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Author Topic: First pinball suggestions  (Read 916 times)

Offline SharkDoc

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First pinball suggestions
« on: October 10, 2018, 07:51:59 PM »
Think I've finally convinced the wife that we need a pinball machine in our lives. Curious as to opinions for my first one. Going to start looking seriously in the next month or so. Thinking something in the last 30 years or so, budget maxes out around 4k. Dream would be a good Fish Tales machine if I could find one. I'm a marine biologist so something fish/ocean related is preferred but open to suggestions!
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Offline Steve O

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Re: First pinball suggestions
« Reply #1 on: October 10, 2018, 09:23:04 PM »
Fathom would be a great ocean related theme.  However, they are getting top dollar, if you can find one for sale.  It's also over 30 years old.
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Offline k7

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Re: First pinball suggestions
« Reply #2 on: October 10, 2018, 10:56:38 PM »
man, i  hope you can find a fish tales for under 4 grand. i remember getting one for 700 bucks and thinking "how overpriced they are"... :P. the next one was 250 bucks.

fathom is a great game, top 10 all-time pinball in my humble opinion.

bally atlantis is 29 years old. :)

https://www.ipdb.org/search.pl?name=atlantis&sortby=name&searchtype=advanced#106
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WTB:  HotDoggin'
              ...seriously, would grab one. thanks.

Offline FUNWIZ

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Re: First pinball suggestions
« Reply #3 on: October 11, 2018, 02:24:04 AM »
Quote from: k7 on October 10, 2018, 10:56:38 PM
man, i  hope you can find a fish tales for under 4 grand. i remember getting one for 700 bucks and thinking "how overpriced they are"... :P. the next one was 250 bucks.

fathom is a great game, top 10 all-time pinball in my humble opinion.

bally atlantis is 29 years old. :)

https://www.ipdb.org/search.pl?name=atlantis&sortby=name&searchtype=advanced#106

250 for a Fish Tales, I'll take it! 
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Offline Triglyph

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Re: First pinball suggestions
« Reply #4 on: October 11, 2018, 07:18:42 AM »
Stern Stingray
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Offline WhiskeyTangoFoxtrot

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Re: First pinball suggestions
« Reply #5 on: October 11, 2018, 08:41:57 AM »
Trident is another aquatic theme.
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Offline Brtlkat

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Re: First pinball suggestions
« Reply #6 on: October 11, 2018, 08:45:40 AM »
FT avg price seems to be around 3k give or take on condition
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Offline SharkDoc

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Re: First pinball suggestions
« Reply #7 on: October 11, 2018, 10:17:04 AM »
Quote from: Brtlkat on October 11, 2018, 08:45:40 AM
FT avg price seems to be around 3k give or take on condition

Yeah that's what I've been seeing. Just gotta find one!

Thanks for the suggestions I've got some research to do! Keep them coming!
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Offline SharkDoc

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Re: First pinball suggestions
« Reply #8 on: October 11, 2018, 10:17:57 AM »
Quote from: k7 on October 10, 2018, 10:56:38 PM
man, i  hope you can find a fish tales for under 4 grand. i remember getting one for 700 bucks and thinking "how overpriced they are"... :P. the next one was 250 bucks.

fathom is a great game, top 10 all-time pinball in my humble opinion.

bally atlantis is 29 years old. :)

https://www.ipdb.org/search.pl?name=atlantis&sortby=name&searchtype=advanced#106

250 is nuts!!
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Offline tufnel1530

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Re: First pinball suggestions
« Reply #9 on: October 11, 2018, 10:41:28 AM »
BSD if you can find one... best bang for your buck DMD game there is fun wise.

If its setup right its not the easiest of games though.  :P

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Offline TimothyC

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Re: First pinball suggestions
« Reply #10 on: October 11, 2018, 11:26:19 AM »
Go to Free Play next month and play a ton of them and then decide :).  There are pins out there that theme wise should be a favorite of mine (like The Addams Family) that I just can't get into the game and would regret purchasing.  Also if you're not that tech savvy you'll want to spend a bit extra to get a game that's been thoroughly shopped recently with no issues. 
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Offline number six

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Re: First pinball suggestions
« Reply #11 on: October 11, 2018, 11:35:28 AM »
It's crazy how much this question has changed.

10 years ago it was easy.. get a T2 or a Fish Tales. Both were $800 games, DMDs that would be relatively easy to maintain.

Now T2s are over $2k and god only knows on Fish Tales.

At this point I think it all depends on your budget. You can get DMD games for under $2k but none of the popular ones. A good mid-late 80s Bally/Williams might be a good option.. you still see decent titles around the $1k mark working.

It's an expensive hobby these days.
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Offline SharkDoc

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Re: First pinball suggestions
« Reply #12 on: October 11, 2018, 01:06:11 PM »
Quote from: number six on October 11, 2018, 11:35:28 AM
It's crazy how much this question has changed.

10 years ago it was easy.. get a T2 or a Fish Tales. Both were $800 games, DMDs that would be relatively easy to maintain.

Now T2s are over $2k and god only knows on Fish Tales.

At this point I think it all depends on your budget. You can get DMD games for under $2k but none of the popular ones. A good mid-late 80s Bally/Williams might be a good option.. you still see decent titles around the $1k mark working.

It's an expensive hobby these days.

Yeah the 90s are my ideal time period. This is when I played the most as a kid. Fish Tales was always my favorite, use to pay it at a ski resort in West Virginia. Loving it on digital since it was released the other day.

I've got about $4k to play with so I should be able to find one but I keep finding dealers having them listed at like $4500 which seems crazy for that one. So doesn't have to be aquatic themed but figured that would be a good starting point.
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Offline Steve O

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Re: First pinball suggestions
« Reply #13 on: October 11, 2018, 01:18:02 PM »
There are plenty of choices in that price range.  You can go to one of the arcade shows and see what you like there. 
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