Why kids today don't play pinball

[ajlaird]

My about-to-be teenage daughter is running a pinball comp on both my machines for her birthday party. She has prizes ready for the winners. There is a certain retro cool thing happening.

[Extra Ball]

Having my 5yrold son's birthday party here this weekend and the pins will be on for entertainment. Be interesting to see how pinball goes over with the little ones. Not to mention the yummy mumies. 

[pinnies4me]

I had 14 kids at my house today, all under the age of 10, most of them around 5 for my Daughters 5th birthday party.

All my pinball machines copped a flogging

Alright! That's what I like to read Angelo!   

... the most we have are three pinballs at the Movie theatre.

Well you're lucky then, none at our major cinema complexes at all. Reminds me - I had my first and only game (Time Warp) and then stumbled across an AFM at the local cinema when it still used to have them. Six months later I had an AFM, and soon after the breeding in earnest started! Without the exposure I would not have got back into DMD's, at least for a long time. Shows what exposure does I guess.

[ktm450]

For me, when I was a young chap, I was lucky enough to be exposed to both pinballs & video games.  Back then, I mostly spent my hard earned money (sweeping the games room for $1.00 each morning of 20c (marked) coins) I mostly played the video games.  Sure I lasted about 2 min per one but I enjoyed them.  The older dad's etc mostly played the pinnies with a beer or six and I would sit there watching them play.  I guess back then I learned a few lessons, firstly you could get a lot more play time from your 20c ie 5 balls which lasted a lot longer than a quick game of moon patrol or scramble.  So I started playing the pinnies, I remember Hulk, Fandango, FJ Holden amongst others.  My fav from that time was Hyperball.  It just blew me away, lots of fun and moving stuff!

When I got older, computer games started to come out - although nothing like today.  I can remember being swept up with Leasure Suit Larry, Space Quest, Street Rod which kids today would not even download for their mobile phones.  Around that time a lot of DMD's were coming out.  I remember playing T2 at the Cinemas at Knox, Elvira, Getaway and these had me hooked.  I had no interest in the Street Fighter an similar games which were out around that time.  BUT I do remember being able to find a pinny / arcade machine at just about every milkbar, shopping center and spending every hard earned cent.

I don't know the reason kids today don't like them....I would love to see a come back of some new quality machines!

This post brings back some memories 
Larry Laffer, Roger Wilco, Sonny Bonds, gotta love those old Sierra quests, I too grew up around computer games, but now just find them too repeditave.

We had some friends around the other day and I turned the pins on for them, a couple of the kids got it, but I cant stand the constant bang bang bang of a kid continually pushing the ball (even after while it is going down into the trough)  Its not like it will hurt the machine just the noise 

[ajlaird]

We had some friends around the other day and I turned the pins on for them, a couple of the kids got it, but I cant stand the constant bang bang bang of a kid continually pushing the ball (even after while it is going down into the trough)  Its not like it will hurt the machine just the noise 

Hmmm, turning into an old man....

[MartyJ]

For me, when I was a young chap, I was lucky enough to be exposed to both pinballs & video games.  Back then, I mostly spent my hard earned money (sweeping the games room for $1.00 each morning of 20c (marked) coins) I mostly played the video games.  Sure I lasted about 2 min per one but I enjoyed them.  The older dad's etc mostly played the pinnies with a beer or six and I would sit there watching them play.  I guess back then I learned a few lessons, firstly you could get a lot more play time from your 20c ie 5 balls which lasted a lot longer than a quick game of moon patrol or scramble.  So I started playing the pinnies, I remember Hulk, Fandango, FJ Holden amongst others.  My fav from that time was Hyperball.  It just blew me away, lots of fun and moving stuff!

When I got older, computer games started to come out - although nothing like today.  I can remember being swept up with Leasure Suit Larry, Space Quest, Street Rod which kids today would not even download for their mobile phones.  Around that time a lot of DMD's were coming out.  I remember playing T2 at the Cinemas at Knox, Elvira, Getaway and these had me hooked.  I had no interest in the Street Fighter an similar games which were out around that time.  BUT I do remember being able to find a pinny / arcade machine at just about every milkbar, shopping center and spending every hard earned cent.

I don't know the reason kids today don't like them....I would love to see a come back of some new quality machines!

This post brings back some memories 
Larry Laffer, Roger Wilco, Sonny Bonds, gotta love those old Sierra quests, I too grew up around computer games, but now just find them too repeditave.

We had some friends around the other day and I turned the pins on for them, a couple of the kids got it, but I cant stand the constant bang bang bang of a kid continually pushing the ball (even after while it is going down into the trough)  Its not like it will hurt the machine just the noise 

The scary thing is I still remember the telephone number Larry rings for the escort service (555-6969)!  Oh and don't forget 'Ken Sent Me'.....!!

