Hey all-

Here's a question for ya:

When you read reviews on IPDB (if you do), do you have a particular favourite reviewer who's opinion you look for? Of course, it would have to be one of the more frequent reviewers.

I don't really have a favourite reviewer, I concentrate with the one with the most reviews...  some people on here gives are good for info, they can explain why they don't like a pinball in particulary and not just 'hit the trunk'

Yeah, I like to read the lengthy reviews myself.. not anyone in particular though, and I tend to stay away from anyone who writes things like "This is a DE pin so it blows!!!!!" and then gives it 1's across the board.

I like what BruceMoyerNewRinggoldPa has to say: http://www.ipdb.org/rate/showuserrate.pl?uid=11351.

He's older and mainly an EM fella but gives fair SS reviews as well. 835 reviews!

Bruce Moyer, New Ringold PA.

He's my man for sure. On one of his reviews he talks about how a particular machine was a favourite of his teenage son who was subsequently run down and killed by a car that jumped the sidewalk years ago. Seems like a really sincere guy.

Yours truly, Warren Bradley, Thornhill ON

Can't say I've ever made a point in reading any of the reviews on IPDB, reason being I see no point.  

Opinions are like A**holes everyone has got one and there all diffrent.  Just because a game is popular and well liked doesn't mean I'm going to like it.  I always prefer to reserve any judgment until I've played the game myself.  

I agree with Adam on this one... some opinions are biased. Anyone who is a WPC fan is going to nail ANY EM or even some SS pins with bad reviews. People forget that it is best to review a game against similar ones of it's era... or else any opinion is quite irrelevant.

Putting a score of 0 or 1 for sound on an EM pin when you are a WPC fan tends to induce people in error. Best to compare apples with apples, and oranges with oranges.

I often feel like putting my opinion down, but I rather document serial numbers these days on IPSND.net . There is a link for every machine on IPDB, but few use it. Too bad... it is a great way to record any machine population. Also kind of cool to see if a machine with an adjacent serial number to yours is still out there.

Warren:

You are the best one to review what games you like. I would recomend spending more time playing than reading.

Quoted from wbradley

... Seems like a really sincere guy.

I agree. However, 'distasteful' themes/art throw off his reviews. He gave '24' a 1.6 out of 10 because of the violent theme.

Quoted from Vengeance

Can't say I've ever made a point in reading any of the reviews on IPDB, reason being I see no point.

Opinions can be skewed/biased but a general gameplay consensus can be gleamed from numerous reviews. There will always be a few bad apples everywhere but many make an effort to contribute their experiences for the benefit of others. Would IPDB be better off without the reviews? I don't think so; it is valuable information.  

Quoted from OTTOgd

Opinions can be skewed/biased but a general gameplay consensus can be gleamed from numerous reviews. There will always be a few bad apples everywhere but many make an effort to contribute their experiences for the benefit of others. Would IPDB be better off without the reviews? I don't think so; it is valuable information.  

I disagree.  Pinball is such a sujective hobby, regrdless of good/badd reviews by biased people, it has no bearing on my own experiance with the machine.  The information is irelevant, it's not like a static piece of software like a game where the experiance will be exactly the same no matter who the person is.

Just the way a machine plays can affect a person opinion, if a machine is in crap shape and the reviewer doesn't know any better it may be reviewed poorly as a result.  

I need to play a machine myself in order to see if I like them, hell I've even gone as far as buying a machine just so I can get some good play time on it to see if I really like it or not.  Other peoples opinions will never help when it comes to my own personal opinion on a game

Quoted from OTTOgd

I like what BruceMoyerNewRinggoldPa has to say: http://www.ipdb.org/rate/showuserrate.pl?uid=11351.

He's older and mainly an EM fella but gives fair SS reviews as well. 835 reviews!

+1 - I've never played the older pins, so his reviews help as he highlights some of the special rules or shots in the game...

Proof that most ratings suck:

I like the Midget. It is in my favorite pins, yet rated as one of the worst ever. I look past the cab and translite art. Cool playfield art, cool sounds, cool music, great classic playfield layout.

Yet people are fixated on the midget...

Hmm... I could actually make a NICE Genesis...

Quoted from Vengeance

I need to play a machine myself in order to see if I like them, hell I've even gone as far as buying a machine just so I can get some good play time on it to see if I really like it or not.  Other peoples opinions will never help when it comes to my own personal opinion on a game

I agree that playing the machine is important, unfortunately, I don't have all the time in the world to plan visits for every pin for sale, nor do I have a golden goose to buy everything for the sake of the experience, and I don't live next to Tim Arnold's Pinball Hall of Fame in Texas. If I only had $1500 to spend and I was choosing between a Getaway or a 'collector's' Pokerino it would be nice to hear someone's opinion before I make the drive to Keswick.

