Hi Guys...I'm close to buying 2 more machines from a group of 4 but I can't make up my mind. In the past I'd likely have bought all 4 but this time the 2 I buy will head straight to my basement and thats it!! I've been valiantly searching for a mint G and R but the ones out there aren't as nice as the one I had and are overpriced IMO. The 4 are IJ, Tommy, RBION, and Theatre of Magic. All are in perfect shape. I've owned all except TOM. I'm obviously leaning towards TOM and IJ, but I recall really liking the play of Tommy and I recall finding RBION a real underrated Stern. Anyhow I'm sure most of you will vote for IJ and TOM but I'm interested in everyones opinions!!  Thanks in advance..JIM

I personally like all 4 of these games, but if the price is right I would lean towards the IJ and ToM.

D

if the prices are right, buy all 4. there are alot of members here looking for a rbion including ME

my choices would be the ij and tom

As usual I'll buck the trend and go with RBION and Tommy.

I don't like TOM at all, I could never own one I just find it so repetitive.  

IJ and Tommy are pretty close they are similar in they both have good mode integration and fun multiballs, but I give the nod to Tommy because I like the layout better.

I like RBION better then all 4 machines as I find that game really fun to play and challenging.  

I have always wanted an IJ, but i do have an RBION, and it's my favorite machine in a 6 game lineup, really fun
good sounds, great multiball, neat magnet effects,

I'd go for IJ and RBION

Eric

I would vote for IJ for sure. Aside from being fun and a great theme, you know if you HAD to get rid of it it retains its value better than most and would be gone in a hurry.

I like ToM as well, I haven't played it enough to say it was a keeper. Some have criticized having to 'hit the trunk, hit the trunk, hit the trunk, ...' constantly. Perhaps a little easy but great looking and sounding game, imho. It, too, would go quickly.

I played Tommy once but wasn't blown away.Can't really comment on it.

I played RBION a couple times. I would like to play it more. Seems like an underrated pin.  

All good pins. Get them all and sell me the RBION

Get IJ and TOM, DE and Stern sucks!

I would go for Rbion and Tommy in an heart beat!

Rbion's layout and Tommy's flow

tartagliag

ToM and RBION

IJ never did it for me....and overpriced IMO
Tommy....almost bought one once, but if I had the chance to buy from that list, it wouldn't be in the top two

They're all supposed to be good pins. If I was you, I'd at least get Theatre of Magic as it would at least have a "new pin" feel to it (since you've never owned it before).

Don't listen to the jokers who are saying "buy all 4" and stick with your plan.  Buying all of them leads to the dark side

Quoted from The Loafer

Don't listen to the jokers who are saying "buy all 4" and stick with your plan.  Buying all of them leads to the dark side

Unless the deal is that much sweeter if he takes all four...  No sense leaving 2 behind if the seller is willing to make the deal attractive. (that's how I ended up buying 8 'A' list pins in one shot)

D

tommy, i know where you can find one too. My basement.

People give ToM a bad rap.  It can be repetitive with the trunk if that's all you aim for.  When dialed in right, it's a fast fast game.  Hitting the trunk becomes a dangerous shot as it could be a STDM shot.  The center ramp is extremely dangerous as it's often a STDM if it doesn't make it.  I love mine.  It's fast everything about it is gorgeous.

Quoted from jonny_eh

Get IJ and TOM, DE and Stern sucks!

Had to check the avatar. For a moment there I thought I had already posted.

TOM's cool. Totally different theme and the trunk is unique. Maybe why it gets so much attention.

I would say ToM and Tommy. IJ doesn't do anything for me, and RBION was just kind of *meh*.

I'd go for IJ and TOM.  

I don't know if you'll have much luck finding an IJ in such nice shape as the one you sold me though.  

For a pinhead like me who tends to like the EMs and a few SS games, I found the ToM and IJ a lot of fun. In the next few years I will explore the possibility of getting a ToM after I complete my present wish list.

I know of an IJ shoeguy can buy BACK from a pinhead in Calgary for about 10k.  yeah, that's about what it took to get it working 100% and nice.  Let's hope if you pick up an IJ, it's in as 'nice' a shape as you sold to him.  Grrrrr.

Quoted from Bish

I'd go for IJ and TOM.  

I don't know if you'll have much luck finding an IJ in such nice shape as the one you sold me though.  

ARGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH..so true!!!    

I'm going to have to go with TOMMY.  This is 1 of 2 machines that I have never lost interest in.... and have had for quite a while.  I can't see ever parting with my TOMMY.  Game play is awesome, sound/music it awesome, look is awesome... I love it.

IJ is great too, but I find that if your not 100% into the movie, then you'll loose interest over time.

Never played a TOM so can't speak for that one.

RBION is a good PIN, but I don't think it achieves the euphoria that TOMMY gives me.

Thanks everyone for the input...right now I'm leaning towards Tommy and TOM. IJ I owned for a while previously,and I'll patiently wait for Bish to sell it back to me.....RBION I'll hopefully pick-up later. There's still a chance I'll get 3, although another person in my house isn't too fond of that idea...

I have always wanted a RBION, but only played it once, briefly and recall it keeping my ball busy most of the time - wante dit mostly for the toy and gragging rights because hardly anybody's played it.  But I'd say Tommy and IJ would be the ones that I would enjoy playing most in a permanent collection, and Tommy has a gameroom collectability factor for people our age that makes up for what it might lack in game-play.

