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Aussie Pinball Forums => General Discussion => Your Collection => Topic started by: Strangeways on January 09, 2016, 09:47:40 PM

Title: Top 10 games in your collection - do you have them ?
Post by: Strangeways on January 09, 2016, 09:47:40 PM
Something a little different with regard to pinball collections.

What are your top 10 pinball machines that you either have in your collection, or you are looking at acquiring in your collection. Not a "Top 10 greatest pinball ever made" - just your personal "top 10". Just for the topic's sake - let's say you have the room for 10 games and the $ for 10 games.

When I started collecting, here is the list of games I've always wanted ;

1) Paragon - Already had this game
2) Fathom
3) Embryon
4) Spirit
5) Haunted House
6) Winner
7) Spirit of 76 - Already had this game
8) Super Score
9) Cirqus Voltaire
10) Rocket Ship

To date, I have all the games except "Super Score" and "Rocket Ship". Along the way I've picked up other AMAZING titles like Captain Fantastic, Fireball, Six Sticks, Centaur, Rocky and Space Invaders. I recently add a woodrail - Miss Annabelle. I still love collecting as much as restoring.

After all these years, I STILL love the"hunt" - even though it almost appears to be over - or is a "top 20 list" ?

What Games are YOU missing  - if you had the room for TEN ?
Title: Re: Top 10 games in your collection - do you have them ?
Post by: pinball god on January 09, 2016, 11:54:34 PM
Twilight zone
Funhouse
Embryon
Space invaders
Cirqus voltare
Centaur
Medusa
Monsterbash
Paragon
Toss between metallica or iron man

Got 4 of these, the top 4 listed

Btw if it wasn't for the forum, I reckon I would have stuck with only one game and not have had the guts to purchase more. The forum has enabled me to do most if not all my own fix its. Too costly otherwise. Thanks giys
Title: Re: Top 10 games in your collection - do you have them ?
Post by: greenechidna on January 10, 2016, 12:13:56 AM
These were or have become must haves and are now owned.
Volley
Sky Jump
Outer Space
Abra Ca Dabra
High Hand
Pro Football

Wanted and looking (When I'm allowed by my long suffering wife <..>):
Spin Out
Surfer
Buccaneer
Atlantis/Lawman
Solar City/El Dorado
4Square
Big Chief
Gulfstream  and Travel Time for sentimental reasons


This doesn't denigrate any of my other machines which are all much loved, just trying to figure out a few must haves.
Title: Re: Top 10 games in your collection - do you have them ?
Post by: Mr Pinbologist on January 10, 2016, 09:30:15 AM
MAN its sooo hard to pick just ten  :D

Anyway here is my list based on games i loved back in the day and either have now (and play most) or want..

In no particular order;

KISS (Bally)
Stellar Wars
Dracula (Stern)
Cosmic Princess
Harlem Globertrotters
Buck Rogers
Haunted House
Gorgar
Count Down
Playboy (Bally)

I know most of these titles are not considered great players by some, but i like them for sentimental reasons.

I have all except the last four which are on my 'most wanted' list, in particular HH which is a "i'd sell my left nut for" title.
And i have a mate who has Gorgar, and it'll be mine 'one day' when he decides to sell (after he beats my hi score)  :lol
Title: Re: Top 10 games in your collection - do you have them ?
Post by: pinnies4me on January 10, 2016, 10:11:10 AM
Great topic Strangeways!

When I first started collecting I was very much into the SS games of my arcade days. I had not played a pinball since the late 1980's (other than the odd game in a noisy pub). So for the first few years I mostly wanted SS games. But soon after I got my first game, I came across an AFM at the theater which expanded my horizons. Over time the SS games have mostly left in favour of DMDs.

In the order of what I wanted to get as the collecting bug bit and grew....

1. Time Warp (the game that I wanted as the "I just want one game from my arcade days" game) - still have;
2. AFM (unfair to come across one of the best DMD games ever so early, the bug bit hard) - still got;
3. Twilight Zone (I started looking for games in the wild to see what other DMDs were out there) - bought but sold as not my style;
4. Joker Poker (a mate mentioned this when playing TW with me as his favorite which reminded me about it as well) - still have;
5. Firepower (this was the game that most attracted me away from my favorite TW in the arcade) - still have;
6. BBB (reading of all things pinball and the demise of the manufacturers in the 1990's lead me to this game, and then suddenly it was being made) - still have;
7. Black Hole (this only seemed to be working once or twice when I wanted to play it, but boy it left an impression) - still have;
8. Funhouse (best toy ever!) - still have;
9. Jurassic Park (one of the few games I played in the 1990's, still remember the pub and how impressed I was with this game) - still have;
10. Kingpin (well maybe one day they will make it or I will finish it)



