SDTM Episode 65: Top 10 Pinball Ramps

Straight Down the Middle·video·26m 23s·analyzed·Jul 1, 2018

Analysis

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TL;DR

SDTM ranks top 10 pinball ramps across classic and modern games.

Summary

Zach Sharp and Greg Bone host a casual Top 10 Ramps episode of Straight Down the Middle, ranking iconic pinball ramps from games like Whitewater (#1), Tales of the Arabian Nights (#2), and Pinball Arcade (#3). The hosts discuss ramp design philosophy, mechanical features, and highlight legendary designers like Dennis Nordman, John Borg, and George Gomez, while acknowledging that ramp rankings are subjective and will vary by player.

Key Claims

Whitewater has the best ramp system in pinball history
medium confidence · Hosts debate between multiple ramps in Whitewater and ultimately declare it #1, though they note some could argue Tales of the Arabian Nights or other games deserve the ranking
Ghostbusters Premium Edition features a ramp that goes under the playfield, a first in pinball design
medium confidence · Greg claims 'It's a ramp that goes under the playfield, which is the first time it's been done' but immediately qualifies the uniqueness
Dennis Nordman is the 'ramp king' among pinball designers
medium confidence · Hosts tally designer appearances: Nordman appears in positions 1, 6, and multiple times across the list, leading conclusion that he dominates ramp design
Star Trek's warp ramp has perfect geometry and is one of Steve Ritchie's best designs
medium confidence · Hosts praise the warp ramp as 'sweet,' 'fast,' and positioned perfectly, claiming it's the most memorable feature of the game
Godzilla (Sega) has the largest ramp in pinball history as a single piece
medium confidence · Hosts identify Godzilla as having the largest ramp, noting it's 'one long' piece approximately 'about two' (units unspecified) in size

Notable Quotes

“I'm passionate about my ramps. That's why we're doing the top ten list.”
Zach Sharp@ 7:04 — Establishes the personal motivation for the episode topic; shows host enthusiasm for ramp mechanics
“The ramps themselves are really cool. I enjoy it. It throws that ball right back. It's like an arrow, and it's satisfying to shoot.”
Greg Bone@ 3:41 — Articulates the emotional/tactile appeal of well-designed ramps beyond pure mechanics
“Forget about it. It's all really the number one ramp system in pinball, designed by Dennis Nordman back in the 90s.”
Zach Sharp@ 17:54 — Final verdict on Whitewater; credits Dennis Nordman as ramp king designer
“We want to see some innovation in ramps, guys. John Borg does his games... nothing bad about them, but we want to see some innovation in ramps.”
Greg Bone@ 18:20 — Community feedback signal: desire for ramp innovation in modern Stern games beyond solid execution
“There's nothing special about this ramp. It's been done many times before, but it's not been done this well. Yes, what is number four? Star Trek.”
Zach Sharp@ 12:13 — Frames design philosophy: execution and placement matter as much as novelty
“The only reason I rebuy pinball is hitting that warp ramp. That warp ramp is awesome. I love it.”
Zach Sharp@ 13:50 — Demonstrates impact of signature ramp design on player retention and game value

Entities

Zach SharppersonGreg Boneperson Dennis Nordmanperson John Borgperson George Gomezperson Steve Ritchieperson John Papadukeperson

Signals

?
community_signal: Podcast format expanding to include audio-only podcast version; significant unexpected demand for non-visual listening format during car travel
high · Hosts note 'huge demand' for audio podcast version via iTunes; multiple mentions of people listening during car drives; hosts recommend five-star reviews for algorithm visibility
?
competitive_signal: Specific ramps function as signature shots that define gameplay meta and tournament strategy; Star Trek warp ramp cited as primary reason for machine selection
medium · Quote: 'The only reason I rebuy pinball is hitting that warp ramp' and discussion of consecutive warp shot scoring records
?
design_philosophy: Community desire for ramp innovation in modern Stern games; Greg signals frustration with current generation lacking novelty despite solid execution
high · Quote: 'We want to see some innovation in ramps, guys... nothing bad about them, but we want to see some innovation in ramps'
?
design_philosophy: Ramp design represents core emotional/tactile appeal of pinball beyond pure scoring mechanics; hosts emphasize 'feel' and player satisfaction
high · Multiple references to ramps feeling 'smooth,' 'fluid,' 'satisfying,' with hosts noting these qualities drive gameplay enjoyment and machine repurchase decisions
?
design_philosophy: Hosts emphasize that ramp execution (smoothness, geometry, repeatability) matters as much or more than mechanical novelty; Star Trek ranked #4 explicitly for 'not being special' but 'being done well'

