SDTM Episode 92: The Addams Family Pinball Machine Review

Greg and Zach review one of the most popular pinball machines every made with Bally’s The Addams Family.

[@gotaminutereviews]

You guys completely missed probably the most satisfying combo ever: the 4-way combo. Bear Kick ramp, through the pop bumpers, onto the left ramp, then into the graveyard. Huge points, very challenging, INCREDIBLY satisfying.

[@stevenadams3533]

Bought my first pin the Addams in UK for 750 gbp in 1997, bought it to Australia , my wife and I love it more now than ever and its just about to have a full restoration. Part of the family and will never sell it. A true classic, fun, fast and never gets old Zach😡😂

[@Mo_Ketchups]

Huffing a pin to another CONTINENT 👀 … THAT is pinball passion & reverence of the highest order. I salute you, good sir! 🫡

[@Mo_Ketchups]

25:13 - Zach’s HERMAN MUNSTER impression!! 👀😂😂🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@Mo_Ketchups]

If Greg were in charge of all future pins (all facets & decision-making), the industry would auger in before the end of the year. 😄🤷‍♂️

[@ratbert86]

I was an operator back in the day when these were new - I actually had to stop in to the locations that had these mid week to empty the cashbox or it would fill up and jam the coin mechs.

[@SDTM]

ratbert86 dang that’s cool to hear. Why do you think it resonated so well on location at that time?

[@ratbert86]

@@SDTM The movie was really popular and it was a great pin - fun to play. It was popular with a very wide range of people, including a lot of people who weren't necessarily into pinball I think. I remember it was the #1 earner as reported by operators in Replay magazine for over a year which was completely unheard of.

[@ealadubh4800]

When judging 90s B/Ws by their art package, always keep in mind that those playfields and cabinets were screen-printed, and that means vibrant colours but a limited palette - generally 16 colours max. The trick was in making the colours look more complex than they actually were. Best example of that for me is the Monster Bash cabinet side art - great detail, much use of dithering to produce smooth gradients, but still only 16 colours. (You can find the exact palette swatch for the printing guide elsewhere on the game.)

[@colt5189]

I'd like to see a review of Theatre of Magic. That and Addams Family are my favorite pinball machines.

[@rask4p]

This game got me hooked on pinball in 2001 when I played it waiting for a movie. I agree with most of what's said though I think the sound is easily an A+! With the triple jackpot call out, with the fifty million call out, or the call out for a big bonus, who says you can't take it with you, the sound on this game draws players to it! The late Raul Julia put so much life into ever part of this game that it's impossible for me to name better call outs in all of pinball.

[@jbug45945]

No mention of the TV show vs. the movies. I'd like it even better if it was based on the former.

[@chinosts]

I'd love to see you guys do a Red and Ted's Road show review..

[@henryalmoney2917]

the best shot is the 4x combo, up bear kick ramp, through multiply, up red ramp, into swamp. this is the best show in pinball

[@turbografx7]

I used to own a TAF. It is one of my favorite games. The main reason I let mine go was because it wasn't collector quality. If it was i would still own it. I traded it away for a Hobbit, and I don't regret it. Maybe one day I'll get a really nice one again. Great review as always. Keep up the great content boys!!

[@LordBadenRulez]

Growing up in Africa, I consider myself lucky to have played this game back in the day.

[@hayden_kuhlman_8870]

I love this game and yet again this has been another great video!!! I would love to see a review on medieval madness or attack on Mars

[@larslan1975]

Need to do one one on Funhouse, one of if not the innovators of all of the future of pinball, rare and I still own mine. Repair happens a a bit, but worth it for a 1990 pin!

[@ealadubh4800]

I admit, it took me a LONG time to learn to love Addams Family, the same way it took a long time to learn to love Funhouse. The latter is more confusing to get your head around, but both games at the time looked to be designed for cheap brick drains from close to the flippers... and those Power Magnets did NOT help. Even today I avoid activating those bastards as little as I possibly can.

