{"id":28219,"date":"2023-03-24T02:38:57","date_gmt":"2023-03-24T02:38:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.pinballnews.com\/site\/?p=28219"},"modified":"2024-11-07T18:49:21","modified_gmt":"2024-11-07T18:49:21","slug":"texas-pinball-festival-2023","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.pinballnews.com\/site\/2023\/03\/24\/texas-pinball-festival-2023\/","title":{"rendered":"TEXAS PINBALL FESTIVAL 2023"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Hello and welcome to our extended coverage of this year’s Texas Pinball Festival<\/a>, held as usual at the Frisco Convention Center which adjoins the Embassy Suites hotel.<\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"The<\/a>
The home for the Texas Pinball Festival since 2014<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

The history of the Texas Pinball Festival has seen it held at the Hilton in Grapevine, The Hilton Anatole in downtown Dallas and, since 2014, at the Frisco Convention Center. Although it could be argued that the Convention Center is not large enough for the ambitions of the show, it has proved to be a valuable and co-operative partner, with an outstanding range of accommodation options nearby once the host Embassy Suites sells out (which it regularly does within minutes of the show’s allocation of discounted rooms going on sale).<\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"One<\/a>
One of the show banners<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

This year’s Texas Pinball Festival hosts an extraordinary selection of new titles from various manufacturers, including Foo Fighters<\/a><\/em> from Stern Pinball, The Godfather<\/a><\/em> from Jersey Jack Pinball, Scooby-Doo: Where Are You!<\/a><\/em> from Spooky Pinball, Final Resistance<\/a><\/em> from Multimorphic, Galactic Tank Force<\/a><\/em> from American Pinball and Pulp Fiction<\/a><\/em> from Chicago Gaming and Play Mechanix, with more new games possibly making an appearance.<\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"The<\/a>
The Texas Pinball Festival floor plan<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

This year’s TPF is going to be like no other, so join us for our extensive coverage of the whole show which will be updated throughout the event’s three days of public access.<\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"The<\/a>
The ticket booth outside the main hall is where on-the-day and pre-purchased ticked can be collected<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

THURSDAY<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Thursday is set-up day which means that the show hall is not open to the public. Naturally, Pinball News has all-areas access and we can show you the setting up and what is going to be available to play once the doors open at 5pm on Friday.<\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"Inside<\/a>
Inside the main show hall<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

One of the companies with a new title to promote is Jersey Jack Pinball who have brought multiple The Godfather<\/em> machines to the show.<\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"Some<\/a>
Some of the machines brought by Jersey Jack Pinball<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n
\n
\"You<\/a>
You can play a Collector’s Edition model here too<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

We had a preview of the Collector’s Edition and the playfield artwork sparkle effect around many of the features is quite extraordinary. We’ll have more on that later.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We popped back a little later to see how the JJP stand was progressing and saw some of the many games set-up in preparation for Friday’s opening.<\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"The<\/a>
The Jersey Jack Pinball stand starts to take shape<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Stern Pinball also have a new title to promote. They had many copies of their Foo Fighters<\/em> game on their stand run in association with Fun! Billiards & Gameroom Superstore<\/a> in Mesquite, Texas.<\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"Lots<\/a>
Lots of Foo Fighters games from Stern Pinball<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Although Foo Fighters<\/em> is their latest, it isn’t the only title from Stern Pinball at the show, as they also have multiple Dr. No James Bond<\/em> games on the floor.<\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"Dr.<\/a>
Dr. No couldn’t say ‘No’ to the TPF<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Another company with a recent announcement was Spooky Pinball who brought six of their new Scooby-Doo: Where Are You!<\/em> machines together with a Mystery Machine and a claw game to dispense prizes to show visitors.<\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"The<\/a>
The six Scooby-Doo games from Spooky Pinball<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n
\n
\"The<\/a>
The Mystery Machine VW Camper<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n
\n
\"The<\/a>
The Spooky Pinball grabber<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Although it is hard to gauge before the show opens, one of the most eagerly-anticipated new titles on the floor comes from Play Mechanix and Chicago Gaming.<\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"Pulp<\/a>
Pulp Fiction from Play Mechanix and Chicago Gaming<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Four Pulp Fiction<\/em> games have been brought to the show for the public to play.<\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"Two<\/a>
Two of the four Pulp Fiction games at the show<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Pinball Brothers have a stand with three of their Queen <\/em>pinballs and two Aliens<\/em>. Two more Queen<\/em> machines are available to play on their distributor Coin Taker’s stand.<\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"The<\/a>
The Pinball Brothers’ stand during set-up<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

