(Topic ID: 168276)

Will this be the death of mechanical pinball?

By Davidus56

7 years ago


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  • 244 posts
  • 118 Pinsiders participating
  • Latest reply 7 years ago by klr650
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    There are 244 posts in this topic. You are on page 1 of 5.
    -30
    #1 7 years ago

    I'm a big collector. I grew up on pinball and love the gameplay. I was intrigued by the early video pinball games by Zen Studios, but not particularly inspired. I played pinball in virtual reality on Occulus last night and it is uncanny how real it appears. I played the pin called 'Mars' and watched in awe as various scenes played out on the cabinet - like spider bots climbing on the sides and top.
    The early tables and screen resolution are not there yet, but they will improve. I would not be surprised if in 5 years the VR game play is so superior that mechanical pins die out. I have a pretty decent collection. Do those go up in value in 20-30 years or become boat anchors? If you haven't tried VR pinball, you need to. It is mind blowing!

    110
    #3 7 years ago

    There's porn but me and the wife still do it.

    So, no.

    #4 7 years ago

    No.

    #5 7 years ago

    There are so many nuances to playing a real pinball machine. This is especially true of EM machines. A huge part of my enjoyment comes from the mechanical noises the score motor, score reels, drop target resets and the like make during game play. Those noises are seemingly absent from virtual pinball platforms.

    #6 7 years ago

    Dog fight brewing? (see both your pics).

    #7 7 years ago

    No

    #8 7 years ago

    It is impressive tech for sure. I watched a show where they built the front end of a pinball table so you had real buttons, tactical feedback and such. It seems like a real solidary experience to me and I usually play Pinball in a group of people which is obviously an issue.

    15
    #9 7 years ago

    Sorry, but VR pinball just ain't the same thing as real pinball.

    #10 7 years ago

    No.

    LTG : )

    #12 7 years ago
    Quoted from Davidus56:

    I'm a big collector. I grew up on pinball and love the gameplay. I was intrigued by the early video pinball games by Zen Studios, but not particularly inspired. I played pinball in virtual reality on Occulus last night and it is uncanny how real it appears. I played the pin called 'Mars' and watched in awe as various scenes played out on the cabinet - like spider bots climbing on the sides and top.
    The early tables and screen resolution are not there yet, but they will improve. I would not be surprised if in 5 years the VR game play is so superior that mechanical pins die out. I have a pretty decent collection. Do those go up in value in 20-30 years or become boat anchors? If you haven't tried VR pinball, you need to. It is mind blowing!

    Lord no, a million times no.

    "Virtual" pinball in all forms sucks unadulterated ass.

    Except the Atari 2600 game, that's pretty fun.

    You want to lose some money? Waste it on a VR game and get a fraction of your cash back when it's time to dump it.

    #13 7 years ago

    Virtual pinball will never get the development time or money to improve enough to resemble reality. Interest is a fraction of real pinball and that is a niche itself.

    #14 7 years ago
    Quoted from radium:

    There's porn but me and the wife still do it.
    So, no.

    Ha! Quite the perfect comparison.

    I would like to try a VR setup but don't think it will ever replace the real thing.

    #15 7 years ago

    I'm pretty sure they'll all be boat anchors. So let me take that CV and TOM off your hands at boat anchor prices!

    #16 7 years ago

    no chance in hell

    #17 7 years ago

    Virtual pinball will not kill real pinball.... it will find it's own way to die.

    -3
    #18 7 years ago

    CrazyLevy, you didn't pay attention to my post. VR is impressive today, but has some limitations. In 5 years it will be mind blowing. I own 46 pins in my collection. I have played video pinball and I agree, it doesn't come close to real pins. But the VR I tried last night was incredible. You are standing at what your mind perceives as a real pinball machine. Once the table play and screen resolution improve, it will supercede the physical table. What can be done with video software will greatly surpass what can be done with a mechanical pin.

    I suppose if you were alive at the turn of the 20th century (maybe u were), you would have been lambasting cars, saying they will never replace horses. Btw genius, the Atari is not the same as VR. Totally different. At least have some understanding of the differences before you spout out.

