Yesterday I learned there's an entire THING of getting a pinball machine cabinet with a screen in it and using software to emulate a pinball table. Manufacturers even support this with ruleset files and stuff.
Real tempting, if I can figure out how to source such a thing.
@trysdyn @Austin_Dern might have some ideas, he's big into pinball and may know something about those
-F
@Felthry @trysdyn My experience with an older physical table (which was, must say, built like a tank) is they don't need much maintenance for home-use; you just aren't going to put as much wear on it as a location might.
I prefer playing real tables, but must admit I play virtual pinball (on an iPad) most every day. It's soothing, particularly as virtual tables are coded to make you more likely to make shots. This is great for feeling like you're becoming a pro player fast.
@Felthry @trysdyn And that's not a bad thing! It's a recreational activity; you should do what feels fun. And a virtual table, even if it's helping you, still means you can learn skills and rules and develop and test strategy incredibly well.
I don't imagine there's any game rooms or amusement shows where you could try one out, and see if it feels like something that seems natural to you?
@Felthry @trysdyn As for picking a single game, if you do decide you want a physical machine, though ... it's common enough for someone to buy one or two tables, play them intensely for a year or so, and then trade/sell them for something new.
Tables have been pretty good at keeping their value for a while now, which is not to say that will last. But if-and-when the bottom drops out of machine prices, it should drop out of everyone's roughly equally, so your relative position stays similar.
@Felthry @trysdyn So that's my thoughts. I'm sorry to offer such an ambiguous recommendation, but: fixing tables and replacing them are smaller problems than you might fear; virtual tables have a lot of good features but aren't quite the same thing; yet you might like what they are anyway. I really recommend trying to find one and play a good afternoon session.
End of thread.
@Felthry @trysdyn I'm afraid I don't have much experience with virtual-pinball cabinets. Played a couple games on ones at shows, but would go off to play physical machines instead. But I can share some thoughts anyway.
There's obvious advantages to a virtual table, primarily that there's so much variety of games you can play. (Some also include arcade games.) Many virtual pinballs have gotten really good, too.