Table Hockey Heaven

johnbenej

There is this wide disparity amongst players and collectors alike of what exactly is a "Classic" table hockey game.

Is the criteria the players a certain model uses (flat) or is it the slot pattern? Is it the first year of its manufacture that makes a game a classic--like cars, for example.

What about the ages of the people who play the game--does that make the game they play a classic game; i.e. "it is the game they grew up playing?"

The banana blade players are not flat--yet the games they were a part of, the Eagle 5340, is considered by many a classic game. Is it the name of the manufacturer of the specific model the criteria that makes it classic?

For me, the date when the slot pattern was invented and first manufactured determines whether or not a table hockey game is a classic or not. That is the first element.
Second is a bit more vague . . . . . I look at the players on the board and if they are made in such a way where they are singularly unique to a certain era of table hockey history--like the Eagle metal players with the plastic sticks (early 1960's), or the banana blades ( early 1970's) then they are forever attached to that era and must be considered classic.

colecojohnny@yahoo.com

sklump · Posted: Wed Sep 12, 2007 3:55 am Post subject:

How's this for a working definition: if it's not available in any store new, it's a classic. Smile

Steve Dowell · Posted: Wed Sep 12, 2007 8:25 am Post subject: What constitutes a classic game?

Some of us players are old enough to be labled as classic games!

bluecollardan · CTHA Ont/Maritimes Rep Joined: 22 Jan 2007 Posts: 134

Jim Rzonca · Posted: Wed Sep 12, 2007 11:35 am Post subject:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Classic_car

Jim Rzonca · Posted: Wed Sep 12, 2007 11:40 am Post subject:

http://www.answers.com/topic/classic?cat=technology

Jim Rzonca · Posted: Wed Sep 12, 2007 11:45 am Post subject:

I suppose one could review this and the 2 others i posted in detail and then come to grips.

>>>>> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Retrogaming <<<<<

Be Literal
Jim Rzonca

PensFan · Posted: Wed Sep 12, 2007 12:30 pm Post subject:

a classic game is one in which your down 3-0 with a minute to play, come back to tie it then win in double ot 4-3. Man that was a classic game we played last night !
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Jim Rzonca · Posted: Wed Sep 12, 2007 12:38 pm Post subject:

Yes Mr. Penguin. That IS a Classic game!

Jim Rzonca

Eddie_TH_really_Pierre · Rookie Joined: 20 Jan 2007 Posts: 47

Oh. I thought classic games were games that had Dick Gamble on top of them.

Anyone know WTH is Dick Gamble? Anyways, he's a little older than Dick Clark!

Cowboy · Posted: Wed Sep 12, 2007 7:26 pm Post subject:

PC_Gone _Crazy · Veteran Joined: 27 Apr 2007 Posts: 289

bluecollardan · CTHA Ont/Maritimes Rep Joined: 22 Jan 2007 Posts: 134

Mr Bob 71 · Posted: Thu Sep 13, 2007 9:45 am Post subject:

a classic game was at northlands coliseum that i attended...i cant remember the year...but the final score was...what a classic...

edmonton 13 vancouver 0...

mrbob71...ETHL...centennial here we come woooo... Flex

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PC_Gone _Crazy · Veteran Joined: 27 Apr 2007 Posts: 289

johnbenej · Posted: Thu Sep 13, 2007 3:37 pm Post subject: Thanks Guys!

To all the folks who purposely went off topic (the topic was clearly delineated in the opening message) could you please explain to me what need of yours was being served by going off topic and screwing up the discussion? For every act, no matter how insane, there is a need crying to be met. Could you let everyone on the board know about yours?

I guess not everyone in the TH community likes to cooperate.

To all the folks who stayed on topic, like Klump-er and Warren, and Dowell---thanks guys. I apologize for all the people who did not cooperate.

colecojohnny@yahoo.com

Jim Rzonca · Posted: Thu Sep 13, 2007 4:24 pm Post subject:

Hi John. I think they were just havin some sarcastic Fun on a Sunny Day. Angel

It did not get spammed or Carlo'd on. Were with you man.

