Southwest Florida Pinball Avenue

Save Spider-man for the Children Part 9

2011-12-03T15:52:00.007-05:00

A several people had asked more questions about the parts that can be found on the Spider-man pinball machine, so I decided to record a few more videos describing some additional parts that make up a average pinball machine as the work progressed. These are typical parts or mechanics that make pinball what it is today.

The first video is of the bulbs.

The second video is abput the pinballs themselves.

The third is on the flippers.

We can found also at Project Pinball on Facebook.

Thank you for your interests.

Dan

To be continued...

Save Spider-man for the Children Part 8

2011-11-30T22:31:00.004-05:00

The shine is back!

The Spider-man pinball machine is starting to shape up. We cleaned and scrubed all the nuts and bolts, ramps, plastics and the playfield. We put on three coat wax and bluffed between each coat and what a glossy shine we have now. It is a good feeling inside knowing that we can give new life back to this pinball machine.

The next step is to start bolting the parts and assemblies back to the top of the playfield and that is the subject of my video here.

For more information on our Project Pinball and how you can help, you can visit us at Project Pinball on Facebook

Dan

To be continued.....

Save Spider-man for the Children Part 10

2011-11-27T08:58:00.007-05:00

The subject: A Stern Spider-man pinball machine born on July 06 2007 with over 21,300 games played.

Location: The Children's Hospital Fourth Floor
On-site damage assessment: Filthy, broken and unplayable. Can not repair at location due to sterile environment.

Final note: No Problem!

We have been working to complete the Spider-man for its triumphed return to the Chrissy Brown Oncology and Hematology Unit at the Children's Hospital. We have set the date for this coming Saturday the 10th of December. I have been burning the midnight oil all week making great progress but having less time to post the videos that I made along the way. So here they are.

First video is about the final results and walkthrough:

Second video talks about the code update and plastic ramps:

Third video is the testing and shows some low playfield game play:

Thank you for watching. We can found also at Project Pinball on Facebook.

Dan

To be continued...

Save Spider-man for the Children Part 7

2011-11-26T22:21:00.005-05:00

We have been very busy and it shows by the good progress that is being made on the Spider-man pinball machine.

I have a couple more videos to share with you.

I wanted to show you the shine and the re-graining of the metal guide rails.

Another pinball machine part- the bumpers

Thank you for watching. You can find us at Project Pinball on Facebook.

Dan

Save Spider-man for the Children Part 6

2011-11-23T08:28:00.004-05:00

As we continue to de-populate the Spider-man playfield, I have been videoing the process to share here and on YouTube at Save Spider-man for the Children by PinballMole.

The first video shows the playfield farther along the tear-down process.

The next video shows close-up of the damaged targets and metal guide rails then I do a brief description of the next step.

This video is a short video that gives you an idea of dirty the playfield is and how dirty we get from work on it.

If have questions, just post here or on Facebook Project Pinball and I can possibly go into more detail.

Dan

To be Continued...

Save Spider-man for the Children Part 5

2011-11-22T15:13:00.012-05:00

I am back from IAAPPA & Southern Pinball Festival.

While I was at the IAAPPA Expo I had a chance to talk to a lot of good people that are very interested in donating parts and other items for our Project Pinball. Which is great and it will help me get this Spider-man back up and running for the kids.

The Southern Pinball Festival was a wonderful success for getting the word out about our facebook, YouTube and blogging pages and our great charity. We had donation buckets located around the event hall that were being filled by the warm and kind pinball people from all over the globe.

I filmed additional footage of the teardown process. The first video is showing the beginning of the playfield being stripped down.

The second video is describing the break down process.

Thank you for watching. You can find us at Project Pinball on Facebook.

Dan

The boy behind the gift

2011-11-15T10:07:00.009-05:00

Jimmy Schneeberger, 11, of Naples died on Thursday April 13, 2000.

Jimmy Schneeberger was a member of the Webelos Den 1, Pack 12 of Collier County and was recently awarded with the Arrow of Light Award the highest award cub scouts can earn. He attended Laurel Oak Elementary School where he was on the honor roll. He most recently attended Corkscrew Elementary School where he was a member of the peer mediation group. Jimmy Schneeberger was among the first winners of the Collier County "Do the Right Thing" award.

This is why we do it.

My wife found out there was a broken Spiderman pinball machine in the oncology department of the Children's Hospital of Southwest Florida. It was a memorial gift, donated to the hospital in the name of Jimmy Schneeberger .

We felt it was just wrong to have a great gift and outlet for the kids sit idle because it needed our TLC.

We are working on the Spider-man right now and we are going to fix it in honor of Jimmy and his Family and for all kids that are undergoing treatment in the hospital.

Jimmy and all these brave kids are the real heroes!

If you would like to help the kids please contact us Russelrunt@comcast.net
On Facebook: click here Project Pinball
Or comment at the bottom of this Article.
More information on Chrissy Brown Oncology and Hematology Unit just click.

Thank you,
From all of us.

Southern Pinball Festival Teams up with Project Pinball

2011-11-14T14:30:00.006-05:00

Southern Pinball Festival is ready to kick off this coming Friday!

The first annual pinball show in the Central Florida area, November 18, 19, & 20, located in the beautiful Maitland Civic Center just north of downtown Orlando.

"This festival is driven by the passionate enthusiasts and collectors throughout the state of Florida."

SHOW TIMES

Friday 3 pm – 12 midnight

Saturday 10 am – 12 midnight

Sunday 10 am – 5 pm

LOCATION

Maitland Civic Center641 South Maitland AvenueMaitland, FL 32751 http://maitlandciviccenter.com/

The Southern Pinball Festival owners heard about our Florida charity drive to save Jimmy's Spider-man pinball machine for the Children's Hospital and couldn't stand idle without lending us a helping hand.

The Southern Pinball Festival is sharing our passion and it shows from their huge support. Thank you. They featured an article about our cause on their front home page of the SPF. They help with the arrangements for us to publicize the Project Pinball at their three day event.

We are going to have donations buckets on-site so if you spot one, please help us with a warm gift to the kids of the Chrissy Brown Oncology and Hematology Unit. Also I will be there for all three days supporting the efforts of SPFs' wonderful event, come and say "Hello". I would love to talk to you.

Dan

We can be found at Facebook: Project Pinball

Save Spider-man for the Children Part 4

2011-11-14T13:55:00.006-05:00

I am back with another two Spider-man pinball videos.

The first video is showing the condition and total breakdown of all three of the Jet Bumpers.

The second video is showing what a pinball playfield looks like underneath and a quick description of the worn and broken left flipper and switches as well as the black dust that was everywhere.

I love questions! So if you have any, just post here or on Facebook Project Pinball and I can possibly go into more detail.

To be Continued...

Save Spider-man for the Children Part 3

2011-11-13T20:04:00.013-05:00

A comparison photograph for you labeled- A Clean Spot!

This one will be a short article. I know you just sighed with relief.....but you don't get off that easily. I made some videos to take the place of my writing. And my writing is way better than my camera work! LOL

Have Fun,
Dan

PS Any negative comments on my youtube videos will be subject to laws of the house ruling of a five dollars donation per comment for our charity. So if you want to donate and have fun with that, give until you feel good!

Check and follow us at Facebook Project Pinball also.

