Internet Info 1994 March/Internet Info CD-ROM (Walnut Creek) (March 1994).iso/answers/rec/games/pinball/part1

Internet Message Format | 1994-04-01 | 10KB

Path: bloom-beacon.mit.edu!senator-bedfellow.mit.edu!sao
From: [e-mail] (Andy Oakland)
Newsgroups: rec.games.pinball,news.answers,rec.answers
Subject: monthly rec.games.pinball FAQ, one of two
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Date: 1 Apr 1994 15:47:48 GMT
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Archive-name: games/pinball/part1

This is the first half of the monthly posting for rec.games.pinball.
If you have any comments, additions, or suggestions for this posting,
please contact the editor, Andy Oakland, at [e-mail].

Changes from last time:

    "Typical" price for fresh-out-of-the-box machine increased
    from $3000 to $3500.

    Updated rates for Game Room and pinGame journal, thanks
    to Joel Iott ([e-mail]).

    Note added about recent demise of Alvin G. & Co.  Snif.

There's an ftp archive for the newsgroup at ftp.rahul.net (192.160.13.1)
in /pub/sigma/pinball.  This is maintained by Kevin Martin, and
contains rule sheets and a wealth of other information.

----------------------------------------------------------

Frequently Asked Question number one:  "How do I buy a machine?"

Buying a pinball for home use has a lot in common with buying a car: It is
a big investment, the item requires proper care, and the business is filled
both with honest, decent people and sleazeballs.

=========================================================================
===============  Decide what sort of machine you want  ==================
=========================================================================

Games available for home purchase fall into three categories: Used electro-
mechanical, used solid-state, and new (all new games are solid-state). Which
is right for you depends on what you want, how much you're willing to spend,
and whether you ever intend to sell or trade the game.

Think a bit about why you want a game. If you want it to play, chances
are that you want a solid-state game.  They play faster, and the software
has features that could take you some time to uncover.

If you're looking for something to tear apart, down to the bare wood, and
build back up again (only better), buy an electro-mechanical.  Doing the
fix-up on a solid-state game wouldn't be as fruitful--At some point,
you'd be staring at an IC-laden circuit board, and that's way beyond
cleaning contacts and tightening springs.

Aside from knowing why you want a game, you should zero in on which game you
want. The market is fat with choices, and there is a fair chance that,
if you look in the right places, you can eventually find what you want. But
you can't go into the market saying, "Oh, just find me something you think
I'll like." It goes deeper than issues of color and whitewalls or no: You
will fare best if you have a wish list of games you are interested in.

How much will it cost?  It depends on the popularity and rarity of the
game, the condition of this particular machine, and whether or not you live
in California.  (Not a joke ... Prices run higher in The Golden State!)

A semi-functional older solid-state machine can be had for as little as
$100, while a new game fresh from the factory runs about $3500.  Typical
price for a game that's seen a couple years of use would be $400-$1000.

An electro-mechanical game can run anywhere from $150 to $750, with
real collector's items (like Humpty Dumpty) significantly more.

If this is your first machine, it's highly recommended that you get a working
one!  Picking up a cheap junker may be tempting, but you'll never get it
going without experience, specialized equipment, and a stock of spare parts.
Try to buy from someone who'll deliver it in working condition, and stand
behind it for a while.  Ask for references!

=========================================================================
=======================    Go looking for one   =========================
=========================================================================

The path a pinball machine travels typically looks like this:

Manufacturer--->Distributor--->Operator--->Collector or junkyard

Unless you have very deep pockets, you won't be buying your machine
from the manufacturer or distributor.  Operators are the ones who
put machines out in the field and maintain them...They're usually
willing to sell used machines once they stop pulling in the quarters.

Go to your favorite machine in the field, and ask who owns it.  If the
location doesn't, there's probably a sticker on the machine pointing you
to the operator.  Another way to find operators is to hit the Yellow Pages,
and call up the companies listed under "Amusement Devices."  First ask
them if they sell machines for home use, then ask for the specific machines
you're looking for.

You can also buy machines from collectors.  In fact, this is pretty much
the only way to go to find an Electro-mechanical.  You probably aren't
going to find an EM in the field, or with an operator.