Quoted from OTTOgd

I agree that playing the machine is important, unfortunately, I don't have all the time in the world to plan visits for every pin for sale, nor do I have a golden goose to buy everything for the sake of the experience, and I don't live next to Tim Arnold's Pinball Hall of Fame in Texas. If I only had $1500 to spend and I was choosing between a Getaway or a 'collector's' Pokerino it would be nice to hear someone's opinion before I make the drive to Keswick.



Pinmame is your friend...

Quoted from OTTOgd

I agree that playing the machine is important, unfortunately, I don't have all the time in the world to plan visits for every pin for sale, nor do I have a golden goose to buy everything for the sake of the experience, and I don't live next to Tim Arnold's Pinball Hall of Fame in Texas. If I only had $1500 to spend and I was choosing between a Getaway or a 'collector's' Pokerino it would be nice to hear someone's opinion before I make the drive to Keswick.

Bah, you have no excuse, you have the most active Pinball league in Canada right at your door step   

Come out to playoffs in 2 weeks, the location we are heading to has about 50 pins including some rare ones like BBB.  Even if you don't want to participate in the playoffs all it will cost you is $5 for the hosting fee and some gas.

Quoted Text

Warren:

You are the best one to review what games you like. I would recomend spending more time playing than reading.

I am very early in this hobby and thanks to Vpinball (and everyones help) I will now get a better feel for what I like.  

There is an old Japanese philosophy which I think was quoted in a Beatles song (not sure which now), saying that "without even leaving your doorstep you can experience all the wonders of the world" <<<Bull#$%t!  Gotta get out there and axctually do stuff, including playing pins. Cant enjoy pinball vicariously.

Quoted from Sparky

Pinmame is your friend...

I loaded up Medusa on VP as soon as Medvet put her's up for sale. I removed the ROMs immediately after it sold, of course; test drive was over.

Quoted from Vengeance

Bah, you have no excuse, you have the most active Pinball league in Canada right at your door step

I joined TOPL for the first time last Monday and enjoyed the opportunity to actually play Medusa (as well as other pins) at the Church of the Silver Ball. It's an interesting pin.

Quoted from Vengeance

Come out to playoffs in 2 weeks, the location we are heading to has about 50 pins including some rare ones like BBB.  Even if you don't want to participate in the playoffs all it will cost you is $5 for the hosting fee and some gas.

I'm not sure if it's such a good idea for me to participate in the playoffs. There might be a lot of bruised egos when the 'new guy' takes 1st prize.

Anyway, it doesn't really matter what your opinion is, Adam, since it is so wrong. I think my opinion is wayyy better than yours.

Kev

Quoted from OTTOgd

I joined TOPL for the first time last Monday and enjoyed the opportunity to actually play Medusa (as well as other pins) at the Church of the Silver Ball. It's an interesting pin.

Ahhhhh, your Kevin, I didn't catch your username at the meeting

Quoted from OTTOgd

I'm not sure if it's such a good idea for me to participate in the playoffs. There might be a lot of bruised egos when the 'new guy' takes 1st prize.

I got $20 says you don't place in Top 3 in the A division

Quoted from OTTOgd

Anyway, it doesn't really matter what your opinion is, Adam, since it is so wrong. I think my opinion is wayyy better than yours.

My post count is higher so I matter more then you

Quoted from Vengeance

I got $20 says you don't place in Top 3 in the A division

That's reserved for me.  

Papa needs a brand new pair of shoes!

(Im already starting my trash talking, in preparation)

Quoted from Monkeybug

That's reserved for me.  

Papa needs a brand new pair of shoes!

(Im already starting my trash talking, in preparation)

I'm going too and promise to kick some serious a**.   And I'm probably gonna drag a Tom with me as well - at least one.

Quoted from Vengeance

I got $20 says you don't place in Top 3 in the A division

You should bet him $20 that he's not in there either.

Quoted from Vengeance

I got $20 says you don't place in Top 3 in the A division

PM to Sparky

Quoted from necro_nemesis

You should bet him $20 that he's not in there either.

PM to Sparky

Quoted from wbradley

Hey all-

Here's a question for ya:

When you read reviews on IPDB (if you do), do you have a particular favourite reviewer who's opinion you look for? Of course, it would have to be one of the more frequent reviewers.

I would like to apologize on behalf of the de-threaders here, wbradley.

Heavy Metal Thunder offers decent reviews as well: http://www.ipdb.org/rate/showuserrate.pl?uid=5837

Quoted from Vengeance

My post count is higher so I matter more then you

Is that why I am king?