Sorcerer and High Speed in 1986 at Tilt in Laguna Hills Mall. Then they got a Devil Riders in around '87. That thing was so weird and hard. Became obsessed.

Cyclone.

I'd been playing pinball since the '70s, but to a teenage kid in the '80s, video games were more attention grabbing. But as I was constantly in the arcades I'd keep up with pinball as well, just secondary to video games. Cyclone was the first game I really noticed with a big personality and sense of humor, that had something more than targets to hit, and I became obsessed with it. Of course it wasn't the first pinball to have these traits, it was just the first one I noticed. And then shortly after that came Funhouse, and Addams, and so on with the great humor and presentation, while video games were going heavily towards fighters and away from classic arcade action, and pinball felt more exciting and unique and fun.

My love affair with pinball began with Data East Guns N Roses.
To this day it’s still one of my favorite pins.
It’s like peanut butter and jelly in as far as what you see is what you get.
Simplistic, yet complex.
Most of my brother in laws and my wife’s brother are Guns N Roses fans and we have spent many a night drinking and playing that pin until the sun has come up.
I look forward to the next time they are out so we can do it again. Especially so because I now have a JJP Guns N Roses to put alongside it.

No Fear

F-14 tomcat, Hook and DE Simpsons are the pins that it it going for me in the early 90s. Had to get them and will always have them in the collection. Oh the memories they bring back.

The Shadow.

I always liked pinball, but didn’t seek it out. I always wanted a machine, but it was never the right time.

When COVID hit I became obsessed with the idea of pinball (I have NO idea why). I played on my phone, watched videos, and read a lot on Pinside. After lots of research I decided the Shadow was likely the best bang for my buck. I found one not too far away (but the border was closed) and had it shipped. I had played it at least once in my childhood, and remembered enjoying it.

It was the first machine I played while knowing what the objectives were. That, coupled with how great the machine feels, and I was completely sold. Can’t wait until I can join a league and go to tournaments.

Lord of the rings.

I cant really say exactly which pin, but I for sure know which pin got me starting to really enjoy EMs. And it was my good buddys Bow and Arrow. Just love those spinners and the bonus collect. Mmm

Gogar

Williams Flash (it was so different and "flashy"), then original Black Knight (two levels!), then I really got into video games, but have now come full circle and am back to pinball.

HS2 at a local bowling alley just came out and was the new game. I just graduated HS and was where we went to go almost every night to smoke and play. Good times! Finally 10 years ago it circled back and was my first pin.

Some EM game a friend of the family had in their basement growing up in the mid-70s. I still don't remember to this day what game it was but I'd spend the whole day down there playing it when we were visiting.

Stargate really got me hooked. We were on family vacation at some beach. Went to a boardwalk arcade and I saw the row of pins. I feel like I spent hours playing that game, in reality it was probably close to 45min. My siblings and cousins blew through all of their quarters almost immediately, but I was able to hold onto some change and I've loved pinball ever since. I play Stargate any chance I get now, and eventually I will buy a really nice one.

Bally Eight Ball and Playboy at a bowling alley when I was a kid

I don't know a specific one, but I think I played High Speed early on, but mostly remember games like TAF, Guns 'n Roses, Jurassic Park and TFTC from the snackbar and DrWho and other 90's games: in the snackbars, campings and in the pub when I was 12 to 16 years old.

For me it was not one pin but many...

STTNG at believe it or not-Red Robin restaurant lobby

WH20 at my local bowling alley

Adams, TZ, and Tommy at Tilt arcade

We had a crew that would take our lunch breaks from school and go & play. Those were the days

You can probably guess what year the pinball bug bit me?

Funhouse

no one game, but the good friends and many pinball acquaintances

Got bored of a bowling trip as a small child, and my dad suggested I play something in the arcade area. They had a Rollergames, and I lost my first ball through the left INlane because I didn't know I was supposed to press the flipper button.

Then a ball trough switch malfunctioned and gifted me with an endless game. The rest is history.

Dixieland in 1969!

Gorgar at the local mini mart first.
Then High speed in the blowing alley in 80s. I would stop by after school almost everyday and see how long I could make 75 cents last. I was wowed by it and knew I would have one someday. I just didn’t know HS would end up along side 19 others in my house!

Well not when it first came out, but it sat next to a Gottlieb Hurdy Gurdy in '68 at Pasttimes Lanes bowling alley back in Dayton Ohio, where my Dad had league bowling every Wednesday night. The HG was $0.25 a play for 5 balls, the Humpty Dumpty was $0.10 for 5 balls. The change from a beer frame (after buying a round for everyone) was $0.35 and my Dad would give it to my brother and I, and Mitch would drop a quarter in HG and I would play Humpty Dumpty. I was just tall enough to see over the lockbar. My Dad figured my Mom needed one night off a week so he took us with him and gave her Wednesday nights to herself. Big part of why they had good relationship, I think.

Did you shoot the pyramid?

WCS94

You know it I was stoked when I saw that thing open up. I think the main reason that game drew me in was the seemingly endless multiballs.

Several. Gorgar, Black Knight, Paragon, Flight 2000, Close Encounters, Totem, Silverball Mania, and many others from that era.

Whatever game the bar had in it in the back corner when my parents would take me in the 80s. Then in the 90s it was Medieval Madness at the bowling alley. Then the recent one was Ghostbusters.

I had access to a Gilligan's island as a kid. My best friend had one in his bedroom. Awesome times ! Also had taf at the arcade and t2 which really lit my fire !!