Topics

Ramp design mechanics and engineeringprimaryLegendary pinball designers (Dennis Nordman, George Gomez, John Borg, Steve Ritchie)primaryTop 10 list methodology and subjectivity of rankingsprimaryModern vs. classic pinball design philosophysecondaryCall to action for podcast reviews and social media engagementsecondaryPinball machine ownership and collector prioritiesmentioned

Sentiment

positive(0.78)— Hosts are enthusiastic and celebratory of ramp design across all ranked games. While they identify worst ramps (Iron Maiden, Johnny Mnemonic), the overall tone is appreciative of engineering craft and design innovation. Mild criticism of modern Stern games for lack of innovation is constructive rather than hostile.

Transcript

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had a fling way the slingshot euro and a dog [Applause] [Music] ladies and gentlemen thanks for tuning in again - straight down the middle of pinball show I'm your host Zach and this is your host Greg Greg I love seeing you today buddy me too desin like me or you love seeing you or me did you were you amped up to come over to the old Casa de Zak yeah hang out in the echo chamber here a little bit really yeah you Radle believe was a good ya know soon as I get some murmurs he's like all right I gotta go it hearing like an hour all right what are we doing today Gregory top 10 top 10 another top 10 up - okay are we gonna be wrong yeah most likely our opinion will vary from the opinions of others yeah the opinion is straight down the middle may not coincide with your opinion so chill out and enjoy the show we should have a disclaimer on every beginning chill out and enjoy the show chill out and enjoy the show I agree all right so we're gonna do top ten ramps yes now that's kind of weird who ranks rings the ramps should be ranked because rent every ramps can be a big part and there are certain ramps that kind of grab your attention and kjq kind of like that's kind of neat yeah whether it's the way that the ball flows up or the wall bad way the ball flows down oh okay gimmicks to them I didn't know you were such a ramp connoisseur I am there is somewhere right now this Scott Denis he's got a single tear rolling down his face I'm just I watch all your episodes guys but I'm skipping this way the sad thing is I talked to him this weekend and I'm pretty sure he doesn't watch you sure he doesn't watch each other it's okay so let's start off let's start off hit the ground running number 10 best ramp in pinball is Lord of the Rings now not not pet right ramp and the sinner ones okay but I'm talking about that slingshot that left slingshot really that's really cool I enjoy it it throws that ball right back it's like an arrow and it's it's satisfying to shoot - yes feels good to hit it is it as very quick similar to Star Wars premium that didn't make our list spoiler alert yes but that for cramped for the death star shot is that's very it's tight and feels good yeah so very much like Lord of the Rings slingshot ramped back well now sometimes they'll slingshot the damn thing right now the SHA here good man it's it's so fast it's a lot of fun so that's number 10 okay I'll let you share I'll share with you it's a clone man number 9 what's number 9 Ghostbuster Oh nobody wants that premium okay nobody wants that though yeah why not because nobody likes that game you cannot like that game but you can't deny that a ramp that goes under the play field not a subway not a subway no you could you could you could say it's a subway but it's not a subway because it's not transporting the ball from a scoop or somewhere it is the ramp it just literally goes under the thumb it goes under the play field and back up it's no different than a ramp going behind the play field absolutely it's a ramp that goes under the play field which is the first time it's been done yes that I know and it's actually fantastic because it's smooth mm-hmm it's exciting you don't know where your ball went and it is if it goes it's like a roller coaster yeah it starts out high and then it really drops and comes back up it chuckles up so that is cool I did too I you know I don't think that that I don't think most people think of that I think that this one will be one of the biggest shockers on the day of people don't like but what you do think about it that's really cool you'll understand that's a really cool really is say what you want about the game but actually think I should be higher I kind of like it oh yeah could you put I would have argued for it to be a little higher on the list okay let's move to number eight number eight best ramp and pinball is now this is weird but we'll explain it's the walking dead yeah now the walking dead has two main ramps yes the one on the premium left is not that's probably a worst we'll talk about that in a minute that's a