At the time of our visit, neither American Pinball nor Multimorphic had yet arrived with their newest titles, however Haggis Pinball were there with their Fathom Revisited<\/em> game and their first title, Celts<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"Haggis<\/a>
Haggis Pinball’s stand with Celts and Fathom Revisited<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

In a late update, we popped back into the hall after everyone else had left and confirmed American Pinball’s new Galactic Tank Force<\/a><\/em> game had indeed arrived. On the way back we spotted game designer Dennis Nordman checking into the show hotel ahead of the American Pinball seminar about his game at 5pm on Friday.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

While the newest releases grab all the attention, the Texas Pinball Festival is all about the full range of pinballs through the years.<\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"It's<\/a>
It’s not all new games though as there are plenty of classics too<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n
\n
\"It's<\/a>
It’s not all about flipper games either, as these pre-flipper mechanical marvels in the History of Pinball exhibit demonstrate<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n
\n
\"Setting<\/a>
Setting up some of the many privately-owned pinballs at the show<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n
\n
\"Many<\/a>
More of the privately-owned games at the show<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

The TPF organisers used their tried-and-tested system for unloading trucks at the back door of the hall in order to get the games out, checked in, and the trucks away as efficiently as possible.<\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"Trucks<\/a>
Trucks are unloaded at the hall’s back doors<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n
\n
\"Games<\/a>
Games go into a staging area before moving into the main hall<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

It’s not all games, either. There are plenty of vendor stands selling mods, artworks, spares, and much more. We’ll cover those a little later in this report once the show opens.<\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"3D<\/a>
3D artwork is a definite theme of this year’s Texas Pinball Festival<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n
\n
\"We<\/a>
We look forward to seeing exactly what this vendor’s stand is selling<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Not all the action takes place in the main hall, as there are multiple tournaments held in some of the adjacent conference rooms.<\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"The<\/a>
The tournaments area<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n
\n
\"Inside<\/a>
Inside the tournaments room<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n
\n
\"The<\/a>
The main TPF tournaments don’t begin until Friday but there was plenty of play on the machines on Thursday<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n
\n
\"The<\/a>
The main TPF tournaments will also be streamed live<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

FRIDAY<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Setting-up continued on Friday morning, with the show really starting to take shape.<\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"Friday<\/a>
Friday morning in the main show hall<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Jersey Jack Pinball had all their machines out of their boxes and in position, with some minor tweaks to the set-up and additions such as the overhead cameras to get them ready for the long weekend ahead.<\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"The<\/a>
The Jersey Jack Pinball stand<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Stern Pinball is represented by Fun! and Marco Specialties. They have around twenty-one Foo Fighter<\/em> games as well as multiple James Bond 007<\/em> Pro and Premium machines and a selection of other titles.<\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"Stern<\/a>
Stern Pinball is represented by Fun! and Marco Specialties<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

With so many manufacturers of pinballs exhibiting, they are often located next to each other in the hall. Spooky Pinball, American Pinball and Chicago Gaming\/Play Mechanix are all close together.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"The
The playfield from Scooby-Doo: Where Are You!<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n
\n
\"Spooky<\/a>
Spooky Pinball’s Mystery Machine faces part of the American Pinball stand<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