[@mancavemoviemadness7464]

This was really a good review and video guys. Amazing how many games were sold. Why don't we see more 4 flipper games now? I feel like this review is a good lead to Pat Lawlor's next 4 flipper game! We can't wait for Willy Wonka!

[@jambay4785]

I had one, upgraded to gold chip set... and loved it for years. Gave it to my nephew... can't believe how much they cost now. The "Dirty pool" shot was a surprise. Hate to be annoying but I always set the back feet higher. Must do search to see if you ever did review of "Fun House"

[@ray.a7343]

Imo the best pinball ever over all I played addams when it first came out at a bar I went to everyday for a year straight me and my friends never ever got tired of it .the funnest pin. replayability a 10

[@Riz2336]

My all time favorite pin, it's just fun man

[@neilcarlson7645]

I missed the octopus T-Shirts. I'll buy one if it's still around $30.

[@theoneanton]

No gameplay?

[@mokthemagicman]

Did you guys ever review Medieval Madness or the remake?

[@SDTM]

mokthemagicman we haven’t yet

[@Srt8Adam]

Hehehe Zach called festers chair grandpa’s electric chair scoop hehehehe wrong show, Greg would have nailed it

[@SDTM]

Adam sorry uncle’s electric chair

[@Kurtis761]

Excellent review as always guys.

[@ElGatoLoco698]

How much did the Addams Family pinball machine cost when it was released?

[@dsarg9582]

Two years ago you said Adam’s Family is the best use of magnets in Pinball. Now, with Godzilla’s use of the magnets, do you still think this?

[@disc5339]

It's a bummer that the only local Addams Family is all busted up. I love chilly willys, but wish it was in better condition. Keep up the good work boys.

[@LordCyler]

$6-7 thousand dollar Addams Family? Where?? Oh, this was 5 years ago.

[@Smileymotion]

Great Episode and review again, love you guys! One major improvement i would like to see is a new and better mic. The audio quality definitely could improve the overall experience of the show. Do AC/DC Pro VE review next!

[@SDTM]

Smileymotion anything in particular you are catching audio-wise?

[@Smileymotion]

@@SDTM regular volume voice is fine but as soon as both of you get a little louder and enjoying the show the speech sounds like its clipping and distorted. Same when Zach does his playfield overview. Could also be the volume level when editing. Audio just sounds like it could not keep up. Hope it helps.

[@joelreeves]

Is it just me, or do the percentages add up to 95? Great review though. I'd probably be at a B. Not sure if it'd last in my collection.

[@SDTM]

Joel Reeves yes they do Joel I tried explaining in last review. The remainder 5% would be for animation and display on more current pins, but since we don’t rate said category for dmd or older, we have distributed the extra 5% into each of the reminder categories. Good eye though buddy and big thanks for commenting about your grade. We are on the same page :)

[@alanrobertson6389]

Yikes! Man I remember back when I first got seriously into the hobby around 2007, and the HATE surrounding new pins was absurd. I felt like a pariah to enjoy games built by Stern like LOTR, TSPP, or Spider man. Continued with Tron, Iron Man, etc. I mean I even remember all of the bitching and hate for Metallica and TWD on release. It was all Bally/Williams, Bally/Williams, Bally/Williams. But now there seems to be a major sea change in the other direction from the newer hobbyists. The pendulum has swung too far. Your guys' rating this game that low is CRAZY. I know that it has become cool to dismiss Addam's Family on pinside now ( to be fair, I am not accusing you of this. You didn't completely dismiss the game). But this is a highwater mark for pinball design in every way and deserves a better ranking on your lists. The code is great. Lightshow and callouts are part of the code and it is some of the best ever. The code is balanced and not easily exploitable. It's fun, and easy to understand. The objectives are clear, and the multiball scoring logic is beautiful, not just "everything is lit for weak jackpots". It actually makes you earn the multiball, then makes you hit a combo shot off of the upper flipper to pay you out. Perfect theme integration and gimmicks, and the art is much better than the C Greg stuck it with (I know, I know, art is subjective, but then again so is every one of these) I think that because y'all don't play much on location, and don't really play to put your high score and initials in, you lose some of the magic of these 90s classics. That's what they were built for, and there is a major thrill in competing to erase initials off of a popular title in the wild against others. Getting to a wizard mode just meant that you helped yourself to some BIG points to get you closer to that high score, not that the game was finished and not worth playing again, and certainly not guaranteeing that you even got that high score. The beauty of pinball is that there really is no "winning" or truly ever "beating" a game. I realize that the modern concept of HUO players and collectors has changed this quite a bit. And I do not hate modern games or home players, far from it. I just think that there is room to appreciate both, and severely but respectfully disagree with y'all on this one. Should be a top 10 pin by anyone's standards. As always, love the show.