Save Spider-man for the Children Part 2

2011-11-13T14:35:00.031-05:00

The subject: A Stern Spider-man pinball machine born on July 06 2007 with 59,664 balls played.

Location: The Children's Hospital Fourth Floor- Chrissy Brown Oncology and Hematology Unit

On-site damage assessment: Filthy, broken and unplayable. Can not repair at location due to sterile environment.

Final note: No Problem!

First Step: Remove (steal) the Spider-man pinball machine from Oncology Unit without looking like a super villain! In the cover of darkness (and at dinner time) we rolled out our webslinger to the waiting getaway truck and back to the pin operating room.

After getting the Spidey all set up, I started with the Second Step: Get access to the playfield and backbox. I had to drill out both locks since the keys were no where to be found. Here is a picture of what is under the playfield, almost a mile of wiring, over 3,500 parts, over 100 light bulbs, electrical parts & solenoids.

Third Step: Start with condition and repair assessment. Looking at the playfield I noticed a lot (and I mean a lot) of black grimy dust. Dust stuck to the playfield, metal parts, wires, lamps, plastics, rubbers and under the playfield too, everything that I touch turn me black.

Sticking my head in the bottom of the cabinet I found parts from a flipper assembly. It turned out to be the left flipper had lost some parts. Boo. It happen to be the EOS (End of stroke switch) which is vital for the longevity and health of the flipper coil.

Fourth Step: Get surface black dust out of my way. I rolled Spidey outside and I fired up my air compressor and made a black cloud of debris that had me looking like a chimney sweep. If I chose not to do this every time that I would touch the inside of the machine I would get filthy then have a chance to transfer the grimy dirt to other areas. You can't clean it easily with soap and water because it will just swear or embed into whatever you were trying to clean. Next vacuum lightly to remove remaining black dust and debris.

Fifth Step: Photograph every thing. I whipped out the camera and started recording the condition and position of assemblies and parts for future reference and for me to share here.

Let me get back to the real work, I will write more later.

To be Continued...

You can visit us on Facebook at: Project Pinball

Save the Spider-man for the Children: Part 1

2011-11-12T14:29:00.017-05:00

Hello Dan here,

This is an article about the process of saving a Spider-man Pinball Machine so the kids at the Chrissy Brown Oncology Unit in SW Florida can enjoy it again. The pinball machine was donated by the Schneeberger family in memory of their eleven year old son Jimmy.

This will a daily log of process made of taking this Pinball Machine from a non-operational to full healthy & playable game.

So it begins...

Origin:

"My name is Chris, I’m a Bonita Springs real estate agent and also a Leadership Bonita Student. During the healthcare segment of Leadership training one of the establishments we toured was the Children’s Hospital at Health Park in Fort Myers, Florida; more specifically the Chrissy Brown Oncology and Hematology Unit. "

Key Facts about The Chrissy Brown Oncology and Hematology Unit.

Established: 1994

Type of Facility: Pediatric Acute Care

Number of Dedicated Pediatric Beds: 98 (Total)

Number of Dedicated Neonatal Intensive Care Beds: 48

Number of Patients Seen Annually in Emergency Services: 22,000+

Number of Pediatric Providers: 300+

Number of Pediatric Specialists: 58+

Number of Pediatric Specialty Areas: 10

Number of People Helped Through Child Advocacy Programs: 95,000+

For more information about the Chrissy Brown Oncology and Hematology Unit: http://www.leememorial.org/caring/facilities/tch.asp

"In one of the recreation rooms I noticed a Spiderman Pinball machine, by Stern. It was really rough looking with visible broken components and an overall dirty appearance. It almost looked like it was in a fire it was so covered with black dust."

"Immediately I turned to our tour guide and said, “I know local pinball enthusiasts who wouldn’t be able to sleep at night if they knew this machine was broken, if children … sick children with cancer even, couldn’t play it. It would just break their heart.” I then gave them the contact information and hoped for the best.
Lo and behold, “the best” happened a few weeks later when Sarah Evanglista from Healthpark called invited us to come back and take a look at Spidey. The first general assessment happened late on a Thursday evening and a few emails bounced back and forth and in less than twenty four hours, permission to pick the machine up was granted by the administration."

"Spiderman is taking a short trip to Bonita Springs for a tune up, fix up, face lift and a serious bath. Follow along on on http://www.pinballavenue.blogspot.com/ and the Facebook page, Project Pinball. Of course, donations for parts, materials and cleaning supplies are welcomed and encouraged. "

To be Continued....

Return from PAPA Pinball Tournament

2011-08-22T14:49:00.022-04:00

I wanted to write my PAPA pinball blog post earlier in the week right after I got back home, fresh* from Pittsburgh (*dead dog tried), but life interrupts. Now I am glad that it got postponed, because I can really reflect how important of an event it was & how it affected my daily life, for the good, of course.

The PAPA organizers did an incredible job setting up the faculties. I was over the top excited to be there in that pinball environment. They had pinball machines that I had only seen in pictures or at Internet Pinball Database site and I would actually have the chance to play them. Super! Not only a large collection of good looking pinball machines but well playing to boot.

The players were fanatic, colorful & fantastic. They would and could help with encouraging words and helpful tips while completing against you at the same time. Their skill levels were diverse as the players themselves. A couple of younger players were making their present felt, (I wish I had their skill at that age.)

I arrived at the PAPA doors shortly after noon time on Thursday, the first day of the tournament. I decided early on that I wanted to jump right into the trenches of competition and learn by doing. I signed in & got handed my PAPA book bag with my PAPA T-shirt, entry slip for the tournament, post cards and advertisement for other pinball event through out the year.

After grabbing my first C division entry and I proceed to the line up of nine pinball machines. For each entry you get to pick five pins that you want to battle on. The choice was easy, chose the ones that are familiar to you. I realize with the first plunge of the ball, that didn’t mean jack because the PAPA style of game play is blood ripping brutal.

The PAPA pinball machine set-up was tweaked to be mean and lighting fast with short ball times. The outlanes post were almost non-exist with a gapping hole for the ball to drain through. The tilts were super tight, warnings for moving the machines were easy to accomplish. I never tilted out but I am sure I was a whisper away on one or two turns. There were very short ball saves if any and no extra ball to be given. The thin black rubber posts were exchanged for the thicker yellow posts making tough shots a lot tougher.

The second day, Friday, I wanted to settle in for some serious play. I wanted to get something flowing. I managed a couple of good entry scores that moved me up to eleventh place, above the final qualifying cutoff point of sixteenth and then I fell quickly back down to the mid-twenties ranking and rose no higher for the rest of the weekend.

Saturday was a blur. My game play was uneven and sporadic, zombie play. I tired to focus and put together a steady entry run, coming close with my Terminator 2 game play which scored fifth highest of the tournament. I did well on my second machine but could not get another good score to go with it. Points, points, zero, zero, zero = bad entry round. Boooo. I was toasted, had nothing left to give.

Sunday was the final rounds. I was very pleased to watch and support the final C division players. They worked very hard to be there. Nothing was given away in those final rounds, they had to continue to fight and claw their way to the top of their game for small point advances that would be add together for their victory or loss. The final four was a very even match-up. First and second places were decided by a single point.