American Pinball were setting up the machines on their stand, including their latest game, Galactic Tank Force<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"Two<\/a>
Two Galactic Tank Force Deluxe Edition games are unboxed<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n
\n
\"One<\/a>
One of the Galactic Tank Force towers on the American Pinball stand<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n
\n
\"Meanwhile,<\/a>
Meanwhile, Chicago Gaming & Play Mechanix have their Pulp Fiction games next door<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n
\n
\"The<\/a>
The Pulp Fiction playfield<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n
\n
\"The<\/a>
The bottom of the playfield<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n
\n
\"The<\/a>
The top of the playfield<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Another new entrant to the pinball marketplace is Turner Pinball headed up by Chris Turner. He had announced his intention to build pinballs, but he wasn’t expected to be in a position to show anything by this Texas Pinball Festival. However, although it is still at the prototype stage, he is here exhibiting what will be his company’s his first title, Ninja Eclipse<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"Turner<\/a>
Turner Pinball, Chris Turner, with his Ninja Eclipse original design<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

The game is flippable with some basic rules incorporated. It’s a fast flowing, brightly-lit three-flippered design with some unusual playfield features. It is designed by the game’s artist, Brad Duke<\/a>, in collaboration with Jon Norris. Chris is also looking for feedback on the design and features from visitors to the show.<\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"The<\/a>
The Ninja Eclipse playfield<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Not all the games come from commercial companies, however. The homebrew section showcases the talents of those who want to create their own games but are not (yet) employed by any of the major manufacturers.<\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"Some<\/a>
Some of the homebrew titles at TPF<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Qualifying for the Wizards and Classics tournaments began at 10am on Friday in the tournaments room on the upper level. The Wizards qualifying continues through until 4pm on Saturday, but the Classics qualifying ends at 1am tomorrow morning. On Sunday, the Texas Takedown women’s tournament is held in the same room with an early 8am start time.<\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"Qualifying<\/a>
Qualifying times for the tournaments<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

By lunchtime, American Pinball had got their Galactic Tank Force<\/em> games set up. There were no Signature or Limited Editions with the tank-style cabinet just yet, but the Deluxe model was making an appearance.<\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"The<\/a>
The Galactic Tank Force playfield<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n
\n
\"The<\/a>
The top of the playfield when powered<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n
\n
\"The<\/a>
The tank toy in the centre<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n
\n
\"The<\/a>
The illuminated upper part of the playfield<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n
\n
\"The<\/a>
The centre and lower playfield area<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n
\n
\"The<\/a>
The backbox artwork and illuminated speakers<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Meanwhile, Chicago Gaming had reshuffled their stand, putting the four Pulp Fiction<\/em> games out front, with their Cactus Canyon<\/em> remakes behind.<\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"The<\/a>
The Chicago Gaming stand<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

We had the opportunity to play Scooby-Doo: Where Are You!, The Godfather <\/em>and Pulp Fiction<\/em> and thoroughly enjoyed all three. They are obviously very different styles of games, but all hit the mark with what they were trying to achieve. Later today we hope to get some time on Galactic Tank Force<\/em> and Foo Fighters.<\/em> <\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"The<\/a>
The TPF show floor on Friday mid-morning<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

There were two seminars and two screenings scheduled for Friday night.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The first seminar was by American Pinball to launch their Galactic Tank Force <\/em>game. It was introduced by American Pinball’s Executive Vice President, David Fix who presented his panel who all worked on the company’s latest release.<\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"American<\/a>
American Pinball’s David Fix introduces the seminar<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n
\n
\"The<\/a>
The American Pinball team<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Game creators Dennis Nordman and Paul Reno were on the panel, along with Art Director Jack Haeger, artist Christopher Franchi and rules and marketing boss, Steven Bowden.<\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"Dennis<\/a>
Dennis Nordman<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n
\n
\"Paul<\/a>
Paul Reno<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n
\n
\"Jack<\/a>
Jack Haeger<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n
\n
\"Christopher<\/a>
Christopher Franchi<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n
\n
\"Steven<\/a>
Steven Bowden<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

The team talked about the creation of the Galactic Tank Force<\/em> game, how the concept of a tank-like cabinet evolved and the approximately 5,000 media assets included in the game – roughly double any previous American Pinball title.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

American Pinball game designer Ryan McQuaid then guided the tank-shaped version of the game as it was self-propelled into the hall.<\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"The<\/a>
The tank rolls in<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n
\n
\"The<\/a>
The tank has arrived<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

After the tank had parked, David Fix showed a lenticular 3D version of the backglass artwork. This 3D version will be part of the Signature Edition model’s offer.<\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"David<\/a>
David shows the new 3D backglass<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Finally, the team posed around the game.<\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"American<\/a>
American Pinball’s Galactic Tank Force team<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

