PAF Top Ten Most Wanted Table Poll Series : #1 - Electro-Mechanical (Closed)

[Kolchak357]

I find this poll the most interesting since people couldn't just take the easy way out by voting for DMD machines.

 

[sotie]

I find this poll the most interesting since people couldn't just take the easy way out by voting for DMD machines.

Good point.

On a side note it would be cool if PiN WiZ would go back and edit the table list to sort them in order of highest to lowest votes.

 

[Mick Morry]

Agreed. I would like to see them highest to lowest votes as well. It would look much better and be more efficient.

 

[CC13]

Plus, let's not forget that there were TONS of licensed pinball machines back in the 90s, even at the 'creative high point'. I really think that we're understating just how many pinball machines had licensed themes just because a bunch of them bombed and aren't anywhere near top 50 (or even top 250) lists. The only difference between yesteryear and today is that there aren't plenty of non-licensed themes to counter the licensed themes and give us an option.

If Jersey Jack's next pinball machine after The Hobbit is an unliscenced theme then we could maybe see how well a table does without a license, up until then it's just too risky to make a game with no secondary market because if it bombs it damages the company big time.

Well, yes, but that one difference is ENORMOUS–Stern Pinball last did an original theme in 2001 and Jersey Jack have no announced plans for an original theme, either. Thankfully, Heighway Pinball and Multimorphic both plan to have their premier tables be original themes (even if I would have preferred Circe's Animal House to Full Throttle–did people REALLY have that much trouble understanding the Circe theme? It's called an education, people–get one!).

What? no Balls-a-Poppin? That's the only one i would have voted for.

You, sir, must be psychic; I thought the exact same thing while I was placing my votes in this poll.

Good point.

On a side note it would be cool if PiN WiZ would go back and edit the table list to sort them in order of highest to lowest votes.

I concur with you and Mick Morry on this. It's very hard to keep the poll information in your head when it's structured like this, so I'll post the complete standings for each poll as a courtesy until a more permanent solution can be reached. The results for this poll can be found below:

1) Wizard! (Bally, 1975) - 130, 53.72%
2) Spirit of 76 (Gottlieb, 1975) - 113, 46.69%
3) Centigrade 37 (Gottlieb, 1977) - 111, 45.87%
4-T) Atlantis (Gottlieb, 1975) - 109, 45.04%
4-T) Royal Flush (Gottlieb, 1976) - 109, 45.04%
6) Space Mission (Williams, 1976) - 100, 41.32%
7) Surf Champ (Gottlieb, 1976) - 88, 36.36%
8) Hokus Pokus (Bally, 1975) - 87, 35.95%
9) Abra Ca Dabra (Gottlieb, 1975) - 84, 34.71%
10) Fast Draw (Gottlieb, 1975) - 82, 33.88%
11) King Pin (Gottlieb, 1973) - 70, 28.93%
12-T) Jacks Open (Gottlieb, 1977) - 69, 28.51%
12-T) Slick Chick (Gottlieb, 1963) - 69, 28.51%
14) Apollo (Williams, 1967) - 60, 24.79%
15) Jet Spin (Gottlieb, 1977) - 52, 21.49%
16) Stardust (Williams, 1971) - 49, 20.25%
17) Space Time (Bally, 1972) - 47, 19.42%
18-T) Buckaroo (Gottlieb, 1965) - 44, 18.18%
18-T) High Hand (Gottlieb, 1973) - 44, 18.18%
18-T) King of Diamonds (Gottlieb, 1967) - 44, 18.18%
21) World Fair (Gottlieb, 1964) - 42, 17.36%
22) Gigi (Gottlieb, 1963) - 40, 16.53%
23) Spin-A-Card (Gottlieb, 1969) - 28, 11.57%
24-T) Dimension (Gottlieb, 1971) - 27, 11.16%
24-T) Jumping Jack (Gottlieb, 1973) - 27, 11.16%
24-T) North Star (Gottlieb, 1964) - 27, 11.16%
27-T) Sky-Line (Gottlieb, 1965) - 24, 9.92%
27-T) Star-Jet (Bally, 1963) - 24, 9.92%
29) Flip a Card (Gottlieb, 1970) - 21, 8.68%
30) Royal Guard (Gottlieb, 1968) - 14, 5.79%

I'll also post some analysis of the results in a bit. For now, let me just say that, aside from the lack of DMDs that Kolchak pointed out, the other thing that made this poll special is that only 2 EMs are currently in TPA, so many more A-list titles were available for this poll than for the other 5.

 

[Mick Morry]

Thank you! Phew....I'm not going blind now looking at this. My eyes couldn't take much more. Now I can actually get a good idea of placements without my eyes twitching and stuttering like mad. LOL

 

[sotie]

I still hope PiN WiZ sorts this way though. In the main list in the top of the thread you can see which tables you voted for in italics.

 

[Kolchak357]

That top ten is loaded with EM studs. I can't really argue with any of them.