 
Title: Re: Top 10 games in your collection - do you have them ?
Post by: Pop Bumper Pete on January 10, 2016, 04:39:39 PM
A top ten list is not carved in stone for me

Back when I started collecting in the early 80s, my top 10 would have included Space Shuttle, Centaur and Eightball Deluxe. These games would still top my list (but I don’t have any of them)

Then when I got back into collecting, I discovered DMDs
I had only played a few DMDs in the wild, so I had no idea on what was a fun game
I suppose I have a good collection of Bally/Williams titles
Id still like a Dr Who and a Medieval Madness

As for current Sterns, only one game would make my desert island 10 games.
Ironman is a fun game, but even then it would only come in at #10

But when it comes to listing a final 10, it comes down to what I played, not what is popular

Card Whiz (I like drop target banks)
Sinbad (the first SS game I played)
Star Trek (was on location one summer, third game I owned)
Pharaoh (back then, this game came up much more than Black Knight)
Eightball Deluxe (back then, this game was everywhere, surprised they rarely come up for sale) (don’t own)
High speed (anther game that was everywhere at the time, the playfield was so different to anything else) (don’t own)
Funhouse
Creature From the Black Lagoon (the first DMD I bought)
Cirquis Voltaire
Ironman (simple and fun)
Title: Re: Top 10 games in your collection - do you have them ?
Post by: Strangeways on January 11, 2016, 04:50:19 PM
I walked past the "Sky Jump" just before and suddenly realized it would be in my "Top 10" - But I can't find a title to replace it with ? Then the Black Hole, Rocky, Freefall, Centaur and Flight 2000.

Typically the only playable games are Sky Jump and Paragon. This year, I will be restoring either the Embryon or Flight 2000. Each year I will restore one of my own games, and the "Top 5" will go home, and the rest will be upstairs for meets etc.
Title: Re: Top 10 games in your collection - do you have them ?
Post by: Crashramp on January 13, 2016, 12:17:20 PM
Like Pete these are not carved in stone either but they have all been consistently on my want or keep lists.

Xenon - This one I own. Simple rules, lots of fun. I probably play this game more than any other in my collection.

Fathom - Own this one. Beautiful looking game, I'd keep this in the collection just admire it. Fortunately it a great player as well.

Flash Gordon - Own this one - Fast and brutal play make this a great multi player game. When you get a good ball you can feel like you have it on a string with this game but most of the time it just kicks your arse.

Black hole - Don't own this one and apart from on the iPad I've only played a handful of games on one of these machines but the wide open playfield, great sounds and space theme really grab me.

Genie - Have one coming. Fun widebody System 1 gameplay where simple rules don't equal easy. Gordon Morison art is also a standout on this game.

Count-down - Don't own it but again beautiful Gordon Morison art and simple but challenging System 1 gameplay. I'd really love to restore one of these back near new.

Scared Stiff - Don't own this one. Fun game, great shots and call outs are second to none.

Centaur - Own this one. Maybe my favourite game. Great rules, heaps of shots and the sounds are awesome.

Nitro Ground Shaker - Don't own it, never played one but I love the art package on this machine and I think this is a game I think I'd really enjoy restoring so it makes my list just for that reason. From what I've seen on YouTube I think I'd enjoy the gameplay as well.

Centigrade 37 - Don't own this one. Only played a couple of games on this one but it was very cool. It'd be nice to have an em EM in the collection as well.


Sent from my iPad
Title: Re: Top 10 games in your collection - do you have them ?
Post by: oldskool1969 on January 13, 2016, 02:53:55 PM
Let me first off by saying that the ONLY pin I desire at the moment which will probably never happen is
Gottlieb "PARADISE" 1965, to me it is beautiful , would also accept the add-a-ball version "PLEASURE ISLE"   

I am stoked and in my eyes I have a most excellent collection that happen to be some of my top 10