[@SDTM]

Alan Robertson good analysis much appreciated

[@rusolinio121]

I loved this game as a kid. Played it often as it was the only machine that was around in multiples which was rare in north UK (still is). Got one for my home in later life and immediately regretted it. I'm all about speed and flow of pinball and this game has far too much stop and start that is just too frustrating the more you play it. The people that love it endlessly promote its better features but i often question how these people like to play. If you play pinball regular in your own home, you are usually trying to reach a goal. If anything at all blocks, or breaks the path to reaching that goal, it instantly becomes frustrating and ultimately boring to play. The mere thought of having to 'get through' a mode you don't like to get somewhere else on the game will eventually turn into thoughts of selling for something else. At least in my case speaking as a home collector/player. In the end, its all just opinion and if we all liked the same thing we wouldn't have the amazing array of games we have today. In total honesty, if i had the means, i'd buy them ALL.

[@mokthemagicman]

Greg is wrong. You both are the funny one. :)

[@luigicicciarelli8831]

6:23 Grandpa's electric chair?

[@SDTM]

Luigi Cicciarelli haha sorry about that. Uncle’s electric chair

[@Mugen_4_lifeKRXR]

Mamushka is target hits not just bbn pop hits.

[@SDTM]

Jesse Godin very true sorry about that. That’s what I usually go for on that mode

[@joelmixdorf8851]

Let's see Champion Pub!

[@SDTM]

Joel Mixdorf eesh really?

[@joelmixdorf8851]

@@SDTM lol I've got a soft spot for that one. Wasn't serious though.

[@MrGrimmshaw]

I like champion pub. I also tend to drink a lot while playing, so that probably helps

[@PacDork]

Anything that's not an A is a typo on your grade chart. There's a reason the game sold what it sold and is what it is. If you think buyers all sell it soon after buying it, you just don't know a lot of pinball people. Most people who buy an Addams bolt it to the floor. I've had mine for over 10 years. Not leaving. It's always fun to play! ...but I get it, you guys are selling new games - gotta talk down the classics...very transparent.

[@SDTM]

PacDork you don’t really believe that last part do you?

[@sungleong]

The only reason why it is the bestseller is because it was the first game with modes, that's it, nothing more.

[@PacDork]

@@sungleongAlso a great design, also had cool toys and features like Thing, the bookcase, Thing Flip, The Power magnet. A great theme & beloved music & Raul Julia callouts. It all comes together into a timeless classic game. The numbers & demand don’t lie.

[@luigicicciarelli8831]

Any new t-shirts?

[@SDTM]

Luigi Cicciarelli trying to get a new design done

[@sungleong]

I just can't stand the magnetic BS, when you lock 2 balls theagnwt is consistently turned on, even after you drain the ball, and of course during Multi ball too, and seance mode. I think this is the only game that punish players for locking balls and triggering multi balls. It turns accomplishment into punishment, WTF.

[@stevetrask9160]

Sdtm episode