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Sadly, no. He likes space, vehicles, Lego/Minecraft, superheroes, and the colour red.
I think what I had in mind was something where Flipper Beast and I, who prefer the harder machines, could get within spitting distance of the wizard mode while the Pi-Bo Wizard could get some stuff going.
Yes, unfortunately.
I disagree and my daughter loved playing the one we had on loan for a while. She doesn’t play much but she clicked with this one
Maybe it was just the one I played, then...
]
You’ve asked for a machine your kid wants to playMaybe it was just the one I played, then...
Worth mentioning, the only AP pin I like is GTF.
[Pi-Bo Wizard has just wandered past me and, spotting me on the Pinside entry, said, "Hot Wheels pinball machine! I love it! I want a Hot Wheels pinball machine!"
My review on Pinside:
The slowest racing pin I've ever played...
Played at Pinfest 2024 in Daventry, UK.
American Pinball pins tend to have a problem with what Keith Elwin (I think) called 'kinetic satisfaction'. Short version, they're simply not fun to shoot. Hot Wheels is no exception. It shares a designer with Houdini, which has a combination of overly narrow shots, dull predictable ball paths, and boxed-in pop clusters that can't randomise the direction/behaviour of the ball.
Hot Wheels feels very similar in layout to Houdini, complete with the narrow 'fenced-in' looping shots and the 'hemmed in' pop clusters. Unlike Houdini, it feels very pared down with only one real 'toy' (a spinning car) and no cool mechs. Due to the narrow shots, both Houdini and Hot Wheels benefit from careful, considered shooting, ideally from a cradle, but a careful shooting style is the absolute ANTITHESIS of racing - unless it's granny drag racing (which, to be honest, would be a cheaper and funnier theme than Hot Wheels).
In short, American Pinball had one job here - making a fun, fast, flowy pin - and didn't manage it. Far from the company's worst pin, but a solid miss.
+1 for Getaway, also Revenge from Mars is a blast for kids if they aren’t spooked by the aliens
I don't have the space for pins that no one EXCEPT my 5 yo wants to play!
I think Toy Story would be better for a young kid/ beginner over DP. DP is easy to get to the wizard modes if you have a bit of skill but it can have a lot of side to side action imo and not many exciting moments or toys.I don't have the space for pins that no one EXCEPT my 5 yo wants to play!
He's already playing most of our pins (inc. EJ, TNA and JP2) - his problem is that he gets frustrated when he finds it hard. He doesn't know what shots to make, he can't get the ball under contorl long enough to start much off... short version, he's a beginner. It's especially tough for him because his brother is a decent player (for an 8yo).
So, it's less theme than pins with a relaxed feel and longer play times. Often, these are pins with lots of easy returns to the flippers, wide-open shots and so on. Hence, why we thought DP might be a good choice - it's notable for being on the 'easier' side, it's bright red, I've personally reached a mini-wizard mode (once) on location, and there's a multiball that can be started by hammering L'il Deadpool a bunch of times
Toy Story would be perfect as well, I realise, as that's pretty-much what it was designed for (and I had a reasonably good time with it at the Dutch Pinball Museum), but I think there are only about three in the UK and they cost megabucks...
I'd never considered Getaway, although @MadMonzer liked it at Pinfest, apparently
I did that with Ghostbusters made a world of difference to my daughter she would have been 6 at the time, however theme is king with little people. Ghostbusters and Hobbit my daughter liked because she watched the films. Absolutely hated avengers infinity quest
If there is pinball playing going on, the Pi-Bo Wizard will join in
He just doesn't necessarily have a satisfying experience, 'tis the problem.I was thinking about the co-op option, actually. JP2 has one, as does TNA
Ha, as a Monopoly board flipping kid myself, completely understand his frustrationI was thinking about the co-op option, actually. JP2 has one, as does TNA
This is how we solved the problem of Pi-Bo Wizard coming last in every board game we played - he didn't have the personality to sustain his ego on a 5% win rate, so he eventually just refused to play anything with his older brother unless it was a coop.
I think you're over analysing it somewhat. Winning and losing at things is part of growing up and how you hone your skills. As he gets older his skills will will improve - success is a journey after all not a destination.If there is pinball playing going on, the Pi-Bo Wizard will join in
About the only pin where he gets anywhere is EJ and that's because the Honky Cat Hurry-up is an obvious target, and he can occasionally start the Croc Multiball by accident.
That said, he did get about 197k on TNA earlier today and 6 million on EJ, but he also has a high proportion of three houseballs in a row. He's just so happy and excited when he starts something off (like a multiball) and want him to have more of those experiences
Hobbit is a great suggestion, thanks. The dragon multiball is very easy to start and a great pinball moment, but the underlying pin is a long player with complex rules. I could see Pi-Bo Wizard liking the multiball (and the pop-up monsters), and getting lots of satisfying pinball action without needing a whole lot of skill.
Not sure how Flipper Beast would take to it, but he does seem to like figuring out Byzantine rulesets. I've also fancied trying one out at home for a time.
I was thinking of that too, actually, at Pinfest.