1.Gilligan's Island as it has the most innovative toy, rotating Island and also the first DMD machine ever made. I own this.
2.RBION as I have fond memories of me and me mate surfing SE QLD and going to the museum to play it and now I own a                    bewdy
3.WNBJM as I love the gameplay, humour, art and sound of this boutique game, also own this. Beautiful even when off!
4.Surf Champ my holy grail that is a stunner to look at and plays like a beast. Cleared play field and a real challenge I own. Thanks to APR.  ^^^
5.Metllica as it is what a pinball is meant to be, awesome game play with beautiful art and great call outs ( HELL YEAH ) unfortunately not a big fan of music, but I grin and bear it. I do not own this.
6.WOZ is what pinball should be like in this day and age. A true masterpiece in its own right and just stunning. I don't own.
7.2001 GTB 1971 is a cracker to play with 2" flippers and 20 drops. Still got to get her running right. I own this. ( my first ever pin )
8.Fathom because it is a true classic for us water babies. I do not own but think it is over priced now. I do not own.
9.Fish Tales as it is the most brutal game ever and the art is phenomenal, with colour DMD it is a pearler. I own this.
10.BBH as this title is what I consider to be the most approachable to any level player. A game where you feel like you have achieved something but actually haven't. My 71 year old mother loves it. I remember everyone bagged it and the first game I was hooked. The wizard mode is almost unobtainable just like RBION. This game still surprises even the most ardent of players. I own this.

just missed out were Harley Davidson by Bally, Who Dunnit and Dr Dude.


This title is a TRUE REAL SLEEPER.
Title: Re: Top 10 games in your collection - do you have them ?
Post by: spacejam0 on January 13, 2016, 03:51:31 PM
Hmm 10 wont be easy but I'll give it a go.
First 3 must have I already have and in order of favorites (which does change from time to time)
1-Gorgar
2-Flash
3-Fire Power
Next 6 I don't have but would like(once again in order of favorites)
4-Scared Stiff (will probably be my next purchase)
5-Bally Kiss (sentimental reasons)
6-Bally Playboy (sentimental reasons)
7-Paragon (sentimental reasons)
8-Centaur (would love one)
9-A nice drop target EM maybe Solar City or similar(sentimental reasons)
10-Stern Family Guy (love the show)
That wasn't as hard as I thought Stern Spiderman and CV would have made if it it was top 12.
Title: Re: Top 10 games in your collection - do you have them ?
Post by: Caveoftreasures on January 13, 2016, 03:51:43 PM
Excellent posts x you 2 guys above. Great diverse list of games full of personality.
Title: Re: Top 10 games in your collection - do you have them ?
Post by: StuartT on January 13, 2016, 04:26:04 PM
Eight Ball Deluxe  - my first purchase
Centaur
Wizard
Scared Stiff
Haunted House
Roto Pool
Gusher
4 Million BC
Aquarius
Elvira And The Party Monsters

I own the first five and they are keepers.

The last five I don't have is a mixture
The wood rails Roto Pool and Gusher for their theme and pinball history.
4 Million BC a game with zipper flippers.
Aquarius looks to be an interesting layout,
Elvira for the theme and art.

Title: Re: Top 10 games in your collection - do you have them ?
Post by: StuartT on January 15, 2016, 02:10:07 PM
NOT Aquarius I meant to say Alantis
Title: Re: Top 10 games in your collection - do you have them ?
Post by: Retropin on January 15, 2016, 04:10:20 PM
NOT Aquarius I meant to say Alantis

Is on my list too.. stunning looking game that would fair well right next to a fathom. Drops on the LHS and the classic GTB wire rollovers on the RHS.. the game ticks nearly all the boxes
Title: Re: Top 10 games in your collection - do you have them ?
Post by: onetaste on February 29, 2016, 12:03:15 PM
I've been fortunate enough to pick up some nice sterns at below today's market prices. I figured they were a safer investment than my shares in the stock market so I swapped shares for pinnies. My current list is
ACDC premium
Iron Man
Tron pro modded
The Shadow
BSD
TWD
Sinbad
Stern Nine Ball
XMen
EBD (project)
I've got all these and I don't want to part with any atm, they are all awesome players. The only ones on my must have wish list are fathom, centaur and maybe fireball 2. I'm in a 2 year queue waiting for nino to restore me his Viking. And I'd love a WPT or Maverick, I like poker and shooting drop targets.
Title: Re: Top 10 games in your collection - do you have them ?
Post by: Brettski on March 02, 2016, 06:19:37 PM
Here are the top 10 machines on my list, I love EM's but don't currently own one. I was playing pinnies during the cross over to SS and remember them appearing in the parlours and find them similar to EM playfields and rule sets but reliable once I put Pascal boards in them. I have run out of room so it looks like I will need to swap out from here if I find a machine I want more than the ones I have.


