Bally

Harlem Globetrotters On Tour

Pinside Rating

This game received 112 approved Pinsider ratings and currently rates 7.606 _/10

7.606

Top 100 ranking

This game ranks #168 in the Pinside Pinball Top 100.

Score breakdown

Score breakdown in the 4 main categories:

Game Design: 7.657

Artwork: 7.767

Sounds/Music: 5.474

Other Aspects: 7.783

Pinside staff rating

This is how we, the very knowledgeable (wink wink) Pinside.com staff & moderators rate this game. 3 of us have rated this game.

6.12

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Found 51 ratings (with comment) on this game

There are 51 ratings (that include a comment) on this game.
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8.236/10

5 years ago

???

oldbaby

Pinside member

Unknown

5y 54,050 355 54

One of the best of the early SS games.
Bullet points:
* Harlem Globetrotters theme song elicits a pavlovian response
* Scissor flippers are well executed. I haven't played every scissor game, but this is my favorite of the ones I've played.
* Great tournament game for spectators, as evidenced by Keith Elwin in the finals of that one tournament last year. Or maybe two years ago.
* Not too easy. Rewards flipper skills.
* The kick-out hole is a kind of theme integration.
* And to top it all off, there's an outlane save. Will you shoot to light the save, or won't you? A lot of games from this era don't really have interesting decisions like that.

8.573/10

5 years ago

CJA

curtobi4

Inactive member

Essex, VT

7y 29,650 33 6

This is a game that I keep coming back to again and again. It's difficult to master (Scissor Flippers) which makes a lot of the games short, but it's so satisfying to drop all five drop targets and then rip the spinner and watch your score fly. It's fun to try out different strategies--building bonus that could carry over to the next ball, or going for multipliers.

Just one more game...

8.935/10

5 years ago

MEH

ThePinballCo-op

The Pinball Co-op

9y 115K 1,752 40

I didn't know anything about this game. It's like a standard-body reverse-paragon, and I love paragon.

The Good:
-- Lots of stuff to hit. For a '79, that's pretty impressive.
-- I personally love the ruleset..... but.... (see the cons)
-- The double-left flipper is a great added challenge, and the detour gate is a great addition.

The Bad:
-- Rules: Weighted very heavily for the bonus and top kick-out hole.... maybe too heavily. Noobies can get lucky and win in competition, which is a big deal.

I love the game. I play it a lot but I don't play it more than a few times in a row for maybe 15 minutes total because of the repetition. However, I love how it plays and I think it's a great machine for everyone, new or experienced.

ThePinballCo-op edited previous rating on November 23, 2020.

9.175/10

5 years ago

MBC

radfordian3505

Pinside+ Frequent

Radford, VA

6y 89,550 763 9 52 1

one of if not the best early solid state games.it truly has that just one more game feel every time I play mine. must have for any collection

radfordian3505 edited previous rating on May 25, 2021.
radfordian3505 currently owns this game.

9.727/10

6 years ago

JAS

jetmechinnc

Pinside+ Frequent

7y 80,050 1,140 30

Classic original solid state pinball fresh from the bell and chime era. I was reluctant on picking this up, but the inline drop targets and three spinners sealed the deal. This classic game does make you want to play just one more game. Having the shot to open the R/H outlane gate is great, a little similar to my Space Shuttle pin. Sound is very basic, but hey, they just switched from bells and chimes. I like the globetrotter song at the beginning of the game though, and the classic ending song. Nice addition to my current line up. Now I have a 70's, 80's, 90's and 2000's pin.

8.364/10

6 years ago

RUF

rufessor

Pinside member

11y 66,400 2,062 6 10

I have had this game for a while now and feel like I can honestly rate it. It's a fun game with a pretty diverse scoring strategy. I found that as I played it I would keep making changes to the rule set to balance the game and finally came to a set I really enjoy. The game absolutely rewards good play- passing, live catches, good nudging skills, even a bit of strategy. I rate this to be similar to eight ball deluxe in many ways- I play both regularly and admit EBD is a deeper game but I enjoy them equally. It's got a well deserved reputation for the art package- the game is absolutely beautiful. Back glass- playfield- even the cabinet. The theme integration is absolutely top notch for the era- one of the outstanding early SS Bally games- and there are a few!

rufessor currently owns this game.

