This weekend, I had the opportunity to spend some time at the Southern-Fried Gameroom Expo. It was the result of a successful Kickstarter project that I participated in.
While billed as a gaming convention, and there were a few machines other than pinball at the convention, my reasons for attending were to see some of the new machines out, buy a table for my own use and play pinball until I could no longer raise my arms.
This was a chance to play some of the games we play in TPA. "Attack From Mars" was there, "High Speed", "Circus Voltare", "Bride of Pin-Bot" was there too. "Cue Ball Wizard", "Black Rose", "Scared Stiff", "Medevial Madness", "Gorgar" and "T2" and more.
It had been a long time since I've played on an actual pinball machine. TPA plays like a brand-new game with fresh rubber all around. The tables at the expo looked and played like games that were well played. Some didn't look like they were 40+ years old. Some that were new played like as though they were much older.
As with anything else, the longer it's been since you've done something, the better you were at it, and I was more rusty than I thought. But, as the day wore on, I began to use tricks learned in TPA to their physical counterparts. Traps, passes, ramps shots, all helped me put up scores I'm proud of.
I had a chance to play one of the tables that's been buzzing (sorry, couldn't resist...) in the forum, "Bram Stoker's Dracula". Designed in part by Barry Oursler (who attended the expo), the game was fun to play. I liked the Mist Multiball, it was different from a regular multiball. BSM would be a great addition to the TPA stable.
They're creepy and they're ookie, and the best selling table, "The Addams Family" pinball was there. It too has been a topic in the forum. While many people like it, the table seems a bit crowded with all the toys. That said, I'd back a Kickstarter project for "TAF" and "BSM".
I saw an interesting table. It combined pinball with video games. Almost the size of a regular pinball machine, it would reproduce the physical table, and was very realistic. I didn't get a chance to ask the gentleman any questions, but I believe I heard him say the current table on the machine, "Attack From Mars", was a download. For those out there more knowledgeable than I, would it be possible to have a full-size table, then have it connected to the Internet, and play many different tables, like TPA does now? I would think an invention like that would either mean the resurgence of pinball or it's death knell.
One thing I noticed was the amount of four player tables being played by one person. At every table I played, I made sure I looked around to see if anyone wished to play instead of just standing there. In almost every instance, there were a couple that said yes. And, as one player was at the flippers, the others small-talked. I got to spend time with people I'll never see again. We cheered the saves and great shots and groaned when the ball drained. But the four of us seemed to orbit around similar tables, and always asked if each wanted to play. Those that shook their head no or walked away silently missed out.
There was a PAPA circuit tournament, quals were done Friday and Saturday. Finals were on Sunday, I've not heard who won. I can tell you who did not, me. There were most definetly highly-skilled players in the tournament area.
As I was there mainly for the pinball, I can't tell you about the seminars that were held, or the movies that were shown. I'm sure they were as good as the expo advertised. Maybe next year I'll make the time to see them.
I left the expo having accomplished two of my three tasks. My arms were throbbing. My wrists felt like they were in vises being crushed.
My quest for a pinball machine continues...
No new high scores to post.
While billed as a gaming convention, and there were a few machines other than pinball at the convention, my reasons for attending were to see some of the new machines out, buy a table for my own use and play pinball until I could no longer raise my arms.
This was a chance to play some of the games we play in TPA. "Attack From Mars" was there, "High Speed", "Circus Voltare", "Bride of Pin-Bot" was there too. "Cue Ball Wizard", "Black Rose", "Scared Stiff", "Medevial Madness", "Gorgar" and "T2" and more.
It had been a long time since I've played on an actual pinball machine. TPA plays like a brand-new game with fresh rubber all around. The tables at the expo looked and played like games that were well played. Some didn't look like they were 40+ years old. Some that were new played like as though they were much older.
As with anything else, the longer it's been since you've done something, the better you were at it, and I was more rusty than I thought. But, as the day wore on, I began to use tricks learned in TPA to their physical counterparts. Traps, passes, ramps shots, all helped me put up scores I'm proud of.
I had a chance to play one of the tables that's been buzzing (sorry, couldn't resist...) in the forum, "Bram Stoker's Dracula". Designed in part by Barry Oursler (who attended the expo), the game was fun to play. I liked the Mist Multiball, it was different from a regular multiball. BSM would be a great addition to the TPA stable.
They're creepy and they're ookie, and the best selling table, "The Addams Family" pinball was there. It too has been a topic in the forum. While many people like it, the table seems a bit crowded with all the toys. That said, I'd back a Kickstarter project for "TAF" and "BSM".
I saw an interesting table. It combined pinball with video games. Almost the size of a regular pinball machine, it would reproduce the physical table, and was very realistic. I didn't get a chance to ask the gentleman any questions, but I believe I heard him say the current table on the machine, "Attack From Mars", was a download. For those out there more knowledgeable than I, would it be possible to have a full-size table, then have it connected to the Internet, and play many different tables, like TPA does now? I would think an invention like that would either mean the resurgence of pinball or it's death knell.
One thing I noticed was the amount of four player tables being played by one person. At every table I played, I made sure I looked around to see if anyone wished to play instead of just standing there. In almost every instance, there were a couple that said yes. And, as one player was at the flippers, the others small-talked. I got to spend time with people I'll never see again. We cheered the saves and great shots and groaned when the ball drained. But the four of us seemed to orbit around similar tables, and always asked if each wanted to play. Those that shook their head no or walked away silently missed out.
There was a PAPA circuit tournament, quals were done Friday and Saturday. Finals were on Sunday, I've not heard who won. I can tell you who did not, me. There were most definetly highly-skilled players in the tournament area.
As I was there mainly for the pinball, I can't tell you about the seminars that were held, or the movies that were shown. I'm sure they were as good as the expo advertised. Maybe next year I'll make the time to see them.
I left the expo having accomplished two of my three tasks. My arms were throbbing. My wrists felt like they were in vises being crushed.
My quest for a pinball machine continues...
No new high scores to post.