Congratulations to the C Division winners:
1st place-Chuck Jackson ......Points 8
2nd place-Kevin Ryan .....................7
3rd place-Todd Seaver ....................4
4th place-Richard Achterberg ........2

WTG, guys!

In case you are wondering. I finished in a tie three-ways for forty-fifth. I am very happy with the pinball results for my first PAPA tournament, I wasn’t in the top sixteen for the finals, or top twenty but there were one hundred and sixty-one people lower than me. I played hard, they played hard. I am okay with that.

I had fun, lots of fun. I get a smile every time I think about my experience at PAPA which helps with the daily grind. I look forward to returning next year to reunite with the fine people and players that I met this year.

More pictures of PAPA 14 here: Click me.

More about PAPA before my trip started: Heading to Pittsburgh to play Pinball
http://pinballavenue.blogspot.com/2011/08/heading-to-pittsburgh-to-play-pinball.html

Dan

Heading to Pittsburgh to play Pinball

2011-08-05T10:29:00.009-04:00

A friend of mine has been to the PAPA pinball tournaments in the past & always bent my ear with an interesting story or two about it. So this year I set it as a self reward or goal to make it to Pittsburgh this year.

PAPA is the Professional & Amateur Pinball Association. They are hosting the PAPA 14 World Pinball Championships August 11th thru 14th.

It will be nice because it will be like a small homecoming as well, I born & raised in a small suburb right outside the city, very close to Scott township where the PAPA tournaments are held.

I am very much looking forward to my first real tournament setting. Sure, I played other small tournaments that were held, but this for real. Pinball Players from all over the world converge to this one building to do battle. There are top prizes & trophies given for succeeding high into the standings. First prize for A Division Players is $10,000 bones. Not too shabbily. Plus trophies & titles.

I will not be playing in the A Division though! I aim to start on the ground floor in C Division. I would have joined the D Division if PAPA had one, because it does not exist.

In the past, my skills were random at best but I have been doing the Rocky Balboa workout, raw eggs for breakfast, running around with logs on my shoulders while an old weathered man yells at me.

No, that’s not true. I did set some of my pinball machines as would be found in a World Class tournament so I could practice. Tilt mechs fine tuned, outlanes posts opened all the way, no ball save & no free extra balls awarded. Pins set up like this has your best score achieved drop by millions of points. I went from scores like 80 million to scant 6 million. Tough love.

I am going to get schooled in the finer arts of pinball tournament play. Hoorah, I can’t wait.

The PAPA Link is here: http://www.papa.org/index.php
They have all the information, directions & more on their site.

They have a cool blog site also called the Tilt Warning:
http://tiltwarning.com/blog/

If you read this & are attending come up & say hello. My name is Dan/ RGP Mole.

As always Have Fun.

New Southern Pinball Expo in Orlando

2011-07-14T11:29:00.018-04:00

The Southern Pinball Festival to be open for November 18th 19th & 20 2011 in Orlando, Florida.

A group of pinball collectors in Florida have announced their first Southern Pinball Festival, where they plan on having over 100 pinball machines spanning the history of pinball in America, ranging from an 1933 World’s Fair Jigsaw bagatelle to the brand new modern pinball machines.

Leave your quarters at home because all the pinball machines will be set up as Free Play. After you pay for your admission, you can play any of your favorite pinball machines until your heart’s content.

A professional pinball tournament is being held all three days of the show so you can test your pinball skill against your rival competitors, if you succeed Top cash prizes and SPF trophies will be awarded.

The Southern Pinball Festival will be taking place at the Maitland Civic Center just North of downtown Orlando.

Also, the Amusement industry’s premiere convention, IAAPA, will also be going on in Orlando the week of the show. Link here: http://www.absoluteexhibits.com/IAAPA2011?gclid=CKLxtsedgaoCFYHs7QodKDGAyg

The Southern Pinball Festival strongly encourage attendees to make the most out of the trip to Orlando by also planning to visit the many theme parks and sites in the area such as the Walt Disney theme parks, Universal Studios, Sea World and others. Even LegoLand Florida will be open in nearby Winter Haven by then! (so you have MANY excuses to convince your wife and family or friends to make the trip for the week before/after the ‘pinball show’!)

Little Shop of Games one of their attending sponsors. Curly & Jimmy will be on hand to have pinball parts and will even have several brand new Stern pinball machines on-site, available for sale. If you don’t see what you need, they will be glad to order it in for you. Link here: http://www.littleshopofgames.com/

“We hope many of you will be able to attend and help us make this a success that will grow in the future! SUN! PINS! FUN!”
–Spencer of the Southern Pinball Festival

The Southern Pinball Festival during November 18, 19, 20, 2011 in Orlando, Florida
SHOW your support and post that you are attending via Facebook, they would love to hear from you. http://tinyurl.com/FB-Attend-SPF-Show

CHECK out their website for more detail, information, updates & more: http://www.southernpinballfestival.com/

OR show up on Facebbook & show them how much you “LIKE” this event. http://tinyurl.com/Southern-Pinball-Festival

TWEET your Twitter here:
http://www.twitter.com/spfshow

You can read more about the 1933 World's Fair Jigsaw Bagatelle here:
http://pinballavenue.blogspot.com/2008/03/wow-factor-10.html

Have Fun,

Dan

Rolling Stones Pinball Machine Rocked!

2011-04-11T22:30:00.024-04:00

I played Stern’s Rolling Stones pinball machine this weekend at Curly’s Little Shop of Games open house in South Florida & I have to say, it rocked!

This brand new pinball machine features the band, Keith, Ronnie and Charlie, on stage performing, while Mick is out front dancing on the music notes with renowned tongue & lips in the background & album art all over the playfield. It even had dual stack speaker amps plastics.

It was cool playing the pinball machine while the Stones’ “Brown Sugar” song was jamming with Mick doing his rooster strut across the playfield. It was awesome sounding pinball machine and you don’t have to be a baby boomer to enjoy the Stones classic hits which include the legendary “It's Only Rock 'n Roll” & “Start Me Up”. The two ramp shots are pleasing with smooth & fast flow back to the flippers.

The rule set for this pinball machine has you collecting the Rolling Stones albums& guitars to get those special multiball modes. Try to get the VIP pass for the mystery award. There are seven modes to shoot for; World Tour, Fast Scoring, Rock Star, Records, Licks, Combos and Stones multiball, after completing them all will start the wizard Encore mode.

Check it out here at Stern's Pinball Site. http://www.sternpinball.com/Games/th.aspx

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

Have fun,

Dan

Iron Man is back!

2010-03-28T12:34:00.014-04:00

This a good move for Stern which they are finally able to release a working pinball for sale before the Blockbuster movie debut at the cinema on May 7th, causing better interest in this Iron Man themed pinball machine, riding the anticipation & interest in the Iron Man sequel. The Iron Man Pinball Machine looks to be a mean machine. It features the Iron Man2 artwork & designs, includes movie clips which are displayed on the dmd (Dot Matrix Display) as well as the music, sound & speech from the movie itself. Don your iron suit & ready for combat: It has the Iron Monger rising out of the center of the playfield. Once engaged in battle, it has the ability to catch the ball & send it flying in any direction it wants. Adding to the fray is Whiplash whom also has control on the ball & he can whip it about into frenzy. War Machine is present & it has a kickback shot that when hit it will fire the ball right back at your flippers. Here is a Iron Man Video of the game play by Todd. Click Here.

