Virtual pin options in the UK

[ballsports]

I'm looking to get into pinball after falling in love with the Stern Godzilla 70th anniversary.

I don't think I'm quite ready to drop the money required on one of those, especially having never owned or maintained a pinball machine before.

So I started to research virtual pins, see lots of impressive builds. I'd love to build one but I can't find any premade cabinets of the right size and I'm no woodworker, nor do I have the space to do woodwork.

I've seen prebuilt options (I only know of Pinballia, formerly ArcadeLand) seen mixed reviews on those, the price runs up to 6k pretty quickly if you want 4k/100hz+, mechanical plunger, solenoids and LEDs.

Saw the AtGames Legends AFM (not available in UK currently) but I love the skin on this and am quite tempted by it, 2k for everything above except 60fps. I know the downside here is it runs worse software. But the difference between 2k and 6k is steep and a separate gaming computer fits within that budget. I'm in love with the Xtreme Gaming ones I've seen from Australia but I'm not ready to throw 10k and wait 2 years just yet.

I just want some general advice, I know a lot of you will be inclined to hate on the AtGames but try to understand where I'm coming from. When you're deep in a hobby it's different to someone just coming in.

That being said I do like the idea of VPX more. I'd love to have an AtGames equivalent that ran that at 120hz but without prebuilt cabinetry it's a non starter for me.

 

[DeadPin]

I'm in the same boat as you. I would love to have a machine at home but I would have no knowledge if any problems occurred and plus I think I would get bored having just the 1 machine. That's why I am looking towards a virtual pin. I can get all the games I want and only taking up the space of 1 machine. I would say your best bet is to look on facebook marketplace as these do come up and alot cheaper than buying new.

 

[AlanJ]

For me, virtual pinball just isnt real pinball - I'd go for a real machine any day - when you have mastered it (if you ever do) or more likely when you get bored of it - trade it to get a different game, rinse...repeat....

 

[ballsports]

For me, virtual pinball just isnt real pinball - I'd go for a real machine any day - when you have mastered it (if you ever do) or more likely when you get bored of it - trade it to get a different game, rinse...repeat....

I live close to the libertygames showroom so I will go there and hopefully get to try some different ones. I can respect this point of view, but I'm not really willing to put in the work for that at the moment. I'm sure I'll buy the Godzilla I want (or maybe Jurassic Park) at some point in the future but for now I just want to try everything, see if I still love it in a couple years before I go any deeper.

 

[ballsports]

I'm thinking the 32inch 4k fully loaded from Pinballia for around 4k might be my best bet, but I'd love to hear some people's thoughts on their stuff. I don't know much about graphics cards but the 4060ti sounds like it should be up to snuff to deliver a lag free experience?

I'd also need to find some good high quality artwork for the sides, not sure if anyone knows the best place to source that? I'd love a Stern Jurassic Park Pro, Star Wars Pro, Star Wars Data East or Creature from the Black Lagoon.

 

[cmrl9]

If it's any help modern stern machines are rock solid, it's rare to even lift the playfield on some. If it's home use only and from new almost zero issues. Issues tend to happen if it's been on site or your unlucky.
Your more likely to have issues with a pc build virtual pin than you are with a Godzilla. Pinball heaven and retro arcade supply a two year warranty for piece of mind. Both those companies actually have a real warranty and are great to deal with. Be cautious with some others.

Appreciated a new one is silly money

Modern spike 2 Pinball machines underneath look scary but the reality is the maintenance is pretty simple, if you can deal with building and maintaining a virtual pin with a little guidance a real pin that is modern spike 2 won't be a problem, now an older on, 90's etc will be a pain in the ### at some point

Good luck

 

[ballsports]

If it's any help modern stern machines are rock solid, it's rare to even lift the playfield on some. If it's home use only and from new almost zero issues. Issues tend to happen if it's been on site or your unlucky.
Your more likely to have issues with a pc build virtual pin than you are with a Godzilla. Pinball heaven and retro arcade supply a two year warranty for piece of mind. Both those companies actually have a real warranty and are great to deal with. Be cautious with some others.

Appreciated a new one is silly money

Modern spike 2 Pinball machines underneath look scary but the reality is the maintenance is pretty simple, if you can deal with building and maintaining a virtual pin with a little guidance a real pin that is modern spike 2 won't be a problem, now an older on, 90's etc will be a pain in the ### at some point

Good luck

Just seen the Looney Tunes pinball at pinball heaven and it is beautiful. More than I want to spend right now. Really wish I hadn't seen it.

 

[ballsports]

Cabinet art designed ready for when I take the plunge

 

[antlet2]

Re: pinballia, pasting my comment from the other thread.
Mine should arrive in 2 weeks.
I'd suggest going up to stoke and taking a look, that's the best way to choose.

Hey,
I went up to there unit in Stoke and checked the 32inch and full sized 4k models. The build quality was good, tidy and the machine played well with no lag and it felt and seemed like good quality screens/components etc.
There was no lag on the board/monitors etc and everything loaded promptly.

The company were very responsive and seemed genuinely nice and caring, which is the main thing for me. I also checked out some of the facebook groups and I saw lots of good feedback/videos etc of individuals being happy with their cabinets.