Close encounters
Countdown
Jetspin
Spirit of 76
Strikes & Spares - Currently Own
Charlies Angels - Currently Own
Golden Arrow
Centigrade 37
Sinbad - Currently Own
Cleopatra - Currently Own

Cheers: Brettski... :)

Title: Re: Top 10 games in your collection - do you have them ?
Post by: Top Card on January 20, 2017, 12:47:53 AM
I don't own any of these so it is just a 'maybe, one day' list for me.

Firepower - rewrote the rules of pinball play. Multiball, the outlane kicker and moving F-I-R-E with the flipper button, all in one game
ProFootball - even at 10c a game at the local arcade, I probably spent enough to buy a house
Kiss - the best balance of features I think I have ever seen, drop targets, bounce targets, the K-I-S-S matrix in the middle
Close Encounters - The first time I saw a roto target
Spiderman (1980) - How did they fit so much variety in one playfield
Target Alpha / Solar City- the drop target lovers dream machine
Meteor - The drop targets reset, then they dropped down again, magic
Hercules - The sheer novelty of playing something that big
Black Knight - If only I was coordinated enough to use the second set of flipper buttons for the magnetic capture thingy
Anything by Ed Krynski - so much imagination

Great thread





Title: Re: Top 10 games in your collection - do you have them ?
Post by: 4_amusement_only on January 22, 2017, 04:52:53 AM
In no particular order of games on my wish list ;

Humpty Dumpty
Space shuttle
Fireball
Guns n Roses
Dungeons and Dragons
Bally Atlantis
Gottlieb Mermaid
Phantom of the opera
Fathom
Space mission

Special mention my two grails lucky to be in possession - Ready Aim Fire and Bounty Hunter
Title: Re: Top 10 games in your collection - do you have them ?
Post by: goodolddays on January 22, 2017, 04:40:47 PM
Not sure about a top 10 , but these are some of my personal favourites that I do own

Firepower (great game and sentimental reasons)
Creature from the Black Lagoon
Playboy (sentimental reasons)
Black Hole (still in pieces and a long term basket case project)
Lady Luck (Williams 1968)

Wanted

Rocket ship (Bally EM)
Space Shuttle

Should not have sold

Old Chicago (Bally EM)
Gulf Stream (Williams EM)


Title: Re: Top 10 games in your collection - do you have them ?
Post by: goodolddays on January 22, 2017, 06:17:37 PM
oops .. I meant Bally Sky Rocket is on the wanted list .. not Rocket ship which is not a Bally game and much older I think
Title: Re: Top 10 games in your collection - do you have them ?
Post by: Strangeways on January 22, 2017, 08:12:17 PM
In no particular order of games on my wish list ;

Humpty Dumpty
Space shuttle
Fireball
Guns n Roses
Dungeons and Dragons
Bally Atlantis
Gottlieb Mermaid
Phantom of the opera
Fathom
Space mission

Special mention my two grails lucky to be in possession - Ready Aim Fire and Bounty Hunter


Took me 10-15 years to track down Fathom -Then I found 4 !
Mermaid will be VERY expensive.
Fireball took me 15 years - VERY hard to source now.
Atlantis - I'd love one as well. Almost had 2 our of a spotter in Europe for peanuts !
Title: Re: Top 10 games in your collection - do you have them ?
Post by: plong on January 26, 2017, 03:35:05 PM
Bally Atlantis on gumtree now Nino
Title: Re: Top 10 games in your collection - do you have them ?
Post by: Jakusu on June 23, 2018, 06:43:51 PM
Been lucky to have had most of the A list 90's titles but they have moved on. If I had a top 10 as of today for me it would look like this:


1 Theatre of Magic - got
2 Creature from the Black Lagoon - got
3 Firepower -got
4 BS Dracula - got
5 Getaway - got
6 Black Knight 2000 - got
7 Centaur - got
8 Attack from Mars original - had
9 Swords of Fury - want
10 Stellar wars, Fathom, Scared Stiff (had), Twilight Zone (had twice), all on position 10!
Title: Re: Top 10 games in your collection - do you have them ?
Post by: pinball god on August 08, 2018, 12:32:04 AM
Twilight zone
Funhouse
Embryon
Space invaders
Cirqus voltare
Centaur
Medusa
Monsterbash
Paragon
Toss between metallica or iron man

Got 4 of these, the top 4 listed

Btw if it wasn't for the forum, I reckon I would have stuck with only one game and not have had the guts to purchase more. The forum has enabled me to do most if not all my own fix its. Too costly otherwise. Thanks giys

My updated list

Twilight zone
Funhouse
Embryon
Theatre of magic
Ghostbusters premium/le
Centaur
Medusa
Tron
The walking dead pro or premium
metallica premium