worse with the live yeah that's were lots of rejections but for both the pro the premium the le that right ramp grig it starts out damn near by your flipper yes and it coasts all the way up all the way 3d effects all the way back behind the backbox and it comes back and then it's got a little hill in it yes in the hill is magical it's really smooth like I know that sounds so stupid but that hill will grab your eye every time it does use a little bobble again yeah it's just like like what you're talking about but the little roller coaster because it's so smooth and it's just it's fluid what I love about the ramp is just that like you said fluid yes right when you hit it there's no guarantee it's going it's going all the way around you start to go oh boy you think it's gone that's right and it comes back to you it's such a long ring it is it's a long ramp so I really like that even I'll give a I'll give a shout-out to the walking dead pro as well that left to ramp it looks good on hundred miles an hour yes and it never flies off on that brothers on those walking dead and ramps are some of the best ramps I think they are because they're like you said the smoothness and the fluidity this doesn't sound that exciting like you you can sit here and watch this and you can be like your point about how important how good they feel yeah I told you passionate about my ramps that's your that's why we're doing the top ten list all right so that's the walking dead there's only so many top ten legs you can make an there's only so many ramps that are really that unique we went through the top 100 and we were like alright till we got Star Trek we got a CD sales are pretty plain we think about the suppose your game the party zone does that make it that's cool just got the twirl image it's okay so we're gonna go to ten nine eight seven now seven has a caveat I feel like yes I agree so seven is the shadow the shadow knows and we were torn on this yeah because the ramps themselves or they that special are they that special but there's four there are no there's two and but you know okay so a shot I'll interject this in a minute so we were toying around is the DES burger a toy or is it part of the ramp to me of is part of the ramp okay you have railroad tracks it diverts from one track to another it's still railroads yet still the railroad track that's a good arm that's what you look at it as a good argument so we considered the shadow to be a cool rim but not only and this is this is your baby suddenly you're not talking about this I don't know why I'm doing this this is a point your favorite games your point today look at you you fired up from the neighborhood there's some disputes with my neighbors it ended in Greg screaming profanities with his shirt all I kept my yelling at nature I kept my cool because they were too loud I kept my cool I kept my cool this is a whole nother stuff you're such an old mates contact me in person it's a terrible [ __ ] your boy were you doing that to them to keep the fingers listen keep the finger under control it's 2:00 in the morning ah sorry oh my god what the ramps themselves do you know they're quick tight steep little rate they're killer they're an odd ramp even without the version they are super don't kick your ass yeah I don't hit that right it came back at you straight down the money you grew though I mean they're very unique without the diverters yeah cuz I get the wire forms and stuff that's a good feeling it's a good feeling ramp yeah plus they even the diverters kind of puts it over the top it makes them different than any ramp and pinball they're not super smooth not in that aspect I've never talked about about previews they're steep dude there's yeah that's why I'm saying they're steep they're like they're they're the bins yeah I'm out of there very it's short yeah it's a neat it's different okay amateur tip here while we're talking about the shadow ramps the left ramp when diverted to the right has a switch there just be careful that that switch is adjusted correctly and that the Habitrail is adjusted correctly because sometimes you won't get a very smooth head and it'll sit there on that Habitrail and cause your problem so chips ba exec committee I'd say they're pro tips but I am no pro all right 10987 number six is a game that neither of us if owned and neither of us have got a lot of time on very true but one that we both respect and like yes because it stands out that's right and that's scared stiff the bony b-string yes and I don't think it's good there's particularly anything super special about the ramp it's got a big old snake well I'm saying some cool little Bendis it's got a few but this snake ain't it's a satisfying room yes it's an easy good shooting ramp that can be repeated if you ask somebody about scared stiff well what do you remember what stands