TEXAS PINBALL
FESTIVAL 2014


Date: March 28th - 30th, 2014
Location: Embassy Suites Dallas-Frisco, 7600 John Q Hammond Drive, Frisco, TX 75034, USA.

In the first part of our report we mentioned the two Medieval Madness machines set up in the main show hall. On Friday morning we had a chance to take a closer look and play one of the two games. Both had protective white plastic on the lock bar and side rails, although this was removed later in the day to reveal the gold-effect finish.

One of th two Planetary Pinball Supply Medieval Madness machines
One of the two Planetary Pinball Supply Medieval Madness machines

The cabinet side art without the Williams logo
The cabinet side art without the Williams logo

No Williams logo on the speaker panel either
No Williams logo on the speaker panel either

The machine played just like an original Medieval Madness and there were very few cosmetic differences. In fact the game looks almost identical to an original. At least on the top surface.

The right side of the playfield
The right side of the playfield

The left side of the playfield
The left side of the playfield

The lower part of the playfield
The lower part of the playfield

Round the back, no great surprises either
Round the back, no great surprises either

We said the playfield looked the same from the top, but that's certainly not true when you look at the underside, where a single large PCB dominates.

The bottom of the playfield
The bottom of the playfield

The single large, game-specific board is aided by three generic 8-outpt driver boards.

The game's two power supplies - a transformer and a switching supply
The game's two power supplies - a transformer and a switching supply

Before the show opened on Friday afternoon, there was an attempt to set a new world record for the number of people simultaneously playing a game of pinball.

The previous record was fairly low at around one hundred, but this is more due to the complex steps needed to verify the total number of players. A accountancy firm was hired to audit the number of players, the show hall had to be cleared of players and video records kept of everyone re-entering the room, and independent marshals were posted around the room to verify when players started and completed their games.

Players who wanted to join in the record attempt first had to leave the hall
Players who wanted to join in the record attempt first had to leave the hall...

...collecting a special sticker on their badge on the way out...
...collecting a special sticker on their badge on the way out...

...and picking up a numbered ticket
...and picking up a numbered ticket

The tickets were then deposited and counted as everyone returned to the hall
The tickets were then deposited and counted as everyone returned to the hall

Verification of the official number of players will take several weeks, but unofficially it appeared there were around than 270 machines being played, so a new world record appears to have been set.

You can see the whole record-breaking attempt in our video below.

The show officially opened a few minutes late due to the world record attempt, but visitors then got to enjoy a huge number of quality pinballs and assorted video games.

We'll have a full report from the show floor in Saturday's report, but Friday also saw the start of the seminars at the Texas Pinball Festival. First to take to the floor was Randy Perlow from ColorDMD.

Randy Perlow
Randy Perlow

Randy spoke about the origins and workings of the ColorDMD system, the developments which have been made in the past two years, and their latest Sigma colour-changing display which can synchronise with the colour-changing speaker LED kits available.

Audio Click here to play the MP3 of the seminar, or right click to download the file. You can also use the player below to play it within this page.
 

Get the Flash Player to hear this audio clip.

The only other seminar on Friday evening took place at 8pm and featured Steve Ritchie.

Steve Ritchie
Steve Ritchie

Steve presented a slide-show of pictures taken at the Stern Pinball factory, and introduced the many workers on the factory floor who produce a modern Stern pinball machine.

He then answered question from the audience about the role of whitewoods in testing game designs, whether he would consider creating an updated version of one of his earlier designs, and whether it is possible to create pinballs in places other than Chicago.

Audio Click here to play the MP3 of the seminar, or right click to download the file. You can also use the player below to play it within this page.
 

Get the Flash Player to hear this audio clip.

Following Steve's seminar, Steve was joined by John Borg, Dirty Donny and Gary Stern in an autograph session.

Show guests queue to get their translites, backglasses and flyers signed
Show guests queue to get their translites, backglasses and flyers signed

Steve Ritchie signs a Getaway translite
Steve Ritchie signs a Getaway translite

John Borg signs Metallica flyers
John Borg signs Metallica flyers

'Dirty' Donny Gillies, John Borg, Gary Stern and Steve Ritchie
'Dirty' Donny Gillies, John Borg, Gary Stern and Steve Ritchie

We will be back with much more from the Texas Pinball Festival in our Saturday report including a full rundown of the show machines and many more seminars.


 
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