Williams

Dealer's Choice

Pinside Rating

This game received 22 approved Pinsider ratings and currently rates 7.472 _/10

7.472

Top 100 ranking

This game ranks #197 in the Pinside EM Top 100.

Score breakdown

Score breakdown in the 4 main categories:

Game Design: 7.513

Artwork: 7.434

Sounds/Music: 3.938

Other Aspects: 7.607

Pinside staff rating

None of the Pinside.com staff have rated this game. Sorry, no rating from us.

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Found 14 ratings (with comment) on this game

There are 14 ratings (that include a comment) on this game.
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6.800/10

6 months ago

PGR

VALIS666

Pinside+ Frequent

4y 116K 1,129 245 1

I think I rated every single category a 4/6, making this the most mediocre game possible! It's really fast for a game from '74 with a wide open playfield, 4 flippers, and lively slings and pops. A nice clean version of this will see the ball fly around like you wouldn't believe for its time. So that's something. But there's just not that much to do. Hit the center rollovers or the left side standups, the end. Artwork is functional, but I like that black backglass.

8.029/10

1 year ago

SHU

SHU44

Pinside member

Clay, NY

3y 17,250 5 2 8

I always find the Williams games play fast and this game is no exception. It is a fun game that is pretty open with 3 pop bumpers at the top. There are two flippers on the left side and one on the right side. On the right side about half way up play field is another flipper that allows to fire the ball at the targets that feature all the face cards. If you hit them all bonus. There are 9 rollovers that if you get all 9, you guessed it bonus. The playfield and back glass has okay art work, nothing really fancy. The playfield is a pink that looks almost glow in the dark that makes the machine pop.

SHU44 edited previous rating on July 01, 2022.
SHU44 currently owns this game.

7.814/10

3 years ago

CAP

ArmedRock

Pinside+ Frequent

Everett, WA

3y 20,000 4 7

It was in the first Rocky movie. Come on!

ArmedRock currently owns this game.

7.384/10

3 years ago

MDF

frenchmarky

Pinside member

Moreno Valley, CA

5y 79,800 3,112 7 30

Extremely fast with four flippers, wide wide wide open playfield where you're shooting at rollover buttons instead of targets etc. in the center, or you're shooting at the side targets with side flipper. For a multiplayer it's clever how the entire 13 card sequence is worked in and it also advances in steps to special, so it is not difficult to complete it once or twice during a single ball. I sold mine after a few years but actually wouldn't mind having another one.

2.503/10

3 years ago

DAD

BrianH

Inactive member

Crossfield, AB

5y 29,400 15 3 7

I couldnt stand this game, I found it very slow and clunky.

The artwork did not draw me in either. It did not last long at my place.

BrianH has owned this game in the past.

6.562/10

3 years ago

EJH

ehex9

Pinside member

Saint Albans Town, VT

3y 46,650 5 7 179

Typical card game theme. Game play is good. Art package has crazy colors but some how works.

ehex9 has owned this game in the past.

8.215/10

4 years ago

KIM

pinball2020

Pinside+ Frequent

4y 87,550 794 6 22

It goes without saying that pinball is highly subjective (like a lot of other hobbies and loves in life :) ).
I played this game as a kid and when I saw it as an adult, after playing a lot of newer machines and my old Transporter:The Rescue, was wondering what was it that had the grab that pulled me in?

It was the simplicity of the game and for me, the sense of nostalgia. It also helps that you love EM games.

The gameplay is "simple". Keep trying to run over the nine buttons that are lit in the center of the playing field to activate a double or triple mode. You try to also keep running over or hitting buttons that advance the bonus by 1000 each. While doing this you try to light up the Ace, King, Queen, Jack and Ten lights to turn on the extra ball light for the right inner lane. The ability to get those lit depends on getting lucky with the upper right hand flipper and some practice with the lower flippers.

It is not a high scoring game - once you get to 99,999 if you are lucky and have played it enough it goes back to zero :). It is a game that requires patience and is addictive and fun. If you like the playing card themes you will like it. If you hate playing card themes - run away, run away.

The strong/weak point is the dual left side flippers that you have to "untrain" your reactions to from previous games because if you have one flipper up the other one goes up and the ball sneaks under it. Letting the ball bounce around on the flippers and then waiting to catch it works on this game.