    #19 7 years ago
    Quoted from Davidus56:

    You are standing at what your mind perceives as a real pinball machine.

    If I can't feel the mechanical action, then my mind can't be fooled like that.

    #20 7 years ago

    Probably not. However there is no reason that both cannot be fun and exist. I like to use VR pinball to learn rules and get a sense of what a PF layout is like. VR does have it's uses for sure. I would love to try Occulus or the like one day. Just kind of waiting for it to mature a little to be honest.

    #21 7 years ago
    Quoted from Davidus56:

    CrazyLevy, you didn't pay attention to my post. VR is impressive today, but has some limitations. In 5 years it will be mind blowing.
    I suppose if you were alive at the turn of the 20th century (maybe u were), you would have been lambasting cars, saying they will never replace horses.

    It can blow my mind all it wants. The world is not going VR, it's still just too much fun to do real stuff. Your prophecy is ridiculous.

    And nice lame-ass cargument. Seriously, that's one of the worst ones I've ever heard, and they are almost all terrible.

    Yes, in 1903 I would have been running around the farm telling everybody that cars would never replace horses. You nailed it man!

    Let me turn your cargument back on you:

    So, according to you, in five years when VR is properly mind-blowing, none of us will own cars anymore, right? We will just put on our headsets and "drive" to our favorite restaurant in our mind-blowingly realistic virtual car, right?

    #23 7 years ago

    I remember 15 years ago when the big buzzword was virtual , i sat in a room by myself saying ... but this is real , why have a fake copy ?

    #24 7 years ago
    Quoted from Astill:

    I remember 15 years ago when the big buzzword was virtual , i sat in a room by myself saying ... but this is real , why have a fake copy ?

    Yes, I remember when "virtual" and "EXTREME!" were vying for our attention in every other Newsweek story and commercial. Those were heady days!

    #25 7 years ago
    Quoted from Davidus56:

    CrazyLevy, you didn't pay attention to my post. VR is impressive today, but has some limitations. In 5 years it will be mind blowing. I own 46 pins in my collection. I have played video pinball and I agree, it doesn't come close to real pins. But the VR I tried last night was incredible. You are standing at what your mind perceives as a real pinball machine. Once the table play and screen resolution improve, it will supercede the physical table. What can be done with video software will greatly surpass what can be done with a mechanical pin.
    I suppose if you were alive at the turn of the 20th century (maybe u were), you would have been lambasting cars, saying they will never replace horses. Btw genius, the Atari is not the same as VR. Totally different. At least have some understanding of the differences before you spout out.

    Dude, it's not happening. No one in this post agrees with you.

    Let it go.

    #26 7 years ago
    Quoted from Davidus56:

    CrazyLevy, you didn't pay attention to my post. VR is impressive today, but has some limitations. In 5 years it will be mind blowing. I own 46 pins in my collection. I have played video pinball and I agree, it doesn't come close to real pins. But the VR I tried last night was incredible. You are standing at what your mind perceives as a real pinball machine. Once the table play and screen resolution improve, it will supercede the physical table. What can be done with video software will greatly surpass what can be done with a mechanical pin.
    I suppose if you were alive at the turn of the 20th century (maybe u were), you would have been lambasting cars, saying they will never replace horses. Btw genius, the Atari is not the same as VR. Totally different. At least have some understanding of the differences before you spout out.

    Car simulators are already further along than pinball and have been for years. No one is ditching their race cars / collector cars for a vr setup. Some race teams use them for practice, but still practice in the real car. The same can be said of flight simulators.

    The only people who buy into VR are the ones who cannot afford the real thing, period. It doesn't matter what vr is trying to replicate. You buy it because you don't have the space or don't have the funds. It is not a replacement.

    #27 7 years ago

    There's those prissy spoiled kids who will refuse to play it but then once it's virtual it's cool and unfortunately those are the people who dictate what's "in", but I don't think it's going to single-handedly kill it. We're all still alive, and we're all pretty... dedicated. To say the least.

    #28 7 years ago

    Nope, still can't replace the real thing.

    #29 7 years ago

    Nope.

