Welcome to the first of (hopefully many) pinball community spotlights, where we interview the operators, tournament organizers, and business owners that make the pinball world go ‘round. (Originally published on IFPApinball.com in Feb. of 2023)
James Bond 007 brings George Gomez's career full circle. The layout and some rules of the game heavily resemble his design debut in Corvette, a personal favorite game of mine, but after 30 years of video game and pinball development, this game perfectly demonstrates his evolution as a designer.
Released in 2012, AC/DC was one of the first games to come in three differing versions (Pro, Premium, LE), and marked a shift towards simpler layouts and more straightforward rulesets which secretly harbor extreme strategic depth.
Welcome to a whirlwind conversation unlike any other: an exclusive, rapid-fire interview with Flippy, the dynamic mascot of the annual Pinball Expo in Schaumburg, Illinois.
Baltimore's pinball scene spreads across neighborhood breweries and bars, from a 20+ machine free-play arcade in Waverly to the league headquarters in Hampden.
San Antonio offers pinball across an eclectic mix of venues, from a tournament-hosting coffee roaster with 50+ machines to a retro-themed downtown bar on Alamo Plaza.
A walk through some notable Pinball Map locations that were added in August 2023. As is my personal preference, I will include a single machine from each location to fantasize playing upon. Let’s put our hands in our pockets and walk into these locations!
Godzilla, inspired by the iconic 50s and 60s entries of the famous Kaiju franchise, was released in late 2021 to almost instant acclaim from players of all skill levels, providing a wide range of challenges and implementing deep rules that aren’t required to understand to enjoy the game.
If you didn't quite get the price you were hoping for on that Guns 'n Roses (LE) you sold this year but you did manage to find a great deal on that Ghostbusters (Pro) - you are not alone. Used pinball prices are softening, at least relative to the rapid pinflation experienced in recent years.
Today we’re super excited to bring you a conversation with Bowen Kerins, an accomplished competitive pinball player, rules designer, and advocate for the game.
James breaks down the rules and strategy for Bally's Black Rose. It’s a great theme, has great music and callouts, and has a bunch of great rules and shots which lead to big payoffs should you manage to overcome this game’s tricky design.
Washington DC spreads its pinball across neighborhood bars, barcades, and a dedicated pinball arcade. From Petworth to Friendship Heights, here's where to find machines in the District
What follows is a smattering of new and notable pinball spots added to Pinball Map around North America. This is the third article in a monthly series!
Every now and again, we see some absolutely insane layouts, designs, or gimmicks which send a machine down in fame - or infamy - for their unusual nature.
Father’s Day is right around the corner, and while a pinball-themed necktie may seem enticing since buying him a pinball machine for Father's Day is a bit outside of your price range, we’re here to offer up some alternative gift ideas for your pinball lover pops.
