pinball

Welcome to STARWORLD 78

04/04/2016 By ausretrogamer

For those of you that don’t remember, once upon a time Atari was the king of video games, not just in the home with their Atari VCS/2600, but also in the amusement parlours. Atari was so diversified, they even got into making pinball machines!

To get an understanding of just how huge the Sunnyvale company was, at the 1978 Amusement and Music Operators Association (AMOA) trade show, Atari had a massive exhibit titled Starworld ’78, showcasing their latest wares to wow the industry (and scare the pants off their competitors)!

The “Starworld” theme was chosen by Atari to preview their new games, which they cleverly dubbed as the “Stars” of the 1978 AMOA show. Previewed pinball machines included Space Riders, the colossal Hercules and the double playfield extravaganza of Middle Earth. In the video gaming stakes, their new 2-player space duel game, Orbit and the 3-games-in-one version of Breakout (very smartly titled) Super Breakout were gaining a lot of attention. Also taking centre stage at Starworld ’78 were: Sprint 2, Sit Down Night Driver, Starship, Smokey Joe, Fire Truck, UFO and the unique dual monitor submarine strategy game, Subs. If that wasn’t enough, Atari also had their service technicians on hand to demonstrate the latest test equipment to show off to operators.

And what is a trade show without prizes? Atari was promoting their ‘Starworld Sweepstakes’, a first at the AMOA trade show. Prizes included a Super Breakout machine, a Sony Betamax video tape recorder, a colour TV, a set of leather luggage and a Sony 5” Swivel-vision TV. There were also minor prizes awarded by Atari in their sweepstakes, including Seiko pocket digital alarms and Seiko desk clocks! Whoa, if only we had attended the 1978 AMOA trade show!

source: The Arcade Flyer Archive

Melbourne Silverball League: Get Flippin

31/03/2016 By ausretrogamer

Attention all you pinball loving peeps, April 1 2016 will mark the commencement of the new Melbourne Silverball League monthly pinball tournament. This new tournament will be based on a selfie format, but more on that later! No, this is no April Fools’ Day joke, this is for real!

After his recent US trip to Arcade Expo 2.0 competing in the It Never Drains In Southern California pinball tournament, Martin Robbins was inspired to set up a similar qualifying and competition format here in Melbourne, hence the Melbourne Silverball League (MSL) was born. The first selfie competition in Melbourne will be at Bartronica in Flinders Lane. This is how the MSL pinball competition format will work:

Each month there will be particular pinball machines at Bartronica selected for qualifying – for the month of April the machines will be: Creature from the Black Lagoon, Party Zone, Addams Family, Goldeneye 007 and Pin*Bot. Play on each of these machines and take a photo of your score. You can either upload your picture via the tournament location at Matchplay.Events or post it to the Melbourne Silverball League (MSL) Facebook page. One of the MSL scorekeepers will review your photo and then submit your score. Your ranking on each machine will be worth more points the higher up you are to give you a combined overall ranking (based on the PAPA format i.e.: 100 points for the top score, then 90 for 2nd, 85 for 3rd and so on). The combined scores of the top 16 ranked players will qualify for the playoff (which is on the first Sunday of the following month).

To ensure your score submission goes smoothly, your selfie should have your face and the score to help the MSL scorekeepers validate your submission. Some patience might be needed where certain machines take a while to scroll through credits to get back to your score.

If we have lost you so far, here are the TL;DR (that’s Too Long;Didn’t Read) notes:

Register your participation at the MSL Facebook page;
play pinball at Bartronica;
upload pictures to MSL Facebook page of your awesome scores;
check the MSL Facebook page to see how you are ranking for that month;
get in to the top 16 players to qualify for the monthly head to head comp to determine the overall winner.

It is that easy! So what are you waiting for? Go and register now and then hit Bartronica during the month of April to rack up your high score!

Martin Robbins – the brains behind the Melbourne Silverball League

Shane Rubans getting some testing done at Bartronica
source: Melbourne Silverball League

40th Anniversary “He Called The Shot” Painting featuring Roger Sharpe

23/03/2016 By ausretrogamer

RogerSharpe_Pinball_Title Grab yourself a slice of pinball history and make a difference to children with special needs and autism spectrum disorders.

It has been forty years since Roger Sharpe “called the shot” in front of the the New York City council, overturning the 34 year ban on pinball! Available until March 25th, and commemorating this moment in history, is a Limited Edition Giclee (150 prints), personally signed by Roger. When you get one of these Limited Edition prints, your donation goes directly to Pinball EDU Charity.

You can have a piece of pinball history hanging in your arcade, games room or conference room!

