Anyone have a pinball machine?

[ptindall]

I just bought a 1981 Gottlieb Black Hole. One private owner since 1986.
Playing condition but with some cosmetic issues. I'm amazed by the great parts availability and online support there is for such an old machine. I should have it looking and playing like new fairly quickly as a result. Anyone else?

[Onebadcad]

Not yet, YET being the focal word!!

When I build my dream house, 800 living sqft with 30-car garage, the garage building will have an arcade area, with pinball, bowling alley and pool tables, maybe skee ball.

[UniqueDoug]

A one-owner Gottlieb, how much did that score set you back?

[Onebadcad]

Badarse machine, has its own wiki page:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_Hole_(pinball)

Black Hole (pinball)

Black Hole

Manufacturer Gottlieb
Release date October 1981
System Gottlieb System 80
Design Jerry Yingst, Joe Cicak, John Buras, Adolf Seitz Jr.
Artwork Terry Doerzaph
Production run 8,774
Black Hole is a pinball game released in 1981 by Gottlieb. It is notable for having two playfields: one on top with a conventional slope, and one mounted underneath, sloping away from the player. It has no connection with the 1979 film of the same name.

Description
Black Hole was the first machine to feature a lower playfield viewed through a window in the upper playfield. It was touted as the highest-grossing pinball game of all time shortly after its release, partly due to (or despite) the fact that it was the first pinball game which cost 50¢ to play (although many argue that Williams Black Knight, and Firepower were already at 50¢ before the release of Black Hole).[1] Black Hole's robotic speech is generated by a Votrax SC-01.[2]

Features
2 playfields[3]
6 flippers[3]
6 pop bumpers[3]
4 drop target banks[3]
1 spinner[3]
Rotating disc animated backglass[3]
Infinity backglass lighting
Multiball[3]
Speech (Votrax SC-01)[3]
Game quotes
"Do you dare to enter the Black Hole?"
"Re-entry attempt has FAILED."
"No one escapes the Black Hole!"
"Captured."
"Re-entry success."
Design team
Game Design: Adolf Seitz Jr., John Buras
Artwork: Terry Doerzaph
Reception
In Japan, Game Machine listed Black Hole on their June 1, 1983 issue as being the eighth most-successful flipper unit of the year.[4]

Upon its release, the game 'Black Hole' was deemed challenging to maintain and did not gain popularity among operators.[5]

Appearances in pop culture
Black Hole in the films Les Compères (1983),[6] Strange Brew (1983),[6] Next Of Kin (1989).[6]
The phrase "Do You Dare To Enter The Black Hole?" which the machine says during attract mode was etched in the vinyl runout grooves on LP versions of the band Hovercraft's 1997 album, Akathisia.
Digital versions
Black Hole is available as a licensed table of The Pinball Arcade for several platforms. The game is also included in the Pinball Hall of Fame: The Gottlieb Collection.

[ptindall]

Originally Posted by Onebadcad

Badarse machine, has its own wiki page:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_Hole_(pinball)

Thanks. Yes, its not your ordinary machine. Also known to be a very difficult game. Very difficult to unlock multi-ball, for example. But for a home machine, that provides a challenge even for someone who has played many times. The age and complexity are scary, but like I said, the online parts and mechanical information seem to be very good.

[Onebadcad]

I played A LOT of pinball in my youth, and into my thirties.

I was pretty damn good, as could play for 1+ hour on a few quarters.

It pissed me off when almost all games went to three total ball play.

When out and I see a pinball machine, I try to play, as is great entertainment.

The only problem is where to place your bottle of beer,,,

[ptindall]

Originally Posted by Onebadcad

I played A LOT of pinball in my youth, and into my thirties.

I was pretty damn good, as could play for 1+ hour on a few quarters.

It pissed me off when almost all games went to three total ball play.

When out and I see a pinball machine, I try to play, as is great entertainment.

The only problem is where to place your bottle of beer,,,

This machine has a bunch of dipswitches in the cabinet behind the back glass that allow you to change many of the rules. One of them picks how many balls per game, three or five.

[Craig]

No pinball, but we had a Tempest game for a number of years; we became the best Tempest players in the world I’m convinced. It finally stopped working and rather than get it fixed I sent it to landfill when we moved. Totally regret it now.

[Onebadcad]

Originally Posted by ptindall

This machine has a bunch of dipswitches in the cabinet behind the back glass that allow you to change many of the rules. One of them picks how many balls per game, three or five.

Enjoy, a great investment, that will provide decades of entertainment.

[Mike Mercury]

I have a Xenon...

(file pic, not of mine)



@87ragtop

[73sbVert]

I'd really like to get the Corvette pinball machine someday. 1994 Williams IIRC.

[Giraffe (He/Him)]

Originally Posted by Craig

No pinball, but we had a Tempest game for a number of years; we became the best Tempest players in the world I’m convinced. It finally stopped working and rather than get it fixed I sent it to landfill when we moved. Totally regret it now.

No way. I'd kick your ass. That was far and away my favorite game. I don't know what it was about that particular game but I had it sorted out in short order. There wasn't a bar in town that didn't have my name in the high score spot.

[simpleman68]

Originally Posted by Giraffe (He/Him)

No way. I'd kick your ass. That was far and away my favorite game. I don't know what it was about that particular game but I had it sorted out in short order. There wasn't a bar in town that didn't have my name in the high score spot.

If you're ever in PA, stop by for a round. Got Tempest and a bunch of other original arcade games on this rig.



Tempest was certainly in my top 5 favorite games along with Defender, Star Castle, Galaga etc.

Kids have been busy tearing up the new air hockey table as well.

[simpleman68]

Originally Posted by ptindall

I just bought a 1981 Gottlieb Black Hole. One private owner since 1986.
Playing condition but with some cosmetic issues. I'm amazed by the great parts availability and online support there is for such an old machine. I should have it looking and playing like new fairly quickly as a result. Anyone else?

I've been eyeballing the new Rush pinball but have long wanted the Addams Family. Can't touch one for less than $12k, and those usually need some work.

Edit: I see they have fully restored ones for $6500. That's a deal, especially if it's been upgraded with modern bumpers and tech.
Scott

[ptindall]

Originally Posted by simpleman68

I've been eyeballing the new Rush pinball but have long wanted the Addams Family. Can't touch one for less than $12k, and those usually need some work.

Edit: I see they have fully restored ones for $6500. That's a deal, especially if it's been upgraded with modern bumpers and tech.
Scott

The Big Lebowski pinball is far and away my favorite ever but no way I'm dropping $12,000.

[DJ_Critterus]

OP, did you post pics of this machine yet?

[Craig]

Originally Posted by Giraffe (He/Him)

No way. I'd kick your ass. That was far and away my favorite game. I don't know what it was about that particular game but I had it sorted out in short order. There wasn't a bar in town that didn't have my name in the high score spot.

What color was the level after invisible?

[Yadkin]

My dad had a very old Williams machine, my guess it was built mid 50s or earlier. The deck was wood and we wore grooves in it playing so much. Many of the functions didn't work all the time.

[ptindall]

Originally Posted by DJ_Critterus

OP, did you post pics of this machine yet?

Took a couple pictures at home but posted thread from work. Sorry.

[TripleBlack]

Tempest was on of the greatest games of the 80s. I wasn't great but burned a lot of quarters.