The second seminar was by Jersey Jack Pinball to talk about the creation of the The Godfather<\/em> game.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jack Guarnieri introduced game designer Eric Meunier and coder Bill Grupp.<\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"Jack<\/a>
Jack Guarnieri<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n
\n
\"Eric<\/a>
Eric Meunier<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n
\n
\"Bill<\/a>
Bill Grupp<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Eric showed the audience around the playfield, explaining how the shots work and all the possible shot options. He also played the three versions of the theme to The Godfather<\/em> included in the game, from the instrumental by Slash, to the vocal versions sung by Mark Tremonti and another version sung by Eric himself.<\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"Eric<\/a>
Eric presents his latest game design, The Godfather<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n
\n
\"Eric<\/a>
Eric and Jack with JJP’s The Godfather game<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Following the first two seminars, a special screening of the short film Skill Shot, Baby! Pinball Epiphany<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This is a short version of a planned full-length feature which was funded by a $15,000 Kickstarter campaign<\/a> last August. The film was introduced by Jeff Teolis and Martin Robbins of the Final Round Pinball Podcast.<\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"Jeff<\/a>
Jeff Teolis<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n
\n
\"Martin<\/a>
Martin Robbins<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

After the screening, filmmaker Imoto Harney and star of the short Todd Tuckey answered questions from the audience.<\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"Imoto<\/a>
Imoto Harney<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n
\n
\"Todd<\/a>
Todd Tuckey<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

The final event in the Seminars Room was a screening of the movie Pinball: The Man Who Saved The Game<\/em> about a period in the life of Roger Sharpe. Roger was due to attend and answer questions, but was unwell and not able to be at the Texas Pinball Festival.<\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"Mike<\/a>
Mike Faist plays Roger Sharpe in the movie<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

As we had already seen – and reported on<\/a> – the movie last November, we didn’t stay for the showing and instead took the opportunity to get some dinner.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Texas Pinball Festival hall closed at 1am, but it was busy until the very end with visitors hoping to make the very most of the first day of the show.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

SATURDAY<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

It’s traditional for Saturday at the TPF to begin with the swap meet held in the car park outside the Conference Center and run by the DFW Pinball & Arcade Club<\/a>. It’s been that way right back to the days when the show was held at the Hilton in Grapevine. While the weather can be chilly in March, we can only recall one instance of the swap meet being cancelled due to bad weather.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Today there were no such problems, as it was mild and sunny.<\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"Saturday<\/a>
Saturday morning means the swap meet at TPF<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

It is also traditional for coffee and Dunkin Donuts to be offered, courtesy of the swap meet’s organisers.<\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"Everyone<\/a>
Everyone can find a sweet deal at the swap meet<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

The arrangement is simple. Sellers turn up in assorted vehicles ranging from private cars to rental trucks, unload their sale items onto the ground and people make them offers. <\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"One<\/a>
One side of the swap meet<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

There is a palpable buzz of excitement when a new vehicle arrives and begins to unload.<\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"The<\/a>
The other side<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n
\n
\"Checking<\/a>
Checking out the items for sale<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n
\n
\"Items<\/a>
Items for sale ranged from complete games to…<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n
\n
\"...individual<\/a>
…individual parts and manuals<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n
\n
\"You<\/a>
You never know what will turn up<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n
\n
\"One<\/a>
One thing’s for sure though… Cash is King!<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Saturday is always the busiest day of the three, so it was no surprise that there was a long queue of visitors waiting for the doors to open at 10am.<\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"The<\/a>
The line for show entry just before 10am<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n
\n
\"The<\/a>
The queue snakes around the entrance lobby and down the corridor towards the hotel<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

The hall doors were indeed opened promptly at 10am, when a rush of pre-paid pass-holders showed their wristbands as they headed inside to find their favourite machines to play.<\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"Wristbands<\/a>
Wristbands please!<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