John Borg brings his talents to the Iron Man playfield design. John has made his presence felt in the pinball community in the past with his creations such as Guns N' Roses, Indiana Jones, Twister, Star Wars, Jurassic Park, Mary Shelley's Frankenstein & more. There seems to be five characters that you have to collect: Iron Man, War Machine, Iron Monger, Whiplash & Drones, six modes to complete & couple of multi-ball features that will advance to the final wizard mode. This pinball has a combination of flow, with the implements of ball capturing magnets, a flipper aimed kickback, nice fast outer loop shots and a couple of ramps with some smooth flow that return the ball to the flipper for your next shot. Over-all: A beautiful...... ah I meant to say a Mean looking game. Fun- Those magnets sure cause chaos Iron Man sure does look to have good potential. You can try your hand against the Iron Man Pinball Machine out first here at Little House of Pinball Annual Open House on April 10th 2010. And if you decide that it is a winner you can purchase your own Iron Man onsite. Little House of Pinball Open House Directions: Click Here. Iron Man 2 Movie Teaser: Click Here. Thx Todd! All Iron Man Pinball Machine photographs & video by Todd, you can see more of his photographs & video at Toddisbored.com.

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

Have Fun, Dan

Florida Arcade and Pinball Expo is coming!

2010-01-24T13:55:00.006-05:00

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

2010-01-21T16:32:00.011-05:00

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

Digital Pinball better.....because it has more games?

2009-11-06T16:04:00.021-05:00

Digital VS. Original Digital Pinball better than a real pinball machine…. because it has more games? I would disagree with that! Let the comparisons be between the new Multipin vs. any brand new Stern pinball machine, *because including all the pinball manufactures, past or present, would be a large & lengthy task that would bring too many variables to our basic topic. The Multipin $6000- Based on a real size pinball machine with 17 different games- some original game play & Gottlieb remakes of older titles. Half of these titles can be played on your computer for free at: Futures Pinball The pinball playfield is replaced by 32” LCD monitor laid flat in cabinet with a 720p resolution while another LCD monitor is used for the backglass & score display area. The backglass changes theme to the different games selected & score display area can mimic even an older rotary score reels found in the old EM (Electro-mechanical) pinball machines. All game play is simulated once the ball plunger is released. The whole playfield is digital reproduced with the all the pinball parts that would be found on a regular pinball machine. The animated ball bounces against high definition bumpers, flippers, slingshots, ramps, targets & such but it has digital motion sensors built in to the cabinet so you can influence the balls travel. You can shift & move the animated balls with finesse by using original pinball machine techniques like bumps, shakes & other body language same as the real thing. Here is a link to a Multipin video showing a little of the game play that is offered. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F44Ni3klD7I&feature=player_embedded# It reproduces authentic sounds for the no longer needed moving parts like the electric solenoids, pop bumpers, saucer kickers & even flippers to give the player the illusion that it is a real pinball machine. The Stern pinball machine $4000- A real pinball machine….end of story. It is what it is. It is not trying to reproduce or simulate anything, because it already is a pinball machine. There is nothing that replaces that real pinball experience that is on a true pinball machine. If the Mutlipin bridges the gap to a true pinball experience, I am all for it. But you can not compare until you played the original. If you ever have any questions, information or comments, post them here. Have Fun, Dan

Family Guy shows up at Ft Myers Ale House

2008-07-18T17:04:00.008-04:00

I stopped in for lunch today & noticed that the Fort Myers Ale House now has the Stern Family Guy Pinball Machine in lieu of Stern’s older NASCAR theme Pinball Machine. The Family Guy Pinball Machine is a very entertaining pin. The Family Guy is a Pat Lawlor Design . The same pinball designer that bought forth the now legendry machines like Addams Family , Funhouse & Twilight Zone in the early Nineties during the time of the Bally, Midway & Williams manufacturing days.

Pat Lawlor's Family Guy layout brings a lot of sideways ball action with the third flipper mounted high on the left side of the playfield. All the characters are present on the playfield, but Stewie rules & gets featured with his own miniature operating pinball playfield… interesting a pinball machine within a pinball machine. The sound & video clips used, go hand & hand with the Family Guy theme, so if you enjoy the show you will love this pinball machine. Plus, it has the fighting rooster!

If you are local, give it a shot.

Ale House - 4400 Kernel Cir, Ft Myers , FL If you ever have any questions, information or comments, post them here.

Have Fun,

Dan

Pirates of the Caribbean: New Mod found???

2008-04-21T12:19:00.013-04:00

I am always glad see to find Pinball machines in the “wild”, but it always saddens me a bit to notice those machines in a need of repair… Especially if this is the only allotment for introduction to made to a new player.

This Stern: Pirates of the Caribbean pinball machine that I found over the weekend was the most disgustingly dirty machine that I have ever walked up on. The joke was made that it was a new after market modification for this machine, "Black Beach Sand" for the Pirates/ Water/ Caribbean theme to be enhanced.

No, it did not stop the pinball machine from being played, but it makes one wonder when was the last time that this machine was look at by the owner or operator, not alone cleaned. The grimly “sand” is coming from some place….. usually in this case, from the black rubber rings through out the playfield wearing out from normal play over time and just simply need to be changed out with fresh ones. When I say over time, I am meaning years of continue play. Then, pennies start costing dollars, when the black rebound rubber rings that costs .35 cents breaks and pinball machine goes down and can not operate. So, how many dollars could that translate into? A pinball machine in this kind of condition does not operate and play up to the true design characteristics of the machine and it will rob you of a desired quality play. To a regular player this is not a big deal, just don’t put you money in, but to an inexperienced beginning player this situation could lead to that person walking away saying, “that was waste of my time & money!” As the Pinball enthusiasts’ ranks dwindle and are forced into the private home arcade and game rooms, the owners of the location, ops and existing players need to be ever concerned and vigilant to recruit and energize a new source of players. Just keeping the pinball machines, to be found, in good shape will definitely assist.

Viva la pinball machine!

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

Have Fun,

Dan

WOW Factor +10

2008-03-23T12:02:00.014-04:00

Wow, what a great turn out for KB’s pinball tournament. Jamie & Debra opened their home last night to host this pinball gathering. While it seemed like an invading mob of friends & new comers Jamie & Debra managed to serving up warm hospitably to everyone with ease. Wow- I had a great time last night Wow- It was nice to meet some new faces & talk to some of those all ready met. Wow- The line up of Pinball machines was great, ten machines in the collection. Wow- It was good to “see” Digger & his wife Sue. Wow- Thomas kicked butt with first place…Again. Wow- I lost my voice over the melodies of pinball machines. Wow- Spencer’s awesome 1933 world’s fair bagatelle. Wow- The popcorn was a hit…. Again! Wow- What a excellent capture video Wow- The long drive home hurt. Wow- Those machines were in remarkable condition. Wow- The food & drink was great. Wow- That Medieval Madness pinball machine was lightening fast. Wow- My wife is mad at me, but she did say the sofa was comfortable & she did have a good time. Wow- What a great pin gathering. For more Photographs look here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/21038796@N02/sets/72157604220207681/show/ If you ever have any questions, information or comments, post them here. Have Fun, Dan

Are you Tuff Enough!?

