Pinball ratings and what they mean Ted Estes, August 1991 _Pinball_Trader_ Reprinted by permission A+ The game is brand new. If it's still in the box, I'll note it as "nib" for "new in box." Otherwise, it's had a couple hundred plays, at most. A The game is almost new. It probably was a demo on some distributor's showroom floor. Some ball marks are evident in the ball lanes, but no playfield paint has worn. This game will probably clean up as good as new. The cabinet should have no more than a nick or two. A- The game is starting to show wear. Significant wear is showing on the playfield, but no wood is showing. B+ The playfield is STARTING to show wood where the paint is worn. Some screening over playfield insert lenses may start to show wear. B The game is slightly more worn than a B+ game. Clear ramps will show some cloudiness. A plastic piece or two may be cracked (but not missing.) B- This is the lowest value possible for what I consider a "collectible" game. There are no more than two spots of wood showing, and none is larger than a dime. Slight damage may be present on the cabinet-- some nicks or small scratches. C+ The playfield is very worn. Halos of missing paint are present around the insert lenses. The backglass is very good, with no scratches or peeling paint. The cabinet may show some significant wear. C This is an average game at the end of its life on a route. The backglass may have a scratch or two, or the paint may be starting to lift, but the paint is all there. The playfield still has major portions of the artwork present. C- The game has some significant cosmetic problem. the backglass may have started to peel badly, the cabinet may be badly damaged, playfield plastics may be broken, etc. D+ Major portions of the playfield are worn or damaged. The backglass may be OK for use in another game. D This is one tired dog of a game. Playfield, glass, and cabinet are very word or damaged. D- This game is pretty much hopeless, except as a parts machine. It may work, but playfield and glass are so badly damaged and/or worn that it's an eyesore. Several playfield plastics may be broken or missing. F I have never given a pinball a failing grade. My feeling is that, as long as it's a pinball, it doesn't deserve an "F." If I happened to come across a game with a large hole burned through the playfield, I'd probably have to give it an "F."