domestic surroundings. I stand by the pinsiders who have proven themselves knowledgeable and articulate.

My post was published to talk about future CGC releases not to access the nature and intricacy of pinball competition.

Yeah to each is own in that regard. That is why I never discuss shelf life on these threads as they are so subjective and worthless.

Touche Kiwipinhead, now THAT is admittedly sage advice!!!!!

We do own four though now: TAF, Elvis, MM and Gilligan's Island.

LOL, I knew Magic Girl would be broached on this thread when i posted it.

Notice Metallik, I did NOT nor WILL NOT downgrade your answer as you did mine (above) as I am seeing this as a civil discussion. Not sure how or why Jersey Pinball was brought in as my post was solely to access the viability of titles being posed or considered by Chicago Gaming as part of their re-make schedule. CGC is of course aiming at the collector's market, which in turn is fueled by on-location pinning dating back decades. I've played DIALED IN, TWOZ and THE HOBBIT many many times and appreciate their challenges and aesthetics and furthermore fully ascertain their appeal in competition, but I am looking at a full picture here, i.e. what do some of us want to own in our home collections based on a consideration of a number of factors, all of which can be accessed in pinsider game ratings.

I disagreed with your post, but I refuse to advertise it, feeling I can ably elaborate in the discussion. OK, you did not mention Jersey Jack, I accidentally erred by misreading JPOP. My apologies on that.

Thank you so much! Yes you are quite right methinks. TOM is a very popular choice, and when CGC makes it I'll be there with the green.

DBLM, I have to say I agree with everything you say here. So far aside from the JPOP bashing/indifference that has surfaced in fair measure, TOM is leading the vote in my query. I will continue to monitor it and will release results when the thread has run its course.

That's fine, I am less concerned with who the dominant inspiration was behind these games than I am with the prospects of these pinball masterpieces being re-made.

I do agree with ONE of your contentions here for sure, the one that asserts that CV is a pain in the ass to keep running on location. I have seen this in numerous places including Asbury Park Pinball Museum, Sunshine Laudromat etc., but I am thinking/hoping a prospective CGC re-make will successfully address this previous propensity. It seems clear now based on press releases from Rick that TOM will definitely be re-made now, with the others being considered.

Jawjaw, thank you for the reasonable response here. The "hefty" price tag you are anticipating will be like the previous CGC re-makes.

We are talking 7K with perhaps an additional $500 or so for the expected LE version, so a bit less methinks than MM, AFM and the expected MB in LE incarnation. It has already been announced that your favored THEATRE OF MAGIC will be re-made at this point. Unless the powers-that-be have a change of heart, expect to see it:

http://thisweekinpinball.com/twip-likely-remakes-revealed-clues-ask-steve-ritchie-twipy-host-announced/

From a business standpoint, they feel it is a smart move actually.

http://thisweekinpinball.com/twip-likely-remakes-revealed-clues-ask-steve-ritchie-twipy-host-announced/

My friend I just bought MMR not more than six weeks ago for 8K from a CT dealer. I agree with you that AFMR is a bit cheaper for the reason you say, but let's face it none of us can expect to see ANY future CGC remake for less than 7K. I am hoping it stays at that price point.

Not an opinion I remotely agree with and not one pinside voters concur with by a longshot, but I asked for opinions here and you gave yours which is fair enough. When one presses the start button on CV, TOTAN or TOM one is transported with heavenly bliss to a rapturous pinball dimension, a place where ownership beckons in a big way

Translation: For.my time and money CV, TOTAN and TOM play as magnificently as they look and sound.

Aye Honch. I knew when I published this post there would be vitriol hurled at JPOP, whose stellar creativity speaks for itself and whose games at Pinside are enjoying a sustained and lofty run in the Solid State Top 25. While a good number here have been passionate there are some dismissive, confusing fact with opinion. As THEATRE OF MAGIC has already been named by Rick for the re-make schedule and CV and TOTAN real possibilities pinball will triumph over cynicism in the end.

Aye Tommy P. I knew when I published this post there would be vitriol hurled at JPOP, whose stellar creativity speaks for itself and whose games at Pinside are enjoying a sustained and lofty run in the Solid State Top 25. While a good number here have been passionate there are some dismissive, confusing fact with opinion. As THEATRE OF MAGIC has already been named by Rick for the re-make schedule and CV and TOTAN real possibilities pinball will triumph over cynicism in the end.

Well my friend, snarkiness can go both ways. You inquire about the generally accepted definition of "masterpiece." Ah, let's see....Dreyer's "La Passion de Jeanne d'Arc", Murnau's "Sunrise" and Ozu's "Tokyo Story" are cinematic masterpieces. Shakespeare's "Hamlet," Miller's "Death of a Salesman" and Sophocles' "Oedipus Rex" are masterpieces of the stage; Mozart's "Clarinet Concerto in A major", Tchaikovsky's Symphony No. 6 (Pathetique) and Ravel's "Bolero" are classical music masterworks; Melville's "Moby Dick", Dickens' "Great Expectations" and Tolstoy's "War and Peace" are masterpiece novels and Da Vinci's "Mona Lisa", van Gogh's "The Starry Night" and Munch's "The Scream" are painting masterpieces. In the far more innocuous world of pinball, I judge masterpieces of the form on the art, sounds, game play, durability, general theme and design and passionate engagement of the machines I feel qualify for the ultimate annointment. Pinsiders have spoken with their ratings, and apparently CGC is listening.