Roger Sharpe – Calling the shot!
RogerSharpe_Pinball

“That shot” immortalized in a limited edition print
RogerSharpe_Pinball_Painting source: IFPA

Flippin Out: Ghostbusters Pinball

11/03/2016 By ausretrogamer

When it comes to big-licenses in the pinball world, Stern definitely know how to grab you by the steel balls! Joining their stable of recent big hits like The Walking Dead and Game Of Thrones is Ghostbusters Pinball.

The timing of Ghostbusters Pinball coincides with the release of the trailer for the upcoming reboot, but don’t read too much into that, as Stern’s Ghostbusters is based on the classic pair of films from the 80s, with Bill Murray, the Ecto-1, Stay Puft Marshmallow Man and of course, Slimer all making their ghoulish way onto the playfield.

There are plenty of ramps, toys, lighting, speech and motorized effects to scare the pants off you while you rid New York City of ghostly apparitions. To get you right into the mood, Ray Parker Jr belts out the Ghostbusters theme. “If there’s something strange, in your neighborhood, who ya gonna call? GHOSTBUSTERS!”

For more deets on Stern’s Ghostbusters Pinball, go here.

Are you a Pro Ghostbuster?

Or are you a Premium Ghostbuster?

Aha, you wanna be a limited edition Ghostbuster!

Oh la la!

Flip those ghosts!

Watch out for Stay Puft Marshmallow Man!

Don’t get slimed!

Return your library books before they are due!

I ain’t afraid of no ghosts!
image source: Stern Pinball Inc.

Pinball Machines: How They Work and Troubleshooting

28/02/2016 By ausretrogamer

There is an old adage that if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. If only every machine in life ran perfectly, then we would never have to service our car or have stuck flippers on our favourite pinball table. With any amusement machine, be it arcade or pinball, it is not a matter of if, but when it breaks down, will you know how to diagnose, troubleshoot and repair it yourself?

If you have always wanted to own a pinball machine but were daunted by the expense of servicing such a beast, then Norbert Snicer’s Pinball Machines – How They Work and Troubleshooting course is the training you have been looking for. Norbert’s course provides you the techniques to diagnose and troubleshoot (quickly and methodically) any pinball machine problem.

Class is in session
Pinball_course_ClassIsINSession

Having almost no experience in fixing or troubleshooting pinball machines, I attended the recent course held in Melbourne with an open mind and the hope that I would learn something, no matter how trivial. I can attest that the content presented was easily understood, even for a noob like myself. The hands-on approach and Norbert’s inclusive style of teaching made it a breeze in grasping and understanding the subject matter. Norbert’s 30-plus years of experience in the industry has given him a myriad of real life examples to draw from and pass on to his students. There was no stone left unturned when it came to discussing problems that could occur on a pinball machine.

Does this intimidate you?
Pinball_course_The_Tables

Lots of hands-on (under playfield) action!
Pinball_course_Playfield

From all of the topics covered in the course, it was the compartmentalization of the playfield and back box which simplified the sections and parts of a pinball machine which was a light-bulb moment for me. This stroke of genius coupled with the easy-to-follow troubleshooting methods, ensured that you could pin-point problems without wasting too much time – which left more time to play pinball!

With my newly acquired knowledge, I can say that I am no longer intimidated by the underside of a pinball machines’ playfield nor its back box. Through his teaching, Norbert has given me the confidence to ‘pop the hood’ on any pinball machine and know my way around it. If you want to have the same experience as I did, then I would urge you to enrol in the course – it is totally worth it!

Since I had such a postive experience doing this course, I asked my fellow classmates what they thought of the Pinball Machines – How They Work and Troubleshooting course:

Lucas Bardin – “An amazing amount of ground covered in such a short time. Norbert Snicer is a Wizard under the playfield. His hands-on approach to pinball troubleshooting really makes you think about what you are doing and he also gives you the understanding of why things should be done in a certain way.”

Skott Kellett – “Just completed the Melbourne course and was blown away with the wealth of knowledge that Norbert provides and shares with his students. His troubleshooting tips will save even the experienced technicians hours of diagnosing time and hassles. I recommend the course to anyone interested in working on pinball machines, either at home or in the field. From beginners to experienced technicians, this course has something for everyone.”

Stuart Thornton – “Norbert offers a fantastic opportunity to get real hands-on learning on machines that are typically overwhelming, ranging from 90’s era to current technology. His approach is enjoyable and caters to the beginner and seasoned technicians alike. I loved every minute of the course and I think it has really set me up to be able to service my own pinball machines with confidence.”

Martin Robbins – “Having owned pinball machines for a few years I’ve always been hesitant to troubleshoot myself and have spent a lot of money sending them away for repairs. This course has given me the knowledge and confidence to solve most electrical and mechanical pinball problems and has already paid for itself. The program that Norbert has put together is not only very informative, it’s delivered in a way that shows that seemingly complex issues can be diagnosed through a logical structured process.”

