Tournament to raise funds for Kids Fight Cancer

MELROSE PARK, IL -- Stern Pinball Inc. will be a premier sponsor of the International Flipper Pinball Association's upcoming state championship series. The first-ever IFPA state series is expected to draw 440 finalists representing 28 different IFPA championships all taking place on Saturday, Feb. 8, in different locations across the country.

Every IFPA state championship will incorporate a special charity challenge to raise money for Kids Fight Cancer. Stern Pinball, a manufacturer of flipper games based here, will match funds during the tournament.

More than 5,000 players last year played in matches to qualify for this year's inaugural state series. The popularity of the series is a welcomed reminder of the renewed interest in pinball, according to the pinball manufacturer.

"We are pleased to sponsor the first IFPA state championship series. It is wonderful to acknowledge the talented players and be part of the resurgence," said Stern Pinball chairman and chief executive Gary Stern. "It's also a great opportunity for us to help out Kids Fight Cancer, a local Chicago-based organization, whose motto 'celebrate life' is represented in each creative project we undertake."

Founded eight years ago, the International Flipper Pinball Association now ranks more than 22,000 players competing in over 1,500 leagues and tournaments around the world. There are IFPA directors in 29 countries.

The winners of the IFPA state championship series will qualify for the IFPA's U.S. national championship, which will be held in May in Denver.

More information can be had from IFPA's Zach Sharpe at (847) 877-6344 or Josh Sharpe at (847) 601-1609).

- See more at: http://www.vendingtimes.com/ME2/dirmod.asp?sid=EB79A487112B48A296B38C81345C8C7F&nm=Vending+Features&&mod=Publications%3A%3AArticle&mid=8F3A7027421841978F18BE895F87F791&tier=4&id=A9EB11D00B744246B1B44287F09D6A0B#sthash.2tFJjNwV.dpuf

Charles Passy and WSJ This Morning's Gordon Deal look at the growing popularity of pinball leagues.


Listen here http://www.marketwatch.com/story/wsj-whats-news-people-flipping-for-pinball-2013-12-02-5116445

There was a time in New York City when pinball was illegal, and NYC Police Commissioner William O'Brien went around smashing machines. This dark time lasted over three decades, but in the end the pinball machine won. Even if it didn't, we'd like to believe that the Sunshine Laundromat would still exist today as some sort of prohibition pinball speakeasy.

The Greenpoint laundromat—located at 860 Manhattan Avenue—has around ten machines right now, set up right in the same room where you are laundering your clothes, so bring lots of quarters.

During the NYC Marathon over the weekend, the joint even hosted a Pinball Marathon—check it out below, courtesy of Citizen Productions.

See the video via http://gothamist.com/2013/11/06/pinball.php

Get ready for another great year of gaming at the White Rose Gameroom Show in York Pennsilvania.
With games, raffles, tournaments and vendors this show has it all.

You can read the story behind the inception of the show here with details below.

The annual White Rose Gameroom Show features unlimited gaming on a vast collection of pinball machines and other games indoors as well as a free, outdoor flea market. The show runs from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Friday, Oct. 11, and 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 12, in Horticultural Hall at the York Expo Center, 334 Carlisle Ave. Daily admission: $15 for adults, $5 for children ages 6-12, free for children 5 and under. Information: (717) 848-2596 or www.theyorkshow.com

UK Pinball Party, the premier pinball event in the country, will be coming to the hotel from Friday August 9 to Sunday August 11.

The festival will have more than 110 pinball machines on offer, set on freeplay, with the biggest variety ever seen – from 1950s’ electromechanicals up to the latest, and most modern, solid state pinball machines.

Members of the UK Pinball Group bring along pinball machines from their own collections to allow people to play games they would not otherwise get to play.

The UK Pinball Party is a unique pinball event with everything under the one roof from accomodation to food and drink. There will be pinball machines for sale, new and used pinball parts to buy, raffles, arcade video games to play and much more.

A special guest George Gomez – designer of games including Lord Of The Rings and The Avengers – will be there on the Saturday. He will be talking about his career while guests enjoy a three-course dinner.

Andrew Heighway, UK Pinball Party organiser said: “The UK Pinball Party is now one of the biggest pinball shows in Europe. We have more than 110 pinball machines on free play, from old electro mechanicals to the very latest solid state machines. There are machines to buy, parts suppliers, merchandise and lots more. We even have pinball design legend, George Gomez, flying in from Chicago to be our special guest for the weekend.

