When you talk about playing pinball or going to arcades with most people, they probably think of the heyday of arcades in the 80s or 90s. Most people don’t know that arcades still exist and still provide third spaces for a lot of people. Let’s examine what a third space is and what you can do to support your local arcades to make sure they don’t disappear.
When you first start playing in tournaments, it can be hard to figure out the culture and norms. Where do you stand during a game? When are you allowed to talk to your opponents? How do you make sure you don’t interrupt the flow of the tournament? This article will help you decode these elements so that you can feel more confident taking part in tournaments.
When you first start playing pinball it can feel like improving your scores is impossible. How are people getting these massive scores? Believe it or not, with just a few small changes, your score can climb higher.
Tournament Directors (TDs) do more than schedule tournaments. It’s literally their job to make sure that each tournament runs smoothly and is fair for all players. But what does that exactly entail? What is a ruling, and when should you ask for one? Let’s dig deeper into the role of a TD.
Despite it being a hobby, competing in pinball tournaments can be a stressful experience. How do you get into the right headspace before? How do you keep your cool during the event? And how do you lock in during a critical moment without putting too much pressure on yourself? Paige Peck and Marc Jackson, Utah’s 2025 state champions, share the advice that helped them to win the biggest tournaments of the year.
When joining the world of competitive pinball, there are a few terms you might hear thrown around about types of competitions: tournaments, series, and leagues. What is the difference between them? What makes the most sense for you? Let’s dig into each to better understand them.
Another year of pinball has come and gone, and 2025 had some incredible highlights in the pinball community. Let’s take a look at the proverbial highlight reel of pinball in Utah: open tournaments, women’s tournaments, and more!
Technology can be a beautiful thing. Look at how things like lights, screens, and ability for deeper code have changed pinball over the years. If you’re looking to track your progress, find games, or even hunt achievements, there are plenty of digital pinball tools to help.
If you want to immerse yourself in the pinball community from the comfort of your own home, there are streams and channels aplenty for you to enjoy. Whether they are tutorials, individual streamers, or streams that focus on events and tournaments, there are tons of options available.
Drop targets. Standup targets. Backhand. Skill shot. Soft plunge. When you ask someone for help with game strategy, it can quickly feel like they’re speaking a whole other language. Let’s define some playfield terms and shooting terms to help you talk the talk of pinball.