Troubleshooting the Back Box
Pinball_course_BackBox

Thumbs-up for a great course!
Pinball_course_AlexBoz_giving_Thumbs-Up

Arcade Expo 2.0: Pinball Extravaganza

15/02/2016 By ausretrogamer

As we sit down with Martin Robbins over some home-baked banana almond muffins, we notice a glint of excitement in his eye. You see, Martin was recently in the US and attended Arcade Expo 2.0 at the Museum Of Pinball in Banning, California. This is part one of Martin’s experience at one of the biggest pinball and arcade machine expos in the US. Take it away Martin!

Wow, where does one even start with an event like Arcade Expo 2.0? When I decided to head over to the US for Arcade Expo 2.0, I went without any expectation other than to experience the event first hand and have fun for three days. I was looking forward to seeing pinball and arcade machines that I hadn’t seen or played in years. I was also excited to be participating in the ‘It Never Drains In Southern California‘ pinball tournament and to see the world’s best players like Keith Elwin and Karl DeAngelo in action. I was also looking forward to checking out new pinball reveals and wasn’t disappointed after seeing Keith and Randy Elwin’s Archer pinball whitewood demonstration. Let’s just say that Arcade Expo 2.0 didn’t disappoint.

Immortalised on the Arcade Expo 2.0 Signature Wall!

The big reveal, Keith an Randy Elwin’s Archer pinball whitewood!

Playing on the one of a kind

Upon arrival at the Museum Of Pinball, I was immediately struck by the enormity of it all. The vibe was great, even outside the venue was surrounded by food trucks, indie musicians and chiptune artists. Everyone who entered got to autograph a giant wall on the way in, and once inside you chose right for the arcade machines or left for the pinball tables. Of course I turned left. I was met by a glorious sight – rows and rows of pinball machines from the early 1960s through to modern tables, all assembled in order of manufacturer. There were pinball tables from Gottlieb, Williams, Bally, Atari, Game Plan, Zaccaria, Data East, Alvin G, Sega, Capcom, Midway, Spinball and Stern. Even though I had 3 days to enjoy, with over 550 machines to choose from I knew I had to be selective and focus on the machines I really wanted to play – I was not disappointed with what I found.

Glorious pinball!

A sight for sore eyes

Flippin action, old school style

What did surprise me was the number of extremely rare machines in great condition such as the two Joust machines that were side by side, an Atari Hercules and a row of Game Plan machines including my bucket list game Cyclopes – it lived up to expectations. Other rare games I managed to play were Spinball’s Verne’s World and Jolly Park which were loads of fun, Alvin G’s Pistol Poker and Al’s Garage Band Goes On a World Tour were also great! Special mention must go to Time Fantasy from Williams (1983), this machine has really strange but awesome art design including what I can only describe as an “Acid Snail” – look it up! To think that that majority of these machines were all from the private collection of one person, John Weeks, is just staggering. I also kept finding myself coming back to the Electro-Mechanical (EM) machines which were in fantastic condition. They really helped me fine tune my nudging skills and ultimately helped me with my ‘other’ reason for attending Arcade Expo 2.0.

Evel Knievel!

Seeing red

Electro-mechanical magic

Apart from immersing myself in this great expo, I was also there to compete in the Professional and Amateur Pinball Association (PAPA) Circuit Event: ‘It Never Drains In Southern California’ (INDISC). Having played a number of local pinball tournaments in Australia, I was looking forward to experiencing a tournament of this size. With a mix of modern and classic tables, ‘It Never Drains In Southern California’ was an awesome experience. I’ll admit I was a bit nervous as I had only decided to go over the week before and hadn’t researched the format of the tournament nor did I know the list of machines till I was due to fly out. When I arrived at the tournament area I was greeted by INDISC organisers Karl DeAngelo and Jim Belsito whom, with the help of software created by Karl, had created a very accessible format. There were 12 machines in the Modern Tournament including well known machines; The Walking Dead, Demolition Man, Dr Who, The Getaway and Lord of the Rings and some really unique and less often ones, including; Godzilla, Hoops, Twister, Laser War, Grand Lizard, Torpedo Alley and Waterworld! To make things more interesting, a lot of these machines had been made challenging by removing the rubbers on the outlanes and centre posts, as well as some additions to make certain shots harder like the massive rubber on the lock shot on Grand Lizard – only a precise shot would work. It was also great to see my fellow competitors sharing gameplay tips and hints. Their positive encouragement and sportsmanship provided that extra confidence boost.

Oh yes, Joust in the flesh!

Atari’s Hercules – world’s largest pinball machine under lights

The Big Bang!

