What is it about pinball??!!??!!

[Guest]

Archived from groups: rec.games.pinball (More info?)

Just a thought I had today while I was down at an arcade in Myrtle
Beach:

Why can't pinball make a comeback?? I mean big time!! Yes, I know kids
have arcade quality games at home now (PS2,Xbox) and even the
revolutionary machines that stole pinballs thunder during the 90's have
fallen on hard times due to what technology has given us in terms of
home use merchandise, BUT, pins can't be truly duplicated at home no
matter how much technology is at our finger tips with out a large price
tag. It seems when you can have miniture dvd players and psp and thin
screen monitors,etc. that dot matrix could easily be replaced with
something more alluring to newer generations. There really is no
difference between video controllers and pin flippers. They are both
used to manipulate an object...Maybe i just can't see for pinball
blinders but it seems with the right marketing and game a break through
itn't far away..ohh well.....

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: rec.games.pinball (More info?)

My guess would be the cost in upkeep. Pins are a lot more expensive to
maintain.

- Q

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: rec.games.pinball (More info?)

Three letters: ROI

Return On Investment. Pinball just doesn't
make the money it once did, and that has
the largest affect on sales/production/distribution
of pinball machines.

When/if they make money again, they may return.

--
Fred
TX
CARGPB#8
******************



"Newpinguy" <sethmundy@yahoo.com> wrote
> Just a thought I had today while I was down at an arcade in Myrtle
> Beach:
>
> Why can't pinball make a comeback??

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: rec.games.pinball (More info?)

"Newpinguy" <sethmundy@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:1121816575.199174.147020@g49g2000cwa.googlegroups.com...
> Just a thought I had today while I was down at an arcade in Myrtle
> Beach:
>
> Why can't pinball make a comeback?? I mean big time!!

There would have to be some big changes to make a big come back. People
would have to seek them out and want to put money in them, manufacturers
would have to get cost down and reliability up, ops would have to want to
operate them again and train their people to maintain them. And locations
would have to want them again. You need all of these to happen for a come
back, you'd have trouble getting one of them to happen. There's the problem.
The day is fast coming where the hobby will be bigger than the games on
location. LTG

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: rec.games.pinball (More info?)

Hate to say it, but Lloyd is absolutely right here. I know that 2 operators
in the last year that service the locations at my theatres have liquidated
their pins completely. No more pins on location...at all...from these
operators. When I asked them why, the answer was *identical* to what Lloyd,
Clive, and Fred said...too much maintainance for no return. I love Stern's
games, however, they *DO* eat DMD displays for breakfast, lunch and dinner
on location. I have no idea why, but I've seen games <6 months old needed a
new DMD *DESPERATELY* because it's so dim/faded out. Is it the DMD display?
Is it Stern's design? Who knows, but it's a problem and 2 of 2 ops
mentioned it. At one location, the DMD replacment cost equaled 3 weeks
collection after the split. That is a *LOT* of lost money to an op for one
game (LOTR in case your wondering). I'll quote specific items the ops
mentioned...

-Flipper problems occur too often (Stern and WMS Sopranos was mentioned)
-Lack of Revenue (Stern, WMS, Gottlieb, etc.)
-DMD displays failing
-one person mentioned "Less reliability with a higher price tag".

As I said, I love the Stern games (Have a HUO TSPP) but the ops I run into
do have some problems with them.

Take it for what it's worth. I honestly hope there *IS* a comeback, but
it's going to take a lotta changing.

Brian

"Lloyd Olson" <ltg@ssbilliards.com> wrote in message
news:mpKdneGkPpuiOEDfRVnytg@skypoint.com...
>
> "Newpinguy" <sethmundy@yahoo.com> wrote in message
> news:1121816575.199174.147020@g49g2000cwa.googlegroups.com...
>> Just a thought I had today while I was down at an arcade in Myrtle
>> Beach:
>>
>> Why can't pinball make a comeback?? I mean big time!!
>
> There would have to be some big changes to make a big come back. People
> would have to seek them out and want to put money in them, manufacturers
> would have to get cost down and reliability up, ops would have to want to
> operate them again and train their people to maintain them. And locations
> would have to want them again. You need all of these to happen for a come
> back, you'd have trouble getting one of them to happen. There's the
> problem.
> The day is fast coming where the hobby will be bigger than the games on
> location. LTG
>
>

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: rec.games.pinball (More info?)

Well, in defense of newpinguy, this much I have to say: When you have a
location like the Garden City Pavillion that has at any given time, 3
new Sterns and a nicer old game upstairs, (Like Elvira), and have a
good Tech that takes care of the games,you do in fact get the players
and $$$ to make it worth while to buy the pins in the first place. I
play pin in this arcade alot, and while some of the redemption and Vids
are just "Ho-Hum" the "bigger" scene with a slew of older Vids, Skee
Ball, a row of good old Pitch and Bat etc. etc., The Pins can keep
their own and attract new players, which I see each and every night
that Im there. Too alot of us, LOTR and even TSPP are great games, but
to a whole new slew of familys and kids, there are the newest and best
Pins they have ever played,and an opt that takes care of the games can
still make them compliment the other stuff they have, and add diveristy
to a location. ~Pinball Bret

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: rec.games.pinball (More info?)

I guess a big part of it is just getting people into the arcades. The
gap in technology that made games in arcades more appealing in the late
80's thru the mid 90's has been closed and it seems that games that are
truly interactive (dancing,boxing,etc.) are pulling more money than
anything.

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: rec.games.pinball (More info?)

You can't load CHEAT CODES into pinball machines. Kids want cheat and
have interaction now a days, just like I take viagra and watch porn all
day. Wow, am I getting old or what? I do love my hi speed connection.

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: rec.games.pinball (More info?)

Why not?? L. flipper, L flipper, R flipper, R flipper, credit button,
and spin around twice, INSTANT MULTIBALL!

chas

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: rec.games.pinball (More info?)

I hate to say this, but while 3 new pins and an older one may attract
players, 4 pins will still have trouble taking in enough to make money. More
than likely something else in the location is paying for them. Just consider
how much money you put in, how long you play, then figure in the locations
hours, and if the pins are going the whole time or also standing unused, and
the figures may surprise you. LTG

"pinball bret" <bmalone@sc.rr.com> wrote in message
news:1121835736.654262.261740@g14g2000cwa.googlegroups.com...
> Well, in defense of newpinguy, this much I have to say: When you have a
> location like the Garden City Pavillion that has at any given time, 3
> new Sterns and a nicer old game upstairs, (Like Elvira), and have a
> good Tech that takes care of the games,you do in fact get the players
> and $$$ to make it worth while to buy the pins in the first place. I
> play pin in this arcade alot, and while some of the redemption and Vids
> are just "Ho-Hum" the "bigger" scene with a slew of older Vids, Skee
> Ball, a row of good old Pitch and Bat etc. etc., The Pins can keep
> their own and attract new players, which I see each and every night
> that Im there. Too alot of us, LOTR and even TSPP are great games, but
> to a whole new slew of familys and kids, there are the newest and best
> Pins they have ever played,and an opt that takes care of the games can
> still make them compliment the other stuff they have, and add diveristy
> to a location. ~Pinball Bret
>