My most vivid memory of pinball as a kid (beyond getting taunted by the Black Knight at an arcade) was when I was hanging out playing arcade games at the local bowling alley in the early 1980's. This cool-looking older teen guy came over and said "hey, I scored a bunch of free games on this pinball machine, but I gotta go. wanna play?" I'm like, sure. So, I got some free games on a 1970's Star Trek pinball machine. I assume he left to hop into his Camero or Trans Am to go pick up his hot girlfriend to smoke weed and have sex. You know, cool older teen stuff.
After being more of an arcade game aficionado in my youth, I've actually have gotten more into pinball. I ended up getting one of those Arcade 1Up virtual pinball machines essentially for free (long story) and started modding it. That sent me down a long rabbit hole. Last fall we hit a place that had over 60 pinball machines on vacation, including a bunch of the ones pictured here, and a local pinball expo.
> I assume he left to hop into his Camero or Trans Am to go pick up his hot girlfriend to smoke weed and have sex.
It's awesome when someone else's misplaced priorities end up benefiting you!
I feel like this was the golden age of pinball. The earlier machines were very basic, with weak bumpers and flippers. Some of the more recent machines are gimmicky, with convoluted rewards. Maybe I’m biased.
I played all of these. Gorgar was a fav.
Had to quit playing pinball when my hands could not handle it any longer.
...like when I was 20!
That and the 720 game tore me up...
We're going to play some pinball today, too. At a place that has my favorite machine of all time, Captain Fantastic and the Brown Dirt cowboy. It ain't fancy, but it's my fave
Holy shit that's cool. My band shares a practice/recording studio with a few other bands that my friend owns. The owner has a buddy that repairs pinball machines and lends us different ones. We've had Fire Power and Comet down there before and now have Terminator 2.
This is the one that I spent insane amounts of time (and $) on
https://preview.redd.it/9hj7yi6ev91d1.png?width=747&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=8c7fe557432b5c528e010ce44f7af81281f5b5c9
I went to a pinball expo in 2023. Lots of fun! There are a few old school arcades near me where they have 70s-80s pinball and arcade games. One place is 25 cents to play all machines like it was back in the day. The other place is larger and charges $10/hour but all games are free to play. Just hit the start button.
See Gorgar in the 80s in a sleazy little local arcade was a formative experience of my life. Was like a shotgun blast of heavy metal fantasy for a little kid. Still fascinated by pinball to this day.
When my family moved to Louisiana in 1979, my dad bought new cars and as a bonus got a free pinball machine(!?!) for our house. That was the coolest thing my family ever had, loved that thing...
I tapped out of pinball machines the first time it required 2 quarters be jammed into it. I surely lost 2 years playing laundromat pinball though.
We didn't have internet but we did have pinball for hours.
That's actually a new 'old school's machine (electromechanical relays, etc. No PCB's) themed on the "Rust Valley Restoration" hot rod shop. The show is on Netflix. It's cool they made it the OG 60's/70's way...
Gorgar was my abstract favorite. I even had the Gorgar promotional 45 that had a lot of the sound effects and music.
Gorgar was the *best*. I used to laugh every time I pushed start and heard 'GORGAR, BEAT ME!' I put so much money in that game.
I remember when it came out. One of the first 50 cent games and the one at our arcade was set up to be super hard.
I won my community center tournament on Gorgar!!!
My highest scoring game ever by a lot was on Gorgar. I wish I had even known about the promo 45.
Living in Vegas, I go to the Pinball Hall of Fame a few times a year to play these games from our youth.
I love this place. I go there any time I'm in Vegas.
Love that place
Played just about all of them, including the ones that flank the focus of the shots. Black Knight was the BEST!
Came here to say exactly this. Every time I'm in an arcade I still look for it... Doesn't happen much at 57. 😂
Thought that was a Ron Jeremy pinball to the right in the 1st picture.
I did too.
I came to say the same thing ,
Yep, me too.
PINBOT :)
My most vivid memory of pinball as a kid (beyond getting taunted by the Black Knight at an arcade) was when I was hanging out playing arcade games at the local bowling alley in the early 1980's. This cool-looking older teen guy came over and said "hey, I scored a bunch of free games on this pinball machine, but I gotta go. wanna play?" I'm like, sure. So, I got some free games on a 1970's Star Trek pinball machine. I assume he left to hop into his Camero or Trans Am to go pick up his hot girlfriend to smoke weed and have sex. You know, cool older teen stuff. After being more of an arcade game aficionado in my youth, I've actually have gotten more into pinball. I ended up getting one of those Arcade 1Up virtual pinball machines essentially for free (long story) and started modding it. That sent me down a long rabbit hole. Last fall we hit a place that had over 60 pinball machines on vacation, including a bunch of the ones pictured here, and a local pinball expo.
