# SDTM Episode 36: This or That? (Greg or Zach?)

**Source:** Straight Down the Middle  
**Type:** video  
**Published:** 2017-10-04  
**Duration:** 17m 9s  
**Beat:** Pinball

**URL:** https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ywGWupWrw48

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## Analysis

Greg and Zach from Straight Down the Middle host a 'This or That' segment where they answer community-submitted questions choosing between classic and modern pinball machines. The episode features rapid-fire game comparisons (Medieval Madness vs. Monster Bash, Twilight Zone vs. Ghostbusters, Theater of Magic vs. Tales of Arabian Nights, and premium Stern titles like Star Wars, Game of Thrones, and AC/DC), with hosts providing reasoning based on theme, rules depth, and playability. The final segment humorously compares Greg and Zach themselves across various hypothetical scenarios.

### Key Claims

- [MEDIUM] Theater of Magic is superior to Tales of the Arabian Nights primarily due to theme and toy design, though both have equivalently enjoyable gameplay and wizard modes — _Greg and Zach debate the choice; Zach picks Theater of Magic for theme/toys/LED presentation, Greg picks Tales for gameplay and preference for winding ramps and genie character_
- [MEDIUM] Bram Stoker's Dracula would be chosen over Aerosmith by both hosts if machines were in good condition, due to superior multiball stacking and modes despite lack of traditional modes — _Greg states choosing Dracula with no hesitation; Zach agrees Dracula has better stacking and multiball gameplay_
- [MEDIUM] Star Wars (Stern premium) is considered superior to both Game of Thrones and AC/DC premium editions due to better theming, mode variety, and overall game quality despite aesthetic concerns — _Zach chooses Star Wars premium over Game of Thrones and AC/DC, citing better theme than AC/DC and comparable ruleset to Game of Thrones with more playable modes_
- [LOW] Monster Bash is preferred over Medieval Madness by the hosts despite Medieval Madness' general popularity — _Andy's rapid-fire round; Greg chooses Monster Bash, though the context suggests this may reflect personal preference over consensus_
- [MEDIUM] Big Bang Bar is not universally appreciated despite its rarity; Big Lebowski is the preferred choice — _Greg states confusion about why Big Bang Bar is so highly regarded, expressing preference for Big Lebowski based on gameplay feel_

### Notable Quotes

> "I would Dracula all day... if they're in good shape not even like a thought would run through my head about Aerosmith"
> — **Greg**, ~13:20
> _Strong endorsement of Dracula's gameplay superiority when comparing Data East classic to 1997 Stern title_

> "World Cup Soccer definitely... mainly based on I'm not a soccer fan particularly but the gameplay"
> — **Zach**, ~1:40
> _Demonstrates how gameplay depth can override theme preference in game selection_

> "I couldn't have a show without you because I wouldn't know the technical... you're the pinball nerd and I'm the pinball cool dude"
> — **Greg**, ~28:00
> _Meta-commentary on show dynamic; reveals Greg's reliance on Zach's technical knowledge and speculative purchasing guidance_

> "Star Wars premium because to me it's a better theme than AC/DC... Game of Thrones and Star Wars rulesets are kind of similar... both kind of ugly... I'll take Star Wars"
> — **Zach**, ~24:50
> _Honest assessment of premium Stern title aesthetic shortcomings while still preferring Star Wars for thematic reasons_

> "The Shadow easy... I don't care Whitewater's a great game but it's not even close to The Shadow"
> — **Greg**, ~3:20
> _Strong preference for Williams classic over newer game despite acknowledging Whitewater's quality_

> "Circus Voltaire just because I think it's a prettier pin... I like the theme better yeah themes better"
> — **Greg**, ~20:30
> _Demonstrates aesthetic/thematic appeal can outweigh gameplay complexity or rarity considerations_

