Pinball
Probably why you're here.
Pinball Community Spotlight: Brian O'Neill of Scorbit
Welcome to the first of (hopefully many) pinball community spotlights, where we interview the operators, tournament organizers, and business owners that make the pinball world go ‘round. (Originally published on IFPApinball.com in Feb. of 2023)
Colin Alsheimer
Drained Bite-Sized Pinball by For Amusement Only Games! Deep Dive!
Learn more about Drained Bite-Sized with our deep dive!
Will Oetting
![Collecting all the Mystery Pinball Company Clues [Updated 10.4]](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fmedia.kineticist.com%2Fposts%2Fcollecting-all-the-mystery-pinball-company-clues%2Fmain%2F6518572600ee886d8d667a4a_mystery_pinball_company_is_it_labyrinth.avif&w=3840&q=75)
Collecting all the Mystery Pinball Company Clues [Updated 10.4]
Collecting an a-maze-ing number of clues for the upcoming pinball machine from Mystery Pinball Company.
Colin Alsheimer
5 Sessions We're Excited for at Pinball Expo 2023
Highlighting a few presentations that caught our eye.
Colin Alsheimer
Timeline of a Kaneda Meltdown
Kaneda's behavior needs to stop.
Colin Alsheimer
The Best Pinball Podcasts (2023 Edition)
Taking a look at some of the best pinball podcasts as we approach the end of 2023.
Colin Alsheimer
Shaken, Not Stirred: The Q Branch's Guide to James Bond 007 Pinball
James Bond 007 brings George Gomez's career full circle. The layout and some rules of the game heavily resemble his design debut in Corvette, a personal favorite game of mine, but after 30 years of video game and pinball development, this game perfectly demonstrates his evolution as a designer.
Noah Crable
For Those About to Rock: How to Play Stern's AC/DC Pinball
Released in 2012, AC/DC was one of the first games to come in three differing versions (Pro, Premium, LE), and marked a shift towards simpler layouts and more straightforward rulesets which secretly harbor extreme strategic depth.
James McFatter
20 Questions with Pinball Expo’s Loveable Mascot, Flippy
Welcome to a whirlwind conversation unlike any other: an exclusive, rapid-fire interview with Flippy, the dynamic mascot of the annual Pinball Expo in Schaumburg, Illinois.
Brad Milison
Mystery Pinball Company Pushes Towards The End-Game
Well what would you know, an update from Mr. Spelvin and co.
Colin Alsheimer
“We Are Venom”: The Symbiotes' Survival Guide
Learn how to play Stern's Venom pinball machine.
Noah Crable
Where to Play Pinball in Baltimore: Arcades, Bars, and Breweries with Machines
Baltimore's pinball scene spreads across neighborhood breweries and bars, from a 20+ machine free-play arcade in Waverly to the league headquarters in Hampden.
Colin Alsheimer
Where to Play Pinball in San Antonio: Arcades, Bars, and Breweries with Machines
San Antonio offers pinball across an eclectic mix of venues, from a tournament-hosting coffee roaster with 50+ machines to a retro-themed downtown bar on Alamo Plaza.
Colin Alsheimer
Drew Robishaw Broke the Pinball Playing Record at 48 Hours; Then Kept Playing
Drew Robishaw can play pinball far longer than you can. And he now has the official Guinness World Record to prove it.
Colin Alsheimer
The Best Places to Play Pinball in Buffalo, NY
Should you find yourself in Buffalo, NY, and require a pinball fix, here are the best spots to get some flips in.
Melodee Mabbitt
Choose Your House: How to Play Stern's Game of Thrones Pinball
Learn how to play Stern's Game of Thrones Pinball machine with this detailed yet approachable guide.
James McFatter
Pinball Map New Locations Update: August 2023
A walk through some notable Pinball Map locations that were added in August 2023. As is my personal preference, I will include a single machine from each location to fantasize playing upon. Let’s put our hands in our pockets and walk into these locations!
Scott W.
"Go, Go, Godzilla!" Basic Strategy for a Modern Pinball Classic
Godzilla, inspired by the iconic 50s and 60s entries of the famous Kaiju franchise, was released in late 2021 to almost instant acclaim from players of all skill levels, providing a wide range of challenges and implementing deep rules that aren’t required to understand to enjoy the game.
Noah Crable
Bringing everyone to the playfield: a sustainable, approachable future for the pinball community
Join us at Pintastic New England 2023!
Alyssa Alsheimer
Pinflation on Ice: Used Pinball Prices Up Only 5% in 2023
If you didn't quite get the price you were hoping for on that Guns 'n Roses (LE) you sold this year but you did manage to find a great deal on that Ghostbusters (Pro) - you are not alone. Used pinball prices are softening, at least relative to the rapid pinflation experienced in recent years.
Ted "Doc" Finlay, Ph.D.
Pinball Map New Locations Update: July 2023
Scott from Pinball Map subs in for Ryan to go over some of the most interesting new pinball locations to hit the map in July, 2023.
Scott W.
Elvis Once Owned This Pinball Machine - Now You Can Too!
A piece of music and pinball history, if it can be verified of course!
Colin Alsheimer
Sizing the Used Pinball Market; How Big is it Really? (Hint: Bigger than you think!)
How big is the used pinball market? Probably bigger than you think! Ted "Doc" Finlay of PinballPrices.com breaks it down.
Ted "Doc" Finlay, Ph.D.
Catching up with Bowen Kerins; Talking Multimorphic’s Final Resistance, Pinball Rules Design, Dream Themes, and more!
Today we’re super excited to bring you a conversation with Bowen Kerins, an accomplished competitive pinball player, rules designer, and advocate for the game.
