Pinball Machine Placement

Newsgroups: rec.games.pinball
Subject: Re: Question for commercial ops.

Here’s what I have done. I replaced the collectable Williams titles
with select Gottlieb system 3 titles. This is in laundrymats and low
profile locations. The customers there just want to play pinball and
eat up time. These are not pinball purists. SF2, Shaq, Waterworld,
911, Op Thunder, Wipe Out, & Vegas. These all make money in this type
of atmosphere.

Higher profile customers, (places with some atmosphere), get Williams
beaters. Getaway, Hurricane, WH20, Dr. Who, & similar. When I say
beaters I mean “not collector quality”.

The party rental folks can get TSPP, LOTR, T3, EATPM, Freddy, IJ,
CFTBL, & similar. These are premium rentals to specfic locations like
resorts and golf clubs. These games get photographed when placed, and
removed, for security reasons. These are also placed by a contract.

Would I place a TSPP in one of my laundramats? No way in hell. In
this part of the country within a week it would have “viva pancho
villa” etched into the cabinet and glass. This along with several
references to your mother. It’s sad but true.

I tried a Phantom of the Opera once at a pizza parlor in a less than
average location and within a week they had the mask etched off the
glass. The ownership could only say “I don no nuting”.
Games are normally location specific. You learn what to put where.

Mario
Pinthetic