Quoted from pinsRfun

I know of an IJ shoeguy can buy BACK from a pinhead in Calgary for about 10k.  yeah, that's about what it took to get it working 100% and nice.  Let's hope if you pick up an IJ, it's in as 'nice' a shape as you sold to him.  Grrrrr.

Precisely why I got out of the buying and selling.

Quoted from Menace

I personally like all 4 of these games, but if the price is right I would lean towards the IJ and ToM.

D

I agree, all 4 are good games.  If you are a more serious player, IJ and RBION would be the ones.  TOM is great eye candy and Tommy is a classic theme.

Bah...just buy all 4 and resell the two you like least.

Personally I think Tommy is a terrible game. The sound bites get incredibly annoying. I had one for awhile and wouldn't want another. Yuck!

IJ and ToM are probably your best bet if you are an average player. ToM has wonderful eye candy with the magic trunk, some fun modes, great artwork, nice light show, and fun mulitball. Very disappointing wizard mode, though. IJ has a great theme and some fun modes. Best video modes in pinball. All three are alot of fun. The game does play slow, though, no matter how much it is shopped.

RBIoN is a fantastic game with an impossible to achieve wizard mode. I found the game fun and enjoyed it immensely when I had one in my house. I'd grab another in a heart beat. Music is so so and unfortunately it is a repetitive with many of the modes requiring a ramp shot. Still, it seems to hold up well and is a blast to play. Ripley's is a harder game with lower scores. Makes for more challenge.

If I had my choice of the 4, I'd grab RBIoN and IJ. Both similar adventure themes as well.

Cheers,
Duane

Quoted from shoeguy

IJ I owned for a while previously,and I'll patiently wait for Bish to sell it back to me.

  don't think it will end up leaving peterborough for a long time.  bish is very happy with it and i will take it off him if he needs it gone.  i am only a few minutes away and he can still come play it all the time.  HEAR THAT BISH!  same goes with your addams family

Quoted from gorydeath

  don't think it will end up leaving peterborough for a long time.  bish is very happy with it and i will take it off him if he needs it gone.  i am only a few minutes away and he can still come play it all the time.  HEAR THAT BISH!  same goes with your addams family

Anyone wanna buy a nice house in Kanata??  I've been hearing great things about Peterborough lately and figure I should move there!  They wear shoes there too right???  

Quoted from shoeguy

Anyone wanna buy a nice house in Kanata??  I've been hearing great things about Peterborough lately and figure I should move there!  They wear shoes there too right???  

Nope no shoes, but I hear they buy lots of banjos.

I kid!!

Quoted from shoeguy

Precisely why I got out of the buying and selling.

It has nothing to do with buying and selling and more to do with morals and ethics.  Fact that you decided not to flip pins anymore doesn't make up for the deals you've screwed some people over.  

here we go again...

Quoted from pinsRfun

It has nothing to do with buying and selling and more to do with morals and ethics.  Fact that you decided not to flip pins anymore doesn't make up for the deals you've screwed some people over.  

I'm going to stick my nose into this, although I know it really doesn't have anything to do with me.  I may have a different perspective, that I'd like to share.

I keep hearing this type of thing over and over...but I bought 2 pins from Jim...Space Invaders was exactly as described.   IJ was loaded with "extras" and far nicer than described.  In both cases, Jim was very easy to work with.

I doubt I won a lottery, where my name was accidentally pulled out of a hat and just managed not to get screwed both times.  So, did Jim purposely try and screw other people.  I'd guess not.

Quoted from pinsRfun

It has nothing to do with buying and selling and more to do with morals and ethics.  Fact that you decided not to flip pins anymore doesn't make up for the deals you've screwed some people over.  

If Jim had half the class that he really has and if you knew half of what he went through, your comment would not be the same.

Please let us leave this old debate dead and buried.

WTF
Jesus he asking a question for him self not to resell.
Also he was not a tech he purchased lots of pins and people knew he purchased them on ebay.
So this was always buyers be aware and I tried to fix them so did Mikeman but in the end we where not looking at them he was clearing out what he had and was always easy to deal with.

On another note I thought you hated Ij Jim?
I remember you telling me on numerous times saying it not growing on you.

Quoted from pinsRfun

It has nothing to do with buying and selling and more to do with morals and ethics.  Fact that you decided not to flip pins anymore doesn't make up for the deals you've screwed some people over.  

RBION is fantastic, lots of great shots, high difficulty, great Multiball modes and you can mod it all over the place. My favorite Pin!

I'm going to stick my nose in too. I have bought 5 pins from Jim and never felt like I got screwed. I paid pretty much top dollar for them (didn't bother me one bit as I did my research and new the price/condition range). I always felt that I knew what I was getting - never got sold a pin that had any issues that were hidden from me. Every pin has minor issues that present themselves and sometimes they can turn into major issues.

This is why I only buy pins and never sell em. Not quite as bad as MedVet though.

Hope everyone had a great summer - I am looking forward to actively MAACA-ing again.

Quoted from tom_454

This is why I only buy pins and never sell em. Not quite as bad as MedVet though.

Hey, hey, hey.............. Contrary to popular belief I actually do sell some occasionally. As to being a buyer of Jim's games....... let's just say more than 20 and less than 40, give or take a few . And the only time I've had a bad buying experience was thru a reputable RGP collector, never thru Jim.

By the way, I think it's time to clean house again abit. Time for another FS thread  

ME

Quoted from medvet

By the way, I think it's time to clean house again abit. Time for another FS thread  

And the PMs begin!!!  

Quoted from TwilightZone

And the PMs begin!!!  

I considered it...but then I saw the wink at the end of then sentence