Colin Alsheimer
18 Pinball Themes Stern Won't Be Making Anytime Soon*
Reading some tea leaves on social media posts.
Colin Alsheimer
Become Queen of the High Seas with the Black Rose Pinball Tutorial
James breaks down the rules and strategy for Bally's Black Rose. It’s a great theme, has great music and callouts, and has a bunch of great rules and shots which lead to big payoffs should you manage to overcome this game’s tricky design.
James McFatter
Where to Play Pinball in Washington DC: Arcades, Bars, and Barcades with Machines
Washington DC spreads its pinball across neighborhood bars, barcades, and a dedicated pinball arcade. From Petworth to Friendship Heights, here's where to find machines in the District
Colin Alsheimer
Stern Pinball Announces VENOM PINBALL!
DEEP DIVE: In Depth Overview of the Machine, Features, Rules, and More!
Will Oetting
Vermont’s Pinball Co-Op Completes Expansion (Plus a Chat with Owner Mike Havens)
Vermont's Pinball Co-Op completes an expansion and we chat with owner Mike Havens.
Colin Alsheimer
Who Knows What Evil Lurks? A Guide to Bally’s Underrated Classic, The Shadow
Let Noah Crable teach you how to play Bally's underrated classic, The Shadow.
Noah Crable
![Venom is the Next Stern Pinball Machine [Updated 7.17.23]](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fmedia.kineticist.com%2Fposts%2Fvenom-is-the-next-stern-pinball-machine%2Fmain%2F64abf4acbe85c90205adae9d_venom_pinball_machine_next_stern_pinball.avif&w=3840&q=75)
Venom is the Next Stern Pinball Machine [Updated 7.17.23]
The open secret has finally been confirmed by Stern. Venom will be their next cornerstone game release.
Colin Alsheimer
Pinball Map New Locations: June 2023
What follows is a smattering of new and notable pinball spots added to Pinball Map around North America. This is the third article in a monthly series!
Ryan TG
Centaur is the Next Haggis Pinball Machine
Kaneda calls it.
Colin Alsheimer
Old School Cool: Meet Betsy, a Pops Pinball Regular
Betsy plays pinball and is way cooler than you.
Colin Alsheimer
Ten Pinball Machines Even Weirder Than You
Every now and again, we see some absolutely insane layouts, designs, or gimmicks which send a machine down in fame - or infamy - for their unusual nature.
James McFatter
The State of Connected Pinball: An Arcade Operator Weighs In on Stern Insider Connected and Scorbit
Taking an honest look at the state of connected pinball offered by Stern & Scorbit, from an arcade operator's perspective.
Matt Snow
Challenge Accepted: Moving and Grooving to Williams' Banzai Run
Learn how to play Williams' 1988 classic pinball machine, Banzai Run.
James McFatter
A Father's Day Gift Guide for Your Pinball-Loving Dad
Father’s Day is right around the corner, and while a pinball-themed necktie may seem enticing since buying him a pinball machine for Father's Day is a bit outside of your price range, we’re here to offer up some alternative gift ideas for your pinball lover pops.
Brad Milison
Four Great Pinball Arcades in Rochester, NY
Four top picks for getting some hot pinball action in when you find yourself in Rochester, NY.
Melodee Mabbitt
Pinball Map New Locations Update: May 2023
Like every month, a chongload of new venues were submitted to Pinball Map. Over 200 this time. Here, in this article, are but a pinch.
Ryan TG
Connecting Balls to Bells: Is the "Mystery Pinball Company" Stern's Amazing Spider-Man (AKA Venom)?
Purely speculation. But if the spider-web sticks...
Colin Alsheimer
Top 10 Pinball Machines of the 2010s
We recently left the 1900s in the past when we released our list of the 20 Best Pinball Machines of the 2000s, and while the first decade of our current millennium had a lot to offer, much like internet speeds and smartphones, the pinball machines in the 2010s got even better.
Brad Milison
![How to Start an Arcade Business: Lessons from the Ghost Quarter in Greenfield, Iowa [Part 1]](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fmedia.kineticist.com%2Fposts%2Flessons-from-the-ghost-quarter-part-1%2Fmain%2F1f8a5dbe3c90.webp&w=3840&q=75)
How to Start an Arcade Business: Lessons from the Ghost Quarter in Greenfield, Iowa [Part 1]
What bootstrapping an arcade business looks like from the perspective of Ryan Albright, owner of the Ghost Quarter in Greenfield, Iowa.
Ryan Albright
Harry Potter and the Pinball Dreams
When I think of the top moments in my life, I think of the day I graduated college, the day I got married, probably the day I was born, though I don’t remember that. Well those were all clearly topped when I heard that a Harry Potter pinball machine was ACTUALLY GOING TO HAPPEN.
Jeff Patterson
Where to Play Pinball in Seattle: Arcades, Bars, and Museums with Machines
Seattle offers pinball across dozens of venues, from a dedicated museum in the International District to neighborhood barcades in Fremont and Belltown. This guide covers where to find machines across the metro.
Colin Alsheimer
Confessions of a Casual Pinball Player at the Ann Arbor VFW Pinball Museum Show
Melodee Mabbitt attends her first pinball show and gives Kineticist the lowdown on her experience.
Melodee Mabbitt
FooBrain: Mastering Stern’s Foo Fighters Pinball Machine
Learn how to play Stern's Foo Fighters pinball machine with expert player Noah Crable.
Noah Crable
Where to Play Pinball in Houston: Arcades, Bars, and Breweries with Machines
Houston's sprawling metro has pinball scattered across free play arcades, neighborhood bars, breweries, and dive bars—from the suburbs to downtown and everywhere in between.
Colin Alsheimer