Dirty Donny and James Hetfield with the original custom Metallica table.
It wasn't that long ago that pinball seemed like it might be heading for that big drain in the sky. Even with the stealth rebirth of the arcade generating new interest, good luck finding a pinball machine instead of a redemption game that spits out tickets good for some crappy toy. If you did happen upon a pinball cabinet, the chances of it being in playable shape were often iffy at best.
Manufacturers saw the writing on the wall and began to bail out of the game. Capcom quit right before it was going to release its much-hyped Big Bang Bar table. Electronic gaming company Williams decided there was more money to be had making slot machines. Stern rose from the ashes of Data East and Sega and declared itself the last surviving maker of pinball machines.
Yet over the past couple of years there's been a bit of a resurgence. Interest in pinball is growing again. Stern can't claim the title of sole manufacturer anymore. Jersey Jack's Wizard of Oz table is just now starting to ship. Small boutique pinball tables, like Skit-B's Predator, are springing up to do limited runs. Headquarters Beercade in Chicago is opening a dedicated pinball room with up to 25 machines. It's still a niche market, but it's one that's looking vibrant again.
Read more via ars technica
Manufacturers saw the writing on the wall and began to bail out of the game. Capcom quit right before it was going to release its much-hyped Big Bang Bar table. Electronic gaming company Williams decided there was more money to be had making slot machines. Stern rose from the ashes of Data East and Sega and declared itself the last surviving maker of pinball machines.
Yet over the past couple of years there's been a bit of a resurgence. Interest in pinball is growing again. Stern can't claim the title of sole manufacturer anymore. Jersey Jack's Wizard of Oz table is just now starting to ship. Small boutique pinball tables, like Skit-B's Predator, are springing up to do limited runs. Headquarters Beercade in Chicago is opening a dedicated pinball room with up to 25 machines. It's still a niche market, but it's one that's looking vibrant again.
Read more via ars technica
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