Pinside's Top 100 (without Stern) (2024)

FAQs

What is the best pinball machine of all time? ›

Medieval Madness (Williams, 1997)

The game features an interactive castle and two pop up trolls. It is widely considered the best pinball machine of all time. A remake of this machine was also produced by Chicago Gaming.

Although six-and-a-half to seven degrees are recommended for the front-to-back tilt of a pinball machine, you may use a range of six to nine degrees slant. The reason for the relatively wide range is that game play is solely dependent upon personal preference.

The horizontal level refers to the angle of the machine from left to right. Set a level vertically on the glass to see if the pitch is 6.5 degrees. If there are no levels on the frame of the machine, the goal is to aim for a pitch of 6.5 degrees.

Hall of Fame game designer Steve Ritchie and his team have created a pinball experience that will delight casual players, collectors, and enthusiasts alike, showcasing Elton John's legendary career through the inventiveness and quality that are synonymous with Jersey Jack Pinball.

But in the 1940s, pinball was often seen as a moral menace, tempting both players and observers to gamble, corrupting youth and adults alike. The city of New York banned pinball in 1942 because of betting on the outcome of games, and gambling was against the law.

In learning how to play or by playing pinball frequently, hand eye coordination can be increased two fold, as well as developing lighting fast reflexes and incredible timing. Pinball can be quite a mental game, as you think of moves and strategies on the spot.

The most important rule for aiming is simply that the closer to the tip the ball is, the more to the opposite side it will go. So, for example, let's say you're holding the ball on the left flipper. You drop the flipper and let the ball roll down. If you flip again quickly, you'll send the ball more to the left.

Generally if the pendulum or the weight touches a ring around it, it causes the game to issue a warning. On most games, the third warning causes it to report a tilt, which on older games would stop scoring and end the game (possibly for all players).

When the mechanism is triggered, the machine "tilts", ending play for the current ball and usually forfeiting any bonuses earned (if it is the last ball, and the player has no extra balls left, the game is automatically over). Most modern games provide a configurable number of warnings per ball before tilting.

Pinball prices are soaring higher and higher. In 2022 the average price was up 13% but in 2023 it's down 2.5%. So you need to be a smart shopper (or seller) and know how to get the most from the Pinball Prices free price guide.

What is the best way to move a pinball machine? ›

As your skill increases you can apply more advanced ball control skills. The skills in this section take you beyond simple ball control to more agressive moves that give even more control over the ball, and therefore the game play. Beyond the advanced skills lie the domain of the wizards.

Pinball (originally called pintable in the UK) games are a family of games in which a ball is propelled into a specially designed table where it bounces off various obstacles, scoring points either en route or when it comes to rest.

“There is nothing more energizing and fun than bringing pinball and music together,” said Gary Stern, Chairman and CEO of Stern Pinball, Inc. “Partnering with Led Zeppelin, we created a one-of-a-kind pinball experience. It's our dream goal to create a pinball machine with this iconic rock band.”

The Pinball Wizard sequence was shot at the Kings Theatre in Southsea and the two pinball machines used were a 1965 Kings & Queens by Gottlieb—used by Roger Daltrey—and a Gottlieb Buckaroo also from 1965, used by Elton John.

Andrew Robishaw of Lakeland, Florida currently holds the Guinness World Record for the “Longest Marathon Playing Pinball,” at 62 hours and 21 minutes. He achieved the record from Sept. 1-3, 2023.

Some of these obstacles have been more tangible than others – in its early years for example, it was even briefly outlawed as a form of gambling! As a result, the definition of its Golden Age is still hotly disputed. Broadly, enthusiasts appear to agree that it's a tie between the 1970s or the 1990s.