The queues from outside soon turned to queues inside, as lines formed for the most popular new titles.<\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"Visitors<\/a>
Visitors waiting to play Pulp Fiction<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n
\n
\"More<\/a>
More Pulp Fiction wannabe players for the other two machines<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n
\n
\"All<\/a>
All six Scooby-Doo machines had lines waiting to play<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n
\n
\"Galactic<\/a>
Galactic Tank Force was also very popular with show visitors<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n
\n
\"It<\/a>
It may be a six-year-old title, but The Big Lebowski still draws a crowd<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Meanwhile, up on the second floor, the Classics Tournament had completed its qualify rounds the previous night, leaving the play-offs to take place on Saturday morning and afternoon.<\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"The<\/a>
The first round of play-offs in the Classics Tournament<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Qualifying in the Wizards Tournament continues until 4pm after which their play-offs will begin.<\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"Qualifying<\/a>
Qualifying in the Wizards Tournament at TPF<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

The tournaments are being run by the Tournament Director and top competitive player, Colin MacAlpine.<\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"Tournament<\/a>
Tournament Director, Colin MacAlpine<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

There were five seminars taking place on Saturday, followed by the autograph session and the So You Think You Know Pinball?<\/em> prize quiz.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The first of these featured Chris Turner from Turner Pinball along with members of his design team.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

12pm – Turner Pinball New Game Prototype Reveal<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"Chris<\/a>
Chris Turner<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n
\n
\"The<\/a>
The Turner Pinball team<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

They had brought along their Ninja Eclipse<\/em> game shown earlier in this report. Game designer Brad Duke (left, above) talked about the playfield layout and the rules. Chris then explained about how the company was formed and what he wants to achieve with their first title.<\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"Ninja<\/a>
Ninja Eclipse in the seminar room<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

He said they plan to have the game released by the end of the year with an initial build of 100 machines. It will be built in small batches in-house in their San Antonio facility. He said if they can sell the first run and make a well-built, reliable and fun game then he will consider that a success.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1pm: Dino Gaspari – Shipping a pinball machine is easier than you think!<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"Dino<\/a>
Dino Gaspari<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Dino runs the ShipMyPinball.com<\/a> website which specialises in providing near-instant quotes for shipping pinball machines across North America and beyond.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In his seminar he demonstrated how the process works and invited the audience to visit his website to set up example shipping requests for themselves, explaining the options available for collection, delivery and insurance.<\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"Dino<\/a>
Dino demonstrates how the website works<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

2pm: FAST Pinball<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Two of the member of the FAST Pinball team – Brian Madden and Aaron Davis – were joined on stage by Ernie Silverberg and Steve Kondris.<\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"Brian<\/a>
Brian Madden<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n
\n
\"Aaron<\/a>
Aaron Davis<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Ernie is from Trident Pinball who make homebrew kits to simplify the process of creating your own pinball. Steve founded The Pinball Room which is an online resource with videos and tech articles dedicated to making your own pinball.<\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"Ernie<\/a>
Ernie Silverberg<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n
\n
\"Steve<\/a>
Steve Kondris<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

The panel talked about the best ways to approach a homebrew build and many of the resources available to help that process.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

3pm: Multimorphic and the P3 – One Machine, Many Games<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The team from Multimorphic has a new game to show at this Texas Pinball Festival, and so company head Gerry Stellenberg was joined by the designer of Final Resistance<\/em>, Scott Danesi, the rules wizard Bowen Kerins and mechanical engineer TJ Weaver.<\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"Gerry<\/a>
Gerry Stellenberg<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n
\n
\"Scott<\/a>
Scott Danesi<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n
\n
\"Bowen<\/a>
Bowen Kerins<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n
\n
\"TJ<\/a>
TJ Weaver<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

The group talked about the creation and development of Final Resistance<\/em>, along with the game’s concept, how it is an extension of Scott’s previous Total Nuclear Annihilation<\/em> game crossed with Attack From Mars<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

They spoke about the ball lock mechanism and how quickly it fires out the three locked balls (0.5 seconds).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

