My Next Pinball Machine

The coolness factor of any game room, or any room for that matter, goes up exponentially with the addition of a classic video game or pinball machine. However, it's the staying power that I'd like to discuss here. Specifically, the staying power of pinball over an arcade game.

First, this is My Next Pinball Machine, so clearly I have a bias that the better investment between the two for playability and lasting value will be a pinball machine. While technology has expanded by leaps and bounds in the realm of arcade and video games, pinball remains basically the same concept for the last four decades. Thus, when your kids or company come over to the game room, a certain expectation of graphics quality, interactivity, etc. come into play when they view an arcade game.

Austin Powers Pinball Machine    US $2,050.00

Gusher - 100% working woodrail pinball machine    US $1,950.00

Star Wars Episode I Pinball Machine - No Reserve!    US $2,250.00

ROYAL RUMBLE PINBALL ~ WRESTLING w HULK HOGAN ~ FUN!    US $1,895.00

97 Sega, The X-Files Coin Op Pinball Machine    US $1,895.00

TOMMY Pinball Machine    US $1,650.00

Godzilla Pinball Machine    US $1,750.00

Johnny Mnemonic Pinball Machine    US $1,995.00

ROAD SHOW PINBALL MACHINE- EXCELLENT CONDITION    US $2,300.00

Williams Swords of Fury Arcade Pinball Machine VGC!    US $1,695.00

"RIPLEYS BELIEVE IT OR NOT"STERN PINBALL.NICE.EXTRAS.    US $1,600.00

MAVERICK PINBALL GOOD CONDITION MEL GIBSON, JODY FOSTER    US $2,299.00

BAYWATCH PINBALL GOOD CONDITION LOTS OF ACTION    US $2,299.00

WIPE OUT PINBALL GOOD CONDITION BOARDING ANYONE!!!    US $2,299.00

WHITE WATER PINBALL MACHINE BY WILLIAMS    US $1,525.00

Midway Bally Addams Family pinball machine 1992    US $1,900.00

DATA EAST PHANTOM OF THE OPERA PINBALL MACHINE-HOT!!    US $1,799.00

NO GOOD GOFERS PINBALL BY WILLIAMS IN GREAT CONDITION    US $2,000.00

Time Machine 1988 Data East Pinball Machine    US $1,595.00

CYCLONE 1988 Williams Pinball Machine    US $1,795.00

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That's not the case with pinball. Microsoft Pinball comes nowhere near capturing the fun and randomness of an a real life pinball machine. And it's that randomness that gives pinball its staying power! While Ms. Pac Man runs the ghosts through the same pattern and you can predict the gouls in Ghosts and Goblins after only a few plays, pinball is a different experience each time you pull the plunger and send the ball on it's trajectory, a unique trajectory each and every time. It's this randomness and gameplay that keeps pinball machines at roughly a constant price and has had some titles appreciate in value substantially. Your arcade game's value (with rare exception) has devalued considerably in the last ten years. That's the problem with a 400lb cabinet that has limited play value and can be emulated on a 4.5 pound laptop.

Granted there are some considerations to make between pinball and an arcade machine. Regardless, a pinball machine will require maintenance from time to time from waxing the playfield to changing rubber rings, to replacing coils (pull out the soldering iron!). If you have absolutely no interest in learning these basic maintenance techniques and are not interested in spending $40 - $75 an hour for someone to do it for you - pinball might not be your best investment because a dirty, broken pinball machine has NO PLAYABILITY and then it just takes up space. An arcade game will require minimal cleaning of the screen and perhaps reseating cable connectors - easy stuff.

Still interested in an arcade game for your game room - check out custom MAME cabinets that allow you to play hundreds of video game titles and increase the staying power of your investment.