I got really tired of satisfying my needs by watching videos and using software that simulates the happiness in virtual world and therefore I have told my self yesterday (age 31) that enough is enough. I made a quick research in the morning for some places where it could finally happen, and I have found one in the city not too far from me. I have quickly put on coat and went to the nearest station to catch the train. Filled with an excitement there went a lot through my head while on a train. I was bit worried how is it going to be and if others are going to give me any looks. What if I embarrass my self ? I never did it before, maybe they will laugh at me. When I arrived to the location I could see the bright lights from the distance. It was calling me in and so I slowly stepped in. I immediately spotted my targets. One was standing at the bottom under the stairs and other two were standing up next to each other on the main floor. They have been in a perfect shape but nobody was giving them attention. I wanted to try all three of them so I was quickly deciding which one should I try first. At the end I have decided, stepped close by and started touching slowly not believing the moment had finally come and this is for real. I quickly realized there is not going to be any fun without the money. There was quite good offer so I could not missed it. I quickly went to change some money and this is where the best time of my life began. I knew that if I want to perform well I must not be nervous and very excited. So before going for it I took few slow deep breaths and made sure I am in absolute peace. I was still questioning my self, how long is this going to last. Maybe I am done in 2 minutes and will regret this moment. But at the same time I was comforting my self - I have plenty of experience from the computer. Just use all the tricks you have learned, it cant be very different. Well, yes but this is real life, they are going to behave very differently here. Stop! That's it, no more thinking, you know this is not going to help. So once again I made sure I am in perfect peace and started the action. Hey! What did you expect I am going to write now ? Of course I am talking about pinball 
The first table was Metallica in perfect shape. Actually all of them looked like new. Everyone there have been ignoring these machines so I don't think they are being played a lot. I paid for 3 games in each table as that was the best deal and I wanted to make sure I get bit of a feel of them. So I started Metallica and it went really badly. I was not able to hit the ramps, it all felt like me playing pinball for the very first time, and balls hardly lasted a minute each. I think I hardly managed to score 5-10 million, and finishing the 3rd game I felt very disappointed. Knowing that this is what I expected to happen and that you can't practice pinball on TPA and then coming to the real tables and perform well.
Already having my first experience with the real pinball table and playing the 3 very quick games I approached the second table which was Spiderman. I knew what to expect and was ready to go home quite quickly so when I started the table I was absolutely relaxed. I started to play and immediately it felt very different. I felt in control and my ball would last quite long. I was able to hit any of the ramps I wanted almost on a very first attempt. It very quickly turned into lot of fun and I enjoyed every single shot. Specially when there was one successful shot after the other. I did not know the rules and so I just went with the flow. Oh look there ! I can lock the ball - that means .... multiball ))) One shot, success. But how do I lock the second ball ? I pause the ball on my flipper and searching the table - oh there it is, I have to hit that target. I manage sucessfuly to start multi ball in that game and it was a blast.
After draining the third ball I am full of joy and without waiting start the second game immediately. I play the game of my life. It felt like I have been playing it for years and I know my shots, I was even more relaxed and with a great confidence started to use all the tricks I have learned from the TPA and other pinballs on my PC. Letting the ball bounce off the flipper, cradle the ball, post pass the ball from flipper to flipper, hitting the ball with the other ball to prevent the drain, telling my self which ramp I am going to hit and then hitting it. It was pure Joy. At one moment I was hitting the centre target imagining it is a saucer from AFM. I hardly believe I will be able to play AFM in real life, but this was the closest as it can be to having experience of hitting that saucer
Then there it was, Extra ball flashing. So once again, cradle the ball, take a breath and hooorraaay. My first extra ball that was not wasted)
The whole 2nd game lasted quite long and when I finished there was a big surprise for me. I did not watch the DMD at all during the game as I was busy watching the playfield, but at the end of the game it asked me to write my name. What ? Really ? you are not serious ? Me ? But yes it was real. I have scored just over 1 billion and ended up on the 3rd place. The last game was good too but not good enough for high score.
