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NerfedFalcon has Pinball Arcade

Sep 2, 2014 @ 4:33am

Best Gottlieb table

Most of the people on here seem to be all about the Midway, and I don't blame you guys-- they were a lot more active and they made most of the classics. But I made this thread to ask what you thought the best table was, that was made by the other major: Gottlieb.

Personally, I'm partial to Class of 1812. It's got a great theme, a decent number of options and the playfield isn't completely nonsensical.

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Showing 1-15 of 17 comments

MWink64

Sep 2, 2014 @ 4:53am

I think my favorite is Lights, Camera, Action. I'm not sure why but I just keep coming back to it. It's great for quick but fun games. It's definitely tough but it also feels rewarding (especially when hitting the loop when million is lit).

There are a few others that deserve mentioning. Haunted House just has absolutely awesome sound effects and graphics. Class of 1812 has a good layout and is fun but quite tough. Conversely, Black Hole is fun but WAY too easy. Genie plays quite well. And, even though I know most people hate it, I really like Central Park.

On the other side, I strongly dislike Goin' Nuts, Big Shot, and El Dorado.

RobertMeans has Pinball Arcade

Sep 23, 2014 @ 7:25am

I love Gottlieb tables. Of course, WMS's tables had much more depth in their rulesets and were generally more challenging, but Gottlieb tables always had a very special feel I much enjoyed (I may be partial, though, as I began my pinball career on Gottlieb pinballs, which were very popular in Spain where I spent many holidays in my childhood).

I think there are many good Gottlieb Premier tables. Rescue 911 is fun, Arena was pretty good, and I even enjoyed tables such as Barb Wire. PA has some nice Gottlieb tables as well, Grand Prix in particular is a table I enjoy playing.

My favorite two tables, though, are Spring Break Party Animals and Street Fighter. Spring Break, with its continuous multiball mode, is an insanely fun table. It may be a little thin on the rules - there does not seem to be any real objective - but the balls just keep coming and you keep shooting - love it. Street Fighter is a total package. There are some challenging shots such as the bracelet target shot or the Guyle shot, and the table has clean rules. What makes this a classic is the soundtrack. I know that fans of the original video game hate the pin for its soundtrack, but I personally think it is pretty amazing. Sound and voice effects neat as well. This is simply an amazing table, and I'd love to see it on PA, though it will not happen.

0h_mama

Sep 23, 2014 @ 11:20am

TOTEM

Pragmatic Tornado has Pinball Arcade

Sep 23, 2014 @ 11:22am

I generally prefer the other table makers, but Class of 1812 is definitely a great pin, and deerves a mention. I also like Lights Camera Action a lot, apart from the "draw game" which gets old fast.

Common Sense has Pinball Arcade

Sep 25, 2014 @ 9:45am

I'm partial to just about everything John Trudeau did during Gottlieb's system 80B line up, i'm still looking to own one.

I love their looks, love how they play and above all their distinct sound makes most everything Bally and Williams did during the same period seem meh to me by contrast but that's just my taste.

Why Victory was picked over titles like Genesis or TX-Sector is completely beyond me, i find it the most tedious pin of this line up and yes i'm one of those people who actually likes Raven.

As far as PBA goes i like Black Hole best.

RobertMeans has Pinball Arcade

Sep 25, 2014 @ 10:40am

Originally posted by Common Sense:
I'm partial to just about everything John Trudeau did during Gottlieb's system 80B line up, i'm still looking to own one.

I love their looks, love how they play and above all their distinct sound makes most everything Bally and Williams did during the same period seem meh to me by contrast but that's just my taste.

Why Victory was picked over titles like Genesis or TX-Sector is completely beyond me, i find it the most tedious pin of this line up and yes i'm one of those people who actually likes Raven.

As far as PBA goes i like Black Hole best.

Ooops yeah did I say Grand Prix? Of course, I meant victory. I also like Raven, mostly because of the backglass though lol.

Pragmatic Tornado has Pinball Arcade

Sep 26, 2014 @ 1:49pm

Originally posted by leannaray:
Gottlieb's Caribbean Cruise!

"It makes a beautiful purple and pink light show, as you succeed with it.

That round thing under the word "Cruise" has a light in there too. That would occasionally pulse like a heart. Whoever wrote the program for the light show was amazing."

Details: http://www.ipdb.org/machine.cgi?gid=3003

It would be so *awesome* if Farsight would re-create this table.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ShOH7WxmY5A

Table in action. Looks pretty cool.

BigSilverHotdog has Pinball Arcade

Sep 26, 2014 @ 2:01pm

Centigrade 37! Not my favourite, but a good one not mentioned yet.

RobertMeans has Pinball Arcade

Sep 26, 2014 @ 2:16pm

Originally posted by leannaray:
Gottlieb's Caribbean Cruise!

"It makes a beautiful purple and pink light show, as you succeed with it.

That round thing under the word "Cruise" has a light in there too. That would occasionally pulse like a heart. Whoever wrote the program for the light show was amazing."

Details: http://www.ipdb.org/machine.cgi?gid=3003

It would be so *awesome* if Farsight would re-create this table.

Are you honestly implying that a cocktail table is the best table Gottlieb ever built?

RobertMeans has Pinball Arcade

Sep 27, 2014 @ 12:00am

Originally posted by leannaray:
Originally posted by RobertMeans:

Are you honestly implying that a cocktail table is the best table Gottlieb ever built?

Ha ha! Yes, I certainly am! Gottlieb was a great pioneer of pinball, and created some pretty awesome innovations - and this one has been severely underestimated because it *is* just a cocktail table! But it is the most romantic table they ever made, with it's beautiful pink and purple lightshow and its heartbeats! Good gameplay, too!

I'm probably not romantic enough to value the innovation of this table... ;)

#10

Heretic

Sep 27, 2014 @ 7:52am

My favorite Gottlieb tables are Super Mario Bros, Freddy and Joker Poker

#11

RobertMeans has Pinball Arcade

Sep 27, 2014 @ 11:49am

Originally posted by leannaray:
Originally posted by RobertMeans:

I'm probably not romantic enough to value the innovation of this table... ;)

Awww! It's sad if there's no romance in your life. Personally, I think romance is wonderful!

Yes, but not in a pinball table! You're right though, gotta give Gottlieb credit for bringing romance to pinball. I I guess I prefer the more explicit "romance" of Spring Break though, lol: http://www.ipdb.org/showpic.pl?id=2324&picno=5133

#12

0h_mama

Sep 28, 2014 @ 12:39pm

I forgot the Pink Panther. I love the directB2S on my second monitor of the chick in pink. Plus, I use my pinball setup as a night light.

Last edited by 0h_mama; Sep 28, 2014 @ 7:17pm

#13

iPauloSergio has Pinball Arcade

Sep 28, 2014 @ 12:56pm

No brainer, having owned both of these at some point:
The best is Stargate - if this had been a widebody, it would be rated #1 above STTNG (which I own currently)
The worst is Freddy - No shots, toys that break (blade fingers, boiler door gets stuck) no ramps! Boring after 24 hours of playtime. Bad, bad, bad. Could not wait to sell that puppy!

#14