    For me, part of the fun is hunting, collecting, repairing, and getting to meet other hobbyists. Virtual pinball is a good supplement for playing a game on-the-go or being able to play a game you don't own or have access to, but it won't completely replace a physical pin or the activities that surround it.

    #30 7 years ago

    There's nothing like the real thing...however, I have 10 pins and a virtual pin...with pinball fx2,pin all arcade and visual pinball running. I play my "real" pins a lot, don't ban me for saying this, but I play the virtual pin more.
    It's a different beast, but to me, just as addidictive. Guitar hero isn't "real" guitar, and racing games aren't "real" race cars.....but virtual pinball is a hell of a lot closer to the real thing as both of those type of games.
    As far as competitive play, there are monthly tournaments for pbfx2 and pinball arcade....and PBA has a head to head in beta now! I'd love fo real pinball to be able to play online with other pins of the same kind and settings.
    I play in league every week...and I absolutely love real pinball......I don't think pinball will die, but it will have to evolve.

    #31 7 years ago

    no way

    #32 7 years ago
    Quoted from Davidus56:

    In 5 years it will be mind blowing.

    Maybe, but it will still be an imitation of the real thing.

    Quoted from Davidus56:

    ... Once the table play and screen resolution improve, it will supercede the physical table. What can be done with video software will greatly surpass what can be done with a mechanical pin.

    Nope. It may be an amazing video game, and look like pinball - but again, it won't be the 'real deal'. No matter how may times people try to convince me - I'll ALWAYS prefer the 'real deal' to some virtual imitation.

    -2
    #33 7 years ago

    Most of the people posting here are confusing 'video' pinball with 'virtual' pinball. They are NOT the same. THERE ARE NO RACING SIMULATORS IN VR YET! Virtual Reality and Video pinball (i.e. VPCabs) are totally different animals. Pinballfx2 is not Virtual reality.

    #34 7 years ago

    It may eventually, but I don't think it will be in 5 years.

    #35 7 years ago
    Quoted from Davidus56:

    CrazyLevy, you didn't pay attention to my post. VR is impressive today, but has some limitations. In 5 years it will be mind blowing. I own 46 pins in my collection. I have played video pinball and I agree, it doesn't come close to real pins. But the VR I tried last night was incredible. You are standing at what your mind perceives as a real pinball machine. Once the table play and screen resolution improve, it will supercede the physical table. What can be done with video software will greatly surpass what can be done with a mechanical pin.
    I suppose if you were alive at the turn of the 20th century (maybe u were), you would have been lambasting cars, saying they will never replace horses. Btw genius, the Atari is not the same as VR. Totally different. At least have some understanding of the differences before you spout out.

    I think VR in it's own right will need a lot of things to break right to catch on; but assuming it does, and assuming this next form of Virtual Pinball is really that good, then it will only raise the value of real life pins...I think we will see a sharp increase in prices of the classic 80's and 90's Bally Williams pins; they will be worth double what they are now in about 20 years I think.

    #36 7 years ago

    how-bout-no-dr-evil-meme (resized).jpghow-bout-no-dr-evil-meme (resized).jpg

    #37 7 years ago

    Personally I think every ""Real Table" plays different making it more entertaining or frustrating haha. But until they can simulate wear and tear it will never be the "same". Rubbers bounce different, and ball rolling across a playfield depending on condition and other environmental factors all effect game play. I don't see how they can randomize this effect.

    #38 7 years ago
    Quoted from ForceFlow:

    Nope.
    For me, part of the fun is hunting, collecting, repairing, and getting to meet other hobbyists.

    Dude...you'll be able to do all of that stuff VIRTUALLY!

    It'll be mind-blowing!

    #39 7 years ago

    Don't see it. In most of our life times anyways...

    #40 7 years ago
    Quoted from dung:

    Car simulators are already further along than pinball and have been for years. No one is ditching their race cars / collector cars for a vr setup. Some race teams use them for practice, but still practice in the real car. The same can be said of flight simulators.
    The only people who buy into VR are the ones who cannot afford the real thing, period. It doesn't matter what vr is trying to replicate. You buy it because you don't have the space or don't have the funds. It is not a replacement.