out the bony based ramp exactly that's 100 percent yeah we need to get some more time on spirits - I agree I really like it - all right let's move on to number five number five is a tricky one number five is one that probably nobody would guess and to be into a top ten yeah that's circus Voltaire a circus Voltaire only has one ramp yes but what I like about it is it's in a good position good position and it does that you've got two options it'll go up top if it continues onward it's going to come under a neon a neon light yes which is really beautiful yes and it also has a magnet up top what ramp do you know that's got a magnet up top of it that can divert the ball to a wire form that holds it for a lock yeah nothing really that's really cool you know a lot of war bits and stuff with that but yeah yeah yeah and another reason why Circus Voltaire belongs in the top ten Rams list is because just the structure of that ramp fits the essence of that game yeah if you if you look the whole layout is is behind that rare you know beside that ramp it really flows nicely even the artwork has that swea that arch in it there's just something major about that yeah like on the backbox where you shoot that ball up still get that same arc great there's a lot of form in John Papa dude games I hate saying that because he's kind of the the the troll of pinball they're unique they stand out yeah number four number four there's nothing I repeat nothing special about this ramp it's been done many times before but it's not been done this well yes what is number four star track star tracks turn turn Sarge because we don't talk about next generation on this I do I still enjoy it but it's the warp ramp yes so the ritchie ramps there's nothing special really about Richie right now right you can backhand them that's just cool but they don't feel particularly great all the time they're smooth a lot more smoother smooth but the war brand my friend that is sweet so fast it's in a perfect spot that makes it difficult yes but still smooth yes and it lays itself back down for a repeatable shot yes geometry is perfect on it yes and as lights on the premium le that follow the ball on that ramp it's pretty spectacular can you get better than that no we've got a couple really oh my god you know this fun what's your what's your is the most one of the most memorable things about Star Trek especially when it came out even today is hitting that war plan Oh in the kollel warp 1 yes - yes warp 3 it is what's your what is your your record for consecutive warp I'm sorry many like 6 that's good yeah mine 7 horse but yeah 7 6 that's good most of the time I hit 2 to 3 on a decent mm-hmm it's still tough shot every single time I by Star Trek Stern again mm-hmm it's not because the code it's not because the looks it's not anything but that warp ramp I should you not really that's the only reason I rebuy I don't know that's was shot some pinball oh I agree it's awesome I love it moving on to number three number three is a game again that I would like to review with you at some point in time but we haven't had enough to know see this one's a little rough for me as I am I kind of pushed in ladling twice when you look at a pinball machine and you see a big ass ramp blocking everything you think of one game in one game alone Creature from the Black Lagoon it's got the swirly McGee ramp with the lights around it like the the movie theater so then the the Marky Mark II if you will a lot of times are green sometimes they're yellow but it's really cool I don't know I'd like a lot of ramp intertwine features are not it's Annie it's a neat pen I think you buy that simple you think you buy that pain because of the theme the nostalgia they all outs the Duff everything but the gameplay cuz the gameplay is it's okay it's a classic it's some pins of that basic and when you buy basic games you don't want spend five six thousand dollars on a basic game right that's something keeps me from owning that so creep now that's a couple Trudeau games they are so Trudeau's got the ramps doesn't it we got a Gomez ramp we got a yeah we'll go through those in a minute number two I do let it go measuring up in yeah but wait till we get tour wursts alright number two best ramp in pinball is actually tales of the Arabian Nights yes because it's got two things on it's got a diverter so it's there's only tales of Arabian Nights there's only one ramp in the game yeah but you have to hit it there's a lot of exits you hit it hard enough and it goes all the way around and it gives a little swirly gig and then it comes right back to your right flipper yes that's a great feeling rent or if you're defeating genie diverter will pop up you have to hit it hard enough to go past the ramp and then it hits hooks into the the ring magnet again another satisfying shot and if you don't