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Silverball Central: Our Adelaide Adventure at the Inaugural Australian Pinball Expo

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Exterior view of a large gray building with a decorative pink neon sign on the facade and a covered entrance area with planters outside.

200+ machines, three days, one very tilted grin – APE 2026 delivered in a big way

Last week, team ausretrogamer packed the bags, grabbed the flipper fingers, and headed to Adelaide for the inaugural Australian Pinball Expo (APE), held at Morphetville Racecourse from July 3-5. Three days. 10am to 10pm. Wall-to-wall pinball. If that sentence alone doesn’t get your silverball senses tingling, we don’t know what will.

Chicago may have the original Pinball Expo, but down under we’ve now got APE – and on this showing, it’s giving Chicago a genuine run for its money.


video source: ausretrogamer via Facebook

Getting There Was Half the Fun (Actually, No – The Venue Was)

First things first: Morphetville nailed the fundamentals. Easy public transport access, and critically for an event with this many machines and this many punters – plenty of room to breathe. Even at peak capacity with the venue absolutely packed with like-minded pinheads, we never once felt cramped shuffling between banks of machines. Big tick for the organisers on venue choice alone.

Panoramic view of an indoor exhibition hall with a large Pikachu inflatable on the left, a stage with colorful lights in the center, and visitors exploring booths on a green carpeted floor.

Arcade area with row of pinball machines and people playing; banner reads 'Australian Pinball Expo' beside the machines.

The Sheer Scale of It All

We’re talking well over 200 pinball machines, plus a handful of classic arcade cabinets thrown in for good measure. The lineup spanned the full history of the hobby – vintage Electro-Mechanical (EM) machines with their glorious push-up ball troughs and knockers, right through to the bleeding edge of 2026 pinball manufacturing. Stern, Jersey Jack, Chicago Gaming Company, Barrels of Fun, P3 Multimorphic, Pinball Brothers, and Dutch Pinball Exclusive all had a serious presence on the floor. Whatever era or flavour of pinball gets your multiball going, APE had it.

Man in a gray jacket playing a Jurassic Park pinball machine in an arcade.

Indoor convention floor with vintage pinball machines and attendees browsing booths between rows of arcade games in a large hall.

The Home-brew Hero: Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy

One of the most delightful surprises of the whole expo wasn’t a factory machine at all – it was a home-brew build of The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy. And when we say home-brew, we mean it: this is a from-scratch build with its own custom electronics, not a repurposed or hacked Pinball 2000 machine as we originally (and incorrectly) reported. It runs a 100cm LCD screen in portrait orientation, the lower cabinet started life as a Data East Jurassic Park, and the builder crafted the head himself – which makes this even more mind-blowingly awesome!

Seeing Marvin, the Babel fish, and assorted Douglas Adams weirdness rendered on a genuinely scratch-built machine was a real highlight – and an even bigger reminder of just how creative and skilled the DIY side of this hobby can be. Don’t Panic indeed.

Arcade game cabinet with 'Don’t Panic' signage and blue-lit playfield, in a space-themed setup.

The Machines That Kept Pulling Us Back

With 200+ tables to choose from, you inevitably gravitate toward a shortlist, and ours ended up being a genuinely eclectic mix:

  • Dutch Pinball Exclusive’s Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland – a genuine surprise packet that we didn’t expect to love as much as we did
  • Barrels of Fun’s Winchester Mystery House – moody, atmospheric, and dripping with theme. This was also BEST IN SHOW!
  • P3 Multimorphic’s Portal – bringing Aperture Science’s twisted logic to the playfield in style
  • Stern Pinball’s Foo Fighters LE, Stranger Things, Rush, and Dungeons & Dragons – Stern showing why they remain the workhorse of modern pinball manufacturing
  • Hankin’s Empire Strikes Back – a stunning original-run classic, Vader glowering down at every ball in play
  • Jersey Jack Pinball’s Elton John and Harry Potter – JJP’s signature big-screen spectacle and toy-packed playfields on full display
  • Bally’s Theatre of Magic – simply stunning, and every bit as blingy in person as its reputation suggests

Honourable mention to the sheer variety of theming on the floor, from Jurassic Park raptors lurking beside the machines, to Alien, John Wick, Austin Powers, Medieval Madness and Cactus Canyon standing shoulder to shoulder. There really was something for every taste.

Winchester Mystery House themed pinball machine with a colorful illuminated playfield and backbox art at an arcade.

Dungeons & Dragons themed pinball machine with dragon artwork and glowing blue lights, playfield visible below the display panel.