### Entities

| Name | Type | Context |
|------|------|---------|
| Greg Bone | person | Co-host of Straight Down the Middle; known for theme/aesthetic preferences and casual gameplay approach |
| Zach Minney | person | Co-host of Straight Down the Middle; serves as technical expert, statistics provider, and purchasing advisor; handles show editing |
| Straight Down the Middle | media | YouTube pinball show featuring game comparisons, reviews, and community engagement; 5+ year history |
| John Krauss (Dr. Jones Hot) | person | Community member contributing 'This or That' game comparison suggestions; appears to be a show fan |
| James Moore | person | Community member who submitted early/mid-era Pat Lawlor game comparison |
| 8-bit Andy | person | Community member who submitted rapid-fire game comparison set including Medieval Madness vs. Monster Bash |
| Brother Deal | person | Community member who submitted classic game comparisons (Bram Stoker's Dracula vs. Aerosmith, etc.) |
| Joshua Barton | person | Community member who submitted Big Lebowski vs. Big Bang Bar comparison |
| Awesome Fox | person | Community member who submitted Circus Voltaire vs. Monster Mash and Austin Powers vs. Wheel of Fortune comparisons |
| John Sample | person | Community member who submitted aesthetic comparison (Junkyard vs. Ripley's Believe It or Not) framing both as 'ugly pins' |
| Jim Norris | person | Community member who submitted premium Stern vault edition comparison (AC/DC vs. Walking Dead vs. Game of Thrones vs. Star Wars) |
| David Tucker | person | Community member who submitted final novelty comparison: Greg vs. Zach across multiple hypothetical scenarios |
| Medieval Madness | game | Classic 1997 Williams machine; compared against Monster Bash in rapid-fire round |
| Monster Bash | game | Williams pinball game; preferred over Medieval Madness by Greg in rapid-fire comparison |
| Theater of Magic | game | 1995 Williams Pat Lawlor design; compared against Tales of Arabian Nights; praised for theme and toy design |
| Tales of the Arabian Nights | game | 1996 Williams narrative-driven design; compared against Theater of Magic; praised for winding ramps and genie |
| The Shadow | game | Williams classic; strongly preferred over Whitewater by Greg |
| Whitewater | game | Williams pinball game with excellent wizard mode; acknowledged as great but inferior to The Shadow by hosts |
| Twilight Zone | game | 1993 Williams Pat Lawlor design; preferred over Ghostbusters in rapid-fire round by Greg |
| Ghostbusters | game | Stern licensed game; mentioned in rapid-fire comparisons; Zach chose it over Twilight Zone |
| Star Wars (Stern Premium) | game | Premium Stern vault edition; chosen over Game of Thrones and AC/DC premium by Zach due to theming and mode variety despite aesthetic concerns |
| Game of Thrones | game | Stern pinball; compared in premium vault edition comparison; Greg notes rulesets similar to Star Wars but aesthetic shortcomings |
| AC/DC (Premium) | game | Stern premium vault edition; Greg prefers theme over current AC/DC; not chosen by either host in premium comparison |
| Big Lebowski | game | Bowling-themed pinball; preferred over Big Bang Bar by Greg despite not having extensively played either |
| Bram Stoker's Dracula | game | Data East classic; strongly preferred over Aerosmith by both hosts; praised for multiball stacking and gameplay depth |

### Topics

- **Primary:** This or That Game Comparisons, Classic vs. Modern Pinball Machine Preference, Thematic Appeal vs. Gameplay Depth
- **Secondary:** Community Engagement and Suggestions, Host Dynamic and Show Production, Premium Edition Comparisons (Stern Vault), Williams/Bally Classic Game Appreciation
- **Mentioned:** Pinball Collecting and Community Interviews

### Sentiment

**Positive** (0.82) — Episode maintains upbeat, entertaining tone throughout. Hosts express genuine enthusiasm for pinball games and community participation. Light-hearted banter between Greg and Zach. No significant criticism of games or manufacturers; focus is on subjective preference rather than negative assessment. Final segment celebrating their friendship and show partnership adds warm closing note.