Classic is a little vague. Its not something that can be pinned down completly. I think its best left up to collectors in their various catagories {cars, toys, games ect..} to determine what and why something is considered a Classic.

Im sorry but if you looked at some of the wikipedia stuff i posted you then see Classic anything varies. Did you look thru it?

I would take a Collectors point of view as a good gauge and then go from there. Steve? Jeff? Are you guys out here? Any other guys out here that are mainly collectors only? I would like to hear what you view as a Classic Table Hockey game. What is a Classic Table Hockey game and WHY from a Collectors point of view.

Jim Rzonca

Jefman · Veteran Joined: 19 Jan 2007 Posts: 198

A classic is well a classic. Lets take cars. Steve G would call some of his favorite Corvette models as a classic. I might say some of the late 60's Camero's or Chevelle's are classics. Guys who like Mopar might say an old Barracuda,Charger or Challenger might fit the bill. Heck I know guys who collected and restored old VW micro buses complete with the underpowered 1200 cc engine. A classic earns its stripes by surviving the test of time. For table hockey afficianados the games offered many hours of enjoyment like those classic cars. Back when I played I was a big fan of the 1967 Eagle 5200 which is like a Coleco 5385. So thats a favorite and probably a classic based on how it became the game played in the legendary CTHL. But I like the 1960 National, 1962 Official, 1963 Stanley and the 1966 Finals because I collect old games and have educated myself about them by speaking and trading information with others. I guess those games are cool because they were all different kind of like the old arenas of the original six. Back then there was nothing cookie cutter going on...for both NHL arenas and table hockey games. But thats just an opinion.

bluecollardan · CTHA Ont/Maritimes Rep Joined: 22 Jan 2007 Posts: 134

bluecollardan · CTHA Ont/Maritimes Rep Joined: 22 Jan 2007 Posts: 134

Jim Rzonca · Posted: Thu Sep 13, 2007 6:28 pm Post subject:

Id say most the guys in Chicago do not discriminate Dan. We had sucessful BOS, Coleco and Stiga events here. Munro will be included next U.S. Open if Dwayne wants it. Classic i think is something from a long gone era in construction and style. Sure hope no one is sucking the fun out of it for you. Were havin a gas!

Jeff ~ Please put a aproxamate year and game types you a collector views as Classic. Whats the year you would draw the dividing line seperating the modern to the Classic?

Jim Rzonca

Jefman · Veteran Joined: 19 Jan 2007 Posts: 198

Jim: I think when it comes to classic it matters what age you are. As you age you become more experienced because you have seen and experienced more. I guess the saying "Respect your elders" applies. Therefore say someone in their 40's like us can harken back to the days of table hockey games made from metal and masonite and steel. Lots of guys like the 5340 game as it basically was the deluxe game that Coleco manufactured in the 1970's heavy on the plastic with less emphasis on multi slot patterned games. I mean by the mid 70's Coleco stopped making the 5200/5385 pattern game and placed all emphasis on three slot patterns: Stanley Cup,Power Play and the short Power Play. For us Eagle afficianados the stationary (Pro),semi stationary (Playmaker),National...a remarkable game that was expensive and labor intensive to manufacture, old Official,Hockey Night in Canada, Big Lip Stanley Cup circa 1963-65 were out of existence. They survived the test of time because they were so well made. Classic is defined by excellent workmanship, resilient materials, familiarity amongst many and a profile that exudes longevity and permanence. Sure I would like to see Stiga make multi slot patterened games. But table hockey took the wrong turn at one time out of the sporting goods department and into the toy department. I'm not saying the games are in either department now. Seems like the hobby is in between. Foosball and air hockey get more respect being in the sporting goods department. My answer is get the NHL to solicit a major manufacturer like Stiga,Brunswick, etc and put NHL endorsement on a larger say 26 X 60 game to capture true hockey to scale as a real type table sport like pool or billiards. Mandate that no "broomstick like" handles be crafted. in other words build a Benej type game on a mass scale with a bit larger goal nets and pucks than the Benej...a gear driven game (seems to be more popular, persoally I like both) interchangeable ice sheets (brilliant move by Stiga) realistic 3-d players (sorry Rick) bit larger than Stiga more like Gretzky size to suit the 24X 60, perhaps a very tall 8 sided gondola that could serve as a puck dropper, electronic score keeper, timer, etc, use high grade space age plastics and carbon fiber for lightness,strength,reduced cost and portability to store the game. All are important factors to make a modern game that could be deemed a classic in another 45 years like a 62 HNIC.