Star Wars pinball machine with Darth Vader artwork on the backbox and a colorful playfield full of ramps and bumpers.

Portal-themed pinball machine on display at an arcade expo, featuring a colorful sci‑fi playfield, glass top, and a large screen.

Man playing a colorful Alice in Wonderland pinball machine at an arcade.

A First-Timer That Felt Like a Veteran

For a debut event, APE 2026 punched well above its weight. The organisation, the venue, the sheer breadth of machines on the floor, and the obvious passion of everyone involved made this feel like an expo that’s been running for years, not one finding its feet for the first time. Big respect to the organisers and every contributor who made it happen.

Roll on APE 2027 – we’ll most definitely be there.

Correction (14/07/2026): An earlier version of this article incorrectly described the Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy machine as a repurposed or hacked Pinball 2000 cabinet. It is in fact a from-scratch build with its own custom electronics. We apologise to the builder for the error and thank them for setting the record straight.

Scroll slowly and soak it all in – Enjoy!

People stand and play vintage pinball machines in a large hall, with rows of machines along both sides and an open, industrial ceiling above.

People line up to play vintage pinball machines in a long arcade hall under an angled ceiling.

People at a convention gathered around a Winchester Mystery House-themed pinball machine, examining the playfield as others watch in the background.

John Wick-themed pinball machine with a neon city backdrop, ramps, and character portraits on the playfield edge.

Harry Potter pinball machine with a glowing backbox reading Harry Potter and an owl, plus a colorful illuminated playfield below.

People browsing vintage arcade and pinball machines in a spacious showroom or expo hall, with long rows of cabinets lining both sides.

Munsters-themed pinball machine on display, showing colorful backbox art and a detailed playfield with figures and ramps in a showroom setting.

Row of Alien-themed pinball machines in a gaming arcade, one screen showing 'GAME OVER'.

Row of colorful vintage pinball machines lined up along a blue wall in a game room.

Man in a black shirt and cap playing a vintage Asteroids arcade cabinet in a game room.

Gold-trimmed pinball machine titled 'Theatre of Magic' with a colorful, illuminated playfield on a convention floor.

Row of colorful pinball machines in an indoor arcade, with players standing and playing at each cabinet.

Indoor arcade with a row of colorful pinball machines and players at the tables, neon lights overhead.

People playing pinball machines in a spacious arcade hall with patterned carpet and exposed ceiling ducts in the background.

People line up and play vintage pinball machines in an arcade, with colorful backglass art and bright lights overhead.

Row of vintage pinball machines with players in a convention hall, a cardboard cutout stands among them.

People playing pinball machines in a crowded arcade, with colorful screens and overhead lights visible.

Pinball machine titled Space Invaders with glowing playfield and monster artwork, flanked by other arcade machines in a retro arcade.

People play vintage pinball machines in a colorful arcade, rows of machines with comic-style artwork and backglass views in the background.

People play vintage pinball machines in a spacious arcade hall at a convention, with attendees watching and playing nearby.

Sea Witch pinball machine with mermaid artwork; playfield visible with bumpers and targets.

Row of colorful pinball machines along a wall in an arcade, with players actively playing; Twilight Zone machine visible on the left.

Walking Dead-themed pinball machine with a large backbox screen showing zombie artwork and vibrant playfield lights.

Gold Zoltar fortune-teller machine replica on a table beside a signed Labyrinth manual, with a green alien statue nearby.

Labyrinth-themed pinball machine with goblin heads on top and a Sarah portrait on the backbox; playfield visible below in a game hall setting.

Horror-themed display: a skeleton-headed figure seated in a wooden chair with red gloves, a faux guillotine nearby, and zombie heads on the floor against bannered walls.

Superman-themed pinball machine with a colorful backglass and illuminated playfield behind glass in an arcade setting.

Colorful toy statues on a display table in a store, featuring purple-clad, green-skinned characters and a blue muscular figure.

White sign-in wall covered with colorful signatures and doodles; center reads 'WELCOME TO AUSTRALIAN PINBALL EXPO'; side signs say 'WELCOME PLEASE SIGN OUR VISITOR WALL'.

Words and photos by ausretrogamer. Follow along for more retro computing, pinball, and hobby electronics adventures.

‘Stranger Things’ Video Game Moment

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By: D.C. Cutler, U.S.A.

First off, I’ll try not to spoil anything. (Ed: WARNING – proceed with caution if you have not watched ST4 as yet!)

I didn’t start watching “Stranger Things” until this year’s season. Season four of the popular Netflix series has been enthralling and masterfully plotted.

