Pinball cabinet design

[Sid]

I'm not a huge fan of pinball but I have a question for those of you that are.

Does anyone else think that it's time to start redesigning the cabinets?
Not big changes, maybe some minor tweaks at first just to update them a bit?
What is the point of keeping the huge head that seems to just be a poster holder?  Would a monitor with scrolling scenes or changing display be a cool option?
Every cabinet seems to look identical these days.

Just something that I was thinking about.

[HammysHangout ( Hammy )]

have you not seen a JJP game?

[Sid]

They still have a giant useless head...They could just have a framed monitor.  They still have the same basic look.

[number six]

They probably don't want to make the heads too much smaller to protect the LCDs especially on location.

Plus they'd still need to be the same width/length just the thickness could be decreased which wouldn't be much of a savings anyway.

[stf]

I agree, it seems nostalgia >>> innovation in the pinball world.
It's like, let's have 90's Williams / Bally tables, same shape & material than an EM, with a LCD screen and deeper codes (but not too deep). I'm not complaining, just an assessment of modern technology being underused in pinball.
I guess the Pinball2000 trauma is still strong, and P3 has not been super successful either...
With the market downturn, it should be interesting to see how manufacturers will try to survive

[IlikeGame]

I agree! Dump the head and move the display inside the playfield. Make the playfield a bit deeper to fit a larger screen and give more horizontal design options. Have you seen the Home Brew Trash Land? It's a new option but I cringe a little bit.

[Neal_W]

Turner pinball brought a slimline style cabinet to expo (shallow cab with no coin door) and was not well received.  You can't deny that pinball is throwback game mostly enjoyed by older players and collectors.  Changing the historical look is not likely to be met with successful sales.  This week many are excited about the reveal of JAWS - a 48yr old movie theme! 

Do we need to remove the head?  A better view of the wall behind the pin is not something I miss.  The point of putting the CPU and supply up there is limit vibration and shock to those electronics and minimize screws and flipper dust raining down on them.  It also reduces heat in the cab.   JJP tried it on WoZ and moved the CPU back to the head after.






 

[tufnel1530]

Be nice if they didn't have to weigh so damn much... last JJP I had to move around almost killed me.

[Centaur Brother]

Be nice if they didn't have to weigh so damn much... last JJP I had to move around almost killed me.

I agree, keep them the same but try and make them lighter.

[bjones]

They still have a giant useless head...

So do you.

[Sid]

So, what most people seem to think is rather than making something new and fresh, keep it old and boring?

and fuck you, Brian! 

[k7]

well, the machines are designed and meant to be enjoyed on location. and people that play a game, want to know what game it is.

so i imagine the backbox will remain for advertising and game recognition alone.

even the mildly smaller Beatles got complaints..."it's not the same size as my other pins".

be happy we have an LCD screen. it'll be another 10 years for the next innovation.