### Signals

- **[community_signal]** High volume of community suggestions for 'This or That' segment indicating strong viewer participation and content resonance (confidence: high) — Hosts repeatedly mention receiving many comments/suggestions and praise community participation; segment has become 'one of my favorite segments' according to Greg
- **[design_philosophy]** Theme and aesthetic appeal frequently outweighs pure gameplay depth or mechanical innovation in host game preference decisions (confidence: high) — Multiple instances where hosts choose games based on theme (Circus Voltaire over Monster Mash, Star Wars over Game of Thrones/AC/DC) despite acknowledging gameplay equivalence
- **[community_signal]** Clear division of labor between hosts: Greg serves as casual/aesthetic-focused player while Zach provides technical expertise and purchasing guidance to collectors (confidence: high) — David Tucker comparison segment explicitly establishes Greg as 'pinball cool dude' and Zach as 'pinball nerd'; Greg relies on Zach's knowledge for equipment decisions; Zach handles technical specifications and availability information
- **[sentiment_shift]** AC/DC (Stern) experiencing perception decline among hosts; multiple mentions of not preferring theme or ruleset despite historical significance (confidence: medium) — Both hosts avoid choosing AC/DC premium edition when given premium Stern options; Zach states 'I've never liked that much' regarding AC/DC theme; Greg notes playing it at Expo was nowhere near enough to form strong positive opinion