I never thought I would like the people of Hawkins, Indiana, but they grew on me rather quickly. I watched the fourth episode of the season, titled “Chapter Four: Dear Billy,” and the greatness of the storytelling and the final, video game-like ending, made me realize that the show wasn’t just some nostalgic, kid show. It was much more than that.

Max is my favorite character on “Stranger Things.” Why, I’m not sure? Maybe because she reminds me a little of myself when I was young, and, like Max, I was always optimistically curious about life. Sadie Sink plays Max superbly. Her journey through the fourth season of the hit series is the most captivating storyline. So much so that the Kate Bush song “Running Up That Hill,” released in 1985, has made its way to the top of the current music charts. In the fourth chapter, the song is used brilliantly in the scene that reminded me of a video game. The song is a part of the dramatic scene where Max makes her escape from Vecna, the primary villain. The song is used as a key diegetic piece that works magnificently.

When Max breaks free of Vecna, she is running along a rocky ground through the demonic dreamscape. I got video game vibes when Max is running between falling rocks and debris to get to her friends who are using Bush’s song to get her back to the real world, in a graveyard. Her run made me think of hundreds of video games that I’ve played over the course of my life. She was on a mission to get back to her friends, and the nail-biting scene is shot beautifully. It conjured up visions of a video game hero dodging obstacles to reach a safe place or new level. Everything about it works.

Max’s sprint to her friends and “Running Up That Hill” made for an extraordinarily calculated action sequence that will resonate with fans of the series for years.

image source: Rotten Tomatoes



Butcher Billy’s Stranger Tales: The Second Season

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If you are a Stranger Things fan, then you’ll know the artwork from Brazilian designer/illustrator, Butcher Billy, is stunningly amazing!

The timeline of Stranger Things is perfectly suited for us nostalgia seekers with nods to everything retro that we loved from the 80s. Butcher Billy captures the Stranger Things aesthetic perfectly in his art creations, including this eye-popping Stranger Tales: The Second Season series, which includes Atari VCS/2600 cartridges and Stephen King paperback novels – Butcher Billy aptly states that “these are some of the stranger things of the 80’s.”

Check out the entire collection here and then head over to Butcher Billy’s RedBubble store.

The Atari Carts

Stephen King pulp paperbacks
source: Butcher Billy via behance.net



The Eerie Timex X Stranger Things Watch Co-Lab

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With the popularity reaching fever pitch for the latest season of Stranger Things (season 4), it was inevitable that major brands would jump on the partnership bandwagon.

The timing (pun intended) of the Timex X Stranger Things watch collaboration is perfect, just in time for the second part of season 4 kicking off this Friday, July 1 on Netflix.

It seems that Timex have captured the aesthetic of the show quite well with the 80s digital (and analogue on the Camper version) look and most importantly, a nod to the show with hidden features and alarm sounds that play the iconic Stranger Things melody – this perfectly completes the hair-raising sci-fi-horror-drama immersion.

We love the Timex X Stranger Things T80 digital watch with its stainless steel bracelet and overall silver tone. Oh yeah, it has the spine-chilling graphics on the watch face and a hidden Stranger Things logo when you activate the INDIGLO® backlight!


source: Timex x Stranger Things



Stern Pinball Launches INSIDER CONNECTED™ Leaderboards

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Global Stern High Score Tournament Starts Now!

Stern Pinball keeps innovating and expanding their Insider Connected service with the worldwide launch of leaderboards. By connecting the universe of Stern pinball machines, the award-winning Insider Connected platform continues to enhance and extend player engagement with games across both home and commercial environments. Through Leaderboards, players can compete against each other across connected Stern pinball machines.

Do you have what it takes to be the worldwide King of the Monsters? Test yourself by competing in the first ever global Stern Leaderboard on any connected Godzilla pinball machine! Starting now through June 30th, log in with your Insider Connected account to any Godzilla pinball machine at your home or at a location near you (must be logged in to Insider Connected account to view). Climb up the ranks, follow the action throughout the month here to see who will emerge victorious, earn ultimate bragging rights, and receive global Stern social media adoration.


source: Stern Pinball

For those looking for an in-person challenge, local leaderboards will be available at an entertainment location near you. Insider Connected Location Leaderboard functionality is now available to all Insider Connected Professional accounts. Location Leaderboard competitive play will drive increased gameplay and new player participation. This will extend any Insider Connected Pro operator’s location entertainment experience which will drive revenue and excitement. For more information on how to set up your own custom Leaderboard, visit Stern Pinball’s FAQs where you will find:

  • Leaderboard Set-up Video
  • Leaderboard Set-up Guides (PDF)
  • Leaderboard Set-up Guides for Location Displays (PDF); and
  • Leaderboard Player Discovery Guide (PDF)

Registration for Insider Connected is available at insider.sternpinball.com. Players can register at a connected game by scanning a QR code or at the Stern Pinball website. Once a player registers, they are issued a unique QR Code that can be used to identify that player at any connected Stern pinball machine anywhere in the world. When a player logs into the machine, they can track progress, earn new game specific achievements, engage with the player community, and participate in promotions and Challenge Quests.



