How Many Pinball Manufacturers Could The Industry Support?

[Worf]

Practically all pins support a redemption dispenser - if you have pro mode, explore the TPA menus and it'll tell you how to configure the ticket dispenser for it.

But that's the main reason why arcades in the 80 went to video games from pins - for about the same price, they get a machine that takes half the space (two machines fit in the space of 1 pin), needs far less maintenance (basically just replacing the buttons and joystick every so often - takes minutes versus days for a pin which needs to be shopped), and with JAMMA and other such standardizations, games can be swapped in and out very cheaply. The '"big screen" machines or elaborate dance games - those cost around $15K or so, and still have less maintenance issues.

The thing was, Stern and Williams and Sega weren't making machines for the player - they were making machines for the operator. The balance of ball duration is a fine one - short enough to ensure rapid turnover of the machine (don't want a player to spend 20 minutes per 50 cents), but don't want it so short and brutal that players try it once and give up. It's why they provide extensive audits to figure out how to maximize monetary return.

And simulated pinball is hitting a resurgence - because recreations are cheaper (no complex parts to have to keep rebuilding as balls destroy them), and original tables don't have to worry about the operator so they can concentrate on making a really fun game without worrying about ball times or costs with playfield toys and s uch.

Is that pinball hall of fame open every day to the public? That sounds like an exciting place to spend a few days, though possibly expensive.

 

[151120]

You do realize 2 miles east of the strip on Tropicana Blvd Tim Arnold's Pinball Hall of Fame exists, right? 150+ tables, all lovingly restored and fully functioning. That's your destination next time you visit!

Yep, but it's not on the strip. I'll have to check it out next trip.

 

[shutyertrap]

Yep, but it's not on the strip. I'll have to check it out next trip.

That's why I said 2 miles East of the strip!

Yes Worf, PHOF is open daily and it is surprisingly cost efficient! First time I went I managed to be there for 8 hours (including lunch) on $20. The next time I went, Stern tables were part of the mix, and they were more expensive play, so money went a little faster. Plus I played 'Pinball Circus' which costs a buck a game (but how can you resist something that rare?). I guarantee though, you'll get more bang for your buck there than in any of the casinos!

http://www.pinballmuseum.org/

Not exactly the most up to date of web sites, but it at least gives you the info needed for a visit. They also have a facebook page.

 

[SKILL_SHOT]

Multimophic P3 will have changeable upper playfield with new programs and graphics accordingly also user based visuals downloadable, there is soo much potential. The game can play itself! It has a tutorial for different shots and a visual level with adio report so when your down adjusting it it beeps at level saving you several up and down trips to look at the level audio switch test visual diagnostics.

 

[Worf]

$20 in 8 hours? That seems rather low... at 50 cents a play, that's 40 games. Given the way I play... that would probably last me... 3 hours? unless the machines run cheaper?

 

[Animator_pin_fan]

I'm really hoping that Stern or Jersey Jack, and possibly some other makers would consider doing new tables, or re-issued older tables in kit form. Maybe I'm in the minority here, but part of the appeal of getting into pinball isn't just playing, but I'm looking forward to restoring and modding tables just as much.

Just think, if they sold a pinball kit for between 2-4k it would really hit the sweet spot for those that really enjoy difficult DIY projects and enthusiasts who already don't mind getting their hands dirty doing older pin restorations. Maybe a base kit would include everything you need to build a full pinball table, but there could be optional upgrades like pre bundled wire harnesses, or pre build assemblies- sorta like DIY electronics kits.

And yeah, I too played the P3, but frankly, I wasn't impressed. The flippers and layout were OK, but honestly I'm just not too keen on the LCD screen under the playfield, it just seems like a cheesy gimmick. I mean don't get me wrong, I like my touch screen iPad for what it is, but when I play real pinball, I don't want to look at a screen. To me the real appeal of pinball is the mechanical interactions- man vs. machine, not man vs. screen. And the P3 is only DIY in the sense that it doesn't have any theme or software build into it- However, maybe if they come out with a kit that is more reasonably priced it will change my mind.

 

[shutyertrap]

$20 in 8 hours? That seems rather low... at 50 cents a play, that's 40 games. Given the way I play... that would probably last me... 3 hours? unless the machines run cheaper?

Well that first time I went, everything was only a quarter, plus Tim kept asking if I'd played a particular table and would then proceed to plunk in the quarter himself for me to play. But then they had only been open for like a week at that point, so still trying to drum up business. The second time I went, there were still quite a few machines set to 25 cents, and a lot even had it set to 5 balls.

 

[ClaudeHenrySmoot]

I'm really hoping that Stern or Jersey Jack, and possibly some other makers would consider doing new tables, or re-issued older tables in kit form.

That would be really cool. I'd love to put something like that together. As long as it was relatively simple assembly (no soldering for example) I'd love it. Pricing out the VirtuaPin, I'm already looking forward to buying the cheap unassembled cab and putting it together. That's half the fun!

The big question is, how much is the labor costing Stern (per table). Some folks on RGP commented labor is the #1 cost, but I'm not sure if that's just assembly or R&D plus engineering.