    Good analogy. A nice force feedback controller and giant screen surrounding you makes for a bad ass racing simulator, but you don't die when you crash the simulator, so the adrenaline isn't there. No way to reproduce that unless the VR simulator comes with Uncle Rico's time machine.
    download (resized).jpgdownload (resized).jpg

    As for pinball, the physicality will always be appealing...enough so for VR not to be the thing to kill it off.

    What WILL kill it off are the stupid prices they're going for these days in combo with when the market hits saturation.

    #41 7 years ago

    No thanks! I'll stick with the real thing....

    #42 7 years ago

    So you are going to strap on some stank vr helmet in a bar? What do other players get to look at while you are doing a stupid Darth Vader impression? No thanks.

    #43 7 years ago

    Never. The entire point of pinball is the physical experience. Use VR for something new, trying to make pinball amazing in it is a waste of time. If the kids don't dig the physical and it dies then let it die. Living on some kind of sad Occulus life support would just be depressing.

    5124200524a19b253c1a4bd87dc4534f (resized).jpg5124200524a19b253c1a4bd87dc4534f (resized).jpg

    #44 7 years ago

    In Johnnie Cochranese: "If it has no feel, it has no appeal."

    Defense of real pinball rests.

    #45 7 years ago

    VR will never replace real world experiences. It is simply a different view into an existing experience. It is going to be great for video games played in the first person. It will create some cool virtual rides and marketing demos. People are really getting caught up in the hype, Ready Player One is long way off.

    #46 7 years ago

    I can barely manage analog reality, let alone the virtual kind.

    But in the end, analog is more tanigble, tasteable, hearable, feelable, and liveable.

    So the answer is no. Not by a long shot.

    You want to know the stupidest thing I have seen in years? Someone handed me a Samsung phone VR headset to get me - a tech cynic - to finally see what I was missing. I'll admit, it was unexpectedly impressive and immersive. I was almost taken aback by how my senses were momentarily fooled. I could see some beneficial uses of the tech. But that wasn't the dumb part.

    The dumb part - and I mean really, truly, mind-blowingly stupid - was when he told me to switch to the "simulated living room". Yeah OK so it's swankier than mine and maybe this is how the 5% live in their vacation home or whatever, that's kinda neat like how MYST was in 1993. "But wait! See that [virtual] TV over there? Turn it on... you can watch NETFLIX on that VR TV! Like it browses your account and stuff... try it!"

    This was said while I was standing in a REAL room with a 52" 4K HDTV not 5 feet away...

    At that point I removed the headset and said thanks, but no.

    #47 7 years ago
    Quoted from Davidus56:

    You are standing at what your mind perceives as a real pinball machine.

    Trying to wrap my head around the hardware setup for this.
    You are wearing the headset thing. And you're standing in front of what?
    Does it have flipper buttons? Start button? Shooter rod? Force feedback? Can you nudge? Tilt?

    11
    #48 7 years ago

    “The reports of my death are greatly exaggerated.”
    - Mechanical Pinball

    #49 7 years ago

    VR is nothing more than a passing fad that the coffee sipping crowd might find trendy for a short while. It's EVERYWHERE here in the Shenzhen markets and I have personally witnessed this sort of thing come and go over many years being at these markets almost on a daily basis. Wait 6 months and they will have all moved on to the "next big thing".

    The last "big thing" was hoverboards, before that drones, they seem to be sticking at the moment.

    Pinball (that's REAL mechanical pinball) will not be replaced by such nonsense. The biggest appeal of REAL pinball (as many others have already said) is the mechanical action, the clunking of the mechanisms/reels/solenoids not some fake, idiotic "virtual" situation...Pffffttt.

    #50 7 years ago

    I don't know that anyone has even tried the vr experience of pinball the op is talking about -- what's with all the pitchforks? Try it before you disagree, see how it feels. I have not but am intrigued. Without any comparison though offhand it sounds like something cool to have either in companion to real machines (like I virtual cab) or for people with no room for pinball -- in fact I see it getting more people into pinball if they have a headset and get into it. I'd def like to try it out -- just the sample things on the oculus at the store were pretty cool even if you look like a complete idiot wearing the googles haha

    There are 244 posts in this topic. You are on page 1 of 5.

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