 

[Rudy]

I'm just surprised Slick Chick ended up placing so low, did everyone assume it was going to get picked?

 

[Nightwing]

I'm just surprised Slick Chick ended up placing so low, did everyone assume it was going to get picked?

Possibly. I also think that this poll was probably the least interesting for the younger pinball crowd because of the age of these tables. Or the hardest to choose from. Many of the tables here have the same bells & whistles in regards to sound,making the visual layout the main aspect separating these tables,IMO.

Honestly,unless TPA keeps going for more than two seasons - I don't think you'll get many EM's in there. The ones that do make it will probably be more of a mix of the Internet Top EM lists. If that ends up being the case,then you'll get Slick Chick in TPA.

PS - Just to make it clear,I'm not hating on EM's. I'm looking at this from more of a selling angle than anything else....

 

[netizen]

I'm just surprised Slick Chick ended up placing so low, did everyone assume it was going to get picked?

Compared to many of the other EMs offered Slick Chick was just anther Goin' Nuts. It dates Pinball too much by putting it back to the chance over skill era. With a physical machine this can be altered more by skill, but as a digital conversion, and with the way that scripted bumpers have been done recently, there would be no long term playability to a table like Slick Chick in a collection like TPA, imo.


Perhaps if there were a collection put together that was marketed for EM and pre 80s style game play it would be a easy selection for the games to be included, but for a larger line up I personally can't see Slick Chick being much more than a novelty piece in the long view.


I am still concerned that 4 Million B.C. didn't even get considered for this EM poll. Especially given that it has a multi ball, it is an EM and it has a skill shot. For an EM it has 2 of the main features of modern gameplay that players usually say they are looking for.

 

[DeeEff]

I played a dozen games of Slick Chick at PPM Alameda and was not impressed, so did not vote for it.

 

[k88dad]

Possibly. I also think that this poll was probably the least interesting for the younger pinball crowd because of the age of these tables. Or the hardest to choose from. Many of the tables here have the same bells & whistles in regards to sound,making the visual layout the main aspect separating these tables,IMO.

Honestly,unless TPA keeps going for more than two seasons - I don't think you'll get many EM's in there. The ones that do make it will probably be more of a mix of the Internet Top EM lists. If that ends up being the case,then you'll get Slick Chick in TPA.

PS - Just to make it clear,I'm not hating on EM's. I'm looking at this from more of a selling angle than anything else....

Hmm. The gameplay of Spirit of 76 and Royal Flush appeal to me far more than their visuals. Then again, I actually played them in the '70s.

I can easily see TPA going beyond two seasons. We may lose monthly releases at some point, but FS will be making profit catching up on some platforms and expanding to new hardware.

 

[vpalmer]

I can easily see TPA going beyond two seasons. We may lose monthly releases at some point

if, as B.King have said in interview, FS plans to release ~100 tables then 60 more remains after season 2 end.

 

[Spike Forehand]

While I would have liked to see my beloved fast draw make it to the top of the list, still super happy to see Spirit of 76 and Royal Glush make it close to the top.

Ed Krynski forever!!!

http://www.pinballnews.com/news/krynski.html

 

[Pinballfan69]

Possibly. I also think that this poll was probably the least interesting for the younger pinball crowd because of the age of these tables. Or the hardest to choose from. Many of the tables here have the same bells & whistles in regards to sound,making the visual layout the main aspect separating these tables,IMO.

.

I didn't vote for any of these tables. I just can't get into them. Yeah there are some table with great artwork, but that doesn't necessarily make them a great pin. I'm just not into the EM's or tables without a form of Multiball. There was only one table that has a single ball experience that got me involved in pinball and that was Frontier. Then Black Knight Came out and that's when I fell in love with williams tables and most others with mutiball. I do respect those that like these kinds of tables. I just can't get into them.

 

[k88dad]

While I would have liked to see my beloved fast draw make it to the top of the list, still super happy to see Spirit of 76 and Royal Glush make it close to the top.

Ed Krynski forever!!!

http://www.pinballnews.com/news/krynski.html

Ed designed many of my favorites of the era. Other tables of his include Joker Poker, Jet Spin, Big Indian, Big Shot and El Dorado.

 

[vpalmer]

2001/dimension
we definitely must get Dimension as next EM..it's gameplay in couple with WOW system make incredible addiction!!

 

[Jeff Strong]

I played Abra Ca Dabra today at the PHOF in Vegas. What a great EM! The drops are well-placed, a true test of aim. The bumpers definitely keep you on your toes. It gets fast and unpredictable, and the artwork kicks booty as well.

Really nice selection of EMs to play today. Grand Slam was another gem I hadn't played before, but I also spent a good chunk of time with my old favorite Jacks Open. Such an amazing pin for drop target junkies like me .

 

[sotie]

Was today your first visit to PHOF Jeff?

 

[Jeff Strong]

Was today your first visit to PHOF Jeff?

Yes it was. First time I've been to Vegas. PHOF was my first stop today too .