7.741/10

7 years ago

RHO

spiroagnew

Inactive member

11y 121K 982 161

Harlem Globetrotters has all the elements of a "Classic Bally" game--multiple spinners, in-line drops, a nest of bumpers protecting a kickout hole--but the game is important in as much as these tested and true mechanisms were starting to be used in more interesting ways. Dual spinners are placed out in the open in the middle of the playfield, the in-line drop targets protect a second kick-out, and a third flipper is thrown into the mix to give a varied shot geometry. This was a marked departure from the tested and true Bally formula of dual spinners on the extreme left and right, with mirrored banks of drops/standups on either side of the playfield (think KISS, Six Million Dollar Man, etc.) The game sold a ton of units, probably because it was a step away from the traditional layout, and paved the way for games like Paragon and Vector. The art is fantastic, and reflects sports characature art from the era perfectly. Great game with a kick-ass theme. One of my favorite Bally's from the era.

2 Pinsiders starred this!

4.772/10

7 years ago

AGB

Ramtuathal

Pinside member

Louisville, KY

8y 63,650 123 1 148

Harlem Globetrotters on Tour is a boring ol' brick that offer little in the way of game play. The in-line drops are there... and that's all the fun you'll have with this transition piece. Not really worth the quarters, but it's nice to set a drink on when you're playing a good game beside it.

2 Pinsiders flagged this.

7.147/10

7 years ago

CAL

CarpeDeezNuts

Pinside member

Shoreline, WA

9y 26,150 8 13

This game is underrated. Want a big score on this game? The rules are simple. Aim for 4 drop targets on the right side of the game. Knock em all down. Proceed to rip the spinner for 2k a spin. Sounds easy right? It is not.

I always feel like the next game I can do a bit better, and then it crushes my dreams. Keeps me coming back for more.

CarpeDeezNuts edited previous rating on October 08, 2020.

7.416/10

8 years ago

JMS

ickus305

Inactive member

Wheeling, WV

9y 24,900 27 6 9

A fun classic game.

ickus305 currently owns this game.

7.423/10

8 years ago

DAN

BeaverBrewing

Pinside member

Beaver Falls, PA

11y 80,150 289 7 282

For a very simple game, this is really addictive. You want to get that spinner value up, then crank it! Love the backglass. Great sounds that are satisfying when you hit your shots. Fun in tournaments cause it is easy to put up a crap score...real challenge.

7.593/10

8 years ago

TOM

Egames

Inactive member

Moorebank Nsw

9y 11,000 1 1 6

good machine but this machine is too simple but hard so its good for 1 game every once in a while.

Egames currently owns this game.

5.952/10

9 years ago

SJD

muzikman

Pinside member

10y 58,400 142 88

Love the music and the backglass, but the gameplay was just mediocre compared to some other games from that era, for example Mata Hari. Maybe the machine on played one wasn't set up quite right - it just didn't have a good feel to it.

8.396/10

9 years ago

WAM

Aicfuel

Pinside member

9y 26,400 8 3 16

Played this recently at the 2014 Chicago pinball fest and fell for it. I think it's the best of Ballys late 70's machines. It has everything that my Power Play has and more. Will probably put a want add out for this one.

Aicfuel has this game on the wishlist.

7.632/10

9 years ago

???

Rockyfrank

Pinside member

Downingtown, PA

9y 17,750 9 8

Everyone knows the globetrotters. Really colorful machine. Red white blue. Very basic, boring game play. Machine looks like a 9, plays like a 4.

6.073/10

9 years ago

ALX

achtungboyy

Pinside member

El Paso, TX

11y 75,150 252 98 131

Good early SS game cool theme. Nice classic feel to it.

achtungboyy has owned this game in the past.

5.287/10

10 years ago

PSP

Spywell

Inactive member

Wichita, KS

10y 29,400 10 5 13

This one is right next to a Paragon and I much prefer this one over it.

There isn't much of a difference in the two but I have more trouble keeping balls in play on the paragon. One feature I really like is the fact that I can put up to 10 free games on this machine for the kids to play on by shooting the left row then shooting the extra ball, then shoot left row again, now every time you hit the extra ball it gives a free game. This feature can be disabled and it seems to frustrate the owner when I leave free games on the machine so it may disappear but it's mainly why I always choose the globetrotters over paragon.

