STERN’s latest is STAR TREK, designed by none other than Steve Ritchie.  Steve is the man behind the original STAR TREK: The Next Generation, ACDC, Highspeed, Getaway and tons more.  He’s known as the “King of Flow”.

From the early pics there are clear homages to his earlier effort, though no doubt this one will play very differently, and likely a lot faster, given the original was a widebody design.

Check the promo video below and then head over pinballnews.com for more juicy info.

Come down and have some pizza and beer with us.

Facebook RSVP (optional but appreciated): https://www.facebook.com/events/633707260003359/

When: Tuesday 9/24. 7 PM start time.  Sign in by 6:50 to play in the tournament.  Earthshaker will be open for casual play if you just want to hang out.

Entry: $5 to enter the tournament, and then quarters for your games.

Where: Hi-Life Pizza in downtown Oakland, 400 15th Street.  It’s at the corner of 15th and Franklin Streets.  The sign says “Rico’s Diner”. DO NOT BE FOOLED.  Games are upstairs.

For BART, take 12th street exit and it’s a five minute walk.

Parking: Meters run until 6.  Street parking is usually not bad in this area.

Who can play: This is open to all players, ages and skill levels.  For example, Ralph Macchio.

What Games: Current line-up is Roller Coaster Tycoon, Earthshaker, Dracula, Indiana Jones, Radical, Batman and Attack from Mars.  Earthshaker will not be used.

Format: Partial-Round Robin.  In the qualifying round you play three games in three different groups.  The top eight players will face off in the final round.

Is there some cool, hip or ironic tie to the movie MYSTIC PIZZA?  No, I lack creativity.

Have you even seen it? No.

Maybe someday we’ll watch it together?  Sure. I’d like that very much.

Wpprs: This tournament will award world pinball player ranking points (wppr) at 1/3 value.

Payouts: 1st: 40%, 2nd: 30%, 3rd: 20%, 4th: 10%.  If more than 16 players enter, then 5th – 8th also get $5

Obvious: Please don’t bring in outside food or drinks. Thanks.

In today’s money, that’s about $1050. Image from IPDB.org

As the name implies BUMPER was one of the earliest games with scoring bumpers.  It also features a pendulum-style tilt mechanism which is identical in operation to the one used in games made today.

Bumper was made in 1936, more than ten years before flippers were invented.  Because pre-flipper games were mostly luck they were often used for gambling or as “trade stimulators”, where you might win cigarettes or a pack of gum for beating a certain score.  Notice in the advertisement above the emphasis on the word “novelty”…

There is a BUMPER at the Pacific Pinball Museum.  It’s currently on display only, though it does work.  However, you’ll see from watching the video you’re not missing out on too much.  Similar to a slot machine, they’re not terribly fun to play without money on the line. Regardless, the innovation, history and art deco style are the jewels here.  Almost 80 years later, a game without bumpers is almost inconceivable.

Capitol Corridor Pinball League (CCPL) had their Season 6 (Summer 2013) playoffs on Saturday, August 17th.  First place went to Tom Collins, second to Glen Braun and third to Stephen Kleckner.

For more information on CCPL, visit their Yahoo Group (http://games.groups.yahoo.com/group/capitolcorridorpinballleague/) or email CCPL founder Damien at pinballmail@yahoo.com.  We meet every other Tuesday night in Fairfield/Vacaville.  Season 7 begins August 27th.

Once again, East Bay Pinball throws down a challenge to all the pinball gangs roaming the Northern Californian streets! It’s time for the Bay Area pinball community to meet up in the back alley of Phoenix Games and settle any and all 2013 beefs via the annual East Bay City Rumble!

East Bay City Rumble is the Bay Area’s premiere “Pin-Brawl”-style team pinball tournament. Unlike Royale, teams consist of only 2-players. Why 2-man teams and not singles? Because these pinball streets are dangerous kid…80’s-style dangerous, yah dig? Unless you have eyes in the back of your head, you’re gonna need someone to watch your back.

It’s team vs. team, double elimination — where only the strongest team survives!

When: September 28th 2013 — Noon

Where: Phoenix Games — 4425 I-A Treat Blvd. Concord CA 94521

How Much: $30 Per Team

Registration Deadline: Online closes 9PM 9/27/2013. Onsite closes 11:30AM 9/28/2013

Website and more details HERE

Show Captain Brad Grant and the team awarded $15,000 to the Dixon Teen Center.  What a proud day for them!

As some of you know I (with a lot of help) run the pin golf pinball tournament and a few of those bucks get raised through all of us.

The show and tournament  combo is a nice win-win: you get an inexpensive pinball show and tournament, and do your good deed for the day at the same time.

Next year I’m going to nearly double the number of players who can enter (we always sell out too fast) and I’ll have special tournament only T-shirts for sale.