Those of you who check Rec.games.pinball, the most widely traffic’d message group for pinball, via Google Groups, have probably noticed it stopped updating around Saturday and has been down since. This has sent many pinheads into a state of withdrawal and confusion, as they’re not able to get their daily dose of “STERN sucks” postings.  Many have been forced to step away from their keyboards and (GASP!) actually play pinball.

Fear not, keyboard commandos!!  You can have your Rec.games.pinball and more.  There’s more than one way to skin a cat, and there’s also more than one cat in town.  Here are some alternative ways to access RGP, as well as some other pinball forums you may want to check out.

If you want to view posts in RGP:

http://gamesforum.ca/forumdisplay.php?f=116

Gamesforum.ca has a nice interface for viewing the posts on RGP.  Posting is controlled through a moderator, so not so great on that front, but for viewing only, it’s fine.

http://rgparchive.com

RGP Archive allows you to view and post messages.  It basically requires you to register for the site to be usable because you can only view a few posts before it kicks you out if you’re not logged in.

KLOV Pinball Message Board

http://forums.arcade-museum.com/forumdisplay.php?f=16

This is a board that supports editing posts, images, embedding videos and so on.  It is a moderated board but the moderators don’t seem especially aggressive.  People are generally friendly and helpful.

Pinside Forum

http://pinside.com/pinball/forum/

The pinside forum is another nice forum with cool people.  It is also moderated, but with a light touch.  Editing and pics posting are also allowed.

On Saturday I went to Dan Fontes’ place for a boathouse concert featuring Carolyne Aiken, a grammy-nominated musician. Dan has a great pinball and coin-op collection as well.  Click the slide show for larger/better pics.

Dan can often be found at the Pacific Pinball Museum and loves to talk art and coin op.

Vodpod videos no longer available.

Some pics from recent bay area pinball parties at TJ Beyer’s (California Extreme organizer) and Mitch’s (EBPL member) places.

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A news feature about a legal battle in Australia over pinball games.

Tilt stars Brooke Shields as a young pinball champ who hustles her way from game to game with that guy from Krull.

The story goes like this.  The guy from Krull ran away from his home town as a pretty boy nobody and is determined to make it somehow and return triumphantly.  Unfortunately, he can’t get a break in the singing world and is just about ready to throw in the towel until  he sees young, impressionable Brenda the pinball wizard as his ticket to easy money.  Ultimately, Krull guy wants to get revenge on his old rival, a pinball champion known as “the whale” and they hustle their way cross country for the eventual showdown.

Tilt is one of those movies that wouldn’t be made today. Almost from the start the creepy sexualization of Brooke Shields’ character begins in earnest.   Keep in mind she was like 14 when she made this film and looked more like 11 or 12.  Even Lorenzo Lamas tries to get a piece.

Creepy pedo aspects aside, Tilt is some pretty good, campy entertainment.  Also, don’t miss the “Koala” pinball machine, which was named after the production company.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0078400/

I happened upon Tilt Malt Beverage at the local liquor store, and well, anything with a sorta pinball theme and I just have to try it out – better judgment and all that be damned.  So with a bag of Tapatio Ruffles, a cold can of Tilt and a bag of organic walnuts (yes, you can buy organic, local grown walnuts in a liquor store in California) I made my way to the register.

At 16 ounces and 12% alcohol, Tilt packs the wallop of around your average 40 ounce bottle of King Cobra or Colt 45.  In other words, if I manage to get through the whole thing I won’t be putting up any high scores on pinball games.  I’ll be getting a high score on a breathalyzer.

I cracked open the can and took a hearty swig.  Wow.  Tilt actually does have some “complexity”, as the wine people like to say, but unfortunately it’s the complexity of a Shirley Temple made with Dayquil instead of grenadine.

It starts with a sweetness similar to those syrup filled chocolates,  and then proceeds to simultaneously coat your whole mouth while turning tart, then sour, then like you just threw up a cherry popsicle.

While your taste buds are getting their swerve on, your nose is filled with the smell of a gasoline-soaked rag. As you proceed to swallow you’ll realize just how far your taste buds go down your throat.  You can taste (and regret) this stuff all the way to your stomach. Shortly after imbibing, my entire digestive track started making mean growling sounds like an angry cat – vaguely like hunger pangs but more like “the HELL are you thinking?!”

The bottom line on Tilt is it’s more than aptly named.  I’m 3/4 through the can and my head has started to throb just above my right eye.  I’m definitely really buzzed and I have no desire for more.  It took me half an hour to write the last three sentences and my spell checker just resigned.

Roger Daltrey, eat your heart out!

This video has it all.  At first he goes for his guitar to add some live accompaniment, but that doesn’t quite work  so he takes to his air guitar and air drums instead, and boy – he plays the sh*t out of them.

As he “sings” the opening lyrics watch how he looks around questioningly, as if maybe his karaoke rig is the problem, then just accepts it and soldiers on.  Not one note is on key, which is oddly impressive.

The picture is completed with a giant 1980s ghetto blaster on top of his bookshelf –  for when some Grand Master Flash or Sugar Hill Gang karaoke strikes his fancy.

What a fantastic time at Pin a Go Go this year.  If you missed  it you can see what all the fuss was about.  If you were there you can relive it for a few nostalgic minutes.

Full write-up here (opens in new window): http://pinballnews.com/shows/pinagogo2011/index.html

Full Article here: http://www.eastbayexpress.com/gyrobase/the-pinball-wizard/Content?oid=2665537&amp

Another excellent tutorial vid courtesy of Bowen and the Professional Amateur Pinball Association (PAPA). Check out more videos on their blog: http://tiltwarning.com/blog