Before there were video games, there was pinball

Amathe

To me, pinball games were the true precursors to modern video games. I used to love playing them. My grandfather worked at a store that sold and repaired pinball machines, so I could go there in the morning and play all day. 

You can also trace some parallels to evolutions in gaming. Over the years, pinball games got faster and faster, with more and more lights and sounds, where players needed to aim more carefully and interact more.

Phaserlight

I love pinball!

There's a place I go sometimes in Delray that lets you play unlimited games for $10.  You're only supposed to stay an hour, but honestly they don't really enforce this (how would they, even?).  They also have these nice historical blurbs about the games, so it's even a bit educational.

I really like the ones from the 70's.  My favorite so far is Mata Hari.  Black Hole is also great, although technically that's 80's.

Mendel

I loved some of the later pinball games.  Multiple levels, ramps and even with a game-within-a-game, and great music.  Oh, and dazzle-happy!  Enough lights for a Vegas ripoff, like Tahoe.

Theocritus

The concept was good, just most pinball machines were crap

Arglebargle

My fave of all times:   Fireball!

Old school, but to wonderful excess....

Torval

Pinball lover here too. Thanks for the thread. I had to look up most because I couldn't remember the names. I remember what the decks look like though.

Faves:
Addam's Family: The ramps and how you set up combo multipliers was so awesome. You could into this great loop and pop multiple game credits on a good run. I think it has great rhythm.

Mata Hari: Simple game with cool combos. Fun to work tilt up at the top.

Flash Gordon: Another fun combo system. Deck is way too open. The ramp level is kind of gimmicky, but still fun to play.

Firepower: This one rocks. There are several real skill challenges in the game and you could charge up buffs and protections. So fun.

There are some more. Black Hole is another one Phaserlight mentioned I like. My favorites all have interesting ways to build combos that involve skill shots against bumpers and paddles. Ramps and loops can be fun. I also like a nice balance of space and interaction. A deck that is too open and sparse is boring. A deck that is too packed feels "over the top" to me. I haven't played in years.

MisterZebub

Holy hell, I can't imagine how many coins I must have dumped into a pinball machine called Magic City when I was a nipper.

Kyleran

I remember my first 'arcade' had air hockey, pool tables and lots and lots of pinball machines. (and smoke, no laws against smoking back then.)

Glorious times ....

laserit

Gorgar

AlBQuirky

What a trip down memory lane! Great video

I wasn't much of a pinball player. The games just never grabbed me. I did enjoy looking at the scantily clad drawn women with their 70's hairstyles posing in bikinis or cut-off shorts :drool:

markost22

I loved the pinball games when I was young, I loved the speed the lights and the sounds of the game.

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