4pm: Hey, Mark Ritchie! What\u2019s Up?<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Without doubt, one of the most anticipated new games premiering at the Texas Pinball Festival was Pulp Fiction<\/em> from Play Mechanix and Chicago Gaming. So, game designer Mark Ritchie from Play Mechanix was joined by Butch Peel from Chicago gaming to talk about how Pulp Fiction<\/em> was created.<\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"Mark<\/a>
Mark Ritchie<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n
\n
\"Butch<\/a>
Butch Peel<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Mark explained how the game was originally built for the director of Pulp Fiction<\/em>, Quentin Tarantino, who wanted a pinball of the movie, but was very specific in the kind of playfield design he wanted and didn’t want.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He wanted something reminiscent of the early ’80s, with a single level playfield, alphanumeric displays, no video monitor and rules typical of the era. After an initial playfield was rejected, a second draft resulted in approval and the green light to produce it commercially.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

With all the seminars completed, at 5pm there was the autograph session held outside the seminars room. Many famous faces from the pinball world were seated at a long table, ready to sign pinball flyers, translites, backglasses, playfields or anything the show visitors placed before them.<\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"The<\/a>
The queue for the autograph table<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n
\n
\"Gerry<\/a>
Gerry Stellenberg, Scott Danesi and Steve Ritchie<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n
\n
\"Christopher<\/a>
Christopher Franchi, Jack Danger, Dwight Sullivan and Jerry Thompson<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n
\n
\"Mike<\/a>
Mike Vinikour and Mark Ritchie<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

There were still more events to go on Saturday, with the next one taking place in the hotel’s bar area as Pinball News Editor, Martin Ayub and Pinball Magazine Editor, Jonathan Joosten, ran their popular So You Think You Know Pinball?<\/em> free prize quiz.<\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"Jonathan<\/a>
Jonathan Joosten and Martin Ayub with some of the prizes they gave away
(Picture: Ross Simpson)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

The duo asked the assembled crow to choose one of two possible answer to a series of questions. Thos who got each question correct continued to the next one until there were only a few players remaining. They all got prizes and a new round began with everyone back in.<\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"Some<\/a>
Some of the prizes at the So You Think You Know Pinball? quiz<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Prizes were donated by (in alphabetical order) American Pinball, Chicago Gaming, ColorDMD, Dutch Pinball, Dutch Pinball Museum, Jersey Jack Pinball, Multimorphic, Pedretti Gaming, Play Mechanix, Pinball Brothers, Pinball Magazine, Pinball News, Spooky Pinball, Stern Pinball, Wormhole Pinball, and many more.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For those looking for dinner without leaving the venue, there were several options. A couple of food vendors were set-up in the lobby outside the show hall selling pizza, hot dogs, nachos and other suitably un-healthy pinball fuel, along with bottled beers, wine and sodas.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Meanwhile, two food trucks were stationed in the parking area outside the Convention Center.<\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"One<\/a>
One of the two food trucks outside the Convention Center<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n
\n
\"The<\/a>
The second food truck<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

If yo didn’t mind a short walk, Wild Pitch<\/em> – a kind of Hooters<\/em> sports bar with scantily-clad waitresses – offered a larger menu and a decent drinks selection. A favourite of ours, although it was a longer walk away, was Kelly’s<\/em> sports bar which served better food and had a wider drinks selection. Most other local eateries were a short drive away.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

At 8pm the warm-up for the TWIPY awards ceremony began in the seminars room, ahead of the full ceremony starting at 8:30pm.<\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"The<\/a>
The TWIPY awards<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

This year the hosts were Imoto Harney and Todd Tuckey.<\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"On<\/a>
On stage at the TWIPYs<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Full results in each category are available at the TWIPY awards website<\/a> but Rush<\/em> was the biggest winner, collecting Best Rules, Best Sound, Best Playfield and Game of the Year.<\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"Mike<\/a>
Mike Vinikour collects the award for Best Rules for Rush<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

