Difference between revisions of "EM / SS Pinball Comparison"
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(Added feedback from RGP comments, rewording to be more fact-based.) |
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| − | The table below provides a very general comparison of Electro-Mechanical and Solid State pinball machines. Like all generalizations there are many exceptions. During the change-over from EM to SS in the late 1970s the new machines were not that different from a look and play point-of-view. The goal here is to capture the common cases of comparison between a 70s EM and | + | The table below provides a very general comparison of Electro-Mechanical and Solid State pinball machines. Like all generalizations there are many exceptions. During the change-over from EM to SS in the late 1970s the new machines were not that different from a look and play point-of-view. The goal here is to capture the common cases of comparison between a 70s EM/early SS machine and late SS / 90s DMD or later machines. |
This table summarizes an RGP discussion started on 11/29/2011 by Kirkd2. | This table summarizes an RGP discussion started on 11/29/2011 by Kirkd2. | ||
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|Speed || Slower, playfield slope about 3.5 degrees (1) || Fast, playfield slope about 6.5 degrees | |Speed || Slower, playfield slope about 3.5 degrees (1) || Fast, playfield slope about 6.5 degrees | ||
|- | |- | ||
| − | |Randomness || The ball is wild || | + | |Randomness || The ball is wild || Controllable shots, many machines have shots that return the ball to a flipper |
|- | |- | ||
|Game play || No memory from ball-to-ball for multi-player machines || Player state tracked from ball-to-ball | |Game play || No memory from ball-to-ball for multi-player machines || Player state tracked from ball-to-ball | ||
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|Sounds || Mechanical bells, chimes, and score reels || Broad range of electronic sounds, including voice and high-quality music | |Sounds || Mechanical bells, chimes, and score reels || Broad range of electronic sounds, including voice and high-quality music | ||
|- | |- | ||
| − | |Lights || On, Off, When-Lit, and blinking || | + | |Lights || On, Off, When-Lit, and blinking || Broad range of light shows and attract modes |
|- | |- | ||
|Display || Light up or mechanical score reels || Gas plasma numeric, alphanumeric, dot matrix | |Display || Light up or mechanical score reels || Gas plasma numeric, alphanumeric, dot matrix | ||
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|Theme || Original themes || Original and licensed themes | |Theme || Original themes || Original and licensed themes | ||
|- | |- | ||
| − | |Artwork || Original artwork || | + | |Artwork || Original artwork || Trend toward photo-realistic art, less spot-color screen printing, art sometimes dictated by licensee |
|- | |- | ||
|Playfield || High-quality multi-color screen printing || Lower-quality dithered color screen printing | |Playfield || High-quality multi-color screen printing || Lower-quality dithered color screen printing | ||
Revision as of 09:04, 3 December 2011
The table below provides a very general comparison of Electro-Mechanical and Solid State pinball machines. Like all generalizations there are many exceptions. During the change-over from EM to SS in the late 1970s the new machines were not that different from a look and play point-of-view. The goal here is to capture the common cases of comparison between a 70s EM/early SS machine and late SS / 90s DMD or later machines.
This table summarizes an RGP discussion started on 11/29/2011 by Kirkd2.
| Category | EM | SS / DMD |
|---|---|---|
| Ball Time | Short, design is about 30 seconds per ball | Games tend to be longer |
| Speed | Slower, playfield slope about 3.5 degrees (1) | Fast, playfield slope about 6.5 degrees |
| Randomness | The ball is wild | Controllable shots, many machines have shots that return the ball to a flipper |
| Game play | No memory from ball-to-ball for multi-player machines | Player state tracked from ball-to-ball |
| Objectives | Easy to understand, difficult to master | Deep rule sets, complete missions or goals |
| New Players | Easy to see game objectives | Often overwhelmed |
| Sounds | Mechanical bells, chimes, and score reels | Broad range of electronic sounds, including voice and high-quality music |
| Lights | On, Off, When-Lit, and blinking | Broad range of light shows and attract modes |
| Display | Light up or mechanical score reels | Gas plasma numeric, alphanumeric, dot matrix |
| Theme | Original themes | Original and licensed themes |
| Artwork | Original artwork | Trend toward photo-realistic art, less spot-color screen printing, art sometimes dictated by licensee |
| Playfield | High-quality multi-color screen printing | Lower-quality dithered color screen printing |
| Maintenance | No diagnostics, need to trace problem on schematics | Built-in diagnostic modes |
| Repair | Rarely need parts replacement other than maintenance | Transistor replacement on driver boards |
| Longevity | Could still be working 100 years from now | Electronics will eventually fail |
(1) Later EMs can have fast play if they are set up and adjusted correctly.