Pinball Machines

[JohnS]

This article is from Cigar Aficionado's September/October 2024 issue. Do you rememeber the days of pinball machines and like the Who's song says, did you aim to be a 'Pinball Wizard'?

Pinball Machines

By David Savona - From Yellowstone's Cole Hauser, September/October 2024

Two kind of people in this world,” Ray Liotta’s character says in the 1997 movie Cop Land. “Pinball people and video game people.” If you’re 50 or older, you might fall into the former group of gamers who are enthralled by the ringing bells, snapping flippers and the captivating combination of mechanics and electronics that make pinball irresistible. While it’s the ultimate Sisyphean game—the eternal (and doomed) effort to keep an 80-gram, carbon-steel ball from going down the drain—for those who love it, it couldn’t be more fun.

Descended from bagatelles, with such evolution as coin-op (1930s) and flippers (1947), pinball dominated arcades (remember arcades?) and created diversions in bars and candy stores. Its star began to fade in the 1970s with the rise of video games, the mechanics and simple buzzers replaced by pixel images of insatiable Pac-Men and relentless Asteroids. When video games moved into the home, pinball machines became even rarer. But a few companies continue to make them for the man caves and smoking rooms of sentimental gamers.

Stern, located outside of the hotbed of pinball manufacturing, Chicago, is the dominant remaining force. Its many theme choices vary from Star Wars and Jaws to Godzilla, “Stranger Things” and James Bond. Prices begin at $7,000 and go as high as $10,500. The machines aren’t small: more than four feet long, more than two feet wide and just over six feet tall at their highest point.

While the general idea of the game is unchanged—launch a ball, use the flippers to keep it in play and build up points—there is plenty of nascent tech in pinball. The new John Wick game uses an artificial intelligence system controlling enemy lights on the playing field to make it less predictable. The Jaws game comes with a pair of 3D glasses, which you pop on when you reach a bonus round. A hanging chum bucket releases LED “blood” to attract the shark, accompanied by the theme music.

Miss the days of playing in public? Stern has a pinball locater to find machines around the United States—there may be more than you think.

Source: https://www.cigaraficionado.com/article/pinball-machines

[benfica_77]

I played many many hours on the pinball game that was built in to Windows XP haha 

[El Presidente]

Love me a good pinball machine. 

I spent hours in arcades in the 70's when I should have been studying maths. 

[JohnS]

I have good memories of playing a Kiss-themed Pinball machine after school (as the band were very popular here in Australia). Then along came Space Invaders, Pac Man and Galaga in the early 80s!

[westg]

Just back from site. The recreation room had  a Jaws and Kiss pinball machine which were free to use. Sausage fingers ruled and I hogged both machines.  😇.

 

[BrightonCorgi]

A friend of mine collects pinball machines. You don't want to play against him...I'll leave it at that.

[Chibearsv]

A pinball machine at home to play and tinker with could be fun. That might be the next hobby rabbit-hole for me. Was a time when 25 cents got me on the Addams Family machine, and I wasn't leaving until I felt like it. Love that Whack! sound when another free game racked up. I think the other old time game I used to rule at was called Gorgo or Gorgar or something like that. 😁

[westg]

21 hours ago, JohnS said:

I have good memories of playing a Kiss-themed Pinball machine after school (as the band were very popular here in Australia). Then along came Space Invaders, Pac Man and Galaga in the early 80s!

And the facial expressions that went with them🤪

[loose_axle]

23 hours ago, El Presidente said:

Love me a good pinball machine. 

I spent hours in arcades in the 70's when I should have been studying maths. 

That was me with Streetfighter in the 90's 🙄

[riderpride]

On 12/5/2024 at 7:38 PM, JohnS said:

I have good memories of playing a Kiss-themed Pinball machine after school (as the band were very popular here in Australia). Then along came Space Invaders, Pac Man and Galaga in the early 80s!

Bah - I want to post the clip from Role Models where Wheeler explains the game and band to Ronnie. Love that flick.

My fave pinball game remains Star Trek The Next Generation. 

Cheers!

Edited December 7, 2024 by riderpride
Typo

[Ford2112]

Elvira was my favorite back in the day.

[westg]

1 hour ago, Ford2112 said:

Elvira was my favorite back in the day.

Oh yeah 

[Fuzz AI]

Pinball machine art was awesome.

One of my favourite pinball machines during high school was Bride of Pinbot.

[joeypots]

This was a favorite in the Hideaway Lounge back in the day.  

[Ford2112]

This was a good one too.

[Chas.Alpha]

8 Ball Deluxe! “Quit talking and start chalking!!!”

[BrightonCorgi]

Two close to my heart for pinball machines