Jim Rzonca · Posted: Thu Sep 13, 2007 9:32 pm Post subject:

I agree Jeff. A Classic situation for any person is relitave to that persons age. So for me i was born in 1960. Givin that birth year i look back starting from 67 when i started with the 1967 S slotted Eagle Toys insterment i experianced up to nowadays and i see a line drawn the day the CHEXX was born while COLECO slowed then STOPED making Table Hockey games. That Chexx was the birth of a space aged new era Table Hockey game. When that game came out i was floored! INCREDABLE. What a RUSH after many years of playing small Eagle/Coleco S sloted games. After that BIG games like the CHEXX knockoff Carrom, and a Benej, Artizan, Men of Steel and others. Exactly what year did Chexx hit the scene? For me that was the the beginning of something Fantastic but the end of the ole time table hockey era.

How old are you? Where do you draw the line________

This Feelin Old Feelin is starting to set in......

We only live once and i aint happy about it!!

Jim Rzonca

Steve Dowell · Posted: Thu Sep 13, 2007 11:22 pm Post subject: Classic games

Right on Jim. I believe the definition of a classic game is one that was popular and has stood the test of time in popularity and durability. The Hockey Night In Canada is definately a classic. The Eagle 1962 (can't think of the name right now but, it's the one where the defensemen crossed over center ice), is another and for me personally, the Coleco 5340's and Coleco Trophy Model games are classics. I'd also have to place the upscale Munro Canadian in there too. Smile

johnbenej · Posted: Sun Sep 16, 2007 12:23 pm Post subject:

Dan--let me answer your questions.

First off, I am not asking the question to draw lines in the sand between classic and modern. I love the stiga game just as much as I do any other game that I play. I've been to about 8 tournaments in two years on the stiga--but then you don't know that. Well, now you do.

Second: I have been asked by the ACTHF to become involved in their organization. In a recent conversation I had with the head of the ACTHF, the question was asked: What is a classic game for the purposes of the ACTHF?

One of the purposes of this board is to involve all the folks who play Table Hockey in discussions regarding the sport of table hockey. The issue of "classic" table hockey is a perfectly legitimate issue to discuss on a site called Table Hockey Heaven. Usually, guys put their two cents in and add to the discussion. Sometimes guy just get off topic and then all of sudden the discussion is ended--arbitrarily ended. Why should you have an issue with a person trying to get the topic back on track? Exactly what are your credentials for determining how a topic I brought up should be discussed? Are you kidding me? Never have I said or even hinted that one game is superior to the other--your defensiveness regarding the "modern" games is all of your own creation.

Third: The Table Hockey Heaven site, as far I know, is for discussion and debate--not for arguments or pissing contests. That is what the Private Message option is for. My message regarding those folks who went off topic was made necessary by the failure of some folks to stick to the topic at hand. The only reason I posted it was because I had to due to some folks hijacking the thread, a thread I might add, many ACTHF folks and others consider a most relevant topic. If you want to take shots at me, send me a Private Message. Little snipes like thanking Jim for his tournament turnout, in the aftermath of mine, is so infantile and pathetic that you look silly. Let me assure you that I am bulletproof when it comes to what others think of me. I have never cared and never will. Very Happy

I look forward to seeing you in Montreal or maybe Gatineau if I can arrange some things. Grudges are not my style and I hope we can have a conversation that will set whatever grievance you may have about me straight. Cool

colecojohnny@yahoo.com
On this we can agree: Jim Rzonca and Eric Kroll had more successful tournaments than the NY event! Bravo Jim and Eric! Cheers