Archive for the ‘pinball’ Category

Pintastic NE T – 1 Todd Tuckey and Steve Ritchie Pinball Royalty

Posted: September 6, 2023 by datechguy in fun, pinball, short films/interviews, special events
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Back in the days before Youtube decided to ban me for daring to question the 2022 election the most popular Pintastic NE videos I had were all the various interviews with Todd Tuckey.

If you go to my rumble account and do a search for Todd Tuckey you will find interview after interview with Todd Tuckey at each Pintastic NE and once at his shop while I was passing through so there is a lot to choose from so for our final day before we visit Pintastic in its new location I have picked last year’s interview with Todd to showcase here.

His youtube chanel is legendary in pinball circles. His latest talks about his upcoming visit to Pintastic tomorrow. Here it is:

One of the sad things about my ban from youtube is that I couldn’t leave a comment to say that I’m looking forward to seeing him this week.

Back before I was banned the single most popular Pintastic NE video I had was this interview with pinball designer extraordinaire Steve Ritchie

In terms of Pinball Royalty you don’t get much higher than this pair.

Pintastic NE T – 2 Video Flashback Home Brews

Posted: September 5, 2023 by datechguy in fun, pinball, short films/interviews, special events
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One of the more interesting developments in the Pinball industry has been the “Homebrew” machine, basically single machines or sometimes two machines that are made out of the whole cloth or occasionally made using other machines with new art and roms.

Example 1 is Ferris Bueller

What’s rather interesting to me is that with a home brew game you don’t have to worry about buying the rights because it’s not an item for sale. The fellow who made the Sonic the hedgehog pinball machine didn’t have that problem as Sega apparently embraced the whole idea of the machine.

And there are also others that are more basic, made completely out of the whole cloth to wit:

The great thing about a festival like Pintastic is that these one or two of a kind games get exposure to the general public who can enjoy and appreciate all that comes with this hobby.

Pintastic 2023 T -3 The People Behind the Scenes

Posted: September 4, 2023 by datechguy in fun, pinball, special events
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Yesterday In my post on the EPM crew it was noted how much the crew make a difference for their ability to safely pack and move dozens of machines from Providence RI to Sturbridge MA. There is a another crew at every Pintastic that is worth a shout out and that’s the crew of volunteers like Lisa:

And the People like David Marsdon one of the founders who keep things going

You will see folks like them working hard to make sure you are able to have a good time. If you attend Pintastic NE 2023 this year, make it a point to say thanks.

Pintastic NE 2023 T – 4 Mike & Emily of Electromagnetic Pinball Museum of Providence RI 2021 and 2022

Posted: September 3, 2023 by datechguy in fun, pinball, short films/interviews, special events
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One of the reasons that Pintastic is able to exist is the number of games that are available for people to play. A huge chunk of those games come from Gabe D’Annunzio’s private collection (see the extra ball lounge) some come from vendors, and others come from individual collectors who are given a free pass in exchange for allowing people the pleasure of playing their games.

But other than Gabe BY far the biggest batch of games that people enjoy comes from Mike and Emily of the Electromagnetic Pinball Museum of Providence RI who bring a plethora of pinball machines every year from their Providence location to the event and each year the number of machines has increased:

Anyone who has moved one pinball machine understands that it requires effort, picture the amount of effort to bring two dozen or more AND maintain them in the free play room during a four day festival that runs basically 9 am to 2 am.

Last year in our closing interview they made a special note of their team that makes it possible to pack and secure DOZENS of machines (many of them over 40 years old) so they can be safely moved.

The most amazing thing is that after those four days they still have their place in Providence open by 10 am the next day. It’s definitely worth a visit

With this year’s show now in Marlborough it’s a shorter trip and might be a tad easier but if they keep increasing the number of games they bring it will only be tiny tad

The most amazing thing is that after those four days they still have their place in Providence open by 10 am the next day. It’s definitely worth a visit

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