I am still trying to make my final decision on my first pinball machine purchase.  Actually is has now become First Pinball machine PURCHASES as I definately could not decide on 1 machine only.

I have narrowed my newer machine purchase to 2 choices - LOTR or TSPP.  Wondering what all of you would choose and why?  I have played both but only for a limited time.  LOTR seemed to be more fun and a better theme for me.  Your opinions??

I had a LOTR for a year, now have a TSPP..  Both are complex enough to keep you coming back for more.  Both integrate their respective themes very well..  LOTR can be more problematic & frustrating with the weak flipper issue and flaky ring magnet.  TSPP would get annoying if I wasn't a Simpsons fan..  TSPP has a bigger variety of things to do in the game.  Also, TSPP is definitely easier to find.

I think really it's up to you as to the theme you prefer..

Mike

It really depends on what kind of player you are.  If you feel you are a decent player and would be able to take addvantage of all that TSPP has to offer I would say TSPP edges out LOTR on a pure game play stand point.  The possibilities are endless with TSPP, you can stack every mode at the same time with TSPP, then you need to worry about resetting the time through the Auto Shot, trying to start a multiball to help maxamize points, finishing off the modes so you can get the victory laps, trying to stack both T&S multiball with the regular multiball, while having a number of modes going.  Then the alien Invasion being one of the most interesting mini wizard modes I've seen with the flipper buttons reverseing, meaning if you flip the right flipper it flips the left one.  The game just goes on and on and the humor is great as well "Worst Ball Ever!"

But don't get me wrong LOTR is also a great game, the stacking opertunites arn't as readily avaliable as they are in TSPP, you can only have one mode running at a time, but you can stack that with the 2x scoring fromt he gifts from the elves, then if you can start golem multiball and any of the other multiballs you really have a sweet scoring opertunity there.  Also the theme intergration in my opinion is the best that has ever been done in pinball.  Never have I ever actually felt like I've been playing through movie like I do with LOTR, it still gives me goose bumbs every time I finish the FOTR multiball and Gandalf yells "YOU SHALL NOT PASS!!!!!"  But the game is much more linar and not as convoluted as TSPP.  If you really enjoyed the LOTR movies you will really enjoy the game.  The weak flippers are not a problem at all if you get a later run version of the game.  Also a more powerfull coil has been released to combat the weak flipper problem, they are avaliable from Pinball life:  

http://www.pinballlife.com/index.php?p=product&id=1112&parent=30

they are supposed to help with the weak flipper problem.  I get the weak flipper problem in my machine, I've ordered this coils, they are sitting at home I still have to install them, I'll let everyone know how they work when I do.

Very tough choice. Personally, I would jump on the first one that comes available in good condition and a fair price. I have a LOTR and want a TSPP eventually. Both are excellent games and completely different. It's impossible to say this is better than that as they are both so good and so different.

Adam is right when he says TSPP has more stacking and is more complex.

I think you answered your own question, though, when you said, "LOTR seemed to be more fun and a better theme for me."

Duane

I have both and if I had to choose.........just one I would keep Tspp......
Its a way more in depth game......
I thinks its the hardest pinball ever made  to get to wizard mode.........
Just my thoughts though...........Tspp is a very funny game...

Quoted from Bmwman37

I have both and if I had to choose.........just one I would keep Tspp......

Ditto...

I've got both as well, and if I "had" to only keep one, I'd keep TSPP.
...but man, that would be a tough choice.

TSPP is the "deepest" game ever. Period.

However LOTR has great flow, and cool shots.
It's also the most amazing integration of any movie into a pin.
You don't "play" the pin as much as you "re-live" the movie.  You're actually "re-enacting" the entire movie Trilogy.  Simply incredible.

It basically comes down to which theme you like best  ( ...I love them both ! )

Like people said, buy whichever one in decent condition comes up first.
You can't go wrong with either.

Cheers,
Steph

i vote tspp. but i have been thinking of maybe of letting go of my ij.i said maybe, and i will not ship.

Quoted from Bmwman37

I thinks its the hardest pinball ever made  to get to wizard mode.........

Sometimes I wonder if that is a good thing. I really wonder if I am ever going to see Valinor -- first I have to fix the hole that awards Gifts...too many damn bounce outs on mine. The wizard mode in LOTR is hard enough. TSPP is even harder??? Crap.

It doesn't really bother me if I cann't complete a wizard mode, but I know some players get royally pissed if they cann't reach the mode. Perhaps that is another point to consider, although I honestly don't think a "more impossible" wizard mode is a good thing. I like a game that has a wizard mode that is tough, but reachable and not reached every third game. TZ is the best example I can think of. Not super hard to achieve, but also not achieved every game.

