# What’s the best pinball machine you ever played? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [February 16, 2006, 12:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-s-the-best-pinball-machine-you-ever-played/344720 "2006-02-16T00:14:34Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![China\_Guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/779978/32.png) [@China\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/China_Guy)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2006, 4:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-s-the-best-pinball-machine-you-ever-played/344720/21 "2006-02-16T04:21:35Z")
there were two tommy related. both great!!! the previously mentioned pinball wizard and another one i can’t recall. i much preferred the 1970 & 1980’s style pre-moderen electronic versions. that said i third fireball. won games every day on that sucker throughout grad school. it had ‘plasma save’ feature. i also liked terminator. ---
**Author:** ![divemaster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/divemaster/32/78_2.png) [@divemaster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/divemaster)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2006, 4:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-s-the-best-pinball-machine-you-ever-played/344720/22 "2006-02-16T04:36:31Z")
Most of my picks have already been mentioned: Addams Family; Twilight Zone; Jurassic Park. I also nominate **Pinbot**. ---
**Author:** ![Ol\_Gaffer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Ol\_Gaffer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ol_Gaffer)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2006, 4:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-s-the-best-pinball-machine-you-ever-played/344720/23 "2006-02-16T04:41:34Z")
> [@divemaster](#): > > Most of my picks have already been mentioned: Addams Family; Twilight Zone; Jurassic Park. > > I also nominate **Pinbot**. **Pinbot** was brilliant. I also loved **F-14 Tomcat**. Five ball multi-ball rules!!! Which game had the “Ride the Ferris Wheel” voice over? ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2006, 4:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-s-the-best-pinball-machine-you-ever-played/344720/24 "2006-02-16T04:43:11Z")
I love pinball. High speed, Addams Family, Funhouse, [Party Zone](https://boards.straightdope.com/http://www.ipdb.org/machine.cgi?id=1764), [Twilight Zone](http://www.ipdb.org/machine.cgi?id=2684), [Class of 1812](http://www.ipdb.org/machine.cgi?id=528), [World Cup Soccer](http://www.ipdb.org/machine.cgi?id=2811), Star Wars, Terminator 2: Judgment Day…even when I no longer had the reflexes to keep up with the local arcade’s’ new video games, I still went in there for their pinball. That is, until I noticed that I couldn’t dominate their tables like I used to, or worse. Last couple of times that I tried to play the World Cup Soccer table, I found that a ball must have gone missing! That _had_ to have been on purpose, most likely to divert players to the video games. ---
**Author:** ![MacTech](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c0e974/32.png) [@MacTech](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MacTech)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2006, 4:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-s-the-best-pinball-machine-you-ever-played/344720/25 "2006-02-16T04:46:01Z")
Funhouse and Addams Family are classics, i also liked [Star Trek Next Generation pinball](http://cgi.ebay.com/WILLIAMS-STAR-TREK-THE-NEXT-GENERATION-PINBALL-MACHINE_W0QQitemZ6250390755QQcategoryZ13725QQcmdZViewItem), it had the phaser cannon ball launcher thingies that would pivot left and right when a ball was locked in place, permitting skill target shots. if you lost play of a ball and Data started yammering on about the physics of the ball and what you should have done, slapping both flipper buttons would shut him off, and a sound sample of Picard saying “thank you, Mr. Data” in that exasperated tone of his would play ---
**Author:** ![Kaspar\_Hauser](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/b3f665/32.png) [@Kaspar\_Hauser](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kaspar_Hauser)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2006, 5:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-s-the-best-pinball-machine-you-ever-played/344720/26 "2006-02-16T05:30:25Z")
Pinbot’s sequel was great too, “The Machine: Bride of Pinbot.” ---
**Author:** ![BMax](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bmax/32/4267_2.png) [@BMax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BMax)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2006, 5:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-s-the-best-pinball-machine-you-ever-played/344720/27 "2006-02-16T05:41:53Z")
What, no love for Alien Poker? [http://www.ipdb.org/showpic.pl?id=48&depth=0&picno=49](http://www.ipdb.org/showpic.pl?id=48&depth=0&picno=49) [http://www.xmission.com/~daina/images/kt/alienpoker.html](http://www.xmission.com/~daina/images/kt/alienpoker.html) ---
**Author:** ![soulmurk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b782af/32.png) [@soulmurk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/soulmurk)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2006, 6:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-s-the-best-pinball-machine-you-ever-played/344720/28 "2006-02-16T06:17:49Z")
Star Trek: TNG - If you beat all of the little mini games along the way, Picard comes over the speaker informing… um, someone… that, “We have engaged the Borg,” at which point every ball in the machine goes into play in a massive multi-ball, and every thing on the table is a jackpot. I don’t know how long it lasts, but it feels like forever. The game stutters over itself shouting JACKPOT! a gazillion times, while every light and sound effect blare at you in a seizure inducing frenzy. Got you an almost guaranteed high score of over 1 billion. Good stuff. A very close second: Twilight Zone - that magnet just above the bottom flippers drove me nuts! I loved all the mini games that tied into old episodes. A very close third - The Addams Family - I played this one so much that it invaded my dreams. Suffice it to say, they were odd dreams. ---
**Author:** ![Weirddave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/919ad9/32.png) [@Weirddave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Weirddave)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2006, 6:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-s-the-best-pinball-machine-you-ever-played/344720/29 "2006-02-16T06:43:50Z")
No love for [Earthshaker](http://users.pandora.be/davinci/html/pinball.html)? I loved the way the machine shook when you hit multiball. ---