Major frustrations are when the ball goes down the sides after you have turned on the EXTRA BALL light or have actually gotten all the lights for the 3x bonus except one and you lose the chance to get 3x.

But these are not only first world problems, they are just the thing that calls you back to the game.

Where this game shines is having friends over and playing it in 2, 3 or 4 player mode. Gameplay is relaxed until the ball starts ricocheting within the bumpers on top and then look out - things get wild, then back to "normal".

pinball2020

pinball2020 currently owns this game.

6.700/10

4 years ago

DDK

davkonw

Pinside member

8y 39,900 19 25

It's just OK but leaves you looking for more.

4.981/10

5 years ago

TWH

Sergeant

Pinside member

North Port, FL

5y 31,650 10 4 15

My first pin and my first pin sold. I suppose it was good for it's day.

Sergeant has owned this game in the past.

8.960/10

6 years ago

FFF

PinFrankie

Pinside member

9y 22,250 1 11 10

Very fast playing pinball with good shots and a beautiful backglass (if not faded and in one piece). Cool triple bonus award at the end of the game, not much games have this feature. Most games for sale are severely beaten technically and suffer from damages at cab art, playfield and backglass; too bad. This beauty has such a good gameplay it wants to be played again and again and again...

PinFrankie currently owns this game.

7.112/10

10 years ago

TIM

FirePower

Pinside member

12y 50,400 293 22 30

We recently picked up a Dealer's Choice from a fellow Pinsider and I have to say I am impressed by this mid 70's effort from Williams. The artwork is okay but the game play is wicked fast with the DC pops and the 4 flippers. This one is best played against others like many of this era from Williams.

For the price and fun I highly recommend this as an addition to a collection.

FirePower currently owns this game.

7.381/10

10 years ago

ZUL

Caucasian2Step

Evil McBooty

12y 163K 1,455 51 1011

Dealer's Choice is a game that seems to have been made for the operator who never maintains his games in mind.

The Pros:
A layout that has more to shoot for than what one would initially anticipate just by looking at it. Glancing angles for the standups on the upper left require accurate aim.

The Cons:
No spinners and no drops means no fun. Yeah, there's lots to shoot for, but this game is so high on the "meh" factor, you have to ask yourself... why am I playing this deck? I'm usually a HUGE Marche fan, but this game looks like a Baboon's ass. The lower left hand side of this table is death between the flippers and the gaping outlane.

The Takeaway:
Maybe I'll play it if it's the only game in the room, and that's a big maybe.

Update:
I got the chance to play a well taken care of copy and this game is FAST! It may be the fastest 4 plipper EM game I have ever played. The double flippers on the left mean that you'd better be cool when the ball is screaming around. Adjustments to the right outlane will make a big difference in how long your ball times will last. Norm Clark made the most of an open playfield with lots to shoot for across and in the middle of the design. The playfield art is boring, but functional. The backglass is ok. The joy in this game is when it is well tuned and dangerous. You can probably find one for cheap. Give it some pin-love and have a player on your hands. Give this game some respect, and it will give it right back atcha! Scores updated accordingly.

Caucasian2Step edited previous rating on October 06, 2022.

7.477/10

11 years ago

JT

DEVILinIRON

Inactive member

12y 28,150 445 6

Dealers Choice is the 4-player version of High Ace. A damn fun game with a fine with it or hate it backglass. I know it's just one of those silly queens taken from a deck of cards, but there is something Mona Lisa-esque in her demeanor. Add to that the distinct 70's color palette, graphics and design, and you have a very funky looking game on your hands. But where it shines is the addictive gameplay: basic and yet, very challenging. D's Choice is a good choice for pinheads looking for solid EM gameplay on the cheap.

DEVILinIRON edited previous rating on April 08, 2013.
DEVILinIRON has owned this game in the past.

7.556/10

11 years ago

DEB

Dbaum88

Pinside member

Roswell, GA

11y 90,050 1,274 8 78

I love my Dealers Choice. I was surprised at the fast play at first but the wide open play field and 3 flippers really gets the ball moving. I'd say the art work is average, not great not terrible. Love shooting for the suit cards and love the 9 rollover buttons. All in all, a keeper for my collection.

Dbaum88 has owned this game in the past.

1

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