I was never a huge pinball enthusiast, but have fond memories of playing them in arcades. I fail to see the appeal of these digital replicas, so here's a "get o

I was never a huge pinball enthusiast, but have fond memories of playing them in arcades. I fail to see the appeal of these digital replicas, so here's a "get off my lawn" rant... The entire experience of a pinball machine was physical/mechanical: you felt the clunk when releasing the plunger, which you'd sometimes have to do more than once to get the momentum just right. You'd hear the rolling of the ball and each time it made contact. Sound didn't just come from stereo speakers, but from many places on the board and was an immersive experience all on its own. Nudging the machine was a pro move, as each machine was different and handled tilt detection differently. There was this raw sensation of interacting with an electromechanical device that I don't see how a table computer with some monitors and speakers would ever be able to replicate. Sure, being able to load different games is nice, but I think it would still feel more like a video game than a pinball machine. I love MAME, but at the end of the day it's only emulating software. The joy of the arcade was in the variety of physical controls, sitting in that game booth, and every cabinet offering an entirely new experience.