As much as I enjoy the modern Sterns, I really miss playing games not based on licensed themes. Many of my favourite WPC games were original IP - Bride of Pinbot, Theatre of Magic, Medieval Madness etc. Actually, it's more that I'm bored of superhero franchises... and heavy rock isn't my thing...
The first pin I can recall playing was a Future Spa. There might have been a couple of EMs before then but I was too young to remember them.
The first ones I played with any skill and intent were a Gorgar and then a Black Knight. They got me hooked.
First game I owned was a Fathom, which I...
Eight Ball Deluxe is the only one I've found myself coming back to repeatedly. Dr Who was definitely fun for a while but that video mode gets old very quickly. I can see myself loading up Indy 500 from time to time though. Not my favourite but I don't feel I've exhausted it yet. Sadly, I've...
Amazed nobody's mentioned Everybody Wants Some yet. Richard Linklater has a thing about putting pinballs in his films. Anyway, there's a scene at a pool hall with a row of pins...
Black Knight
Gorgar
Lost World
Space Invaders
Kiss
Capt. Fantastic
It's so so close to being historically...
I'd say that any IRL pinball is inherently fun simply because you've always got the feel and the physics working for you. When it comes to TPA or any simulation, you're far more reliant on great rulesets and artwork for your enjoyment. I don't personally get much from playing most EMs in TPA...
On the plus side, it might get to us outside of NA with a few bugs quashed. I'm curious about the differences in availability for the Premium and LE editions of Star Trek and AC/DC. Are the LE ones only in the retail disc release? If so, will that include the Premium tables too?
Can't argue with that SS list. I'd quite like to see them tackle something like Pharaoh, if they can get the CPU emulation sorted. It still bugs me that BK is so bad and I would love to see at least one of the Williams split-level tables done justice.
Personally, I found the Vector playfield felt too cramped to be much fun. Had some cool features, like the "speed trap" shot up the left ramp and the unusual outlane arrangement, however other than the left ramp there are no really satisfying shots. The game just doesn't flow like the best do...
Another vote for Fathom. The first, and most beautiful, pin I ever owned. I so regret selling it. Over the years I've had Medusa, Vector and Centaur also. As a game it'd be a tough choice between Centaur and Fathom as my favourite. Fathom for the artwork though every time. TPA has got me...
Ah, Communism. A noble concept but impossible to put into practice without going against many basic human instincts. I would argue that the worst achievement of humans is the enforcement of any ideology that claims to be the only truth to the point of eradication of all others, be the motivation...
Played probably around half-a-dozen Centaurs over the years. I think setup and playfield slope plays a big role in how Centaur plays. As you say, physical adjustment can make it a lot friendlier.
I'd love to know from Jim Patla what the designed behaviour was.
I think that might have been a quirk of the Centaur you played on! :D I've repaired, borrowed and owned one for years, and never found the double queen's chamber shot a particularly risky one. Unlike most tables, I can't think of any drain-monster shots on Centaur. Even the ORBS targets...
I must admit that I would dearly love to see BK brought up to the standard of more recent additions to TPA from a similar era. Centaur, for example, plays very closely to the Centaur machine I own. I still have a BK as well, but it may as well be a different game to the TPA version, given how...
I've no idea why, but Roadshow has never done much for me. Still, it's good to now know what I'm aiming for in each of the modes.
Voted Earthshaker, with honourable mentions to TAF and Xenon.
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