This is an issue that that has perplexed me since I was a teenager. When there is a certain machine that I can consistently beat on score and light up the Specials and score them as well, as confusing as it is to the pin heads, I use the expression that I 'own' the machine.
I 'own' these Williams machines... Spacelab, Cyclone
I also 'own' these Bally machines... Eight Ball (Deluxe), Lost World... end of list
Then we come to Gottlieb... I 'own' Far Out, Fire Queen, Pro-Pool, Astro, Dimension, Strange World, Atlantis, Close Encounters, TKO, Neptune, Joker Poker, Ship Ahoy, Capt Card, Mini-Pool, Big Brave, Pop-A-Card, Flip-A-Card, Centigrade 37, and a few others, not to mention the ones that I am currently working on.
These percentages just don't add up, unless Gottlieb did actually make 7 - 10 times more machines than Bally and Williams did. The part that doesn't make sense to me, is my lack of ability to conquer the Bally. The EM Williams machines play a little to fast for my style of play, so I understand that. But I actually find the Bally machines to be smoother, and thereby they should be easier to beat. They don't have out of line scoring, and their Specials don't involve any more difficulty then the Gottlieb. as a matter of fact, I find Gottlieb to be a lot more unforgiving when shots are missed.
WOW! Might have just answered my own question there, after all these years. Perhaps I just don't focus as well on a Bally table because I don't respect it's ability to punish me. Any other input?