2008-03-04T19:53:00.007-05:00

Are you good enough to join Spencer’s Pinball Bobsled Team?

Well think again punk! Only the top condition athletes with PinFit training & no next of kin or bright futures should even considering applying for this. In any event, you must first have a strong desire to become PinFit and be willing to set out upon the journey of a lifetime. Why? Because it will seem like a lifetime until you become one of the very, very few who successfully complete the PinFit training and make it to the SPBTeam.

Spencer’s dictum is: “I will never quit. I persevere and thrive on adversity. My nation expects me to be physically harder and mentally stronger than my enemies. I will draw on every remaining ounce of strength to protect my teammates and to accomplish our mission. I will never give up the fight because we train for war and fight to win. The execution of my duties will be swift and violent when required to take out my pinball opponents.” Our PinFit training program will help you:

Achieve a level of fitness and mental toughness you once only thought of & what other Pinheads are dreaming of.

Develop PinFit skills & abilities to shred hardwood floors, tile- ceramic or marble, & carpet with coordination and confidence!

Dramatically increase your athletic & pinball performance 30% or more in less than 6 weeks, (actual results may vary. These results from our on-site PinFit training center in Teustepe, Nicaragua (Note: PLEASE bring your own quarters!)) Also, build lean muscle mass in as little as 6 weeks.

Learn & perfect the proper maneuvering of a pinball machine through the beach obstacle course while developing cardiovascular and respiratory endurance, strength, power, speed, agility, balance, flexibility and accuracy that are needed to maintain the stamina for extreme & violent pinball machine craving.

Use exclusive exercises formerly known only to PinFit elite trainers. Train using functional exercises not found in traditional gyms or arcades, which build core stability, prepare you for the unknown, and make you fit across a broad spectrum of pinball playing skills. The PinFit program utilizes a combination of PinFit “STD” (SlamTilt Drives) and PinFit “CPT” (Carve Physical Training) regimens which is the same training that the elite Spencer’s Pinball Bobsled Team units now use to chisel their bodies, compete at their elite level, and help them survive the hardships of special pinball tournaments.

Reduce injuries.

You don’t have to be crazy but it surely comes in handily when others of clearer minds & sensibility would be running for cover. If you like what you read, Then you are that crazy! “The difference between pinball and others games is that in pinball you bury the guy who comes in second.” -Spencer

*** THIS A JOKE! PLEASE DO NOT CONTACT ME, THINKING THAT THIS A REAL TRAINING PROGRAM!***

Have Fun,

Dan

Rocky is supporting the Cheaters.

2008-03-03T16:46:00.029-05:00

I went to Rocky's Replay to find out that they have altered the Stern's Wheel of Fortune Pinball Machine because too many people complained about the game being too hard for them.

WHAT? It is true… that some people could not comprehend the pinball outlane configuration so Rocky's stretched rubbers across the outlanes to block them from a possibility of a ball drain.

WHAT? I am not making this up… the only way to drain the ball to end your turn is lose your ball down the double middle lanes or get a tilt by accident.

WHY? I don’t know why… the outlanes have a nice ball save feature, the free spin awards that gives you another ball if your ball enters that particular lane that is lit as it is draining. The Free Spin Awards can be earned, one at a time, for all four lanes by hitting the “U” drop targets on the playfield, so if you have all four lit it is identical to having a extra ball awarded.

READ. I think it is poor taste to change the game because it is "too hard" for a few people to figure it out, because they chose not to learn the game. The Instruction Card on the Left Top side of the machine explains everything that is needed to realize how to play this game.

The Wheel of Fortune pinball machine is good playing machine because it is different in that way & I had to learn how to play it because it was a different playfield layout. That is pinball, some games are harder then others, that is what makes these machines unique from one to the next.

Doesn’t the harder challenge makes you a better pinball player in the end & coming back for more?

Rocky’s Replay 1121 Semoran Blvd Casselberry, FL 32707 If you ever have any questions, information or comments, post them here. Have Fun, Dan

I remember….

2008-01-22T15:32:00.004-05:00

I was reminded last night why I enjoy what I found a few years ago and why people can dedicate their whole life to sharing this hobby with others. There are legends in this community and they are legends for good reason. If you were ever in need of help with a pinball related problem or not, maybe something far from the subject, they will still respond with kindness and helpful thoughtfulness that is given freely without contemplation or the asking for future repayment. The patience to share hard knocks, costly mistakes, or other acquired knowledge along the way to others willing to take the time to heed and listen to a different perspective. The lack of complaint while guiding the new comers through the tepid water of the learning curve. These are the few of the many of things that keep RGP growing as an internet net community and keeping pinball alive for the coming generations with the passion it deserves from the people that passed it on to us. I was reminded last night at a pinball gathering why people are passionate about the commonality that was share by all level of introduction from the newer comer to the seasoned, from the collector to the fixer, there was no limit on the ages in that gathering. Most of these people were introduced to me though the years with RGP, voices without faces for so long but friends at the first handshake. I truly was reminded that life is good with friends like you. Thank you for the memento, Dan

Wheel of Fortune Pinball Hits Big Money?

2008-01-18T15:42:00.001-05:00

The Wheel of Fortune Pinball Machine does it have what it takes to hit the Big Money? You tell me.

Play the Wheel of Fortune Pinball Machine because it just arrived at Rocky's Replay in Orlando! The WoF machine joins the ranks with the other Stern pinball machines already on location at Rocky’s. They have a Family Guy, Spider-man, Pirates of the Caribbean, The Simpson Pinball Party & Ripley’s Believe It or Not pinball machines that are mixed in with the latest variety of video machines. These pins are truly well maintained and good playing machines. So head on over to Rocky’s and give the Wheel of Fortune pinball machine a try, but before you do, you can check out the playfield's layout here at this link: WoF Playfield Shot Layout. This will help you become familiar with the shot layout and game-play, before you play your first ball on the machine. So, let me know your opinion about Stern's new pinball machine theme, artwork, flow, replay-ability and/ or etc. & I will post here for others to follow the review.

Read Also: Rocky's Replay:New Addition, Wheel of Fortune Pinball in the Works Rocky's Replay in Orlando can be found here:

Rocky’s Replay

1121 Semoran Blvd Casselberry, FL 32707

(407) 260-0043

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

Have Fun,

Dan

Rocky's Replay:New Addition

2008-01-16T15:34:00.001-05:00

Rocky's Replay is going to be adding a new Stern Pinball Machine, The Wheel of Fortune to their Pinball line-up. Rocky's pinball machine has been delayed from the Stern factory due to unknown reasons & they have been waiting patiently to receive the machine with the original ship date that was in December, so they are expecting it any day now.