Got 6
Title: Re: Top 10 games in your collection - do you have them ?
Post by: Strangeways on August 08, 2018, 08:40:32 PM
Twilight zone
Funhouse
Embryon
Space invaders
Cirqus voltare
Centaur
Medusa
Monsterbash
Paragon
Toss between metallica or iron man

Got 4 of these, the top 4 listed

Btw if it wasn't for the forum, I reckon I would have stuck with only one game and not have had the guts to purchase more. The forum has enabled me to do most if not all my own fix its. Too costly otherwise. Thanks giys

My updated list

Twilight zone
Funhouse
Embryon
Theatre of magic
Ghostbusters premium/le
Centaur
Medusa
Tron
The walking dead pro or premium
metallica premium

Got 6

Tron would be a recent addition to the "want" list of many pinheads !
Title: Re: Top 10 games in your collection - do you have them ?
Post by: Crashramp on August 08, 2018, 09:47:03 PM
Yep, I kind of wondered what all the fuss was about with that game but after playing Cursed’s Tron it really clicked with me. Awesome game.
Title: Re: Top 10 games in your collection - do you have them ?
Post by: Crashramp on August 08, 2018, 09:54:10 PM
I played this at Netherworld a couple of weeks ago too. Fantastic game now also on my want list.

(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20180808/3f157b9697bb29cc578e4a70697a383a.jpg)



Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
Title: Re: Top 10 games in your collection - do you have them ?
Post by: DallasJ on September 26, 2018, 11:13:51 PM
I don’t have any of these machines, haunted house is on the want to play list tho.

In my small collection though LW3, Austin Powers & GOTG (just in last week).
Title: Re: Top 10 games in your collection - do you have them ?
Post by: Crashramp on September 27, 2018, 12:31:10 AM
I played this at Netherworld a couple of weeks ago too. Fantastic game now also on my want list.

(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20180808/3f157b9697bb29cc578e4a70697a383a.jpg)



Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

No longer on my want list. Ordered and on its way from Spooky towards the end of the year.   $#$
Title: Re: Top 10 games in your collection - do you have them ?
Post by: pinoffski on May 01, 2021, 06:30:12 PM
For me i have purchased at the time what i could afford or so i thought
as everyone knows
Flash (have)
Attack from mars (have try to purchase this many times now out of my reach )
Blackout (have as i wanted something different )
Theater of Magic (have)
Cirques Voltaire (have it as it goes with TOM)
Avatar LE (have it is the wifes pinball but i also love it)
Metallica (have a pro but would like a LE but now out of my reach)
Spanish Eyes (i love this game)
Paragon (was my first machine in 1984 would like on again)
Star Trek LE (friend was suppose to sell me his but he flipped it for a better price wife was not happy)
Taxi (had one and sold it when i was unemployed i thought i was doing the right thing at the time and then a few year later the wife said she was pissed off when i sold it would like to have it back)
Title: Re: Top 10 games in your collection - do you have them ?
Post by: punkin on May 02, 2021, 06:35:52 AM
Never played pinball since i was 5 or 6 much so never had a listy of tiotles. I've bought and sold a few the last two years though.


I can only do a not ever selling list.
First 5 are easy as i did a mental exercise a couple days ago thinking why don't i drop to just 4 machines from 25 and i'd still be happy. Couldn't get to 4 but i got to 5;


Hankin Orbit 1...if i only had one machine this would be it. Pinball distilled.


Bally Lost World...thinking seriously about sending it to HRP for the full treatment. Beautiful fun game with simple, achievable objectives.


CGC Attack From Mars... My favourite pinball machine to play.


Williams Sorcerer.. the most beautiful machine i own. Bonus is great gameplay and callouts.


Bally Theatre of Magic ..just good pinball fun. Can't wait to see a remake of this from CGC. I'm in for sure day 1






To add 5 more is hard. I like most of the rest, but if i was to place them in a top 5....


Deadpool my first and though i don't play it much anymore, still a great game


Fathom, so tempted to order a Haggis one, but my Bally is too beautiful. Edit. Just ordered a Mermaid.


Spooky Rob Zombie... Need to get the gremlins out of this and get it playing without hanging up but it's just putting the switch in and tuning


Stern The Walking Dead. hate the theme, love the gameplay.


JJP Guns and Roses. Got lots of machines i don't like as much as this although the rules are too complicated for me to bother learning.




So how many of you that have Fathom on their list have ordered a Haggis? And how many of those are the modernised Mermaid edition?


Shit i just took 5 mins to convince myself to purchase after thinking about it again. Mermaid for me.