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## Transcript

are you ready for your next pinball machine call flipping out now and choose from the newest and hottest pinball machines from jersey jack pinball stern pinball Chicago gaming company and American pinball flipping out also offers the Escalera stair climbing hand truck visite now it flipped in a pinball calm the wait is over a revolution in and LED lighting for your pinball is finally here fully customizable full spectrum lighting from pin stadium lights order yours now at King stadium comm check out pin graphics for the latest and greatest in pinball enhancements power blades blade skins pin blades and even more visit pin graphics comm now to see what's available for your pinball machine let's kick this [ __ ] [Music] you had a fling way the slingshot you roll an iboutlet are gay [Applause] alright guys how's it going thanks for checking out the video this is Gregory this is Zack and this is straight down the middle of pinball show so what we're doing this week this has become like one of my favorite segments definitely my favorite what's it called Greg this oh that and what the hell does that mean mmm okay do I go with it of this all that got you we're gonna we're gonna give you a scenario and Greg and I are gonna pick we go this and what almost all these are actually off of suggestions and things that people past you guys did a really good job in the colony I said we get so many comments now that we don't even we very informative later on we go yeah we go with whatever else is so let's hop into it Greg this or that so one of our favorite buddies John Krauss he goes by you cheap dr.Hilton Jones hot which still my fan doesn't mind my favorite which name I see a pop up my right face I love it so he said would you go fish tails or get away or World Cup soccer oh this or that this World Cup soccer definitely I don't wanna get away no I don't want to get away there fish tails I just don't want to okay world cup soccer world cup soccer beer yet little punch it mainly based on I'm not a soccer fan particular I like soccer John's got another one force mop at the shadow or whitewater oh the shadow easy I don't care white waters a great game but it's not even close to the shadow no it's not you know why it's a really neat game as shadow knows it's pretty spectacular though it's great real actually really I think most people probably go white well I think they would do and I would I would be very I just like the rules better in shadow like the theme are they but the Whitewater is something special they both have great wizard modes no hide opportunity on whitewater out on the whitewater little [ __ ] I don't know whitewater whitewater alright and to end his trifecta John said and this I think is even tougher Wow theater of magic or tales of the Arabian Nights oh that one's I can't even think of a theater of magic I like the way I like the look of theater of magic the theme what a bit better yeah themes better it's a fun playing game they're both equivalency for fun and set for about the same I would go more theme and just meet little toys and a kind of led it looks really beautiful so I go theater magic I'm gonna go totin oh yeah give me some totin baby I like that genie I like all the most and you get to play I like the winding ramps so I won both of them to be honest I don't want both of them because they get through the rules because they're easy sounds pretty basic but they're just really fun thanks again John a lot of all let's go to James more James more said world winter Earthshaker whirlwind the early Pat Lawler's roaming whirlwind easy go that's pretty darn shakers great though her sugars good original world landed alright 8-bit Andy that's a cool name is I like that a bit and he said would you go he's hit a couple here let's do a rapid-fire you ready yeah medieval madness or monster batch go monster brush medieval men's chapter alright but I would've a mannequin I thought about it and family Twilight and wise I'm Twilight Zone Ghostbusters Metallica don't think too much ghostbusters young Ghostbusters fishtails a creature from Black Lagoon go go preacher fish tails a fun game that got fun but creature brother-brother do or brother die oh thank you brother you think it's a girl okay it's nice that we're always subjective and not not sexist because you never know like on any name honestly what it's gonna be we do yeah so I mean there and we're Swedish I think there's a lot of people that cross overseas that watch my twitch like there's a lot of people that they stay up the holidays without knowing it's like 2:00 in the morning that people are watching me at eight o'clock drinking coffee in there like I'm go to bed so brother deal this is a tough one he said would you go Bram Stoker's Dracula and Johnny pneumonic Aerosmith burn Stoker's and IRA and Johnny really hands down that is like adept would that would honestly like if they're in good shape not even like a thought would run through my head about Aerosmith I think I'd go to harassment really now if they were kind of beaters I'd maybe go with Aerosmith honey is great John and only one play whatever so it's to me it's Dracula or Aerosmith and Dracula has no modes you stack the three multi balls fantastic yeah whole outs fantastic fun game so would you go those two Bram Stoker's Dracula and Johnny mnemonic or Star Wars [Music] still take those two or Star Wars I would Megaman 24 this is right up your freaking aliens twister or expose twister using the hesitate you own an x-files yes I've played some x-files though the occasion we got one on location by say it's a fun game it's nice but I I would take twister twister scores a little better and stuff but I know I like the theme twister I got a movie poster my theater I love twister can I go back to Bram Stoker's directions either I'll take twister John Joshua Barton say would you go Big Lebowski or Big Bang bar I have not got to play either one so I I cannot comment on this so just say one anyway you take a little bow ski I think a Lebowski yeah I've played both I don't get big bang bar and why people really like it yeah no just the rarity of it yes I don't think it's that great Allen thing it looks great give me a Lebowski it hasn't actually good probably take Lebowski just on awesome Fox had some good ones here awesome Fox said circus Voltaire or Monster Mash circus Voltaire really Wow maybe I've gotta have a lot of time on circus bull terrier I'm gonna go circus Voltaire just because I think it's a prettier pin mmm-hmm I like him blow us the best it's pretty though like I still love that Universal Monsters yeah I don't think it's pretty I think it's neat it's not pretty okay awesome Fox also said Austin Powers or Wheel of Fortune or World Poker Tour's or roller coaster tycoon older turns he's not roller coaster tycoon okay so that's out ow Wheel of Fortune World Poker horse and I