It looks like an interesting Playfield Layout:

Read Also: Wheel of Fortune Pinball in the Works Give them a call to get an update & to show some them interest in their new purchase. Let your voice be heard. Rocky's Replay in Orlando can be found here: Rocky’s Replay 1121 Semoran Blvd Casselberry, FL 32707 (407) 260-0043 If you ever have any questions, information or comments, post them here. Have Fun, Dan

Florida Pinball Enthusiast’s Open House

2007-11-13T18:08:00.002-05:00

Curly’s Little Shop of Games is hosting a pinball enthusiast’s open house this coming Saturday, November 17th at his work shop from 4:00 pm to 9:00 pm. He is planning to have approximately 20- 30 pinball machines on site and set up for your playing enjoyment. And Wow, what a line up of pinball machines he has listed here:

Airborne

Addams Family

Attack from Mars

Bride of Pinbot

Cactus Canyon

Champion Pub

Cirqus Voltaire

Corvette

Creature from the Black Lagoon

Dirty Harry

Dracula

Family Guy

Godzilla

Judge Dredd

Junk Yard

Lethal Weapon

Monster Bash

Monopoly

No Good Gofers

Pinball Magic

Road Show

Rocky & Bullwinkle

Scared Stiff

South Park

Striker Extreme

Slugfest

Whirlwind

World Poker Tour

Each person will have one chance to win a LAH playfield by putting the highest score for the evening on the Family Guy Pinball Machine, plus Curly has some other pinball related gifts for limited amount of people. Then grab a Hamburger or Hot Dog with some Chips & Soda and kick back by the fire and listen to the DJ spin a disc or two.

This event is awesomely free and compliments of Curly’s Little Shop of Games & his Family.

It is not a prerequisite to be a pinhead to be able to attend, everyone is welcomed. The only request & requirement by Curly, is to bring a good attitude to take home a great experience. And he asks: please, if you introduce yourself to everyone you do not know, you will never be in a room full of strangers.

You can Google map it out to Curly’s location: 3635 Eagles Nest Road, Fruitland Park, Florida 34731

Also, You can check out his web site: Curly’s Little Shop of Games

Have Fun, Dan

Wheel of Fortune Pinball in the Works

2007-11-08T13:33:00.001-05:00

Stern Pinball is planning on releasing a Wheel of Fortune Pinball Machine based on the long airing Wheel of Fortune Game Show. (It has been Thirty-Two years that this game show has been on television across the world. Unbelievable, it debut in 1975.) The Wheel of Fortune Pinball Machine seems to be closely following the game show forum because it has the contestants, prizes, the spinning wheel, but does it have the Puzzle Letter Board? This pinball machine is definitely different in design & a break from the normal layout especially with the inlanes & flippers areas at the bottom of the playfield. Stern moved the flippers further apart and including two rollover lane with a center post to help guard against straight down the middle ball drains between the flippers. But this different flipper layout will require players to learn new ball control skills if they are to avoid frequent ball drains. A few reports that a limited number of the Wheel of Fortune Pinball Machines have been surfacing for display & a couple of the pinheads had the chance to play the brand new machines had this to commented about the layout change: “The skill shot is tough and the center drain with the large center post and two lanes leaving the playfield really give it a different feel.” Two questions come to mind: (1) Will Stern get a good fortune spin with a Big Money Prize with the design deviations or will it land on the Bankrupt space & be rejected? (2) Do you have to be a die hard Wheel Watcher to enjoy this Pinball Machine & to keep it interesting & playable? Time will answer both these questions as this pinball machine is going into full production soon & Stern is getting ready for those pinball machine orders. Take a look at the Wheel of Fortune Pinball Machine playfield design & layout & tell me your predictions & I will post it here. Have Fun, Dan PS If you ever have any questions, information or comments, post them here.

Are The Game Vendors Killing Pinball?

2007-09-25T13:56:00.001-04:00

By guest Blogger: Lizzy Try to find a pinball game to play in Southwest Florida. Dare, double dog dare ya! A pinball machine is like the four leaf clover of games. They’re harder than heck to find, fleeting and like a prize when you do find one. Why are they so hard to locate? Seriously, as a pin enthusiast I’ve dashed in and out of game rooms and smoke filled gin joints just trying to find one to little avail. The last one I found was playable until you reached a chute that was blocked. That ended my quarter parade. For all I know it’s still not operational it was evident that nobody was caring for this machine in any capacity. My quest for pin has led me the occasional pinball machine and I’ve always called the vendor number on the sticker to get a list of where he/she may have more. No dice. At what point does a person contact a business owner, offer to pump quarters into their machine and get met with no response? Zero, Zip, Nada. Well, one person tried to sell me a pinball machine at an inflated price. After engaging in several back and forth emails I still wasn’t able to pry the information about other machines from this vendor. I’m torn between whether the vendors won’t disclose machine locations: Are the pinball machines not properly licensed or if the vendors are just too dense to realize I just want to find their machines and pump my money into them.

If I can't find them and the few I find are not playable then how is the rest of the public going to fall in love with pinball and keep it alive? So I ask you if your part of the country is much like my little corner of Southwest Florida.

Are you able to find pinball machines?

Do the vendors in your area properly maintain and care for their machines?

Do the vendors share the location of their other machines?

Your commentary is welcome and of course, if you can rat out the location of a pinball machine in the Bonita Springs, Estero, Fort Myers or Naples, Florida areas it would be much appreciated. Heck, anywhere in SW Florida for that matter.

CENTRAL FLORIDA: ORLANDO’S PINBALL PLACE

2007-08-03T10:36:00.001-04:00

Rocky’s Replay is the place to be for the latest Stern titles. If you live in or near Orlando you probably all ready knew that fact because the place was packed full of people. Rockys’ crowd was a mix of the young, teenagers to the middle agers playing Pinball & video machines. Rockys had both of the new releases from Stern which were the Family Guy & Spider-man pinball machines. The Family Guy is a Pat Lawlor Design. The same pinball designer that bought forth the now legendry machines like Addams Family, Funhouse & Twilight Zone in the early Nineties during the time of the Bally, Midway & Williams manufacturing days. Pat Lawlor's Family Guy layout brings a lot of sideways ball action with the third flipper mounted high on the left side of the playfield. All the characters are present on the playfield, but Stewie rules & gets featured with his own miniature operating pinball playfield… interesting a pinball machine within a pinball machine. The sound & video clips used, go hand & hand with the Family Guy theme, so if you enjoy the show you will love this pinball machine. Plus, it has the fighting rooster! The Spider-man pinball machine was also being received well & was kept busy continuously with people of all ages flipping away. (I gave a brief description of the Spider-man pinball play in a past story. Read also: Spiderman Found in Southwest Florida. They had three other Stern pinball machines as well: The Simpsons Pinball Party, Ripley’s Believe It or Not & World Poker Tour. All the pins that they had on site were well maintained & in good clean condition. Plus while your there, grab a chili dog or pizza & wash it down with nice tall cold one. So when you tire of Walt Disney World & Universal Studies theme parks & are ready to play some pinball. Get over to Rocky’s Replay, Orlando’s best keep secret & mingle with the locals. Rocky’s Replay 1121 Semoran Blvd Casselberry, FL 32707 (407) 260-0043 If you ever have any questions, information or comments, post them here. Have Fun, Dan

Journey to the other Coast

2007-07-31T16:34:00.001-04:00

Decided to drive to the end of my driveway, then reach there & decided to drive to the edge of town, then the edge of the county & continued driving until I reached Ft. Lauderdale. I finally stop at the Xtreme Karts to play pinball. When you have an itch, sometimes you have to scratch. Jeff Palmer from RGP (Rec.Game.Pinball Google Group) told me about the Prime Time Arcade at Xtreme Karts located on the other coast. It really is not a bad drive. Yes, it did take me, one hour & forty minutes to arrive at their door steps, but driving across the Alligator Alley is undemanding & without interruptions. There are only two exit/ overpasses the entire eighty-four miles, so set the cruise control, listen to some music & look for ‘gators. Prime Time Arcade had six Stern pinball machines: World Poker Tour, NASCAR, Grand Prix, The Lord of the Rings, The Sopranos & Elvis. The pinball machines were clean & in good shape. They played well & I did not have any problems with these machines. But, I was disappointed to discover that they did not have Sterns latest & new releases like the Family Guy or Spider-man pinball machines on location. What a missed pinball opportunity. The opportunity to introduce a brand new game(s) & bring new pinball players in the blend or even to keep fresh the enthusiasm & passion that the dedicated pinheads have. It makes me wonder… They have the latest video consoles & extreme racing carts too, but this page is for pinball machines & pinball experiences. You can find the Prime Time Arcade at Xtreme Karts located at 5300 Powerline Rd Fort Lauderdale, FL 33309 (954) 491-6265

Have Fun, Dan

Jeff thanks for the information.

