![]() ![]() Wright is one of the founders, along with Phoenix residents Mark Pearson, 41, and Jim Smith, 47, of the Arizona Pinball Players League, now in its third season. The International Flipper Pinball Association lists 38 leagues, mostly in the United States, but also in Canada, Germany, Spain and Japan. Pinball play is being kept alive primarily by ardent collectors, at museums and in pinball leagues in members' homes. Once a staple of American bowling alleys, bars and arcades, pinball has receded over the past two decades, a victim of the multibillion-dollar video-gaming industry that dominates arcades and home entertainment with its largely young, male audience. "Pinball wizard," immortalized in the Who's classic song, is a cringe-inducing cliche for these players. "You've got to get your mind into the zone," said Wright, 46, a Scottsdale pinball-machine collector describing the focus of passionate "pinheads," as they call themselves. Players rock from one foot to the other as they trigger the flippers and nudge the game just enough to keep the ball in play without setting off the dreaded tilt mechanism that halts the blinking lights, sounds and action. Once I knock off the 2 credits at Castles, I know to run elsewhere for pins.PHOENIX - Stuart Wright calls it "pin dancing," the crouch of transfixed pinball fanatics playing the silver ball. Great write up! I’m heading to the area in November for golf and may get in a day early than my buddies for pins and coaster credits. ![]() Those all all the places with 10 or more pins.Ī few smaller places that are worth checking out. Not the best maintained, but a big collection. Ready Player 1 is a bunch of pins and arcade games located in a comic book store. Haven’t been to Dangerzone yet as they are fairly new and over an hour from where I live. Good franchise locations that all over the country and some abroad. Looking forward to hearing more about this place as they seem to have some really bitchen early Bally’s. Grumpy’s Ice Box I don’t think has opened yet (maybe somebody can chime in on this). I may stop in there next time I’m down that way just to update the pinside map, but it’s really not a players location and more of an amusement park. Nobody I know even wants to go there to check it out and update the pin map it’s so bad. The machines are beat to shit (if they are even still on the floor). I like to go here and eat Gyro tacos and play a few games before heading over to Electric Bat to do a deep dive.ĭon’t bother going to Castles and Coaster. ![]() Pins are mostly newer Sterns, but they did just get a JJP GNR LE. Level One has about 10 pins and a ton of arcade games. Really well curated and maintained collection spanning many time periods and manufactures with a great mix of old and new. If you’re not a drinker then Starfighters is where it’s at.īasically every other location is either a bar or tied to a bar.Įlectric Bat would get my vote for best pinball location in the valley (30+ pins) However be aware that this is a weekend only location.Īlso, this is an all ages arcade, meaning if you are the type that like to have a few drinks while playing they do not have alcohol. Starfighters is for sure the biggest location.
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