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Episode 428: Pinball in Taiwan

PodcastAnalysis updated 3d ago14 min listen
From the creator

Jake Crimmins is making pinball events a common thing in Taiwan. Hear how Jake is doing everything to help create a scene, plus travelling to the UK Open and Sweden, and who knows where else.

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Highlights

  • Taiwan's first pinball tournament was held in November 2019, organized by a Norwegian player named Jack, with 3-4 machines and players from Japan.
  • Taiwan currently has 45+ registered players and could send two players to World Championships if they gain 5 more players before year-end.
  • Jake's workshop in Taiwan has 12 pinball machines, with 10 operational and 2 in restoration projects, including Beatles and Stranger Things acquired in February.
  • Six used Stern Pro machines were acquired in October (before tariff implementation) and were heavily abused but restorable.
  • Asia in general is positioned as 'the next boom for pinball' with growing interest in Japan, Hong Kong, and Indonesia.
  • HomePin factory is located in Taiwan and provides same-day parts availability to local players.
  • A bar owner named Mark set up a Tales from the Crypt machine in Taiwan in 2016-2017 that was the catalyst for pinball interest.
  • Heavenly arcade in Japan operates with ~190-200 pinball machines, free entry with tournaments and open days monthly, located 2 hours outside Tokyo.
  • Taiwan had older generation players who encountered pinball in the 1990s and are now rediscovering it after 20-30 year gaps.
  • Jake is organizing tournaments with community support including his girlfriend Annie and workshop collective members.

Notable quotes

“Someone once asked me, Jake, who the best player in the world is? And you know what my answer is? You don't know. I don't know, because they probably haven't played yet.”
Jake Crimmins
“I think Asia in general might be the next, hopefully will be the next boom for pinball.”
Jake Crimmins
“Everything's free, including some snacks and drinks. It's a great time. The machines are in great condition, and the people there are so friendly.”
Jake Crimmins
“You know, it's a slow word of mouthing probably, or maybe it's social media. That's what it again was for me. Just somebody made a post, we're having a league. I'm like, what, what, what?”
Jake Crimmins
“We actually had an exterminator come in to give us a quote on doing some work at our workshop. And you know, he spent the first 30 minutes going around to give us a quote and you spent the next two hours playing every machine.”
Jake Crimmins
“I think it's great to see people from all over to hear their stories, to find out what pinball is like in their neck of the woods.”
Jeff Teolis
“I definitely think so. I think right now we're up to 45 players. So I think if we get another five new players before the end of the year, Taiwan could definitely be sending two people.”
Jake Crimmins
“Pinball, it's an expensive hobby, and I hope that's not a barrier for the massive population that you have, certainly in Asia.”
Jeff Teolis

Entities

  • HomePin· company
  • Lund· event
  • The Beast· event
  • UK Open· event
  • World Championships· event
  • Beatles· game
  • Stranger Things· game
  • Tales from the Crypt· game
  • Japan· location
  • Pinball Profile· media
  • Heavenly· organization
  • IFPA Calendar· organization
  • Taiwan Flipper Pinball Association· organization
  • Annie· person
  • Jack· person
  • Jake Crimmins· person
  • Jeff Teolis· person
  • Mark· person
  • Yoshihiro· person

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