So how did I go? Not knowing the rules meant that I did much better in the Classics (pre 1990) Tournament where I relied on flipper skills and nudging alone. Having qualified equal 16^th in the A division, I had to compete in a play-off, which I lost, but the upside of it was that I qualified 1^st for the B division. My high B division qualification afforded me the choice of machines we would play (or not play – yep, I am looking at you Skateball!). I ended up coming second but felt a great camaraderie with my fellow Classics B division finalists and was really happy with my experience.

Tournament Play!

Calling the tournament action

In Never Drains In Southern California intensifies!

I would absolutely recommend going to Arcade Expo in 2017 and to participate in the INDISC pinball tournament. I often hear that pinheads are the friendliest people in the world, and I can safely say, this was made abundantly clear at the expo – everyone was accessible and helpful, especially when it came to the format of the tournament and the table rules. I promise I’ll be better prepared next time, so watch out!

Rather than tell you more about Arcade Expo 2.0, I thought I would share my album and let the photos speak for themselves. Oh yeah, in part two of Arcade Expo 2.0, I’ll be sharing my arcade experience (with heaps of pics) – so stay tuned!

Total Recall: The Pinball Table That Never Was

01/02/2016 By ausretrogamer

Celebrating their 30 years in business, Stern Pinball Inc. is being quite active on their social media channels, releasing interesting facts about pinball. One that stood out to us was the unreleased 1990 pinball table based on the Total recall movie. Apparently, the Total Recall rare prototype never made it into production. Stern go on to say that “Designed to be a dual player team effort machine, it was ultimately scrapped for production and sent to the depths of the Data East factory. Sometime between 1996 and 2000 the machine “mysteriously disappeared”. Some say it went into the trash, some say it was broken down and forgotten. Some say that the machine made its way to places unknown and anyone who sees it in person is sworn to secrecy. No one knows for sure, and if they do, they aren’t talking.

Had Total Recall been produced as designed, it would remain today one of the most ridiculous pinball machines ever created. It was not meant to be, and will likely never be seen by the public again.”

We will definitely be keeping a close eye on these interesting and lesser known pinball facts coming from the great people at Stern!

source: Stern Pinball Inc.

Altar Furniture: Beautiful Pinball Coffee Tables

30/01/2016 By Ms. ausretrogamer

Budapest-based furniture company Altar Furniture make beautiful (mostly interactive) coffee tables with superb attention to detail. Here are just a few of their marvellous creations, be sure to check out their website to see the whole amazing collection.

Future World
(made from 1978 ‘Future World’ by Zaccaria)
Panthera
(made from 1980 ‘Panthera’ by Gottlieb)
Hot Tour
(made from 1978 ‘KISS’ by Bally)
SMASH!
(made from 1979 ‘Incredible Hulk’ by Gottlieb)
The Beast
(made from 1987 ‘Arena’ by Gottlieb)
The Shuttle
(made from 1991 ‘Star Trek’ by Data East)
The Droids Series
(all made from 1992 ‘Star Wars’ by Data East)
The Droid
The Droid EVII
The Red Droid
R2PO

Source: Altar Furniture

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Ms. ausretrogamer
Co-founder, editor and writer at ausretrogamer – The Australian Retro Gamer E-Zine. Lover of science fiction, fashion, books, movies and TV. Player of games, old and new.

Follow Ms. ausretrogamer on Twitter

Scott ‘Skooota’ Kellett On Pinball At PAX Aus 2015

10/12/2015 By Ms. ausretrogamer

Check out Episode 167 of New Games Plus (a TV show about videogames, culture, anime, movies and more which airs on community channels around Australia and New Zealand) for an interview with the awesome Scott ‘Skooota’ Kellett about how he organised the very popular pinball section of the Classic Gaming Area at PAX Aus 2015. Skip to 12:18 for the start of the interview – great work Skooota!

Video source: New Games Plus on YouTube

Source: New Games Plus

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Ms. ausretrogamer
Co-founder, editor and writer at ausretrogamer – The Australian Retro Gamer E-Zine. Lover of science fiction, fashion, books, movies and TV. Player of games, old and new.

Follow Ms. ausretrogamer on Twitter

Pinball Heaven: A Tour Of The Stern Pinball Factory

04/12/2015 By ausretrogamer

Hey peeps, prepare to be absolutely gobsmacked! John’s Arcade together with Greg from Arcade Impossible, go on an exclusive access-all-areas tour of the new Stern Pinball Inc. factory in Elk Grove, IL.

This already awesome tour is made even more awesomer by having the famed pinball designer, George Gomez, as the personal tour guide – it doesn’t get any better than that! Whether you are a pinball fan or not, you will appreciate the behind-the-scenes of how pinball machines are made and distributed around the world. Grab the pop-corn as this great feature runs for 1:37:56 (to be exact), settle in and enjoy!

source: John’s Arcade Game Reviews & Tech

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