**Author:** ![Manatee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/50afbb/32.png) [@Manatee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Manatee)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2006, 6:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-s-the-best-pinball-machine-you-ever-played/344720/30 "2006-02-16T06:56:12Z")
> [@Ol'Gaffer](#): > > Which game had the “Ride the Ferris Wheel” voice over? Wasn’t that Fun House? My wife and I used to quote that one at each other all the time. “Hey, howzabout a hawt dawg?” ---
**Author:** ![Manatee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/50afbb/32.png) [@Manatee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Manatee)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2006, 7:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-s-the-best-pinball-machine-you-ever-played/344720/31 "2006-02-16T07:23:37Z")
D’oh! Forgot my own nominations. Back in the day, Superman was a huge quarter-eater for me. More recently, Stars Wars was it. The first time I had a ball go down the side alley and heard Leia say “This is some rescue!” just killed me. ---
**Author:** ![Sam\_Stone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Sam\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sam_Stone)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2006, 7:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-s-the-best-pinball-machine-you-ever-played/344720/32 "2006-02-16T07:31:54Z")
Gotta go with **Addams Family**. **Pinbot** was great as well, and **High Speed**. ---
**Author:** ![Rachael\_Rage](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/71c47a/32.png) [@Rachael\_Rage](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rachael_Rage)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2006, 7:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-s-the-best-pinball-machine-you-ever-played/344720/33 "2006-02-16T07:36:39Z")
> [@BlueKangaroo](#): > > My favorite was [Medieval Madness](http://www.pinball.com/games/medieval/), which was set up in the local dollar theater for awhile. I recall going to the theater just to play that game, which was unheard of for me! Then, the bastards that owned it moved it to a pool house/bar. I’ve never seen it again. I second Medieval Madness! And I third on behalf of Keef, who lurks but doesn’t post. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![scotandrsn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a4c791/32.png) [@scotandrsn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scotandrsn)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2006, 7:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-s-the-best-pinball-machine-you-ever-played/344720/34 "2006-02-16T07:46:20Z")
> [@Sam Stone](#): > > Gotta go with **Addams Family**. **Pinbot** was great as well, and **High Speed**. Another example of how **Sam Stone** and I, if it weren’t for those pesky politics, could be the same person. Maybe we’re each other’s evil twin. I vaguely recall one called Black Hole, with a lower deck under glass. Put the ball in a certain hole, and the lower deck would light up. The catch: the deck was tilted away from you, with the flippers on the far end! ---
**Author:** ![Who\_me\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/958977/32.png) [@Who\_me\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Who_me_1)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2006, 12:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-s-the-best-pinball-machine-you-ever-played/344720/35 "2006-02-16T12:52:52Z")
I don’t play pinball anymore, but when I did, it was rare for me to find a game I couldn’t beat. I can’t even remember some of the games I liked, but one that I did like was [8-Ball Deluxe](http://marvin3m.com/bally/8balldlx.htm). ---
**Author:** ![Scylla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a5b964/32.png) [@Scylla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scylla)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2006, 1:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-s-the-best-pinball-machine-you-ever-played/344720/36 "2006-02-16T13:32:50Z")
> [@Ol'Gaffer](#): > > **Pinbot** was brilliant. Yes, it is. I **own** Pinbot. She’s sitting here in my living room. Does anybody know where I can spare parts? One of the bumper rubbers is broken and a display screen needs fixing. ---
**Author:** ![Thin\_Ice](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/aeb1de/32.png) [@Thin\_Ice](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thin_Ice)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2006, 1:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-s-the-best-pinball-machine-you-ever-played/344720/37 "2006-02-16T13:35:40Z")
FIREPOWER [http://www.pinballrebel.com/game/pins/firepower/firepower\_pinball.htm](http://www.pinballrebel.com/game/pins/firepower/firepower_pinball.htm) ---
**Author:** ![drmark2000](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a87d85/32.png) [@drmark2000](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drmark2000)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2006, 2:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-s-the-best-pinball-machine-you-ever-played/344720/38 "2006-02-16T14:16:56Z")
> [@Scylla](#): > > Does anybody know where I can spare parts? One of the bumper rubbers is broken and a display screen needs fixing. You might try [here](http://www.xmission.com/~daina/classified/index.html), or [here](http://www.pcpinball.com/msgboard/index.phtml?type=0&offset=0), or even [here](http://www.vpforums.com/). The 8 Ball Deluxe link above also has a spare parts section. ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2006, 2:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-s-the-best-pinball-machine-you-ever-played/344720/39 "2006-02-16T14:20:19Z")
I came in here to mention Xenon. Although, when I think about it, Black Hole was better. As was Split Second. Any game that has 2 or 3 different levels with their own flippers can’t be all bad. ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2006, 2:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-s-the-best-pinball-machine-you-ever-played/344720/40 "2006-02-16T14:33:35Z")
I, too, love **Pinbot**. But the one I played most as an undergrad was **King Tut** Simple, elegant, basic pinball. No overdone lights or noises. Not even one female on the Board or Backglass, in any state of undress: [http://www.pinballrebel.com/game/pins/king\_tut/king\_tut\_pinball.htm](http://www.pinballrebel.com/game/pins/king_tut/king_tut_pinball.htm) Besides, we collectively owned a machine, and we had it set for four games for a quarter. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-s-the-best-pinball-machine-you-ever-played/344720.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-s-the-best-pinball-machine-you-ever-played/344720.md?page=3)