The Lord of the Rings
Wow! I never expected to get one of these, but I got a good deal on a Home Use Only machine and the wife let me buy it -- on the condition that I finally sell my Magic the Gathering card collection (it will easily pay for the machine). She has been after me for years to sell the cards, but I had no real incentive.
This is now Nicole's pinball machine. When I brought it in and showed it to her she looked at it and said she liked it. I asked if she wanted this machine and she said 'mine'. Now if I ask what her favorite machine is she says 'mine', such a nice change from 'sold'. I think the wife even liked this machine!
This is a first run pinball machine from December 2003. It has the brown and green Path of the Dead and the white Gandalf on Shadowfax. I am also pleased that the Balrog seems to work well and is registering all the hits. Only problem with the machine at this point that I have detected is a couple of bulbs out. Cosmetically, the backbox does have some damage. You can tell this was from the shipping straps and it would have come out of the box that way. Really a bit of a shame.
Feb 2007: I upgraded to the version 10 ROM set... I cannot claim to see much difference, but have not played much since. I really hated loosing my high scores too.
2008: I bought a color changing LED for the Palintar. Was obnoxious at first, but I like it now. I also bought the special coils for the flipper but have yet to install them.
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IPDB info for The Lord of the Rings