“We invite people to join us for a weekend of pinballing fun!”

The show opens from 5.30pm to 11pm on Friday, 9am to 7.30pm on Saturday and 10am to 5pm on Sunday.

Tickets for the event cost £25 for all three days, or £7 for Friday and £12 each for Saturday and Sunday. For further details about the event or to book tickets in advance, visit www.ukpinballparty.com


Via daventryexpress

Anyone who thinks adults playing video games and drinking beer in Boba Fett costumes is a bad thing needs to get out more.

Spacebar Arcade—aka Boise's final frontier for any geek, male or female, who just wants to blast enemy ships while sipping a cold one in peace—opens its doors for the Pinball Wizard Tournament on Thursday, July 18. Sign-ups begin at 7 p.m. and the battle starts at 8 p.m.

Pinball Wizard is a three-machine tournament in which players are randomly paired off to duke it out for the ultimate title and some out-of-this-world prizes.

Each pair will compete in a two-player round on the Star Wars, Star Trek and Hook machines. Competitors will be ranked according to score, with the highest score receiving the most points. First place winners on each machine are awarded 100 points, second place earns 90, third place gets 85, and so on.

In the event of a tie, finalists battle for the crown in a head-to-head deathmatch for the highest score.

It's not exactly rocket science, but it is a chance for all grown-up arcade goers to test their skills against like-minded nerds, while enjoying brew specials from Crooked Fence Brewing Co.

Admission is free, and yes, Spacebar's technically an arcade, but it's a bar nonetheless, so the tournament is reserved for those old-school gamers 21 and older.

Costumes aren't required, but losing the title of ultimate Pinball Wizard is socially justified if it's lost to an intergalactic bounty hunter.


Via boiseweekly

The man plays a mean pinball.

Native New Yorker Steve Zahler is a pinball wizard — beating players with years of experience to become the metropolitan area’s first-place flipper.

Now he’s facing the ultimate test as he prepares for the game’s world championships in Germany beginning Friday, where 64 hot shots will vie for the coin-operated crown.

“I’m not there to beat anyone down. This is between me and the machine,” said Zahler, 44, a father of two from Elberon, NJ, who owns a Web-development firm.

Contenders from 19 countries will score from dusk until dawn next weekend — all for a chance at the title, $1,000 cash and a brand-new, $9,000 pinball machine.

The tournament, run by the International Flipper Pinball Association, features more than 100 machines including the brand-new Metallica game and Lord of the Rings.

But Zahler says he won’t be there to win. He just wants to keep the silver sphere rolling.

“It’s amazing to see that whatever I’m doing is working,” said Zahler, whose longest single game was 90 minutes. “We’re all looking for that super long zen-like game of pinball,” he added. “Sometimes you can have two horrible balls go down the drain. That third ball can be magic.”

Read more via nypost.com

64 Of The World's Best Players Faceoff In An Electrifying Tournament To Crown The Ultimate Pinball Champion. 

MELROSE PARK, Ill., May 22, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Stern Pinball, Inc., the world's leading maker of real pinball games and the AAMA 2012 Manufacturer of the Year, is proud to be a premiere sponsor for this year's International Flipper Pinball Association's World Pinball Championship. IFPA10 will bring together the top 64 players representing 19 countries for a marathon competition guaranteed to not only test endurance, but also the ability to master the nuances of a 2.6 ounce silver ball.

As the most prestigious event in competitive pinball, IFPA10 promises to be a grueling battle between man and machine. Several of Stern's extremely challenging games including fan favorites like The Avengers, AC/DC LE, Lord of the Rings, Spiderman and Metallica, will be put to the test by tournament players.

"We are please to sponsor the World Pinball Championship. It is exciting to acknowledge the talented players and range of countries represented at IFPA10," said Gary Stern, Chairman and CEO of Stern Pinball, Inc. "Jointly, we are celebrating the 80th anniversary of the first electric action pinball machine and our team is thrilled to be part of the game's evolution."

2013 is an action-packed year for pinball as the IFPA also announces the organization's inaugural Epstein Cup. The IFPA will host the world's best flipper wizards from Europe and the United States who will compete for what is being referred to as The Ryder Cup of pinball. The Epstein Cup defines a historic weekend in the pin community, solidifying the rebirth of pinball as a quintessential, interactive form of leisure time entertainment.