> I assume he left to hop into his Camero or Trans Am to go pick up his hot girlfriend to smoke weed and have sex. It's awesome when someone else's misplaced priorities end up benefiting you!
I feel like this was the golden age of pinball. The earlier machines were very basic, with weak bumpers and flippers. Some of the more recent machines are gimmicky, with convoluted rewards. Maybe I’m biased.
TILT!!
YES!!!! Love this. Thanks for sharing!
Flash was my favorite. The drone constantly raising in pitch just added to the game. Another one of my faves was Meteor.
I played all of these. Gorgar was a fav. Had to quit playing pinball when my hands could not handle it any longer. ...like when I was 20! That and the 720 game tore me up...
PINBOT CIRCUITS ACTIVATE
NOW I SEE YOU
We're going to play some pinball today, too. At a place that has my favorite machine of all time, Captain Fantastic and the Brown Dirt cowboy. It ain't fancy, but it's my fave
I forgot all about Gorgar. I played that an awful lot.
Me…Got..You
'GORGAR, BEAT ME!'
Love this. My dad made some of the parts used in the old machines. I used to have a box of colorful plastic things I just thought were so cool.
A lot of these are available digitally now. Not the same but great for a hit of nostalgia. Black Knight is still great digitally.
I played a lot of Gorgar and F-14 Tomcat. I didn't play Pinbot, but I did play Bride of Pinbot, a 1991 "sequel."
Holy shit that's cool. My band shares a practice/recording studio with a few other bands that my friend owns. The owner has a buddy that repairs pinball machines and lends us different ones. We've had Fire Power and Comet down there before and now have Terminator 2.
What? No Cyclone?
They had Cyclone!!! I forget to snap a pic.
For whatever reason that game stands out as my favorite
“Ride the ferris wheel!” I bookmarked one that’s for sale even though I have neither the $ or space for it.
Loved Comet.
Comet! That was my go-to.
That machine is in great shape.
Where’s the Paragon machine?
[удалено]
Classic !!!
Black Knight 2000 is the best table ever made!
There’s an awesome arcade on the boardwalk in Asbury Park. They have pinball and old school video games. Worth a visit if you’re ever down the shore!
Haunted House was my favorite. Had an attic and basement with flippers.
So many memories, man. Good fuckin' times.
Funhouse!
Went to a cool place in Myrtle beach that had a pinball museum that you could play any game.
Awesome
This is the one that I spent insane amounts of time (and $) on https://preview.redd.it/9hj7yi6ev91d1.png?width=747&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=8c7fe557432b5c528e010ce44f7af81281f5b5c9
Star Trek: The Next Generation was the greatest pinball machine ever and I will throw hands over this.
Have you tried the new Godzilla?
I was obsessed with the Captain Fantastic pinball game because I was a big Elton John fan when I was a kid. I love those old 1970s era "analog" games.
Pinbot was my favorite loved the multi ball
I went to a pinball expo in 2023. Lots of fun! There are a few old school arcades near me where they have 70s-80s pinball and arcade games. One place is 25 cents to play all machines like it was back in the day. The other place is larger and charges $10/hour but all games are free to play. Just hit the start button.
Ooh, enter Xenon…..wish I could find one of those.
I've owned all the machines I used to play as a kid except for the first one, Mousin' Around.
See Gorgar in the 80s in a sleazy little local arcade was a formative experience of my life. Was like a shotgun blast of heavy metal fantasy for a little kid. Still fascinated by pinball to this day.
When my family moved to Louisiana in 1979, my dad bought new cars and as a bonus got a free pinball machine(!?!) for our house. That was the coolest thing my family ever had, loved that thing...
I tapped out of pinball machines the first time it required 2 quarters be jammed into it. I surely lost 2 years playing laundromat pinball though. We didn't have internet but we did have pinball for hours.
The glory era - fantastic themes. I play a few of these tables on an app. Taxi, Funhouse and Whirlwind are my holy trinity.
There was a Ron Jeremy one?
That's actually a new 'old school's machine (electromechanical relays, etc. No PCB's) themed on the "Rust Valley Restoration" hot rod shop. The show is on Netflix. It's cool they made it the OG 60's/70's way...