{"id":30142,"date":"2023-10-27T22:34:36","date_gmt":"2023-10-27T21:34:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.pinballnews.com\/site\/?p=30142"},"modified":"2023-11-07T18:36:56","modified_gmt":"2023-11-07T18:36:56","slug":"pinball-expo-2023","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.pinballnews.com\/site\/2023\/10\/27\/pinball-expo-2023\/","title":{"rendered":"PINBALL EXPO 2023"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Welcome to the start of our coverage of Pinball Expo 2023, held at the Schaumburg Convention Center in the city of Schaumburg near Chicago.<\/p>\n\n\n

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\"The<\/a>
The Schaumburg Convention Center, home of Pinball Expo<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

The Convention Center is attached to the huge Renaissance hotel – part of the Marriott chain – and it is here where most out-of-town guest stay for Pinball Expo.<\/p>\n\n\n

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\"The<\/a>
The Renaissance hotel<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

The show occupies the Discovery and Adventure halls, which are located at ground level, allowing vendors and machine-bringers to drive their stands and games straight into position.<\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"One<\/a>
One of the two entrances onto the show floor<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

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

We begin our coverage on Wednesday afternoon. At this point, the show hall is still being set up ahead of the public opening on Thursday at noon. So this part of the report looks at the set up and previews what will be available for guests.<\/p>\n\n\n

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\"The<\/a>
The main entrance is through the Discovery hall<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n
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\"Show<\/a>
Show information is posted outside<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

As you enter the hall, on the right are several laptops where those looking to buy on-the-day tickets can register and make their purchases.<\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"On-the-day<\/a>
On-the-day registration<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

On the left is the registration desk where anyone who pre-registered could collect their entry pack for the days and events they purchased.<\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"The<\/a>
The Registration Desk<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

So, let’s take a picture tour of the main show hall during set-up on Wednesday.<\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"The<\/a>
The view of the hall<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n
\n
\"More<\/a>
More of the show hall<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n
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\"Jersey<\/a>
Jersey Jack Pinball had lots of games, but their newest title isn’t here just yet<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n
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\"Chicago<\/a>
Chicago Gaming have lots of Cactus Canyon and Pulp Fiction machines<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n
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\"New<\/a>
New manufacturer Barrels of Fun have brought loads of Labyrinth games<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n
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\"American<\/a>
American Pinball also have a large number of games on their stand<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n
\n
\"Another<\/a>
Another new entrant, Turner Pinball have brought several Ninja Eclipse games<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n
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\"Don't<\/a>
Don’t expect a coin door on these games<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n
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\"It's<\/a>
It’s not all new stuff though – plenty of older items on sale too<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n
\n
\"Some<\/a>
Some older titles too<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n
\n
\"Back<\/a>
Back to the new games though, and Spooky Pinball will have a nice display<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n
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\"Stern<\/a>
Stern Pinball and Marco Specialties have teamed up to create an especially impressive display<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n
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\"Lots<\/a>
Lots of Godzilla, Venom, Foo Fighters and James Bond games on their stand<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n
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\"There<\/a>
There is more than just games though, with Great American Pinball having plenty of mods, add-ons and spares available<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n
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\"Ways<\/a>
Ways to make pinball more accessible are featured too<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n
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\"There<\/a>
There are several artists selling their artworks at the show<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n
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\"The<\/a>
The show floor layout<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n
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\"Play<\/a>
Play nice!<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Across the corridor from the main hall entrance is the tournaments room, where several competitive events will be held during the show, with the main Flip Out tournament ending on Sunday afternoon.<\/p>\n\n\n

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\"The<\/a>
The Tournaments Room<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n
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\"Seating<\/a>
Seating for viewers of the live stream<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n
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\"The<\/a>
The Classics machines are arriving<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n
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\"Machines<\/a>
Machines for the Women’s Tournament<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n
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\"Machines<\/a>
Machines for the Flip Out tournament<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

At 7pm, buses departed from the Convention Center for the short drive to Enterrium in the Woodfield Mall in Schaumburg which was hosting the Bumper Blast welcome party.<\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"Enterrium<\/a>
Enterrium in Schaumburg<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

As guests entered the building they were told what food and drink was available, as well as how the smart cards they were given worked on the multitude of arcade games available to play.<\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"A<\/a>
A quick briefing on the goodies awaiting inside<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

There was a dedicated dining room where guests could help themselves to the hot food and cold drinks. Additional paid food options as well as a full bar were also available in the main bar area if that was preferable.<\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"Some<\/a>
Some of the free food available<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n
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\"The<\/a>
The soft drinks<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

After dinner, almost the entire array of amusement machines were available to play for free using the provided Enterrium smart card. This card added credit to the games throughout the evening until closing time at 10pm, but didn’t collect any redemption tickets you might be awarded.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The games included pinballs, shooters, driving games, skill games and many more, including Enterrium’s bowling lanes.<\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"The<\/a>
The bowling lanes<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