For both EM's and solid-state machines, the little ads in periodicals like
Game Room are an excellent source of leads.  (See list of periodicals
below)  Also, you can try to find something locally.  Buy every newspaper
you can, including the little "nickel ads" type, and check the classifieds.
Keep doing this for months.  Takes time, but good deals occasionally pop up.

You can also find a "broker," a sort of super-collector in business
to buy up old used games, fix them up, and resell them.  Again, you can
reach these people through publications like Game Room Magazine

Also, believe it or not, check with a dart supply store!  I know of two
in my area (Boston) which sell used pins, and at least one Norwegian
store does.

=========================================================================
=======================     Publications        =========================
=========================================================================

There are many periodicals good for getting background information
on the pinball world, and for contacting other collectors.  The first
two, pinGame journal and Game Room Magazine, are probably the best ones for
those interested in home games.

pinGame journal
31937 Olde Franklin Drive, Farmington Hills, MI  48334
Written by pinball collectors.  Includes info about new games in
development, as well as articles on finding, reconditioning, and playing
older games.  Subscription includes one free classified ad per month.
$30/year for US, $34/year Canadian, $36/year European(surface),
$59/year European(air).  Sample issue $3.

Game Room Magazine
1014 Mount Tabor Road
New Albany, IN  47150
A monthly hobbyist publication, covering pinballs, slots, jukeboxes, Coke
machines, neon, etc.  High proportion of advertising.  Runs at least one
pinball article monthly.
$24/year for US, $30/year Canadian, $48/year European(surface),
$84/year European(air).  Sample issue $3.

The Flipside
81 Carrar Drive, Watchung, NJ 07060
Bimonthly just getting started, written by fans and collectors, many of whom
are r.g.p.  regulars!  Includes reviews of new games, articles about pinball
and pinball players, and a national high score list.
$18/year for USA, $28/year for Canada/foreign.  Sample issue $3.

Play Meter
PO Box 24970, New Orleans, LA 70184
Thick, slick trade journal, mostly aimed at arcade owners and operators.
Provides uniformly glowing reviews of the latest games.  Covers crane
games, kiddie rides, etc., as well as video and pinball.
$50/year, sample issue $5.

RePlay
P.O. Box 2550
Woodland Hills, CA 91365
Another monthly trade magazine with the same content as Play Meter.
$60/year, sample issue $5.

Coin Slot
4401 Zephyr St., Wheat Ridge, CO  80033-3299
A glossy quarterly covering all collectible
coin-op machines. $28/year.

Distributors Research Associates
197 S.W. 20th Way, Dania, FL  33004
The DRA Price Guide lists "average" prices of games, jukeboxes, and
vending machines that are actively traded on the distributor level.
Note that this does not include games more than a few years old.
$75/year for 4 skinny issues and 4 even skinnier updates.

Canadian Coin Box
NCC Publishing, 222 Argyle Ave., Delhi, Ontario N4B 2Y2 Canada.
$38/year, sample issue $3.50.

Coin-Op Newsletter
P.O. Box 2426, Rockville, MD  20852
A bimonthly hobbiest publication.  Covers antiques and coin-op collectables.
$24/ten issues.

=========================================================================
=======================     Manufacturers       =========================
=========================================================================

    Alvin G. & Company (Alvin Gottlieb, without the rights to his name!)
        905 W. North Ave
        Melrose Park, IL 60160
        tel: [phone]
        fax: [phone]
        toll free: 800-858-flip

Sadly, Alvin G. & Company has gone out of business.  I'm keeping the
company listed, though, in case people want to send fan mail or obtain
spare parts for existing machines.

        Data East Pinball Inc.
        1990 Janice Avenue
        Melrose Park, IL 60160
        tel: [phone]
        toll free: 800-kickers

        Premier Technology (Includes Gottlieb and Mylstar)
        759 Industrial Drive
        Bensenville, IL 60106
        tel: [phone]
        fax: [phone]
        toll free 800-444-0761

        Williams Electronic Games Inc. (Includes Bally and Midway)
        3401 North California Avenue
        Chicago, IL 60618
        tel: [phone]
        fax: [phone]