While the TWIPY awards were being given out, we took the opportunity to explore the main show hall and bring you what we found.<\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"Your<\/a>
Your friendly front desk team<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n
\n
\"The<\/a>
The row of machines next to the main entrance<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n
\"The
The four machines in front as you enter the main hall<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n
\n
\"Four<\/a>
Another group of showcase machines to play at the front of the hall<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n
\"More
More showcase machines near the entrance<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n
\n
\"The<\/a>
The prize in the raffle – a newly-unboxed The Simpsons Pinball Party<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n
\n
\"More<\/a>
More collector machines for guests to enjoy<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n
\n
\"The<\/a>
The Jersey Jack Pinball stand was the most visible vendor booth as you entered the hall<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n
\n
\"More<\/a>
More of the Jersey Jack Pinball stand<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n
\n
\"Borthers<\/a>
Borthers Timoth\u00e9e and Nicolas Manaud on the PinSound stand<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n
\n
\"Pinballs<\/a>
Pinballs with the PinSound system installed<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n
\n
\"The<\/a>
The four Pulp Fiction games on the Chicago Gaming stand<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n
\n
\"The<\/a>
The American Pinball stand<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n
\n
\"Two<\/a>
Two of the Galactic Tank Force games on the American Pinball stand<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n
\n
\"Six<\/a>
Six Scooby-Doo machines and a Total Nuclear Annihilation on the Spooky Pinball stand<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n
\n
\"Another<\/a>
Another TNA and a Halloween join the Spooky Pinball line-up<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n
\n
\"The<\/a>
The Spooky Pinball grabber machine<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n
\n
\"Items<\/a>
Items for sale on the Spooky Pinball stand<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n
\n
\"Plenty<\/a>
Plenty of translites for sale too<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n
\n
\"If<\/a>
If your budget stretches to it, you could own the Mystery Machine too<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n
\n
\"At<\/a>
At the time of our visit the PinJack team were away<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n
\n
\"The<\/a>
The Pixelized Princess has a very large range of video game character standups<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n
\n
\"More<\/a>
More collector games at the show<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n
\n
\"More<\/a>
More collector games at the show<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n
\n
\"Wormhole<\/a>
Wormhole Pinball’s stand<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n
\n
\"Lighted<\/a>
Lighted Pinball Mods’ stand<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

