Florida Arcade and Pinball Expo is coming!

The 2010 Florida Arcade and Pinball Expo is being held January 28th through 31st at the Dania Jai-Alai located at 301 E. Dania Beach Blvd, Broward County, FL

For $12 admission price (children under 6 get in free), you get to play all your favorite classic Arcade & Pinball machines until your fingers are content. All games are set on FREE PLAY! No Quarters needed!

The games are being setup now as I write this blog. Here is a snapshot taken by a Village Member showing the progress. The Ape is expecting to have over 300 pinball machines alone. They have collectors bring games from their private collections, games that have been masterfully restore to glorious playability of yesteryear.

The photographs are showing wonderful classics from Gottlieb, Williams, Bally being brought in the auditorium to be readied for action. I spotted classics like Firepower, Haunted House, Funhouse & morejust from the photographs.

I am going to finally get to measure up my past nemesis, Gottlieb’s Black Hole because as a young child that game used to torture me without mercy. It would mock my skills & eat my quarters, again & again & again! BUT I shall have my sweet revenge with my years of dedication to becoming Pin-fit. Perseverance shall triumph! Ah…that’s my private Idaho though.

A very long list of arcade games like Pac-man & Ms. Pac-man, Space Invaders will be there for all your playing pleasure.

You can win a Machine if you can put your high score & have it last & unbroken all weekend! Check out the designated tournament area that will house the 20 games for players to battle for domination. At the conclusion of the Expo, the player with the High Score on a particular machine shall receive that machine, then it will be delivered to the winner's home. (The delivery men just hope that you do not live in two story home with your game room on the second floor in Spokane Washington.)

Other attractions will be there also. A classic car show will be on Saturday night January 30^th with prizes & raffle drawings. Current, former and future NFL players will attend along with former Pac Man champion players. Plus newer Arcades games will be on site as well, like Stern's new pinball machines.

This a four day event so pace yourselves. Let's make this the biggest Florida Arcades & Pinball Expo yet!

• Daily Pass is $12.00


• Weekend pass (4 Daily passes) is $40.00


• Children (under 6 years of age) enter FREE.

Show Hours:

Thursday, 01/28/10: 12:00pm - 12:00am

Friday, 01/29/10: 12:00pm - 1:00am

Saturday, 01/30/10: 12:00pm - 1:00am

Sunday, 01/31/10: 12:00pm - 5:00pm

Location:

Dania Jai Alai Fronton

301 E. Dania Beach Blvd, Broward County, FL

You can contact Florida Arcade and Pinball Expo direct at:

Site: Floridaape.org

Email: Jaialou@betdania.com.

Phone: 954-920-1511

A link to more photographs taken by Klassic of the APE setup can be seen here.

If you ever have any questions, information or comments, post them here.

Have Fun,

Dan

Elvis Found: Alive & Kicking

I was talking to an amusement games operator in passing, he told me a very interest story about a Ft Myers location for his Elvis Gold pinball machine out in the wild. So I wanted to pass on the location to you with this brief description of the pinball machine. The Elvis Gold pinball machine was a Limited Edition pinball machine that Stern Pinball released in 2004, designed by Steve Ritchie. Who was also the brains behind some of the older, well known & very popular Williams pinball titles such as Black Knight, Firepower, Getaway: High Speed 2, & Terminator 2. I found a quote from Steve that has some thoughts about his Elvis pinball creation, “ELVIS is a nice blend of rules and action for the average player, with some forgiveness for the novice, as well as depth of rules that good players and collectors want for sustained play interest." What is cool about this pin is that it actually has Elvis singing! Not only does it use, Actual recordings are used from the famed "68 Comeback" television special, as well as the "Aloha from Hawaii" television special, it also has a mechanical mini Elvis shaking hips and gesturing his hands while “swinging” in perfect sync with real Elvis tunes. The mini Elvis even brings the microphone to its’ lips every time he sings a phrase! This retro effect of Elvis dancing and singing is showcased with re-mixed high quality sound tracks. The game soundtrack includes hits like"All Shook Up", "Blue Suede Shoes", "Burning Love.", "Heartbreak Hotel", "Hound Dog", "Jailhouse Rock", and “See See Rider”. It even has Al Dvorin, Elvis’ tour manager and bandleader as one of the game’s announcers. Unfortunately, Stern had to use an Elvis sound-alike voice for the Elvis Commentary but Jamie Kelly does a real fine job filling in. The object of ELVIS is to collect Elvis songs, win the Top-Ten Countdown, and collect points by spelling out the name E-L-V-I-S. The player can then compete for the highest reward…a trip to Graceland! It has different tune themes located on the playfield like a jumping Hound Dog, a jailhouse & Heartbreak Hotel. (Fact: Elvis even played pinball & own a pinball machine. He had a Bally Knockout pinball machine at Graceland!)

The ELVIS pinball machine is a celebration of the Kings’ life, his legacy & the music he left behind.

Long live the King! The Elvis Pinball Machine is located at: Shoeless Joe’s Sport Cafe 13051 Bell Tower DriveFort Myers, FL 33907

(239) 437-0650

If you ever have any questions, information or comments, post them here.

Have Fun,

Dan