Pinball machines are the best! F14 Tomcat during 5 ball multiball run is a drug experience. Altered mind/reality. The history of them is cool too. Pac-man is cool. You can eat special things that allow you to destroy the ghosts that haunt you. Neat.
I guess you're from the UK area? France had a special relationship with pinball. They imported a ton of machines. I can see how that might have filtered up. I have been able to play some of the oldest ones. Real simple layouts and no electronics. Then I have run into guys that got into refurbing machines. There is a big pinball gathering in TX every year. Lots of machines on display, for play, and for sale. Not enough reason to be in TX for my personal taste, but a pinball fan might want to give it a shot.