hit a hard enough there are two exits within that ramp that put it in two special spots one puts it into your lock ball shot and the other in the back by the pops yeah that's cool great there's a lot so people complain in there's only one ramp in the game but there's four different outcomes yes which is me it adds something to it and it is a solid ramp cuz you really have to hit it hard to get it going all the way around the DIF don't always need two ramps you don't sometimes one special ramp once fishes like Houdini like Houdini no no sorry guys sorry sorry Joey what is number one zag and I think this would be number one I don't think we got this wrong no we got right I think that this is this this one people do call really I think so okay some people could argue some thinks this this we were doing uh I was talking to Jeff and he was trying to jet from this weekend well he was trying to guess he said easily without they'll store print but then he said no it's uh it's whitewater yeah and I was like mood to like cuz he did you were quiet cuz you were good like I'm starting is like now she's really yeah it is whitewater the whitewater is the ramp game it is it's awesome basically what is yeah it's cool let's get a world so yeah which one we can argue that there are a couple ramps in that that are the coolest I agree which one would you say I like the I like the one that goes up the hills and down the hills taps the glass I love that I don't know if they meant to do that but taps a glass yes so yes taps the glass and then whirls around to your left flipper or there's the one that goes behind the the Yeti or not the Yeti the Bigfoot yeah and he comes around does the little world that still range is a pretty big shot in the game that's still real it's still around the wonder-percent so one could argue either either one of those or if you get past him then it can for the for the jackpot you can go down a little Canyon so I'm saying the basically the whole thing is right forget about it it's all really the number one ramp system in pinball whitewater designed by Dennis Nordman and designed or developed by Williams pinball back in the 90s one of my favorite games in the 90s had the ramps didn't they you 90s really babes a lot about ramps nowadays stern does your basic Borg does his basic you know ramps Metallica agreed already ins kind of base nothing bad about them but no that's bad but we want to see some innovation in ramps guys well and you take and moving on yeah on the things like you know we there's some honorable mentions there's some things that are actually kind of cool and I like my Sega's and stuff but Sega's have smoother and Sega's have smooth ramps x-files it has some neat ramps says the murders there's a like you said about how the balls can fall through the exits let's act in their very tight ramps so expose is actually got some of the better ramps I think another tough so I think it can make them a little shitty but it's like you said that's that's decent how did I know that you were gonna bring Sekou ramps come on lost world and okay speaking uh they're smooth they're super smooth they are but there's nothing super special but and they're windy it's forever and they're fast they're fun but speaking of seconds okay what is the you know this I know you know that all do I but just so the people out there that don't know what is the largest ramp well I know in pinball would you be a couple seconds is it the largest I guess it's the largest ramp yeah because I think it correct me if I'm wrong you you might not know this and walk into the Lord I've seen it pulled out it's not this one link it's one it's one glance it's all one people one everything is one piece exactly you guys have your answers yet it is seconds Godzilla exactly yes about two but then I was like my throat's not gonna let me do that cuz you've been yelling all night at your names in our a good friend of ulcer Joey be yeah yeah let's go through the designers here we got Jorge Gomez yes Trudeau yes Borg yeah the board got in there yeah Ryan Eddie yeah we've got step Nordmann we've got John Popadiuk yeah Steve Ritchie got in there and then we've got a Trudeau again then we've got John Popadiuk again and then we got a Nordmann again so can we say that a Nordmann might be the ramp came here to be the ramp King but it's nice to see the variety there is sometimes when you get into certain aspects and ends one designer will dominate that's true there's a little bit but they're still variety with North Bennet Norman one and two three four five six one in six John Papadiuk and Trudeau both had them in there but Nordmann is your king of ramps is what we're gonna say and speaking of a modern pin that is kind of cool mm what about the Maelstrom and if you want a covariant - a pirate ship what better that's kind of signature