Duane

Quoted from Vengeance

  Then the alien Invasion being one of the most interesting mini wizard modes I've seen with the flipper buttons reverseing, meaning if you flip the right flipper it flips the left one.  

You're confusing Alien Invasion with Springfield Mystery Spot.  The Mystery Spot multiball is the one with the reversed flippers..   Alien Invasion is a mini wizard mode and is also the toughest multiball I've ever encountered.  Of course you can have both running at the same time so you'd have reversed flippers on Alien Invasion

Mike

I think what makes getting to the wizard mode on TSPP is geting Cletus's kids multiball, I think he has like 27 kids or something like that so you need to make the left orbit shot 27 times, and that shot through the pops is hard to begin with.  you need to get the 2x scoring from Otto for Cletus first and then start collecting the kids cause I think it atleast awards 2 kids a shot.  Being allowed to stack all the modes and multiballs I think might make it a little bit easier to obtain then Valinor, but I'm not sure.  One day I will have a TSPP, but waiting for that day sucks

Quoted from TwilightZone

The wizard mode in LOTR is hard enough. TSPP is even harder??? Crap.
Duane

The wizard mode in LOTR is linear and simple to understand, just very difficult to achieve.  The wizard mode in TSPP is called SDMEWM (Super Duper Mega Extreme Wizard Mode)..  Yes for real...

There are so many tasks to accomplish and that are unrelated that it makes it very tough.  Basically you have to get to and COMPLETE all mini-wizard modes, which some are near impossible to do even on their own..  Imagine getting all of them..  

In a nutshell:
COMPLETE Alien Invasion (near impossible)
Get 5 SUPER jackpots in Couch Multiball (near impossible)
COMPLETE Pretzel Multiball (After getting Cletus's 27 kids)
Get 5,000,000 in Daredevil Mania
Get 4 or 5 super jackpots in Sratchy's Revenge Multiball
Get the Secret Stash (Comic book guy)
Get a certain number of jackpots in Springfield Mystery Spot Multiball



Mike

yea i just read the rule sheet again for tspp, that wizard mode is way harder

If you get a Tspp go to pinbits.com and purchase the hole protector...........its a really nice one

Quoted from Bmwman37

If you get a Tspp go to pinbits.com and purchase the hole protector...........its a really nice one

That protector is SWEEEET!!!  

I'm definitely getting one!

Mike

Wow, you guys make me want those 2 games!! Your Killing me here!! Where the Heck would I put those???

Dave (Sadly out of Room and hardly buying anything any more)  

Quoted from pins only

Dave (Sadly out of Room and hardly buying anything any more)  

I am glad I am not the only one with the space issue, time to make some hard choices.  

Quoted from pins only

Wow, you guys make me want those 2 games!! Your Killing me here!! Where the Heck would I put those???

Dave (Sadly out of Room and hardly buying anything any more)  

Post a list of your games, I'm sure there would be opinions about what you can dump. !

Seriously, TSPP and LOTR are two of the best pins made. period. Of course, TZ is number one, but that goes without saying...

TSPP for sure!! LOTR was never a favorite of mine, plus I'm not really into the geeky Hobbit stuff, I'm much more comfortable with yellow people with 4 fingers. I've played both machines a lot, and will be hunting down a TSPP very soon.

For anyone interested, I was at Starburst/Playdium last Thursday and they had a very nice, not HUO, TSPP there, looked pretty clean and they were asking around $3000 plus taxes for it, if I remember correctly. With all the praise for TSPP in this thread, if someone is interested, there is one for sale.

Quoted from pins only

Wow, you guys make me want those 2 games!! Your Killing me here!! Where the Heck would I put those???

Dave (Sadly out of Room and hardly buying anything any more)  

Why don't you just sell me your IJ machine and then you will have room for a brand new TSPP.  You deserve a brand spankin new machine Dave!!.  Treat yourself.  Let me know...

Darren

Quoted from sinpin

Why don't you just sell me your IJ machine and then you will have room for a brand new TSPP.  You deserve a brand spankin new machine Dave!!.  Treat yourself.  Let me know...

Darren

Hmmmmm, Let me think for a MinuteNope!  

You have seen my place, I have loads of room for new games!! I think I saw some space in the Kitchen!

Dave

Quoted from TwilightZone

Post a list of your games, I'm sure there would be opinions about what you can dump. !

Well, I don't think the list fits in this little box!   Besides everyone would be after my Gilligan's Island!!

Seriously, I wouldn't mind a TSPP back and I like LOTR, but the theme is not my favorite. Why don't they remake this game Shrek!!

Dave