8.303/10

10 years ago

JLM

jlm33

Pinside member

Villejuif

11y 152K 5,892 7 169

A nice early SS game that is well suited for competitive play. You don't like the dual left flippers? I don't either! Still, mastering them is tricky and requires skill. I love the inline targets, the way you increase spinner value, the top saucer... and of course, the right gate. I love outlane gates. The shot to open that gate is a bit tricky.

Not a big fan of artwork and theme (but, well, nostalgia is still there) but I must admit this is a game I could consider buying if I find one in good shape !

9.422/10

11 years ago

ZUL

Caucasian2Step

Evil McBooty

12y 163K 1,455 51 1011

This was another game that I thought I was going to turn over... then I started playing it and getting to know it. This is a really cool game and that's why they made over 14,500 copies of this table. Greg Kmiec designed games that count over 100 k in production numbers and this table is a prime example showcasing his skills honed under the tutelage of master game designer Ted Zale.

The Pros:
The art package is awesome! Meadowlark, Curly and the rest of the crew are here. Even the sneaker on the side of the cabinet fits in perfectly with the theme. Your first shot is the open gate standup on the right for your ball saver. Risk/reward from the get-go!Shots are well planned out and the saucer at the end of the inline drop targets is a tough one due to the fact that you have to hit it from the double flippers on the left side. Focus on building up the spinner from the inline drops and then nailing the spinner on the left is the way to build awesome scores! Do you risk a shot to the inline targets or safely get your ball to the top of the pf and use your Nudging skills to get the shot in at the top of the pf when you need that last letter in G-L-O-B-E? I own a copy with day 1 mylar!

The Cons:
The evil scissors... double flippers... curse you! Drop targets on the left hand side of the pf would have made this game even cooler!

The Takeaway:
This is another game where they remembered to have FUN! even the gate from the outlane on the right says "Rebound". 3 spinners and lots of shots to make. The table even sings to you "Sweet Georgia Brown" when you start a new game. A relatively simple table that is always challenging and a blast to play. What's not to like?

Caucasian2Step has owned this game in the past.

8 Pinsiders starred this!

7.854/10

11 years ago

MAT

chalkup8

Pinside member

Sunshine

12y 72,800 1,134 4 17

My first pinball in 2003. Kept it for 5 years. Wish I still had it but only so much room.

Loved the spinners and inline drop targets.

chalkup8 has owned this game in the past.

3.316/10

12 years ago

BUK

pinballslave

Pinside member

Litvinov

12y 138K 6,386 133 149

Probably one of the most boring games ever made... very little to shoot for and almost no strategy that I could work out... I like games of this era to have drop targets, and this lacks them.

pinballslave has owned this game in the past.

8 Pinsiders flagged this.

7.306/10

12 years ago

BKB

the96stang

Bushey Bro's

Enfield, CT

12y 122K 2,943 16 13

One of my first machines

the96stang edited previous rating on October 12, 2011.
the96stang has owned this game in the past.

7.274/10

12 years ago

JWM

sanantoniopinhea

Pinside member

Austin, TX

12y 42,900 21 4 61

Inline drop targets and saucer make the game. Theme is good. Inline flippers are a challange though. Similiar sounds as other Bally's of the time.

7.510/10

13 years ago

GSL

glilly-BOA

Pinside member

Port Orange, FL

13y 44,900 465 10 60

This is a decent game from that era. The complexity is decievingly simple in the layout of the playfield. They crammed a lot of stuff in for such an early game. Too bad it didn't come out a few years later when the sounds and speach were much better.

8.394/10

13 years ago

XOT

Outlane-Avoider

Pinside member

14y 77,300 570 268

This was one of the pins that I played a lot when I was a teenager. It brings back fond memories for me of those times long ago. The sound is primitive of course, and it has a plain & simple, but clever layout. It drains a lot off the in-line targets, and also has the double flippers on the left side to catch you out at times. Game is bonus heavy, so don't tilt out! I did own one for a while and really enjoyed playing it. I miss it now after selling it, so it's back on my wishlist again.

Outlane-Avoider edited previous rating on May 23, 2016.
Outlane-Avoider has this game on the wishlist.

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