The Chicago Pinball Expo

2007-07-30T15:50:00.001-04:00

This year is the year for me to journey to the Chicago Pinball Expo. I have never been to a pinball expo or any similar gathering, so I heard that the Chicago Expo is one of the best & I am choosing this location to change that fact. The expo really looks & sounds interesting for not just pinball enthusiasts but anybody that ever walked up & played a ball on a pinball machine. Pinball machines you could not find on your own & that you normally would not have a change to play… set up here for Free Play, sign me up! They have organized this event with seminars & fireside chats with some very interesting speakers that have collected, changed, shaped, designed & manufactured the machines & even owned the companies that produced them. Seminars are offered for those people wanting to learn more from their pinball community about collecting, maintaining, electronics, trouble shooting, & restoration for pinball machines. Also you get to watch Shaggy & Norm in action in their segment: This Old Pinball- The Making of a Disaster tutorial. This Old Pinball videos are film & produced by these two crazy idiots, which make it pretty entertaining yet helpful & informational for the repairing & maintenance of a pinball machine. Be warned that they do have an “R” rating for their humor! The Stern factory tour is an exclusive behind the doors look at the only pinball manufacturing company left in existence. Go to the Stern Pinball manufacturing facility and see the production of machines from beginning to end. This special privilege is only extended to Pinball Expo 2007 Attendees! PLUS, they have Pinbrawl. Pinbrawl is a pinball players’ four person team tournament. Bring the skill or leave it at the house, it does matter they have different levels of competition based you’re your proficiency. You have to register at their Pinbrawl web page to participate in this competition. BUT, the most important thing is: that you can be with people that enjoy pins as much you do. Where else can meet & talk face to face with the other pinheads that you met online, similar to RGPers group with their members that live & come to be here from all over world to be in Chicago for the Pinball Expo. Let me know if you are making plans to the Pinball Expo & I will add your post here. If you having any questions about anything above, try clicking the embedded links on the highlighted words or contact me here & I will try to point you in the right direction. Have fun & hope to see you there! Dan

You Dirty Rat!

2007-06-28T11:58:00.002-04:00

The Stern Spider-man Pinball machine at the Ft Myers Ale House no longer displays my initials on its high score leader board. Someone has known only to me by his initials of D.O.N. aka the dirty rat has wipe me from existing on the face of this Spider-man pin. DON did such a beat down to knock my 102 million with his fourth rank of 168 million. He must be putting some time in on that pinball machine. He has the second & third spots locked up also & that is just plain getting greedy! New Challenge: Gun for the D.O.N. & knock him off that leader board! If you have the skill or luck and success in doing so, contact me here and I will post your results.

The Spider-man Pinball Machine can be found at: The Ale House - 4400 Kernel Circle, Ft Myers, FL Have fun, Dan

Name up in Lights

2007-06-15T10:14:00.001-04:00

Success. My second visit to the Spider-man Pinball Machine turned out to be a great night. I had an awesome first ball with an extra ball awarded to help me put my initials up on the leader board. I fell in at fourth rank with 102,047,770. This game is a smooth setup with entertaining layout & design. It was fast & furious with multi-balls shooting from all directions. I found my timing groove which helped for the Vemon shots off the upper right flipper. The Challenge: I welcome everybody and anybody to replace my high score in lieu for their own. If you have the skill or luck and success in doing so, contact me here and I will post your results. The Spiderman Pinball Machine can be found at: The Ale House- 4400 Kernel Circle, Ft Myers, FL Have fun & good luck!

World Poker Tour Shanghai!

2007-06-09T12:37:00.001-04:00

The Stern-World Poker Tour pinball machine has been put to sea and replaced by the Stern-Pirates of the Caribbean at Stevie Tomato’s Sportspage Ft Myers location. The pitch is set high on this machine causing fast balls and short games especially if you go after the center pirate targets, so good luck with putting your initials up on the leader board. Stern- Pirates of the Caribbean: Clean, bright, playable but pitch high with fast play, Stevie Tomato’s Sportspage- 11491 Cleveland Ave, Ft Myers 33907- Bar & Restaurant Have fun. Dan

Hell of a Night!

2007-06-04T16:38:00.000-04:00

I had a hell of a Saturday night.

A group of us planned a quest for pinball locations. We heard rumors about a location way up in the Port Charlotte area, (thanks Rome) which is about 70 miles away from where we were.

So, we stopped in Ft Myers on the way to grab a bite to eat and a beer, before starting the drive. We ended up stopping at the Ale House to find a solo pin, the new Spider-man. Sweet. No one else was playing it, so we dominated the machine for over two hours, eating between play.

The play was fast and had a good flow. The sound was good and it fit the game play well. It was a real good layout by Steve Ritchie, I never cared for any of his other past layouts like WPT, Elvis, STNG, BK, T3 or Getaway, but this one is definitely different and better. I liked the spider sense back of flipper shot. The center post certainly helps from a center hit on the sandman from draining. The game was fresh on location, but still could not put my name up on the board with the score of 67m.

What was more exciting was a young kid started to gather around and was watch us on the machine with increasing interests, so my wife invited the kid to join our group and she tutored him about the flippers. She pulled up a stool and he climb atop to the pinball machine & his face shown with awe. I was surprised at how quick the young kid picked up skill with his timing and shots, for never having touched a pin before and plus he look to be barely nine years.

He played a few rounds before he and parents had to leave. He was looking back at the Spiderman over his shoulder as he was led and heading out the door.

Maybe pinball is not dead like others think.

So, we continued on to our original destination: Port Charlotte Our goal to find additional pinball location based solely on speculation with little to no information on what machines they had & conditions that they would be in.

We found the place with no problems, only to find out we might not be able to gain access to the pinball machines, vids only! So we told the young lady our story and where we drove from and promised to treat the machines with respect since we were all owners of pins ourselves. She walked us into a dark side room…. with eleven Bally/Williams machines? No…. this could not be true or even real. An unbelievable site, a STNG, MB, AFM, TOTAN, SS, TOM, TZ, CFTBL, FH, RFM, and a SWE1 all lined up, sitting there silent, power off, in the dark room.

She started with a warning, saying the owner was very particular about his pins & that he did not like the younger kids beating on them and being careless with food & drinks & that was the reason that they stood silent in the dark. We assure her we were not that young anymore.

