Ft Myers Zoomers Grand Opening

Awesome. We might actually have a place to play pinball in the wild again.

Zoomers was a go-cart, miniature golf, arcade family fun center that was suppose to open several years but failed to be completed so close to being finished. The original owner pour in over 15million to begin this endeavour only to have come to a halt during 2007.

The building and 16 acres has been sitting for all those years until it was bought at auction last year. The current owner bought with the goal to finish the amusement park and they did just that. The grand opening is June 15th.

I have yet to find out if they will have any pinball machines on site, but I did ask the question on their facebook site. You can join me here to help them understand, if they don't already, that pinball machine is as important to an arcade and family fun as much as a video machine. There facebook site is: http://www.facebook.com/#!/ZoomersAmusementPark

Zoomers web site: http://www.zoomersamusementpark.com/

Have Fun,

Dan

Gearing up for Pinburgh!

I can’t wait to get back to Pittsburgh's PAPA and play some pinball. I can’t wait hang out with all the pinhead and friends there.

I heard that Jason, Donny, Brian are heading up, so that will be great to have a chance to talk and watch them play, especial Donny since he seems to get stuck on the other side of these FL pinball tournaments. I am looking forward to playing in the tournament also, the set-up at Pinburgh seems relaxed….. before getting into the trenches of the final rounds. I just hope I have the energy to maintain a good level of play through the rounds. Three days of solid pinball playing. Lol How do you practice for that? Watching and playing, thinking and strategizing, talking and writing, laughing and hopefully not crying about pinball. It is going to be awesome time.

The fantastic fact about the PAPA place is that they have a great collection of pinball machines that are in really nice shape and well maintained that can be played away from the tournaments (as time allows before, after or in-between competition playing). They have such a diverse line-up of pins from EM, SS to the latest Sterns and so many that you can’t play them all.

Last time I was there, I had to come up with a plan for my game choosing. I was trying to find games to put my token that caught my attention because they were:
1) Pinball machines I never played before
2) Pins that were rare to find
3) Dirty or broken pins, that I found in the past and might have had a dis-like for, to try to get a new opinion
4) Pins that I enjoyed to play like AFM (I just can’t walk pass those?!)
5) Lastly, Pins that was in the tournament line-up that I felt I needed to learn and practice on.

So I will possibly stick to that plan, it worked well in the past.

Here is a link to posts about a pior trip to PAPA. Heading to PAPA to play pinball & Return from PAPA Pinball Tournaments

You can find the PAPA site here. Pinburgh 2012 Match-Play Championship
And their blog site here. PAPA Blog Which is a very good blog site with all their pinball video tutorials.


Have Fun,

Dan

Southern Pinball Festival Teams up with Project Pinball

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

Return from PAPA Pinball Tournament

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

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

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!

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

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

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

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

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

WOW Factor +10

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!?

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.

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….

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?

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

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 BlvdCasselberry, 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

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


• T-3


• 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

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?

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

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