I mean there's a lot of things a lot of ways that we could win with it on I like the Maelstrom on Pirates of the Caribbean because it it goes past the Maelstrom hey but if you slow if it's too slow well no it goes past the Maelstrom to your left flipper but if that diverter comes out it makes it go into the or if you go too slow or if you go too slow it's a maelstrom it and the master goes into a subway which is cool yes so there's a lot of bad ramps there are better any-any in particular that you are not fond of I mean you like all ranch you like everything yeah what I enjoy this game quite a bit okay but it is some very very tough ramps oh that you will break we're taking the hell out of crap ramps not to three amps no I'm messing a tough there they're kind of crappy ramps okay hey Johnny pneumonic oh you're going you're gonna shave Johnny knew my hair rough that game was gonna blow the flow but damn those corners are so tight like if you do not have those those protectors on there yeah those ramps cracked and bust hell well our homie go me is not going to be my bad loving yeah your big Jorge Gomez say you like shooting them clunky is that just like oh thank you shall speaking of Jorge Gomez rants this is my favorite episode [ __ ] on Jorge Gomez ramps he made my top ten he made your talk to him so yes he's in there with a slingshot Rambo Boyle but we make some of my favorite games yeah that right ramp on Lord of the Rings something to the children cry over yeah you hear it the clunk down the street that clunk is louder than your neighbors behind you some loud clunk tidge there doesn't feel good no it don't like so you guys the side of the pinball machine as the ramp oh sorry George sorry George oh one of my least favorite yeah well you hate everything but I wanna know what you got and there's there's everybody else hates this game too so it's fine it's this one right here it's Iron Maiden that's right bring on the hay Iron Maiden has one wurst ramps in pinball history and that's that little stupid-ass middle jump ramp that goes to nothing and just hits a target no he runs me like a Hot Wheels ramp crud jump in my Hot Wheels at least those are smooth yeah cuz it's a ramp what do you think about like crossover ramp into nothing what do you think about like crossover ramps like like you know you have an x-men more of that I do too I think it's kind of neat even full throttle I'll give a heads up to full throttle by highway pinball that's a really cool ramp system how they do cross yeah they they go up and then they cross in the middle that's awesome almost like remember Hot Wheels when you had those the automatic cars yeah they hit in the middle Ross I'd like to see both agree yeah that would be cool in a multi Bowl wouldn't be cool like a demolition derby style theme where balls can intersect and hit I don't know if I'd do it demolition derby theme I'm just that's the first thing that came into my mind was thinking about I understood all right so that's those you can do Top Billing all right so that's our top 10 list is fun with that yeah I like it I like ramps are you that's my least favorite ramp total nuclear annihilation gonna got me even Greg likes my jokes yeah all right so what do these people need to know for next week next week I don't know what we've got coming on maybe another game review yeah mm another machine review um these people need to check out our twitch page check works really working hard on that and I don't know by now if we have another streamer but we've been talking to somebody join the SDTM stream team that's excessive like him that's exciting everybody else needs to check out our Facebook page yes as well as our YouTube page please share these videos that helps a lot and I can't stress enough I probably said this on every other video but go in and review our podcast pull the audio for these a lot of people still they're listening to it and we need a lot we do get a lot we get a lot more than what I thought we've met a lot of people at the recent uh southern-fried and a lot of people told me yeah I listened to it in the car ride yeah cuz we had a huge demand and then we were so hesitant about pulling it and being alone with that sometimes that makes sense yeah yeah because we're lost is visual with our pictures and everything else but it's been a huge success absolutely so please go to iTunes and review that give us five stars review it for us so that we get bumped up that list and get more recognition so that you guys can share with your friends as well great all right until next week Greg this is uh this is Zach and Greg from straight down the middle of pinball show tell these people goodbye goodbye folks [Music] spray tan are you for real have you've read a spray tan yeah leakage yeah Trump you were all in Japan [ __ ] were you more biloba or more Trumpy