So I'm a "JPOP Fanboy" by your reckoning, yet I rated THEATRE OF MAGIC with a 4ish rating?! And then you up the ante even further by suggesting I may be JPOP himself in apparent masochist mode. Yes I am JPOP coming on here to downgrade one of my machines. Did you ever think that my ratings, while trying to be close to the way I feel were also tempered with strategic aims? I have long felt GILLIGAN'S ISLAND was grossly underrated and thought I'd try and boost it so it would place in the Top 300. I stated at the outset of this thread that THEATRE OF MAGIC was my least favorite of JPOP's games in an effort to get some affection for CV and TOTAN now that TOM is headed for a re-make. But yes, I would indeed still purchase TOM, because I feel CGC's superb work will make virtually all their new releases irresistible if financially feasible for the buyer...........but anyway, here ya go. My name is Sam Juliano. I am 63 years old, I reside at 7 Spruce Street, Fairview, NJ, 07022. Literature and creative writing teacher for 35 years in my hometown in a school where my wife serves as Principal. We have five kids, all pinball fans (22, 21, 19, 17, 16.) I don't know JPOP from Adam, but have long thought him one creative talent, regardless of some indiscretions connected to his aborted projects.

Hahahaha Levil! true what you say!! But be rest assured I am counting and when this thread peters out i will release the results. It should be clear though at this point that TOM is leading, which supports CGC's recent press release, committing to the title.

Nah I didn't find what I did such a glaring ethical breach at all, just a desire to win some recognition for an underrated machine. As to "that's not the way it works" it works the way each person would like it to work. The top rating in any case reflected my true feelings anyway.

Nevus, this is a fair and reasonable post down the line. I do well understand that JPOP was involved in this lamentable episode, and I feel this is somewhat unjustly affecting his past work with some. (Others here have still defended his artistry in this divided thread). Though I stand solidly with the pinsiders who have celebrated the excellent game play in his most beloved machines, I fully acknowledge that aesthetic beauty is a large part of the appeal. I do feel that this aspect of pinball collecting remains paramount to my own tastes, as it does with so many others.

Pretty much as YOU have done here in forging your own rules, which you feel others must follow. And getting pretty personal as well in these undeserved attacks you've heaved my way on this thread, all because I have the temerity to love some games by JPOP, games pinsiders have rated mightily.

Ah a cheerleader employing gang up. Thanks but no thanks. Maybe YOU need to take the chill pill. I posted to spread positive energy for beloved games.

Really? Is that why TOM, TOTAN and CV are all entrenched in the pinside Top 25, with glowing assessments and eternal love? But by all means spew forth with the hate. We want some comedy on this thread too in addition to the astute votes and observations being posted.

Jeff, methinks this is truly a banner response!!!! Awesome! The King of Magnets is most apt absolutely!!

Between all the ranting against JPOP and the genuine veneration for his sublime pinball creations, I have here the current standings for the CGC re-make prospects on Sunday morning, April 29th. By a narrow margin, CGC's intentions have been validated at this point:

1. Theatre of Magic 6
2. Cirqus Voltaire 5
3. Tales of the Arabian Nights 4
4. World Cup Soccer 3

Hopefully there will be more votes cast moving forward. Thanks so much to all!

Jeff, I asked in the title of my query which machine did respondents think CGC should do next, and basically intertwined it with a general and relevant opinion as to what what machine each person likes best. All of the questions you present are connected to what each person will say no doubt. My vote also went to CV, but I would at this stage buy any and all of the three. Though our model here is quite small I think it is somewhat telling that so far CGC's stated commitment to re-make TOM has been modestly validated in this query, but I dare say we do have a way to go if this thread has legs. Also, I have a sneaky suspicion all your framings are being pondered by CGC before and when they move forward with the re-make. Unless there is a drastic misgiving I think Rick has already firmed up with CGC plans to make TOM again, so this thread is just a furthering of the discussion and an innocuous vote in food for thought mode.

Look this is a post about three beloved pinball machines. I asked for a VOTE.I did NOT ask for a character investigation on a person, who coincidentally is also a creative genius. Nobody is forcing you to vote. ....Next.

Not able to fix prior post right now as I have cell phone and am covering Tribeca Film Festival. I am not gaming any system, as I rated a scant six machines total. Just bought a mint Gilligan''s Island weeks back and was so thrilled and excited with it that I decided to do something I had never done previously, and that is to rate a machine!!!! Pinside needed five more to count my GI What you fail to include in your repeated mentioning of this is that my "boost"coincided with my true feelings on the game........The only truth I see is that all machines are beloved.

