Bally
Playboy Pinside Rating
This game received 99 approved Pinsider ratings and currently rates 7.483 /10
Playboy
Score breakdown
Score breakdown in the 4 main categories:
Game Design: 7.279
Artwork: 8.253
Sounds/Music: 5.878
Other Aspects: 7.645
Pinside staff rating
This is how we, the very knowledgeable (wink wink) Pinside.com staff & moderators rate this game. 2 of us have rated this game.
Found 60 ratings (with comment) on this game
There are 60 ratings (that include a comment) on this game.
Currently showing results page 1 of 3.
List options
5.983/10
42 days ago
Saint Paul, MN
Art is vibrant and grabs the attention, game is alright. In line with pace and gameplay of this era.
9.155/10
1 year ago
It was a fun game to play..who didn't like playboy mags... It was very cool... everybody wanted to play it..
7.872/10
1 year ago
Found one locally went to play it thought it was quite boring at 1st.
Watched a few videos learned what I was doing and after understanding and tuning up game a bit it is rather fun.I think the game looks very sexy next to some of the older titles I have.
Based on that and the good game play it'll be staying for a little while.
Ordered a brand new playfield will install it someday then edit review.
New CPR playfield installed! Now it's crazy fast playing. Fun game with cool sounds.(keeper for awhile)
Watched a few videos learned what I was doing and after understanding and tuning up game a bit it is rather fun.I think the game looks very sexy next to some of the older titles I have.
Based on that and the good game play it'll be staying for a little while.
Ordered a brand new playfield will install it someday then edit review.
New CPR playfield installed! Now it's crazy fast playing. Fun game with cool sounds.(keeper for awhile)
8.463/10
3 years ago
This pin should be top 100 on artwork alone. Has to be one of the best looking old school pins out there. I had mine brought back to life by a couple of fellow Pinsiders and man does it look and play amazing. I mean it’s obviously classic game play not like the ultra fast play of the newer pins but that’s why I have it. 1978 pinball at its finest. Do yourself a favor and add softlight pink LED’s to the playfield. Really makes it pop. I love the old school feel and sound of it. The grotto shot when it’s all full is an awesome feeling especially hitting it around the right orbit. Gameplay is a bit lackadaisical but if you don’t hit your shots correctly and think ahead for your next shot those outlanes are drain monsters even with the posts moved all the way back. All in all just owning this pin to look at and admire is worth the price of admission but the classic gameplay keeps me coming back time and time again.
7.472/10
3 years ago
Playboy! Used to be iconic and the "dirty" secret of arcades! (Hey guys, I played a Playboy!) Now seems so tame...
Good Solid State game and lots of them around. Some like the Pink/Magenta cabinet, not sure myself but it does fit the theme. Iconic again.
I enjoy the Backglass more than the playfield (girls are beautiful on pf, don't get me wrong). More references to the magazine contents in the backglass like Easter Eggs.
Go find one and turn it over for big bucks! :)
Good Solid State game and lots of them around. Some like the Pink/Magenta cabinet, not sure myself but it does fit the theme. Iconic again.
I enjoy the Backglass more than the playfield (girls are beautiful on pf, don't get me wrong). More references to the magazine contents in the backglass like Easter Eggs.
Go find one and turn it over for big bucks! :)
6.683/10
4 years ago
This game was like a pinball version of the magazine... without the centerfold or the great articles! The backglass sucks you in (Patti McGuire was my favorite playmate) but the game is only average for an early "classic" SS game. It's fun for a while but doesn't grab you and keep you wanting to play again! The theme might be somewhat "adult" for young children (Mom, what's the "grotto?") But the play is middle of the road classic Bally. The main thing this machine has going for it is nostalgia.
8.484/10
4 years ago
I loved playing Playboy back in the day as a teenager, was probably one of the first pinball machines I ever played, and definitely was the one I played the most! A neighbor has this pinball machine and I’ve played it numerous times at his home. I love the upper bumper shots where it can shit the ball back up thru one of the three entrances. It’s always fun to try on the initial shot to drop the ball thru the lit entrance and then get the bumpers to shoot the ball back up thru so that you can work to get all three entrances lit. Really enjoy the challenge of getting all of the drop targets down. For me this is a really great and fun game to play!