The venue was also hosting the finals of the Stern Pro Circuit Championship, using two banks of machines set up alongside the bowling lanes. The Championship is a series of twenty tournaments held predominantly in the US but also comprising events in Canada, the UK and Australia.<\/p>\n\n\n

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\"The<\/a>
The Stern Pro Circuit Championship finals were held at Enterrium alongside the Bumper Blast party<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n
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\"Machines<\/a>
Machines used for the Championship finals<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Last year the finals commandeered nearly all the pinballs in Enterrium, leaving only a select few for Bumper Blast guests to play. Fortunately, this situation was rectified for 2023, with plenty of pinballs available.<\/p>\n\n\n

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\"A<\/a>
A bank of games on free play from American Pinball<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n
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\"Two<\/a>
Two Legends of Valhalla games<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n
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\"Some<\/a>
Some of the other pinballs available for guests to enjoy<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

The Championship finals came down to a battle between two young players – Jared August and Escher Lefkoff. Escher triumphed, collecting the prize of $5,000 plus a new Stern Pinball Pro machine. Jared, in second place won $2,000, while cash prizes were awarded to all 32 competitors, down to $250 for the eight players knocked out in the first round.<\/p>\n\n\n

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\"Winner<\/a>
Winner of the Stern Pro Circuit Championship finals, Escher Lefkoff<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Buses ran between the Convention Center and Enterrium throughout the evening, allowing guests to come and go as they pleased. The final buses departed Enterrium at 10pm, taking guests back to the Convention Center and the hotel, ready for the events on Thursday which began with the Stern Pinball factory tour.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

The buses for the Stern Pinball factory tour arrived on-time at 9am. By then, the queue to board them extended from the doors right down the length of the hallway.<\/p>\n\n\n

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\"Just<\/a>
Just the start of the line for the Stern Pinball tour buses<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n
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\"More<\/a>
More of the line for the tour buses<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

For our coverage of Pinball Expo we have concentrated on bringing you the extensive schedule of forty-five seminar talks and presentations. That meant setting up all the audio, video and computer equipment in the seminar hall on Thursday morning while the Stern Pinball factory tour was taking place.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As a result, we weren’t able to join the tour ourselves. However, we do have pictures courtesy of Jonathan Joosten from Pinball Magazine<\/a> who was assisting us with the seminar recordings but was able to take time out from the set-up to visit Stern Pinball.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"The<\/a>
The buses taking guests to the Stern Pinball factory tour
(picture: Jonathan Joosten)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n
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\"The<\/a>
The queue for entry snaked around the parking area
(picture: Jonathan Joosten)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Seth Davis, Chief Executive Officer and President of the company, was on-hand alongside Chairman of the Board, Gary Stern, to welcome guests to their new factory.<\/p>\n\n\n

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\"Seth<\/a>
Seth Davis and Gary Stern
(picture: Jonathan Joosten)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

The most-recently announced new title, the Blood Red Kiss edition of Elvira’s House of Horrors<\/em>, was on-show to visitors to the factory.<\/p>\n\n\n

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\"The<\/a>
The Blood Red Kiss edition of Elvira’s House of Horrors
(picture: Jonathan Joosten)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n
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\"The<\/a>
The Blood Red Kiss edition of Elvira’s House of Horrors
(picture: Jonathan Joosten)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n
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\"At<\/a>
At the end of the tour, the Stern Store was open to sell branded merchandise
(picture: Jonathan Joosten)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n
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\"The<\/a>
The Stern Store inside the factory
(picture: Jonathan Joosten)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n
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\"A<\/a>
A similar range was available inside the Pinball Expo show hall at the Stern Pinball booth
(picture: Jonathan Joosten)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Stern Pinball decided not to let anyone take pictures during the tour – including media representatives. They policed the policy very tightly with staff all along the tour route making sure nobody took out a camera or a phone.<\/p>\n\n\n

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\"Sorry<\/a>
Sorry we can’t show you more
(picture: Jonathan Joosten)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

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

The first seminar began at 1pm on Thursday in the dedicated seminars room on the floor above the entrance to the show hall. The schedule was published in the show guide, online on the Pinball Expo website, and we have it here too for future reference.<\/p>\n\n\n

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\"The<\/a>
The schedule for Pinball Expo 2023<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

You can watch all of these seminars either below or in the Pinball Expo 2023 playlist<\/a> on our Pinball News YouTube channel<\/a> where they are joined by many more videos from this and previous shows.<\/p>\n\n\n

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\"The<\/a>
The seminars room<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Thursday’s Seminars<\/strong>:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1:00pm – Mike Gullo<\/strong>
Solid State Repair Tips & Horror Stories<\/em><\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n
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\"Mike<\/a>
Mike Gullo<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Mike describes some of the hacks and basic errors he found when repairing solid-state pinball, as well as the damaging effects of battery corrosion on circuit boards.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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