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BASH Pinball Podcast
BASH Pinball Podcast
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Pinfest!! The Good, the Bad, and the Smelly…

PodcastAnalysis updated 3d ago
From the creator

Matt and Don talk about Matt's recent trip to Pinfest 2024! In this episode, we talk all about the event -- who's there, what's there, and most importantly, where to eat!! Plus Don tries to win a...

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Highlights

  • Pinfest accommodates 250-300 games across two buildings next to the Allentown fairgrounds
  • Day pass is approximately $20 per person; children under certain age $12; weekend pass available at discount
  • Friday was busier than Saturday, contrary to expectations
  • Most games brought by attendees are functional-to-poor condition, disproportionately old EM machines from 1950s-70s
  • All mid-80s and newer games had lines; good machines had 2+ people waiting
  • Spooky Pinball was the only manufacturer with a booth present; brought three Texas Chainsaws and three Looney Tunes
  • Tournament entry fee was approximately $130 for 12 qualifying games; top 48-64 players advance; IFPA ranking above 250 required
  • Jaws had 10+ playable machines at Pinfest with no downtime; newer games generally stable despite heavy use
  • Attendee demographics approximately 95% white; male-female split closer to 50-50 than expected
  • Marco Specialties had a vendor booth; closed early Saturday afternoon before Matt could visit

Notable quotes

“My craw is getting pretty full.”
Host/Don (opening bit)
“When you smell my fingers, it was like a weird cheese smell...the collection of fingers on those machines...was transferred on to me.”
Don
“Wash your hands. Don't play the games with pizza fingers.”
Don
“It's not quite conducive to learning a game or figuring out if you really like a game or something.”
Matt
“He knew. He knew. He played a very long game. Bash Pinball disapproves.”
Matt and Don
“I give him props for that because it takes a lot of work and it's hard to get there to that point. And then you have to bring those machines with you.”
Matt (about Spooky Pinball)
“I'm going to save my $130...There's no chance of me winning a prize.”
Matt
“I would play for my life for a game. I would play like I've never played before if there was a game on the line.”
Don

Entities

  • Gottlieb· company
  • Marco Specialties· company
  • Spooky Pinball· company
  • Pinfest· event
  • Dodge Viper· game
  • Halloween· game
  • Jaws· game
  • Labyrinth· game
  • Looney Tunes· game
  • Pulp Fiction· game
  • Texas Chainsaw Massacre· game
  • Allentown· location
  • Starfighter· location
  • Bash Pinball Podcast· organization
  • Brian Allen· person
  • Don· person
  • Kayla· person
  • Matt· person
  • Raymond Davidson· person
  • Spooky Luke· person

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