Quoted from PopBumperPete:you put a coin in the chute, and the motor starts whiring, relays reset and score reels turn to zero
a single ball is launched into the shooter lane
its now me against the machine
launching the ball starts the game, targets are hit, your score increases
you think you are in control of the ball, you flip the ball and hit a target, but your mastery is just an illusion, eventually you loose control of the ball. the machine wins again (but only just).
you insert another coin
This is certainly part of it, but I've always liked games with balls/contraptions, etc. I liked building those marble towers as a kid, playing games like Fireball Island, Mouse Trap, etc. Pinball takes that and adds far greater interaction (and less down time setting up and cleaning up)...then they break, which for many of us becomes half the fun in troubleshooting (always rewarding to fix them ). Of course the artwork is a significant perk as well, and part of what guides what I bring home.