None of the pinball machines were powered up, and this young lady didn't know how to turn them on, so I told her that I could take care of that little problem for her. Plus, she said that she was not sure which ones were operational, so again I offered a helping hand and reassured her not to worry for I would be happy to find that answer out for her. The pins look to be really clean & in good shape. I walked up to the AFM, powered on to be greeted with a enter report warning. I proceeded with putting two quarters in only, then launched the ball into action without any problems. It was everything that I hoped it to be and way more. We took our rounds on every machine and enjoyed everyone.

What an overload, I was in “a kid in a candy store” mode, but the evening got better when the young lady stated that there was four more pinball machines that were located in a different building, two over from where we were. So, my wife volunteered to track down “the others” while we continued with our present quarter pumping onslaught. She reported back without any excitement that she found the missing pins: GOOD NEWS- the pins were a MM, CC, TAF, and an IJ. BAD NEWS- that building was closing in ten minutes. We chose to stay at our current position, to leave those machines to be explored at a later date.

We had the place to ourselves, which made me happy that “we owned the place”, but makes me sad that such a great collection of public “A” list pinball machines exists without being enjoyed to the fullest.

The Port Charlotte Locations is:

JJ’s Pool & Arcade- 18505 Paulson Drive, Port Charlotte, FL 33948
(941) 743-5572.

They are only open on Friday 5pm -1am & Saturday 5pm – 2am.

What a great evening. What a great find. I only had seven pinball machines located on the web site at http://pinballavenue.blogspot.com/ before this night. Now we have twenty-three with a little extra driving time.

Have fun.

Dan

Spiderman Found in SW Florida!

2007-06-04T16:06:00.002-04:00

Hell frozen over, expect cooler weather. A Stern pinball machine was found on location at The Fort Myers Ale House and it happens to be the BRAND NEW Spider-man with a Steve Ritchie Design. The game play is clean & fast. The ramps are quick & fast. Be warned: the sandman center shot, after the drop targets are down, will guide the ball toward the middle to drain, use the center post between the flippers as a last alternative. The Vemon ramp is a sweet shot coming off the upper flipper & I like the Spider Sense shot, off the back of the upper flipper. If you are local, give it a shot. Ale House- 4400 Kernel Cir, Ft Myers, FL UPDATE: We only had seven pinball located on my web site at http://pinballavenue.blogspot.com/ before the weekend. Now we have twenty-three. Have fun. Dan.

Pirate Pinball Night

2007-06-02T10:02:00.001-04:00

With the help from Tony B. for the locations, I played two new machines: World Poker Tour & Pirates of the Caribbean pins mentioned in the Update: new locations found article. The WPT was the only pinball machine & looking lonely while it was surrounded by pool tables, mames & arcade games at Stevie Tomato’s Sportspage- 11491 Cleveland Ave, Ft Myers. The first game play on the WPT seemed to “knock the rust loose” on the drop targets. These drop targets weren’t resetting in the upright position until the third ball was played, then they sprung to life to join in for the rest of the evening. The only big complaint was the sound was nonexistent, so we were force to do our own commentaries & sound effects. The POTC was also solo in the field of video bowlers & poker machines at Stevie Tomato’s Sportspage- 3422 Del Prado Blvd, Cape Coral. The same problem was present on this machine as the pin before, no sound. Fortunately, I can do a better imitation of a scurvy pirate & firing cannons, then a bluffing poker player so the non present sound was no real loss & plus the solo performer on the small stage was quite entertaining. PLUS A NEW LOCATION: Stern Pirates of the Caribbean: Clean, A few burnt bulbs, no sound present, playable, but out of level to right & pitch set slow, 8 Ball Lounge-14500 South Tamiami Trail, Ft Myers, FL 33912

Update: New pinball locations found.

2007-05-25T16:50:00.001-04:00

Tony B. added these locations:

Stern World Poker Tour: pretty good shape, Stevie Tomato’s Sportspage- 11491 Cleveland Ave, Ft Myers 33907

Stern Pirates of the Caribbean: good shape, Stevie Tomato’s Sportspage- 3422 Del Prado Blvd, Cape Coral 33904

Tony, thanks for the information.

A CALL TO ARMS

2007-05-25T09:12:00.001-04:00

A CALL TO ARMS for all the pinheads in the Ft Myers, Bonita Springs, Naples, FL areas: Where are all the pinball machines located in this town? Mission statement: To show support & spread the belief that playing pinball is still good clean fun in this community. Assistance will be required. If you know of any pins on route, email to me or post it here and I will included at Southwest Florida Pinball Avenue web page. I build a web page that will be user-driven, cohesive site for all pinball enthusiasts looking to find and share information regarding locations for pinball machines for these areas. The Southwest Florida Pinball Avenue web-page can be found at http://pinballavenue.blogspot.com/ Everyone & anyone can post & participate to share information, advice, support or just a good experience or story. I want to share with other people & give them a chance to have a good experience: The enjoyment from having fun playing pinball. If you own an establishment that has pinball machines Or have pinball machines on-routes, by all means email your information to me or post it here and I will included at the web page also. Just forward general information for the location & condition of the machine, comparable to the information listed below. The ones I have found, I am going to start posting to share their location as I find them. I repeat: Assistance will be required & appreciated. Please include the following information if possible, but any leads would help: 1) the title of the machine 2) game condition 3) the establishment’s name 4) the address 5) any restrictions: in a bar, limited hours of operations & etc. Ratings: Bright Very Clean Smooth Best A few burnt bulbs Clean Playable To Dark Dirty Almost Playable Worst Very Dark Filthy Non-functioning Machines Found: (4) Stern NASCAR: Almost playable, screw lodged under left in-lane switch & ball will get trapped there, Pelican Larry’s Uptown- 1046 Pine Ridge Rd, Naples, FL, Sports Bar& Restaurant Stern World Poker Tour: Filthy, dark, playable, Dusseldorf on the Beach- 1113 Estero Blvd #5 Ft Myers Beach, FL- Bar & Restaurant Stern Elvis: Dark, clean & playable, Sand Bar- 826 East Elkcam Circle, Marco Island, FL- Bar & Restaurant Stern Ripley’s Believe It or Not: Very dark & playable, Sand Bar- 826 East Elkcam Circle, Marco Island, FL- Bar & Restaurant Enjoy! Dan

Guest Blogger - 4 Pins Found in SW FLa

2007-05-19T19:25:00.001-04:00

Pinball Machines - They're harder to find than one would think. I've been in every stinky, smoke filled 'hole in the wall' bar, bowling alley, arcade, dog track, movie theater, you name it, in the last month. It's a quest that me and a few other SW Florida "Pinheads" have been on. After a series of various sports bar/restaurants, pizza joints, movie theaters I found a raggedy old [Stern] Nascar machine at a place called Pelican Larry's on Pineridge Road in NASCAR, Florida (there's a screw on the inlane that snags the ball).

Continue reading: HERE

by guest Author Chris Griffith

Southwest Florida Pinball Discovery

2007-05-19T19:14:00.003-04:00

Welcome to Pinball Avenue, a blog set up to chart and critique pinball machines in Southwest Florida - in the cities of Bonita Springs, Naples, Estero, Fort Myers, Fort Myers Beach, Cape Coral and Lehigh Acres. If you know of a pinball machine just post or email the location, make, model, theme, condition and anything else you feel is relevant.