04/09/23 Update of Rating: While I still enjoy this pin, out of the 3 I own this doesn’t hold the fun and interest for me as it once did. The Translite in hindsight is not impressive, though Translite’s have nothing to do with game play enjoyment. “Lastability” is downgraded because for all of the shot making, multiballs, etc. it returns the lowest scoring for the a,Lunt of game play. Another downgrade to the overall rating is due to this pin coming with LED’s but for the Backbox to have a fluorescent bulb in it. I’ll be keeping this pin but it doesn’t have the fun factor it once had.
04/09/23 Update of Rating: While I still enjoy this pin, out of the 3 I own this doesn’t hold the fun and interest for me as it once did. The Translite in hindsight is not impressive, though Translite’s have nothing to do with game play enjoyment. “Lastability” is downgraded because for all of the shot making, multiballs, etc. it returns the lowest scoring for the a,Lunt of game play. Another downgrade to the overall rating is due to this pin coming with LED’s but for the Backbox to have a fluorescent bulb in it. I’ll be keeping this pin but it doesn’t have the fun factor it once had.
6.978/10
5 years ago
Do da do do!
I love the sounds this machine makes. It almost makes up for how average the game is. The backboard also does its job well, with the big nosed ol lady hidden within the scene. The chimes and whistles are the driving factor of making this long lasting for me.
Yet, i don't recommend it if you are looking for a game with something new or outstanding. It's nothing special in play. It's easy to get bored of unless your fighting for a highscore.
I love the sounds this machine makes. It almost makes up for how average the game is. The backboard also does its job well, with the big nosed ol lady hidden within the scene. The chimes and whistles are the driving factor of making this long lasting for me.
Yet, i don't recommend it if you are looking for a game with something new or outstanding. It's nothing special in play. It's easy to get bored of unless your fighting for a highscore.
7.346/10
5 years ago
My father had this machine in his garage when I was growing up. Played it for many years. It's what got me into pinball in the first place. There's a lot of nostalgia here, so I may not be fully objective about my review, but whatever.
The artwork is excellent - especially for the era. It really is a pretty machine, if it's in good shape. It makes a helluva show piece, done right. The little Playboy tune that plays when you start a game (or hit the grotto) is unique for the era as well. Gameplay... well, it's a late 70s SS machine, and it plays like one. You have some drop targets, some standups, the right loop, the extra ball shot, the pops, and the grotto - and that's really about it. But that was normal for the time. It's one of the better machines of its era. The theme is well executed and it doesn't look horribly dated like a lot of other machines of its time. I don't know why, but it really stands the test of time in terms of appearance.
I don't know that I'd ever own one again, but I know if I saw one somewhere (unlikely, now), I'd want to play it at least once. If you're into old SS machines, this is a great one to get.
The artwork is excellent - especially for the era. It really is a pretty machine, if it's in good shape. It makes a helluva show piece, done right. The little Playboy tune that plays when you start a game (or hit the grotto) is unique for the era as well. Gameplay... well, it's a late 70s SS machine, and it plays like one. You have some drop targets, some standups, the right loop, the extra ball shot, the pops, and the grotto - and that's really about it. But that was normal for the time. It's one of the better machines of its era. The theme is well executed and it doesn't look horribly dated like a lot of other machines of its time. I don't know why, but it really stands the test of time in terms of appearance.
I don't know that I'd ever own one again, but I know if I saw one somewhere (unlikely, now), I'd want to play it at least once. If you're into old SS machines, this is a great one to get.
7.747/10
5 years ago
A fun game I played back in the day on location. For an early Bally SS game it's more challenging than other pins of the late 70's. Artwork is excellent, a trend setter in it's time.
Tampere
Hawkesbury, ON
8.610/10
6 years ago
It is a looker with the two Playboy Bunnies and all of the pink.
I had mine set up steep and it played OK. But there is not really much to do. One drop target assembly with five targets that is hard to access to make a hit. And five standup targets to shoot for. And an Extra Ball shot.
I enjoyed mine while I had it. Sold it. And I don't miss it. But it sure was pretty.
I had mine set up steep and it played OK. But there is not really much to do. One drop target assembly with five targets that is hard to access to make a hit. And five standup targets to shoot for. And an Extra Ball shot.
I enjoyed mine while I had it. Sold it. And I don't miss it. But it sure was pretty.
You too can add your own comment by rating this game! Click here to rate this game!
Over the years
Visualizing this game's rating and rank over the years
Hey there! Welcome to Pinside!
Donate to PinsideGreat to see you're enjoying Pinside! Did you know Pinside is able to run without any 3rd-party banners or ads, thanks to the support from our visitors? Please consider a donation to Pinside and get anext to your username to show for it! Or better yet, subscribe to Pinside+!
