Ipdb Pinball Database (2024)

FAQs

What is considered 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.

Since the invention of the flipper in 1947, the U.S. pinball industry has created about 1,200 different machines. One of those is the game that, for whatever reason, haunted your adolescence.

As compared to today's video gaming systems, pinball machines may seem quaint and simple. Such is certainly not the case with New York artist Andy Cavatorta's Dual Coincidence installation, however, as it's probably the most complex electromechanical game ever made.

In 1871, British inventor, Montague Redgrave (1844–1934) was granted US Patent #115,357 for his "Improvements in Bagatelle." Bagatelle was an older game that used a table and balls—rather like a miniature version of pool or billiards—and it was invented in late 18th century France.

As long as you take care of your pinball machine properly, it'll last you a lifetime and give you the best value for your money. Restoring pinball machines increases its resale value, so don't hesitate the next time you might want to play a game or two on your collector pinball machine as it will not damage its value!

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.

They still make pinball machines? They do, and Stern is not alone: There's also Jersey Jack Pinball of Elk Grove Village, American Pinball of Palatine, Chicago Gaming Company of Cicero, as well as several others, in Wisconsin, Texas. But none as large as Stern these days.

Portland is home to 756 total machines in 322 different venues. Portland's got balls. Almost 800 of them, to be exact. Seven years ago, Willamette Week declared Portland "the center of the pinball galaxy." In the time since then, our obsession has only grown—more than doubled, in fact.

The value of a pinball machine depends on a lot of factors. A totally restored Medieval Madness might sell to a serious collector for well in excess of $10,000. A pinball dealer might offer $5000 for the same machine a week later. A collector might want $7,500 for one.

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.

What is the pinball capital of the world? ›

Chicago is and long has been the pinball capital of the world. The great pinball manufacturers: Stern, Williams, Bally, Gottlieb, the list goes on– they are and were all based in Chicago and the Chicagoland area.

New York mayor Fiorello La Guardia was responsible for the ban, believing that it robbed school children of their hard-earned nickels and dimes.

Released in March 1992 by Bally Games and inspired by the 1991 live-action movie of the same name, The Addams Family is, to this day, the most popular and widely sold pinball machine of all time, moving more than 20,000 units.

Lawmakers, including then NY Mayor Fiorello La Guardia, thought the game was a mafia-run racket stealing money from kids: "Pinball is a racket dominated by interests heavily tainted with criminality" which robbed the "pockets of schoolchildren in the form of nickels and dimes given them as lunch money," La Guardia ...

The “Golden Age” of pinball lasted from 1948 until 1958. During this time, there were several interesting developments with flippers. For example, in 1948, Geneco used flippers for their pinball machine, “Triple Action.” But what made it unique was the placement.

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.

Backbox: The vertical head of a pinball machine that holds the backglass and displays the score. Backglass: The upright glass panel in the backbox that features the game's title and artwork. Bumper: Round, mushroom-shaped targets set into the playfield. Active bumpers forcefully kick the ball away when struck.