Press release supplied by Stern Pinball Inc.

Pixel Artist Makes Game Scenes Based On Popular TV Series And Movies

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Pixel artist, Gustavo Viselner has created video game scenes based on iconic TV series and movies, like Stranger Things, Game of Thrones, Married with Children, Doctor Who, Breaking Bad, The Walking Dead, Star Wars and Seinfeld to name just a few. Oh no, we couldn’t find any based on The Mandalorian, but we’ll let it slip this time.

Check out our favourite 8-bit pixel art scenes and then hit up Gustavo’s Instagram to check out the rest of his creations!

image & story source: boredpanda.com



Stern Pinball Unveils STRANGER THINGS Pinball! It’s Bitchin’

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Stern Pinball Inc. announced today their new line of pinball machines celebrating the iconic Netflix series, Stranger Things!

Stranger Things is the comeback game for one of our favourite pinball designers of all time, Brian Eddy. Brian joined Stern Pinball in 2017 after being out of the pinball design game for a couple of decades. Brian is best known for two of the greatest machines of all time, Medieval Madness and Attack From Mars. With that kind of design pedigree, the excitement is quite high for his debut Stern title.

Well, from what we have seen of the three editions (Pro, Premium and Limited Edition), we reckon Brian has given us something magical – mind you, we haven’t played it yet, so once we do, we’ll give you our opinion.


source: Stern Pinball Inc.

Experience the terrifying forces in Hawkins, Indiana that turn this small town “upside down” with supernatural elements, strange sightings, and government secrets. Stranger Things pinball machines will immerse players in a search to unravel the extraordinary mysteries and secret government experiments taking place at the Hawkins National Laboratory. The gameplay focuses on unlocking the hidden meanings of supernatural events occurring in and around the town, including the appearance of a girl known as “Eleven” with telekinetic abilities. The ball is wild as Mike, Lucas, Dustin, Will, Joyce, and Police Chief Jim Hopper help Eleven close the dimensional gate.

The Pro, Premium, and Limited Edition models all feature distinct hand-drawn art in addition to the custom sculpted, interactive Demogorgon bash toy, guarded by drop targets and a rotating ramp. All models include two hideout ball scoops, a Demodog spinner, three custom ramps, and game rules that will transport players into the Upside Down.

The Premium and Limited Edition models feature a first ever video projector that displays images and animations directly on the playfield, creating dramatic interactions with gameplay action. The center of the playfield features a unique ramp that doubles as a screen and leads the player into a direct battle with the Demogorgon. These models also feature a new Eleven themed “telekinetic” magnetic ball lock.

As mentioned already, we’ll let you know what we think of Stranger Things pinball once we flip it – so stay tuned!

source: Stern Pinball Inc.

Pinball: What Would Be Your Dream Theme?

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*** POLL CLOSED on May 9, 2018 ***

OK, it is time to head to Utopia where everything you want is there, including every pinball machine that doesn’t exist!

Having said that, in an ideal world like Utopia, which one of these pinball themes would you like to see made?

For the record, we would love an original Masters Of The Universe based pinball theme, with the player assuming the role of Prince Adam who has to become He-Man to free Eternia from the evil clutches of Skeletor! The playfield would be complete with Snake Mountain and Castle Grayskull interactive toys, left and right orbits and a couple of ramps to get the pinball juices flowing. Oh yeah, the artwork would have to be done by Alex Ross, with the below masterpiece as the backglass art!

source: sideshowtoy

This time around we will give you all more time to cast your very important vote – the poll will close on Wednesday, May 9! Spread the word and vote now or forever hold your peace.

We just hope Stern Pinball and/or Jersey Jack Pinball are reading this 😉

 

Super Mario: Underworld

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Super Mario: Underworld by Nukazooka – Mario enters the upside down, spooky!


Source: Nukazooka on YouTube via Laughing Squid

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msausretrogamerMs. 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

 

 

Stranger Things – 8-Bit Cinema

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Cine-Fix is back with another ‘8-Bit Cinema‘ video, and the subject-matter couldn’t be more perfect: Stranger Things!


Source: CineFix via Alexisms

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msausretrogamerMs. 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