are not played I haven't played that one name I wouldn't may be pretty damn good I've heard great things let's keep Johnson I have to go just because World Poker Tour I like I just cannot get into the theme that looks at the machine I would just I'd have to go with awesome power that's very simple yeah this but it's still it's still neat and it's funny and all that quirkiness makes up for some of the the lack of Austin Powers greatness yeah baby as I'm sure the World Poker Tour you've got that bastard there and you gotta lose me me I mean it has a lot of innovations for Austin Powers too they used a lot of those mechs and innovations and other pins you and stuff definitely all right John sample wants to know these are to me to the ugliest pins ever so pick your poison here right here the junkyard or Ripley's Believe It or Not I like Ripley's good for you but I like junkyard a little bit too which one you going with this I'd go through a blazer no I don't know bother hideous god I'm just thinking about him right now I'd go with rip police a little more to do it Ripley's I'd go with Ripley's and then I sell it all right let's go with Jim Norris I don't like either one of those Jim Norris he's enlisted with some premiums here would you go premium vault ac/dc The Walking Dead game of Thrones or Star Wars long he did without a doubt it's that's not even close let's take walking down the equation because anybody who's gonna go walking back because that's the best game ac/dc Game of Thrones our Star Wars premium oh damn of Thrones I've never played ac/dc I have play basically the expo but I'm talking like I play ball showing you know it's so terrible I have played ac/dc at Expo a handful of times but it wasn't and I enjoyed the [ __ ] out of it but it was nowhere near enough to explore it and to know what's bad about it or what's okay hairatan good about it they came wrong I would rather have ac/dc theme-wise yeah that game rocks but based on the most of what I play it I would say Game of Thrones you know what I'm surprised you're great I'm going to Star Wars I'll take Star Wars premium because to me I'm going Star Wars premium because to me it's a better theme than ac/dc it's not a better thing than game is a better Game of Thrones Game of Thrones and Star Wars are I don't know what I'm doing or they're the same rule sets are kind of similar they're both kind of ugly so I'll take my Star Wars over my Game of Thrones and then ACDC I just never liked that much I don't like the rule set at least Star Wars has some modes that I can play so I'm gonna go star wars hmm how about that yeah hmm and I'll I thought this was funny for a novelty one to end the to end the show out here David Tucker says this or that he says Greg or Zac I mean I mean really depends on what for okay let's be let's be objective here are we talking guy to have drinks with me let's go Greg are we talking guy to hang out and go to a concert with probably choose Greg as well are we talking guy to play pinball with me yeah I might play pinball with you more than myself to what's better about me guy to teach your rules of a pinball machine Chuck guy that's gonna be neurotic and give you all kinds of tips and stuff about pinball machines and their own asinine opinion guy to drop you home from the bar I'm your main I'll give you all kinds of statistics about pinball machines and the art baggage this is true though and Bono is like this okay general pinball knowledge and we hate mail on Zack but I will have to tell you this I've got enough ego baby the show would not function without Zack preach at all free because exactly what you said statistics everything else you study anything you stunt editing we're not getting into that don't worry nobody cares about your editing that's just particularly high shine because that's all I do Gregor's like need a twitch more and I'm like you son of a [ __ ] I'm sitting here editing videos two hours every day which is enough but no seriously like statistics on info inside I call Zach on any machine that I'm talking about purchasing and I value his opinion on it because it it it's not always subjective because be hating on my daddy used to be hating on my seconds tear you away so I don't necessarily that but LEDs but but penny prices definitely products mods mods prot yeah availability yes like I value his opinion greatly on that because I do trust it because he doesn't steer himself wrong no no I don't like lose no so I I know what to expect in and I understand it you're the pinball cool dude on the pinball nerd yeah no try to be using anything you but I couldn't have a show without you because I wouldn't know the technical I could have a show oh dude that's a great ending to the up so it's so true you're so truest well you're my best friend alright guys thanks again for checking out the videos thanks for all the suggestions on our this or that check us out on twitter you know our disclaimer and our thing at the end here check us out on facebook subscribe subscribe help support us so we can get out to these shows so we can get out to these collector interviews so we can do all of this [ __ ] we love you always will say hi to us at the expo come hang out with us I say hi to us at grand old game room Expo all of that stuff reach out we want to hang out right Greg's I'm down with hanging out and I'll give you the technical specification ball people I don't like because I hate the general public you don't hate the masses you don't like germs but don't like germs I don't like lid I don't like chemicals but I will tell you I like cool ass pinball people and then isn't [ __ ] love you do love him I love people I can talk about pinball all the time one of my good buddies I've been annoying the [ __ ] out of here I've become close with with some pretty good friends of hope yeah and I'm just annoyed the piss out of hoagie I think just because I thank you ho chat yeah I think it's alleviated some of the pinball - thank you so like I've annoyed the [ __ ] I had with technical questions and and just general pinball talk so well pinball buddies are good fit is it's fun like I can talk pinball all the time and if you guys want us to interview you for the collection you're with in the tri-state area or within I don't know five hours Chicago we'd love to go to Chicago to interview some people he would love to good I'll go up there I'm I'm up for the collections I'd like to go down to Tennessee we'll go all the way over to maybe some Virginia action st. Louis area if you guys would be willing to let us into your homes and just show us your collections we've really love to do it very much either manufacturers collectors anything yeah we're down for at all whatever is good pinball TV and we can bring you some unlovable this or that Zakhar great [Music] the slingshot euro and a dog that's Lieutenant Dan welcome to the [ __ ] show

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