Episode 52 - Gateway Games
Podcast
Wedgehead Pinball Podcast
55 min
Summary
Wedgehead hosts debate what makes ideal 'gateway' pinball games for introducing newcomers to the hobby.
Alan and Alex from Wedgehead Pinball Podcast discuss 'gateway games': pinball machines that best introduce newcomers to the hobby. They establish criteria for gateway games (easy ramps, friendly plunge, central bash toys, good light/sound, simple rules, fan layout) and share their top five picks: Alan's list includes Attack from Mars, Theater of Magic, Scared Stiff, Monster Bash, and Lord of the Rings; Alex's includes Medieval Madness, World Cup Soccer, Scared Stiff, Godzilla (Premium), and The Sopranos.
Highlights
- Attack from Mars was the game that first hooked Alan into pinball
- Theater of Magic was the gateway game for Alan's wife Casey
- Lord of the Rings was Alex's wife Megan's gateway game
- Good gateway games need easy-to-hit shots, especially ramps
- Star Wars has a dangerous plunge that turns people away from pinball
- Attack from Mars and Medieval Madness cannot be overrated because they get thousands of people into pinball
- Lord of the Rings is impossible to lose the ball as a skilled player on factory settings
- About 20-25 Sopranos machines ended up in Portland, Oregon
In this episode
Attack from Mars
Bally
Iron Man
Stern
Lord of the Rings
Stern
Medieval Madness
Williams
Monster Bash
Williams
Scared Stiff
Bally
The Sopranos
Stern
World Cup Soccer
Bally
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