eBay Find: TPIR '94 Tabletop Pinball

[Sodboy13]

The description says this was a promotional giveaway to affiliates. Pretty snazzy giveaway, as I had this machine as a kid, but with different artwork - it was called Astro Shooter, and I think it sold for about $90-100.

It's a fun little machine - not $350 worth of fun in my book, but maybe it is for you. Also, note the show logo - I wonder if they were considering this all-caps rendition before reverting to something more traditional.

https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?mpre=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ebay.com%2Fulk%2Fitm%2F333037837831

[golden-road]

Also, note the show logo - I wonder if they were considering this all-caps rendition before reverting to something more traditional.

https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?mpre=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ebay.com%2Fulk%2Fitm%2F333037837831

They used that logo primarily in TV Guide ads and commercials for the show.

[bscripps]

I had one of these back in the day; the station where I work had run the series (this was a year or so before I started), and this thing sat in the lunchroom for a couple of years.  I snagged it and stashed it at home for a year or so before tossing it when moving. 

I would feel guilty trying to pawn that thing off on some unsuspecting fanboi for three digits.

\And $57 for shipping?!?

[clemon79]

I would feel guilty trying to pawn that thing off on some unsuspecting fanboi for three digits.

I wouldn't. Fools and their money and all that.

[BrandonFG]

It's a cool novelty item and all, but I see vintage pinball machines from the 40s-60s going for less than that. If I was gonna drop $300+, I think I'd go for the older games.

I know it's a tabletop, but I didn't see any dimensions on the listing. About how large is this thing?

[JasonA1]

I too had the non-Price version of this as a kid. My memory is that the footprint was not too much longer than a laptop; turned the long way, naturally.

-Jason

[Sonic Whammy]

One would think a cooler promotional item would be a pinball machine of actual size. Syndication money, I guess.

And is it just me or if you didn't know who Doug Davidson was, seeing his face instead of Bob's would make the whole thing feel like a generic parody knockoff?

[MikeK]

One would think a cooler promotional item would be a pinball machine of actual size. Syndication money, I guess.

Who's ponying up that much money to create a limited run of custom pinball machines?  Then times that by 100 different stations airing the show, give or take.  Then how much it would cost to ship each of the 250-300 lb. machines to each affiliate, who may not have room for said machine.  If you want a ballpark figure for one used machine, my pinball machine set me back $3000 including local delivery two years ago.  It's a lot easier and cheaper to slap custom graphics on a Tomy mini-machine body, which Tomy was already making by the thousands for other properties.

[DoorNumberFour]

No sounds/music from the show in this game, right? Just generic beep-boop?

[clemon79]

If you want a ballpark figure for one used machine, my pinball machine set me back $3000 including local delivery two years ago.

Ooh, whatcha got? My girlfriend got a High Speed after I took her to the convention in Tacoma last year.

[clemon79]

No sounds/music from the show in this game, right? Just generic beep-boop?

I'm sure of it. As Sodboy mentioned, peel the stickers off of this and an Astro Shooter, and you literally would not be able to tell them apart.

[MikeK]

If you want a ballpark figure for one used machine, my pinball machine set me back $3000 including local delivery two years ago.

Ooh, whatcha got? My girlfriend got a High Speed after I took her to the convention in Tacoma last year.

World Poker Tour from 2006.  I fell in love with it after playing it at a pinball show a few years ago.

[clemon79]

World Poker Tour from 2006.  I fell in love with it after playing it at a pinball show a few years ago.

Holy crap, a new-ish (comparatively) Stern machine for only $3K shipped? You did well.