Attending Your First Pinball Tournament

So you’ve decided to take the plunge and compete in your first ever pinball tournament. What a huge step! To help make sure you’re prepared, we’ve created this guide to help make sure that your first tournament goes as smoothly as possible. 

Remember, everyone at the tournament was a beginner at some point. We’re excited to have some new faces in the community!

Before the tournament

Most every tournament requires an entry fee in order to play. In Utah, the entry fee is typically $5, but could range anywhere from $1 to $20 depending on the tournament. The entry fee is nearly always listed in the description of the tournament. Entry fees are paid in cash, so please make life easy and bring close to exact change!

If the location of the tournament is at a public location such as an arcade bar, chances are that you’ll have to pay for “coin drop” in addition to the entry fee. “Coin drop” is what pinballers refer to as the quarters you use to play on the machines. So if the tournament is in a public location, make sure to bring quarters or cash! Games typically cost $1 at most per play, so bringing $10 would cover the cost for most tournaments. If the tournament is at a private location such as a private residence, chances are that you won’t need to bring extra money other than the entry fee. 

Most, if not all, pinball tournaments are managed by a web-based software called MatchPlay. The Tournament Directors, or TDs, use this software to keep track of players, pinball machines, and move the tournament forward. MatchPlay will assign players to machines and is used for scorekeeping. To make your experience run smoothly, make an account on MatchPlay in advance and make sure you are signed into your account when you arrive. Players there will show you how to find the tournament in the software so that you can keep track of your progress and standings during the event. 

At the tournament

Plan to arrive at least 10 minutes before the start time. This allows you to check in, familiarize yourself with the space and the format, and maybe even practice on the machines. Most tournaments have warm up time – you don’t have to take advantage of the full time, but it can be helpful to practice on the machines that are at that location. Two copies of the same game can play completely differently! 

There are several tournament formats and styles that you could compete in, such as match play, strikes, and flipper frenzy. At the beginning of the tournament, the TD will explain which format you are playing in and how it works. If you are confused or have questions, don’t hesitate to ask a TD or other players for help. They all started at the beginning at one point and will be happy to assist! 

One main thing to be aware of while you are at tournaments is pinball etiquette. Pinball is a very intense game by nature, and requires a lot of concentration. While competing, here are a few tips to make sure that you are respecting other players while they do their best to master the silver ball: 

  • If you are the first player, make sure to put the correct amount of players into the game. You can do this by pressing the start button for each player in the group. If there are four players, you’ll press start four times. If you’re unsure if you put the right number of players in, check with someone in your group.
  • Stand an appropriate distance away from a player while they are playing. Try not to be in their peripheral vision, and especially don’t stand right behind them to watch them play. 
  • Don’t talk to players as they are playing. You can ask questions when they are done and walk away from the machine. 
  • Don’t call out to the players while they are playing their ball. You can be excited for them, but loud cheering can be distracting. 
  • Make sure to only play your ball. If you’ve never played in a multiplayer game before, you know that your turn is over when you see your “bonus” being added up on the screen. If you’re uncertain if your turn is over or not, ask the other players in your group.

If you ever have questions about a specific game, feel free to ask other players for help or advice. While they are not required to answer your question, most players are happy to share knowledge on strategy. 

After the tournament 

You did it! You played in your first pinball tournament! 

Most tournaments have a separate finals after the main part of the tournament for the top players. If you made it to finals, the TD will explain how the process will work. If you didn’t make finals, feel free to hang out and get to know other players. The etiquette rules still apply if you are sticking around to observe finals. 

If you stay to play other games, try not to play a game that is right next to an active finals game. This is to minimize distractions for those that are still competing.

Now that you’ve caught the pinball bug, you can look up other tournaments to compete in. If you are in Utah, you can use our tournament page to track upcoming tournaments. If you are out of Utah, or traveling out of Utah on a trip, you can always use the IFPA calendar to see what tournaments are coming up in that area. 

Pinball is better with friends, so we hope to see you at the next tournament! 

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