I ended up ordering the 4k full size cabinet with the extra led's and third topper. With all the solenoids, knockers, blower, exciters etc it made virtual pinball much more fun than when I played this previously years ago.
The sound was also very good, nice speakers, subwoofer etc

 

[ballsports]

Re: pinballia, pasting my comment from the other thread.
Mine should arrive in 2 weeks.
I'd suggest going up to stoke and taking a look, that's the best way to choose.

Hey,
I went up to there unit in Stoke and checked the 32inch and full sized 4k models. The build quality was good, tidy and the machine played well with no lag and it felt and seemed like good quality screens/components etc.
There was no lag on the board/monitors etc and everything loaded promptly.

The company were very responsive and seemed genuinely nice and caring, which is the main thing for me. I also checked out some of the facebook groups and I saw lots of good feedback/videos etc of individuals being happy with their cabinets.

I ended up ordering the 4k full size cabinet with the extra led's and third topper. With all the solenoids, knockers, blower, exciters etc it made virtual pinball much more fun than when I played this previously years ago.
The sound was also very good, nice speakers, subwoofer etc

Thanks I might have to take a trip up there then. One thing I was worried about is the screens looked a bit washed out in the videos but I was hoping that was just their camera settings for the videos (especially when not head on). I presume they didn't look washed out at all in person?

Did they have a good illusion of depth to them? And did the solenoids make it feel like a ball was rolling around?

 

[antlet2]

Thanks I might have to take a trip up there then. One thing I was worried about is the screens looked a bit washed out in the videos but I was hoping that was just their camera settings for the videos (especially when not head on). I presume they didn't look washed out at all in person?

Did they have a good illusion of depth to them? And did the solenoids make it feel like a ball was rolling around?

I haven't seen any other vpins but the quality of the monitor was really good.
It was a 4k screen and felt pretty close to a real machine.
They had a 32 inch 4k there as well and the clarity of the tables was bright and captive.

The ssf and solenoids etc definitely added to the feel and made it more fun to play. I played a vpin about 15 years ago and it just felt like playing a computer game. I wouldn't say it feels just like a real table but it's atleast 80% there and also fun to play, it has all the whizzy pup packs, matrix, flashing led's, blower and sirens.
I reallly couldn't deal with owning a real table, all the expense, getting bored of it after 6 months , then having to trade it out or store more of the tables, then all the maintenance for the older tables or things just not quite working.
I'll let you.know how.it turns out, I am hoping this will scratch the itch, otherwise at worst case I might just get one real pin to switch out every few years

We played there for over 30 minutes on a range of tables to try and get a good feel for it. I mainly played stranger things and addams family. The full size one felt that much more real due to the size, it also has more solenoids etc so i decided to pay the extra.

 

[Pick Holder]

Re: pinballia, pasting my comment from the other thread.
Mine should arrive in 2 weeks.
I'd suggest going up to stoke and taking a look, that's the best way to choose.

Be interesting to know if it is on time.

@ballsports - I would not really take notice of videos showing monitors. It all depends on what they look like in the flesh. There is a lot of variables when attempting to capture screens.

I have seen a recent build of theirs a couple of weeks ago and it was not bad. But it did seem a little expensive. I think in my mind it was a grand overpriced but it depends what the backup service is like.

 

[ballsports]

Be interesting to know if it is on time.

@ballsports - I would not really take notice of videos showing monitors. It all depends on what they look like in the flesh. There is a lot of variables when attempting to capture screens.

I have seen a recent build of theirs a couple of weeks ago and it was not bad. But it did seem a little expensive. I think in my mind it was a grand overpriced but it depends what the backup service is like.

Thanks, I realised they probably didn't light balance the videos correctly, just wanted to ask from someone who saw them first hand.

I worked out the cost of the components and realised that it was expensive but to be honest there aren't a lot of options in the UK and others are more expensive and seem worse quality and by the time I buy an old cabinet and all the componentry I'm not too far off but I'd have to build it too and would do a worse job most likely.

What do you mean by the backup service? As in ongoing support?

Also which build did you see?

 

[ballsports]

I haven't seen any other vpins but the quality of the monitor was really good.
It was a 4k screen and felt pretty close to a real machine.
They had a 32 inch 4k there as well and the clarity of the tables was bright and captive.

The ssf and solenoids etc definitely added to the feel and made it more fun to play. I played a vpin about 15 years ago and it just felt like playing a computer game. I wouldn't say it feels just like a real table but it's atleast 80% there and also fun to play, it has all the whizzy pup packs, matrix, flashing led's, blower and sirens.
I reallly couldn't deal with owning a real table, all the expense, getting bored of it after 6 months , then having to trade it out or store more of the tables, then all the maintenance for the older tables or things just not quite working.
I'll let you.know how.it turns out, I am hoping this will scratch the itch, otherwise at worst case I might just get one real pin to switch out every few years

We played there for over 30 minutes on a range of tables to try and get a good feel for it. I mainly played stranger things and addams family. The full size one felt that much more real due to the size, it also has more solenoids etc so i decided to pay the extra.

Thanks this is really helpful, I will take a trip to the showroom but as it's a few hours away you've given me the confidence it won't be a wasted journey.