One of the most popular features of the Texas Pinball Festival is the History of Pinball<\/em><\/a> stand which features many pre-flipper games.<\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"The<\/a>
The History of Pinball stand<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n
\n
\"Some<\/a>
Some of the History of Pinball games<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n
\n
\"Wings,<\/a>
Wings, The Joy Game and Fisticuffs<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n
\n
\"Airway<\/a>
Airway and an untitled game<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n
\n
\"Favorite<\/a>
Favorite and Ballyround<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n
\n
\"Play<\/a>
Play Ball! and The Imp<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n
\n
\"Another<\/a>
Another Play Ball! and another Airway<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n
\n
\"Another<\/a>
Another Play Ball!, Blue-Ribbon and It’s Army vs Navy<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n
\n
\"Fleet,<\/a>
Fleet, an unknown game and Relay<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n
\n
\"Bumper<\/a>
Bumper and Fleet<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n
\n
\"Cavalcade<\/a>
Cavalcade and Kings<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n
\n
\"Despite<\/a>
Despite its name, the Texas Pinball Festival isn’t purely about pinball<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n
\n
\"More<\/a>
More collector games<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n
\n
\"Two<\/a>
Two long rows of machines ran down the centre of the hall<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n
\n
\"The<\/a>
The other row of collector games<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n
\n
\"Chris<\/a>
Chris Munro’s stand<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n
\n
\"Some<\/a>
Some of the numerous marquee glasses on Chris Munro’s stand<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n
\n
\"More<\/a>
More free play machines<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n
\n
\"The<\/a>
The three Queen and two Alien machines on the Pinball Brothers stand<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n
\n
\"The<\/a>
The Wizard Enterprises stand<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n
\n
\"The<\/a>
The Custom Shooter Rods stand<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n
\n
\"Besides<\/a>
Besides co-hosting the newest Stern Pinball title, Fun! also had their own stand<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n
\n
\"Fun!'s<\/a>
Fun!’s co-host, Marco Specialties, also had a stand of their own<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n
\n
\"As<\/a>
As usual, online orders placed at the show qualified for free domestic shipping<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n
\n
\"Marco<\/a>
Marco and Fun! together hosted Stern Pinball display of new titles<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n
\n
\"Foo<\/a>
Foo Fighters is Stern’s latest release<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n
\n
\"There<\/a>
There were around 21 new Foo Fighters machines – mostly Pros with a few Premiums<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n
\n
\"The<\/a>
The Pinball Place stand<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n
\n
\"The<\/a>
The Pinball Place were demonstrating their stair-climbing pinball dolly<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n
\n
\"Planetary<\/a>
Planetary Pinball Supply’s stand<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n
\n
\"Some<\/a>
Some of the items on PPS’s stand<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n
\n
\"A<\/a>
A new ‘2.0’ Black Rose: Skull and Bones kit licensed by PPS<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n
\n
\"Cardona<\/a>
Cardona Pinball also have a No Good Gofers: The Battle for the Green upgrade kit<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n
\n
\"Haggis<\/a>
Haggis Pinball had their stand here<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n
\n
\"Both<\/a>
Both Haggis titles – Celts and Fathom Revisited – were here for players to sample<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n
\n
\"Martin<\/a>
Martin Robbins and Damian Hartin on the Haggis Pinball stand<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n
\n
\"Scorbit's<\/a>
Scorbit’s stand<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n
\n
\"The<\/a>
The Pinball Art USA stand<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n
\n
\"Christopher<\/a>
Christopher Franchi wasn’t at his stand when we visited<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n
\n
\"The<\/a>
The CoinTaker stand<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n
\n
\"Among<\/a>
Among the many products available on the CoinTaker stand were two more Queen pinballs<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n
\n
\"The<\/a>
The main desk on the CoinTaker stand<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n
\n
\"The<\/a>
The Silverball Swag stand<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n
\n
\"The<\/a>
The ColorDMD stand<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n
\n
\"The<\/a>
The Electric Playground stand<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n
\n
\"The<\/a>
The Electric Playground’s impressive animated Twilight Zone topper<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n
\n
\"Artist<\/a>
Artist Flint’s stand<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n
\n
\"The<\/a>
The Turner Pinball crew were away when we visited<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n
\n
\"The<\/a>
The Arcade Things stand<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n
\n
\"More<\/a>
More from the Arcade Things stand<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n
\n
\"Five<\/a>
Five different Star Trek pinballs<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n
\n
\"The<\/a>
The Multimorphic stand<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n
\n
\"The<\/a>
The Multimorphic stand featured ten P3<\/sup> machines running assorted titles<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n
\n
\"Artist<\/a>
Artist Brad Albright’s 3D artworks<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n
\"The
The Titan Pinball stand was also closed during our visit<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n
\n
\"Jimmy<\/a>
Jimmy Lipham’s 86 Pixels shared the Titan Pinball stand with these animated back panels<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n
\n
\"The<\/a>
The Double Danger stand<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n
\n
\"The<\/a>
The Back Alley Creations stand<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n
\n
\"More<\/a>
More items for sale on the Back Alley Creations stand<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n
\n
\"The<\/a>
The Evolution Mods stand<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n
\n
\"The<\/a>
The DFW Pinball League’s stand<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n
\n
\"The<\/a>
The Kimballs Pinballs stand<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n
\n
\"More<\/a>
More from the Kimballs Pinballs stand<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n
\"The
The Pinball Pimp stand<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n
\n
\"The<\/a>
The Precision Pinball stand<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n
\n
\"Bob<\/a>
Bob Herbison and Ken Head’s Headsup Pinball stand<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n
\n
\"The<\/a>
The Mezel Mods stand<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n
\n
\"The<\/a>
The Rocket City Pinball stand<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n
\n
\"The<\/a>
The Pinball Wheezer stand<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Not all vendors were in the main hall though. Several took up position in the main corridor from the show hall entrance to the seminars hall.<\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"One<\/a>
The Artsy Ninja stand<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n
\"The
The Eight Bit Dreams stand<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n
\n
\"More<\/a>
More arcade video games were available in the corridor<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

The show hall closed to the public at midnight on Saturday, but remained open to vendors for another two hours so they had an opportunity to close their stands and play all the games.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

SUNDAY<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

We returned on Sunday morning to shoot our exclusive Thirty-Three Minute Tour walkthrough video of the main hall.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here it is. We hope you enjoy it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n