With my very happy mood I went to the basement where there was the last table - LOTR It was quite dark there and so I had the chance to experience the pinball in its pure beauty - lights ! Again I did not know the rules, so went with the flow. The game lasted long enough for me to enjoy. No quick drains. I did not know what to do and so I enjoyed shooting the balls into the middle ring and the sound effects. It was really loud so the excitement was great. At one point the dragon moved and I was supposed to shoot him. I managed to hit him 3x which seemed to be the goal as after that he moved back. I will definitely be back for this one after I read the rules.
Before I left I went to have a last look on to the other two tables upstairs. I could not believe my eyes. There was one credit on Spiderman. I was thinking someone left it there while I was playing LOTR only to realize that it was me - extra credit I have earned for my high score. In that game I have managed to score around 800 million which made me reach another high score and earn yet another credit)) I had to go as I was already long time in the arcade and was supposed to meet someone. After 2 high scores my mind was all over the place and the last game was my quickest game of that day
That absolutely did not bother me as I had an amazing time and I know I will be back for more very soon.
The first table was Metallica in perfect shape. Actually all of them looked like new. Everyone there have been ignoring these machines so I don't think they are being played a lot. I paid for 3 games in each table as that was the best deal and I wanted to make sure I get bit of a feel of them. So I started Metallica and it went really badly. I was not able to hit the ramps, it all felt like me playing pinball for the very first time, and balls hardly lasted a minute each. I think I hardly managed to score 5-10 million, and finishing the 3rd game I felt very disappointed. Knowing that this is what I expected to happen and that you can't practice pinball on TPA and then coming to the real tables and perform well.
Already having my first experience with the real pinball table and playing the 3 very quick games
I approached the second table which was Spiderman. I knew what to expect and was ready to go home quite quickly so when I started the table I was absolutely relaxed. I started to play and immediately it felt very different. I felt in control and my ball would last quite long. I was able to hit any of the ramps I wanted almost on a very first attempt. It very quickly turned into lot of fun and I enjoyed every single shot. Specially when there was one successful shot after the other. I did not know the rules and so I just went with the flow. Oh look there ! I can lock the ball - that means .... multiball ))) One shot, success. But how do I lock the second ball ? I pause the ball on my flipper and searching the table - oh there it is, I have to hit that target. I manage sucessfuly to start multi ball in that game and it was a blast. After draining the third ball I am full of joy and without waiting start the second game immediately. I play the game of my life. It felt like I have been playing it for years and I know my shots, I was even more relaxed and with a great confidence started to use all the tricks I have learned from the TPA and other pinballs on my PC. Letting the ball bounce off the flipper, cradle the ball, post pass the ball from flipper to flipper, hitting the ball with the other ball to prevent the drain, telling my self which ramp I am going to hit and then hitting it. It was pure Joy. At one moment I was hitting the centre target imagining it is a saucer from AFM. I hardly believe I will be able to play AFM in real life, but this was the closest as it can be to having experience of hitting that saucer
Then there it was, Extra ball flashing. So once again, cradle the ball, take a breath and hooorraaay. My first extra ball that was not wasted
)The whole 2nd game lasted quite long and when I finished there was a big surprise for me. I did not watch the DMD at all during the game as I was busy watching the playfield, but at the end of the game it asked me to write my name. What ? Really ? you are not serious ? Me ? But yes it was real. I have scored just over 1 billion and ended up on the 3rd place. The last game was good too but not good enough for high score.
With my very happy mood I went to the basement where there was the last table - LOTR
It was quite dark there and so I had the chance to experience the pinball in its pure beauty - lights ! Again I did not know the rules, so went with the flow. The game lasted long enough for me to enjoy. No quick drains. I did not know what to do and so I enjoyed shooting the balls into the middle ring and the sound effects. It was really loud so the excitement was great. At one point the dragon moved and I was supposed to shoot him. I managed to hit him 3x which seemed to be the goal as after that he moved back. I will definitely be back for this one after I read the rules.Before I left I went to have a last look on to the other two tables upstairs. I could not believe my eyes. There was one credit on Spiderman. I was thinking someone left it there while I was playing LOTR only to realize that it was me - extra credit I have earned for my high score. In that game I have managed to score around 800 million which made me reach another high score and earn yet another credit
)) I had to go as I was already long time in the arcade and was supposed to meet someone. After 2 high scores my mind was all over the place and the last game was my quickest game of that day That absolutely did not bother me as I had an amazing time and I know I will be back for more very soon.
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