Re: Poll Ranking: Best AAB Games

On Jan 4, 4:41 am, Mark Clayton <spamuser1...@xxxxxxx> wrote:
Ron:

There are really three different varieties of add-a-balls.

1) Ball counter aab.  These have a BALLS TO PLAY indicator
rather than the BALL IN PLAY indicator had by replay games.
The giveaway in this case is a ball counter going to 9 or 10
on the backglass, labeled as BALLS TO PLAY rather than BALL
IN PLAY.  BTW, Dimension is this style, not a WOW game.

2) WOW aab.  These may also have a BALLS TO PLAY indicator,
but the indicator is limited to 1-5 balls.  But in addition
there is a separate extra ball counter, usually labeled
WOW, but sometimes by flags or other graphics.  The WOW and
balls-to-play indicators are usually (always?) back-lit numbers
or symbols on the backglass, while ball counter aab's have
conspicuous graphics for the number of balls to play, visible
without backlighting.

3) Extra ball aab.  This is how most (all?) of the multi-player
add-a-balls work, such as New York, Bristol Hills and Lariat.
This is also how most (all?) of the "convertible" games operate,
since they have a "BALL IN PLAY" counter that can only
count up, and no separate "Wow" ball counter.  All they can
do is offer an extra ball to the current player.

Corrections to your list below:

Dimension: not Wow
Rock Star: Wow
Pro Pool: Not Wow
Team One: Wow
Card Trix: Not Wow, aab version of Flip A Card
Mini Pool: Not Wow, aab version of Target Pool
Astro: Not Wow, aab version of 4 Square
Neptune: Wow, aab version of Hit the Deck
Pin-Up: Not Wow
Playmates: Not Wow, aab version of Domino

You have Bally Hi Deal listed twice.  The flyer
lists the game as a "convertible" add-a-ball, but
it really has a bi-directional ball counter that
can count up to nine.  Jay at the IPBD refused
to call it an add-a-ball, but I believe that this
is an error.

Also, there are additional Italy-only versions of some
of the add-a-balls, such as Star Trek (Astro) and
Rancho (Cowpoke).

Love them add-a-balls...

-Mark
-----http://pinballpal.com

ron wrote:
What are your Top 5 Add a Ball Games?  

Here's the poll ranking (based strictly on mentions) for the best AAB
games with a few notes
of my own identifying the replay version, flipper size and if a Wow
design to help me narrow down my search..

Two personal revelations came with your help:

- Differences between WOW and non-WOW design (thanks Clay!)

- Although Gottlieb’s got most of the love, did not know William’s and
Bally made convertible AAB's so will definitely check out Spanish
Eyes, Odd’s and Evens etc (thanks AL, Mark C and David M.!

Any leads appreciated for a good / very good condition AAB pin.  I’m
going to look for the easier to find replay versions to get a small
taste of a AAB preview at Lucky JuJu and at upcoming Pin a GoGo,
California Extreme and Pacific Pinball Expo shows.  For sure on my
list is Melody as I played Larry Z's very sweet Sing a Long and fell
in love / lust with the layout.

Any errors and omissions are mine as I was surfing IPD for info below
in the wee hours of the night.  The asterisks represent games I found
in my initial research so thanks all for the collective input to
dramatically expand my options!

\r

Number Mentions, AAB Game Name, Replay GameVersion, Flipper Size and
if a Wow Design

7  Dimension, 2001, 2", Wow
7  Lucky Hand, Jacks Open, 3", Wow
6  Gold strike     , El Dorado, 3", Wow
5  Diamond Jack, King of Diamonds, 2", Not Wow
5  Majorettes, ?, 2", Not Wow
5  Capt. Card, High Hand, 3", Wow
5  Pop-A-Card, Drop a Card, 2", Wow
4  Melody*, Sing a Long, 2", Not Wow
4  Subway, 2", Not Wow
3  Cowpoke, Buckaroo, 2", Not Wow
3  Flipper Pool, Bank a Ball, 2", Not Wow
3  Hearts and Spades, Spin a Card, 2", Wow
3  Ice Show *      , Ice Revue, 2", Not Wow
3  Pro Pool, Big Shot/Hot Shot, 3",   Wow
3  Rock Star, Blue Note, 3", Not Wow
3  Spanish Eyes (Williams' Convertible), 3", Not Wow
3  Team One, Abra Cadabra, 3", Not Wow
2  Flipper Cowboy, 2", Not Wow
2  Home Run, Playball, 3", Not Wow
2  Palace Guard *, Royal Guard, 2", Not Wow
2  Pin Up, King Pin, 2", Wow
2  Ship Ahoy, Buccaneer, 3", Wow
2  Square head, Egg Head, 2", Not Wow
2  Jungle King *, Wildlife / Jungle, 3", Wow
   3 Jokers
   Add-a-Ball
   Astro
   Bally Hi Deal (a true add-a-ball)
   Bally Odds & Evens in AAB mode
   Card trix *
   Flipper
   Flipper clown
   Flipper Fair
   Flipper Parade
   Freefall
   Fun park
   Granada
   Gulfstream (Williams' Convertible)
   Hawaiian Isle / Pleasure Isle*
   Hi-Deal (Bally Convertible)
   Hurdy Gurdy
   Love Bug
   Magic Town
   Mini Pool *
   Neptune *
   Odds & Evens (Bally Convertible)
   Playmates
   Post Time
   Skill Ball
   Smarty
   Tropic Fun



Mark,

Your list needs correction as well. I am staring at my Pin Up right
now ans it is definitely a WOW game. King Pin is a Not WOW I think. I
also see WOW on Astro's playfield.

-Tom

Pinball Basics DVD
.

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