From: adoerfer@bk2000.pko.dec.com (_bill)
Newsgroups: rec.games.pinball
Subject: Re: How good is Bonzai Run?
Summary: ****, 9 1/2 out of 10, 2 (well, 6 actually) Flippers UP!
Keywords: BANZAI RUN, prices, rarity
Date: 3 Oct 92 17:02:35 GMT
Distribution: usa
Organization: Digital Equipment Corporation


In article <1992Oct2.185304.7037@cbnewsc.cb.att.com>, rls@cbnewsc.cb.att.com (richard.l.schieve) writes...
>I'm curious
>what others think of Bonzai run? 
>				Rick Schieve
>				rls@ihlpb.att.com
>				
You might want to check PAPS again, Banzai Run is on it...

Overall, Bansai Run is a GREAT game, and it's very hard to come up
with any hints that would improve it.  The sounds are TOP notch and unique
enough to be PERFECT for the game, the lights are enough to be attractions
and interesting but not really in the way.  Enough to be flashy, but wouldn't
give too many people headaches :-).  The layout is good, and unique, saucers
multi-balls, up-post, captive balls, kick backs - it's got a lot going for it.
And the displays do some intersting things too as they sort of scroll or
wipe or "rotate" around.  Space Station did a tad more, but Banzai Run is
also up there for that type of (hardware) display attractions.   

One thing, as a owner, you'll probably want to swap the ribbon cable in 
it - it's too short.  I'm using one  from Data East Time Machine, and it 
makes the game a "one person to maintain" type game again.  

One other *opinion*... After you "master" it, it may get
to be a tad boring.  After you're king of the hill, there is nothing left to
do but do it all over again.  And it doesn't particularly get HARDER to
do it again (things like ramp spots letter turns off, but not because you
got king).  The thing about Banzai is it's so much FUN playing the game,
it doesn't really matter much that the goal is kind of easy and not much to
do afterwards.  Heck, pinballs have been around for half a century with
far less "goals" and are still fun.  So while Banzai is not EASY, or should 
be set not too easy, I think the only thing even remotely wrong might be if you
play it A LOT, you might get a tad tired of the main objective.  Still,
a fun game.  

Pricewise, I personally think it's about to test the $1000 barrier.
I might have seen one at 995 already, $1100 would put you on a list
or you might have to do some hunting or shipping, $1500 would probably
get you one relatively fast, they are still being offered as high as
2100, in a private party/want-ad type ad someone thought they could get
$5000 for it...  Depending on how long a seller wants to hold it, they
could probably get any price they want for one, still.  995 and it'd
be snapped up instantly, 1500ish average (shopped), 2100 high.
(also, things like delivery and waranties and perhaps taxes would figure
in any pricing discussion, ranges listed above are for the machine
only)

Anyway, condition is, of course, key.  From my point of view, they are beginning
to become available, but they are coming in with the inserts worn off
or damaged targets - particularly the Yellow ones.  Make sure the
left and the standalone in particular are solid, they take a lot of
hard hits from odd angles.  (I have foam behind mine). The plasic above
the 2 yellows will probably also be damaged.  Another area to check is
the upper ball kick (where it catches for mulit-ball).  Be sure the switch reads
accurately all the time, and isn't too bent or messed with.  A somewhat key
point seems to be the cabinate flipper contacts.  The top flipper (left button)
is pretty important, so you'll want to be sure your left flipper button assembly
is in top shape.

Don't let rarity sway you too much.  Some of the priciest games are the
ones that are not rare, they are the ones people know.  To take an
extreme example (WARNING near-meaningless statistic ahead)

Midway probably made more "THE ADDAMS FAMILY"  than all 4 (U.S.) companies
(Bally, Williams, Stern, Gottlieb) made of ALL machines in ALL of 1982.

Yet TAF is not cheap! :-)  (What a difference 10 years make).
Anyway, age is important.  Condititon is important.  Rarity - not yet.
Harder to find, but not necessarily priced more.  In fact, most people
don't enjoy the rare games.  (I do, only because I'd never seen them
before - for example, the "auto ball launch" - most people would say
it started with CHECKPOINT, a few would say T2 :-), when in fact
Gottlieb's GOING NUTS had auto ball launch (the "without the plunger
type" in 1982)(and games before that launced balls by themselves, but
those had plungers or launched from different areas).  

Another reason you can't use rarity in price considerations is most people
don't actually KNOW how rare games are.  Getting accurate production 
and/or distribution information is at present, very hard. 

Other minor cosiderations for Bansai Run, it is about 78 inches high,
perhaps a tad more to work on it - be sure you have room.  On the otherhand,
it's a bit narrower than an average game, so it fits better in tight
spaces (important to some locations :-)  ).  It's still a popular
money making game where it is being run.

Anyway, like any pinball, play it, and if you like it (a lot), go ahead
and get it.  Take care of it and you won't loose much money on it, though
I do believe the price in general for that game is on it's way down, for
the next few years, at least.
_bill
             ------------		Go for the hill!
                        /
                        --------* Adoerfer@bk2000.pko.dec.com
Adoerfer@laserwar.pko.dec.com