"The resurgence of pinball in the public consciousness is incredibly gratifying", states Roger Sharpe, Co-Chairman of the IFPA. "It is truly a timeless game that has continued to evolve with technological advancements that someone like Harry Williams could have never imagined. We are seeing new locations and businesses opening their arms to the charms and allure of pinball with the net result that millions of players are taking part in the totally immersive and tactile experience that defines pinball."

In just seven short years, the International Flipper Pinball Association has been able to bring together over 18,000 players now ranked (World Pinball Player Rankings) by competing in over 450 leagues and tournaments taking place across the globe as evidenced by IFPA's 29 different country directors.

The International Flipper Pinball Association was created with the purpose of encouraging, supporting and endorsing competitive pinball throughout the world. The organization provides oversight and assistance to not only establishing pinball leagues but also tournaments and other promotional activities.

Stern Pinball continues the Stern family tradition of producing quality pinball machines for young and old. The company traces its lineage to Philadelphia in the 1930s when Sam Stern entered the business of operating pinball games. Sam Stern subsequently became part owner and president of Williams Manufacturing, a pioneer in the pinball industry, and passed his lifelong enthusiasm for the game and the business of pinball to his son Gary Stern who founded Stern Pinball. Today pinball remains one of America's favorite pastimes.

Event Details:

IFPA10 World Pinball Championship: May 31- June 2, 2013

Held at Freddy's Pinball Paradise in Echzell, Germany.

For more information regarding the IFPA10 or any of its participants, please contact IFPA Vice President, Zach Sharpe (zachary.sharpe@gmail.com 847-877-6344) or IFPA President, Josh Sharpe (ifpapinball@gmail.com 847-601-1609).

Visit the IFPA website for details about the organization and upcoming events.

About Stern Pinball, Inc.

Stern Pinball, Inc., headquartered just outside Chicago, Illinois, is the leading producer of pinball games in the world. Stern's highly talented creative and technical teams design, engineer and manufacture popular arcade-quality pinball games. Recent popular Stern titles include Avengers, X-Men, AC/DC, Tron, Transformers, Avatar, Iron Man, Batman, Spiderman and many more. All of Stern's pinball games are crafted by hand and assembled by Stern's expert team. Both pinball enthusiasts and casual players around the globe enjoy Stern's games. For more information visit www.sternpinball.com.

All trademarks and product names are the property of their respective companies.

Media Contact:

Evie Carter

FortyThree, Inc.

831.401.3175

SternPinball@43pr.com

SOURCE Stern Pinball, Inc.

/Web site: http://www.sternpinball.com

In "local" news, 

Benton  --  Carmen and Ken Burzynski had a vision to improve the Benton public square when they opened County Seat Antique Mall at 303 Public Square almost 10 years ago.
In an effort to attract attention to the downtown area, the couple hosted a photographical display of high school graduation classes last month and a storewide sale earlier this month that only excluded gold and silver coins.
“We are still catching our breath from last weekend’s sale that featured antique furniture, glassware, sports cards and memorabilia, stoneware, primitives, mid-century modern furniture, gas and oil collectibles, vintage clothing and artifacts,” Ken Burzynski said.
He said the store is gearing up for another first in downtown Benton. “We are hosting a pinball wizard vintage pinball tournament to begin at approximately 10 a.m. on Saturday, May 18,” he said. “This will be a first for Southern Illinois.
“We are accepting registration for 10 players per flight,” Burzynski said. “Participants must be over the age of 18.”
He said trophies and cash prizes would be awarded.
“We have 10 vintage pinball machines available for the competition,” Burzynski said. “There is a $25 entry fee per player. The overall winner gets a large cash prize and a large pinball wizard trophy.”
Burzynski said one of the store’s vendors owns the 1960s and 70s pinball machines. “He delivers the pinball machines for free locally when they are sold and sets them up in the new owner’s space,” he said.
Book signings follow on Saturday, June 1 when eight area authors converge on County Seat Antique Mall.
“These are the most prolific Southern Illinois authors of the past quarter century,” Burzynski said. “The authors will be here from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.”

http://www.bentoneveningnews.com/article/20130509/NEWS/130509078