[ktm450]

Ahh the memories, Gold game! but would probaly look very lame by todays standard.

[pict]

I remember when growing up perhaps 10-12 years of age going out to the backyard, grabbing a piece of wood and making my own pinball machine using nails, rubber bands and pegs as flippers. These days when our kids want to be creative they jump on the PS3 / xbox 360 and use a level builder to create a new map for their game.

Whilst I can imagine kids enjoy playing pinballs I fear it does not have the same appeal as it did to the older generation.

Pict

[Strangeways]

I remember when growing up perhaps 10-12 years of age going out to the backyard, grabbing a piece of wood and making my own pinball machine using nails, rubber bands and pegs as flippers. These days when our kids want to be creative they jump on the PS3 / xbox 360 and use a level builder to create a new map for their game.

Whilst I can imagine kids enjoy playing pinballs I fear it does not have the same appeal as it did to the older generation.

Pict

I recall doing exactly the same thing when I was a child. Great memories.

[pinball god]

For me, when I was a young chap, I was lucky enough to be exposed to both pinballs & video games.  Back then, I mostly spent my hard earned money (sweeping the games room for $1.00 each morning of 20c (marked) coins) I mostly played the video games.  Sure I lasted about 2 min per one but I enjoyed them.  The older dad's etc mostly played the pinnies with a beer or six and I would sit there watching them play.  I guess back then I learned a few lessons, firstly you could get a lot more play time from your 20c ie 5 balls which lasted a lot longer than a quick game of moon patrol or scramble.  So I started playing the pinnies, I remember Hulk, Fandango, FJ Holden amongst others.  My fav from that time was Hyperball.  It just blew me away, lots of fun and moving stuff!

When I got older, computer games started to come out - although nothing like today.  I can remember being swept up with Leasure Suit Larry, Space Quest, Street Rod which kids today would not even download for their mobile phones.  Around that time a lot of DMD's were coming out.  I remember playing T2 at the Cinemas at Knox, Elvira, Getaway and these had me hooked.  I had no interest in the Street Fighter an similar games which were out around that time.  BUT I do remember being able to find a pinny / arcade machine at just about every milkbar, shopping center and spending every hard earned cent.

I don't know the reason kids today don't like them....I would love to see a come back of some new quality machines!

This post brings back some memories 
Larry Laffer, Roger Wilco, Sonny Bonds, gotta love those old Sierra quests, I too grew up around computer games, but now just find them too repeditave.

We had some friends around the other day and I turned the pins on for them, a couple of the kids got it, but I cant stand the constant bang bang bang of a kid continually pushing the ball (even after while it is going down into the trough)  Its not like it will hurt the machine just the noise 

The scary thing is I still remember the telephone number Larry rings for the escort service (555-6969)!  Oh and don't forget 'Ken Sent Me'.....!!

I've still got a lot of these games still in the box near mint. Slowly off loading on ebay so I can use the wardrobe for clothes of all things

[ajlaird]

I remember when growing up perhaps 10-12 years of age going out to the backyard, grabbing a piece of wood and making my own pinball machine using nails, rubber bands and pegs as flippers. These days when our kids want to be creative they jump on the PS3 / xbox 360 and use a level builder to create a new map for their game.

Whilst I can imagine kids enjoy playing pinballs I fear it does not have the same appeal as it did to the older generation.

Pict

I recall doing exactly the same thing when I was a child. Great memories.

Yeah, I think we all did that if we are of a certain age.

[GORGAR 1]

Just had my twin Daughters birthday aged 10-the thought of the kids and there friends banging my flippers together when the balls no where near them scares the crap out of me, I closed the door and said just look they don't work!! am I being unfair??

Peter

[ajlaird]

Just had my twin Daughters birthday aged 10-the thought of the kids and there friends banging my flippers together when the balls no where near them scares the crap out of me, I closed the door and said just look they don't work!! am I being unfair??

Peter

I guess it depends on how much work you have put into them and if they are restored to like new or not. But they are built tough - I reckon it is too easy to be precious about them when they are designed to be played. Just keep the drinks away from them I say.

[Strangeways]

Just had my twin Daughters birthday aged 10-the thought of the kids and there friends banging my flippers together when the balls no where near them scares the crap out of me, I closed the door and said just look they don't work!! am I being unfair??

Peter

I guess it depends on how much work you have put into them and if they are restored to like new or not. But they are built tough - I reckon it is too easy to be precious about them when they are designed to be played. Just keep the drinks away from them I say.

I concur.

These machines have seen X100 of what these kids can dish out. They also need to start playing the pins by working out what the buttons do.

Just keep liquids away from the machines = good point.

[GORGAR 1]

August is the boys 12th birthday-maybe time to show the kids the pinballs hey?? But not the GORGAR-to much time and $$$$ into that one..

Peter