Hahahahahaha!!! Right. I post a poll thread, express unbridled passion while combating arrogance and venom and for that I am now labeled a "troll." OK. Look in the mirror.

Creative geniuses are often quite flawed.

Thank you. If I live a long life, I'll indeed enjoy playing, looking at and listening to them.

Oh God no, there are millions, billions, trillions of JPOPS out there. In fact there is a JPOP living in just about every town in the world. For decades I considered TOTAN and CV supreme pinball masterpieces but now that you have degreed otherwise I bow down to you oh master.

Mitch, this thread is about choosing which JPOP title pinball aficianados would prefer CGC to make first, not the level of real or padded love a New Jerseyite has for a newly acquired Gilligan's Island machine has for said buyer during the honeymoon phase. You must excuse me for availing myself of the pinside rating system during such a biased period of initiation when literally all the specific ratings points were made during a time of infatuation. Perhaps my penchant to spread good will and positive energy does not make me the ideal grader in this sense, that is largely why I have rated so very few machines. It would exceedingly more productive to explore the reasons why thousands of other pinsiders have praised TOTAN, TOM and CV through the rafters to the tune of Top 25 for each rather than sniffing a far reaching conspiracy that at least one other on this thread seems to think was launched or defined by moi........anyway, yes I do well understand indeed how the ratings work, I just in the future if I rate again need to reign in my desire to celebrate.

I am not quite sure how to respond to you here W166, as I am under the impression pinside has revised their rules fairly recently. I understand though that you are making a general statement and a most fair one at that.

Aye my friend, precisely. A number of people are unable to separate John Popadiuk from his work. Yes they have very good reason to be furious, but this should not taint these great machines........all so well stated.

Both actually. That''s why both were stated. As to dubious ethics, based on my desire to celebrate pinball machines....God you seriously need to get a life, and stop trolling me on this thread like a broken record.

Spiro, there was never any statement from any source that intimated that Theatre of Magic was the "next" re-make. The press release, easily accessed online mentions TOM after MB, CC and BBB but the point is that it IS one of the ONLY four that have been mentioned, meaning we probably won't see until 2021 unless the frequency of release is speeded up. Speculation has also focused on TOTAN and CV, but unlike TOM it is just educated guessing unlike TOM which was named.......I like your post a lot, even if I love JPOP''s work much more because your arguments are intelligent, knowledgeable, humble and polite, devoid of name calling and anger employed on this thread when a respondent is unable to separate JPOP from his work.

AFM95, I am on my cell phone at home but will be sure to post the link to you as soon as I get on the school PC in the morning.

Yet I am the one who created this post and politely asked for votes. You came barging in full of anger spewing opinions as if they were facts. Nah, YOU are the troll trying unsucessfully to crash a pinball celebration party. Rather than making endless appearances here I have a better solution. Copy a photo on line of JPOP and attach it to that dart board hanging in your basement. Maybe that will allow you a better outlet for your anger management issues.

Mark, I did something wrong in posting the poll formally, but be rest assured my friend your vote for WCS has been officially counted. Thank you.

AFM95, here is the promised link:

https://pinside.com/pinball/forum/topic/no-more-speculation-planetary-pinball-to-remake-mb-bbb-tom-and-cc

Awesome, absolutely fantastic comment here in every sense Rum-Z. I so agree with your wonderfully framed and passionate position on CV and the other games! Thank you so much!

I find it hilarious that you would waste my time and your own time visiting a thread created to discuss favorite prospects of a well-known designer for possible CGC re-make to instead divert to attempt mockery for my ratings of a newly acquired machine that my family and I have been enjoying greatly. But heaven forbid you would dare say anything nice in view of my previous explanations, but since I have NOT rated DI or TWD and in fact have only rated six (6) machines in total, how can you assert that I found GI "better" than those two? Since I issued 10s to several others, it seems likely I'd have spread the wealth. When I return home later from a family dinner I will be removing my six ratings from pinside so trolls on this thread will no.longer be able to focus on an issue that is wholly insignificant and irrevelevent to the query I have posed.

Wow that"'s so fantastic bigd!! Best wishes with your beautiful new CV acquisition!!

That is fair enough and very well stated and reasoned. Would you happen to have a favored choice among JPOP''s machines to be re-made by CGC?

Thanks so much Noitbe1!!!

My six game ratings have officially been cancelled and will be reflected in next Monday''s new cumulative standings.

Thank you so much for that JJHLK!! Much appreciated. You are right methinks, and standing my ground was an appealing option. I only buckled in fear that the main focus of this thread would be compromised. I do intend to return to the ratings and also expand in volume. Thanks again.

Pinhead, you are a man after my own sensibilities. Your uplifting post is music to my ears, and your vote and engagement here deeply appreciated!

VOTING RESULT ANNOUNCEMENT!

It seems this thread has ebbed, though it is also conceivable further action may come to pass.

At present here is where we stand:

1. Cirqus Voltaire 10
2. Theatre of Magic 8
3. Tales of the Arabian Nights 6
4. World Cup Soccer 4

Thanks so much to all who have engaged and cast ballots!